2022-07-17: Death Knight

• Log: 2022-07-17- Death Knight
• Cast: Anti, Alexis Kerib, Akane Shinjo, Kaworu Nagisa, Chibodee Crocket, Ranka Lee, Nidaime, Elisa Kafim, Sousuke Sagara, Asuka Shikinami Langley, Riku Asakura, Rena Lancaster, Ouka Nagisa, Yuta Hibiki, Arriety Hearn, Liam 7-020, BC-001 Minae, Mari Makinami Illustrious
• Where: Tsutsujidai
• OOC - IC Date: 0096-07-17
• Summary: The newest PLANT faces a trial only the real world could have offered.

---

<Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.

        The train is still going to Nouvelle Tokyo -- at least, when Anti's riding.

        With a witch's credentials, not the devil's, Anti enters the basement of Treasure Robotics. He knows the way. There, leashed as it ever was, stands Death Knight: the unlobotomised Death Army unit which allows him to fight at his current size.

        The very same unit which bit into his arms and legs, last he piloted it, when he copied the humans around him just a little... too... much.

        The DG Cell infestation has, at least, remained in his limbs; it's slow to progress, even if the metal scales haven't faded to inert black for some time now. He's not entirely human. He's not even mostly human. But his heart has grown so human, it's pumping blood through his veins...

        ... less a few vials. The price of access. Alexis Kerib has excommunicated him from their family, but Elisa Kafim was willing to make a deal to give him one last chance. It's why he isn't bothered, as he makes his way down here, despite being far more an asset than an actor.

        "I can still fight," Anti says, says to himself, as he looks up at the hulking monster. "I'm not done yet." Convincing himself.

        "I'm... a kaiju. I'm a kaiju! I won't die. Not before I'm done!"

        The hands which tighten at his sides are silvery, even so.

        Even so, he manages to leap the stories upwards to its access hatch without bothering with the catwalks. Opening it, climbing inside, the electronic cords lash about his hands and feet again. The bite, this time, is familiar. "Rrrghhh..!" Anti snarls, as he digs his fingers into the wires, despite the way they dig into him just the same. His battle is joined before he leaves the hangar. "Listen -- TO ME!"

        He's a kaiju. Is that why he manages to force Death Knight out of the hangar, out of the water, out onto the coast of Nouvelle Tokyo? Alarms blare -- warnings sound -- the Death Army has attacked, here, before. There are so many protectors, to call on.

        But the Death Knight doesn't move to strike the infrastructure of the city. Oh, certainly it strikes, in the same manner a drunk man stumbles; it crushes offices and cars underfoot, entirely due to the struggle of MOVING. Anti's voice, transmitted by the radio, cries out: "LISTEN TO ME, GODDAMNIT! I'm not done... yet..!!" The scream (angry? pained?) which echoes out is wordless, but there's a pressure to the way he demands: "Come on!"

        Once again, it charge-stumble-crashes towards the train station. It's still fast, even with uncoordinated movements like these; it can't be so easily tackled out of its path. This time, it does not raise its Death Rifle to destroy the station -- instead, it follows the tracks. "Here... you're here... I-i-i-i-iiii SEE you, AKANE SHINJO...!!" A horrible, tearing reverb to his personal identity, as he charges along the track, and...

        ... those protectors who chase after him will soon find space becoming a little strange, as the abandoned brother leads them down abandoned paths. The city becomes indistinct, more colours and shapes than definition; Death Knight, ahead, is the realest beacon of the route. It may become entirely clear that in pursuing him, for this moment, everyone's hands are -- however briefly -- entirely in the hands of Anti's control over his dual nature, as they traverse a space which isn't, entirely. The fog which surrounds them is not so deep, in this moment, as Anti claws the boundary open.

        They come to rest at a place entirely too physical: the fog lifts, the world resolves, and they stand on a stretch of train tracks beside an inconsequential alleyway. (Familiar, to him, now.) The foot of his mobile suit goes straight THROUGH that cheap, front-door-with-chain-link-fence-views housing; a cactus disappears under the weight of his grief and determination. "AAAAAUUuuuhhh--" A scream halfway to sobbing, and the ragged breath comes through the microphones. "No... no! Aaaughhhh! Like this, I-- I-I -- I CAN FIGHT! So long as I can fight...!!!" Anti howls, as he forces himself forward, into the commercial district of the discreet colony.

        "Sh...show yourself...! Al--khh--guaaahhh! You bastard--!! Rrrghh-- AS IF I'D STOP--!!"

        Single-minded, without a care for its transmissions, Death Knight heedlessly lumbers forward.

        Inside --

        Inside, those wires coil and clasp, sinking deep into his arms, across his torso and his abdomen and his neck. His teeth are grit tight in his agony, but just as he says -- he doesn't stop. He's even putting up a good fight, all told, all until...

        "I'll CRUSH YOU UNDERFOOT! I won't give up o--orrrgaaaahh--!!"

        Until he lets his true motivation slip through his fingers. He can't even get the words out -- that he won't give up on Akane. It descends to a pained yowl, as the illusion that Anti has come here to destroy human edifice slips through his fingers, all replaced by consumption.

        And all a sudden, the erratic, jerky movements of Death Knight -- previously sufficient mainly to keep him out of anyone's grasp and to destroy incidental buildings -- stops. The machine straightens. It is a gleaming thing, all silver with purple highlights -- and that one, baleful purple eye GLEAMS, all a sudden.

        At the exact point Anti's torment goes silent.

        It isn't a good sign.

<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.

If this were all that was happening -- especially with Anti's pursuers in tow -- that would be one thing. The Death Knight is ultimately just a Death Master in grey, isn't it? Last season's news. So 0093.

Tsutsujidai is a nascent space -- a malleable space, in some abstract senses. It doesn't quite occupy 'reality' in the way you'd expect it to -- even now, as it starts to encroach. Even now, as the Chaos Bringer effect of a kaiju-shaped heart manifests itself in the real world -- even as Tsutsujidai changes to fit its new circumstances -- it responds to some things a little differently.

In Neo Japan, achieving this level of Devil Gundam integration took the original core unit and a lot more time than this. Here, things sprint.

Maybe it's because the Death Knight's new life unit is so intimately tied to this little slice of the heart. Maybe it's because this city's pulse has already slowed to a crawl. Maybe we're just unlucky.

If you looked closely, you might see a scattering of bright sparkles from the Death Knight. An effect not known to emanate from the Death Army units. An effect of the world's walls being so thin...? Knock-on effects of the Chaos Bringer of a kaiju-shaped heart?

Or could it be the life unit of the nascent Devil Gundam's rebirth?

Whatever it is -- it's happening fast. People who saw the devastation in places like Shinjuku and Neo Japan will recognize the colony's rapid changes. The blown-out buildings. The chunks of metal rapidly spinning up into Gundam Heads, protruding from dirt and asphalt and buildings.

Or if you're at the shopping arcade...

---

A solid week of attendance at Dance Club. Ramo Marusa has managed it -- someone cared, and she's on a very different trajectory. It's worth a little bit of treating herself -- which means treating someone else, too. Sure, she's limited in how much she can spoil Ako for a few weeks while Dr. Mass gets things squared away with the office space, but it's okay; the good Doctor has also asked her to watch after Akane, and Akane *always* treats.

Funny, how small kindnesses here and there spread outward; because Akane treats her, she can treat Ako...

... which sees eight students, now -- Marusan, Ako, Namiko, Hass, and a group of students from Class 2-D -- outside a MacDaniel's a little further from school than the usual one, having just gotten some shakes. (Seven girls and one boy, presently playing a video game, if you're counting.)

"... hey, these are pretty good shakes for the price. This one is definitely quieter than the one down the street from school, too," Ako reflects, scooting a little closer to Marusan and giving her a quiet smile. Marusan, of course, returns it -- though they're interrupted by the group conversation in short order.

"I hope Fumo-Fumo Land opens up again soon..." one of the girls from 2-D whines.

"I think they're permanently closed, other than the one in Nouvelle Tokyo... we might be down to just Waterpolis," Namiko laments... before teasing, "Why, though? Did you have a hot date~?"

Hass half-facepalms, leaving one eye exposed. (Underneath the eye and the mask, though, she's smiling. If you watch her cheeks. At least, we're pretty sure she's smiling.) "They're not in our class... you can't tease everyone."

Marusan glances off to one side -- toward an open colony maintenance panel. She's back to looking tired again, a bit -- which is strange, since she hasn't been quite so direly exhausted for a week or so. "... Did you guys see that?" she asks, gaze slowly tracking back first to her classmates, then the boy from 2-D, then the girls from 2-D.

"Huh? No," the boy -- Yutaka -- answers, with a small shake of his head.

Marusan glances off again. Ako tries to get her attention with a, "Waterpolis sounds a little more exciting to me!" that comes out... a little more enthused than usual, for her.

No answer comes. Ramo glances off again, and starts walking toward the maintenance panel.

The awkward shifting starts, as people wonder if Marusan really did see something they didn't. "... Is she okay?" another girl from 2-D asks, as Marusan disappears into the maintenance shaft --

-- and the sounds of battle hit. 2-D's teenagers scatter; Ako, Namiko, and Hass look at each other.

"... Hass," Ako starts, tentative -- but not so tentative as to be unwilling to act. "Something's wrong... we need to find Ramo."

Hass's phone comes out, and she starts searching for something on Gelgoogle. "I think those tunnels run the same way as the sanitary system... if you want to try to get ahead of her, I can airdrop you a map of the access points?" ... you learn a lot by spending an amount of time generously described as 'too much' watching RL streamers.

"Okay," Ako agrees, fingers bunching up in her sleeve a bit. "Namiko, can you head the other way from me? We've got a better chance of catching up with her if --"

Namiko's already got *her* phone out, has the airdropped map, and has started jogging north. "Don't worry about it!" she calls back.

---

The Gundam Heads waste no time turning this into a second Shinjuku. They are elegant in their simplicity -- sourceless worms with the heads of heroes, twisted into sharp, venomous, ravenous things. Some fire particle beams from their mouths; others simply lash out directly into the street, upending cars and tearing into buildings.

The goal of the Gundam Heads seems to be simply to cause chaos -- to make it as difficult as possible for people to follow the line of action and take effective actions of their own. ... insofar as they have a goal, anyway.

KTS: Alexis Kerib has deployed in Devil Gundam Head.
KTS: Anti has deployed in Death Knight.
KTS: Anti has changed loadout.
KTS: Anti has deployed as a Boss for 6 opponents.
KTS: Alexis_Kerib has deployed as a Boss for 6 opponents.
KTS: Anti targets Yuta Hibiki with Goad!
KTS: Anti targets Riku Asakura with Goad!
KTS: Anti targets Chibodee Crocket with Goad!
KTS: Anti targets Asuka Shikinami Langley with Goad!
KTS: Anti targets Sousuke Sagara with Goad!
KTS: Anti targets Nidaime with Goad!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Mari Makinami Illustrious with Goad!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Ouka Nagisa with Goad!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Liam 7-020 with Goad!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Rena Lancaster with Goad!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Arriety Hearn with Goad!
KTS: Anti goads Asuka Shikinami Langley, reducing her Intuition drastically.
KTS: Alexis Kerib goads Ouka Nagisa, reducing her Intuition drastically.
KTS: Anti goads Chibodee Crocket, reducing his Intuition drastically.
KTS: Anti goads Sousuke Sagara, reducing his Intuition drastically.
KTS: Anti goads Nidaime, reducing her Intuition drastically.

KTS: Alexis Kerib goads Liam 7-020, reducing his Intuition drastically.
KTS: Alexis Kerib goads Arriety Hearn, reducing her Intuition drastically.
KTS: Alexis Kerib goads Mari Makinami Illustrious, reducing her Intuition drastically.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Kaworu doesn't need to follow Anti anywhere. Ever since disembarking Unit-04 after the battle against Diriver, he's remained in Tsutsujidai, aiming to fulfill Anti's wishes a different way. On the surface, it didn't seem to go well, but deeper within... perhaps something has begun to move within her heart.
        
        Of course, at this state, Kaworu can no longer let that simply be. None of them can afford gentle, slow action any further. That's why, after Akane bid him begone from her sight, yet also told him it was okay for him to stay at school, Kaworu went... somewhere a little different.
        
        From where he sits in his normal school outfit on a bench in the shopping arcade, injured arm splayed in its sling on his lap, uninjured hand resting atop his walking cane, he watches the Death Knight glittering with rainbow lights. It's quite familiar. So is the face of a certain high schooler and close friend of Akane's heading towards a certain maintenance panel while her friends hang back in distraction for a crucial moment. It only takes him a fraction of a second to consider. He is worried about Anti--from his pained screams of defiance to his ominous silence within that abominable giant--but he understands the young kaiju's true aim. The way to best help him is...
        
        "Ramo Marusa," he calls, voice calm and even as it usually is. A little bit of pressure from his hand on his cane, and he floats upright onto his feet, favoring his left leg. Surely an effect of the low gravity, since Tsutsujidai is and always has been a colony. "Might I come with you?"
        
        He doesn't explain where he's been or how he got those injuries implied by his cane and sling. But then, Kaworu's always been a little strange like that. Either way, he'll head with her down that panel, just a moment before the noises of battle thunder and Ako and the others realize that Marusan has gone.

KTS: Anti goads Riku Asakura, reducing his Intuition drastically.

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

DG Cells. It's all Chibodee can think about the moment the Shuffle Alliance breaks the news. The kid has DG cells in him. It's the worst kind of poison there is -- the nanotech plague that destroyed so many lives. The Crest Holders barely held back the tide and explosions in space aren't necessarily clean and neat. Chibodee wasn't naive enough to believe they'd wiped out the threat for good. Nothing is ever over.

Chibodee will find the monster that did this to that kid. It doesn't matter if the kid is a kaiju -- he's a *kid*, and at least the men who took the DG Cells into themselves could take responsibility for themselves. Experimenting on a child is one of the most evil things Chibodee can think of. His fists ache with the anticipation of driving them into whatever ghoul would put DG Cells into a kid.

Gundam Maxter gets prepped for combat, lined up to get fired down from Neo-America at a moment's notice nearly anywhere on Earth. Chibodee starts training like he's going up for a title fight, getting lean and tight and ready. Cath mixes him some supplement cocktails that are banned in normal boxing tournaments. He's getting too old to play fair with these people.

The alarms start in Nouvelle Tokyo. Chibodee pulls himself into his Trace Suit and wraps bandages around his fists while Maxter is in transit. It focuses him on what he's got to do. First they've got to down the kid, and then he's got to try to do what Domon does. Chibodee doesn't know if he's got what it takes. It doesn't matter -- he has to try.

Gundam Maxter lands some distance back on the tracks. The Death Knight is ahead of him. Gundam Maxter swings up onto its surfboard and races after the machine. Time and space start to fragment, but Chibodee Crocket has never been fully part of this universe anyway. Maxter starts loading shells into its revolvers, not clear to fire until he knows reality will allow his bullets to advance.

Back through the warp. Death Knight's pilot is in pain. The DG Cells are feeding now, Chibodee knows, using the pain and anguish as fuel. Every second this goes on is another notch off some invisible bar. When it gets low enough, there's no coming back for this kid.

Normally, Gundam Maxter is content to be in the middle of the pack, or hanging back with the rear line and chipping away. Chibodee considers himself useful as a distraction if some hotshot pilot or soft-eyed Whisper or one of the other sparkly Newtype-adjacent kids needs time to work through their feelings. He's not the main event, Chibodee's learned. His job is to make sure these people are protected from each other and themselves. Especially themselves.

The crying stops. The gleam passes through his gaze. It is no longer Giant Robots and Feelings time. It is now Kill or Be Killed time. Handle the terror. Just fight.

The old Chibodee comes out. This has become too serious to be left to chance. Gundam Maxter blazes in on its surfboard and swings at the Death Knight's lower back, hitting it like there's going to be no tomorrow if he doesn't inflict immense damage very quickly.

"COME AT ME BROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO," Chibodee bellows. "IF YOU WANNA BE THE MAN, YOU GOTTA BEAT THE MAN!"

KTS: Chibodee Crocket targets Anti with Left Hook!
KTS: Anti goads Yuta Hibiki, reducing his Intuition drastically.

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

Ranka's eyes turn to the exact position of the alleyway as the crash and glitter of rainbow lights resounds throughout Tsutsujidai. She knows who it is immediately.

I'm also saying
I am afraid, just like her

She doesn't want to think of what's above the sky, where Tsutsujidai is right now the changes to the city, it makes her head hurt. She's not cut out for dealing with hard truths. She's been here since Friday, she never left. The train offered no way out.

Mostly she's been hanging around the Shopping Arcade, her yellow summer dress a little dirty if one looks close. She's mostly been not paying attention to the comings and goings of the others, the conversations. It all seems surreal.

However, the vibe has changed, and she's looking around as if dazed, a glimpse of a girl in silver hair passing by. It's not something she'd normally notice. However a familiar warm glow registers, a pale skinned white haired boy with a cane, "Kaworu?" Latching onto that, she dashes forward, a boy with a cane, it shouldn't be hard to catch up. However, she turns the corner and... he's not there.

"Where..."

'Something's wrong... we need to find Ramo.'

"Uh..." Ranka blinks owlishly as Namiko jogs off, and moves up to Ako, "...I think I saw her go this way, maybe? Kaworu was following her-" Then more softly, "-I think." She knows Kaworu goes to the same school. So perhaps she'll recognize the name.

Whether Ako agrees to go with her or not, soon after that she's trying to follow in the direction she thought he went - to catch up as quickly as possible.

KTS: Alexis Kerib goads Rena Lancaster, reducing her Intuition drastically.

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

Nidaime was, as usual, hoping for a little more time. Anti had seemed so confident, so proud, so victorious that she never imagined that something like this would happen. Then again, she never really expected the Chaos Bringer effect to happen so quickly with Tsutsujidai either in a reaction, perhaps, to Akane's lessening control of her own world.

Anti isn't the only one who has some cheats to employ stranger methods of leaving and arriving in Tsutsujidai a lot more quickly than normal. Nidaime gets a strange feeling and rushes out to Nouvelle Tokyo, riding Anosillus who can--in fact move a lot more quickly than you'd expect from its size. Why is Anosillus the First helping now when he hadn't before well...

...Nidaime pleaded. And begged. And insisted again and again that Anti was a good boy. He was just learning. He just needed help.

And all of that bounced off of Anosillus's thick hide. It wasn't until Unison pressed her hand on Anosillus's back leg and told Anosillus a story.

A long time ago, Unison brought Nidaime to the outside world. There were old friends of Gridman--the Shuffle Alliance--that had also existed and defended the world for ages past. In the 4000 years of their existence, Unison grew to know the kinds of people that made up the Shuffle Alliance quite well through the music they enjoyed listening to, to the songs they sang, to even their battlecries--an extremely short genre of song that nonetheless often expressed passion just as powerfully as any melody.

She needed not do anything but admire them but then she created a daughter with Anosillus. A kaiju girl they hoped would live a fruitful life, yes, but also guard the barrier between the Cognitive Realm and the Physical Layer with compassion and the kind of wisdom only Master Asia and the Shuffle Alliance could provide, individuals who cared deeply for their environment and world and often had to make difficult choices.

And then the Devil Gundam happened early on in Nidaime's training. Her mentors and loved ones killed themselves to save their successors, successors they had only met that day--successors certainly not ready to carry the weight of their Crests.

And so Unison took Anosillus the Second to one Sayla Mass and her ward Leina Ashta.

Instead of learning from the Shuffles, Nidaime learned from a nurse and a girl, both of whom had felt the sting of war quite heavily. And Nidaime grew close to them. And she found a family that she didn't have to interpret through psionic impressions or music theory.

And then she had to leave them. And she was alone again. But she never forgot how her mother met her father and despite being quite strange themselves, were able to find people they'd risk everything for.

And now, slowly, Nidaime has started finding her own strange people. Like mother like daughter.

No words were exchanged for this story. Unison did not speak it through words. She could just remember it, feel it--and Anosillus understood it completely.

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

The First relented.

And now, Nidaime remembers how her father had been controlled and needed to be saved by someone who could see his heart. She remembers how she wished she could save those kind warriors, how she wished she could heave healed Master Asia's heart so he never had to do all those terrible things and ruin so many lives and hurt Chibodee so much. And she could have prevented it all if only she noticed the Master of the East's ennui.

If only she had unlocked the power of the Fixer Beam.

And she still hasn't unlocked the power of the Fixer Beam. She is still not ready, and she knows this.

...But the First, old and tired he may be, has the necessary tools to fight this battle, to fight to save Anti from the DG Cells infesting him. He is so tired. He has fought so hard, but again he takes the stage for his daughter because that's what an Anopapa does.

"GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK!!" Anosillus roars mightily in challenge of the Death Knight, even as it goes silent, even as its eye gleams. For Anti this might be the most important day of his life, but for Anosillus this is just another day at work.

"Anti..." Nidaime murmurs. "Why...why did you step into that machine again?" She knows the answer. "For Akane...? But how does this help Akane...?" Show yourself Alexis? That tells her. "He...he wants to take on Alexis...! But Alexis can't be defeated with violence...!"

But right now Anti's desires might be secondary to the problem of what might be a new Devil Gundam being birthed here and now.

"Chibi..." Nidaime asks. "Can you save him? Can you save him without....killing yourself?"

She is not content with the old Shuffles, it seems. She insists Chibodee surpass them with this one quiet request.

KTS: Nidaime has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Chibodee Crocket
KTS: Nidaime: Will Barrier Activates.
KTS: Nidaime targets Chibodee Crocket with Heart!

<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.

Already here in Tsutsujidai, a witch watchers as reality shifts for others; she sees the transition point of the others approaching. She hears Anti scream...

Yes. Yes, that is the expected outcome. Elisa Kafim watches from far away from the battle as a whole. But this... This is much more interesting, the way things change. Tsutsujidai changes. The bright sparkles come. The colony rapidly changes.

It is not particularly familiar to her. But it doesn't need to be. She watches, from her position some distance away, and pours a glass of wine from a bottle that came from within the penthouse. She lifts her glass and raises it towards the Death Knight, as if in a toast.

