2023-12-17: Overlord: Circle ~RING~
- Log: 2023-12-17 Overlord: Circle ~RING~
- Cast: Mikoto Utsugi, Sakura Akamatsu, Beam Coat, Kaiju Navi, Lina Lombardi, Kaworu Nagisa, Zan, Rikka Takarada, Gai Kurenai, Akane Shinjo, Lucine Azul, TenRyuuJin Team, Mari Makinami Illustrious, Guy Shishioh, Alouette Pommier, Weekly Seijin, Renais Cardiff, Lamia, Shozo
- Where: Somewhere near where the Jupiter Sphere should be
- OOC - IC Date: December 17, 0097 (2023)
- Summary: The time has come. The King of Ruin must be defeated, or all is lost.
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Utsugi has posed.
One week ago, the last obstacle before the King of Ruin was removed. One week, since the Division Train scored some much needed wins. One week to rest, and recover, and get ready for the final battle.
Now, holding the compressed Jupiter in it's hands, the King of Ruin waited for them, the blinding being of orange light glowing- but not moving. Taking the time to rest was a gamble- but Stallion White had determined that they had time to repair- Jupiter would hold that long.
Whether it would decompress was a different question.
On the bridge, Hana Hatsuno ran to her operator's desk- the desk for GaoGaiGo. Next to her, in her rightful place again at last, Mikoto Utsugi turned to her with a gentle smile. "Hana-chan, you don't look so good. Are you okay?"
Hana gave a slightly weak smile. "Yes, I'm fine."
Special Chief Koutarou Taiga, recently reinstated after his purification, stood at the Chief's desk, and spoke into the comms mic. "To all personnel of GGG Blue, GGG Green, NERV, and all those who have come this far with us, I'm sure you're already aware of the situation, but the King of Ruin is waiting for us. We expect this to be the final battle at last. I want you to recall... the days of anguish up to this point."
His speech is broadcast to very block of the Division Train, to every pilot ready to launch. Despite the pressure of the situation, Taiga's voice never wavers for a second. In the last seconds to get ready, no one stopped work... but everyone listened. "Remember the days you had to fight against your former allies. The days where you tried to undermine humanity against your own wishes. The days when you had to stand up to disaster and extraterrestial threats. Remember the allies you fought alongside. Remember those we lost along the way- Agent Kamuy Pauvre Saginomiya, ChuuRyu, Qivi." He did not know any of them himself- but he knew they were lost. Taiga gives a moment of silence before continuing.
"Other battles will await us- but our war against Triple Zero comes to an end today! I assure you- as long as each and everyone of us fights with wisdom and courage, our GGG- no, our entire universe will claim victory!"
Taiga thrusts his arm out to point at the King of Ruin. "Begin the Division Train's final operation!"
The King of Ruin awaits- but your hearts are the Key to Victory!
<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akamatsu has posed.
Genesic GaoGaiGar is vast. The lion at its chest provides one of its core colours -- a blazing orange -- and it is matched by the black and blue of its wings, stretching down to its tail, gauntlets, and claws. They are all tipped in bright and terrible red, and scraps of cream can still be seen, beneath that armour. They are all components of...
Genesic GaiGar -- and who has fused to create it, when Gai is on the Division Train? -- bears Genesic Galeon's head, upon its chest. BrokenGao, the shark, comprises its right shoulder and arm; ProtectGao, the dolphin, forms the left. GadgetGao loans itself to Genesic's wings and tail; SpiralGao and StraightGao form its legs.
It cradles Jupiter like a precious jewel, all curled about it. It has stood, inert, for a week. Or... was it being held back?
... of course, such a thing is impossible.
Neverthelee, it is when the Division Train stirs that Genesis spreads its mighty arms, leaving that compressed jewel of Jupiter to hang in the air.
GAWOOOOOOOO, it cries, as if a great lion. The Genesic Roar rocks through its opposing forces, infused with the terrible power of Triple Zero. With its cry, it announces the start of the battle -- whether the Division Train is ready, or not.
And they may not be ready for what happens next.
". . . t h e e n d . . . a l l w i l l e n d . . ."
Sakura Akamatsu is the daughter of Shigeru Akamatsu, and she's a powerful Newtype who fell into a coma years ago -- but for the premonitial murmurs on her lips. She disappeared after Alexis Kerib destroyed the Galeoria Pliers which forcibly connected Tsutsujidai to physical reality, but now, it's certainly her voice whispering into everyone's ears. No -- she must be speaking directly to your minds.
"e a r t h e n d s . . . j u p i t e r e n d s . . . i s e e. . . g a l l i a i v . a l r e a d y g o n e . . ."
And with it, snippets of horror, too great to understand as more than a glimpse of an eyeblink. From a foreign planet torn to pieces by two titanic forces -- to a more familiar planet, Earth, with a dimensional chasm cracking open above an Arctic turned green -- to a titanic giant rising above Fujinomiya, dwarfing any and all opposition -- to blood, splattered across an innocent Japanese child's face -- to an impossible wave of Vajra, massed at the Orbital Ring.
This is a battle on a dozen fronts -- and they're helpless to do anything but face down Genesic GaoGaiGar.
". . . y o u c a n ' t s t o p i t . . . r u n a w a y . . ."
Sakura's communications are rarely emotional -- it would be easy to say her words are simply relayed through her lips. But it's difficult not to feel the surrender in her plea, a girl who has struggled, mightily, against the overwhelming heart of Triple Zero -- only to be inevitably consumed.
It can't be helped... or so they say.
<Pose Tracker> Beam Coat has posed.
Jupiter is not a lonely world.
The Jovian Lizards are a known quantity even as far as the Earth Sphere, and a lingering question surrounding the King of Ruin's subsumation of their namesake planet is whether they had mounted any meaningful resistance? Certainly their influence had continued to be felt throughout the Earth Sphere. Surely they must have fought Triple Zero as well?
But...
Their favored weapons are, as all well know, unmanned drones and unthinking machines. Things with rudimentary artificial intelligence that can be deployed enmasse through chulip space-time bridges. If they could appear in swarms on Earth by simply stepping through a gate, then the forces amassed around Jupiter would have to be incredible indeed.
...And as all now know, there is little prey easier for Triple Zero to claim than an automated weapon system with basic artificial intelligence.
"Hang on, there's something weird here," Ushi Number Four mutters. Direct eye contact with the King of Ruin is highly inadvisable; even putting aside the fact that it might corrupt you through your eye sockets (it PROBABLY won't but can you be so sure?), the thing is absolutely, ludicrously bright. So bright that GGG's operators have to rely on instruments, which are themselves vulnerable to the raw power of the Invisible Burst being emitted close to its source. It's not a surprise that they missed something, but... "All this debris... It's all moving like it's alive. Hang on, ZO-Similar detected-- that ain't debris!"
"Damnit Ushi Four," Shigeru Akamatsu growls. He may no longer be overall commander now that Taiga is back in town, but he's still got rank! "Plain language, boy! This ain't no time to mince words!"
"R-right, sir! We thought it was just space junk, but there's an incredible number of Jovian drones... No, Zero Robos gathering together near the King of Ruin! It's assembling into... Into...! Uh. It kind of looks like a dragon?"
"A Ruin Dragon!?" Shigeru gawps, slamming a fist into his console, "No, wait, if it ain't a grasshopper or a beetle, then... It's gotta be a centipede! Well, what's that Yasude bastard doing!?"
"Y-yasu--" Ushi stumbles, but catches himself quickly, "Trajectory... It's coming right for us! It's going directly for the Division Train!"
"Hmph, just like the Sol Masters, Triple Zero considers us to be a threat worth eliminating," Taiga grunts, the memory of his time as a Ruin Apostle still at the forefront of his mind. For better or worse, one of Earth's most brilliant strategic minds has seen directly into the heart of his enemy; he knows how it thinks. "Or should I say... That version of Galeon knows where heroes dwell. But after all we've overcome to reach this point, another ounce of stolen strength isn't going to be enough to stop us! Deploy a detatchment to intercept the Yasude! Once it's dealt with, head for the King of Ruin! Splitting our strength may be the enemy's real plan... But what we might lack in firepower, we make up for with courage!"
The Yasude has no concept of courage. It is little more than a machine made for killing, for ending life. Being corrupted by Triple Zero hasn't really done all that much to change its purpose or its nature; the only difference really is which master it serves-- and how much killing it's allowed to do. It snakes its way out of the King of Ruin's blinding corona like a prominence leaping from a star. It form is built bit by bit by assembling battas, kobattas and gengoros, linked together by the corruptive power of Triple Zero. To those who may be familiar with GGG's battle with the Primevals, it looks disturbingly like a spaceborne version of the Spine Primeval, albeit blazing not with magma, but with raw Aura of Dawn supplied courtesy of the King of Ruin itself. Its segmented body menaces with weapons and twitching limbs, giving truth to its name.
This is... certainly a space centipede.
And it's charging straight for the Division Train, its incredible momentum building on a direct collision course...!
<Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
The King of Ruin is not alone.
Near where Jupiter used to be, there is a ship. But not just any ship: a Jupitris-class freighter, one of the centerpieces of the Jupiter Energy Fleet. Without Jupitris-class ships to transport the helium-3 to the Earth Sphere, there would be no JEF, a very small number of operating Minovsky engines, and probably no mobile suits.
This Jupitris is wrong.
For starters, it's not done. Part of the rotating ring to simulate gravity in residential sections for the crew, mounted almost in the center of its length, is unfinished; two of the quadrants (opposite each other, not next to each other, for balance) are just frameworks. Other parts of the ship where the structure looks ragged, or missing some of the exterior plating, suggest it hasn't had its final rundown; this is a ship from drydocks.
But honestly that's not the biggest concern.
The biggest concern is that the entire thing is surrounded by a haze of glowing orange gas. The missing parts of the ship are outlined in dense, almost solid-looking gas, giving it the proper silhouette if you ignore the fact that some of it is just a sketch made of light and air (despite being in space); more of the gas mists around it down the entire length of the vehicle, eddies in the glow showing its movement. And two of the brightest points of light, set on the main structure between the two struts holding compressed-gas tanks, bear an awful similarity to glowing eyes...
The whole ship - all two kilometers of it - is a single enormous Zero Robo.
And as soon as the battle starts, it comes about, moving with a grace an actual Jupitris does not have, as if it had a thruster anywhere it wanted; vents of gas pushing the enormous weight of the ship around like it was nothing. It isn't aimed at the battle against the King of Ruin at all.
It has a different target: the Earth Sphere.
Deep inside the Jupitris, ignition occurs. Four nuclear blasts, channeled through the thruster bell nozzles that are bigger than most battleships, as the nuclear pulse engines inside the Jupitris burn to life. The ship accelerates, though it's taking time to get up to speed.
It needs to be stopped *before* it gets up to speed - because unencumbered by a human crew that needs to survive the experience, its top speed is far beyond any battleship, and it can't be caught once it gets there. But its acceleration is slow as the nuclear pulse engines blaze in bursts. There is a chance.
It's time to seize it.
Beam Coat goes home.
