2023-03-19: Zonder Radio
- Log: 2023-03-19- Zonder Radio
- Cast: Hass, Akane Shinjo, GaoGaiGo Team, Alouette Pommier, Gai Kurenai, Rikka Takarada, Gridman, Namiko
- Where: Tsutsujidai
- OOC - IC Date: 0097-03-19
- Summary: BioNet makes its presence in Tsutsujidai known again after months of silence with a pseudo-Zonder.
- CW: Torture, minor body horror
<Pose Tracker> Hass has posed.
A dark-haired girl sits huddled in the corner of a cold, cramped holding cell, lit a sickly yellow by a single bulb. She hugs her knees against her chest, burying the lower half of her face against them. Her school uniform is torn and stained.
How long has she been here?
There's a sequence of tally marks on the wall beside her. She can't remember the last time she added one.
A camera sits near the ceiling, directly above her, concealed under a dark plastic hemisphere to hide whether or not they're watching. It doesn't matter; she knows they are. They always are. They can't see as much if she's sitting here.
Her breathing is shaky, trembling. On the verge of a sob, if she hadn't run out of tears before she gave up marking days. Blood draws, scans, invasive procedures, injections that don't seem to do anything except make her sick. Physical and verbal abuse. Even after all this time, she doesn't understand why. Is there even a reason? Are they just hurting her to hurt her?
Some part of her wishes they'd just get it over with already. Kill her. But whenever she thinks that, she thinks about her friends. About Namiko... about Rikka. She swears she can hear them, sometimes. They tell her not to give up. She knows they're still out there. Someone will find her. Someone will rescue her. She just has to hold--
"SUBJECT RC-01!" barks the intercom. "STAND!"
The sound nearly gives her a heart attack. She pushes herself back against the wall, slowly lifting herself to her feet, knees shaking. The cold air against her face is intensely uncomfortable, like she's naked. A fear gathers in the pit of her empty stomach, dulled by time and repetition. What will it be today...?
The door slams open and a nearly seven-foot-tall man walks in, stomping toward her. "It's your lucky day, number one. They're letting you out."
"L...letting me... out?" she croaks, her voice ragged and broken. It's a trick, right? It must be.
The man shoves a black bag over her head.
-=-=-
The bag comes off. She's outside. Sunshine. Fresh air.
A large hand holds both of her wrists behind her; its owner holds something else in the other hand. A silver sphere, spiderwebbed in cracks, with a raised panel like an open eye, held to face her. Wires and circuit traces converge toward a circle at the center. It pulses, and silently stares. It fills her with dread. He shoves it against her forehead, panel-first.
"No... no... no, no, no, no--" At the moment of contact, sphere shines. It melts into her. Pale skin turns to gray metal. "NononononooozooOOONNNNNDEEEEERRRR!!!" Her cries are rapidly distorted, warped into a Zonder's cry. Her body reshapes into a hulking, silvery-gray thing, layers of living metal hanging off its form, pulsing wires visible in the depths of its gawping maw, its eyes red, glassy, blank spheres.
hate
fear
anger
trauma
destruction catharsis
It leaps away from its captor with feral agility, scaling an abandoned high-rise. It clings to the base of the broadcast tower at its peak, merging the steel scaffolding.
For a moment, nothing happens.
Then the scaffolds begin to bend and warp... and soon, so does the building below it, steel, glass, and electronics shifting, reshaping into humanoid form.
The Zonder Robo's "face" lights up in an array of lit green panels, head rising from its body like a bunker. Its arms are thick and segmented, ending in four wicked claws each, supported on shoulders bearing what appear to be giant three-lens video cameras. A pair of satellite dishes rise high above them, setting the air abuzz with radio waves. All of Side 4 finds its communications completely disabled; every channel is instead
What appears to be a livestream?
Those with video feeds see a young Japanese woman, roughly high-school age, with long hair loosely tied to one side, blunt bangs, and a paper facemask worn over her mouth and nose.
Residents of Tsutsujidai may recognize her as a high schooler known as Hassun, or simply "Hass." A girl who's been missing since December.
"Yo, everyone! Hass here~" she announces cheerfully in a lightly husky tenor, eyes grinning for the camera. "Today I thought I'd try streaming a game!" Her camera view shrinks to a corner of the screen, revealing the title screen of a game called 'Grotto Tale'. "Now, I'm not all that great at platformers, so bear with me here, but I've heard really great things about this one, so let's give it a try!"
The mechanical titan transmitting the stream, meanwhile, sweeps its arm through a building, advancing toward the more populated areas of town, bellowing out, "ZOOOONNNNDEEEEEERRRR!"
KTS: Hass has deployed in Pseudo-EI-74 Imitation Zonder Robo. KTS: EN Barrier activated! KTS: Rikka Takarada has deployed in Synchrotank. KTS: Rikka Takarada has changed loadout. KTS: Alouette Pommier has deployed in Guardienne Aviaire. KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has deployed in GaoGaiGo. KTS: Namiko has deployed in Neutron D3. KTS: Gridman has deployed in Gridman Primal Fighter. KTS: Gridman has changed loadout. <Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Though Akane's in Tsutsujidai, she's actually here on 3G business; she's here to talk to the team dealing with the Galeoria Pliers about a few things and deal with a much-belated transfer of parts from Orbit Base to the Wadatsumi. Some more of PhantomGao's wreckage has been recovered from a BioNet facility, and it seemed wise to have it all in one place. It might actually mean getting its GaoMachines working again -- though with GaoGaiGar available, there might not be a ton of upside to that. It's a nice, routine parts transfer.
(Not anymore, it isn't.)
That familiar-and-not cry of "ZONDEEEEEEEEEEEEER!" makes Akane's blood run cold -- here? Now? BioNet is -- no. It can't be revenge against her... can it?
... but it is a consequence of living in the wider world. Akane pulls out her phone to snap off a text before disaster response turns this city into a Minovsky nightmare -- and it brings up, instead... a livestream?
'Now, I'm not all that great at platformers, but'
... oh, no. Oh, no no no no no.
This is Rikka's friend -- a friend Akane had been too disengaged to notice anything even happening to. A friend who's been gone for months. A friend who's been turned into -- a friend who's been used as --
Her heart throbs in all the empty, cut-out places. Akane grips a catwalk tight, looking down toward PhantomGao's open cockpit -- toward the wreckage she left behind. Her black-brown hair curtains her face, as she takes shallow, rapid breaths.
She has to do something. She has to do something. She has to do something.
She vaults the catwalk railing, leaping into that wrecked, pried-open cockpit. As she lands with a dull 'wumph' amid cylinders and metal, she slams one hand into the controls with force, fumbling in an internal vest pocket for a pair of cracked yellow glasses to make the lighting more bearable.
GaoFighGar was never meant for a human --
-- but a human that makes kaiju is a strange beast indeed.
She can't undo everything. Maybe, though -- maybe this wound she carved, here, in her city -- maybe that's within her power to change. Her other hand slides into the other control cylinder -- it's an awkward fit, designed for someone much larger. ... she'll bend it to herself, she thinks. In this moment, it's here -- she's here -- and she needs it.
"Sorry, Alouette," she murmurs. "It looks like I'm gonna put your 'little ones' through it all over again." A thin line of sparkles trails down her body, gradually shifting to a swirling fog. Some of that fog coalesces into dark tentacles that wrap around the controls -- and around her legs and arms, keeping her in contact with the machine. The rest suffuses the machine itself, as -- piece by piece -- it starts to knit back together.
"Hm. Gross, but sure," Akane murmurs, as she notices those tentacles through a curtain of lilac hair. As the cockpit starts to light up, Akane opens comms and reports to the Wadatsumi --
"Having a bit of a weird one in the hangar, here, but you know what? Let's just go with it. I don't have any better idea what's going on than you do!"
The wreck of GaoFighGar -- and it is a wreck, with its upper and lower body seemingly connected by threads that are actively stitching themselves back together, and the GaoMachines seemingly in the middle of being drilled apart -- speeds toward the Zonder Robo. The arms seem incomplete -- struggling to remain in place, still shrouded in fog.
"I know you're gonna have a lot of questions," Akane transmits to Tsutsujidai's other defenders, "but you know what? I already told the Wadatsumi this, but, uh, just go with it."
Being bound up with GaoFighGar in this way is so strange -- there's a lot of things she doesn't know, and yet a lot of this is so intuitive, at the same time. It's different from driving a mobile suit or a wanzer -- the machine is her, and it gives her a new appreciation for what Guy puts himself through.
GaoFighGar skids through the streets half-in-control and half-out-of-control, on approach to Hass. Lifting a knee, Akane lets out a cry she remembers from Guy's attempt to rescue Renais:
"DRILL! KNEEEEEE!"
The drills on GaoFighGar's knees both spin up, and Akane comes into a knee-first hop straight into the Zonder Robo.