"Good luck, Anti."

"...Perhaps they'll show me a 'miracle' after all. ...Ahahahahaha..."

Elisa Kafim sips the red, red liquid in her glass, and it might as well be blood. But it isn't.

No, the blood is carefully stowed away in its vials. She wouldn't waste it on something like this.

KTS: Nidaime bares his heart, letting Chibodee Crocket deal some extra damage!

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

It is fortunate for Sousuke Sagara that when he gets the call - to his real phone, his work phone, the secured terminal he carries everywhere - it is after school. He is on his way to a student council meeting, attending as President Hayashimizu's security advisor, a role he often serves.

But the alert says Death Army Unit Spotted, and he immediately turns, tells Chidori to get everyone to the shelters, and goes to hotwire someone's car to get him to the recently-opened Geotron 'garage' that serves as a Shuffle Alliance depot as soon as possible.

He slides into Arbalest's cockpit, still in his button-down school uniform, grabbing the controls and keying in the boot up. AL replies, "Sergeant S. Sagara, identity acknowledged. Warning: No protective gear detected. Protective gear is strongly advised at your selected--"

"No time for that, we'll lose the target! Mission parameters are pursuit and capture!"

"Roger."

"ECS Invisibility mode and let's go, AL!"

"Roger."

Arbalest stands up from the folded-over squat it sits in at rest, the cockpit hatch sliding closed at the base of the neck. Its green eyes ignite, and then disappear. The doors open. Nothing visible departs, though there is the loud sound of footsteps before Arbalest leaps for the skies.

---

"Sergeant," AL says, as they pursue the Death Knight down the open tracks.

"What is it, AL?" Sousuke grunts, wary for the moment of unconsciousness.

"The target appears to be a Death Army Soldier," AL says. "The recommended engagement parameters call for elimination, not capture."

"I'm aware, AL."

"Shall I update--"

"No."

"Roger."

---

The unconsciousness never comes; a strange experience. Sousuke's sure the Colonel will find these tapes a revelation, but for now, he finds himself focused on the Death Knight's back.

They're watching, silently, from a rooftop, as the Death Knight screams. Shudders.

Stops. Gleams.

"Sergeant," AL says. "It is unlikely--"

"Stage 3 is treatable at a hospital," Sousuke mutters.

"Training message: What is 'stage 3'?"

"It's a term for the progression of a disease," Sousuke says, clipped.

And if that's all that happened, all might be well; but instead, the infection of the Devil Gundam runs wild in seconds.

"Training message," AL says, as Sousuke's mouth goes dry, as buildings hollow out and turn into demons before him. "Is this still Stage 3?"

Sousuke's hands firm on the control bars. "Combat power, AL," Sousuke says. "We're going in."

One, two, three, four seconds pass. Then: "Roger. Request completed."

Arbalest appears in a flash of electric blue a heartbeat before it leaps into the air, unslinging its shotcannon, and firing several rounds down toward the horrible core of all this. "ANTI!" Sousuke roars on open channels without a care.

What is he looking for? What is he HERE for? This is miles, miles, and miles beyond him, but not for even a moment does he find himself willing to turn away, even as the muzzle flash of his shotgun fills his screen.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

An alarm blares. So soon after the first. Nouvelle Tokyo. "Early reports say it's Death Army. One suit." Asuka was already on base, with the snap of a vacuum seal on her plug suit, she's ready to go. "Him again." As she mulls over the Protector of Tsutsujidai. All the pieces fall into place now. It all just makes sense. "... him again." She says more quietly. Trying her best not to catch Mari's eye, if she's around. Not long after her entry plug fills with LCL, the smell of blood fresh, fresh as the blood haze from not so long ago.

En route, something bugs her, more and more, until she flips on the comms, "<Hey uh... Catty Four-Eyes. I was thinking. STORAGE was telling me they've never encountered something like this munchkin. So maybe we, try to take him capti->

The train lurches a moment later trying to interrupt her, rocketing down the track at terrible speed, and coming from the direction it does, it enters the fog and nearly immediately catches sight of the Death Knight. Fearing Collision, the emergency brakes are struck prematurely. The train screams to as Asuka is sloshed back and forth in her entry plug. "<Is THAT how it's going to be?>"

Her view screen tracks his departure, and her hands grasp the induction levers as she hits a few buttons within them. "<I'm not waiting any longer. Evangelion Unit-02 - Launching!>" Rather than waiting for the platform to raise, the crimson giant simply tears itself free, as if some dormant Colossus woke up while being transported to a museum. She has choices. The Thunder Spear. The Cross Bow. The Prog Knife. Certainly she's more familiar with these weapons than the rest. More practiced.

However... she sees a kid's face, frozen up, after she upbraided him. Trembling, rigid. She remembers every way he's hurt that kid before. Every single way she's hurt that Purple Kaiju with that single minded purpose.

What are you, stupid?
It's a pattern.
... I decided to change course. And it didn't matter.

Asuka hits the switch to signal another crate to pop open. A glaive explodes out of a crate. The Evangelion grabs it out of mid-air, and with a flourishing spin, she calls out, "<In pursuit. See if you can't make your backup less sloppy this time you Catty Four-Eyes!>" The Evangelion takes off at a dead sprint, the Umbilicus unspooling rapidly to try and keep up.

Once in the alley, the Evangelion actually points the glaive down, 'I'll CRUSH YOU UNDERFOOT! I won't give up o--orrrgaaaahh--!!' It's at least an attitude she can relate to, "<Take it easy.>"

It goes silent. Asuka and her Evangelion pauses. The DG Cells are inert right?

As if I'd ever accept your help! AS IF I HAVE A HUMAN HEART!

Right?

Asuka's eyes suddenly go wide as the AT Field of her Eva flares into life and everything goes to hell. With her comms off she breathes in hard, again, and again as bubbles form. "Of course. Stupid of me... Stupid..." She says so softly, as her breathing rate picks up and...

"...I'll make it quick." Levelling the spear off she rushes in, footsteps pounding, the glaive humming to life. As she tries to aggressively skewer the thing right through it's back. Nothing is quick with DG Cells, that she knows. However she'd like to think that it could be.

She's never been afforded a silent long goodbye before. Always quick, and over too soon, severed so rapidly that one would never think a connection never formed to begin with. Why should today be any different?

KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Anti with Boxer 57mm Shotcannon Shotshell!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Anti with Sonic Glaive Aggression!

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

The scream was enough to make Riku's blood go cold. His head snaps the moment he hears the chaos. Running to see what had happened\, to see what had become of Anti. He shouldn't have let him go\, not without healing him first. He should have pressed harder\, he should have done more. For a moment\, Riku is starting to hesitate...

He takes a steadying breath\, "Standing around doing nothing...won't get anything done.." he says\, repeating the mantra to himself. He walks carefully\, he knew it would likely have come to this. He should have done more...but he couldn't. He had to show Anti the trust he needed...because Anti trusted him to rescue him if this happened. It was still far more horrible than he ever expected.

The Fusion Z-Raiser pops into his hand. He remembers what Sayla said\, those words were carved into his heart that day.

'If it progresses to stage four\, they would need a miracle to save him.'

He places the coin of Orb into the slot. "You go." He calls out\, placing the capsule of Ultraman into the first slot. "I go\," Riku says full of seriousness. The Belial capsule is placed on the other side. "Here we go!" The slider of the Z-Raiser portion of the Fusion Z-Raiser is activated\, sliding down. Once\, twice\, three times.

"Fusion Rise!"

"Time to save Anti\," He says firmly\, and holds the Raiser to his chest\, triggering the button. "GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!" he shouts\, as the small Riku starts to grow\, brimming with blue fire as he grows into the very large Ultraman Geed. Geed runs\, right for Anti. He doesn't stop\, he doesn't hesitate. He has only one thing on his mind.

"I promise you Anti..." he says\, aiming a punch for the side of the Death Knight\, "That I'll save you...NO MATTER WHAT!"

KTS: Riku Asakura targets Anti with Geed Punch!

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

When word came to the Ra Mari that a unit -- a Devil Army unit -- made its way to Tsutsujidai, Rena Lancaster knew she had to launch. The sight of Anti falling away remains in her mind's eyes. Diquieting; a sense that she failed.

The YF-25A Prophecy soars through the air, currently in fighter mode, over the sky of Tsutsujidai. The sky that ends in an artificial city, high above. Rena glances at it, before she looks down at the Death Knight, and the particles moving away from it. Then, she sees something she only saw on the news four years ago: Gundam Heads, rising up, and getting in the way. Rena hisses, and the YF-25A sits down in their midst. As it lands, its feet unfold, arms spring out, and the nose cone folds down. The head rises. The head-mounted vulcan turns up, then down, then horizontally, as it automatically tracks.

The Variable Fighter hits the ground near the railroad tracks, feet-thrusters firing. Two rings of dust blow out, before it hits the ground. The Prophecy turns its head; the visor has lights flicker across it, as the cameras settle on the Death Knight.

"ANTI!" she shouts. Then, the YF-25A turns, aiming the gun pod for one of the Gundam Heads. The gatling pod fires; rounds pour out, shooting at the closest of the heads.

<Pose Tracker> Ouka Nagisa has posed.

        It has been over a week since the 'gas leak explosion' in the girl's poolside locker room at Tokyo-3 Municipal. One of the two on-paper victims of that explosion, Ouka Nagisa, has apparently fully recovered. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say she has been repaired. At least one individual now has remarked on her sudden shift in behavior, recollection and attitude since the attack. And it's for that reason, in fact, that she is currently on an inactive status with NERV.

        ... Not that working as a NERV Auxiliary is her primary deployment. Nor is being a G-Hound Special Forces soldier, for that matter. In truth her service and her loyalty is always first and foremost to The School and its administrators. And it is within that role that she serves today.

        Egret Feff is a mysterious individual even amongst the other secretive School Administrators. Having largely withdrawn from the Boosted Child project after intense disagreements with both Koch and Setme over their path forward, he now works on his own side project alone. He rarely interacts with Ouka or her siblings... however his words are just as much law to her as are the words of any of the other administrators. His demand is simple:

        Find the Death Knight. Fight the Death Knight, in melee if at all possible, and return to him with her unit. No one outside The School should be told about her mission. No one within The School needs to know about her mission. Pursuit of this goal should exceed all other considerations.

        Especially personal safety.

        When the alarms start in Nouvelle Tokyo and the first pictures and video start coming in, that's when Dr. Feff contacts Ouka over her personal communicator. All it takes is a command phrase, followed with a brief clarification: "It is not necessary to engage the Death Knight. Engage any mutagenic Gundam units in the area, and return by any means necessary." Ouka's eyes have become flat, empty, without expression. She makes her way to the nearest G-Hound base and takes the first available unit...

        ...

        A ReZEL utilizing G-Hound IFFs flies into the area, swooping low to the ground before transforming into its Mobile Suit mode. The unit lands hard, the metallic feet digging hard into the city street and pushing up asphalt and dirt. No doubt after such a maneuver the pilot would herself be shaken up. But if that's the case she makes no sign. Instead it immediately ignites its thrusters, sliding aggressively across the ground and firing its head vulcans into the mass of mutating Gundam heads, looking for all the world like it intends to engage in melee combat!

KTS: Ouka Nagisa has activated the Rouse Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Alexis Kerib with GU-17A Gatling Gun Pod!
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Ouka Nagisa targets Alexis Kerib with Head Vulcans Dash-and-Fire!
KTS: Alexis Kerib partially guards Rena Lancaster's GU-17A Gatling Gun Pod, taking 1620 damage!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Ouka Nagisa's Head Vulcans Dash-and-Fire, taking 3240 damage!
KTS: Ouka Nagisa has engaged Alexis Kerib!
KTS: Anti parries Chibodee Crocket's Left Hook, taking 1530 damage!
KTS: Chibodee Crocket has engaged Anti!

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Yuta wasn't ready. He was still reeling from the new realities he had to contend with, the truths of his world, and his existence. It all felt like an immense weight bearing down on him, as though the upside-down city in the sky was held up by his shoulders alone.

But it didn't matter if he was ready. The Death Knight was here -- along with all their friends -- and Yuta couldn't keep any of them waiting. "Access... flash!"

Gridman races down the streets toward the enemy, situating himself next to Ultraman Geed. "You're not alone! We can do this, together!"

Blessedly, Yuta isn't alone, either. Calibur had insisted on joining him, and the weight of the enormous sword in Gridman's hands makes him feel a bit more brave. Yuta wasn't sure how they were going to get Anti out of this mess, but all that mattered in this moment was giving it his all!

"Let's go! Calibur Slash!" Gridman slashes up with great force, aiming for the Death Knight's chest.

KTS: Yuta Hibiki targets Anti with Gridlight Saber Slash!
KTS: Anti blocks Sousuke Sagara's Boxer 57mm Shotcannon Shotshell, taking 2870 damage!
KTS: Anti blocks Riku Asakura's Geed Punch, taking 2040 damage!
KTS: Riku Asakura has engaged Anti!

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        Arriety is still stationed in Nouvelle Tokyo, given the high alert nature of the situation. She's not certain about being on call like this, but there's no other choice. They still needed her help... and she can still make a difference. That boy... that human-hearted kaiju...

        The alarm comes all too swiftly, and Arriety is already hurrying to the Ra Mari's hangar and slips into the cockpit with too much ease. This is getting to be too practiced a routine for her. She adjusts the neckpiece of her normal suit, and slips her helmet on.

        "Let's go, Minae," she calls. The Myrmekes Zeta marches towards the catapult, as the guiding lights come online. The hangar hatch opens, and two crewmember wave marshalling wands to either side.

        "Arriety Hearn, Myrmekes Zeta... launching!"

        ~*~

        The Zeta is aloft on the surface of Nouvelle Tokyo's waters, having spotted the Death Knight. Her eyes widen as she hears his cries:

        LISTEN TO ME, GODDAMNIT! I'm not done... yet..!!

        Arriety griamces further as she steps on the pedal, the vernier thrusters roaring to full life. Something feels really bad and off right now... but...

        Something is strange -- the city becomes indistinct, like shapes and colours... it almost feels like one of her psychic sessions with Rena or Eight. Given what Nidaime said earlier, about the Chaos Bringer effect... anything could happen at this point, as she plunges into the fog.

        The world resolves... and Anti starts to crash into housing. Arriety's heart wrenches, but there's very little she can do now at the moment. "Anti..."

        But then-- the erratic movements stop. Anti's torment goes silent. And that purple eye gleams...

        "No... was he taken over?"

        But it doesn't stop there -- Arriety nearly misses the sparkles coming out of the Death Knight, but then the colony rapidly changes. Chunks of metal rapidly spin up into Gundam Heads, protruding from the debris all over them.

        She's about to push towards the Death Knight's space, before--

        Her entire world turns cold and blue, as a chill sensation overtakes her. For a moment, the shadows of her face are the universe. Then, even her face melts away, leaving only her eyes over the landscape of a vast and unknowable space as the ghostly image of Ranka hurrying in concern after Namiko and Ako echoes in her mind. An open colony maintenance shaft...?

        "Ranka...!"

        She's not as familiar with the others as Ranka, but it's clear: these people are in danger, or will be soon.

        "Rena, I sensed Ranka's presence..." Arriety answers. "I'm going to go protect her."

        The Zeta fires off into the distance, landing a short distance away around the shopping arcade as she fires off a few snapshots from her beam rifle at a nearby Gundam Head threatening to lance the complex with a particle beam. Where are they...? What's happening?

KTS: Arriety Hearn targets Alexis Kerib with Beam Rifle Shot!
KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Arriety Hearn's Beam Rifle Shot, taking 3600 damage!
KTS: Anti fails to evade Asuka Shikinami Langley's Sonic Glaive Aggression, taking 3075 damage!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has engaged Anti!
KTS: Anti fails to parry Yuta Hibiki's Gridlight Saber Slash, taking 5220 damage!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has engaged Anti!

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        Liam has been on standby, at his own request, ever since he and the Proto Helios returned to Tokyo-3. The Tsutsujidai situation has changed dramatically in only a matter of days, and Nidaime pulled no punches when she told everyone how it could end. The dread in Liam's gut has hardened into grim resolve. Whatever happens next--and Liam is certain something will--he'll be there to face it.

        Not ten minutes after the alarm first went off--as the Death Knight half-rampages, half-stumbles toward the train station--the Proto Helios touches down, its hull glowing from the heat of its own thrusters. In the cockpit, Liam's jaw drops. His eyes widen. He recognizes that machine not from personal experience, but from NERV's archived mission data. The horrible screams only provide confirmation he doesn't need.

        "ANTI!" Liam screams. His mic is on. He's making no attempt to conceal his identity. He's off and running in the next heartbeat. The Proto Helios takes off like a sprinter at the starting gate, hurtling after the Death Knight as it approaches the train station. Friendly signatures light up on the radar--'Ultraman A', Eva-02, Rena's VF. A kaiju Liam doesn't recognize. Liam focuses on one of them, and opens a transmission, even as the sight of the machine sends chills down his spine.

        Gundam Maxter.

        "Chibodee," Liam transmits, his voice raw but full of steel. "Anti's in there. BioNet--BioNet did this to him. He's like me. We have to--we can't let them win. Please."

        Liam's body keeps running as if on autopilot, and the Trace Suit unfailing feeds his motions to his Gundam. The Proto Helios keeps chasing after Anti, the SUNBURST system deliberately disengaged to avoid incidental damage to his allies--and civilian infrastructure.

        They're through. Death Knight flattens a block of cheap housing, and Liam winces as he steps through the ruins.

        What he sees on the other side freezes his blood. It's manifesting now, in all its hideous glory. If Chibodee and the others struggled to stop the Devil Gundam at the height of their strength--and he couldn't beat them--what good can he do?

        But then he thinks back to the scared child who attacked him, the scared child who is now being assimilated by the DG Cells that make up his machine. "Anti," Liam says. Tears drip down his cheeks from behind his ocular heatshields. "Hold on. PLEASE, HOLD ON! WE'LL GET YOU OUT!" The Proto Helios skids to a stop in the middle of the street, clenches its hands at its sides. Cannon ports on its torso slide open, revealing the glowing apertures of plasma weaponry. "Chibodee! Gridman! Asuka! I'll keep them off you for as long as I can!"

        Brilliant sparks of plasma pour into the air as Liam opens fire, peppering the mass of Gundam Heads. "SUNBURST engaged," he intones. More plasma starts to pour from the Proto Helios' open vents. Its armor temperature starts to climb; the heat-haze around it starts to flash-boil the atmospheric moisture of the muggy summer sky.

KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Alexis Kerib with FACULA - Plasma Shot!
KTS: Alexis Kerib partially guards Liam 7-020's FACULA - Plasma Shot, taking 2542 damage!

<Pose Tracker> BC-001 Minae has posed.

        "Something is-- really wrong," Minae murmurs from within the Myrmekes cockpit; she's staring with her brow furrowed at the navigation screen throughout the pursuit. She's trying and failing to fully decipher where they're headed and what route they're taking to get there, and it's a sensation the robot is quickly discovering she doesn't like at all. This isn't like the first time she came to Tsutsujidai - there she had no sense of position at all, lost in the sleepy nature of the location, and yet somehow it was more preferable than trying to keep up with this shifting mass of contradictory information.

        "This is BC-001 Minae to all units listening," the robot doesn't chirp across comms for once, her voice held solemn and urgent. "Targeting and logistics data will be available as soon as I can. I just wanted to say... please be careful. I'm not in any position to ask that you go easy on him, but..." Minae hesitates as she looks down at the console, for once in her life not focused on something but looking right past it and beyond instead. What would be different now, if that boy had had their support before all of this? Is there a hope of reaching him? She shakes herself past the moment, expression tight. "But I'm going to ask it anyway."

        "Ah-ri, Rena, be careful," she murmurs on a more private line right afterwards. "If it came down to a race between me and the DG Cells... I don't think I'd win." Another rarity - there's a tremor in the back of her voice. There isn't a whole lot that can truly hurt you when you have backups, but it's all too easy to imagine those cells transmitting back to her base, or rewriting something at her core. Still, her expression is firm. "... not that we can let that stop us, though."

        Her gaze lingers on the Death Knight's blip on her radar a little longer, then she focuses back in as an array of new contacts start to spring up seemingly out of nowhere - Gundam Head after Gundam Head after Gundam Head rising from the ground to begin spreading destruction. "Multiple new contacts! I'm trying to track them all, just--"

        There's a spike of frustration. She's not used to feeling something like this, the air and her sense of reality so indistinct and pervasive. For a robot so full of telemetry, being unable to properly place herself is something that strikes deeply at her, and at that spark she's still unknowingly trying to nurture. It's only when Arriety declares their course of action that she can focus more properly: "Okay!" she calls back as she makes the motion of sucking in a breath, and refocuses herself as her hands fly across the console to deliver her payload of information.

KTS: BC-001 Minae targets Arriety Hearn, Rena Lancaster, and Liam 7-020 with Awe.
KTS: BC-001 Minae inspires awe, increasing Arriety Hearn's Morale!
KTS: BC-001 Minae inspires awe, increasing Liam 7-020's Morale!
KTS: BC-001 Minae inspires awe, increasing Rena Lancaster's Morale!

<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.

Anti did not ask her for help.
And Mari Makinami Illustrious did not offer to help him.

After all, to her, it was already something so obvious it did not need to be said:

        Anti needed help.
        And Mari Makinami Illustrious wanted to help him.

        o/` "Filled with courage and hope out of the blue,
                Your head's barely above water, so I'm off to rescue you
                No one believes you, despite the long road you've walked,
                Pushing on ahead without ever losing your way!" o/`

It's the same song as the other day, interrupted by the abrupt appearance of Anti's message-in-a-Kaiju. It carries across the train as it barrels in pursuit of the reported Death Army, carrying with it a defiant, indefatigable kind of energy as the other Evangelion pilot across from Unit-04 sits in silence.

Pumped up. Unbeatable.

Optimistic, against all evidence to the contrary.