KTS: Kaiju Navi has deployed in Jupitris-000. KTS: EN Barrier activated! KTS: Kaiju_Navi has deployed as a Boss for 3 opponents. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu has deployed in King of Kings Genesic GaoGaiGar. KTS: Will Barrier activated! (But will not apply until relevant Morale threshold.) KTS: Alouette Pommier has deployed in Gatherway Guardienne Aviaire. KTS: Lina Lombardi has deployed in MPMZ-17 Ichinana. Kaiju_Navi has changed Boss level to 4
KTS: Renais Cardiff has deployed in GaoFighGar. KTS: EN Barrier activated! KTS: Rikka Takarada has deployed in Kakuseijin V2. KTS: Zan has deployed in Iron Zanrailer. KTS: TenRyuuJin Team has deployed in TenRyuuJin. KTS: EN Barrier activated! KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has deployed in Evangelion Unit-04. KTS: Will Barrier activated! (But will not apply until relevant Morale threshold.) KTS: Sakura_Akamatsu has deployed as a Boss for 5 opponents. KTS: Lamia has deployed in Betterman Cataphract. KTS: Will Barrier activated! (But will not apply until relevant Morale threshold.) KTS: Lucine Azul has deployed in Dianthus Mk. 3. KTS: Akane Shinjo is now subpiloting for Rikka Takarada. KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) 622: CFP-013 Heindree Sturm 84: Clop-class 575: CR 365 456: Deculture Festival MR-1 74: eEXM-17 Alto 650: Evangelion Unit Beta 174: Evangelion Unit-00 426: Evangelion Unit-01 170: Evangelion Unit-02 203: Evangelion Unit-04 35: F-28 Messer 621: F/D-20 Zowort Heavy 550: Garencieres-class Unarmed Freighter 396: GAT-01D Long Dagger 395: GAT-01D Long Dagger Fortestra 48: Grapple M1 219: Inexplicable Manual Jegan 500: Lion 500 308: M6A3 Dark Bushnell 623: MD-0031UL Dilanza Sol 590: MKA-5C Pallas Makhia 363: Mobile Stage 4: MPMZ-17 Ichinana 7: MS-14A Gelgoog 218: No Terrain Jegan 36: RAM-004F Lion F 40: RAM-004L Landlion 24: Recson M4F 313: RK-92 Savage 451: RPT-007 Mass Production Gespenst Mk. II 82: Salamis Kai-class 26: Scintilla LW 321: Tausendfuessler-class 39: Tendus 309: Type 96 Kai 362: Unarmed Transport 96: VF-171 Nightmare Plus <Battroid Mode> 94: VF-171 Nightmare Plus <Fighter Mode> 95: VF-171 Nightmare Plus <Gerwalk Mode> 319: YF6-X7K/E Ganymede 38: Zaigaut 304 250: Zenith 250 58: Zenith Rev 23: Zenith RV
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has deployed in Evangelion Unit Beta. KTS: Will Barrier activated! (But will not apply until relevant Morale threshold.) KTS: Sakura Akamatsu: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Lamia, Alouette Pommier, Mari Makinami Illustrious, and Renais Cardiff with Genesic Roar. KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Rouse Spirit Command. KTS: Alouette Pommier blocks Sakura Akamatsu's Genesic Roar, taking 3600 damage! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu enervates Mari Makinami Illustrious, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious partially guards Sakura Akamatsu's Genesic Roar, taking 5760 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Sakura Akamatsu's Transform Into Nothing activates, causing Deject! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Sakura Akamatsu's Nullifying Roar activates, causing Nullify! KTS: Lamia has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Lamia blocks Sakura Akamatsu's Genesic Roar, taking 3360 damage! <Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
Lina had hardly left her quarters for the past three days. Everything that had happened over the week to lift her mood had been dashed by the same...devil that had broken her down in the first place. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. She had seen her father's corpse, paraded around like a puppet...and she didn't even know if it was him. The pit that had formed in her stomach over the weekend had grown as large as the endless cosmos outside her window.
The battle against Genesic was imminent. She almost didn't want to deploy. It almost made more sense to embrace the nothingness. But as she paced around her room, she saw something. A glint of metal from the pocket of her jacket hanging on the wall. She reached in, pulling out a small pendant on a chain. Engraved on the oval charm, a scene of a monk levitating several feet from the ground.
It was a medal of Saint Joseph of Cupertino. A Franciscan monk who was said to have entered such an ectasy during his prayers that he would float in the air. That story canonized him as the patron saint of pilots.
And the patron saint of the Lombardis.
Her father had gotten her this as a present when she was accepted into the New Roman Academy. The fact that he was the patron saint of students probably also helped that. She clenches the medal in her hand and shuts her eyes tight. What would he say to her now? Probably the same thing that he said when her mother died.
' "Don't let loss lead you astray. Let it drive you further down the right path." '
Her communicator beeps.
"Miss Lombardi, we're preparing to start the operation. Please report to the hangar."
Some technician whose name she regretfully couldn't remember, a lot of the hangar folks bled together for her. She pauses for a second, feeling the medal in her still clenched fist.
"I'll be right down."
Whether or not she truly deserved to be a Brave...I'll go out there, you devil. One of us is going to be right.
Place your bet.
Lina's hands clench at the controls of the Ichinana as the final checks begin. She figured she would need as much firepower as she could get for this fight. One of the technicians, another one whose name she had forgotten, asked her condition.
"Fine. I'm fine."
The technician had no reason to doubt her, because Lina Lombardi never lied about her emotions. She had. She listens to Taiga's speech, eyes closed. He certainly knew how to inspire a crowd. No wonder for the formerly former Chief of GGG.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfA0MrrFwu0
"All systems are go! Miss Lombardi, you're cleared for launch!"
"Roger!" The Ichinana shoots out of the Division Train, just in time to see a Space Centipede barrelling right for it! She stops in her tracks and pulls up the Ichinana's machine gun, firing a barrage at the centipede to, if not stop it, distract it away from the train.
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh has deployed in GaoGaiGar. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Guy Shishioh with Genesic Roar! <Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
...So even though I can't meet you now,
I'd like it if you were all right, too.
Kaworu lifts his pen from the red notebook he's been carrying around for the past several weeks and considers the page of lyrics he's finished writing, editing, polishing, and assembling. With a smile, he finds it is good.
~~
In the car where the Evangelions and their support crew's stations are kept, Kaworu steps up the metal scaffolding and enters Unit Beta's entry plug. He hums to himself as light shifts in rainbow colors and coruscates up the interior walls, until at last he's given a view of everything around her. Special Chief Taiga gives his speech, and while most of it feels as though it's directed at the former Ruin Apostles among them, Kaworu's smile turns bittersweet at the memory of ChuuRyuu and the others they've lost. Regardless, Taiga is right; they must claim victory here, with their wisdom and courage. For the hope of a future.
"Unit Beta, launching," he calmly announces. Unit Beta lifts her chin as the cage pulls away from her champagne-colored armor. Kaworu looks up with her, smiling at her from within her. "The time is ripe. As we promised Guy Shishioh, let us outshine the Dawn's light with the lights of our own hearts."
His gaze shifts to a communication window in the corner of Unit Beta's visuals, linking him with the pilot of Unit-04. "...Right, Mary?"
Upon her confirmation, the Evangelions launch with the assistance of Aoba and the others. Soon after, they fly out, Unit Beta on her pylon wings, to take in the King of Ruin, Genesic GaoGaiGar, and the compressed planet of Jupiter floating between its hands.
"By the way, Mary," Kaworu adds conversationally, "you may have heard already, but I've been working on some new songs recently for a certain songstress to perform. Three, to be precise. I just finished the first. Rikka and Renais have already offered their voices to test them out before I offer them up to a recording studio, and I was wondering if you would be interested in the same?"
To take turns, he means, though Kaworu wouldn't be against them joining their voices as one. His intended vocalist is a single girl, though.
The Genesic Roar resounds then. Unit Beta's A.T. Field shimmers into existence to block the power of the Dawn from breaking through to those assembled, spanning far and wide like the wings of an angel. It's Kaworu's intent to use them to defend everyone, though some may potentially not be reached. They fade from visible sight once the roar ends, though Kaworu will continue to do his utmost to maintain to keep everyone safe from any immediate contamination--but then it's the psychic voice of Sakura Akamatsu that resounds.
Kaworu's eyes widen as he takes in her message and the visions that accompany it. Outwardly, he seems unfazed--but all semblance of a smile is gone. A planet, shattered by two immense forces, and Earth, assaulted on several levels great and small. They can't stop it, Sakura claims.
"...Perhaps not," he concedes. "But there is still hope."
He glances to one side as more enemies advance forward on their forces--the Ruin 'Centipede,' Yasude, and the Jupitris Zero Robo, respectively careening towards the Division Train and... someplace far away. Kaworu narrows his eyes at the latter as its rockets ignite, building up speed for the place he must protect.
"Forgive me, Mary. I must leave Sakura Akamatsu to you and the others," he transmits. Unit Beta then turns and sails towards the Jupitris. Every opponent here must be stopped, but if the Jupitris is going to set its sights directly on Earth, he will not allow it. He trusts Mari to fight her utmost against the King of Ruin, and for GGG to make sure the Division Train is protected.
For now, the golden Evangelion accelerates until it reaches the back thrusters of the H-shaped ships--and then unsheathes the Heat Rapier to slice through one of them as it passes at speed in an attempt to delay its acceleration.
KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's Biorhythm activates Alert and Valor! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Kaiju Navi with Forward Stab! KTS: Kaiju Navi's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Forward Stab, taking 2250 damage! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has engaged Kaiju Navi!
<Pose Tracker> Zan has posed.
Inside the Division Train, there was one that had taken a few days before turning loose his Carpenters and himself to help repair the others inside. Zan was a construction robot primarily, and that showed in what he could do.
Now, however, he was happy that the final adjustments had been made fully. That the Iron Railer train was ready along with the Rescue Shuttle. All of him was ready for this fight.
Doing the sensible thing, he sends a quick text transmission to the GGG scientists involved with a 'Thank you' before he loaded himself into the Rescue Shuttle's bay.
He really wants to help against the King of Ruin, but that is personal. He knows it. The ones to get through to Galeon will not be him. That leaves the other two Zero Robos. And Zan takes notice of the Jupitris battleship one. A quick calculation reveals what he fears.
With that, he waits for the hanger doors to open before he blasts out at full throttle to put his train body in position.
But he knows that will not be enough. It's a battleship.
Launching out of the shuttle's bay, the shuttle itself launches before a magnetic field starts up around the three bodies.
"System Change! Shuttle Docking!"
Zan transforms first to his robotic form before the shuttle folds over and separates down to a new body that Zan connects to. The hands and feet shoot out before locking into place as it forms the newest form of Zanrailer. But the form doesn't stop there as it brings it's arms up into a pose inspired by the other Braves a bit.
"Iron Railer, Rail Combine!"
The Iron Railer disconnects fully before jets fire and magnetic energy tethers pull the cars and main engine into place. The cars separate from the top and extend to reveal joints before attaching to the Zanrailer. The tops of the rail cars fold up into the sides and shoulders before connecting. The final piece is the knight-like head folding out of the engine before it comes down to cover the top of the Zanrailer with the all too familiar turbine powering up.