KTS: Akane Shinjo has deployed in Chaos Bringer GaoFighGar. KTS: EN Barrier activated! KTS: Akane Shinjo has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Akane Shinjo targets Hass with Drill Knee! KTS: Akane Shinjo has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass fails to react to Akane Shinjo's Drill Knee, taking 2070 damage! KTS: Akane Shinjo has engaged Hass!
<Pose Tracker> GaoGaiGo Team has posed.
There's another unit deploying - GaoGaiGo, which is commanded to combine rather quickly, but uneventfully - even if trees and lightpoles are tossed up.
Mamoru was, and is, worried. The back of his neck is tingliing, and there's a Zonder - with one of the Tsutsujidai residents who's been missing since December. "How long have they..."
Ikumi cuts him off. "Don't worry. We'll get her out of there, proceed as usual." He's taking control right now.
Mamoru radios to Akane, as GaoGaiGo starts to lumber forward. <"Good luck, Shinjo! We've got your back.">
And then, as they lumber, one of those fallen lightpoles is picked up, grasped tightly in both hands, and smashed against the Zonder Robo's shoulder.
<"It's not GaGaGatchi, luckily."> Ikumi remarks, radioing Alouette, before doing a broader comm to the others. <"Let's prioritize a light but firm 'tap' on the frame. We need to get her out of there surgically if we're going to make everything right.">
KTS: GaoGaiGo Team: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: GaoGaiGo Team targets Hass with Clobberin' Time! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Alouette was here in Tsutsujidai for much of the same reason as Akane was; after all, the recovery of GaoFighGar is her pet project more than anything, she felt it was right to oversee the parts transfer. She wasn't expecting this pet project to be the buildup to a miracle, though.
"ZOOOOOOONDER!" Alouette grits her teeth. Of course... BioNet still has a nest here. Alouette remembers Hass from class when she transferred... she knew that she was Rikka's friend, but she didn't know much else. If BioNet had her all along, used her as a host.. she'll do whatever she can to rescue her from that fate.
Thankfully, she has the means to do so, as she left Guardienne Aviaire on standby at the Wadatsumi during the parts transfer. She climbs into the cockpit, and fires up the engine. "I'm deploying! Akane, I trust I can leave the operations to you?"
She never receives a response of affirmative. Instead the wreckage of GaoFighGar inexplicably whirrs past, paired with a cry of "DRILL KNEEEEE!" Alouette lets out a conflicted breath. "I entrusted my very life to you already.. so I'm not about to stop you here, either." Guardienne Aviaire, composed, balanced, speeds right behind.
"Hatsuno-senpai, keep taking care of GaoGaiGo! I can still handle GaoFighGar from in here." Guardienne Aviaire is an operator's machine after all, and with GaoFighGar's condition, her little ones are going to need all the support they can get...
KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Akane Shinjo with Prospect! KTS: Alouette Pommier has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass partially guards GaoGaiGo Team's Clobberin' Time, taking 2850 damage! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has engaged Hass! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team begins a Formation attack! KTS: Hass has deployed as a Boss for 6 opponents.
<Pose Tracker> Gai Kurenai has posed.
Gai promised Juggler he'd watch over Tsutsujidai in case more developments followed the kidnapping of one of its residents.
This means also watching over that resident's closest friend and helping her grow stronger with her new mobile weapon.
He's in the middle of running Namiko through some basic routines for inner cultivation when -
- a lance of -
- dreadpanicfearanguishhatepainVIOLENCE -
- he staggers, clutching his head, moments before the tortured cry of "ZONDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!" echoes across Tsutsujidai.
Panting, he fixes his eyes on Namiko. "It's her." He doesn't explain who he means or how he knows. He puts his hand on the girl's shoulder. "Go to her. Trust in yourself and your allies and you can save her."
Watching the short-haired brunette rush towards her Kobu, Gai waits until she's out of sight, then heads towards an alley, kicking up off the ground and then between the buildings until he reaches the taller roof, securing a vantage point and drawing the Orb Ring out from his coat.
A second heart in pain rises to meet the first as Akane calls forth GaoFighGar. Gai watches as more and more defenders appear in incandescent green light, and...
He waits.
Patience has never been among his virtues, but he's grown calm enough in those centuries of travel and fighting to trust in the bravery of each world's heroes.
"You were right, Juggler," he murmurs. "The wickedness of this world is steep indeed. Let's see how they deal with it."
A machine of destruction with an innocent heart at its core. The memories of Galactron are still a warning, even after so long; Gai has to see if this world offers another way to meet this cruelty.
KTS: Alouette Pommier assesses Akane Shinjo's prospects, increasing her SP!
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Junk Shop Aya's television hums faintly. It's mostly on for the ambience - a little bit of white noise to get Rikka through the work day. If you asked her what channel was on or what show was playing, she wouldn't be able to give you an answer without consulting the guide. She sits idly at the counter. Namiko had just dropped by, and chatting with her helps pass the time, at least. It seems like it'll be just an ordinary work day...
...Until, suddenly, the broadcast changes in a way that makes her take immediate notice, as suddenly she hears the voice of a dearly-missed friend for the first time in months. Rikka sits up immediately, mouthing her name and turning to face the TV.
It's... one of her livestreams. An archived one. She knows that because she recognises it - and her brow furrows at the realisation. This one... sticks out as a sore spot.
"...Hass... What is this...?" Rikka says, shaking her head. She looks toward Namiko."Why would they choose this one...? Is someone mocking us...?"
What's going on? Hass... Has something happened to Hass? Just as she thinks that, she feels the weight of something large moving, then, followed by the baleful cry of a Zonder.
...No. It couldn't possibly be - this is a coincidence, right...?
...Rikka grips the counter for a moment, shutting her eyes and drawing in a sharp breath. ...Focus. She just has to focus. She shouldn't rush out immediately. She pulls out her phone and tries to contact Gridman... but it's just playing the same stream. Gritting her teeth, she stows it away once more starts to pace. Gridman's bound to have noticed it too, on his own.
"...S-someone's going to be coming soon to help. We should... stay here for now." Rikka says.
When Gridman does arrive, Rikka looks up at him. ...She has the look of someone who's clearly distressed, but doing her best to try to stay calm.
"...I don't know what's going on, but... it's something to do with Hass. We need to... We need to stop-" Rikka cuts herself off. It? ...Her? She doesn't want to think that it's actually Hass, their friend turned against them, but... "...This."
"...Namiko, I know this is difficult-" Rikka starts. She looks toward Namiko, then she had been, where Gai had been speaking with her...
...She's already rushed off. Rikka draws in a breath. ...She can't blame her. She knows how personal this is to her. She can't say she hasn't been like that, too.
"...Let's go. We can't leave her to do this alone." Rikka says, looking toward Gridman.
...Before long, Synchrotank is loaded up and moving out - and there, she sees the gathered forces of 3G... and, the looming Zonder Robo.
"...We're here for you. I know I said I'd meet you halfway, but... I wasn't expecting it to be like this." Rikka murmurs, readying her weapons. And then... she doubletakes, at one of the machines present.
"...Akane? Is what...? What is that?" Rikka asks, baffled. ...It's reassuring, though, to see her here - and at her decision to 'just go with it', Rikka nods. "...Right. 3G, the Gridman Alliance is with you!"
...She trusts her, after all. If she says to just go with it, she will. Synchrotank's arms point outward toward the Zonder Robo, firing a burst of smoke missiles.
KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Hass with Jam! KTS: Rikka Takarada has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Rikka Takarada jams Hass's sensors, reducing her accuracy. <Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
"Rikka!" Gridman shouts, bursting through the doors of Aya. The Neon Genesis Junior High Students file in behind him. One look at Rikka's face tells them all she's already well-aware of what's going on.
As Namiko rushes off, no one makes a move to stop her. Maybe this is something only she can do. In harmony, all five Hyper Agents nod.
"Right." Guilt churns in Gridman's stomach. Guilt for not rescuing Hass before now. Guilt for letting it go this far. He clenches his fists. "We're with you, Rikka."
"Gridman." Borr speaks up, unusually serious. "Let me come with you on this one. That thing's huge, and."
They don't need to say anything else. Gridman knows Borr feels the same guilt he does. He nods. Together, the Gridman Alliance follows Rikka to Synchrotank -- Borr and Gridman standing together in front of Junk.
"Access --"
"Access code--"
"Flash!"
"Buster Borr!"
"G--good luck." Calibur mutters, as two of his comrades vanish into light.
---
Taking his proper form has the same sensation as a really, really good stretch. Buster Gridman comes into being next to GaoFighGar -- pausing to give the machine a strange look. Is that..?
"We fight together!" Gridman announces, as he hears Rikka's question -- and realization. Akane, here in Tsutsujidai and fighting..? Despite the dire situation, the Giant smiles internally. Things have changed so much, so quickly.