But the Undesignated Child's singing comes to a brief stall, at that beginning of that question. Asuka never finishes, by the time the train penetrates the fog. Mari Makinami's eyes shut the moment the Death Knight falls into their trajectory, and the train screams to a break. She is the picture of serenity as she rocks violently forward.

'So maybe we, try to take him capti-'

"You've got a good heart despite your best attempts, princess," Mari remarks, mostly to herself, as Asuka launches. Her eyes crack open as she watches Evangelion Unit-02 go. "... But I don't think that'd do any good for him, either." Fingers curl around her controls.

"Even a rescued stray needs its space to grow."

Once in Nouvelle Tokyo, now somewhere much further away, Mari's gaze sweeps the impromptu battlefield devastating a landscape such battles never should have touched to begin with. Her brows furrow, faintly, in rare consternation... but she takes a deep breath.

        o/` "I'm not doing it for anybody else!
                I'm forever fighting a battle against myself!
                No turning back after this,
                I can't afford to lose!
                I can't change my destiny -- so I'll embrace it--!" o/`

And from the train depths, Evangelion Unit-04 leaps. A progressive knife is spit out into the air as the Eva soars.

It snatches its short blade out of the air at the same time it looks to crash into the top of one of those Gundam Heads, body curled, looking to drive the blade deep into its cranium and -tear-.

"<Roger, princess!"> shouts the unnumbered Child.

"<I know you'll get the timing right, this time! Just remember the value even a few seconds have when it's for something you want!">

It might sound like a tease, but --

In the face of what Anti is currently struggling with...

Maybe Mari means something else entirely; something entirely sincere.

KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious targets Alexis Kerib with Progressive Knife Cut!
KTS: Alexis Kerib successfully evades Mari Makinami Illustrious's Progressive Knife Cut

<Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.

        Come at me, Chibodee cries, entirely, agonisingly human. Death Knight turns -- catches his left hook in its right, hand clutching, TWISTING...

        Utterly unmoved by his war-howl, no matter how charming battlecries are, to the Sound Spirit watching over them.

        It turns its shoulder-mounted shield into Sousuke's shotcannons; it turns, and flings Gundam Maxter into the path of Geed's own punch, flashing to the side to thrust a wound into his side. (There's a circular saw, embedded in its knuckles. It spins, wicked.) Taking up its rifle, it fires a laser blast towards the Arbalest which draws so much power from the meal inside it, moving quickly -- but not quite quickly enough to avoid the Sonic Glaive slamming into its back.

        The hole exposed isn't a black, merciful nothing; it is full of wires and gleaming, grey cells. They weave together, when the Death Knight pulls away. It fires at her, just the same -- and at the giant turtle kaiju helping the Gundam.

        But then -- CALIBUR SLASH -- there's a stirring sense, in the silvery Death Knight, a psychic flash of recognition. Faint, but perceivable, for those sensitive and searching.

        The Devil Gundam moves to catch the sword-blade just as swiftly, of course -- but there's a jerk to its grasp which has it failing to parry the calibur.

        "grrri...idman..."

        Anti's voice is weak and thready, as the radio picks it up. Anger helps to fill those gouged-out gaps, slowly, and not without pain. Just as Mari sees -- he is fighting a battle against himself. "... yyyou... BASTARD...!!"

        The Death Knight lurches forward, circular saw at his knuckles spinning in a left hook which looks --

        Well, a lot like Geed's. A lot like Maxter's, too.

KTS: Anti targets Chibodee Crocket with Carcass Carving!
KTS: Anti targets Riku Asakura with Carcass Carving!
KTS: Anti targets Sousuke Sagara with Consumption Blast!
KTS: Anti Changes attack to Asuka Shikinami Langley and Nidaime with Rifle Barrage.
KTS: Anti targets Yuta Hibiki with ME AGAIN - Ripper!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley rushes into the attack!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley's EN Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley partially guards Anti's Rifle Barrage, taking 3770 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Anti's DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE! activates, causing Sparkle!

<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.

Kaworu wouldn't need to explain his injuries; Akane already spun some bullshit excuse up for his absence to the Dance Club, and Marusan was actually there this time so that works out just fine.

That said, Ramo Marusa is not in much of a mood to process such things anyway. Indeed: Ramo doesn't look at Kaworu at all, despite him floating over toward her; her gaze remains directly forward, her expression flat. She does offer a toneless, "This way," continuing her even progress forward. She doesn't sound like herself.

Really, she doesn't sound like anyone.

Ranka approaches Ako, and Ako gives her a small, slightly worried nod after looking her over once. (She's cute, she reflects, in that kind of puppy dog way. The dirty dress suggests she doesn't stress too much about how she comes off to other people, and probably isn't particularly shallow herself either.)

"Nagi-chi was here?" Ako asks, a little startled. She'd thought he wouldn't be coming back. This at least gives her a little more to go off than worry -- so she moves with Ranka, trying to catch up.

---

Alexis steals up behind Elisa, looming as he so often does. "I'm surprised to see you here," he says, his tone as pleasant and shallow as it always is. "Do you mind if we watch this transpire together?"

He does not wait for an answer.

---

Akane stares out her window at the chaos. Yep. There's Anti again. In Death Knight again. Causing problems again.

'The help I've been getting --'

Akane's stare turns withering. He should have gotten better help before it came to this. She didn't make him so he'd make stupid decisions.

(She'd made him because she couldn't make good ones and needed someone else to.)

A tiny slice of time passes where she considers sending a kaiju out -- or even simply willing the Venora to 'fix' the city, in its present state. ... This isn't a problem a kaiju can solve, though. Kaiju are, in the end, nothing but destroyers.

This is making that abundantly clear.

---

Rena opens fire on the Gundam Heads with the VF's gunpod, and snaps the teeth of one of them. She immediately gets designated as a high-priority threat, her machine meeting with a barrage of particle beam fire from two more of the heads while the first lets out a cry. Ouka and her ReZEL follow up shortly with a burst of up-close vulcan fire that takes down the head Rena started on, only to get lashed out at with a forceful head-smash.

Arriety's beam rifle punctures clean through one of the Gundam Heads; it decides two can play at that game, and whirls right around to fire a beam of its own. The whirl leaves it unsteady and irregular.

Vented plasma does a great job of nearly tearing through one of the wormlike growths on which a Gundam Head sits. It flops to the ground, almost incapable of movement, and fires a small pulse of Minovsky beam fire for its aggressor. Already that wound has begun to knit, though.

The Devil Gundam Head Mari and Eva Unit-04 head for whips backward, taking the knife in its teeth as it comes down. For her trouble, Mari receives a point-blank blast that threatens to *engulf* even the much larger giant.

---

Pursuing Kaworu and the girls down the maintenance area requires some care; at that distance, they can be picked up irregularly on sensors through the walls, and it's easy enough to move in parallel... but Gundam Heads start worming their way into the MS-scale side of the internal hatches, moving after those trying to keep tabs on the poor kids.

KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Mari Makinami Illustrious with Mouth Beam Engulf!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Ouka Nagisa with Gundam Head Crush!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Liam 7-020 with Mouth Beam Pulse!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Rena Lancaster with Mouth Beam Rapid Fire!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Arriety Hearn with Mouth Beam Unsteady Shot!
KTS: Riku Asakura rushes into the attack!
KTS: Anti rattles Riku Asakura, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Riku Asakura partially guards Anti's Carcass Carving, taking 5160 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Anti's DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE! activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: Anti has engaged Riku Asakura!
KTS: Rena Lancaster's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage.
KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Rena Lancaster, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Rena Lancaster blocks Alexis Kerib's Mouth Beam Rapid Fire, taking 3960 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Ouka Nagisa rushes into the attack!
KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Ouka Nagisa, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Ouka Nagisa partially guards Alexis Kerib's Gundam Head Crush, taking 5280 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Alexis Kerib has engaged Ouka Nagisa!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki partially guards Anti's ME AGAIN - Ripper, taking 2520 damage!
KTS: Anti has engaged Yuta Hibiki!
KTS: Riku Asakura has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Riku Asakura has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Anti rattles Chibodee Crocket, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Chibodee Crocket parries Anti's Carcass Carving, taking 645 damage!
KTS: Anti has engaged Chibodee Crocket!
KTS: Riku Asakura has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Chibodee Crocket
KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Arriety Hearn, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Arriety Hearn blocks Alexis Kerib's Mouth Beam Unsteady Shot, taking 5500 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Nidaime's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage.
KTS: Nidaime blocks Anti's Rifle Barrage, taking 3740 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Anti's DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE! activates, causing Sparkle!

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Chibodee doesn't answer Nidaime. He can't. Doesn't dare. Can't let the thought in his head. Domon is on the wrong side of the world right now and he won't get here in time. It's him, now. Chibodee has to stop this, regardless of any personal cost.

More warnings. More cautions. All these kids need to get the hell away from here, Chibodee thinks, but doens't bother saying. Anybody fighting a facet of the Devil Gundam knows what they're getting into, or thinks they do until their first friend gets melted. They need to be running away. But they won't.

"Tell me some stuff I don't know, Liam!" Chibodee yells back over general comms. "But we've got to purify these DG Cells, no matter what! It's bigger than him now! That gets out and this whole city is done for!"

It's way worse than 'stage 3,' Chibodee's thinking. It might have been stage 3 for weeks. Months. The DG Cells waiting for the time to strike. Chibodee can't know. Not until he lays hands on the monster who did this to this kid -- and that's not on the table until the DG Cells are purified.

Maxter gets slammed briefly by Geed. It's a weird trade but he wanted to make sure the Death Knight saw him. He wants the Death Knight's focus. Give the others room to breathe. Maybe somebody will bring out some orbital artillery. Anything helps.

The dripping ooze of DG Cells. Chibodee feels it more than sees it. It's bad. It's already so bad. Push. Push push push pushpushpush

Chibodee screams and charges down at the sawbladed fists of the Death Knight. He parries through the strike, the sawblade whizzing across the armor of his left arm and lightly clipping off part of a shoulderpad, but the Dempsey roll has already started. It is too late for anyone to vote.

Gundam Maxter lays out a brutal series of heavy swings, pounding in at the Death Knight with wild abandon. It's the kind of all-out attack that is an effort to force Death Knight to deal with him more than the others. He's got to help the others stay at range. It doesn't take much -- no, stop thinking about it. Punch. Fight. PUSH.

KTS: Chibodee Crocket targets Anti with Dempsey Roll!
KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Sousuke Sagara fails to evade Anti's Consumption Blast, taking 7080 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Anti's DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE! activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious successfully evades Alexis Kerib's Mouth Beam Engulf
KTS: Liam 7-020 charges into the attack!
KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Liam 7-020, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Liam 7-020 partially guards Alexis Kerib's Mouth Beam Pulse, taking 4420 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Deject!

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Kaworu isn't surprised at Marusan's lack of presence or the way she sounds like nothing at all. He nods once, as if the exchange had confirmed something, and follows after her without another word. Even with an injured leg, it's easy to move at speed with the low gravity. The cane certainly helps.
        
        And so he follows along with her, going 'this way' as she states with a calm float. There are presences behind them too--presences he knows quite well--presences he knows less well--and presences that are more concerning. The next time they turn a corner, Kaworu sends a glance back the way they came; then he moves forward in silence with Marusan.

<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.

Alexis looms, and Elisa smiles as warmly as ever. Shallow and pleasant. "I don't mind at all," she says, and slides a second glass across the table. "Wine?" she offers.

She does not explain why she's here, or why it should or shouldn't be surprising. She just sips her wine. It's very good. Whoever lives here has good taste.

"There sure are a lot of them gathered up, aren't there?"

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Ranka!? Ranka Lee?" Rena asks, her eyes wide -- she looks at Arriety on her monitor. There is a worried glance at Anti, but then she nods. "I'll come with you!"

She met Ranka. She was a nice person; Kaworu liked her, Alto and Sheryl both liked her, and if she died here, then--

That can't happen.

"I know, Minae. We'll... we'll be careful," she says. "We've got to stop these things. That pilot out there... he's one of the people who took down the Devil Gundam the first time. But I doubt he can do it alone."

The Gundam Heads fire on the Prophecy. Lances of energy shoot out; Rena grits her teeth, raising up the forearm shield to intercept the two particle beams, which slam into it. They hit the pinpoint barriers, which swivel to meet them, and the shield glows a bright red -- but the beams don't break through. Smoke rises, though, and the armor continues to glow red-hot. It can't keep doing that forever.

The Prophecy starts running -- and then leaps, jumping for the maintenance shaft. Rena pulls a lever back -- and the shield-mounted arm swings back, pinpoint barriers swiveling to gather about the Battroid's fist. Rena does some quick math in her head; gather the barriers, then disperse them with an outward burst three seconds later, to minimize DG Cell infection chances.

She closes the distance with one of the Gundam Heads near the MS-sized entrance to the shaft. The fist swings back -- then slams hard at it, the barriers on it flashing if they impact.

Her nose wrinkles; then, she taps a button on her screen: an image of a blobby Degwa, from her favorite game. It launches an application: Totally Legit Rena-Texting System v.1.0.2! :D!

'Hello, Rena!' a little robotic voice chimes. 'I'm glad you're maintaining your social life even in combat situations. It's important to keep those connections. Voice mode activated.'

Rena happened to get Ranka's number when they hung out on the Frontier the other week. Which is why Ranka gets a text, a few moments later:

>hi Ranka this is Rena Lancaster hope you're good I'm in my VF coming to help with Arriety after me and oh crap they're after me be there soon!!!!

"Exclamation mark exclamation mark exclamation mark exclamation mark!" Rena yells. Arriety and Minae can hear this.

KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Alexis Kerib with Pinpoint Barrier Punch!
KTS: Alexis Kerib rushes into the attack!
KTS: Alexis Kerib partially guards Rena Lancaster's Pinpoint Barrier Punch, taking 1755 damage!
KTS: Rena Lancaster has engaged Alexis Kerib!

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

The dripping hole she drives in his back is not promising. The Ooze, the knitting together wires. Suddenly she's glad she took the reach of the Glaive for reasons independent of this.

"<Me get it wrong!? You were supposed to follow->" Asuka stops short, as something in Mari's latter clause finally sinks in.

WE'LL GET YOU OUT!
I promise you Anti... That I'll save you...NO MATTER WHAT!

Can someone be saved once they're broken? It's not a concept Asuka has ever considered in her life. Not one of her sisters was spared. Not one. When they broke, they were disposed of, without fail. That's just the way the world works. It can't work any differently. The world just, doesn't bend to her desires. It just can't happen.

Could it?

However that ominous silence from within is broken, by a weak and thready voice, calling out to his purpose. Still trying, even now. Suddenly something in her changes, from her approach. Before she'd been trying for a mercy kill.

"<Alright Munchkin.>"

Life always has been a struggle in her eyes - a contest for one more day, one more breath.

"<SHOW ME YOU'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES!>"

To survive. To survive this.

With a push of her levers, Asuka drives Evangelion Unit-02 right into the rifle fire. It peppers the restraint armor until she puts up her AT Field. When Anti lurches, she swings a chop of the Glaive at his flanks in a wild chop to try and follow up with an attack of opportunity.

"<COME ON! IS THIS ALL YOU'VE GOT? Is this where you want to leave it with her!?>"

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Anti with Sonic Glaive Chop!

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Geed only nods to Gridman as they charge in. "You're right...we're going to save him\," Though in this sense 'we're' means everyone here. The Maxter and Geed are smashed into each other\, which seems to hurt Geed more than it does The Maxter. Geed hits the ground\, trying to roll to his feet. He's crouching as he looks for his opening.

Chibodee provides it\, and he rushes in right behind the Maxter\, aiming to jump up\, and kick-off of its shoulders. Geed lands\, aiming to catch the Death Knight from behind\, and starts spinning. Around and around the two will spin\, as he times his attack.

"Gridman!" he shouts\, before attempting to toss the Death Knight Gridman's way\, letting him get the follow-up attack. "WRECKING THROW!" he shouts\, putting some of that Belial energy into it. It's really obvious\, in Primitive\, where the Belial is. Unlike his father\, however\, Geed retains a good heart despite his wild fighting style.

KTS: Riku Asakura targets Anti with Wrecking Throw!

<Pose Tracker> Ouka Nagisa has posed.

        The silent ReZEL pilot is undeterred by the rapidly expanding number of gundam heads forming toward her. Even as the press begins to reveal something more like a giant gaping maw ready to close down around the ReZEL, the unit continues to rushing forward. At the very least it manages to avoid the greatest concentration - the large tearing 'canines' in the maw that threatened to tear her asunder. However, it doesn't change that she's suddenly in the midst of a swirling gundam head swarm attempting to consume her...

        ... but just as the unit fades from sight in the swelling cloud of DG Cell infected metal, it suddenly bursts upwards, out from the press and into the sky above them! The machine draws forth its beam rifle. Reducing its beam outfit it instead produces a sustained, short range energy beam. Utilizing this new blade the machine silently spins around in mid-air before it goes crashing down into the countless gundam faces staring hungrily up at her!

        From there the ReZEL will become a furious dervish, swinging its beam blade as it spins and dives between the gundam heads attempting to snatch and overwhelm the unit. Still the unit makes no attempt to retreat, instead making every attempt to reach the point of the infection's source: Presumably where the signs of DG Cell corruption are at their thickest.

KTS: Ouka Nagisa has activated the Rouse Spirit Command.
KTS: Ouka Nagisa targets Alexis Kerib with ReZEL Beam Rifle Long Beam Saber!
KTS: Anti fails to parry Chibodee Crocket's Dempsey Roll, taking 5640 damage!
KTS: Chibodee Crocket has engaged Anti!

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

As Liam shouts his support, Yuta can hear the tears in his voice. He had no idea Anti was so important to so many people... It's a little strange, thinking this feral child who has done nothing but scream at and try to kill him can be loved so deeply. Yuta feels a little ashamed for not feeling that way himself -- Anti is a child, after all, a child who deserves a second chance -- and redoubles his efforts. Everyone together would save Anti! There's no way they could fail!

Anti's voice makes a return -- relief washes over Gridman, for a moment. It's so... creepy, like something from a horror movie, hearing his name called out in such a pained, rage-filled voice. Gridman brings his hands up to block the Death Knight's attack, grunting from the efffort. "Gridman," Calibur says, a gemstone on the sword flashing, "He recognizes you."

It takes a moment for the realization to hit Yuta. If Anti was concious enough to recognize Gridman, he still has a chance! The infection hasn't completely taken him over yet! "Right!" Yuta clears his throat, then shouts, in the most obnoxious voice he can manage: "That's right! I, Gridman, am here! You'll never defeat me! Just try it! Ha ha ha!"

Gridman would blush with embarrassment if he could, knowing all his allies heard him acting so foolish. But there's no time to worry -- Chibodee and Geed are already in motion. Gridman crouches down, readying himself. It was amazing to watch Geed in action -- the sheer strength needed to toss the Death Knight like that! Light begins to gather around his left wrist. "I'm ready! Grid... Beam!" Radiance shines from Gridman, bathing the Death Knight in his strongest attack!

KTS: Yuta Hibiki targets Anti with Grid Beam!

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

His voice.

Gridman. Hate and Love are two sides of the same coin.

No answer from Chibodee. The fight is too hard for him, Nidaime thinks, to get that kind of assurance. This is what life is like on the battlefield. As someone who isn't fighting what can she contribute to this fight?

As someone who isn't fighting...

....There's no reason for her to have to hide anymore. Anti has been fighting since the day she was born and she--she was protected. Leina even taught her how little fighting can solve. But today, at least, she wants to fight. She WANTS to. Someone important to her is in that monster that took all her other friends.

Nidaime takes a breath and starts running down father's back even as wires peppers and slam into his body. He's a big boy. He can take it. And DG Cells aren't gonna infect him. Anosillus grunts in pain but is unmoving. He's the safest kaiju here.

Nidaime LEAPS off of Anosillus and the turtle can't stop her because it's a turtle. Her body grows, grows, grows as it falls, landind down next to Anosillus. She clears her throat.

And she says, "Anti...!"

She crouches down and PICKS UP Anosillus in her arms and starts spinning around on her feet, slowly at first, and then--gradually picking up speed.

"GROONKKK????" Anosillus gronks in alarm.

And then Nidaime lets go, sending a flying DAD the Death Knight's way!

"If you needed help... You should have called me!" Nidaime shouts. "We're friends! So why do you keep listening to people... who just want to use you!? Who enjoy your pain??"

She takes a moment to pant for breath after throwing DAD, crouching. "I think we'd make a pretty good team." Nidaime says. "I know you're inthere... so I'm not...letting those cells take anybody else I love away from me!"

KTS: Nidaime has activated the Daunt Spirit Command targeting Anti
KTS: Nidaime targets Anti with Spin Shell!

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

Ranka...!

"Arriety...?" Ranka murmurs out loud, as she runs for Kaworu in the opposite direction. She's a ways off, coming this way. Ranka feels a wave of relief, but understands that it's not just her that needs saving. She has to find Kaworu, and that other girl.

Like anyone who grew up on a Colony knows, when something like this happens, you take shelter. She's spent enough time huddled in one to know.

Her phone tones a text from her shoulder, she checks it briefly, and double takes at the end of Rena's message. It's getting bad. It's getting REAL BAD!

When they reach the maintenance hatch, which appears to be the only way they could have gone. "Gotta be down there!" Ranka heads into the tunnel, Ako in tow.

"If she was going for shelter... I wonder what happened..." Ranka asks Ako as they enter the tunnels. It makes sense that this Ramos would go for shelter. Why not take her friends though?

"... Anyhow, helps on the way, we just need to find them."

Ranka suddenly squishes her phone and switches over to voice dictation.

>tell arriety im safe we're in maintenance tunnel searching for kaworu and this girl u be safe too rena <3 <3 <3.

"Heart heart heart."

Ranka says alongside Ako as they move down the tunnel, unable to stop to use her fingers.

KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Ouka Nagisa's ReZEL Beam Rifle Long Beam Saber, taking 3450 damage!
KTS: Ouka Nagisa has engaged Alexis Kerib!
Brera Sterne has connected.