"IRON ZAAANRAAILER!"
The newest giant moves to get in the Jupitris's path before sending a transmission out to the forces agains the Triple Zero, "I will stop the battle ship. It will not reach our home."
KTS: Renais Cardiff's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu enervates Renais Cardiff, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Renais Cardiff blocks Sakura Akamatsu's Genesic Roar, taking 4560 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Sakura Akamatsu's Transform Into Nothing activates, causing Deject! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Sakura Akamatsu's Nullifying Roar activates, causing Nullify!
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
A great victory had been achieved... but it hadn't come without a cost. The loss of Qivi was a heavy blow. Another friend, gone... While Rikka was able to share in everyone's cheer at the return of so many of their friends and allies, it was still slightly subdued. It's a strong reminder of the costs and the stakes at play. It's not easy to move forward... but so many people are counting on them, and they can't stop here.
And so, Rikka sits in her designated seat within Kakuseijin V2, her hands on the controls. She gives them a faint squeeze as she draws in a breath and then exhales. The final battle is ahead, where an enemy greater than she'd ever faced looms. It's nerve-wracking, but... she isn't alone here.
And she listens as Chief Taiga, now reunited with everyone, gives his speech. She hadn't had a chance to meet him - but now, she can see why he holds so much respect among GGG.
"...He really gives a good speech." Rikka asides to Akane, once Taiga finishes his declaration. "I can really feel everyone's energy today... We can't fall behind, either."
She's quiet for a second longer.
"...Let's go finish this - so we can go back home, to everyone." Rikka says. "You have control!"
Rikka sits back as Kakuseijin V2 launches - but she doesn't remove her hands from the controls.
And, as they race out to meet Genesic GaoGaiGar, their opponent roars...
...And, there is a voice.
Not from V2's communications - but speaking directly into her mind. A girl's voice. Rikka wouldn't recognize Sakura's voice - but she can guess where she is right now. They'd been told Genesic has a pilot, after all.
All will end. And then, flashing in front of her eyes, calamity and tragedy. Rikka's breath is caught in her throat, faced with it all at once as she tries to process what she's just seen. Has all of this happened while they were gone? What's happened to everyone...?
You can't stop it. Run away.
Rikka breathes in, and exhales.
"...We have to try. We can't reach the future we're hoping for if we run away." Rikka says.
But it won't be easy, because their opponent isn't alone. A massive amalgamation of Jovian drones, and...
"Is that a ship?" Rikka says. Unlike Genesis GaoGaiGar or the Yasude, it isn't going on the offensive - not just yet. "Where is it going? Akane, can you figure anything out?"
...Regardless, one thing's clear - it can't be allowed to get there.
"I'm going in!" Rikka announces. "Everyone... we can't let that ship get moving!"
KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Kaworu Nagisa, TenRyuuJin Team, and Zan with All-Out. KTS: Weekly Seijin has deployed in Zero Robo Yasude. KTS: EN Barrier activated! KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Weekly Seijin with Ichinana MG Barrage! KTS: Lina Lombardi's Biorhythm activates Focus! KTS: Gai Kurenai has deployed in Ultraman Orb Spacium Zeperion. KTS: Mikoto Utsugi is now subpiloting for Guy Shishioh. <Pose Tracker> Gai Kurenai has posed.
Gai Kurenai listens to Chief Taiga's speech from the mess hall, hands folded on the table in front of him. It feels... different. As though 3G's strength has changed, with its original leader back in his position.
As Taiga talks about those they've lost, the cowboy bows his head, closing his eyes to mourn those bright stars of lives - then stands up and begins to walk down to the hangar.
"Wisdom and courage," he repeats to himself, a smile on his face. He nods to Akane and Rikka as he passes them; then to Lina. Kaworu gets a clap on the shoulder - there is much the two of them may need to discuss, but it will have to wait.
He stands on the highest gantry of the hangar bay, watching the others clamber into their mobile weapons, and gazes into the gap of the Orb Ring in his hand.
"I'll keep my promise, Juggler," he murmurs - then raises the device upwards, light swirling outwards from it to engulf him as the world around him falls away into his Inner Space.
======
"Ultraman-san! Tiga-san! Let me borrow the power of your lights!"
======
Once more, ULTRAMAN ORB: SPACIUM ZEPERION graces the cosmic expanse, blue-crystal eyes gazing challengingly at the blazing figure of the King of Ruin cradling the tiny speck that once was Jupiter as it howls, a Genesic Roar that crashes through his body.
"That machine... has a pilot..."
A chill ripples through Gai as he remembers ChuuRyuu's final warning and he feels the voice of Sakura Akamatsu from Genesic GaoGaiGar. The ebbs and flows of the Limpid Channel are something that, transformed, he has better access to, and he reaches out to the girl trapped in the machine.
%"I can feel your heart crying out for help. Don't worry; you'll be safe soon."
But he can't be the one to do it; not after Galactron and Naomi. Instead, his gaze turns towards the last defenders of the King of Ruin - a massive vessel, brimming with flame, and a colossal mechanical kaiju.
"Those monsters have to be stopped!" He calls out, gliding effortlessly towards the 'Yasude', and announces himself as he joins the battle: "I am Orb! I light the darkness, and strike at evil!"
His fist crashes down towards Zero-energy-infused insectile armour.
KTS: Weekly_Seijin has deployed as a Boss for 4 opponents. KTS: Zan targets Kaiju Navi with Giant Grappling! KTS: Kaiju Navi's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Zan anchors Kaiju Navi, forcing it into close range. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to Parry Zan's Giant Grappling, taking 2550 damage! KTS: Zan has engaged Kaiju Navi! KTS: Zan roots its unit, coming to a standstill and leaving it vulnerable. KTS: Zan begins a Formation attack! <Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Even with how well things have gone up to this point... Akane's scared, more than anything else. It's different than it was, now. Before, she'd been striving to make the world Alouette wanted a reality. Maybe it was always about making up for the pretty lie of Bujack -- about showing that she could participate in really building a happier world with her own two hands.
Now that's all over. There's only one person left to bring home... they have no leads on where she is... and despite her best efforts, part of her feels like Sakura's absence is her fault. (Guilt isn't a light switch you can turn on and off -- and neither, for that matter, is getting free of someone like Alexis.)
She settles into the cockpit of Kakuseijin V2 -- a place that's become familiar, almost warm, during their voyage. She shifts a little bit, rolling her shoulders and feeling the Dive Suit against them. (With so many returning home, she managed to beg the science team for a few small adjustments to the fit of her suit. It's nothing major, but... it does feel nice, even if she might have to ask again later.)
Her hands plunge into the Linker Gel, and she gives the controls a squeeze, as if wanting the reassurance of a held hand.
(Whether she's giving or receiving that reassurance is an open question.)
"I'm not really surprised, but seeing it in action is another thing entirely," Akane replies to Rikka. "He's got crazy reliable energy..."
Akane agrees, "Right. Whatever happens, I'll be with you. Let's do this. I have control!"
As Kakuseijin V2 streaks forward under her command, Akane glances down to her monitors. "... I'll be providing field guidance," Akane says to the rest of the group, as much to ground herself in her role as anything else.
'Earth ends, Jupiter ends...' ... Akane can't accept that. She refuses -- after coming so far, she can't give up. It's unthinkable. "... I can't let myself be someone who just runs away every time something bad happens," she replies -- and it's all she can offer.
She looks at Genesic for a few moments... and understands that, as guilty as she feels about Sakura, it's not her fight. She can deal with those feelings on her own time. The Kakuseijin and its Synapse Attack make a much better tool against --
"Yeah -- that's a Jupitris-class," Akane murmurs in response to Rikka. "It looks like it's trying to get up to speed to get to Earth... we can't let that happen!" Is that what was meant by 'Earth ends'? "We're going to need to disable it without blowing the Helium-3 tanks and we're going to need to do it fast... this is definitely the kinda thing V2 excels at." She nods to herself, resolving to trust in everyone here -- especially those following the same path as Kakuseijin V2. She transfers command of the Neuromechanoid back to Rikka as they close, with a, "You have control!"
KTS: Akane Shinjo has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Zan KTS: Akane Shinjo targets Rikka Takarada, Kaworu Nagisa, and TenRyuuJin Team with Awe. KTS: Akane Shinjo inspires awe, increasing Rikka Takarada's Morale! KTS: Rikka Takarada orders an all-out attack, raising Kaworu Nagisa's Skill! KTS: Akane Shinjo inspires awe, increasing Kaworu Nagisa's Morale! KTS: Rikka Takarada orders an all-out attack, raising TenRyuuJin Team's Skill! KTS: Akane Shinjo inspires awe, increasing TenRyuuJin Team's Morale! <Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
".... Don't worry, Liam." Lina wasn't the only one visited by that devil; Liam had been as well.
Her throat still feels as raw as her voice sounds, but her words to Liam lack no measure of warmth in spite of it. ".... Just like you fought for me in Nemi... now, it's my turn." Leaning in for a kiss, she breaks it while she still can, and looks into his face, running her hand against his cheek. "Wait for me, Liam... I'll be back before you know it..."
Her heart is full, and, for once, she feels she's ready to take on anything.
=======NOW======
< ".... A space... centipede..." > Wide, yellow eyes stare at the Dianthus's display, as Lucine tries to comprehend what she's seeing. With comprehension comes ready anger. < "... The damn lizards... even when we're trying to save them, they still try to kill us..." >
With anger, comes fear, as Lucine begins to understand, as old memories threatens to come back and wipe her resolve. These are not only Jovian Lizards, they're ones infected by Triple Zero. Unreachable enemies, further powered by something that also wants to see everything destroyed; there's no telling what might happen.
Lucine's hand strays over the bump where her ring is, much like how Lina clutched her metal earlier. < "... I've destroyed dragons before... this one... is no different..." > She was prepared for far worse than this, right?
She is a woman who means what she says, and if she said those words to Liam, she needs to embody them.
< ".... Lina, Ultraman... I'm joining you now." > Lucine breathes, and relaxes in her seat. < "... I've faced enough of these to know how to dodge them... use it to your advantage." >
The Dianthus flies towards the Yasude directly, glaive at the ready, preparing to make the first strike.
<Pose Tracker> TenRyuuJin Team has posed.
It's been a long, difficult week, even with the return of Mikoto and Chief Taiga and so many others.
The Braves' quarters feel emptier than they used to. AnRyuu and KouRyuu were already grieving the brother they never got the chance to know--the loss of the friend they'd just made is weighing on them. No more talks, no more run-ins in the hall, no more careful adjustments to accommodate an organic friend. No more Qivi.
The Dragon Sisters stand side-by-side, listening to Taiga's speech as the flight crew finishes final checks. Neither of them can cry, per se, but if KouRyuu's optics look misty, and AnRyuu's standing less straight-backed then usual, as if she were bearing a great weight, well...
Super-AI can grieve, too.
A bright flash of G-Stone green washes through the hangar. Cables and wired hookups detach from the Twins as the sequence initiates.
"SYMMETRICAL DOCKING!"