"Hass!" Gridman shouts. He pushes aside the apologies he owes her. There'll be time for that later. "We're here to BRING YOU HOME!"
With a whirr of the missile launchers at Gridman's waist, Borr speaks up. "Leave this to me! Sydney Super Adhesive Missile!"
Digging his feet into the street, Buster Gridman launches dozens of missiles into the air, letting them burst at the feet of the Zonder Robo. Sticky pink good explodes out, an oddly cheerful color. "Come on. Just hold still, we'll get you out of this!"
KTS: Gridman targets Hass with Sydney Super Adhesive Missile! KTS: Gridman has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Gridman rattles Hass, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Hass fails to evade Gridman's Sydney Super Adhesive Missile, taking 1200 damage! KTS: Gridman repulses Hass, forcing her to disengage. KTS: Gridman continues a Formation attack! <Pose Tracker> Namiko has posed.
Namiko has been putting on a brave face through prom season. The longer she goes without her missing friend, the more it's clearly eating at her. May taking her out to prom was nice, and all, but in the aftermath of it, she just feels....
Fortunately, Gai's around to stop her from just flopping on the couch at Aya for a depression nap. Instead, she's sitting on a little rug out on the shop floor. She's breathing with quiet focus, feeling the sparks of something like light move inside her, when the TV changes. She's fully present in seconds, because that voice is: "Hass--!?" she yelps, looking up. "No way," she says. "I remember this one, she hated this one!" she says, looking to Rikka with mounting alarm.
And then...a call. Namiko freezes, impulses warring back and forth across her heart. Gai breaks the stalemate. "...yeah," she says.
Indeed, she's already heading for the door to the junkyard when Rikka speaks. The Neutron D3 has been a nimble little tool - smaller than almost anything else the Rescue Service has. For one thing that means they can basically park it next to the door next to a stepping stool, which Namiko hops up. She swings over the lip quickly, into the almost trashcan-like lid which slams down behind her. The D3 is a Kobu, a spiritual mecha powered by a spiritual steam engine driven by the pilot's own sparks. For most, it barely turns over.
For Namiko, it roars to life immediately, and soon the red-and-silver machine - Ultra colors, though through a few layers of extrapolation - skates out of the junkyard and into the city streets. "HASS!" Namiko yells. She's having to keep way more focus than she at all feels like she can maintain on this dinky little thing, but she skates as fast as it'll take her. "Hass! C'mon!! Don't--!"
Seeing the missiles streak through the air reminds her, and deep in the cuffs that drive the arms, she finds the flick triggers that set off her own packs. "They'll lock her down...yeah! I'll help!"
A pack of the very same missile suite corkscrews out of the D3's oversized shoulders, an inspiration from the person who helped Namiko through the worst of the days following Celebro.
KTS: Namiko targets Hass with Sydney Super Adhesive Missile! KTS: Namiko has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Namiko rattles Hass, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Hass partially guards Namiko's Sydney Super Adhesive Missile, taking 1710 damage! KTS: Namiko repulses Hass, forcing her to disengage. KTS: Namiko continues a Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Hass has posed.
The Zonder Robo moves with no purpose except destruction. It seeks out edifice and topples it; there is no higher calling here, no goal, no actualization to be had in this rampage. It drives its claws through the roof of a small office building. The windows explode outward, sending glass, concrete, and steel flying out in all directions amid a cloud of dust.
Heavy footfalls catch its attention, now, and it turns to see the mangled GaoFighGar bearing down upon it. It thrusts an arm toward the Super Mechanoid to dig into one of those many weak points, even as GaoFighGar's knee comes up into its midsection. A barrier, ephemeral and violet, stops the drill... then slowly the ethereal wall bends... and the drill pierces through, tearing into the mass of wires in the Zonder's torso. "ZOOOONNNNDEEEEER!"
A lightpole slammed against its shoulder gets its attention now, the lenses spinning a full 360 degrees as if to make sure they're still working. The attack earns a sweep of its arm in return, to slam into GaoGaiGo's side.
Alouette doesn't escape its notice, either; the camera on its left shoulder rotates, and the medium-length lens erupts in a stream of photons lancing out toward Guardienne Avaire, only to have its vision obscured by the Synchrotank's smoke, which itself earns a sweep from the beam 'lens'.
The arrival of Gridman and the Neutron D3 is accompanied by a double-dosed cascade of adhesive goop splashed all over the Pseudo-EI-74, which first earns a thrust of its claws toward the Hyper Agent's chest with a roar of, "ZOOOONNNNDEEEEER!!" It follows the motion up with a sweep of its other arm, as if to bat the little Koubu away entirely.
Meanwhile, on the comm feeds, Hass dies to the second enemy she comes across in Grotto Tale. She laughs it off, saying she's not used to games like this, but she'll get the hang of it!
KTS: Hass targets Akane Shinjo with Gigantic Body Smash! KTS: Hass targets GaoGaiGo Team with Gigantic Body Smash! KTS: Hass targets Alouette Pommier with Beam Attack! KTS: Hass targets Rikka Takarada with Beam Sweep! KTS: Hass targets Gridman with Gigantic Body Smash! KTS: Hass targets Namiko with Gigantic Body Crush! KTS: Hass has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Rikka Takarada blocks Hass's Beam Sweep, taking 2150 damage! KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Rouse Spirit Command. KTS: Alouette Pommier partially guards Hass's Beam Attack, taking 4655 damage! KTS: Gridman parries Hass's Gigantic Body Smash, taking 1140 damage! KTS: Hass has engaged Gridman! KTS: [Spirit Defense] Namiko's The Will To Dream activates, and her spirit endures. KTS: Hass enervates Namiko, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Namiko parries Hass's Gigantic Body Crush, taking 1320 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Hass's Analyst activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Hass's Enervator activates, causing Deject! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Hass's Outmaneuver activates, causing Control Bonus! KTS: Hass has engaged Namiko! KTS: Akane Shinjo's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Akane Shinjo fails to react to Hass's Gigantic Body Smash, taking 3700 damage! KTS: Hass has engaged Akane Shinjo! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: GaoGaiGo Team blocks Hass's Gigantic Body Smash, taking 960 damage! KTS: Hass has engaged GaoGaiGo Team!
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
"Ahaha, sorry! Looks like I'm out of place," Akane finally answers Alouette, as the seventy percent or so of GaoFighGar skids across the streets. (It's still strange -- but at the same time, the sensation of being GaoFighGar isn't a totally foreign one. She spent so long in a body that simultaneously felt like hers and not hers. What's one more?)
"This is what I could staple together of GaoFighGar," Akane answers Rikka, skipping several followup questions like 'how' and 'define staple.'
"Let's see, let's see -- rrgh -- I need..."
... well, she isn't sure what she needs, because she gets swept at and takes it squarely in the midsection. "Hhrgh --" she groans out. So this is the kind of thing everyone put themselves through, for her sake...
Fog continues to swirl around GaoFighGar's midsection; the Program Ring array is the next thing back, it seems, and with it comes a lot more stability. GaoFighGar pulls itself back up in front of Hass, coming to a stop. "Hass..." she starts, voice low. The reason they couldn't prevent this was... her, wasn't it? They were so busy with her that they couldn't follow up on Hass.
Tension starts to climb up Akane's shoulders, and the tentacles connecting her to PhantomGao's interface block seem a little tighter. "... I won't allow it!" she says, her grip turning white-knuckled. Part of her wishes she was still a God, so she could simply obliterate this problem.
... Alouette and Rikka have her back, though. She starts to feel a little more clarity, with people backing her up -- though her shoulders are still so tense, her whole body heaving up and down a bit. She's still scared -- she needs space --
It's a surprise even to Akane when the Program Ring generator overloads in response. For those who fought Zegga, the effect may be familiar -- while it's a burst of the same energy as the Program Rings, the way it arcs like lightning toward the Zonder and tries to repel it is more recognizable than, perhaps, it ought to be.
What's even their game plan here, Akane realizes, as she looks toward Aviaire, then GaoGaiGo. Alouette had been so skittish about trying Hell and Heaven again, and even if the GaoGaiGo pilots can take it, it seems so risky...
KTS: Akane Shinjo targets Hass with Program Ring Short! KTS: Akane Shinjo has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Akane Shinjo has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Akane Shinjo has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Hass retreats from the attack! KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Akane Shinjo rattles Hass, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Hass fails to evade Akane Shinjo's Program Ring Short, taking 3348 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Akane Shinjo's Stimulation activates, causing Designate L1!
<Pose Tracker> GaoGaiGo Team has posed.
GaoGaiGo is attacked back. The pole goes up to deflect the blow, tearing in half even as the mech takes light damage, disarming the pilots of their weapon instead.
"Agh...Ikumi! We need to set up a Synapse Attack!"
Ikumi nods to Mamoru, as he raises his hands, shouting out. "YOU HAVE CONTROL!"