KTS: Anti rushes into the attack!
KTS: Anti partially guards Asuka Shikinami Langley's Sonic Glaive Chop, taking 1665 damage!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has engaged Anti!
KTS: Anti blocks Nidaime's Spin Shell, taking 1350 damage!
KTS: Nidaime has engaged Anti!

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Arbalest slams into the squirming streets. Arbalest is a fast machine, easily as fast as an M9, but--

"Energy signal detected!" AL calls, his usual even-toned alert, but the warning on Sousuke's screen says a different story. He grits his teeth and JUMPS - but all that means is he's not in contact with anything when the beam hits him square on. An M9 isn't meant to take a direct hit like that, certainly not completely undefended. Arbalest disappears in a blast of annihilating white--

Is what should happen.

Arbalest comes down on a nearby rooftop, the entire machine sizzling, the air around it rapidly steaming from the heat of some internal device. The internal heat fins have been deployed and the air behind it glows with a sourceless heat. Sousuke breathes, short, quick breaths. AL says, "Lambda Driver activation confirmed."

Arbalest stands up, looks down at the Shotcannon - by some miracle the ammo didn't cook off. Sousuke hears Anti seethe at Gridman, at his enemies. He tucks the gun away, across Arbalest's back.

"Sergeant?" AL prompts him. "Close combat is not-"

"It's not a problem," Sousuke says, and hits the triggers to deploy his monomolecular cutter.

Then he leaps from the roofs again, flipping end over end in midair to come down hard on the Death Army Soldier. Fist to fist, blade to blade; Sousuke seeks to tear the the Death Knight's body apart, a glowing light gleaming between him and Anti's machine, vaporizing or repelling any DG Cell that comes near.

"It's me, Anti," Sousuke says. "You told me not to come back, right?! Remember that!?"

KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
Sousuke Sagara transforms to ARX-7 Arbalest - Lambda Driver Online

KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Anti with Lambda Monomolecular Cutter Soar!

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        "Understood," says Liam, to Chibodee. There's a hollow tone in it, despite it all; he can feel the stress in Chibodee's voice, the pain of having suffered through this once before. Liam feels like he made it worse just by being here. "Beginning hyperthermal purge of secondary DG infection, infected infrastructure."

        The heads start to scream. Horror races down Liam's spine, but the Proto Helios holds firm, and starts to move towards them, breaking into a jog. Secondary heat vents snap open; plasma starts to pour into the air, shaped by the machine's magnetic field into a parody of a Hyper Mode aura. "SUNBURST at thirty percent," Liam says. "Moving to purge--"

        Someone else cries out.

        "Sagara?!" Liam reflexively marks the Arbalest as a friendly, and highlights it as a priority. A moment later, Maxter receives the same treatment. "What are you--" Sousuke screamed Anti's name, too. For a moment there's nothing but awkward radio silence. Then: "Thank you."

        The Proto Helios ducks its head, and pulls in its arms as it picks up speed. It vaults over a pair of parked cars, flash-burning the paint. Liam sees that head moving to take aim; his Mobile Fighter ducks, but the Head is a second quicker. The Minovsky beam slams into the Proto Helios' shoulder, scorching through the armor. Exposed plasma conduits gleam in the light. Molten metal drips onto the street. Liam grits his teeth as pain flashes through his body. Can he do this? Should he even be here?

        Minae's voice. Liam clings to it like a life preserver. He remembers someone else who is still in BioNet's clutches, along with his fellow experimental subjects. "Understood, Minae. Stay safe. Good hunting. We'll bring him home. As for you--"

        Hephaestus told Liam that any breath spent talking to the enemy was almost certainly breath wasted. He's talking to a colony of nanomachines, now. "You've DONE ENOUGH!"

        The Proto Helios' armor starts to flow, growing oddly malleable beneath the heat of its own aura. SUNBURST hits fifty percent. Plasma vents from the back of its right hand, and is shaped by magnetic fields into a knife. The Proto Helios rushes forwards, wielding that knife with precision--first to snap through the snake-tendril attaching the wounded Gundam Head to the ground, then to gouge at the joints of its mouth, then to slash across its visor.

KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Alexis Kerib with SUNBURST - Starshard Knife!

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        If Arriety was being completely honest, she had an impulse to ask Minae to stay behind from this one: the thought of what happens to a Super AI if they were to get taken over by DG Cells -- to her (limited) knowledge a machine-first infection, is... ... she has to trust Sayla when she said there's treatment. Unfortunately, she never got to ask if AI were at greater risk from DG Cells. She doesn't want to calculate risk like this.

        That fear only comes more to light as Minae soberly tells her that she might not win, if it came to a race between her and DG Cells. "Minae--" she chokes for a moment. "If at all you feel like something bad's happening with them, we're pulling out, and finding that treatment Doctor Mass told us about. Okay?"

        Rena says she'll come with her, and that's a relief -- though she can't hear well that Rena's voice-texting Ranka even while she fights, so all she hears is "Excalamation mark!" four times.

        "???" (Arriety doesn't yell 'question mark' in turn, alas.)

        Being distracted on multiple fronts, between worrying for Minae, worrying for Ranka, and worrying for Anti and also the city proves dire for Arriety, though: the Gundam Heads retaliate with particle beams and scathe a clean line through the Zeta's midsection, blowing off a chunk of armour and a shoulder comms fin that, fortunately, sits largely redundant with Minae onboard.

        "Ghh...!!"

        In slight panic, Arriety makes the decision to retreat through the MS-size maintenance hatch parallel to the one Marusan and the others have gone through. This is, possibly, a grave tactical error, because Gundam Heads are serpentine and have full advantage whereas her manoeuvreability takes a hit inside the shaft.

        Too late for regrets.

        She's breathing hard, staring towards the wall in particular as she relies on a combination of sensors and her intuition to sense where Ranka, Kaworu, Ako, Marusan and the others are -- there's a lot more than she's anticipating, which does help make it easier...

        "If I use the Hyper Mega Launcher on low power... it should be all right..." Arriety mumbles to herself, as she manipulates the weapon controls and shifts over towards the launcher strapped onto the Zeta's back, mounting it on the mobile suit's breached torso.

        "Rena, Minae, I'm going to try to just use enough power to cover the shaft and keep them away!"

        She waits until she has a firing solution... there!

        The Hyper Mega Launcher's barrel snaps into place, its cover locking upwards, and the MS hatch is flooded in pink as Arriety tries to buy them time from any pursuing Gundam Heads.

KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Arriety Hearn targets Alexis Kerib with Hyper Mega Launcher Shot!
KTS: Riku Asakura rattles Anti, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Anti blocks Riku Asakura's Wrecking Throw, taking 3375 damage!
KTS: Riku Asakura has engaged Anti!
KTS: Riku Asakura begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Anti blocks Yuta Hibiki's Grid Beam, taking 5025 damage!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki completes the Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.

With advice dispensed, Mari's attention turns towards the Gundam Heads running rampant. It's nostalgic, though not in any particularly pleasant way.

Unpleasantness is just another one of those human experiences though, isn't it? So even as the prog knife is caught within the Devil Gundam Head's teeth, Mari's response is a wild grin that ignites a fire in her bright blue eyes.

"Guess I'll be playing field support, today!" she declares, as that knife trembles between her target's teeth.

"Which makes you my dance partner. Let's try to create something beautiful together!"

Maybe this is an odd thing to say to a horrible automaton that is mostly just an evil Gundam Head.

But Mari means it with all her heart.

Which must be why, of course, the Gundam Head is so struck with overflowing inspiration that it can't help but let all its passions out in a tremendous, horrendous blast of energy.

Point blank, it'd be difficult to avoid entirely; and who knows what important structures it might damage if she -did-? And so, suddenly -turning- that prog knife straight vertical in the Gundam Head's vicious chompers, Eva Unit-04 takes a single step back. One hand reaches behind it. The other extends forward.

That blast ignites --

--and finds the shimmering blossom of a hectagonal panel suddenly blocking its way, energy streaming off its sides in harmless dissipating particles as every hellacious pulse makes a shimmer of rainbow colors ripple across the AT Field's surface.

Particles are still sizzling by the time Unit-04 is literally -shoving- the barrel of one of its assault rifles as deep into that beam-sputtering mouth as it can before it squeezes the trigger.

KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious targets Alexis Kerib with Assault Rifle - Single Fire!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Liam 7-020's SUNBURST - Starshard Knife, taking 4370 damage!
KTS: Liam 7-020 has engaged Alexis Kerib!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Arriety Hearn's Hyper Mega Launcher Shot, taking 5880 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's Boundary of Life and Death activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's Boundary of Life and Death activates, causing Jam L1!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Mari Makinami Illustrious's Assault Rifle - Single Fire, taking 4140 damage!
KTS: Anti rushes into the attack!
KTS: Anti partially guards Sousuke Sagara's Lambda Monomolecular Cutter Soar, taking 1755 damage!
KTS: Sousuke Sagara has engaged Anti!

<Pose Tracker> BC-001 Minae has posed.

        "Okay," the robot nods to Arriety's request, pausing for long enough to give her long-time friend a warm smile. "I promise, I'm keeping really close watch on myself, as well. I'm not going to do anything too dangerous," she adds, and though her voice is solemn she's still wearing an assured smile.

        Minae picks up on Chibodee's rejoinder, that the infection needs to be dealt with before anything else or else the city is forfeit. Even if it wasn't meant for her specifically it still applies to what she'd asked of everyone, and she winces privately to herself in return. From the point of view of being 'a machine that uses logic' she can't really disagree with that statement, but she doesn't need a nurturing spark of heart inside of her to know that there are some things she can't allow herself to give up on.

        "I have experience helping people through Algernon infection and Zonderization events!" she calls back to him on impulse, after Rena points out his identity. "I don't know whether that would be of use against DG Cells, but I'm still willing to make the attempt once that machine is stopped!"

        Her expression falls flat a moment afterwards, as she hears Rena yell her punctuation across the comms link. "You could just ask me to find them and send a message!" she blurts in return, sounding just a little put-out. It's not like she's been idle on that front in fact, finally managing to get a better lock on the position of the civilians they're trying to catch up to. It's not perfect, but the circle she's tagged on the map shrinks, little by little, as she starts to zero in on their location.

        The presence of the Gundam Heads sprouting from all angles makes her incredibly wary of doing this, but she still reaches out for the infrastructure of Nouvelle Tokyo, feeling for an open access point that she can use. She finds one - and the entire bank of emergency maintenance lights along the tunnel that Ranks and the others are using suddenly spring to life, strobing in one direction as she tries to guide them through the worst of the contacts on her radar.

        "I've almost got their location! I'm trying to get them somewhere where we can cover them better!" she calls over the radio, pairing her efforts with a arrow marker ton the overlay she's providing to indicate what she hopes their path will be. "Understood, Ah-ri! Give me two seconds!" One is really all she needs - that's enough time for her to update the targeting console with a map of the maintenance tunnels, a marker pinpointing a section that should be strong enough to take a blast without collapsing in the aftermath.

KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Attune Spirit Command targeting Arriety Hearn
KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Liam 7-020
KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Rena Lancaster
KTS: BC-001 Minae targets Arriety Hearn with Sparkle!
KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: BC-001 Minae sparkles, reducing Arriety Hearn's incoming damage!

<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.

"Hm? Oh, no thank you," Alexis says, standing as passively as he ever does. He has no need to feign emoting with Elisa. (Nor, honestly, does he want to.) "It looks delicious, though." That gets a short follow-up laugh.

"I don't suppose you encouraged this along...?" he asks, glancing down -- then back out to Anti. ... A bond?

... hm.

---

"Ramo is usually really on top of things," Ako murmurs. "If she was looking for shelter... she would have brought us along. Something's still wrong here..."

Ako and Ranka catch up with Marusan in relatively short order, though, once they're traveling the same way; once there are mobile suits moving in parallel with the situation, it gets a lot easier. (Namiko is way off in the middle of nowhere. It's okay, in its own way; it means she's actually quite safe in comparison, and it even means she may find other people to rescue! She's doing amazing.) They round another corner, slowly, and the four emerge into...

A room full of things that might easily be mistaken for cryogenic stasis pods. (Maybe they were cryogenic stasis pods, once; it is a known prison sentence, after all. One of the Universal Century's small and strange cruelties.)

It's this that startles Marusan out of it -- that, or Ranka and Ako getting close enough. It's a little hard to say, actually. "Wh... where is this?" Evidently, she wasn't heading for that on purpose.

Some of the pods are already filled with human beings. People from outside Tsutsujidai, of course, would recognize these as DG Cell cultivation capsules; at the moment, they're not active.

... That could change at any moment, though.

Marusan pales. "What's... happening? Why are these people...?"

---

Rena swings a massive fist -- and then disperses, a moment later, for safety. This may not do a ton of damage, but it significantly impacts the safety of the bystanders; Rena's thoughtful offense gives them time to scatter. It does make her a target for a close quarters counterattack -- a vicious bite with those fierce jaws.

Mari dumps a full magazine into one of the Gundam Heads' mouths; it puts it cleanly down -- but another smashes into her from behind. Arriety, meanwhile, runs interference for those smaller than she herself is, moving thoughtfully in a space that leaves her with few options; her blast rips one off of its wormy appendage, but it responds with a giant, focused beam of its own. (At least it's not pointed anywhere near Kaworu, Ramo, Ako, and Ranka.)

Following the wormy 'necks' and their density toward its source proves fruitless; unlike with the previous DG Cell infestations, where there was a central Devil Gundam source to these things... here the Gundam Heads simply 'are,' as if the vinelike things that carry them along simply sprouted whole from a computer screen as part of a Hyper Devil's machinations. Still: a beam saber is a beam saber and it can carve through them like anything else, and its strikes do indeed ring true. From the side, though: a shot through an office building. (They are, after all, a single 'consciousness,' insofar as they are indeed conscious; they can use each other's eyes.) The building takes the meat of it -- but the ReZEL isn't spared.

Liam's systematic approach works wonders, but it opens him up to another Head moving around behind him; while he's pinned the enormous Gundam Head to the ground and works on tearing it to shreds, a second... and third... slither up to the Gundam Fighter.

Both of them fire their beams into his back while he's occupied. Each individual shot is small -- nothing more than a blip -- but the two taken together...

KTS: Alexis Kerib has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Alexis Kerib has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Alexis Kerib has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Alexis Kerib has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Mari Makinami Illustrious with Gundam Head Smash!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Ouka Nagisa with Mouth Beam Blip!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Liam 7-020 with Mouth Beam Blip!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Rena Lancaster with Gundam Head Grip!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Arriety Hearn with Mouth Beam Focus Fire!
KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Arriety Hearn blocks Alexis Kerib's Mouth Beam Focus Fire, taking 1800 damage!
KTS: Alexis Kerib roots his unit, coming to a standstill and leaving him vulnerable.
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Mari Makinami Illustrious's Not Alone activates, and her spirit endures.
KTS: Alexis Kerib enervates Mari Makinami Illustrious, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious parries Alexis Kerib's Gundam Head Smash, taking 1140 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Hollow activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Shallow activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alexis Kerib's Superficial activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Alexis Kerib has engaged Mari Makinami Illustrious!
KTS: Rena Lancaster's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage.
KTS: Rena Lancaster blocks Alexis Kerib's Gundam Head Grip, taking 3450 damage!
KTS: Alexis Kerib has engaged Rena Lancaster!
KTS: Liam 7-020 rushes into the attack!
KTS: Liam 7-020 successfully avoids Alexis Kerib's Mouth Beam Blip
KTS: Ouka Nagisa blocks Alexis Kerib's Mouth Beam Blip, taking 3500 damage!
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.

        Gundam Maxter has been here before.

        The Death Knight, in many ways, hasn't. It is young as Anti is young -- it follows the Devil Gundam just as so many other units have; but in it is the soul of adaption, and in it is the soul of adaption, and together they are

        destroying

        everything.

        Maybe Akane is right, after all.

        Death Knight meets those swings where they come, and has no room to calculate other strikes, for a moment -- Asuka's glaive catches at Death Knight's side, only for something much, much larger to come into their view:

        Anosillus the First.

        The kaiju lands. There is stillness, for a moment, before Death Knight PUNCHES that shell, and whether the unit moves Nidaime's father or carves a hole through him is none of its concern.

... is this where... leave it with her...
... should have called... so why...

        Death Knight pauses. Processing.

        That's when Geed grabs him -- and spins. Around and around, as if it was, in fact, a dance; the centrifugal force Geed applies keeps the Death Knight from retaliating, surely as much skill as raw force, though certainly both are in evidence in his lineage. Up, it is flung --

        And the Gridbeam washes over it, knocking it back, knocking it away. Death Knight crashes into a building -- the building doesn't survive. Death Knight does. It knits the pieces of itself together, where that devastating blow opened it.

        "Grrridmannn...!!" Anti growls, and there may be some echo of him, in the way his rifle raises. The boy who always returned, to annoy Yuta's efforts, never quite giving up.

        That's when the Arbalest crashes in.

        Death Knight meets the blows as they come -- crashes its fist towards the Arbalest, in turn. "nnnnhhh --" Is the noise which comes from him, as the shining light of the Lambda Driver-empowered machine burns. "I... I..."

        Arbalest carves a wound into the machine -- it does not heal, with snapping cords and wires and horrible, horrible adaption. It needs the DG Cells, after all, to fix itself.

        "... told... you ALL to... stay out of it... now..."

        Painfully, his eyes open, to the sensors.

        "What... what have I..."

        The horror in his voice is something entirely alien to the Death Knight, as, forcefully, it breaks away from the Arbalest, and fires a focused, consumptive blast -- "guaaahh!!", Anti has enough of him to yelp about it -- into Gundam Maxter. That rifle turns on the others, just the same, as the Death Knight clears space between itself and its foes.

KTS: Anti targets Nidaime with Anti Saws A Strange Bird!
KTS: Anti targets Sousuke Sagara with Carcass Carving!
KTS: Anti targets Chibodee Crocket with Consumption Blast!
KTS: Anti Changes attack to Riku Asakura, Yuta Hibiki, and Asuka Shikinami Langley with Rifle Barrage.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Riku Asakura rushes into the attack!
KTS: Riku Asakura partially guards Anti's Rifle Barrage, taking 2200 damage!
KTS: Chibodee Crocket rushes into the attack!
KTS: Chibodee Crocket partially guards Anti's Consumption Blast, taking 3421 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

The Gundam Head's jaws bite down into the YF-25A. The Prophecy's armor crumples and folds around those huge teeth; there are huge rends torn into the armor, as the fangs push past the pinpoint barriers on the front of the body. The upper jaw, however, is held back for a moment by the arm-mounted shield, the pinpoint barriers shining brightly. Rena takes a deep breath.

This will, she hopes, keep her from getting bitten in half.

She sees Ranka's message; she doesn't read it yet. Instead, she pushes up -- and then activates the transformation sequence. The head folds down; the nose cone folds out, and the limbs tuck into the body as the wings unfurl. The Gundam Head's jaws shift with the movements -- and the pinpoint barrier explodes outward from the wings, as the now fighter-mode Prophecy hits the afterburners, and shoots down the maintenance hatch.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Rena reads Ranka's reply -- and dictates her own.

>got it! tell kaworu hi when you catch up. we'll be there soon as we can. text me if it gets bad. <3

"Heart," Rena says. Then, she says: "Ah-ri, Ranka says she's okay. They're looking for Kaworu Nagisa and another girl." She frowns. There are a few people there. Will the Myrmekes Zeta and the Prophecy be enough to get them all out? They'll find a way to make it work. She nods her head. "Got it, Arriety."

Her hands stay on the throttle. She tries to keep it steady. Flying a plane down a maintenance shaft is hard, to say the least. Her hands almost tremble.

Rena Lancaster transforms to YF-25A Prophecy A-type (Fighter)

KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Alexis Kerib with Gladfly Buzz!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Yuta Hibiki fails to react to Anti's Rifle Barrage, taking 5280 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Anti's DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE! activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley successfully Evades Anti's Rifle Barrage
KTS: Nidaime's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage.
KTS: Anti anchors Nidaime, forcing her into close range.
KTS: Nidaime fails to parry Anti's Anti Saws A Strange Bird, taking 4000 damage!
KTS: Anti has engaged Nidaime!

<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.

Is Elisa feigning her emoting, or is this pleasant demeanor sincere?

"You're very welcome. Just let me know." Can he ingest human food? It's not really that important. The offer is the thing. It's being hospitable. That's important when she's in a home like this. Smeone's home, anyway. It doesn't really matter whose.

But the question? "Of course. It would be a shame for a kaiju to go out with a whimper, and this is what he wanted. I also offered him a chance to run instead. He didn't take it." she says. "A real kaiju should go out fighting, don't you think?" A laugh. "And his part in your experiment seemed to have come to an end..."

A sip of her wine. "But it seems he doesn't like his choice very much. Aaaah, would he have been happier to run away after all...?"

"I'm very curious if they'll manage to do it. Aren't you?"

"Don't worry. I didn't touch him with my power."

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Liam talks sense. Chibodee nods, which of course he can't see, and grunts approval. Chibodee can't explain what's going through his head during this fight. This is what terror truly is -- the vastness of a thing.

Geed's in there with him. Chibodee is reassured. The big guy has to be able to hang with this if he's from deep space. He's already dealt with some kind of weird evil science corruption. Geed gets it. Positive attitude. Optimism. Come on, optimism.

No -- come on, Gridman, Chibodee's thinking. Do magic stuff. Do some magic stuff, buddy, magic is like job six for the Queen of Spades.

Anosillus races by, and Gundam Maxter jukes to try to give the big turtle room to hit. Clearly this is some kind of totally intended tactical turtle 'ttack and he mustn't disrupt it.

The Death Knight gets air time. A grab, a beam. The Arbalest gores it. What will it do? Chibodee feels the wave of intent an instant before it begins. He's getting what he wanted.

The barrage washes over him. Maxter lowers its shoulder and charges toward the fire. A round rips by its torso, another one smashes into its right leg hard enough to make Chibodee think somebody hit his quad with a sledgehammer through the Trace Suit. Chibodee doesn't break stride, running in at the Death Knight to throw a left hook in toward center mass.