The merged form of TenRyuuJin soars from the hangar, the thrusters on her back firing at full burn. Sakura's heart-wrenching plea registers only as a psychic near-miss--activity on the Limpid Channel that doesn't quite make it into the GS-Ride.
It manifests as feeling of imminent, shuddering doom.
...Didn't ChuuRyuu say that Ghaleon... Genesic GaoGaiGar... had a pilot...? says KouRyuu.
He did. That must be them. Brother, what did you see? AnRyuu's 'voice' is faint.
But there's another, larger problem.Jupitris-class signature confirmed. Z0-similar readings confirmed. The engines--!
We're intervening.
"Iron Zanrailer, Unit Beta, Kakuseijin V2--I'm with you!" Steely determination undergirds TenRyuuJin's words. "Agent Shinjo's right--blowing those tanks is too risky. If we can keep the engines from regenerating, we'll have a chance!"
KouRyuu's MASER cannon swings up and forward, drawing a bead on one of those massive nuclear-pulse engine cowlings. Targeting data whirls through TenRyuuJin's cores, and in a flash, she FIRES, sending a beam downrange. She wields it like a scalpel, trying to cut through the layers of ablative plating in front of the cowling proper--to expose the innards so Zan, Kaworu, and the Kakuseijin team can get to work.
KTS: TenRyuuJin Team targets Kaiju Navi with MASER Cannon - Snapshot! KTS: Gai Kurenai targets Weekly Seijin with Orb Leaping Strike!
<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.
o/` "Thinking about the deep bond we share
The days of our youth that we can never fully describe in words~
Sometimes we get hurt, sometimes we feel joy~
The day when we patted each other on the back
I wonder how much time has passed since then?
How many times have we counted the setting sun?
Are your friends still remain in your heart~?" o/`
~*~
It's unobtrusive, the way her voice fills the communication lines at first. Not necessarily subdued, but quiet; the good cheer of her singing as she settles into her entry plug is practically a tradition by now. A touchstone people can fall back onto to ground themselves in the moment, even when the whole universe seems intent to overwhelm them with the enormity of its cosmic machinations.
If it manages that, well, she'll consider it a nice bonus.
But maybe even if all hope was lost, Mari Makinami Illustrious would start her end of days with a song in her heart.
The world unfolds in a kaleidoscope of shifting colors, patterns, and dissolving cosmic bursts around her as the bespectacled child of NERV takes in the familiar scent of Evangelion Unit-04. Her eyes shut, a fond, familiar smile on her lips; her song briefly fades as she pats the side of her seat genially.
"'The end crowns the work,'" Mari recites to herself; her smile grows fractionally as if indulging in a private joke. "Ready, partner? I'm going to need you at the top of your game today. We've got a message to send the universe."
She draws in the scent of LCL again and sighs.
"'We like Lilim, just how they are'."
Kaworu's comms link up with hers. And Mari looks sidelong towards her fellow Evangelion pilot, sharing a little smile for the two of them.
Right, Mary?
"You better believe it, Tabby Cat!"
She leans forward in her seat, blue eyes narrowing as mission start is announced by Koutarou Taiga.
<"Roger~. Evangelion Unit-04, launching!">
And into the voice of space the cursed chrome splendor of Unit-04 ejects, S-type equipment starting up with the sputtering spurt of thrusters carrying her towards the vast insanity of the King of Kings, cradling Jupiter like a gaseous pearl between its palms.
Threats existential and horrifying array against them. The Jupitris -- a helium carrier -- she knows -exactly- what that can be used for. And the amalgamated dragon of Jupiter, well...
... that feels like a personal touch on the part of the Oath Over Omega, just for them. How could she not feel touched?
o/` "KANPAI! You now stand on the big, big stage of life,
And have taken the first steps on a long journey!
May happienss be with you~!" o/`
Kaworu makes an offer. And Mari blinks. She takes her sweet time to consider the offer, "hummmmmm!"ing quite audibly over the comms. It's all theater, of course. She knows the song; she knows what Kaworu's been working on. So how could her answer be anything but:
<"I can't believe you waited until now to ask! Gasp! Does my Tabby Cat have a sense of dramatic timing~? I feel so moved! So I guess my answer HAS to be--">
After all. What's the point for striving for victory--
<"'Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!'">
--if you're not already envisioning a world after it?
Not that the King of Ruin has any plans of making that victory easy -- or even a possibility. The Genesic Roar rolls through space and time, and the power of Triple Zero CRASHES and BURNS through and into the cursed Evangelion. There's no specific part of Unit-04 attacked -- and yet the -entirety- of the entry plug erupts into bubbles of fuming LCL as Mari lets out a strangled, choked sound of surprise and pain as something so completely antithetical to her, and everything she believes in, -burns- down into her mind.
She sees a thousand flashes of visions. They're there and gone in a flash.
But even Mari is not immune to sorrow or regret -- or the daunting odds of an entire universe rallied against them. Unit-04 stalls for a brief moment, orange crackling across white platings. Mari lurches forward in her seat, bangs hanging over bespectacled eyes.
<"Hah... hah... what a cheap shot...">
she mumbles, her words briefly slurring... even as a smile finds its way to her lips.
<"... good. I wouldn't want it any other way from my nemesis~. Why... why would I want to run from this? I've got... the best seats in the house!!">
And Mari pushes -down- on the controls, forcing her Evangelion to fly forth once more as it unholsters assault rifles to begin a hellacious barrage of bullets upon the encroaching Genesic.
<"My bet's still riding on humanity's depravity! And if it's the end, I'll see it through with a song to bid my favorite, despoiled deviants farewell!! SO C'MON!">
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
Guy tried to tell them to stay back and rest...but in the end, not one of them would hear a word of it. Of course Taiga was never a man who could have. Nor Mikoto, nor even Entouji or Doctor Liger. King J-Der alone stands aside, by sheer virtue of the fact that the damage dealt by the Silverion Hammer's attack and operation combined with the final sortie to stop the Conqueror-King King J-Der reduced it to barely more than scrap. For the final operation for the Division Train...of course, Guy Shishioh will be at the fore. One more time, he floats in the Fusion space with Galeon, GaiGar prepped on the Mirror Catapult as they await the final push. It will be any moment now...any moment until they can pierce whatever shell it is that prevents them from acting on Genesic.
Then he hears her. Gaigar's head jerks up. "Sakura...!"
That machine has a pilot. ChuuRyu's omen. "Sakura...!" he whispers. "No time to wait. GaiGar! Launching!"
Soon, a spear of light rips through the night away from the Division Train, Mirror Particles cracking off GaiGar as it bullets toward its own future self. With his Evoluder senses, Guy sends the Main Order Room the packet he's gotten used to: A request for Final Fusion and: "Mikoto!"
"FINAL FUSION! AaaaaAAPPROVED!!"
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Utsugi has posed.
"Alouette, Renais..." In a few seconds, her attention will be focused mainly on Guy. But in this brief moment of calm. "Come back safe, alright? We've got to have that shopping trip after this, right?" A little confirmation of the determination to live- the determination they finally returned to her.
"Understood!" Mikoto calls back, as the order for Final Fusion is given. It's a little strange, hearing it be an order and not a request from Guy- but he's her chief right now.
And besides... It was about time she did her job.
The monitor infront of her lights up, as the five systems that make up GaoGaiGar confirming ready. "Final fusion..." She raises her right arm, balling it into a fist.
BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo6aR_DMu2k
"PROGRAAAAAM DRIIIIIIIIIIVE!"
Her shout echoes, as her fist slams into the safety glass protecting the Final Fusion clearance, breaking the safety plastic with ease and activating the system.
It's good to be back.
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious targets Sakura Akamatsu with Assault Rifle - Single Fire! KTS: Lucine Azul targets Weekly Seijin with CL0-V3 Glaive Dive! KTS: Mikoto Utsugi targets Guy Shishioh, Renais Cardiff, and Alouette Pommier with Awe. KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to TenRyuuJin Team's MASER Cannon - Snapshot, taking 2520 damage! KTS: Mikoto Utsugi has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Guy Shishioh KTS: Weekly Seijin successfully avoids Lina Lombardi's Ichinana MG Barrage KTS: Weekly Seijin's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Weekly Seijin fails to parry Gai Kurenai's Orb Leaping Strike, taking 4320 damage! KTS: Gai Kurenai has engaged Weekly Seijin! KTS: Weekly Seijin fails to rush. KTS: Weekly Seijin's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Weekly Seijin partially guards Lucine Azul's CL0-V3 Glaive Dive, taking 1170 damage! KTS: Lucine Azul has engaged Weekly Seijin! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Mari Makinami Illustrious KTS: Mikoto Utsugi inspires awe, increasing Alouette Pommier's Morale! KTS: Guy Shishioh partially guards Sakura Akamatsu's Genesic Roar, taking 4560 damage! KTS: Mikoto Utsugi inspires awe, increasing Guy Shishioh's Morale! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu charges into the attack! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's Will Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu partially guards Mari Makinami Illustrious's Assault Rifle - Single Fire, taking 1215 damage! <Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
GaiGar's legs whirl back and fire off a whirlwind of an electromagnetic tornado which soon swaths GaiGar completely. StealthGao II, LinerGao, and DrillGao fire out in formation before cleaving their way into the bubble of whirling energy. GaiGar's arms slide back while DrillGao splits in two, slotting over its legs; LinerGao slots into the vacant shoulders, and StealthGao II lands on the rails on the back, deploying the nacelle units to form the Protect and Broken arms. The helmet slams down on top...
And with a triumphant roar, the tornado disperses and Guy's voice screams in defiance of Galeon's roar: "GAO!! GAI!! GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!"
Even with the scream of Genesic GaoGaiGar rattling his every screw, GaoGaiGar replies with conviction, reving up its Broken right arm and plunging it into the Phantom Ring in front of it, roaring, "Galeon...Sakura! You're coming home! BROOOOOKEN! PHAAAAAAAAAAAAANTOOOOOOOOOOM!" and firing off his fist across the stellar distance, crashing toward the King of Kings.
KTS: Guy Shishioh targets Sakura Akamatsu with Broken Phantom!
<Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
To get close to the Jupitris means entering its atmosphere of energized helium.
One might expect the atmosphere of something 'only' this big to be a gentle thing, barely there. It is not; it is a gale storm, hard to penetrate in a straight line. There's still no gravity - space maneuvers work fine - but gusts constantly blow, churning around and making what should be an easy approach difficult.
Take Kaworu. His approach would be a straight shot - it isn't as if the Jupitris-class is armed, typically, and there doesn't appear to be any new weapons added. But instead he's caught in the gusts, and they push Unit Beta aside from the thrusters, the blade tearing into superstructure instead.
It's probably not a good idea to be directly in front of the thrusters anyway, given how they operate; nuclear fusion and heavy metal, launched regularly as the pulse engines get up to speed. They're a weapon too, if not a weapon the Jupitris is capable of aiming in any way but straight back. Radiation is not a concern, but being hit by superheated plasma is.
Zan gets in front of the Jupitris, and the Jupitris... doesn't slow down. He plunges through the windstorm whether he wants to or not at this point, slamming into the nose of the Jupitris - and rather than stopping the enormous ship in an instant, he grabs onto it, pulled along. You caught the ship: now what?