"I HAVE CONTROL!"
Mamoru takes control, and begins thinking through the chemical formulas he often uses. The Synapse Claw extends - it's coated with a formula that should do a clean, neat melt on the armor without being toxic or doing lasting damage that could harm Hass.
The claw is slammed forward, moving to try and weaken the arm. If they can force it to play laser tag, they have a better chance of getting off Heaven and Hell later.
Mamoru frowns as he watches the feed. "She's such a lively kid...BioNet..."
His frustration and anger becomes determination to save her even more.
KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: GaoGaiGo Team targets Hass with Synapse Attack! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass partially guards GaoGaiGo Team's Synapse Attack, taking 3515 damage! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has engaged Hass! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team continues a Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"...It is a little out of place, both of us side by side in Fighting Mechanoids." Alouette admits to Akane. "It's not bad, either, though.. as long as we trust each other, we'll make it through this." She asserts, even as the Zonderized Hass begins her counter-rampage.
Alouette lifts her shield in response to the beam headed her way. "PROTECT WAAAAAAALL!" The protective energy doesn't raise quite in time, forcing Aviaire to bear some of the brunt of the beam head-on.
Rikka's smoke missiles also help, especially for some of the other nearby defenders. "Rikka, Gridman! You have the Gutsy Global Guard's full support - we'll bring her back for sure... and make BioNet pay." The other small machine gets her attention too - she notes how the pilot fights just like Borr.
She sees Akane's already learned to weaponize Program Ring technology too, albeit very differently. It's hard not to recognize those bursts of lightning. For her own trick, Alouette raises the ring close to the Zonder, and from it: a volley of missiles! In combat practice, very similar to the Red Planet's ES Missiles, with the use of Blue Planet technology. The missiles immediately explode upon contact with the Zonder Barrier, attempting to break pieces of it apart. "Javelins, shatter it!"
KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Hass with Homing Flare Javelin! KTS: Alouette Pommier has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass partially guards Alouette Pommier's Homing Flare Javelin, taking 6840 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alouette Pommier's Vividity activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Alouette Pommier completes the Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
"...Yeah." Rikka replies with a quiet nod to Namiko. She remembers how miserable Hass was after that stream, the way it hung over her head for so long... What's someone doing, dredging up these old memories...?
Eventually, Gridman arrives and Rikka nods as he and the others say they're with her.
"...Thank you, Gridman, Borr... everyone." She replies. She needs that support now more than ever. This isn't going to be easy.
At the scene of the battle, Akane gives her an answer. ...An answer that leaves a lot of open questions, but for now...
"Got it. I'll... ask later." Rikka replies with a nod and a small smile.
The Zonder Robo sees them, and it's ready for them. Rikka only has an instant to react, Synchrotank's arms raising to intercept the sweeping beam with its shields. She sees, too, the Zonder Robo moving to swat Namiko away...
"Namiko, are you alright?" Rikka asks. ...It's her first fight. She can't help but be worried for her, especially when its one this intense - both physically and emotionally.
In one corner of Synchrotank's console, dedicated to external communications, Hass's stream is still playing from where it's hijacked the broadcast. There's not much she can do about that right now... She grimaces. ....Is it forcing her to replay that memory?
Alouette announces her support. Her confidence that they'll be able to bring her back... it helps. With Akane and GaoGaiGo there too... she wants to believe it.
"Thanks..." She says. BioNet... they're the ones who did this? Is there no low they won't go to...?
She exhales, then.
"...Releasing funnels!" She announces. One by one, a series of funnels detach from Synchrotank's funnel rack, each one greatly resembling a gun one might see held be a to robot. She fills them with emotion, her care and worry for Hass, using them to direct them toward the Zonder Robo. At once, they fly, unleashing a concentrated volley - aiming primarily for any weapons she can find.
KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Hass with Concentrated Fire! KTS: Rikka Takarada has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Namiko KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Akane Shinjo KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Gridman <Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
Namiko, in the Neutron D3, fires her own adhesive missiles, getting a laugh from Borr. "Right on, kid! Keep it up!"
Their pride is short lived, as the Zonder Robo strikes out at its attackers. Gridman easily turns the attack away with one of the drills at his shoulders, yelling in determination. His other allies are similarily capable -- save for Akane. Gridman's spirit turns to ice, seeing the damage to GaoFighGar.
"AKANE!" Gridman shouts, throwing an arm out in front of her protectively. "Please, be careful!"
Trying to move protectively in front of his allies, Gridman gives a bit more control over to Borr. If he can stay focused on defending everyone, and Borr can attack -- maybe they can all get through this! Gridman takes a defensive stance.
"Thank you, Alouette!" He shouts, voice echoing with that metallic sheen. "I'll protect everyone. We won't give up on Hass, never again!"
Picking up on Gridman's feelings, Borr shouts, "Right! We've got to keep her away from the city as much as we can, everyone!"
With a deep roar, the guns around Gridman's waist come to life, peppering the ground with bullets. Borr aims to force the Zonder Robo to a more advantageous position for the defenders.
Within Synchrotank, Vit grimly watches the livestream. "It's twisted that they're broadcasting this. What's the point?"
"The point is to be cruel." Max rumbles, arms folded as he watches the battle progress from Junk's screen.
Calibur, silently, stands beside Rikka. He puts a hand on her shoulder, giving her a nod -- somehow expressing his confidence and faith in her without a word.
KTS: Gridman targets Hass with Wheel Gun Leading Shots! KTS: Gridman has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Gridman has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Akane Shinjo KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass partially guards Rikka Takarada's Concentrated Fire, taking 4200 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Namiko has posed.
Namiko cruises closer as the massive Pseudo-Zonder sweeps heavily with its arm. She almost fumbles it, but she jerks one harm, flipping a knife out from the forearm and into the Neutron D3's hand. It's a knife, but scalewise it's more like a sword, being modeled on the long, jagged weapons Borr wields. "I won't let you push me away," Namiko breathes. She can't possibly block this. She can't. That's not how...physics, works. She'd need to be rooted a kilometer deep into the substructure to resist a hit like that!
Breathe. Feel it move, that force. Like Gai taught her.
The sweeping arm slams into her, but the skating Kobu goes nowhere, the ground fracturing under her and an entire slab of asphalt running up behind her like so much skidding ribbon, spooling up against shopfronts behind her.
Namiko huffs a long, shaking breath. "I'm coming," she whispers, and then rears back and drives the other Neutron Arm into the driving club of an arm, its pneumatic claw cinching tight to sheer through and then GRIP.
She thinks she hears Akane's voice, and some others, but if she breaks her concentration she's not entirely sure what happens. She says to Rikka, "I'm...OK! I'm OK! I gotta...get closer!"
She's used to using the machine, by now, somewhat. She's spent months doing patrols. But this is a fight, not skidding around the city. She told herself she didn't need to be part of that life, but...for Hass...!
She winches herself up and ON to the wiry arm, and then engages the Kobu's skates to rush up the arm and toward the main body.
KTS: Namiko targets Hass with Pneumatic Claw! KTS: Namiko has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass partially guards Gridman's Wheel Gun Leading Shots, taking 2590 damage! KTS: Gridman begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass fails to react to Namiko's Pneumatic Claw, taking 3150 damage! KTS: Namiko has engaged Hass! KTS: Namiko completes the Formation attack! <Pose Tracker> Hass has posed.
As GaoFighGar knits itself together, slowly, the Pseudo-Zonder seems to respond with annoyance. It rears back for an overhead slam--only to be shocked by white-hot, arcing flows of energy from the Mechanoid's Program Ring generator. It leaves black streaks along the thick green wires encased in its torso, severing a few and leaving them flailing as if alive before they lash themselves back together. It reels back like it's in pain, stumbling away from Akane--and directly into the path of GaoGaiGo's Synapse Claw. "ZOOOOOO...!"
One of the radio transmitters rotates upward, aimed to the sky... and from the center of the dish, a cluster of missiles 'blossoms' like a grotesque mechanical flower. They launch into the air, streaking back down to rain onto GaoFighGar and GaoGaiGo. The missiles' explosions are accompanied by a partial loss of control--not quite an EMP, but difficult to deal with nonetheless.
Alouette's javelin volley proves *very* effective with the Zonder already off-balance, wearing down the ever-present violet barrier and piercing through to repeatedly hammer the Pseudo-Zonder's shoulder... which promptly explodes, leaving its arm held on by a mangled, half-there actuator. But cables whip out from inside, pulling the damaged section back together--and with a sickly argent gleam and a pulsing drone, it re-forms, camera lenses rotating left and right, seemingly good-as-new. And as if to tease Alouette, it lets loose a sustained beam toward Guardienne Avaire from that same shoulder.
"Zozozozondeeeer..."