KTS: Chibodee Crocket targets Anti with Left Hook!
Riku Asakura transforms to Ultraman Geed - Ultraform Ginga

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        It doesn't take long for Ranka and Ako to catch up with Kaworu and Marusan. Given that the latter is still advancing forward as if in a trance, it's on Kaworu to greet them, and he does so with his usual casual and friendly smile.
        
        "Hi. It's good to see you both again," he tells them. "Marusan is leading us somewhere of interest, I do believe."
        
        Sure enough, once they round that last corner, they enter a certain room filled with pods, which are in turn filled with people. Kaworu's smile fades, his red eyes turning grave, as he beholds them. Next to him, Marusan seems to snap out of whatever trance she was in.
        
        "Ah, welcome back," he tells her, approaching one of the pods. He stops before it, taking in the sight of the human within. Some of the pods have only skeletons within, but this is an actual *person*, looking little more than they were having a restful nap.
        
        Outside, the battle continues to rage. Emotions burn higher and hotter than ever.
        
        *CRUNCH*. Kaworu thrusts his cane through the pod's control panel with perhaps shocking speed and strength, then yanks it cleanly out. With that done, it will be simple to open up the pod and bring the person inside out.
        
        "We need to get these people out immediately," he says aloud, calm and even, for the benefit of Ranka, Ako, and Marusan. "Their lives are in danger as long as they remain inside."

KTS: Sousuke Sagara's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Anti rattles Sousuke Sagara, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Sousuke Sagara blocks Anti's Carcass Carving, taking 4560 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Anti's DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE! activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: Anti has engaged Sousuke Sagara!
KTS: Riku Asakura has changed loadout.

<Pose Tracker> Ouka Nagisa has posed.

        Seeking out the nest from whence the infection coils out of proves fruitless, and eventually the silent pilot of the ReZEL seems to understand this. Coming to a standstill within the the mass of severed gundam heads, still writhing around her, the unit lowers its beam rifle and seems to contemplate its next move...

        ... not that it really had TIME to contemplate such things. Soon newly grown gundam heads surround her, and they begin firing small blip-like beams from their mouth at her from all directions. Being in the position that it is though the pilot seems to understand she can't avoid damage. So instead the ReZEL begins to rapidly try and retreat from its vulnerable position to one of more safety.

        But it's a maneuver with cost, even if it was less costly than her keeping to her original position. Most of the blips she manages to catch with her shield, true, and each of those leaves a red hot sear scorched into its surface. However others catch her - melting the armor on one leg, clipping through a shoulder, nearly taking off the head of the machine and its sensory package. It goes on and on until finally the ReZEL collapses to one knee before writhing, Gorgon-esque mass of heads before her.

        Ouka is sweating in the cockpit. Though not from fear, just from exertion. The First Boosted Child isn't afraid for her safety... she isn't afraid of anything right now anyway. (Except Maybe Ghosts)

        However there is a certain necessity to her survival. After all, her goal is to retrieve part of these monsters, not to become another constituent part of their amalgamated whole. At this point though it is clear there is no central core, and thus her initial plan to disable and remove a part of that is now all but evaporated. So instead it is time to move to a new tact.

        The beam rifle disengaged, it is then replaced by a drawn Mega Beam Launcher. The barrel of which hums with a charging of its coils as it prepares to fire, finally emitting a massive particle beam intending on incinerating as much of the gathered serpentine monstrosities as possible!! Hoping to deprive if of its energy by forcing it to repair and reconstitute itself, and maybe even render some part of the colony inert!

KTS: Rena Lancaster rattles Alexis Kerib, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Rena Lancaster's Gladfly Buzz, taking 1890 damage!
KTS: Rena Lancaster has engaged Alexis Kerib!
KTS: Ouka Nagisa has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Ouka Nagisa targets Alexis Kerib with ReZEL Mega Beam Launcher Full Power Shot!

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

Ranka casts Ako a worried look, and picks up her pace. "Kaworu's gotta be with her, she'll be fine. He'll take care of her." She tries to reassure her. Fortunately the two catch up in short order. Spying Kaworu - "Kaworu!" - she gives him a quick hug from the side, minding his injured arm. "Thank goodness! I didn't expect... I thought..." She swallows trying to get the words out, as she eyes the cane "... I didn't think you'd be up and about so soon." Her phone blips with a text, and he passes it along, "Rena says Hi."

Rounding the corner though, soon enough they catch sight of the pods, and Ranka looks around, not recognizing them at first. Then suddenly in a moment of understanding... her hair just leaps on either side as she remembers a snippet from a PSA four years ago. "These are!"

>help help help people need help dg cell things in the tunnels help help help

Her breathing picking up as Kaworu demonstrates how to disable them, Ranka suddenly hits a button on her phone, as it elongates into a rod at the end of a microphone. And starts doing the same to the panels, "HAAAA!" Unlike Kaworu, it takes her at least three hits to smash each panel with blunt force.

In the midst of this, Ai-kun peeks his head out of her bag, confused at the sudden aggression from Ranka. Watching her smash another panel. He suddenly hops out of her bag. Levels his coal black eyes on another panel.

And launches himself with a squeak to smash into it with a headbutt, carbuncle striking dead center as the panel sparks and sputters. "Ai-kun!?" He then starts doing this rapidly to others as he bounces around, having decided each of these panels is a threat. "Wow... so enthusiastic." She wonders if she's kept him cooped up too long distantly.

Ranka just keeps smashing panels herself as best as she can with her limited strength, "Ah that's Ai-kun he's with me, don't worry about him!" She explains to Ako hurriedly as she keeps assisting the effort of smashing panels then grabbing people.

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

"... told... you ALL to... stay out of it... now..."

"What... what have I..."

Those words break Riku's heart. He feels the pain in Anti, he's trying his best but he couldn't prepare for this. Nobody could prepare for this. Alexis knew what would happen, and he manipulated it so that it would. While he wants to get mad, that's likely what Alexis wants. For them to think without acting. To act on pure emotion...out of desperation or sadness.

"Chibodee, The Second and First, Gridman, and everyone here for Anti...we can save him. There is a way to, and I know we can find it," Geed takes a pose. Inside, Riku grabs the Fusion Z-Raiser again. This time, he pulls out two different capsules and the coin with the face of Ultraman Ginga.

He flips the switch on the first one, "You go!" and beside him Ultraman Hikari forms. "I go!" this time Ultraman Cosmos is formed from his capsule. Both capsules are inserted into the Raiser. The coin is placed in the Z-Raiser part of the Raiser. "Here we go!" He pulls the Raiser down.

"Ultraman Hikari. Ultraman Cosmos. Form of Ginga," Says the voice of the raiser. "I'll help bring a miracle! GEEEEEEEED!" he shouts again, and the outer form of Geed changes. Instead of the red, silver, and black colors, Geed changes into blue and silver. His form is different, he looks serene and in control.

Even his combat stance has changed, becoming much lighter on his feet. This time, he comes in, flipping into a cartwheel to close the distance to The Death Knight, and then slams a palm into the monster. "Anti. Nobody can do everything alone. You have tried, you have tried so hard. I can feel your pain. It's what Alexis is planning on, to have you burn yourself out."

"We win by saving you. That is the strategy we're going to use to win. If you were to die, it would hurt Akane more than anything else. That...that I feel in the bottom of my heart. So do not throw away yourself like this. You can't save her if you die. You can't save her if you're lost to this monster! Come back to us Anti!"

KTS: Riku Asakura targets Anti with Smash Palm!
KTS: Anti has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Anti has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Anti has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Anti fails to parry Chibodee Crocket's Left Hook, taking 5610 damage!
KTS: Chibodee Crocket has engaged Anti!
KTS: Riku Asakura anchors Anti, forcing him into close range.
KTS: Anti blocks Riku Asakura's Smash Palm, taking 3675 damage!
KTS: Riku Asakura has engaged Anti!

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

"Chibi... Riku..." Nidaime murmurs. And she can even sense, distantly, a Kaworu. He's alive? He exists?

But something horrifying happens first. Anosillus comes sailing in for the Death Knight in shell form only for him to PUUUUNCH the shell back with its fist and send the shell careening back into Nidaime who, because this is her dad being pingponged here, doesn't try to dodge--she tries to catch.

And she takes a heavy hit to her stomach, gagging visibly as she goes crashing down to the floor with a turtle dad on top of her.

The turtle dad, upon realizing what happened, rolls off Nidaime.

"Grrr...ooonk?"

Anosillus nuzzles Nidaime with his head. "Gronk?"

Nidaime, some green fluid dripping out of her mouth, blearily opens her eyes at her father.

She scootches back, rubbing her head with her free hand. She looks over to the Gundam Maxter for a long moment. She wants to help him.

She scootches more and says, "Kaiju like us, our names mean a lot, huh...? Bound to them in a way differently from humans."

She pushes her up and stands herself up. "Are you okay dad?"

"Gr...oonk."

"Can you keep going...?"

"Gronk!!"

Nidaime nods once, then nods again.

"Anti..." Nidaime says. "I believe...you can be something more than just chases out invaders..."

"I believe you can be a Knight! Dad!"

Anosillus rears back with its head--

--and expels a strange glowing energy field, unleashing it upon the Death Knight!

But because Daddy can't say the words, Nidaime does it for him.

"FIXER BREATH!!!" Nidaime shouts.

It may not be the Fixer Beam, but it too--is the power to Fix The World.

Nidaime slumps over Anosillus, blood dripping from her forehead and mouth.

"Knight..." Nidaime murmurs into Anosillus's shell. It's Anti's dream but right now it's keeping Nidaime awake.

KTS: Nidaime has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Nidaime has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Nidaime targets Anti with Triumphant Melody!

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Gridman lets himself return to a fighting stance, Yuta wincing internally as the Death Knight destroys a building. It'll be fixed, he reminds himself, it's fine. The giant turtle was a surprise, admittedly, but -- he has to stay focused!

For a moment, Yuta believes they've done it. Anti's voice coming through more clearly makes his heart flutter with hope, and Gridman steps forward with his guard down, eager to help free Anti from the Death Knight.

This was a mistake. The Death Knight fires, hitting Gridman straight on, sending him flying back with a cry of pain. Calibur drops from his hand as Gridman crushes a building of his own, and Yuta repeats to himself: It'll be fixed. It'll be fixed! He can't worry about it right now!

Gridman gets to one knee, then stands, taking a moment to catch his breath. This wasn't over. "Are you alright, Calibur?" Gridman asks, raising his sword once more. "Yeah." Calibur answers, simply. "We have to keep fighting."

"You're right!" Gridman calls to Riku. "Anti, we won't give up on you! No matter what! Not on you, or on her! We can't save her without you -- please! Fight!"

Clenching his fists, Gridman races forward. He would get Anti out of there! "Hyper... punch!" Winding up, Gridman punches the Death Knight, trying to break through its armor. Maybe, if he tried hard enough, he could get Anti out right now..!

KTS: Yuta Hibiki has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Riku Asakura
KTS: Yuta Hibiki targets Anti with Hyper Punch!

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        Anti's voice emanates from the Death Knight, again. This time, it sounds like him. Lucine told him, yesterday, that Anti was changing for the better. Changing because of people like him. "Anti!" Liam shouts. As he keeps talking, his cadence and tone start to change, the faintest ghost of an Irish brogue giving color to his words. A memory of the boy who existed before BioNet happened. "Yes--you told us to stay out of it! But you know what? Standing alone doesn't make you brave! Asking for help doesn't make you a coward! Focus on me! Geed! Sousuke! Asuka! Even Gridman, if you have to! We're all here!" And many others. "YOU STILL HAVE A CHOICE!"

        The Proto Helios keeps stabbing the downed Gundam Head, its plasma knife carving through the nanomachine-saturated metal with ease. But two contacts appear on the radar; the Mobile Fighter's head snaps up, and it takes to the air, twisting up and around in a forty-five degree turn. As it ascends, it weaves through the beams, evading them with mere meters to spare.

        At the apex of his ascent, plasma spools into the Proto Helios' right hand, drawing out into a long, brilliant spear of star-stuff. The Proto Helios grips the spear with both hands, its magnetosphere approximating the kinetic response of a physical object. It drops out of the sky, jets firing in reverse as it drives the spear down, trying to lance through the first of the Gundam Heads.

        But the second one hasn't fallen off Liam's radar, either. Hit or miss, he pulls the spear up, shifts up his grip, and jets the Proto Helios to the side. A kiai escapes Liam's mouth, turning into a full-throated roar as he tries to cleave that second Gundam Head in half. The plasma should help purge the infection, he just has to burn away enough of the DG Cells and this should become more managable.

KTS: Anti blocks Nidaime's Triumphant Melody, taking 2500 damage!
KTS: Anti blocks Yuta Hibiki's Hyper Punch, taking 1600 damage!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has engaged Anti!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Ouka Nagisa's ReZEL Mega Beam Launcher Full Power Shot, taking 5420 damage!
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Alexis Kerib with SUNBURST - Sunbright Spear!

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

The Lambda Driver does its work. This is an easy image for Sousuke to hold. Not a shield, but a veil. Simply cut, and cause things to become cut, and believe no other effect can happen. It does work, rather well actually, but that barrier only dulls Anti's counterattack. The rude kick straight to his core knocks Sousuke away and rocks him about - as AL warned him, he can already feel his chest bruising from getting knocked around in the harness. But he still squares his feet, even on Tsutsujidai's corrupted ground. "He's the core," he mutters, reminding himself what Rain Mikamura told him. "DG Cells react to their core."

"Solid hit," AL reports, highlighting footage from a few moments ago of unregenerated damage. "...I can cut him," Sousuke breathes.

Bring about a miracle, Geed promises them.

Stage 4 can be cured with a miracle, Rain told them.

"Is this even still stage 4," he rasps, and his knuckles go white on his control handles.

He charges. Arbalest leaps rapidly; a third-generation ARM Slave can already devour distance with long leaps and high run speed, but in Sousuke's mind the distance between him and Anti is disappearing ahead of the cut, and the Lambda Driver produces this reality for him, giving him more strength, his machine more speed.

Keep him thinking, Sousuke remembers. It's first aid logic, but it applies here. Keep him angry, if you have to. "Keep this place safe, that was the point, wasn't it?! If you want me out of here, Anti," Sousuke roars, "then GET OUT OF THERE AND KILL ME YOURSELF!"

The Monomolecular Cutter swings down, trying to carve the entire front section off the Death Knight in an inconceivable, vorpal blow.

KTS: Alexis Kerib partially guards Liam 7-020's SUNBURST - Sunbright Spear, taking 7860 damage!
KTS: Liam 7-020 has engaged Alexis Kerib!
KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Anti with Lambda Monomolecular Cutter Pierce!

<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.

The Gundam Head sputters out within a full clip of bulletfire fed directly down its maw. Evangelion Unit-04 slips its assault rifle into place at its back with a hiss of locking hardpoints. Its head tilts up, towards the sight of the giant Nidaime and her giant turtle dad. Her eyes widen in surprise at the sight. How could she not? After all:

"Oh no," exhales Mari. "I still owe her karoake!"

And so it was that the Illustrious Mari Makinami feels the rarest of emotions (for her): shame.

But where one Gundam Head falls, like a mechanical hydra, there are many more to take its place. Mari's reprieve is a short-lived one: from that wormy field of mechanical monstrosities, another of the Devil Gundam's now sourceless minions springs for Unit-04's apparently defenseless back. It's in mid-air when the Evangelion's shoulders roll.

It is descending when the Evangelion's massive Rapidborer's lock into place.

<3 "Surprise~!" <3

And that is when one of Unit-04 all but pirouettes about to face the Hyper Devil's Devil Gundam minion, one Rapidborer gauntlet meeting its smashing descent with the broad side of its silver-red armor plating. Metal shrieks, sparks fly --

And drill bits whine as they spin up to full, violent momentum at the Evangelion's other gauntlet, seconds before it brings that other Rapidborer swinging in a sudden, drill-boring right hook.

And as she does...

        o/` "This passionate world's all yours! I'll keep a firm grip on it, and defend it!
             With you in my life, I want to love you. I won't ever leave you!
             This passionate world's all yours! Firmer than anybody else...!
             I can't change my destiny -- so I'll EMBRACE IT!" o/`

She starts singing again, over those loudspeakers. After all...

        I... like music.
        A girl... gave it to me. ... I wanted to know what it was.

        I'll convince her... and she'll give me a new purpose. I won't leave her alone, because she needs me.

        It's broken. It failed. It doesn't matter anymore.

Sometimes in those most crucial moments, all you can do is provide unspoken support.

KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious targets Alexis Kerib with Rapidborer - Pummeling!

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

'... told... you ALL to... stay out of it... now...'

"<That so? That what you wanted?>" Asuka asks, before Anti turns around and levels a rifle on her, and suddenly the Eva plunges the Glaive into the ground, and performs a series of back flips, as rifle fire keeps falling short of striking it, hitting pavement instead as it keeps leaping away.

"<Too bad. You got me involved ->"

At the end of the chain of backflips, the Evangelion hits the ground in a kneel. Then runs forward in a rapid advance. Its foot hooks under the glaive, and kicks it into the air, as it launches above and ahead of her. And she keeps running, pivoting at the end as she grasps it and mid-turn spins around to thrust it into him for greater momentum. "<- and I'm not leaving things half-finished.>"

However, Geed offers a way, "<How then!?>" Asuka asks Geed over the speakers, the Ultra that once annoyed her, as he says they can find it. Liam though calls over the speakers, and Asuka breathes in, LCL fluid bubbling.

If she's going to do this, she has to set some things aside. Can't leave things half-finished.

"<Don't you want to tell me off one day for real?>" Asuka says, believing she can perhaps reach down into petty spite, "<Just what you think of me? What you think of her? Well you're not going to be able to if you're just some ROTTEN HUSK for DG Cells to worm around in!>"

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Anti with Sonic Glaive Thrust!
KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Alert Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        Arriety has no idea about what's happening inside the maintenance hatch where Ranka, Kaworu and the others are; for a moment, though, an intensely bad feeling comes over her for a moment. What's going on...?

        She witnesses the Gundam Head bite down on the Prophecy, but keeps herself from shouting as Rena pushes them back with the pinpoint barrier at cost, then transform into a fighter. That was such an amazing manoeuvre...! But... this'll be hard going in this shaft... what can she do?

        Luckily, Minae has her covered, as she trusts she always does. She sees the arrow marker on the overlay and manoeuvres to cover it, reinforced by Minae's confidence that she has experience in Algernon and Zonder infections.

        "Kaworu..." Arriety doesn't know that name, but Rena does -- but she's relieved to her Ranka's okay. "They keep coming... I'm not sure how long we can hold out, but we've got to try for their sakes..."

        Unfortunately, she's missing the critical message, since she doesn't have a phone to communicate with Ranka with at the moment -- but she senses a bit of the distress happening, possibly mixing it up with her own...

        "... I need ... I need to summon that power ...!"

        There's a flicker, and as if on command, the cockpit starts to radiate with the dramatic power of the Bio-Sensor. Arriety's face is in a grimace as she feels as if her very soul and mind and heart were contorting, her presence expanding outwards; that sensation Rena felt in the hallway is back, as she comes into focus and clarity--

        In her mind's eye, she sees it: the crimson seed shattering as it alights upon a shallow pool of clear water, foregrounded upon a rainbow aurora trailing in space.

        The Myrmekes Zeta, sheathed in magenta psychic flames, draws its beam saber, channeling power as it expands, and expands, and expands -- in this tight of a space, it doesn't lash out in whip-like form, but rather thrusts it forward until she deems fit to just push her will against the shadow of the Devil Gundam.

KTS: Arriety Hearn targets Alexis Kerib with Hyper Beam Sword - Full Burst!
KTS: Alexis Kerib partially guards Arriety Hearn's Hyper Beam Sword - Full Burst, taking 7440 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's Boundary of Life and Death activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's Boundary of Life and Death activates, causing Jam L1!
KTS: Alexis Kerib partially guards Mari Makinami Illustrious's Rapidborer - Pummeling, taking 3570 damage!
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has engaged Alexis Kerib!

<Pose Tracker> BC-001 Minae has posed.

        "I-- don't think these municipal maps are right," Minae mutters to Arriety; something is clearly wrong, because the blip that marks where she thinks Ranka's group is moves through a wall in a way she doesn't expect. Quickly, she tries to search for some sort of camera or other device that will allow her to see where exactly they are - but something important to the local network infrastructure gets subsumed by a Gundam Head, and her connection fizzles out before she can confirm their situation.

        The blip fizzles out of the screen in turn, but the robot reasons that maybe that's for the best. In a situation as chaotic and fluid as this, something tells her that it might be better to rely on Arriety's senses rather than her own - and besides, she's not eager to try establishing a connection a second time, given the danger around them and the promise she just made her copilot. "Tell them to try to find something they can ride in, maybe," she suggests to Rena. "We might not be able to have space to carry them directly, but anything we can do to airlift them out!"

        She spares a glance back at the long-range sensors, trying to keep tabs on the other side of the two-pronged battle out of concern for Anti - but any information she could provide or warning she could deliver would be firmly lost in the midst of the furor. All she can hope is that her earlier request didn't fall on deaf ears, and decides to hold to that sense of trust.

        She can't tie down the specific sensation of Arriety reaching for that crimson seed, but she's learned to recognize the way the air of the cockpit changes; she freezes for a second as the Zeta dives forwards, her hands flying across the console again as she takes the lion's share of the pinpoint navigation onto herself. "Do what you feel you need to," she says; it's not exactly a promise on its own, but the way she intones the words it sounds like it. "I've got your back."

        Minae doesn't know as much about DG Cells as she'd like, and tracking the multiple heads is too complex for her to portion off part of her processing to do the research right now. She's a veteran of different battles and different afflictions, and then an extended period of peace right afterwards. Will the encroachment stop if Anti stops? She's not sure. All she can do, as the Hyper Beam Sword bites forwards, is expand her senses and her communications array once more, searching again for the group of civilians.

KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Arriety Hearn
KTS: BC-001 Minae targets Arriety Hearn with Heart!
KTS: BC-001 Minae bares her heart, letting Arriety Hearn deal some extra damage!