He'd better think fast, because for the two that got close, they're having to deal with the storm; directed by the ship, instead of blowing chaotically, for an instant the winds cease - and then it attempts to blow the both of them directly away from the Jupitris!
TenRyuuJin fires, attempting to peel open the outer structure of the Jupitris, but that orange-glowing field of helium-3 - helium-0, perhaps? - seems to function as a barrier, too; the beam is attenuated, and though it does leave a ragged hole in the armour, it's not as big or extensive as she was probably hoping it was. Worse, the gas seems to fill the gap, glowing brightly as it compresses down where the armour *used* to be.
She - and the Kakuseijin - are the target of the winds too, but in a different way. All around the outer layer of the 'atmosphere', gas compresses into spikes, slivers no bigger than a meter or so - and then they are launched away, a storm of hypercompressed helium that burst into a close-range windstorm once they've penetrated! And they could swear that the glowing eyes of the ship are *looking* at them, focusing...
It's unfair, somehow, for a ship to be able to fight with the air itself in space, where no air is. It certainly violates normal physics - but it's not like 000 has ever concerned itself with them all that much, has it?
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Kaworu Nagisa and Zan with Helium-0 Gale. KTS: Kaiju_Navi Changes attack to Rikka Takarada and TenRyuuJin Team with Flechette Storm. KTS: Rikka Takarada orders an all-out attack, raising Zan's Skill! KTS: Zan fails to rush. KTS: Zan partially guards Kaiju Navi's Helium-0 Gale, taking 2520 damage! KTS: Kaiju Navi repulses Zan, forcing it to disengage. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu fails to charge. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu partially guards Guy Shishioh's Broken Phantom, taking 2115 damage! KTS: Rikka Takarada blocks Kaiju Navi's Flechette Storm, taking 1770 damage! <Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
A week to a prepare... and for Alouette, that may as well have been all the time in the world. After a much needed heartfelt reunion... she finally feels like she can steel her courage to truly face down the King of Ruin.
"I will, Mikoto... it's a promise. I wouldn't miss that for anything!" Alouette affirms, as she heads off to the Division hangar. "And... if it's you in that seat, there's no way we can lose, right?" She was more than proud to cede her seat to Mikoto Utsugi after all this time... with her guidance, she knows she can fully focus her mind on the battle to come.
The reinstated Special Chief Taiga's voice booms across the Division Train ships and hangars, and Alouette intently listens.
"Yep... that's the Chief Taiga I remember." Alouette nods to herself, readying Gatherway Guardienne Aviaire for launch. Even during the GaoFighGar Project, where the Gutsy Galaxy Guard's worst problem was agents of BioNet, he was a decisive voice of leadership. But only now can Alouette truly appreciate the weight behind his words.
For everyone they brought home, and for everyone they lost, too... she didn't even have a chance to say goodbye to Qivi. But all the more... it means they cannot give up against one that would return this entire world to nothingness. No matter how terrifying it is.
"All right... Gatherway Guardienne Aviaire, launching!" Alouette announces, shrouding the mechanoid, soaring along with the Kings of Braves and Evangelion Unit-04 to meet the dimensional King of Ruin! "King of Kings... I owe you a lot. If the least I can do to repay you is to free you of your binds... then en garde!"
Genesic GaoGaiGar is not the only final bastion of Triple Zero, though... the Ruin Millipede born of the Jovian menace aims to strike down the Division Train, and the Jupitris fleet on a collision course with Earth would be nothing short of catastrophic. But... they're threats she absolutely knows her friends can handle. That's part of trusting others, right?
Genesic roars, and Alouette finds herself face to face with Genesic Aura for the very first time. She comes as prepared as she can be, spinning up a Program Ring, and calls for a "PROTECT WALL!" The energy scrapes against the barrier - and although that barrier can not protect the entirety of Guardienne Aviaire, it absorbs even that primordial aura and sends it shooting back at Genesic GaoGaiGar!
It's not Genesic's attack that worries her most, but the voice she hears. And the way the G-Stone shimmers in response to someone's bravery. "That's... Mademoiselle Sakura!" Akamatsu's daughter, who disappeared when Alexis ruined the Galeoria Pliers. Did he plan for this or was it just a shot in the dark? Either way... they have to pry her out of there. "Chief Akamatsu..." She asks, with a tinge of unusual nerve. "What's your order?"
And what Sakura shows them... a death of an entire planet. Everything they weren't there to stop, tragedies to be. Run away, they can't stop the end. "...But we still have to try." She counters the voice in her mind, holding onto that courage she learned. "Please don't give up, Sakura. We'll find a way."
KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Sakura Akamatsu with Protect Wall Repel! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu charges into the attack! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's Will Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu partially guards Alouette Pommier's Protect Wall Repel, taking 869 damage! KTS: Alouette Pommier repulses Sakura Akamatsu, forcing it to disengage. KTS: Alouette Pommier begins a Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Weekly Seijin has posed.
The order was given, and it is carried out.
Machine-gun shots pepper the long chain of Jovian machines, crackling against not only the aura of dawn, but the hollow, lightless barricade that is the distortion field. The combination of the two, flashing across the length of the space centipede, creates a profane aurora in the hues of dawn.
Inexplicably, the fused machine hisses like a centipede would in life, but remains firmly on target, its body lighting up--
Only to be intercepted first by a seijin's fist, then by the dianthus' spear.
Its barrier flashes an angry cosmogone hue, rippling like crystalline gold across its full length. Blazing, in fact, as its body becomes a conductor for Oath Over Omega, bathing both Orb and Lucine in baleful, cosmogonic flame. Lina is only spared by her relative distance from the mechanical melange--
But not from the rain of missiles that swarm down on top of her, bursting not only with raw explosive power, but with the very light of cosmic creation itself...!
KTS: TenRyuuJin Team's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: TenRyuuJin Team fails to Evade Kaiju Navi's Flechette Storm, taking 4050 damage! ]KTS: Please use the name of your attacker to react when you have multiple attacks in your +queue.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa retreats from the attack! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa fails to react to Kaiju Navi's Helium-0 Gale, taking 3450 damage! KTS: Kaiju Navi repulses Kaworu Nagisa, forcing him to disengage. KTS: Shozo has deployed in Ace Robot. Renais Cardiff says, "Sakura...?" she murmurs, eyes wide, voice trembling. " Renais Cardiff says, "Hn- PROTECT WALL!!" she yells out, GaoFighGar raising her right hand. A sheet of distorted space spreads out from her palm, dampening the impact" Renais Cardiff says, "+ooc gah" <Pose Tracker> Weekly Seijin has posed.
The order was given, and it is carried out.
Machine-gun shots pepper the long chain of Jovian machines, crackling against not only the aura of dawn, but the hollow, lightless barricade that is the distortion field. The combination of the two, flashing across the length of the space centipede, creates a profane aurora in the hues of dawn.
Inexplicably, the fused machine hisses like a centipede would in life, but remains firmly on target, its body lighting up--
Only to be intercepted first by a seijin's fist, then by the dianthus' spear.
The two slam into it, sending the colossus careening off-course at the last minute. The crew aboard the Division Train brace against inertia as the entire vessel pulls hard to (space) port to avoid impact.
Its barrier flashes an angry cosmogone hue, rippling like crystalline gold across its full length. Blazing, in fact, as its body becomes a conductor for Oath Over Omega, bathing both Orb and Lucine in baleful, cosmogonic flame. Lina is only spared by her relative distance from the mechanical melange--
But not from the rain of missiles that swarm down on top of her, bursting not only with raw explosive power, but with the very light of cosmic creation itself...!
Some of those self-same missiles race towards the Division Train as well... Only to be intercepted by the ship's onboard protect shade. A close call. Perhaps even too close.
KTS: Weekly Seijin targets Gai Kurenai and Lucine Azul with Oath Over Omega Emission Twirl. KTS: Weekly Seijin targets Lina Lombardi with Jovian Drone Missile Array Single Fire! KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul retreats from the attack! KTS: Lucine Azul fails to evade Weekly Seijin's Oath Over Omega Emission Twirl, taking 5160 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Weekly Seijin's AI Ruthlessness activates, causing Insight L1! <Pose Tracker> Zan has posed.
The attempt to blow the Iron Zanrailer off of the Jupitris is surprisingly successful. Especailly for Zan himself.
Backflipping through space a few times involuntarily, he soon rights himself.
"What a blow hard. Fine, time to change it's course."
The storm of gasses has him a bit cautious, but he throws his trust into the GGG scientists that helped develop the body he's in.
Adjustments are made internally before he starts to fly back towards the front of the ship. His arms come down and panels on the shoulder open up.
"Let's see you blow this away! MAGNETIC MISSILES!"
The barrage of missiles launch, trying to create magnetic explosions and force the ship to turn either towards the Iron Zanrailer or away from it even as they try to rip apart the hull rather forcefully.
KTS: Zan has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Zan has activated the Trick Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.
From inside GaoFar's cockpit, Renais Cardiff listens. Her eyes are closed as she recalls her time under its influence. The way it preyed on her pain, compelled her to nearly give up her life in its service...
It ends here, today. No matter what.
GaoFar and the GaoMachines streak out of the catapult, a cluster of glimmering stars against the black of night as the shimmering mirror coating peels away. "FINAL FUSION!" she calls out, as GaoFar is enveloped in a pillar of light, and when it melts away... there is only the Queen of Braves. "Gao! Figh! Gar!" She draws a large sword, fit for a Mazin, from a mount upon her back.
Then, she hears a voice.
"Sakura...?" she murmurs, eyes wide, voice trembling. "No!"
It's almost enough to distract her from the roar emanating from Galeon's maw.
"Hn- PROTECT WALL!!" she yells out, GaoFighGar raising her right hand. A sheet of distorted space spreads out from her palm, dampening the impact, but electricity arcs over her forearm as the roar pierces and overloads it. "Shit... Sakura! We're coming for you!" she yells, ejecting a Phantom Ring from her chest. It locks into place over her left fist, glowing bright and rotating counter to the fist as it begins to spin. "Broken PHANTOM!" she calls out as the fist, sheathed in magenta, streaks out toward the King of Ruin.
KTS: Zan targets Kaiju Navi with Magnetic Missiles! KTS: Renais Cardiff targets Sakura Akamatsu with Broken Phantom! KTS: Lina Lombardi has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu charges into the attack! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu partially guards Renais Cardiff's Broken Phantom, taking 2430 damage! KTS: Renais Cardiff completes the Formation attack! KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully Intercepts Zan's Magnetic Missiles KTS: Lina Lombardi blocks Weekly Seijin's Jovian Drone Missile Array Single Fire, taking 1260 damage! KTS: Gai Kurenai blocks Weekly Seijin's Oath Over Omega Emission Twirl, taking 4730 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Weekly Seijin's AI Ruthlessness activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: TenRyuuJin Team has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Kaworu shares a smile with Gai when his shoulder is clapped en route to his Evangelion. It's true they have things to discuss, but that will have to come later. They'll make sure there is a later.