The Zonder Barrier wavers under the sustained fire from Synchrotank's funnels; with every hit the heroes land, the Pseudo-EI-74's regeneration seems to take a little longer to initiate, and its wounds knit more slowly. A smaller cluster of missiles sprouts from the dish now, and it snaps into place aimed at the Synchrotank, sending a volley of jamming missiles toward Rikka. Borr's wheel-guns do their job, as the robotic monster takes a few steps back, buckling the streets beneath its feet, even as its other satellite dish is brought to bear on the Hyper Agent--and sends a laser lancing toward him.
Namiko's refusal to budge... gives the Zonder pause. It almost seems confused, and moves to take another swing, but the Neutron D3 improbably keeps a hold of the gigantic arm, smashing and denting into the segmented limb. The Zonder roars, bringing its other arm down like a hammer...
Meanwhile, the stream continues, as the Pseudo-Zonder broadcasts a high-schooler's anxiety across Side 4... and it's not difficult to see why Hass hated this stream. She's struggling every step of the way; there are several more deaths, and she's already beginning to look a little frazzled and nervous.
KTS: Hass targets Akane Shinjo and GaoGaiGo Team with Pulse Missile Circus. KTS: Hass targets Alouette Pommier with Long Exposure! BBSYS: post '78+queue' not found.
KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) #151:+queue, line 20: Type mismatch (End of traceback)
KTS: Hass targets Rikka Takarada with Pulse Missiles! KTS: Hass targets Gridman with Beam Attack! KTS: Hass targets Namiko with Gigantic Body Squish! KTS: Gridman has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged. KTS: Hass rattles Rikka Takarada, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Rikka Takarada blocks Hass's Pulse Missiles, taking 3300 damage! KTS: Gridman has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: Hass has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Hass has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Gridman blocks Hass's Beam Attack, taking 2650 damage! KTS: Alouette Pommier fails to evade Hass's Long Exposure, taking 3825 damage! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass rattles GaoGaiGo Team, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: GaoGaiGo Team blocks Hass's Pulse Missile Circus, taking 930 damage! KTS: Namiko has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Namiko has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Namiko fails to retreat. KTS: Hass enervates Namiko, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Namiko fails to react to Hass's Gigantic Body Squish, taking 5720 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Hass's Analyst activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Hass's Enervator activates, causing Deject! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Hass's Outmaneuver activates, causing Control Bonus! KTS: Hass has engaged Namiko! KTS: Akane Shinjo's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Hass rattles Akane Shinjo, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Akane Shinjo blocks Hass's Pulse Missile Circus, taking 1080 damage!
<Pose Tracker> GaoGaiGo Team has posed.
The missiles explode. Namiko and the others are fighting hard for their friend, so as Mamoru loses some manner of control, he's forced to rely more on his mind to keep the machine upright and moving, which isi anoying.
"IKUMI! YOU HAVE CONTROL!"
Ikumi grasps the controls, and calls out. "I HAVE CONTROL!"
Ikumi moves to push the machine as hard as he can *closer* to the Zonder, setting up the Phantom Rings around the fist of GaoGaiGo while carefully aimiing for a leg instead of the core.
"BROKEN PHAAAANTOOOM!"
The fist flies off, moving to try and smash into the Zonder holding Hass before returning...!
KTS: GaoGaiGo Team targets Hass with Broken Phantom! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass partially guards GaoGaiGo Team's Broken Phantom, taking 4440 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] GaoGaiGo Team's Roar! activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] GaoGaiGo Team's Shout! activates, causing Sparkle! <Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Simply running from the problem didn't get her out of the Zonder's path last time -- Akane needs something else. She screws her eyes shut, feeling the machine she's taken-and-is, and --
Alouette provides the logical choice.
"PROTECT WAAAAAAAAAALL!"
She thrusts out a hand, and a barrier of force appears in front of her and in front of Gridman's hand, the missiles only barely touching a suddenly very intact hand -- and not a lot else.
It's -- this is really happening, she thinks, dizzily. She can't undo everything, but even so -- even so --
"Gridman! I don't need you to catch me every time," Akane transmits, the steel mouth of GaoFighGar mirroring her words. "... but thanks," she adds, after a second. There'll be a lot to explain about all this -- or at least, a lot to try to explain -- once this is over. She moves through the streets, dashing back, back, toward -- the much smaller Synchrotank.
"Rikka, Alouette -- can you guys cover me? This one is gonna take a bit of leadup," she asks, before calling, "P -- PHANTOM RING EXPANSION! PHANTOM RING PLUS!" No -- she needs a third one, too, or the spin will be off --
"OOOHHH --" There it goes -- a third ring. (One might notice that each ring is steadily smaller than the last -- and that their spins alternate.) GaoFighGar goes into a controlled backward dash, as the arm begins to repeatedly pinwheel, the machine gradually listing to one side as momentum drags it around.
"BROKEN --" it's not a Phantom, anymore, is it? It's a shot from the heart, so --
"CANNON!"
GaoFighGar falls directly on its back as it lets that fist fly through three now-concentric program rings, wobbling and shaking through the air as it aims to break off those radio transmitters.
As she pries GaoFighGar back off the street, Akane feels her breathing getting heavy, her body quaking.
... it's really like this every time...?
KTS: Akane Shinjo has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Akane Shinjo has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Akane Shinjo targets Hass with Broken Cannon! KTS: Akane Shinjo has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Even after such a devastating hit the Flare Javelins caused, Pseudo-EI-74's generation makes it seem as if it was a mere illusion. In this sense, fighting Zonders can be quite demoralizing - but Alouette keeps her calm, knowing that each hit brings them closer to recovering and purifying Hass.
...Even more taunting is the use of the very camera she destroyed as a counter-attack. The first sweep of the beam clips Aviaire's wings, leaving her vulnerable to the sustained fire.
The damage is a little ugly, but BioNet's Psuedo-GS-Ride's were capable of regeneration on a small scale - prototypes of sorts to their successful attempt at mass-producing Zonder Metal. Because of this, Aviaire takes flight again in short-measure, Alouette facing Pseudo-EI-74 with renewed, yet exhausted determination.
"Phantom Ring! PLUS!" She calls forth, beckoning from the Program Ring hatch. "BROOOOKEEEEEN PHANTOOOOOM!" The clawed fist of Guardienne Aviaire flies forward, as the same cry is shouted from GaoGaiGo... from Ikumi. The fists fly in perfect sync, aiming to smash apart each leg of the Zonder. She'd never been able to fight so perfectly in sync with Ikumi before... maybe that's a sign she's improving, too.
After the Broken Phantoms cut off the Zonder's escape through the legs, Alouette covering Akane as promised -- a third attack fires off, and Alouette grins as she hears a roar of "BROKEN CANNON".
KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Hass with Broken Phantom! KTS: Alouette Pommier has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Rikka feels a hand on her shoulder and looks up, to be met with Calibur's face. He doesn't say a thing... but he doesn't need to. She nods quietly and appreciatively back at him.
And Namiko - manages to block the attack! Rikka breathes out a sigh of relief as she announces that she's okay. And... she has to get closer. Rikka nods.
"...Okay." She replies. ...Before she can do anything to help, though, the Zonder launches another volley of attacks. Synchrotank folds into tank mode and goes into reverse to try and get out of the field of the direct impact, raising her shields to defend against the ensuing shockwave. It tears into Synchrotank, and she can see her consoles struggle to recover from the jamming effects.
...Except, of course, the one displaying Hass's stressful stream. RIkka grimaces.
"...Hass..." She murmurs. ...It's heartwrenching.
She shakes her head.
"...Namiko... I'll cover you!" Rikka announces, taking aim. She doesn't fire directly, not yet - but she's ready to intercept any attack heading her way. She doesn't know what Namiko will be able to do, but she'll do everything in her power to enable her to do it.
...And, there's someone else who needs her cover, as well.
"I'm with you!" Rikka calls over to Akane. Synchrotank accelerates, sliding into position in front of GaoFighGar and standing protectively in front of it. She hears and sees Akane's machine fall backward from the recoil - but for now she'll trust that she's alright, and give her the cover she needs until she's back on her feet.
KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Namiko with Sparkle! KTS: Rikka Takarada has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Akane Shinjo KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Alouette Pommier KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting GaoGaiGo Team <Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
Despite his efforts, Akane is the one who protects them both. Again, Gridman feels a stirring of his heart, an emotion he doesn't quite know how to name. There'll be time to figure it out once this is over.
"Thank you, Akane." Gridman says, his tone soft however booming his voice is. "You've grown so strong, so quickly. I trust in your courage!"
Even so, he's going to stay close. To her, and to everyone.
Namiko's weaponry doesn't go missed by Borr -- a wave of sentimental affection rushes through Buster Gridman, nearly distracting him.
"Aw man." Borr says, quietly, a sniffle in her voice. "Who said the kids could do that... St--stealing my thing..."
Despite her protests, she couldn't be more touched.