<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.

Alexis looks Elisa over again. "I hesitate to call this 'the plan from the beginning,' but this was well within projections should the boy have gotten into something he shouldn't have," he explains. Alexis doesn't emote, but he's all smiles, somehow.

"Thank you for the courtesy! I'm sure this will make for an interesting chapter."

---

The sheer power Kaworu brings to bear -- this is him injured? -- startles Ramo, but only for a moment; the urgency of the situation beats the urgency of reacting to Kaworu. "Right," she says, once he explains what's going on; she looks around for something, anything -- and finds some discarded tools. A wrench ought to suit, if the cane does; she begins smashing panels and breaking safety glass without a second thought.

Ako looks to Ai-kun briefly amid the movements. "... He's kind of cute," she remarks, in the middle of opening up a pod. (She uses the access panels; she's okay-enough with electronics. Of the two, she's the one who spends more time on her phone, after all.)

---

Rena decides on some of the very most difficult maneuvers available to her, but they pay off; the VF streaks down the maintenance shaft at speed, leaving the Gundam Head behind. It fires a blast at her -- a desperate, enormous last gasp of power. Ouka, meanwhile, fires a massive blast that fully beheads two of the Gundam Heads -- and takes out enough of the lower parts of the heads themselves that what's left goes inert. If she wants samples: she's got 'em... provided she can survive the massive blast that comes at her from behind-and-above from another head.

The Rapidborer has proven itself multiple times lately; it digs cleanly into a Head, destroying it in short order. As a futile last gasp, the head she's destroying detonates itself in a bloom of Minovsky particles.

Liam pleads with Anti to remember that he still has a choice; those feelings, that determination -- they're enough, as he cuts through two Gundam Heads. One emerges from the street directly in front of him, though -- and lets loose the full fury of its reactor in one shot.

Arriety drives a blade for the Gundam Heads that have pursued her into the maintenance tunnel. The Myrmekes Zeta finds purchase -- and indeed, manages to destroy its opposite numbers. ... Unfortunately, in this enclosed space, the explosions only have one place to go. The walls are thick enough to keep them from hitting any of the civilians -- but the Myrmekes is subject to both the enormous falling debris of the Gundam Heads and the contained explosions in the space. Only one Head remains in pursuit of her -- and it, too, is heavily damaged.

The Heads seem limitless -- but the truth is, they're waning in number and the ones that do appear seem weaker with each successive defeat. It may feel fruitless -- it may look hopeless -- but the slow, steady work of untangling the vines matters.

KTS: Anti rushes into the attack!
KTS: Anti partially guards Asuka Shikinami Langley's Sonic Glaive Thrust, taking 5415 damage!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has engaged Anti!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley completes the Formation attack!
KTS: Anti rushes into the attack!
KTS: Anti partially guards Sousuke Sagara's Lambda Monomolecular Cutter Pierce, taking 4750 damage!
KTS: Sousuke Sagara has engaged Anti!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Mari Makinami Illustrious with Mouth Beam Engulf!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Ouka Nagisa with Mouth Beam Blast!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Liam 7-020 with Mouth Beam Blast!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Rena Lancaster with Mouth Beam Blast!
KTS: Alexis Kerib targets Arriety Hearn with Gundam Head Flatten!
KTS: Ouka Nagisa has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Ouka Nagisa has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Arriety Hearn successfully evades Alexis Kerib's Gundam Head Flatten
KTS: Ouka Nagisa blocks Alexis Kerib's Mouth Beam Blast, taking 4900 damage!
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious successfully evades Alexis Kerib's Mouth Beam Engulf
KTS: Rena Lancaster retreats from the attack!
KTS: Rena Lancaster successfully evades Alexis Kerib's Mouth Beam Blast
KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 rushes into the attack!
KTS: Liam 7-020 successfully avoids Alexis Kerib's Mouth Beam Blast

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Kaworu smiles fondly as Ranka hurries over to give him a delicate hug, spreading his good arm out to be able to return the favor. "I'm sorry for worrying you, Ranka," he murmurs with affection. "Fortunately, I tend to recover quickly. As long as I'm careful, I'll be fine. The lower gravity here makes it easier as well." His smile broadens at her passed-on message. "I appreciate her greetings. I'll have to pass my own on in return."
        
        ...which doesn't necessarily mean Ranka should do it for him, but she might just do that anyway.
        
        For now, though, they all have to deal with the DG Cell cultivator capsules. As he continues his own work, he glances over at Ai-kun as he emerges from Ranka's back and starts headbutting the panels with a vengeance. "Well done, Ai-kun," he praises the little green creature.
        
        Between five of them, they make short work of the pods. Those within seem a little disoriented and weak, but otherwise fine, and they recover their senses quickly. It doesn't take much effort to help them out of the pods and explain the situation to them. ...as much as *can* be explained right now. There isn't a lot of time, and it's unlikely that they'll understand right now.
        
        "For now, though, we must leave here immediately," Kaworu concludes before nodding over to Marusan, Ako, Ranka, and Ai-kun. Extending his senses to get a better feel of the flow of the battle and where it's all taking place right now, he concludes... "Let's go back the way we came. Agreed?"

<Pose Tracker> Ouka Nagisa has posed.

        There is... singing?

        Actually there has been singing for a while now. But for a while now her conditioning has forced it out, pushed it back to the periphery. Everything unnecessary was cut out. There were allies, there were foes, and there was the objective. Everything else was a distraction. Everything else was without worth.

        But now things are situated on the edge of a knife. The ReZEL is by no means disabled at this point, but one of its leg has its internal structure exposed and visibly sparking. The damage to the head has also reduced her vision to occasional fields of static, and the damage readout from the left arm indicates that another shot of equal force would shear it off at the shoulder. None of this was supposed to make her afraid. None of this was supposed to daunt her.

        ... but the singing begins to push its way in, pushing open a gap within the multilayered armor of her lifelong conditioning. The emotions that were pushed out begin to rush into the gaps, and what was once still and quiet becomes quivering and loud.

        No... becoming amalgamated in this abomination wouldn't just fail the mission. It would mean death - a fate worse than death, and a fate where Seolla and Arado would be forced to take her place. Ouka's eyes have been open this entire time, but she has been moving until now like she were within a dream. Now she has awoken... knee deep in a nightmare. Steeped in existential dread.

        And the worst part is that this effect is only incidental, and partial. She's only awoken enough that she's aware of her own terror. She's not awake enough to do anything about it. In a state much alike to sleep paralysis, she's unable to retreat until she has confirmed her mission is accomplished. Eyes wide, heart pounding in her chest, her lungs rapidly pulling in and exhausting air, and even now she feels her hands resting calmly on the controls.

        The attack comes from multiple heads opening like they're all screaming the scream she isn't allowed to make. Instead the ReZEL calmly raises the shield and endures the attack! Bright, white hot energy spills from around the edges of the shield and sears the machine's body as its feet dig deep trenches in the ground. When the assault is over the shield is all but gone, melted into slag still stuck to the ReZEL's arm and pooling on the ground at its feet. The rest of the unit looks not that much different from slag.

        But even then she cannot flee. Even now she MUST complete her mission.

        Then just like that the unit lunges forward, limping slightly before leaping into the air and transforming into its Waverider form. Utilizing its the melted remnants of its own shield, it attempts to RAM directly into the mass of gundam heads in front of her, thrusters burning bright as the machine engages in an airleon spin as if trying to DRILL through the DG Cell infected metal before taking off airborne!!

KTS: Ouka Nagisa has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Ouka Nagisa has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
Ouka Nagisa transforms to RGZ-95 ReZEL <WR Mode>

KTS: Ouka Nagisa targets Alexis Kerib with ReZEL Shield Ram!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to rush.
KTS: Alexis Kerib partially guards Ouka Nagisa's ReZEL Shield Ram, taking 4095 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Ouka Nagisa's The First and The Last activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: Ouka Nagisa has engaged Alexis Kerib!

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

The blast of energy shoots from the Gundam Head, back at Rena's VF. She makes the fighter juke upward, and the blast sails underneath it. It explodes in a fiery blast ahead of her -- and the white-and-orange fighter shoots through the flame, which rolls off the damaged machine.

Her eyes widen at the text.

"DG Cells...!?"

Rena's breath catches for a moment. What is happening, here? What are they doing at this place? Who is behind this? She shakes her head -- then she says her response.

>hold on. we're going to be there soon. don't touch anything with cells on them if you can!

"Arriety! Minae! They've found DG cells down there! Something's wrong," Rena says. "I think--I think we should hurry!" She hesitates -- and then her eyes widen. She feels the sensation from Arriety; it's familiar now. Her consciousness expanding, something breaking mentally. Rena takes a deep breath.

Arriety feels a thought reach her: 'I'm with you.'

The Gundam Heads seem endless. She sees them forming again behind her; she sees that they still give chase. She breathes in, tightly, then starts taking aim. Crosshairs light-up on the rear-view monitor, on several of the Gundam Heads. Missiles on the wing hardpoints drop off; the swarm of them shoot ahead of her, then bank tightly, doing a mid-air U-turn, up over the Prophecy's wings and back out of the tunnel.

The Prophecy shoots down the tunnel. Rena leans forward, her jaw set, and brown eyes on the path ahead. "Hold on, Ranka..."

KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Alexis Kerib with Prominence Burst!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Rena Lancaster's Prominence Burst, taking 4125 damage!
KTS: Alexis Kerib has been defeated!

<Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.

        Once again -- Gundam Maxter comes to meet the Death Knight. Once again, with only one future, it drives forward to catch fist with fist. (One side moves slower than the other; Arbalest's blow still hangs there, a hole uncovered, damage it must account for.) It needs more power. Its single, baleful eye FLASHES, and --

        Inside Death Knight --

        The nest of wires around Anti slithers a little tighter, and the scales on his arms and legs creep up a little further, just as they have so often during this fight.

        (Even so... it's consuming him from his limbs inwards. He is a unique -- and a difficult -- meal to take.)

        Anti goes silent, again. The only response Chibodee gets is violence, duel matched to duel. This, perhaps, is familiar just the same -- because what words could they have, for humanity?

        Death Knight only demands.

        But in this swirling melee, in this horrible sense that thing are only progressing, only getting WORSE, there is one more truth to be said: Gundam Maxter isn't fighting alone, this time. His martial might can keep Death Knight occupied, as Nidaime confers with her father, as the Second and the First work together. Fixer Breath washes over them, and when Chibodee directs his Gundam's fist into the Death Knight's shoulder at that same moment --

        The cells retreat. The deep dent in that silver armor remains, even as Death Knight staggers backwards.

        Inside his cockpit, Anti -- manages -- to shake his head, wrenched back and forth, as some of those wires snap and retreat from him. He's able to summon some more movement on his own will. It might still be a stage 4 infection, if a miracle can help like that. "The... the Second..?"

        He can hear the sound of singing, now, more clearly. Mari's voice. "That song..." He starts, in recognition -- he trails off. Perhaps the spark of those feelings reaches someone else, just the same.

        Even so, Death Knight, adapted with the soul of Anti's Chaos Bringer, still stands after Fixer Beam. Still stands, after the Lambda Driver. It is, itself, a miracle -- the most sickly and horrible of miracles, a conflux of two horrors -- so perhaps it is no wonder it can withstand any one.

        Except...

        ... its wounds haven't healed.

        Except --

        "I-- I won't die!" Anti yells, more of himself, as he hears Riku. "There's no way I'd die like this...!"

        The Death Knight's response is much more visceral. As Geed cartwheels into its space, it turns its shield into his blow, and springs away.

        "You...!" He yells, to Gridman. "What's with you?! Rrrgh-- I'll NEVER stop fighting you!" But it's an anger which causes him to force Death Knight towards Gridman -- a movement summoned by Anti -- and even though Death Knight tries to block the blow, all it manages is to get its shield crushed under the force of Yuta's determination.

        It turns, in time to be skewered, by Asuka's glaive. "Nnhh-- I-- I didn't want this!" Anti yells. "But the doctor -- the doctor in green -- she told me I had a chance..! I can't leave it half-finished, either..!!"

        The Evangelion is holding Death Knight in place -- which means Sousuke has the perfect opening to crash in, to carve the chest of Death Knight away. Sousuke is a practiced soldier: he knows just how deep to cut.

        The armor sloughs away, leaving the cockpit, surrounded by so many of those horrible wires. Still intact -- still protecting Anti from the violence of scale -- but exposed.

        "I--" Anti's voice calls out, through that radio. "I...!"

        He wrenches an arm. He can, now that Fixer Beam has loosened them. He can't quite manage to pull himself free, but he yells, to Sousuke: "I'm trying, damnit!!"

        His voice cracks, as he admits: "But, I -- I can't..."

        Anti is an autointelligence kaiju. He learns; he adapts. It's why this is such a horrific spread, now. It's why --

        "H..." Liam said that it didn't make him a coward, the expression of what so MANY people have said to him. (To them.) "... hh...help me," Anti chokes out, as the Death Knight wrests itself away, moves backwards.

        "Help me..!!"

KTS: Anti has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anti has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anti has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anti has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anti has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anti has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anti targets Chibodee Crocket with Consumption Blast!
KTS: Anti targets Yuta Hibiki with Consumption Blast!
KTS: Anti targets Riku Asakura with Consumption Blast!
KTS: Anti targets Sousuke Sagara with Consumption Blast!
KTS: Anti targets Asuka Shikinami Langley with Consumption Blast!
KTS: Anti targets Nidaime with Consumption Blast!

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

"Alright. Just... take it easy then. And let us know if it's ever too much." Ranka fusses a little, despite the anxious thought that if indeed Kaworu collapsed... they're in trouble.

Panels mostly destroyed or opened, Ai-kun seems satisfied, with a bounce and a squeak, he alights atop Ranka's head as he squeaks at Kaworu. "The cutest." She says to Ako with a smile despite the dire situation.

Once the pods are open, she sets to trying to drag people out. She's not that big OR strong, so it's an awkward process for her. One by one however, she starts to help make progress getting people out. And eventually Kaworu explains the situation.

"Agreed. Arriety and Rena are waiting for us."

>we got them out, nothing bad happened thank goodness we're on our way back to the hatch

Though as they start heading back, Ranka gets troubled by a thought...

Kaiju don't need to care about people's feelings. They just act.
And I'm not supposed to help helpess little girls I find at concerts.
I'm... satisfied you survived.
As if I'd ever accept your help! AS IF I HAVE A HUMAN HEART!

Ranka suddenly tugs Kaworu's sleeve on the way back and asks, "Kaworu... is there any place you can think of that..." Pause, this seems silly. It's a foolish request to her. It's possible he never even listened to it but...

"... I can can get a message out, to him. I don't know if I can, help him but there's... something I want him to hear."

It's a leap of faith perhaps. However, it's one she's asking him to help her with.

<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.

The plan from the beginning, hm? "How wonderful!" Elisa answers. "I'm so glad to hear that you weren't going to simply abandon the boy!" Is that what he said? It doesn't sound like what he said. "You are more than welcome, in that case! I for one am quite fascinated already with what's been going on."

But she hears... Hmmmm. Music. Music, rounding out. Elisa wonders...

And she hears this talk of a Knight.

And then, of Anti mentioning the doctor in green. The witch smiles, at that. And she waits--

'Help me..!!'

"Ah, do you hear that?"

"That's a very intresting sound indeed, isn't it? Do you think they can help him?"

She sips her wine. "I wonder!"

KTS: Nidaime rushes into the attack!
KTS: Nidaime partially guards Anti's Consumption Blast, taking 5605 damage!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki partially guards Anti's Consumption Blast, taking 4838 damage!
KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Riku Asakura rushes into the attack!
KTS: Riku Asakura successfully avoids Anti's Consumption Blast
KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Sousuke Sagara successfully evades Anti's Consumption Blast
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley successfully avoids Anti's Consumption Blast
KTS: Chibodee Crocket rushes into the attack!
KTS: Chibodee Crocket successfully avoids Anti's Consumption Blast

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        "Given-- given the nature of Tsutsujidai, I can fully believe it doesn't obey space like that," Arriety finds herself stammering into Minae's comment about the maps. That makes it much more difficult to defend Kaworu, Ranka and the others, if they can't place what they should guard. They just need to get more offensive, she realises.

        Rena says something that alarms her, though -- "They found what...?" Arriety grimaces. "They're not in danger of being infected, are they?!"

        Her panic is calmed once more, however, as Rena reaches out to her; for a moment, she can feel her -- and she returns to that calm once more. She's with her. Together, they can do this...!

        Rena goes first, performing a powerful manoeuvre as she fires missiles and, remarkably, does an Immelmann turn and shoots further down towards the tunnel! She has no time to be staring in awe, though; she raises the beam saber to cover Rena's escape--

        Her eyes widen as something comes for her that she doesn't expect: debris. "Kgh...!" Retro-verniers erupt in an instant, but she's unexpectedly thrown back by explosions; within the light of that fire, she sees one Head remaining in pursuit. "I'm not going to let you pass...!"

        The Hyper Beam Sword shrinks, and she rears backwards to strike at the sole incoming Head. "I've got to hurry to Ranka and the others... I'm done playing with you! Begone!!"

        The roar of psychic fire as the slash downturns is no less loud.

KTS: Arriety Hearn targets Alexis Kerib with Hyper Beam Sword - Burst Strike!

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

"Help me..!!"

"Anti!" Gridman calls, reeling from the Death Knight's latest attack. This was bad -- they were almost out of energy. They'd taken so much damage... The gemstone on Gridman's forehead blinks a warning. This was the end of the fight, one way or another.

"This is my all!" Yuta shouts. "Anti! Let my feelings reach you!" He drops Calibur, deftly catching the sword in his other hand. Light shimmers around Gridman's form, practically incandescent with hope. It wouldn't be enough to hit him on his own. He had to rely on his allies. "Geed! I'm sending him to you, get ready!" Gridman winds up, his arm trailing glittering sparkles as he moves. "Hyper... PUNCH!"

KTS: Yuta Hibiki has activated the Detonate Spirit Command, reducing the Gridman Primal Fighter to 1 HP!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki targets Anti with Hyper Punch!

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

That's it..! They're reaching him...! It's not over yet\, but this has been a shimmer of hope! Anti calls out for help\, and Riku's head snaps up. Looking right at the mess of cables. He can see it. "We all hear you Anti\, now just keep fighting..." he says\, warmly. The blast comes in\, but this time Geed is ready for it.

The blue Geed flips again\, much more light on his feet. The Gundam tries to consume him\, but he keeps moving. Geed does not stop moving\, trying to lead the blasts away from others. However\, his eyes glimpse Gridman into position. He nods once...and he looks to the Maxter. Only a single nod. Nothing more is needed to communicate with three hearts on the same goal.

In Geed's hand\, the Geed Claw comes into his hands. "CORKSCREW JAMMING!" he shouts\, and leaping into the air Ultraman Geed turns into a sideways tornado of energy\, rushing towards the \(hopefully\) flying Death knight. He drills into the Death knight\, before swinging the claw in an arc. The arc aims to try and cut wires away from Anti\, but also throw the Deathknight right towards Chibodee.

He knows it's not done yet...and on a dime\, he waits for Chibodee before holding his hands out. He has to target this just right.

KTS: Riku Asakura targets Anti with Corkscrew Jamming!

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

"Yeah there's a way," Chibodee mutters at Geed's claim. There is a way. Chibodee just doesn't know if he can do it himself. Domon was good at this -- and every time Chibodee's been up against DG Cells, Domon's been there with him.

No choice. Make it work. Never really talked to this kid. But Chibodee knows Nidaime. Nidaime is there, and she needs Anti in her life. Energy blasts and punches fly. Chibodee concentrates. The Crest was terrible at giving directions. The mystic power of the Shuffle Alliance had a lot of things going for it, but clarity wasn't one of those things.

He's just a kid, Chibodee thinks into the void. Who is he asking for help? God? Where did this power come from? He's never known. The universe. So he thinks out into the universe to tell him what he needs to do.

Chibodee listens through the roar of beam weapons. He listens and he feels. And at the heart of that feeling, Anti is *fighting*.

It's not over yet.

The Crest burns on the back of Chibodee's right hand, harder and brighter than it has in a long time. Most of his battles aren't righteous -- simple military conflicts, fighting mindless monsters, the Shuffle Alliance's version of doing chores. But a life is in danger here from the manifestation of mankind's darkness, the Devil Gundam, an innocent child used as some cruel scientist's experiment. It is an evil that demands justice.

"This hand of mine," Chibodee whispers, barely audible on the comms. "is glowing red."

Chibodee clenches his fist, drawing from the Crest. Gundam Maxter starts to burn with strange energies, its white body shimmering to gold, glowing like the light of the sun. The Crest explodes up out of its right hand, radiating with an unearthly power.

Any time I hear a child cry in fear and pain, I'm there again, Chibodee thinks. In that pile of bodies and burning rubble. And no one came for me. That's when I decided I'd be the person people called for instead.

The Death Knight rages. Gundam Maxter, radiant, withstands the wires and chaos, not a single one able to break through its immaculate defense. It begins charging back toward the Death Knight, the overwhelming roar of the spiritual energy joining the powerful nuclear reactors pressing the Maxter onward making windows tremble for a quarter-mile.

The Death Knight goes up. Chibodee is tracking Geed, waiting -- and as the Death Knight starts coming down, Chibodee prepares to swing up.

Believe, Chibodee demands of himself. I'm not just a man any more. I'm the Queen of Spades. I hold the Crest. And if this Crest can't save a child, what good is it!?

"It tells me," Chibodee hollers, tears in his eyes from the memories, "that NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND!"

Gundam Maxter flies up to catch the Death Knight in an absurd rising uppercut, swinging back its right arm to build up momentum. As its fist flies forward, a dozen energy fists, erupting out of the forearm like immense dragons, race around it, spiraling in to try to core *through* the Death Knight, cutting all the way around Anti's command chamber, as the healing power of the Crest presses in like sunlight to wash the Devil Gundam's influence away!

"BURNING! MACHINE GUN! PUNCH!"