In the same way, he shares a warm smile with Mari over their comms. He had no doubt that she would accept the moment he asked; it was simply a matter of doing the asking. Is it a matter of dramatic timing? <"It's when despair is its deepest that hope is needed the most,>" he replies. And when she gives her effusive assent: <"Wonderful. I knew I could count on you. Well then--let us meet again once this battle is resolved.">
And so he leaves her to her battle. Each of them will need to focus going forward.
Iron Zanrailer quickly catches up to the orange-glowing Jupitris; the Kakuseijin V2 and TenRyuuJin are hot on his wheels. Kaworu isn't afraid of the energized helium, though any reasonable person would be, and because any reasonable person would be, as Akane and TenRyuuJin underscore, he does take care to avoid them as he passes by in Unit Beta. ...As much care as he can with the gale storm that whorls around the Jupitris, at least. Because of that same care, he and Unit Beta end up blown away entirely from the Jupitris, instead of maneuvering towards the front as he'd intended.
<"Yes,"> he transmits to Akane and the others, a simple agreement. Getting in close isn't an option, but Unit Beta has ranged options. As TenRyuJin attempts to carve open the Jupitris, Kaworu observes as the orange field serves as a barrier, and as the helium already begins to compress in to cover for the armor. The Jupitris's 'eyes' seem to peer at them, and Unit Beta's eyeless mask meets that gaze as she raises the Heat Rapier in a seeming salute. Energy charges around it, and then she *slashes* towards it to take advantage of what small opening Zan creates with his magnetic missiles to rip at its hull, away from the helium tanks.
<"Akane, what is your analysis?>" he prompts as they all continue to chase after the accelerating megaship.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Kaiju Navi with Rapier Wave! KTS: Kaiju Navi's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Rapier Wave, taking 4230 damage! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa completes the Formation attack! <Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
A Jupitris-class... and it's heading for Earth? Rikka shudders. It sounds like her instinct was right on the mark.
"Right." Rikka agrees. It's a good thing they decided to focus their efforts here, then - like Akane said, this is where they're best suited. "Take out the engines while avoiding the Helium-3 tanks... got it."
Akane passes over control.
"I have control!" Rikka confirms. And just in time, too - the Jupitris-class is capable of attacking in more ways than the conventional. It's own gaseous atmosphere compresses, firing off as spikes! Rikka grits her teeth, and V2 braces itself against the flechette storm. "Hang in there...!"
It's rough... but they manage to endure it, at least.
"Looks like that gas is basically forming a barrier... We'll need to consider a way past it." Rikka comments. She'll leave that to Akane - and it seems Kaworu is in agreement there, too. There's no telling what other tricks the ship has up its sleeves, either... She decides to play it safe for now, piloting in to range. A claw clenches and is hauled back... and then sent flying toward the Jupitris in a chain-linked punch! The claw is quickly retrieved.
KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Kaiju Navi with Chain Punch! KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully avoids Rikka Takarada's Chain Punch <Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
The Ichinana's arms cross over the cockpit, taking the brunt of the missile fire. "Lucine...and, uh, Ultraman, was it? Good to see you." Lucine might be able to notice that Lina sounds a bit more subdued than she usually does.
The Ichinana comes in closer to the Yasude, hoping to lure it further away from the Train. "Don't get distracted with that thing when we're in front of you, okay?" The Ichinana holds its arms out as a burst of corrosive air shoots from the chest.
"Rust Squall!"
KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Weekly Seijin with Rust Squall! KTS: Lina Lombardi's Biorhythm activates Wall!
<Pose Tracker> Lamia has posed.
This is it. The 'last' battle. Within the confines of their Sepulchrum, Lamia looks at his comrades. Surely, given the weight of this mission, there should be some anxiety and fear. And yet, there is nothing. To them, this fight is just the beginning of what they've been working towards. So instead, he just gets a quiet room full of people waiting for him to say something.
He should be just as unshaken as them, but the more he looks, the more his own nerves start to give in. But why is he nervous? The groundwork he helped lay, the sacrifices, it was all for this, right? Maybe, perhaps, it is simply because if everything were to fail now, all of his time would have been for naught. Minutes, hours, days, and years, all wasted after one failure. Another oppurtunity may come, sure, but how long will they have to wait? Years? Centuries?
It is a rather soul crushing and scary thought, to put so much of your blood, sweat, and tears into something to see it disappear like that. It is also, a rather cold, calculating, and disconnected way of thinking, perfect for his kind and his line of work, but lacking in a certain element...
Which is why Lamia accepts this without a second thought. The alternative reason for his trepidation is something he'd rather not consider. Not now, anyway.
With a simple, nod, Lamia turns his back, seed now in hand, as the rest of the Somnium follow suit.
A section of space tears like fabric as Betterman Cataphract pours out, its red, beady eyes pinning the King of Ruin down as it immediately attempts to rush down the corrupted Brave. It's immediately met with resistance as it lets out a bestial roar however, sending the massive amalgam monster hurdling back as it desperately and quickly readjusts its center of gravity using its wings.
>>FIGHT!<<
There's a near demand on the Limpid Channel for those there to grasp for victory. To live, to prosper. It has multiple meanings and feelings that are all condensed into one word. A word that the Betterman seems to love a lot, but at the very least, its meaning is rather clear and concise.
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Lips pursing as Akane begins to monitor the Jupitris-class, Akane notices how hard it is to get close to; the wind-like effect surrounding it is an unusual form of opposition in space, and she's not sure how to counterplay it. For that matter, V2 itself is under fire -- and while Akane holds it together, her resolve seems a little shaky as it starts the barrage.
"The Helium-3 is volatile and it's using it offensively," Akane says, as if it wasn't obvious. "I think our best bet is getting in close; we need to stop this thing from moving." She considers that for a moment, though -- it seems like they're in kind of a no-win there.
... the helium-3 isn't under pressure once it's out of those tanks. "As long as we don't attack the tanks themselves, it should be fine... Rikka -- I need you to initiate a Synapse Attack as soon as you can!" If they can start a chemical reaction to render that helium inert, they can get into a better position later. "For now -- just keep the pressure on it and we should be okay."
KTS: Akane Shinjo has activated the Prospect Spirit Command targeting Rikka Takarada KTS: Akane Shinjo targets Kaworu Nagisa with Dream!
<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
"You?re not going to help them, you know," the airy voice of Yapool echoes in Shozo?s ears as he stares out at the Millipede.
"You?re going to betray them, and the looks on their faces as they realize that you were against them all along will fill you with a thrill you cannot comprehend."
Shozo says nothing. His eyes are dull. He?s seen the traces of his father?s presence all through the train, and... avoided them. Even when he could comfort people he cares about.
"Why are you like this...?" he murmurs as he grips the Battle Nizer, feeling the warmth from the Ace Robot. "Why are you so cruel to *everyone*?"
Yapool steps out of the shadows, grinning as he adjusts his hat.
"You are so far astray, to seek a reason. There is no reason. They are not of Yapool, so they will suffer and despair, while we exult in our hatred. You will learn to be the same. There is no part of you that does not dominate and terrorize."
Shozo says nothing. To argue with his father is pointless. Instead, he runs out into the black.
Nobody hears the cry of "MonsLoad!", much less the quaver in his voice, but as the Ace Robot appears in realspace moments later, there is no sign of his fears in his eyes.
KTS: Shozo has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Lamia: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: Lamia targets Guy Shishioh, Renais Cardiff, and Alouette Pommier with Awe. KTS: Shozo targets Weekly Seijin with Soundgillar - Paralyzing Rings! KTS: Lamia inspires awe, increasing Alouette Pommier's Morale! KTS: Lamia: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: Mikoto Utsugi inspires awe, increasing Renais Cardiff's Morale! KTS: Lamia inspires awe, increasing Renais Cardiff's Morale! KTS: Lamia inspires awe, increasing Guy Shishioh's Morale!
<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akamatsu has posed.
OST: https://youtu.be/_NZQ0KKu4lA?si=upcWZd2T0fXhQ7qJ Genesis GaoGaiGar
Genesic GaoGaiGar does not run.
Into Mari's hail of bullets, it charges. They glance off of Gadget GaiGar's wings; a great beam of Triple Zero energy forms, at Galeon's mouth, and fires into Unit 04 for her troubles. It does not pause before Guy seeks Mikoto's Final Fusion clearance; it does not stop, when it hears GAO! GAI! GAR!, and it plunges forward into its fist, meeting Gai with its own fist. He has Mikoto at his back, and...
... who is at Genesic GaoGaiGar's?
This machine... has a pilot.
Then, where...
". . . i c a n ' t s t o p i t . . ."
Sakura's desperation leaks in through the Limpid Channel, dripping down into everyone's psyches through their ears, as Genesic fires a Genesic Bolt in through Alouette's Protect Wall. Genesic GaoGaiGar must have a source for its bravery -- a human host -- and Sakura hangs in its thrall, watching, helplessly, as her machine plunges its fist for Aunt Renais's fist just the same.
If she'd come back... could she have met them...?
... it doesn't matter...
"i ' m . . . s o r r y . . ."
... it's all about to end.
The Betterman Cataphract tears into reality and forward into Genesic GaoGaiGar -- and Genesic GaoGaiGar surges forward to meet it. It brings one of its great knees up to ram into the Cataphract; StraightGao's drill spins, as it impacts. And there, through the Limpid Channel, Sakura whispers:
"i c a n ' t g o b a c k . . . a n y m o r e . . ."
KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Mari Makinami Illustrious with Oath Over Omega Emission Blast! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Guy Shishioh with Genesic CQC! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Alouette Pommier with Genesic Bolt! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Renais Cardiff with Genesic CQC! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Lamia with Drill Knees! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's Biorhythm activates Strike and Trick! <Pose Tracker> Gai Kurenai has posed.
Light shimmers across the Yasude's body, and instinctively Orb projects light of his own as a shield, before the cosmogonic flame of the Oath blazes over him. Gai howls in pain as his Inner Space flickers with the amber flame, reaching down to draw new cards from his holster.
"If that's the way we're playing this... Zoffy-san! Belial-san! Let me borrow the powers of light and darkness! Rrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
With a crackling pulse of crimson light, Spacium Zeperion transforms into the muscled form of Thunder Breastar, a snarling beast descending upon Yasude with claws bared and brutality foremost in its mind.
After all, the massive Jovian machine is unmanned - he can feel no hearts crying out within it.
... There's no need to hold back.
"I embrace the darkness to become the light!" Orb roars, crimson lightning trailing from his clawed hands as he strikes again and again at the Yasude!
<Pose Tracker> TenRyuuJin Team has posed.
Fluid dynamics in a vacuum under T0 influence! exclaims KouRyuu, as the commandeered Jupitris introduces a new and hellish level of mathematical modelling. Fine! Then we best-guess, and make up the rest with courage!
"A barrier," says TenRyuuJin. "I'll give them this, they picked a good choice for a doomsday weapon!"
Jets--missiles?--of gas erupt from the supertanker's 'atmosphere'. TenRyuuJin twists away with a burst of maneuvering jets, and banks upwards, her jets thundering soundlessly. The physics-defying gas-shrapnel chases her, forcing her to juke left and right--one of the airbursts slams into her side, punching through the barrier before embedding itself in her armor. The burst follows a second later. It's like being hit by an explosive round, but so much worse.