"Borr, please focus!" Gridman calls, as more attacks come from the Zonder. A laser arcs toward them, and Gridman raises his arms, keeping most of the damage from his core. It hurts, even so, making him grunt in pain.
"Sorry!" Borr retorts. "Let's go!"
Leaping away from the enraged Robo, Gridman looks at it critically. "Rikka! Can you see any weaknesses? I think those satellite dishes have to go! She's using them to attack!"
If the Adhesive Missiles wouldn't hold her in place... Gridman looks at the destroyed street beneath the Psuedo-EI-74's feet. Maybe there's another way to slow it down.
"Borr!" Gridman calls, trusting their bond to explain his intention.
The machine guns are already slowing, shifting out of place to allow the cannons to come forward. "You got it, Gridman! Cannon Ground Detonation!"
With a cataclysm of sound and light, Buster Gridman aims for the street, trying to weaken it enough for the Zonder to fall through and be trapped. That should make Namiko's task easier...
"Namiko!" Gridman shouts. "This is something only you can do! Keep fighting until you reach her heart -- we'll keep you safe!"
KTS: Gridman targets Hass with Cannon Ground Detonation! KTS: Gridman has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Gridman has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Namiko KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass fails to evade Akane Shinjo's Broken Cannon, taking 6480 damage! KTS: Hass partially guards Alouette Pommier's Broken Phantom, taking 3248 damage! KTS: Hass fails to charge. KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass partially guards Gridman's Cannon Ground Detonation, taking 1312 damage! KTS: Gridman begins a Formation attack! KTS: Namiko has activated the Resupply Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Namiko has posed.
Namiko can be this strong. She can. She can!
But her burst of confidence must give way to SOME reality, and ultimately she's flung free, sent tumbling across the open sky, barely a speck against the massive Pseudo-Extraterrestrial Itntelligence. When she comes down, it's HARD on a rooftop, but instead of shattering inside that cockpit, cracks run all around the impact point but fail to break it, spiderwebs of damage that don't turn into a rupture. Namiko groans in the cockpit, her breathing irregular. "Huh...hff..." she gulps her air. She knew she wasn't cut out for this, this is crazy! This thing is for breaching damaged cars, not fighting a mountain!!
Gridman and Rikka call out to her, though, and she takes another deep breath. Hass on the hijacked feed makes a noise, barely vocal, and it tears at her heart. "You hate this," Namiko mutters, tears streaking down her face. "I can't...just stand by and leave you here!"
The Kobu takes off again, wheeled feet letting it surge forward. By some freak of luck she's closer than before, now, but charging up to the gigantic machine on ground level should do basically nothing; the Kobu called Neutron D3 barely comes up to its ankles. She sucks in a deep breath, though, and holds it, struggling to feel what Gai taught her. That life like a light inside her, the movement of energies. She's always been about that, right? That's so natural for her. Understanding how to improve any situation. How to get the best impact for her work!
The Kobu's fist ignites in a verdant green light as she swings it back and just DRIVES it into the Zonder's foot, and a wash of trailing motes of light follow along, a tidal barrage of unharnessed spirit.
KTS: Namiko targets Hass with Spirit Smasher! KTS: Namiko has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Rikka Takarada sparkles, reducing Namiko's incoming damage! KTS: Hass fails to react to Namiko's Spirit Smasher, taking 7700 damage! KTS: Namiko has engaged Hass! KTS: Namiko completes the Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Hass has posed.
GaoGaiGo closes the distance to the Pseudo-Zonder, and its airborne fist stops--then drills into, then pierces the Zonder barrier, crippling the mechanical beast briefly. It roars out once more, living cabling lashing out and pulling its shattered leg together once more. Its arm hammers down angrily at the Neuromechanoid.
Another pair of fists comes at the Zonder in a brutal one-two punch to follow up the first; Akane's, it tries to duck, but it hits true, causing the missile-launching satellite dish to explode rather spectacularly; Guardienne Aviaire's fist scrapes into the Pseudo-EI-74's upper chest, tearing deep into the cabling in its upper body.
It doesn't manage to regenerate from either one immediately.
Instead, it focuses on striking back against its attackers, each one of them earning a tightly-focused laser pulse.
Gridman and his fellow Hyper Agents formulate their own plan to undermine the Zonder Robo's footing with their cannons...
And it works, thanks to Namiko's Spiricle-powered fist, which seems to pierce effortlessly through barrier, steel, and substructure alike. The colossal beast stumbles as it tries to charge toward Gridman, its feet plunging into the service substructure beneath the colony's street level. "Zozozozo..." it groans, trying to sweep a laser toward Gridman as it falls.
The stream, meanwhile, has hit the point where it's difficult to watch. Minutes of dead air; she's visibly upset, now, and failing to hide it.... she's barely gotten past the starting area despite her efforts. Eventually, she yells out a curse and tosses her headphones off her ears. Her head dips offscreen for a moment. "... Right... okay. I'm okay. Just gotta keep at it... just...."
KTS: Hass targets GaoGaiGo Team with Gigantic Body Squish! KTS: Hass targets Akane Shinjo with Telephoto Lens! KTS: Hass targets Alouette Pommier with Telephoto Lens! KTS: Hass targets Rikka Takarada with Shock! KTS: Hass targets Gridman with Snapshot! KTS: Hass targets Namiko with Shock! KTS: Hass has completed their actions for the round. KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) #151:+queue, line 20: Type mismatch (End of traceback)
KTS: Gridman blocks Hass's Snapshot, taking 1290 damage! KTS: Akane Shinjo's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Akane Shinjo blocks Hass's Telephoto Lens, taking 1560 damage! KTS: Hass shocks Rikka Takarada, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: GaoGaiGo Team rushes into the attack! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: GaoGaiGo Team partially guards Hass's Gigantic Body Squish, taking 2436 damage! KTS: Hass has engaged GaoGaiGo Team! KTS: Alouette Pommier blocks Hass's Telephoto Lens, taking 1710 damage!
<Pose Tracker> GaoGaiGo Team has posed.
With the slowdown on their machine, and the hammering of the machine battering their sensors work, Ikumi and Mamoru cannot reliably Hell and Heaven.
As much as they'd like to...it's a safety risk for both them and Hass.
<"She's getting worse...but we don't have much choice. We're gonna have to lock down her movements and remove the core afterwards."> Ikumi remarks. He's not meaning to set up, but...
As the drill knee starts roaring, Ikumi shouts out. "DRILL KNEE LOCKDOWN!"
He charges forth, moving to ram the knee into the disabled leg, and grapple it enough, hopefully to let the others do some extra damage and weaken the Zonder even more. <"Wear the Zonder down! We're running out of time!">
KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: GaoGaiGo Team targets Hass with Drill Knee Lockdown! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: GaoGaiGo Team anchors Hass, forcing her into close range. KTS: Hass partially guards GaoGaiGo Team's Drill Knee Lockdown, taking 2640 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] GaoGaiGo Team's Roar! activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] GaoGaiGo Team's Shout! activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: GaoGaiGo Team has engaged Hass! KTS: Hass shocks Namiko, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: [Spirit Defense] Namiko's The Will To Dream activates, and her spirit endures. <Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
"Weaknesses... Okay." Rikka replies with a nod. She studies the Zonder Robo carefully, and... "...Yeah, I think those are our best bet."
She turns her attention back to Namiko. ...She's fighting so hard for Hass right now. Honestly... she's both impressed and worried for her. If this had been her first fight, Rikka's not sure she would've been able to do it.
She's spared an attack this time... but, what comes up on the stream might be arguably worse. Rikka had...
...stopped watching at this point, back when Hass had first streamed this. Rikka breathes in sharply. It hurts to see Hass like that, especially in this new, awful context. And it's maybe because of that distress that she asks the question she's been avoiding since the start.
"...How do... these things usually go." Rikka asks quietly. She's never fought a Zonder before - only has a passing familiarity with them. They were, after all, from quite literally before her time. What'll happen to Hass after this? ...Will there be an after? Everyone sounds confident, but...
Rikka breathes in, trying to re-steady herself. She can't... worry about that right now. She just has to trust them.
"Hass... We're finally here for you. Please come back to us." Rikka whispers, as she focuses on her funnels again. She gives them everything she has - her worry, her fears, and her hope that she'll be able to see her friend again one more time, that they'll be able to talk face to face once more.
The funnels move in tandem, acting as if one single cohesive unit - laying down a curtain of beam fire as they go for the satellite dishes, or any other weaponry she can reach.
KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Hass with Together as One! KTS: Rikka Takarada has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Akane Shinjo KTS: Hass partially guards Rikka Takarada's Together as One, taking 2610 damage! <Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
Again, a laser strikes Gridman, and again, he's prepared. Catching it on Borr's armor, this time, he weathers the blow. All his allies still look okay to continue -- and his plan to down the Zonder Robo worked.