KTS: Chibodee Crocket has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Chibodee Crocket has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Chibodee Crocket has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Chibodee Crocket has activated the Valor Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> BC-001 Minae has posed.

        Minae stiffens at the sound of Rena's broadcast, before her attention zeroes fixedly in to the radio as she waits for what comes next. "Tell them to--" she blurts, before drawing up short. Does she even need to really say that out loud? It's pretty obvious on the face of things. Instead, she redoubles her efforts to pinpoint where the group must be. Tsutsujidai's nature still threatens to slip through her attention like so much sand through a sieve, but that just means she needs to do it better.

        And be a little daring, as she manages to find an access point closer to them despite the warning that there might be DG Cells in the air. At least there's one thing she can pinpoint - as the person who is tracking the Gundam Heads around them, she's the first one to notice their density decreasing. "It's working!" she informs Arriety and Rena both, sure that the most important thing they could use right now is some positive reinforcement. "It's little by little, but they're slowing down. Just a little more, Ah-ri!"

        She manages to connect, and the maintenance systems help her recover her pinpoint lock on Ranka and her group, especially when they move back to areas of the map that she does still have on record on her maps. "Got them-- er-- there's more people there," is her immediate takeaway. "Did they link up with some of the other survivors?" An errant microphone from a radio panel picks up Ranka's suggestion; she blinks, and the monitor above it flickers on to switch quickly between a speaker symbol and a question mark, a small SD version of Ranka's head bobbling in place, and then a tiny pixellated Myrmekes with a speaker held on one shoulder.

        It's.. a suggestion. Of sorts. If you can even work out the meaning of the pictograms given how much Minae is still struggling keeping track of everything going on around the Myrmekes.

KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Attune Spirit Command targeting Rena Lancaster
KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Attune Spirit Command targeting Arriety Hearn
KTS: BC-001 Minae targets Alexis Kerib with Nullify!

<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.

Spinning drillbits punch through to the back of a Devil Gundam Head in a spray of circuitry and other mechanical viscera.

Within her cockpit, Mari looks on towards the Death Knight. As Anti struggles.

As he asks for help.

A fond smile touches her lips, as the Devil Gundam Head begins to spark and glow.

"Atta kitten."

The Head ruptures and detonates in a final, spiteful act, if such machine minions could possess such awful sentiments.

The singing stops. Unit-04 is engulfed in a grand plume of flame, heat washing over it until nothing can be seen is a grand pyre stretching high into the sky...

... and the occasional, geometrically perfect glimmer of color rippling in its heart.

Within the heart of flame, the pylon-towered silhouette of an Evangelion can be seen, the shadow of it marred by the sun-yellow shine of its eyes that outpaces even the inferno surrounding it in their intensity.

<"Hey, c'mon...">

A shuddering step brings silver-white and red armored boots out of the dying flame, the footfall shuddering across the city street as tongues of flame chase after its heels.

<"Blowing yourself up, just like that? That's no good...">

Evangelion Unit-04 strides out of the destruction, its Rapidborers' bits whirling so fast they have improbably and impossibly captured torrents of the Devil Gundam Head's flames around their drill bits.

                <"... We still have so many more beautiful moments to make together!!!!">

Her head hanging back, her expression jubilant, Mari Makinami Illustrious' laughter is a joyous thing as she directs her Evangelion partner-in-crime forward. Flame spinning at its gauntlets, Unit-04 -hurtles- itself forward in an almost animalistic leap, its power cord SNAPPING off its back without a single care for the consequence as it looks to -hammer- its superheated gauntlets into one of the Gundam Head's dwindling numbers, to -smash- and -flatten- the thing beneath both of their full, violent weight before -swinging- both of its arms forward to -hurl- the wreckage towards another.

And off Unit-04 tears, looking to -slam- its drills into and -through- one Head after another after another to attempt to collect a ludicrous pile of Gundam skulls upon its flaming drillbits to be torn through and melted down in simultaneous motion, until the Evangelion becomes a graceful, bestial tribute to the most gleeful of unrestrained yet utterly controlled violence there could ever be.

KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious targets Alexis Kerib with Rapidborer -Drillpocalypsing!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Arriety Hearn's Hyper Beam Sword - Burst Strike, taking 6270 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's Boundary of Life and Death activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's Boundary of Life and Death activates, causing Jam L1!
KTS: Alexis Kerib has been defeated!
KTS: Arriety Hearn has engaged Alexis Kerib!
KTS: BC-001 Minae nullifies Alexis Kerib's defensive abilities.
KTS: Alexis Kerib has been defeated!
KTS: Alexis Kerib fails to react to Mari Makinami Illustrious's Rapidborer -Drillpocalypsing, taking 6840 damage!
KTS: Alexis Kerib has been defeated!
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has engaged Alexis Kerib!
KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Nidaime
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        "I will," Kaworu promises Ranka. It's a good way to anchor himself.
        
        Another good way to anchor himself as he and the others make their way back: Ranka tugging on his sleeve and asking a certain incomplete question. Kaworu understands it, however. Her song... is potent. It will surely move the heart of a kaiju like Anti. He looks at her, thoughtful; then he nods.
        
        "There are two crafts defending the entrance. Once we reach them, you can use their sound systems to convey your song," he replies. Once again, he doesn't explain how he knows that.
        
        But Minae will pick up a message from a strange source that pings her graphic-conveyed suggestion with a check mark. It looks a bit like how Omoikane would do it--but it's not him.
        
        "Yes, you'll definitely be able to do that," Kaworu concludes, smiling. "Let's all hurry. Anti needs all the help he can get."
        
        A short period of time working their way back from the tunnels, and they'll reach the maintenance tunnel entrance/exit once more. Battle rages around them. But between Kaworu and Minae, Arriety should be right there ready to pick Ranka up and transmit her song to everyone, while Rena keeps them all safe...!

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

It's a breathless run.

>rena im running back to the hatch i need help arriety and minae to broadcast something

However eventually she reaches the hatch and Kaworu's suggestion bears fruit.

Arriety will see her waving at her from her mobile suit. It's a strange thing, connecting her Salamander like cell phone as a microphone to a Zeta Gundam. However, she does it all the same.She can feel his desperation from afar.

Hitting a track on her phone, she waits, for the metronomic like piano melody to start, that someone in the tunnel helped her write. And when she does, she starts... to sing. It's a soft melody, sweet, conveyed by the connections. It's possible it's one that he never listened to it...

... however, she remembers the boy at the concert who loved music so much, and had trouble saying it.

It's a leap of faith that he even heard it.

        Wednesday, some month some day-Fair weather
        The light has a water-coloured scent.

        The cat's diary records the number of times it took a nap
        The swing's diary records today's acceleration and the takeoff of dreams
        The clock's diary lists the number of times its beloved has glanced at it.
        Then, in the diary of my lips Is written the number of times I've called out your name
        One two three four five and six"

Broadcast through the link up, amplified by Minae's efforts, the song sounds like this distant yearning echo around Tsutsujidai.It's hard to say if it'll reach him, if it'll help him, if it'll do anything at all. She'd like to think it will. That it'll put him at ease.

        Thursday, some month some day-Dream
        Are we getting closer?

        The universe's diary records each time one star meets another
        The curtain's diary contains rumours that the wind has spread of someone kissing
        The rocket's diary counts down on its fingers till the day of takeoff
        Like that, in the diary of my lips I dream of a countdown like that with you
        SEVEN SIX FIVE FOUR THREE TWO ONE...

        TU TU TU TU TU TU TU...
        MY DIARY IS DREAMING OF KISSING YOU...

It is more than offering help. It is a thank you for saving her. It is an acknowledgement of his human heart, a celebration of it, through music.

KTS: Nidaime has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Chibodee Crocket
KTS: Nidaime has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Chibodee Crocket
KTS: Chibodee Crocket targets Anti with Burning Machine Gun Punch!
KTS: Anti rushes into the attack!
KTS: Anti partially guards Yuta Hibiki's Hyper Punch, taking 3840 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Yuta Hibiki's Telepathic Link activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Yuta Hibiki's Mediumship activates, causing Nullify!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki has engaged Anti!
KTS: Yuta Hibiki begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Anti fails to rush.
KTS: Anti partially guards Riku Asakura's Corkscrew Jamming, taking 5460 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Riku Asakura's Primitive Style activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: Riku Asakura has engaged Anti!
KTS: Riku Asakura continues a Formation attack!
KTS: Anti fails to rush.
KTS: Anti partially guards Chibodee Crocket's Burning Machine Gun Punch, taking 10560 damage!
KTS: Anti has been defeated!
KTS: Chibodee Crocket completes the Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Rena breathes a sigh of relief when she sees Ranka's message. She will have to find out exactly who they are. People trapped somewhere? Something worse? She can find out from Ranka directly. She narrates her response.

>be there soon. im in a prophecy. looks a lot like a messiah.

"I don't think so," Rena answers Arriety. "They said... they got some people out. I told them to not touch anything." There were briefings, in the standard training material; it doesn't mean that Rena has seen it before. She can't be sure about that.


The Prophecy transforms to GERWALK mode; legs extend outward, thrusters firing to slow it, and it comes down to a stop. She sends a quick text back to Ranka:

>got it!

The Prophecy lands. Rena waves from the cockpit hatch -- eyes on Ranka, then on the others approaching. "Arriety, Minae! Ranka needs your help to do something important!" She can trust that to Ranka. Rena, instead, opens the hatch, and waves to Kaworu and the others. "I've got some room in here!"

She flashes a smile -- and a thumbs-up. "Let's get everyone back to safety!"

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        Gobbets of superheated metal, sterilized of DG Cell contamination, spray into the air. The Proto Helios touches down in a crouch, its plasma spear held tight. Blue-white radiance shines from every last one of its vents; the SUNBURST system hit optimal efficiency two seconds after that first spear kill. The outermost layers of its armor are starting to melt. The cockpit has reached temperatures that could cause unconsciousness in a matter of minutes.

        Only now has Liam started to sweat.

        "G-Hound unit," he transmits, over the open comm. "Fall back! You're risking contamination!"

        Another blur of motion in the sensor grid alerts Liam to a more personal threat. The Proto Helios leaps into the air, its jets scouring paint off the tarmac beneath. A heartbeat later, the final Head's Minovsky beam slams into the street, blowing clean through the colony's first 'ground' level to the utilities beneath. Severed electrical lines start sparking. Water from a blown main sprays into the air.

        'Help me..!!'

        "We're here," Liam says. In the tactical readout, he sees Geed, Gridman and Maxter closing in on each other--setting up for something? All Liam can do is warn Anti. "Anti, brace! BRACE!"

        The Proto Helios' aura burns around it like a tiny star. It thrusts its right hand forward, and plasma erupts from it, shaped by its magnetosphere. It forms a long, rushing arc, like a solar flare in miniature; it races first for the Devil Gundam head before gracefully turning and rushing to intercept the flying(?) Death Knight. Liam's hand twists and moves in the Mobile Trace interface, guiding it for the machine's legs.

        It wasn't so long ago that Liam nearly avoided Anti's current fate. The Crucible wanted him to 'demonstrate' his Gundam's power by burning down a neighborhood on the northern border of Area 11. It wasn't so long ago that Anti tried to drag him back to his former handler.

        Liam's eyes narrow. He grits his teeth. Sweat beads on his forehead. "Sagara. Now." The plasma streamer bears down on Death Knight, bent on literally cutting it off at the knees.

KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Anti with SUNBURST - Prominence!

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

The Fixer Breath can only do so much.

But it does enough that Nidaime can--

--she feels it, Mari's eyes on her. She looks to Mari for a moment. She...She's singing.

That's what draws her attention to Mari, not the shame nor the Eva and she naturally can't see any widening of the eyes here.

Nidaime knows Mari loves to sing. But why is she singing here? Why would you sing to Anti unless...

...you felt it was important to him.

Anti said he liked music. But lots of people like music. How does Mari know he likes music?

The power of the the Death Knight is unleashed and it crashes over Anosillus who moves to protect his daughter from the full breadth of the assault. Nidaime manages to avoid getting hurt again thanks to the power of Dad. Dad is a big boy, bigger than Nidaime especially when she ducks.

She hates every moment of it. Her Monster Heart is pounding.

What Chibodee knows is correct. Nidaime needs Anti in her life in a way that only Anti can be. This isn't to say that she doesn't need Chibodee or Sayla or anyone else, but if there is no Anti in her life Nidaime...will survive.

She will be able to exist, she will be able to smile, and she will be able to sing, and hug, and love, and laugh. Nidaime is not so fragile that she cannot live a fulfilling life without Anti in it.

But it is absolutely true that if Anti is lost forever, Nidaime's smiles will never be quite so big, her songs will always be a little sad, her hugs will be a little tighter and more desperate, her love would always be a bit bittersweet, and her laughter would never quite manage that kind of wild magnificence again. Because in those little ways she'd always be alone. Forever. And even if some other kaiju of the heart came...

...It just wouldn't be the same.

Nidaime draws out her baton, impossibly huge in these circumstances. Even now, she can't get it to shine properly--especially in a place like this, where it is far more difficult to twist thought into reality.

She pockets it again.

Anosillus struggles up, his head turning to Nidaime and what Unison taught him--he now sees in her eyes, he sees what Nidaime would be like--especially now, especially now there's been that flicker of hope, Anti's arm breaking free.

She feels Chibodee's thoughts. It's just as important to him to. If Chibodee can't save Anti, perhaps he could live to tommorow, but that Crest will feel a little more heavy, a little more...useless. He's really an incredible guy. "Chibi..." She says.

Anti has undeniably suffered more than Nidaime, but there's one thing Nidaime has over him in that department. Nidaime has lost loved ones forever. And so Nidaime has learned a trick.

"Knight... I will come for you whenever you call." Nidaime says. "Whether you want me to or not. So for that you better..."

"Prepare your heart!!"

And with that, she sings along with Mari. It's just a song. She doesn't have any Fixer Breath to it.

But Anosillus takes it as his cue.

And he unleashes it, his own turtle song--embroiled with a full throttle Fixer Breath, supporting Chibodee's Crest Power to make sure it reaches its target so that he can, at least, save one lost boy.

A lost boy like he once was.

KTS: Nidaime targets Anti with SuperSonic Wave!

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

The Fixer Breath washes across it all, but it's not that kind of fixing that Arbalest needs. Anti has more mobility now but AL still says: "Lambda Driver is approaching heat tolerances."

Sousuke grimaces, but keeps his focus. If he becomes distracted, he knows that'll turn it off too. He rears his knife back, ready to carve even more of the Death Knight apart, when Anti screams at him, twists himself. "He can't," Sousuke curses. He shifts the grip on his knife. He can cut that narrowly. He CAN. He *will*, He--

Help me, Anti stammers, then chokes, then wails. Sousuke stops, staring for several long seconds, something stuck in his chest and mind. It's only when the Death Knight tears itself away and raises that gun that Sousuke comes fully back to himself, and flexes Arbalest's powerful Muscle Packages, and sends the machine SOARING skyward. This time, with the Lambda Driver's help, the beam attack fully misses him, and Sousuke stores the monocutter, barks, "AL, slugs!" and then draws the shotcannon again, confident the ammo change has already happened mid-flight. He lands on a cracked and fractured rooftop. He watches Geed, and Gridman, and Chibodee approach.

He kneels, focusing on the Death Knight. He can't heal anything. This is an engine of death. He's already exposed Anti to whatever...radiation they're going to use, so all that's left for him is to keep the DG Cells under as much strain as possible.5r
He swings the shotcannon up, lining up the shot with care.

He thinks about destroying the engine. He thinks about ripping through armor. He thinks about the miracle of containing all that explosive power into a shot that drills completely through and does not one thing to the cockpit.

Liam tells him to fire.

He fires. What comes out of the shotcannon looks like a bead of light, roaring downward and devouring anything it touches until it passes into and through the Death knight, out the other side, and detonates concrete on the other side.

KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Anti with Lambda Shotcannon Piercer!

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

The blast comes, the Evangelion jerks to the side, somehow it narrowly manages to miss scoring its restraint armor dangerously.

"<Then don't!>"

Asuka wrenches her Glaive out of the Death Knight's side. The Doctor in Green? Her eyes narrow. A new player perhaps, but she's not sure whom. "<If this isn't what you wanted - then LIVE DAMNIT! Claw your way out! Tooth and Nail!>"

She can see him struggling in the exposed cockpit, hear the pain. His voice is cracking with vulnerability.

And... 'help me!'

Once upon a time, those words wouldn't have swayed her, she'd have said 'help yourself'.

Dropping the Glaive, a pauldron opens up. Evangelion Unit-02 advances forward, drawing a Prog Knife, as it looks into the suffering kid with a mess of wires.

"<You're right munchkin. This isn't enough to kill you.>"

The others attack, she waits, and when she sees an opening through all the attacks, grabs what the others have left of the Death Knight, shoves that Prog Knife into the exposed space to try and brutally drive the knife in and scythe away the shell, the wires, like she's utilizing the world's most expensive can opener and trying not to harm Anti himself.

She can't be delicate, she can't be dainty, she can't be gentle. The Death Knight won't be either.

She doesn't feel she has any miracle to offer him.

"<You've survived worse...>"

She reiterates her confession. It's not much of an apology perhaps. However... she can say it to his face. And this time she doesn't yell at him.

"<... so get the hell out of there right now, and show us all what you're really made of.>"

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Anti with Progressive Knife Drive!

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        Rena calls for how Ranka needs their help with something important. "Right...!"

        Minae is encouraging her on, and with that final strike, Arriety turns to jet after Rena and descends onto the layout that her Super AI partner's pinpointed out for her. She descends, the Zeta still freshly sheathed in that fire, which actually prompts a different kind of panic from her: will Ranka recoil from the sight?

        She sees her, and has the suit descend to a kneel with the hand lifted outward. It looks like it's on fire, but it isn't; Ranka herself can feel that this is all... Arriety's will, made manifest through something inside the machine.

        She opens the hatch, waving towards her and looking to Kaworu in turn. She connects the arm on a sling to something Ranka said to her earlier: That her friend made a successful recovery in the hospital. Was this him...?

        Arriety helps Ranka towards the suit -- at present, she looks a bit frightening: her red eyes are glowing, and her pupils have shrunk to the point where they're little more than dots in her eyes.

        But Ranka has an important job to do, and she trusts she won't run away; she slacks a little, so as to let Ranka be able to take room and sing. From there, it's up to Minae to link her up and get everything ready, and...

        Somewhere, further out there, Anti is crying for help. And Ranka's voice...

        It's wonderful...

        Quietly, she closes her eyes, letting her hands slack at the controls as she -- doesn't so much physically hear Nidaime and Mari's song so much as she 'senses' their song through empathy.

        An acknowledgement of Anti's human heart...

        Ranka might not know it at this moment, but being here, like this... as someone enamored with music in turn...

        The song is soothing her kaiju heart as well. The errant flames of the Zeta gutter away in the wake of that song, in a peaceful and soothing manner.

<Pose Tracker> BC-001 Minae has posed.

        "Ah-ri, down there!" Minae calls as the sensors pick up Ranka and the others on proximity. She's absolutely certain she doesn't need to say that out loud either, not with her copilot's senses expanding outwards in every direction including several she doesn't know - but it's the relief that makes her do it anyway, and she waves at the viewscreen as if that would be at all visible.

        It's not the only thing that guides her in that direction, as Kaworu's ping gives her something just as concrete to navigate towards. If she were more alert and had less things to worry about, she might wonder over the nature of the communications burst; as it is, it's something for her to consider later when the stakes aren't quite so high and dangerous.

        "Hello!" she blurts once they're close enough, riding high on whatever subroutine inside of her simulates adrenaline. "I didn't expect to become a sub-woofer today, but there are stranger career changes!" It might be a very strange juxtaposition to the sight of Arriety with her eyes crimson, and the terrifying sight of the Myrmekes - but perhaps that's the point, to reassure Ranka and give support to one of her oldest friends.

        She's already spidering her attention outwards, back towards the devastation and destruction above; the Myrmekes comm arrays are turned in that direction as well, as she begins networking the two together to boost the effective range. If there's one thing she can really do, it's make sure that Ranka's song is heard - and if there's one thing she's prepared to do, it's improvise. And it turns out that Tsutsujidai has some really good collections of old junk to tap into, to coax just a little more life out of.

        So when it broadcasts, Ranka's song doesn't just come from the Myrmekes - it comes from a pile of old stereo players, and a couple of cars that have been overturned into so much wreckage, and from the open doors of a kareoke parlour whose power has managed to survive the devastation, and so on, and so on.

KTS: Anti fails to rush.
KTS: Anti partially guards Nidaime's SuperSonic Wave, taking 3421 damage!
KTS: Anti has been defeated!
KTS: Nidaime roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her vulnerable.
KTS: Anti fails to charge.
KTS: Liam 7-020 rattles Anti, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Anti partially guards Liam 7-020's SUNBURST - Prominence, taking 2610 damage!
KTS: Anti has been defeated!
KTS: Anti rushes into the attack!
KTS: Anti partially guards Sousuke Sagara's Lambda Shotcannon Piercer, taking 4464 damage!
KTS: Anti has been defeated!
KTS: Anti fails to rush.
KTS: Anti partially guards Asuka Shikinami Langley's Progressive Knife Drive, taking 3132 damage!
KTS: Anti has been defeated!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has engaged Anti!
[O-GHN] Treize Khushrenada> :tentatively can be present for 122 if needed/wanted 
[O-GHN] Vitaly Sokolov> Excellent!
[O-GHN] * Ouka Nagisa could be too, actually. :|a

<Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.

        Anti asks for help, even though it feels like such a foreign thing -- a thing he has never extended, a thing which only hurt him to grasp. Alexis taught him that help was something to be wary of; surely it's a lesson Elisa has emphasised, now he has brought such devastation to Tsutsujidai, regardless of his intentions. One only needs to look behind him to see just why he didn't ask Mari for help -- why he had to give her such a specific denial, instead.

        But there's a song, broadcasting with Minae's help, from Myrmekes and from stereo and from car and from karaoke parlour and from electronics shop. Ranka's voice, again...

        Are we getting closer?