"Ghh--!" she chokes out, as bits of spall pelt her arm and leg. "But not good enough. Acknowledged, Akane. Getting in close!" TenRyuuJin flips into a vertical U-turn, and dives down at the Jupitris from above. She sweeps out her right hand, and a blade of bright green energy snaps into existence just behind her wrist. Diving through the winds, she tries to stab the blade as deeply into the tanker's fuselage as she can, before drawing it along--again, trying to open it up, to see what can be sabotaged beneath the armor.
KTS: TenRyuuJin Team targets Kaiju Navi with Single Lime a Ongles! KTS: Lamia's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Lamia blocks Sakura Akamatsu's Drill Knees, taking 1110 damage! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu has engaged Lamia! Gai Kurenai transforms to Ultraman Orb Thunder Breastar
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious retreats from the attack! KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious fails to evade Sakura Akamatsu's Oath Over Omega Emission Blast, taking 3600 damage! KTS: Gai Kurenai targets Weekly Seijin with Orb Close-Quarters Combo! KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to TenRyuuJin Team's Single Lime a Ongles, taking 2700 damage! KTS: TenRyuuJin Team has engaged Kaiju Navi! KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Renais Cardiff KTS: Alouette Pommier fails to parry Sakura Akamatsu's Genesic Bolt, taking 3760 damage! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu repulses Alouette Pommier, forcing her to disengage. KTS: Lamia has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Guy Shishioh KTS: Guy Shishioh partially guards Sakura Akamatsu's Genesic CQC, taking 2320 damage! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu has engaged Guy Shishioh!
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Hearing the dim tone in Lina's voice, Lucine debates reaching out, but holds back at the last moment. There's a time for reaching out, and right now, it could call out Lina herself.
Still.
Lina's radio pipes up with a message straight from Lucine. < ".... This is it, Lina... Let's show them what we're made of..." > It feels generic, but as her thoughts center on Lina-- < ".... incoming-- missiles, your way--" >
It cuts off as the Yasude's barrier than the obscene aurora intensify, spreading its influence over the space.
True to her boast, Lucine is able to fall back, but this isn't something she could easily dodge by distance alone.
< ".... Ah.... damn it...!" > She hisses, biting her lip as the Dianthus switches tactics. < ".... It doesn't matter if you're stronger... I won't lose to a goddamn lizard!!" > Her voice breaks as the Dianthus prepares to fire, arbalest gleaming with hot pink light.
< "That barrier of yours won't hold out forever!!" > The Dianthus fires a shot, bright and fast, straught towards the Yasude.
KTS: Lucine Azul targets Weekly Seijin with Argen-21 Beam Arbalest Orion Shot! KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained proficiency bonus.
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Utsugi has posed.
Mikoto can hear that voice, coming from Genesic, and she gasps at it's presence. "Ah- the Limpid Channel!"
It's Yang who speaks up. "This is what ChuuRyu warned us about. Triple Zero is pure energy with no will of it's own... so it's having the G-Stone respond to her will instead."
Geki Hyuuma, 3G Green's advisor lets out a shout of dismay. "Oi, oi! We're in trouble if the King of Ruin using the power of the G-Stone!"
"Calm down, Hyuma-kun." Taiga frowns, and calls out an order. "Operators, analyze all the data we have and locate Miss Sakura Akamatsu's location!"
"Betterman's here too!" Swan calls back, as the immense gestalt form of Betterman Cataphract enters the battlefield.
Taiga narrows his eyes. "It seems to be working with us for now." He responds. "Focus on the King of Ruin!"
Mikoto, meanwhile, continues to monitor GaoGaiGar's systems. "Guy, Alouette, Miss Illustrious! Hold out a little longer! We're trying to find Sakura!"
KTS: Mikoto Utsugi targets Guy Shishioh, Alouette Pommier, and Mari Makinami Illustrious with Caution. KTS: Weekly Seijin successfully avoids Lina Lombardi's Rust Squall KTS: Weekly Seijin's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Shozo anchors Weekly Seijin, forcing it into close range. KTS: Weekly Seijin fails to react to Shozo's Soundgillar - Paralyzing Rings, taking 1425 damage! KTS: Shozo has engaged Weekly Seijin! KTS: Shozo begins a Formation attack! KTS: Weekly Seijin's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Weekly Seijin parries Gai Kurenai's Orb Close-Quarters Combo, taking 420 damage! KTS: Gai Kurenai has engaged Weekly Seijin! KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Foresee Spirit Command targeting Lina Lombardi KTS: Weekly Seijin fails to react to Lucine Azul's Argen-21 Beam Arbalest Orion Shot, taking 5673 damage! KTS: Lucine Azul completes the Formation attack! KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
As the Jupitris flies, its cargo bays - the parts for carrying solid objects, not compressed gas - open.
The Jupitris is not, strictly speaking, a carrier for mobile suits, but it's so damn big that you can get a whole bunch in there if you're not very picky about how they're stashed or deployed. It doesn't really launch them so much as drop them out, and they're...
They're not mobile suits. They're mobile *workers*; barely three meters tall, and with a bubble covering the cockpit rather than a proper cockpit block. They're not militarized at all, but just things that can move in space and have arms. None of them are armed, and none of them have a pilot... the spherical 'head' of the Petite Mobile Suit is filled with the same glowing helium-3.
Zan launches missiles at the Jupitris, and several of the Petit Mobile Suits are there - there to be destroyed by the missiles, as it turns out. They make perfectly good targets and are not adverse to throwing themselves in the way. But there's always another, and several of the suits swarm him afterwards, picking at him with primitive 'hands', some of which have tools to pry and lever with.
There's another pulse from the Jupitris' thrusters, another burst of acceleration, but that only means it drives into the wave from Unit Beta's rapier. A line appears across its armour, and though it attempts to hold together, it breaks open, revealing some of the inner structure. They're doing damage to it, certainly, but it's a BIG ship.
Rikka and Akane fire the Kakuseijin's chain fist, and that too is caught by a mobile worker ('caught', in that it destroys the Petit MS). Whirling gas surrounds the Kakuseijin as the Jupitris strikes back, staring balefully at the unit, compressing to a shining sphere about eight meters across - which explodes in a hellacious shockwave!
But it's Tenryuujin that gets the worst of the winds. She dives in, and carves in - successfully as it turns out, revealing the inner structure of the massive ship. A huge plate of armour, as big as a small battleship, detaches as she carves down the length of it - and the winds strike back like a sword of their own, an air cutter aimed to pierce the entire Brave Robo.
Don't think that Unit Beta got ignored, though. At a distance, it may not seem as threatening, but it's done plenty of damage to the Jupitris too, and the Zero Robo can see the AT Field working - and what it's doing. A massive pulse of *energy* erupts rather than wind, a laser-like beam that sweeps to try to overload the AT Field... but it means that Kaworu has a clear shot right back, if he and Unit Beta can avoid getting out of line long enough to take it!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Zan with Mobile Worker Squad Swarm! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Rikka Takarada with Overpressure Bomb! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets TenRyuuJin Team with Helium-0 Jet! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Kaworu Nagisa with Concentrated Oath Over Omega Emission! KTS: Mikoto Utsugi suggests caution, raising Guy Shishioh's Intuition! KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada blocks Kaiju Navi's Overpressure Bomb, taking 1830 damage! KTS: Mikoto Utsugi suggests caution, raising Alouette Pommier's Intuition! KTS: Akane Shinjo shares a dream with Kaworu Nagisa, increasing his SP! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa charges into the attack! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa partially guards Kaiju Navi's Concentrated Oath Over Omega Emission, taking 3080 damage! KTS: Kaiju Navi roots its unit, coming to a standstill and leaving it vulnerable. KTS: Mikoto Utsugi suggests caution, raising Mari Makinami Illustrious's Intuition! KTS: TenRyuuJin Team has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: TenRyuuJin Team successfully Evades Kaiju Navi's Helium-0 Jet
<Pose Tracker> Zan has posed.
The magnetic missiles end up clumping together and well ripping apart Petit MS of all things.
That has the Iron Zanrailer pausing a little. A brief scan finally reveals that the little machines are unmanned, but also are a cause for concern as they start to try to penetrate the 70 meter giant's all over.
"Goldymarg, I owe you an oil beer after this!"
The giant's swarmed by the miniature MS as it tries to sweep them off, followed by it deploying Carpenters as they start to go on the defensive attack against the swarm.
The final defensive act to try to get rid of a majority of that swarm comes in the form of turrets raising up. Lasers begin to fire, sweeping around the giant and at the battleship as well from all over it. Normally used for welding, the safeties being off means the giant's free to melt and cut apart the swarm with gusto while avoiding the Carpenter defense at the same time as it tries to bash and punch it's way free while firing the barrage at the Jupitris.
"Using our own tactics against us is a bit unfair!"
Despite Zan's lamenting, he's doing his best to fend off all of the Petit MS swarm and still attack the Jupitris.
KTS: Zan targets Kaiju Navi with Laser Barrage!
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Akane's analysis is that, despite the helium windstorm that surrounds the Jupitris, everyone's best move is to move in and attack up close. <"Oh?"> KouRyuu makes a fine point about best-guessing and courage, and he smiles. <"Very well."> Unit Beta has ranged options, but she excels at melee combat anyway.
As such, when the Jupitris opens fire with a laser-like beam, she sails towards it rather than trying to evade. It's a risky maneuver, and while some of the damage is mitigated by Unit Beta's A.T. Field, it does result in heat damage to her armor and one of her pylons.
Still, Kaworu adjusts for that in real time to allow them to get in close all the same--and once the beam has passed, there's a clear shot that both of them take full advantage of. Her shimmering A.T. wings bend and curve, and she soars to one side in TenRyuJin's wake through the Jupitris's whipping winds to attempt to stab the Heat Rapier into the tanker's fuselage. If successful, she'll carve her own line of destruction, undulating in a wave pattern across from TenRyuJin.
It's a big ship--and that means their attacks must be relentless.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Kaiju Navi with Penetrating Stab! KTS: Zan fails to Intercept Kaiju Navi's Mobile Worker Squad Swarm, taking 3360 damage! KTS: Kaiju Navi's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Zan rattles Kaiju Navi, making its next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Zan's Laser Barrage, taking 2880 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Zan's Iron Will activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Zan begins a Formation attack! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Penetrating Stab, taking 4410 damage! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has engaged Kaiju Navi! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa completes the Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Weekly Seijin has posed.
The Yasude is a wiry, elusive thing. It should be torn apart by that corrosive wind, ripped to pieces along its many joints. But, no-- its field endures, protecting it in a sheath of twisted space. The same kind of twisted space that has ended so many lives before.
...Should anyone have sympathy for the Jovians? After all that they've done, after all that they've killed, all the lives destroyed-- shouldn't it be celebrated when they suffer? Succumbing to Triple Zero is their just desserts, isn't it?
...Isn't it, Lucine Azul?
The beam arbalest's concentrated shot scythes through the Yasude's barrier, stripping it away as the ray arcs across its body, sending flame and ruptured metal rippling up along its structure-- only for the wounds to heal only moments later, restored by the power of Triple Zero.