Borr cheers in victory as the beast falls through the street and into the service substructure. "Gridman! Now's our moment!"
"Right!" Leaping atop a building, Gridman takes a breath. This is his all -- it has to count. Let everyone's feelings reach you, Hass!
Brilliant sunlight gathers around the drills at the Giant of Light's shoulders, building with great force. Borr's soul echoes Gridman's -- as it ever does, but now... It's his own choice. "Twin Buster!" He shouts, emotion breaking his voice.
"Grid!"
"BEAM!"
Shouting in harmony, Gridman fires the luminous power straight to the downed Zonder beast, imbuing his light with the wishes and hopes of two hearts.
KTS: Gridman targets Hass with Twin Buster Grid Beam! KTS: Gridman has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Alouette sees the beam coming, and ultimately, she'd able to raise the shield in time, turning the laser beam into dispersing particles of light. "PROTECT WAAAAALLL!"
...Now what? Alouette in Guardienne Aviaire stares down Pseudo-EI-74. Ikumi says they're running out of time... then she has no choice. She wants to assure Rikka that Hass will be just fine if they can purify the core, but her gaze remains fixed on the Zonder... her mind remains fixed on what she'll have to do if Mamoru or Ikumi can't.
"...Okay! We're so close -- let's end this now with this! HELL-" Alouette transmits back. Aviaire charges forth with the Aile Rapier, engaging in melee with the Zonder for the first time in the battle. She pierces through as deep as she can with the rapier... but never reaches for the core. There's no chant, no electromagnetic tornado -- just sheer, uncontrolled Broken-energy through the rapier.
Guardienne Aviaire levels back after the piercing strike -- the Pseudo-GS-Ride beginning to wear down even through regeneration. "Hhhh -- I couldn't do it. Not this time." Akane says she hopes Alouette never has to use that power again. She hopes that she's right.
KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Hass with Coup de Grace! KTS: Alouette Pommier has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Hass partially guards Gridman's Twin Buster Grid Beam, taking 6120 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Gridman's Telepathic Link activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Gridman's Mediumship activates, causing Nullify! KTS: Gridman roots his unit, coming to a standstill and leaving him vulnerable. KTS: Hass fails to react to Alouette Pommier's Coup de Grace, taking 6380 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alouette Pommier's Vividity activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Alouette Pommier has engaged Hass!
<Pose Tracker> Namiko has posed.
Namiko is not, really, able to remotely direct her attention to what normal people might, here. This isn't about piloting a remarkable machine against a phenomenal threat alongside some of Earth's finest heroes. She doesn't think about people like that. But...
She hears Akane, struggling, and Alouette is here...and Rikka, and Gridman too. She still has a lot to process about every one of them. But they're here with her.
And Hass....they can bring Hass back home. If they can just...!
Her screens all jam up at once, with Hass yelling out in frustration. She flinches. But she sucks in through her teeth. She told the others she wanted to get close, but, it's not like she had a plan, she just....she needs....her friend! She can keep going for that!
"Let...GO of her!!" Namiko yells out, and wildly throws the glowing Neutron Hands forward, tides of twinkling lights in their wake abruptly coalescing into a glowing ball bigger than the Kobu itself that crashes toward the Pseudo-Zonder with toppling force.
KTS: Namiko targets Hass with Spirit Shot! KTS: Namiko has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass partially guards Namiko's Spirit Shot, taking 4464 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Only half-standing, Akane waits for her fist to return -- and raises the other one to protect herself, the laser pinging off armor that reconstructs itself in fog as the laser hits. "Hhg -- almost --" she grits out, firing the boosters and pulling herself up and forward in a single maneuver. "Gotcha, Gridman -- and thanks, Rikka!" Everyone's with her, and they can keep fighting, but what needs to happen isn't for them to keep fighting.
This needs to end. The beauty of the world is that this, too -- this horrible thing -- is finite... but someone has to choose for it to be finite. It won't end on its own.
Akane needs to help end it -- and the way that she can help end it, from where she is now, as Ikumi and Mamoru tell them they need to end it, is...
... A marriage of conflicting energies.
The desire to rip things she hates out of her world.
The desire to have a dream that extends forever into the eternal.
In a moment like this -- neither of those urges is wrong.
GaoFighGar stands, swirling in green and grey fog in equal measure, as trailing sparkles knit together all but the damage to the torso it incurred earlier -- leaving it in almost the condition Guy left it in before Mecha-Ghoulghilas met it with violence.
"This isn't hell or heaven -- it's just... my world!" Akane murmurs to herself, gradually building to a shout. "And I say -- This is over!"
The left hand pulses a brilliant, shimmering gold, as she acknowledges herself --
"GOD! AND --"
-- in full.
"DEVIL!"
The right hand acknowledges her courage in a forceful, spiraling magenta.
Her body feels so hot -- like it's being pushed inward and torn outward at the same time, and everything's so hot, and --
Those two hands do not want to come together, Akane realizes, as she forces them forward nevertheless.
"Gemu giru..."
Both of them crackle -- their contradictory energies refusing to meet.
"Gan -- go...!!"
Bright white sparkles interlace with the green lightning between them, though, and --
"GUFO!"
-- two powers become one, in a swirl of impossibly bright green light.
GaoFighGar is as much dragged along as it is propelled by its own thrust, Akane careening through the streets, those hammer-blow-posture fists seeking a core.
She finds it. Both of her arms, still wrapped by those tentacles, yank, with a --
"HHhgk --!!"
KTS: Akane Shinjo has activated the Rouse Spirit Command. KTS: Akane Shinjo has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Akane Shinjo targets Hass with God and Devil! KTS: Akane Shinjo has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Hass partially guards Akane Shinjo's God and Devil, taking 8400 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Akane Shinjo's Stimulation activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Hass has been defeated! KTS: Akane Shinjo has engaged Hass! KTS: Akane Shinjo roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her vulnerable.
<Pose Tracker> Hass has posed.
The Pseudo-Zonder Robo tries to right itself, advancing a foot forward... but thanks to the drill from Ikumi and Mamoru into its back leg, it struggles to gain any footing, and the forward one crashes through the street once again. Supported by those segmented arms, it fires a staccato sequence of lasers at GaoGaiGo.
Metal warps and shifts, the destroyed satellite dish slowly reconstructing itself atop its post, and Synchrotank earns another sweep of the beam dish--though judging by the way it creaks as it moves, it, too, is taking a battering that may prove too much for it to bear.
"Zozozozozo... zozozozonnndeeeer..."
It finally rights itself, managing to pull itself to its feet, though it's somewhat rooted in place. There's no way for it to dodge the Hyper Agents' twinned assault, as the golden lights of Buster Borr and Gridman carve deep into the Zonder Robo, lancing through both shoulders.
Alouette's Devil Rapier pierces deep, carrying with it a whirlwind of Destruction, piercing clean through a cluster of cable, baring daylight through its lower torso; but even so, it manages to shove its claw forward, to grip Guardienne Aviaire in its claws and *crush*...
Even as the gigantic ball of energy from Namiko's Koubu smashes into its head--which is driven fully into its torso by the blow, it manages a final laser beam toward its assailant.
All that's left...
Akane Shinjo recites an incantation older than the Zonders, older than the universe, and arrests the wrecked beast before her in place as Protection and Destruction join to become one power.
The power to purge evil.
GaoFighGar crashes forward, fists digging through and burying behind the silver sigil on the Pseudo-Zonder's chest. Its hands grip tight around a sphere, wrenched free of the thing's body. The transmission cuts off, just as Hass is about to break into tears.
The robotic beast, bereft of its heart, falls to its knees, then tips onto its back, silent.
And in GaoFighGar's hands is a great argent ball, covered in fissures, torn cables hanging from it. It simply glows, serene, with a fell light.
<Pose Tracker> GaoGaiGo Team has posed.
As the lasers fire out at GaoGaiGo, damaging the machine and forcing it to retract the drill, Mamoru's eyes widen at the senses and data he's receiving. "Shinjo!!!"
As she Hells and Heave- no, God and Devils, Mamoru and Ikumi can both tell it's not working out properly. Even so, the core is removed...and the two split up. "Ikumi, check on Shinjo. I'll purify!"
Both disengage from GaoGaiGo, Ikumi telekinetically launching himself at GaoFighGar to make sure Akane is okay (but hanging outside so someone else, like Rikka, can open the cockpit if Akane can't), while Mamoru spreads wings and flies over the argent ball. Raising his left hand with middle and index fingers pointing at the ball, he chants, glowing with an awesome power.
Curatio teneritas, sectio, salus, coctura!
Once the core is purified, Mamoru lands by Hass, to make sure she's okay. He'll wait for the others to join him.
<Pose Tracker> Hass has posed.