        The broken music player couldn't quite choke it out, but her voice is clear -- and so is her bravery, being here in this place and singing despite it.

        "Ranka Lee," Anti breathes, looking up in the prison he climbed into. "I hear you...! I can help...!!" Akane told him he wasn't supposed to help helpless little girls at concerts -- but he did help Nidaime, and he did help Ranka.

        Death Knight knows how to engage these miracles, at a safe distance -- but Anti is fighting its self-preservation. He manages to force the Death Knight to brace, instead of flee, as the Proto Helios crashes forward to crash into Death Knight's legparts. It falls to its knees.

        It cannot repair the damage. It lifts its rifle, instead --

        Only for the Arbalest to shoot it out of its hands. That bead of light catches at the Death Knight's arms, and expands, washing over it -- the buzzsaw knuckles of its hands cracking and falling still. Even though it raised its rifle to fire, the shotcannon goes through its shoulder, not its core -- not the place where Anti is too, too exposed.

        Anti didn't want this, he said. He didn't want this to happen. He can't stop himself from attacking. Sousuke handily ensures that this machine, at least, will do no more damage with his soul as tribute.

        "As if I'd run!" Anti yells, to Gridman -- answers a question hanging in a distant penthouse in the challenge, perhaps. He can't run, of course, but perhaps that's hardly the point.

        Gridman punches him into Ultraman Geed's claws, as Corkscrew Jamming spins into him, carves at those wires lashing his cockpit down. Where they sever, they fall limp, and do not connect again. In a flurry of force, Death Knight is thrown down --

        to meet Gundam Maxter, surging up from below. His hand, glowing red, moves with all the speed and power of a machine gun. Even so, it is so much more targeted, so much more careful -- full of care -- that despite the devastating force which cores the Death Knight, not a single blow crushes the cockpit itself.

        This is not to say the cockpit is untouched. No: Chibodee's Crest flows through the entry point of each strike, into the Death Knight, through -- and Anti struggles free of those wires, binding him into place. The healing force of that power joins with Nidaime's song, with the bellowing Fixer Beam of the First's own turtlesong. Those scales which the Lambda Driver's heat arrested retreat back, from his shoulders to his elbows to his hands to his fingertips -- from his hips to his knees to his ankles to his toes.

        The cockpit, cored from Death Knight, falls away -- and Evangelion Unit-02 is the one to catch it. Perhaps, once upon a time, this might have meant that Asuka did all this on her own, that she was the one who caused this victory.

        But maybe she's trying something different.

        Anti bangs on the walls of the cockpit, and it's Asuka, carefully carving away with that Prog Knife, who manages to release it -- to help him claw his way out, tooth and nail. It may be entirely obvious to her that he started trying just as soon as he was capable, because once that knife opens the cockpit up, he clambers up, clambers out. Given half a chance, he'll spring up onto the Evangelion's hand, rather than stay here standing on this thing which hurt him. It's fine if Asuka is armed; he'll lean on the knife.

        As those sensors show -- he's himself. He is not consumed by metal, as he comes to stand on that opened cockpit. The wind catches his hair, and as it blows, it shows the patch haphazardly tied over his eye; an injury to one side of his face which must not be related to he DG Cells.

        Because Anti... is alive.

        "You... everyone..." He turns; he looks at everyone who is fighting, fighting for him, fighting to protect Tsutsujidai from the horror he was led to bring here.

        "I... didn't expect you... but you came. You came here... for me..." Maybe his voice can carry, even now he's not privvy to Death Knight's radio. (Death Knight lies, annihilated, on the ground.) It wouldn't be the first miracle here, today.

        "That's what you're made of..."

        He yells, with all his strength:

        "THAT'S WHAT I'M MADE OF!"

        Perhaps it is a challenge. Perhaps it is a promise.

        It's something which takes the last out of him, either way, and he slumps and sinks down, onto the Evangelion's fingers. He's still breathing; he still has life signs -- but all this came from his heart, and it's still such a new thing.

        He'll recover.

<Pose Tracker> Alexis Kerib has posed.

"At this point?" Alexis asks, expression wry. "They can try as much as they like."

Evidently, the idea of prying Anti off the ground being something that might accomplish something has never occurred to Alexis in his life and probably never will.

---

Marusan nods to Kaworu, helping a student she recognizes (one of the girls from 2-D who didn't get shakes with them) out of a capsule. Seeing a familiar face actually has her a little thrown. "Are you okay?" she asks, looking her over. No signs of... whatever horrors might occur to those in the capsules. It's a relief.

"Are these people going to need -- medical help, or something?" Ako asks, looking a little worried. She chews at her lower lip a bit. How have things gotten this strange this quickly...?

---

The Devil Gundam Heads, in the end, are imitations of monsters from ages past. Their lethality and intensity is unusual here -- but they are, in the end, still the same Devil Gundam Heads from 0093, still the same beasts. Rena's missiles and Arriety's slash clean up the MS-scale maintenance shaft in an instant. The drill-dance of the Evangelion is... certainly not delicate in how it disposes of the Gundam Heads, but it does dispose of them in short order; this will require a clean-up crew, but Tsutsujidai... has always excelled in that particular field.

That remnant of the ReZEL's shield carves through a Gundam Head's neck; it's a remarkably perfect slice, too.

Everything finally settles into that stillness once again. Tsutsujidai burns for the second time in a single weekend -- but the threat of the Devil Gundam, at least... seems to be subdued.

---

Akane stares at the feed from one of her drones. Another mess to clean up.

Anti...

... this should upset her. The lengths these people will go to -- have gone to -- for a boy she just -- imagined, a boy she just decided needed to exist. Small pains never addressed before they become everyone's problem. The lengths that no one ever went to before...

... a thought, averted. Shunted back onto the track of kaiju practicals.

'Autointelligence,' then: a false start from a novice designer never before challenged. If something doesn't work, you can just replace it with something that does.

Her next kaiju won't need to think for itself at all.

If she loses, it'll never be anyone else's problem... and if she wins, she'll never be anyone else's problem.

It's a remarkably simple thought, and yet, the wires won't connect. Something here -- something lost in this series of half-formed logic chains about discarding, about adaptation, about intelligence, feels... feels...

... well, what's relevant right now is Anti, not her next move. Suffice to say that she'll never invite whatever this is again. And as for Anti himself...

A drone flits by the Death Knight as the cockpit's pried open, as Anti shouts his declaration. So this is what he wants.

... they'll be kind to him. They'll take him from this place to heal, and either way he'll be -- free. Free of this empty world and its dying husk of a God.

This is good... isn't it?

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        As Arriety takes in Ranka and projects her song with Minae, Rena opens up the top of her VF and offers a seat to Kaworu. He smiles up back at her, gives a nod good-bye to Ako and Marusan and those they rescued, and with a tup of his walking cane against the ground, he soars up, arcs over, and lands gently on the back seat. How convenient low gravity is! (...Does it really work like that...?)
        
        Before he fully makes his way in, though, he glances over at Arriety as if feeling the weight of her attention. To her, he smiles as well, nodding in greeting. He isn't at all off-put by her glowing red eyes. Of course, his eyes are red too, but... not in the same way.
        
        "Hi there," he calls back to Minae. "Thank you for your help." He laughs a little at her comment about sub-woofers, but leaves it at that. And that ping from earlier will just remain a mystery for the time being.
        
        He settles into the VF seat, briefly shutting his eyes and enjoying the sound of Ranka's song projected all over Tsutsujidai. Pure and gentle, clear and sincere... Basara Nekki, Sheryl Nome, and Lynn Minmay are all wonderful in their own unique ways, but there's something special about Ranka. Something...
        
        "Yes," he responds to Rena. "Let's make sure everyone goes home safely tonight."
        
        That's the best thing they can do for Akane's world (read: heart), which was supposed to be kind--for Anti, who has finally learned to ask for help.

<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.

"Hm hm hm," Elisa vocalizes to Alexis. "And they do try hard, don't they..?"

But there, the music begins, at first distant, and then playing over the stereo system of the penthouse she's 'borrowed'. The singing, conveyed, is beautiful. Elisa hears it, and smiles. But it is not the pleasantness of the music that most gathers her interest. No... It's the way her jewelry begins to glow. Bracelets and earrings, gems set in each shimmer with the power of fold wave transmissions, and Elisa does not only hear the music but sees it--feels it.

It is...

The witch frowns, as she looks down at her bracelets. "You..."

Her fingers curl, perfect green nails sliding against the table as she makes a fist. "Hm."

Then she hears Anti's voice. He says that they came. He yells with all his strength. And Elisa leans in. "...Despite certain issues," she says, "I think he did a marvelous job, don't you?"

She lifts her wine again in toast. "Ahahahah. They really did it. How lovely."

She stands, with her wine, and inclines her head to Alexis. "Well! Show's over, darling. I, for one, look greatly forward to seeing where our wayward kaiju goes from here..."

"Don't you?"

<Pose Tracker> Ouka Nagisa has posed.

        'G-Hound unit, fall back! You're risking contamination!'

        She recognizes that voice. That's Liam. He's in the Proto-Helios, fighting even now. Not too long ago he was hurt and hurt badly by Anti? The boy they're all trying to rescue? It's so strange to her. She doesn't understand it. She does hear his concern for her though, and for her unit. She also remembers his concern for her when she was slicing apples for him in the hospital, when she cut her finger when he said he didn't want to be thrown away...

        ... is that what Dr. Feff is trying to do to her now? Just trying to throw her away, for the chance to retrieve a sample of the DG Cells?

        There is a spike of pain at the thought, and it slips from her consciousness before she has a chance to hold onto it and analyze it further. The thought of responding to the message is even a more distant dream. The restraints of conditioning are holding her ever tighter the more she strains against them.

        As the ReZEL's waverider form breaks free from the DG Cell infestation, it quickly takes off in the sky. Shaking, sputtering smoke and sparks, but still airborne. The unit takes takes off, and away from the battlefield, towards parts unknown.

~Parts Unknown~

        The ReZEL doesn't return to the G-Hound base it was stationed at. Instead it flies away, far away, to a remote base operated by The School somewhere in the most remote regions of Siberia. The machine has stopped sparking, smoking or sputtering at this point.

        This is not a good development.

        When the machine lands it becomes apparent that it has been contaminated by the DG Cells, just as intended. Furthermore the DG Cells are engaging in repairing the damaged unit just as they begin to twist it into something Different. Despite the repairs though the unit comes crashing down hard against the tarmac at the Siberian base. The cockpit block snaps open and the figure of its teenage pilot comes stumbling out of it and into the snow. Her entire body shaking, her stomach emptying itself of mostly bile on the snow speckled asphalt.

        And Egret Feff is already there. Clad in clothing designed to fight the cold, he eyes the infected machine with a keen eye, and a cruel smile. He motions to one of technicians standing alongside him and says, "Bring the containment vessels and collect samples. We'll incinerate the rest."

        "... hh...help me."

        Egret's eyes widen. He turns towards Aurum-1, the child shivering in the cold, looking as if he had just realized she was there. His expression is like that of someone who has noticed a bag of flaming dog shit on his doorstep. To him she is a failed prototype. Only Aguila seems to enjoy playing with her still - Adler himself only using her as a testbed for the advancement of the GEIM System prototype and the more outlandish weapon designs he dreams up. As far as Egret is concerned, it would have been just as well if she had not come back at all.

        ... or so he thought at first. His sharp-eyed gaze settles upon the girl's left arm, and he can see there the strange metallic scales growing. So, she HAS been infected. Well it seems you finally do have some use to him after all, Aurum-1.

        "Take that to medical for isolation and observation. I want a detailed analysis of how the DG Cells integrate an organic host's cells for the Machinery Children project before we purge the infection from her system."

        As the Failed Child is dragged away, Egret calmly turns his gaze toward the technician teams as they continue extracting samples from the afflicted machine. It also seems that one of the more craven of his technicians has already called up the mobile incinerator: A massive furnace on wheels designed open and engulf a mobile suit sized payload without even touching it, and then superheating its interior until whatever is contained is either liquefied or vaporized... whichever is needed.

        Probably the latter in this case.

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Gundam Maxter lands hard as its part of the work is done. The gold disappears almost immediately as the extreme tax of the energy dissipates into the ether from whence it came. Chibodee collapses onto his knees, hunched over, supporting his body with his right arm as he gasps for breath. Did they make it? Was it enough?

Chibodee hears Anti somewhere behind him. The evil has been defeated. The burden lightens. It was enough. Even if it was just this once, it was enough.

Chibodee eases up. He can see that Anti is with people he knows -- that's good enough for Chibodee. Gundam Maxter resummons its surfboard, climbs onto it, and starts the journey back to the pickup area. It's got to go through decontamination anyway. Nobody wants DG cells proliferating... do they? No, that would be insane. The idea never even crosses his mind.

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Gridman heard him. Loud and clear -- Anti's declaration, and challenge. Yuta wants to stick around and check on the little kaiju, but -- the gemstone in Gridman's forehead blinks insistently. Oh well. Yuta smiles ruefully. Anti wouldn't want to see him, anyway.

"Everyone, thank you. Today is a victory. None of us could've done it alone. We of Tsutsujidai are in your debt." Gridman's voice is gentle, now, no more shouting. He leans forward into a slight bow, and vanishes into light.

Back at the junk shop, Yuta and Calibur climb out of Rikka's Synchrotank. "Yuta." Calibur says, turning sideways to exit the machine. "Y -- you did well." With that, he walks ahead to the shop, swords gently swaying on his back.

Yuta sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Thanks, Calibur." He looks up at the sky, the truths of the previous few days landing solidly on his shoulders again. "...Akane... were you watching?"

On a whim, he pulls out his cell phone, tapping Akane Shinjo's name in his contacts. She hasn't replied to his earlier message -- she had no reason to, really. Double texting was kinda cringe, but... "Anti's okay." He taps out, then sends it, before he can rethink his decision. Yuta pockets his phone and starts on his walk home. One more glance at the sky, and a murmured, "I hope you're okay too, Shinjo."

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Riku\, inside Ultraman Geed smiles as he sees Asuka's machine hold Anti. As Anti makes his declaration before falling over unconscious. Geed watches for a moment\, staring at Anti. "You did good\, Anti. Just rest for now\, and we'll meet up when you're better."

To that\, he looks at Asuka's Eva and speaks\, "You are kind\, I knew I was right\," Geed says with a warm tone. He turns to nod once at both Chibodee and Gridman\, and walks by the First and Second. He touches the top of the turtle and looks down at Nidaime. There wasn't much to say\, but she knew she'd be in good hands.

With that Geed turns away from the group. He leaps into the air with a shaaaw and soars into the air\, probably accidentally buzzing the building that some watchers were on. It might make Alexis realize that if he had not struck him that day\, and destroyed the Raiser...he would not have his original powers back.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

Not so long ago she would have claimed the killing blow. She thought she already had with that purple Kaiju. He survived it though. He survived her. He survived her upbraiding him, and hurting him.

Now she allows him to spring onto her Evangelion's hand. The Eva's palm spreads open, its fingers only faintly curled as if to provide a barrier so he won't fall out. The four green 'sensors' of its face look at Anti, as he cries his triumph.

"That's right. That's right Munchkin." Asuka says gently, with her comms off, feeling the swell of emotion in her chest. This isn't how it's supposed to go. When something created fails at its purpose, or is broken. It's just thrown away, like an old doll. Into the trash.

This isn't how it's supposed to go. It's not.

"Stupid... it's..."

And in this moment feeling something warm in her eyes. It's hard to tell with the LCL Fluid. The scent of blood overwhelms that of saline. However she reaches a finger up to her eye in wonder.

"... Am I... really?"

She doesn't know.

"... I didn't know I..."

In the days after, she'll doubt herself, there's no evidence it happened in the sea of LCL. She doesn't know what it's like. She doesn't know what it feels like. Because she never has.

As Anti slumps down in her hand, unconscious, she checks with her sensors, zooming in to double check. The four Eva sensors raise to look at Geed. Though she says nothing. Torn between pride and emotion.

However, as Gundam Maxter summons its surfboard, she flips back on the Comms. "<Wait.>"

Slowly Evangelion Unit-02 lowers its hand and offers him over to the Gundam. "<We - NERV - we'll be placing this Kaiju in your custody for isolation until you can clear him of DG Cell contamination as the resident expert.>"

And assuming he takes him, she will gently offer him over.

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

The last shot does the job. "Lambda Driver heat tolerances exceeded. Forced shutdown," AL reports.

"Going to have to tell Doctor Lemming we pushed it to the limit this time," Sousuke mutters. He's watching, down below, as Anti screams his defiance to the sky.

"I will prepare statistics," AL says.

"Oh, so you do have those," Sousuke mutters. "Damage report?"

"Class B or higher damage across the frame."

"And we're--"

"According to the most recent intelligence, Tsutsujidai is located within a PLANT cylinder at Side 2."

Sousuke cannot liberate his hands to palm his face. "Chidori will be worried about her notebook," he sighs. "Please signal the Shuffle Alliance for a pickup. Can we get Invisibility online?"

"Roger. Yes."

Arbalest's joints glide open, revealing an array of specialized lenses - and not even an entire second later, the ARM Slave is simply gone, disappearing in a flash of electric blue.

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        The Proto Helios jets to a stop a hundred meters from the stricken Death Knight, engulfed by its own bonfire. Its head cranes up as the G-Hound unit breaks from the conflict; Liam sees the telltale scale-like silvery sheen clinging to its airframe, and pales.

        "G-Hound unit, STOP!" Liam screams, but it's already making for the colony airlocks. He couldn't catch up to it if he tried. The Proto Helios' hands twist into fists; between the pressure and the heat, the fingers deform, ever-so-slightly. Of course there's a catch. Liam reaches out in the Mobile Trace interface, and kills SUNBURST. The plasma jets die, leaving only a heat haze.

        But Anti, at least, is safe, and the head of this particular snake has been cut off. That's more than Liam was expecting going into this. "Asuka, can you handle him from here?" Liam says. He's tiny, and the Eva is enormous, but Liam couldn't get near Anti without subjecting him to the flesh-stripping heat of his Mobile Fighter's aura.

        But Asuka makes a call Liam wasn't expecting her to make. Pride wells up in his heart. As the Arbalest turns to leave, the Proto Helios raises a hand in salute. But there's one last thing--

        "Ultraman Geed?" He's already leaving. Liam's transmission is essentially chasing him. "Thank you. We--need to talk. About all of this." For a moment, Liam imagines having a casual chat with a giant the size of a skyscraper. Is that a stupid request?

        Well. He's already helped pull off one miracle today. Why not shoot for another?

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

And almost as quickly as it began, it's over.

All these people love Anti so much. It's not a surprise to Nidaime. Anti is emminently loveable. And since he came from Akane, that means the same for her, right? But for the moment, Nidaime doesn't have much of a thought for Akane. She can't ever care for her the way her friends can, can she? The way Anti can, can she? That desperation of Anti's, could she copy it? Would she be more human if she could?

She doesn't care about what witches or aliens from a previous universe have to say about it. Maybe if they tried a little harder they wouldn't be so empty, and sad, and pitiable. She didn't pity them before, people like Alexis, but Kaworu told her enough and she found it very sad and her rage faded away and all she could have was pity. She'd rather be full of foolishness than be empty of anything.

And so whenever Anti calls, Nidaime will come running.

She might be a little slow, being part turtle, but she'll come!

Anti says what she--and everyone else here--is made of. Even Asuka, who is able to pry Anti free. Nidaime smiles at her. Yes, even Asuka who was always so surly. Now Asuka won't be able to stop Nidaime from being her friend no matter how hard she tries, or what she thinks about the arrangement. It is happening, Asuka, you cannot escape. Slow and steady wins the race.

"Asuka.....! Thank you...!" Nidaime beams at her. "I'm glad... that everyone in NERV is so nice to kaiju!"

Look NERV might say it's job is to murder kaiju but EVIDENCE SUGGESTS OTHERWISE FOLKS. Sure, SELF DEFENSE, but when a kaiju is cuddly BY GEORGE they'll be there to make sure that kaiju gets cuddled. That's Nidaime's present perception of NERV. It's like 5 hugs versus one Ouka talking about kaiju murder.

Regardless, Nidaime is having difficulty maintaining her form so she quickly hugs Asuka's giant robot before jogging back to Anosillus and jumping towards his turtle shell--

--shrinking midjump as she lands right on top of it.

"Gronk." Anosillus says before following Gundam Maxter. Nidaime extends her hand out and curls her fingers inward as if holding a hand that is not there.

It's what he's made of.

He really is going to be an incredible Knight.

She closes her eyes. Anosillus hovers over Anti as if daring any kaiju hunter to come get some. He extends his long neck and gives Anti--

--a slobbery Giant Kaiju Turtle Lick--

--before following Anti to where he can be looked over.

"We did it..." Nidaime murmurs to the ghost of Max Burns. "Chibi made it and Anti..."

She closes her eyes sleepily. Today was a big day.

But the tommorows to come will be ever bigger.

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Ultraman Geed is about to take off\, probably specifically to spite Alexis\, but his name is called and he makes a confused ultraman sound\, turning towards the Helios.

"Hello? I don't think we've met directly. Is there something I can help you with?"

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        Liam's never considered the thought of a superhero turning back in mid-flight to answer somebody. Captain Britannia definitely wouldn't interrupt a dramatic exit like that. He stares awkwardly at the interface for a moment, but then the words come. "Liam. NERV. This isn't the right place for it. But..."

        The Proto Helios switches effortlessly to encrypted datastream, as if Liam had been studying that without his handlers' knowledge. It sends forth coordinates. Instructions. A physical shipping box in Tokyo-3. He checks it every day. Place a note inside when you're ready to talk.

        "That's all," Liam says. "Stay safe."

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

There is a pause, the data goes to some device that Riku has on his person, which is INSIDE the Ultraman right now. He pauses, then nods once. He understands, but will not say anything more about it out loud. Or he doesn't understand and is just pretending. It could go either way with Riku, really.

"You as well," he says, and once more, ultraman sounds into flight to buzz roofs as he flies into the sky. Sometime later Riku will be coming out of a nearby alley.