A soft green light suffuses the core as the incantation completes, and the core begins to morph; the sphere recedes, first into the strange, gape-mouthed, red-eyed silver creature... and then, that form gives way to a black-haired girl in a tattered Tsutsujidai High School uniform, both hands over her lower face, on her knees in GaoFighGar's hands. It's Hass. Tears are streaming down her cheeks... but judging by her cheeks, she's smiling despite them.
As Mamoru lands beside her, her cheeks go dark red looking up at him. "Um... t-thank you," she says quietly.
<Pose Tracker> Namiko has posed.
Namiko watches the last seconds play out, and GaoFighGar VIOLENT TEARS the core from the Zonder's center, and then Ikumi and Mamoru fly out to check on the situation. One thing at a time. Namiko feels really tired for reasons that may be related to her machine throwing waves of light everywhere, but she's still able to skitter it up the side of GaoFighGar and skate down the length of its arms. The machine may be tiny compared to the forces at play, but as Hass becomes visible from within that argent core, Namiko feels its size. The eyes on tracks swivel to focus all attention on Hass for a second, and then...the lid pops with a loud hydraulic HISS, and a mixture of steam and green light bursts out of the released the seam. Namiko climbs out, a second later, just dressed in one of her black shirts and check-pattern skirts, unsatisfied until she's using her eyes.
She smiles, though her eyes flood with tears, and she slips down the side of the Kobu, up beside Hass, and...
Produces a mask that had been stuffed into a skirt pocket.
"," she opens her mouth, but the attempt at a quip turns into a choke as she falls to her knees and wraps her up immediately in a tight hug and wail.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
A beam sweeps across Synchrotank. Rikka grimaces as she does her best to hold it at bay... but she's pushed back, a little. It's then, as Synchrotank restabilizes itself, that Rikka witnesses as Akane draws upon a certain power. GaoFighGar propels forward... and rips something out of the Zonder Robo. The stream blinks out abruptly.
...That sound from Akane, though... worry crosses over Rikka's face.
"Calibur! Get me over there!" Rikka requests, reaching for the first aid kit. She doesn't know if it'll help, but... having it is better than not.
With Calibur's help, it only takes a moment to reach GaoFighGar - and by the time she's there, the ball that had been torn from it has already been purified. Rikka is frozen for a moment, staring for a moment at Hass.
...It's her. It's really her. Tears begin to stream down Rikka's face, and for a moment, her knees go weak - she needs to hold onto Calibur to remain steady.
"Hass! Hass!" Rikka calls out. "We're here... we came for you, just like we promised!"
She wants so badly to rush over to her and sweep her into a hug... but, right now, she has to focus.
...Besides. It looks like Namiko has that covered. After everything she's been through, Rikka doesn't want to overwhelm her. She'll get her turn later - Namiko's the one who needs this most. Rikka smiles. Seeing the two of them together, if anything, causes her to tear up even more, so she takes a second to wipe at her eyes and then turns back to GaoFighGar.
"Akane! We're here! Are you okay? Can you hear me? Alouette, do you know what's going on with her?" Rikka calls out, making for the cockpit door. She moves to try and pry it open if necessary, looking toward Ikumi as she does. "You probably know more about this stuff than me. What do we do if..."
She trails off. ...She'll follow his lead, helping him with anything he might need help with. Judging from the way he moved instinctively, she's sure he can trust him.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Alouette snaps her eyes shut as the claw of the Zonder threatens to crush Aviaire - only marginally being able to push it back with the mechanoid's free hand.
And then there's that light, green capturing the Zonder Robo in the familiar-yet-distinct electromagnetic tornado of not Hell and Heaven - but God and Devil. "Akane, you didn't--" she murmurs, with a clear sense of worry and knowing of the pain it takes.
Rikka asks her what's going on... Alouette is in touch with GaoFighGar's status through the on-field operator terminal of Guardienne Aviaire and all she can say is.. not good. "Rikka, her vitals are.. they're awful. What she did takes a serious toll on the body... I think the best you can do is be there for her. I'll get in touch with the Wadatsumi - we'll probably need to do an emergency fusion out."
With Hass enveloped with the green glow of purification by Mamoru, and Ikumi within distance of GaoFighGar, Alouette contacts the Wadatsumi. "Branch Order Room: the Pseudo-Zonder host has been successfully purified and is being tended to. Have maintenance prepare to take in GaoFighGar - and also have staff on the ready to take care of Akane.. her condition is critical. Learning how she managed to restore it can come after."
It's a bittersweet moment as she's happy for Namiko and Rikka to be reuinited with their friend - yet worried about Akane all the same. Akane's version of GaoFighGar is all too familiar... yet unrecognizable, as if meeting an old friend who has changed beyond understanding. She hopes the same tricks work as with Guy, in regards to rescuing the pilot.
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Akane feels like her heart's about to burst -- but it's a nice reminder that she has one to burst. It's not forever, though -- as Mamoru's bright green glow suffuses Tsutsujidai, she begins to level off, bit by bit by bit. Her vitals, once cratering, stabilize a bit; at the very least, she bounces back up through the danger zone by inches.
She lets out a ragged breath through her nose at first, then forcefully through her mouth. Her connection to this machine isn't quite the same as Guy's, so a manual Fusion Out shouldn't be necessary...
She forces PhantomGao's cockpit open and gradually pries herself out. As the cockpit opens, she sees Ikumi -- and a moment later, Rikka. "Hhhahaahah, wow, uh," Akane starts, pushing lilac hair back; as it slides forward, it shades back to that familiar dyed black-brown. It's unclear if she can't handle the strain of maintaining her illusory Repli-Compoid appearance now, or whether she feels she no longer needs it, the crisis past.
She does get to see Hass and Namiko... just for a moment. It feels amazing -- to be the kind of amazing person she, herself, needed.
She moves toward them -- but her footing's not steady; she does take herself into a controlled fall, at least, positioning herself well for both of them to catch her. "I -- ooogh, maybe I need something to eat -- can we go to Aya? Or maybe, uhhh... hhhmmm, maybe I should go back to the Wadatsumi," She breathes, and it's a little gasping, a little shallow despite the effort. "Hhaaa... no, I'll be fffiiiiieeeeuu --" She trails off, fully slumping.
Her pulse, at least, seems to be something other than 'catastrophically racing,' but even so -- both Hass and Akane probably need some care, urgently.
<Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
It worked. Hass floats, already being purified.
"YES!" Borr shouts, until they see the damage to Akane's machine. Their tone changes immediately. "We need to get over there."
Gridman kneels, bursting into light --
-- And reappears in Synchrotank, Borr by his side.
Max, face grim, scoops Gridman into his arms. "Rikka and Calibur have already made their way there."
"Let's go. Thank you, Max." Gridman responds, with a calm nod.
All four remaining Hyper Agents vanish in a blur of movement, reappearing next to their allies. Gridman steps out of Max's arms, leaving the enormous man free to stand at Rikka's side -- ready to assist her and Calibur with wrenching off the cockpit door, should it be necessary.
As much as he wants to go to check in on Akane, with two of his comrades, Rikka, and Alouette... That's enough. Gridman takes a breath, stilling the anxiety in his heart. He told her he'd trust in her courage. He's keeping his word.
Borr glances up to Gridman, and he nods. The smallest Hyper Agent makes their way to Namiko and Hass, putting a hand on Namiko's arm. "You did great. Proud of you."
Hearing Akane's state, Vit taps Rikka on the shoulder. "I'll tell the hospital to get ready. For both of these two."
With that, he's gone. Gridman hovers on the edge of his allies, unsure where he fits in. His guilt overwhelms him -- both that Hass was lost for so long, and that Akane was hurt so terribly in order to save her. He shouldn't be a part of this.
Without a word, he begins to climb down the rubble. It's a long walk back home, but it'll give him time he needs to think.
<Pose Tracker> Hass has posed.
The scurrying activity as the Koubu makes its way up to her seat upon GaoFighGar's palms has Hass... concerned, to say the least. She's wide-eyed as it stands before her. But as Namiko emerges from it, the concern turns to vivid relief. The offered mask, plain white, goes on one-handed while her other hand covers her face. The fabric is immediately stained with her tears, but she doesn't care.
"Thank you," she says quietly... then again, louder, calling out to thank them all.
She hugs Namiko tight, sobbing with her. She looks down to see Rikka, and gives her a full-armed wave. Under the mask, she's smiling ear-to-ear, even as she goes to bury her face against Namiko's shoulder.
She's alive. She held on, and she survived... and she's with the people that mean the most to her.
There's a measure of confusion, again, as she lifts her head to see Akane stepping out of GaoFighGar's cockpit. Her eyes smile--but she gasps as Akane slumps over. "Shinjo-san, wh..." It's at that point that her head tips to one side, and she clutches her forehead. "Hhgh... feeling faint too," she murmurs.
A check-up will conclude it's a combination of malnutrition, dehydration, and strain from her pseudo-Zonderization. Given time and nourishment, she'll be fine... she's more worried about her classmate, anyway.