But the goal is achieved. Rings of strange energy bind the Yasude's body as it reels from the aftereffects of the beam, giving Ultraman Orb plenty of time to call upon dark powers, and for him to hold the enormous space centipede fast. Furious blows meet skittering limbs as the wiry beast answers strike with strike, culminating in a sudden stab. Pointed limbs gouge out at Shozo and Orb both. Simultaneously, the entire machine seems to open up in a barrage of missiles, each trained toward Lucine and Lina both.
...for now, it seems, it's recognized that it won't be allowed to accost the Division Train unmolested as long as these annoying bees keep bothering it.
<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.
Infused with Triple Zero, Evangelion Unit-04's A.T. Field becomes an unreliable barrier of flickering pulses. Its a reflection, perhaps, of the wild beat of its pilot's heart as she strains against the orange crackle lacing over its armor.
The Field can barely function, right now. But what little of it -does-...
Mari Makinami Illustrious focuses on others, instead, spreading the protective octagonal barrier of her heart outward and -away- from Unit-04 to bolster Unit-Beta's efforts to protect their allies from Triple Zero's constant threat of existential sublimation.
It leaves her completely exposed. It's a grave start to a mission she has committed every fiber of her being to. But, well...
Mari went into this knowing that.
Fighting for this foul world she loves was always going to be an uphill battle.
And frankly, she wouldn't want it any other way.
So she suffers for it. She suffers as the Genesic GaoGaiGar dives straight into Unit-04's line of fire, bullets ricocheting off wings. She suffers as she sees orange flames broil at Galeon's maw, blue eyes widening in surprise.
She suffers as she starts a retreat just a second too late, the sound of her gasp strangling out into a sharp cry of pain as the Oath Over Omega boils and melts away the guns and the chestplate of her Evangelion, heat and light blooming and bubbling over her heart in sympathetic synchronization.
She suffers...
<"... gah... ah... haha... hahaha... ha...!">
... and she savors it.
Hands clenched over her heart as her Evangelion vaults backwards through space, Mari hunches over as her shriek of pain tapers off into pants... and transforms, one shivering huff at a time, into laughter. It hurts. It hurts so much in a way no one could possibly describe.
<"... You Triple Zero... really know how to get my blood boiling...!!">
It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
She's about to press a frenzied offensive -- and then she pauses. Behind red-rimmed glasses, the undesignated child blinks once, as she hears that voice, that sentiment, carry over the Limpid Channel.
i c a n ' t g o b a c k . . . a n y m o r e . . .
A single blink... and Mari hoods her gaze as she stares down at her controls. After a moment... she turns off her comms, and draws in a single breath.
"... You can hear me, right?" she wonders; there is a certainty that her voice will carry to the girl at the heart of the Genesic, even without those comms on.
"Listen... I can't save you. It's not my place. I just watch the ones who can, and try to help them realize they always could. ... I'm not always very successful at it, but... that's what makes this flawed world so wonderful, don't you think?"
Pink-gloved fingers wrap around Unit-04's controls.
"So don't say you can go back. You come from the same flawed fruit as all the rest of them. Your birthright is chaos and insanity of the human spirit, and that can't be quelled by the stasis that's only ever known to fear it! You can come back!
"... You just need to be ready to take their hand when it stretches out to you."
The massive, drill-capped gauntlets at Evangelion Unit-04's elbows begin to hiss forward down its forearms as Mikoto calls out to her, to Guy, to Alouette.
By the time the Rapidborers snap into place, Mari's comms crackle back on, a tenacious grin in her strained voice.
<"You got it, my gal! I'll give you--">
And she -flings- her Evangelion forward, the cursed anti-Angel weapon flying towards the personification of Triple Zero's static will drills-first, intent to drive them straight into the shoulders of the fiery, orange behemoth.
<"--AS MUCH TIME AS YOU NEED!!">
KTS: Weekly Seijin targets Shozo and Gai Kurenai with Jovian Drone Assault Limbs Sweep. KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious targets Sakura Akamatsu with Rapidborer - Pulverizing! KTS: Weekly_Seijin Changes attack to Lucine Azul and Lina Lombardi with Jovian Drone Missile Array Missile Rain. KTS: Weekly Seijin has activated the Trick Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
"Sakura..." Guy breathes from within the fusion space of Galeon. "Those nightmarish visions...so that's what she sees...?" He grits his teeth - Genesic's counterattack drills right through GaoGaiGar's own guard, slamming into him and knocking him flying. He reorients a moment later, StealthGao II's Ul-Tech thrusters blazing, while the Broken arm and Phantom Ring return to their spots. "Sakura can't Fuse," he breathes, rather than address the problem of her visions. "She can't be Fused with Galeon! She has to be in one of the GaoMachine cockpits!"
That's all the wisdom he has for the research team. Lamia's words resound in his skull as well. Yes. Even through Sakura's despair...maybe because of it, even.
"Mikoto!" Guy yells, sending a signal to her terminal that sends an urgent light blinking - the approval for Goldion Hammer operation arrives not even a second later attached to his own code. To resist the power of Genesic GaoGaiGar, he can't hold back, not even with Sakura and Galeon on the line.
While she runs that, GaoGaiGar surges back in toward Genesic, rearing back and clobbering the God of Destruction right in its masked face. "Galeon! Sakura! Hang in there!"
KTS: Guy Shishioh targets Sakura Akamatsu with Broken Fist! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu fails to rush. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu partially guards Mari Makinami Illustrious's Rapidborer - Pulverizing, taking 2784 damage! KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has engaged Sakura Akamatsu! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu fails to rush. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's Will Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu partially guards Guy Shishioh's Broken Fist, taking 1230 damage! KTS: Guy Shishioh has engaged Sakura Akamatsu! <Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Rikka listens as Akane thinks over the situation. Hearing her analyze the situation really makes her appreciate fighting alongside her. Even though her resolve is shaky, she's still doing her best...
"No kidding." Rikka agrees with TenRyuuJin. "As if just being so huge wasn't bad enough..."
She feels rather small, compared to the sheer size of the Jupitris... but then again, she's also been fighting alongside and against giants. She won't let that stop her here.
A Synapse Attack... Rikka nods.
"Right!" She replies. "I'll trust you with the finer details."
She knows she can count on Akane. With that, the Kakuseijin accelerates... but the Jupitris doesn't make it easy. For a moment, Rikka feels eyes on her - and then, the gas compresses into a shining sphere. Rikka's eyes open wide and the Kakuseijin V2 braces itself as the sphere explodes, sending the machine flying back through space.
"It's not making it easy...!" Rikka mutters through clenched teeth as she fights to get it back under control. Still, others are working hard - so she won't let them down. There must be some amount of recovery time... so, she moves to capitalize on that. The Kakuseijin V2 races forward, and as it does...
"Break Synthesize! G-Set...!" Rikka calls out. The purple vats on its back surge and bubble as she initiates the process. And once the formula is ready... "Synapse Attack!"
The claw opens, energy crackling from the channel in the center. And then it launches forward - seeking the Jupitris to deliver its payload!
KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained proficiency bonus. KTS: Lina Lombardi has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Kaiju Navi with Synapse Attack! KTS: Lina Lombardi fails to evade Weekly Seijin's Jovian Drone Missile Array Missile Rain, taking 4140 damage! <Pose Tracker> Lamia has posed.
That voice.
The child from ten years ago. A human linked to the Limpid Channel in such a way that it rivals even the connection that the Somnium have. It comes with a price, of course, one that their kind shouldn't have to bear...
It begs the question, how did she get in there? While Lamia's mind focuses on that, Rakan, one of the other Somnium's forming the conglomerate creature, instead seems more interested in the King of Ruin itself. They've seen many Ruin Apostles before this, but the real deal... Well... The gears within the scientist's brain begin turning, perhaps for the first time since he willingly subjected himself to being an underling.
Whatever those two are thinking, however, Cataphract still has to fight, matching Genesic's own knee drill with its own, drill-less knee. It's not a clash that it really wins, however, given as the spinning instrument of destruction tears into its organic armor, but it's still mitigation.
With the immediate threat of impalement dealt with, the Betterman finally launches its own counterattack, knocking the King of Ruin back with a headbutt as it then swings its undamaged leg in for a kick, a massive hardened lump of flesh and carapace that the creature calls a leg now crashing into Genesic's torso.
KTS: Lamia targets Sakura Akamatsu with Pondus Kick! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu rushes into the attack! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's Will Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu partially guards Lamia's Pondus Kick, taking 1889 damage! KTS: Lamia has engaged Sakura Akamatsu! <Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
"... I wasn't expecting the mobile workers, but at least they don't seem to have pilots," Akane murmurs, as they appear -- shortly before the machine gets knocked around with a vicious explosion. She tightens her grip on the controls -- in part because it's better than just letting the world act on her as it will.
"Okay," Akane says, as Rikka moves to begin the Synapse Attack. Akane's side of the plan deals with neutralizing that helium-3, forcing chemical reactions that should render it inert. ... It can't be just that, of course -- finding something that will both slow the Jupitris and neutralize the helium-3 puts a lot of strain on her.
While her hindbrain is doing that, she does her best to make tactical calls. "... After this," she says, "we should handle the Petit MS ourselves. We're one of the smallest, lowest-output machines here -- everyone else is going to have an easier time stopping the Jupitris itself." Sometimes you need to accept that you're small.
KTS: Akane Shinjo has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Rikka Takarada KTS: Akane Shinjo targets Kaworu Nagisa, Zan, and TenRyuuJin Team with Awe. KTS: Lucine Azul blocks Weekly Seijin's Jovian Drone Missile Array Missile Rain, taking 3220 damage! <Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
Lina clicks her tongue as another one of her attacks whiffs. No surprise she's a bit off, but of all days?
"Believe me, Luci, I'm trying!"
The Ichinana pauses as Lina notices the Ace Robot. Shozo...No, girl, don't get distracted! Just...ignore him for now. Daddy Fearest isn't the priority. She shakes her head and notices her chance as the rings pin the Yasude in place.
If she can't get it at a distance, hit it up close!
The Ichinana pulls out its blade, rushing forwards towards the centipede and swinging at its joints!
KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Weekly Seijin with Mazinger Blade Swing! KTS: Lina Lombardi's Biorhythm activates Alert! KTS: Akane Shinjo inspires awe, increasing Kaworu Nagisa's Morale! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Rikka Takarada's Synapse Attack, taking 5310 damage! KTS: Akane Shinjo inspires awe, increasing TenRyuuJin Team's Morale!
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
The lamenting despair of Sakura Akamatsu almost seems to conflict with the bravery her soul pours into King of Ruin Genesic. Perhaps it comes from her certainty in the end... but there's no denying that it lets Genesic charge, in hopes of bringing it.
Crashing through the reflected Protect Wall is Galeon's Genesic Bolt. In the short time before it reaches her, she can only surmise that it's like the bladed tip of GGG's Drivers, piercing through with a roar of Genesic Aura.
"Aile Rapier - Emission!" Alouette calls, in a vein attempt to slice it in half with a blade of her own, but the Aura is too powerful, and the Bolt pushes Gatherway Guardienne Aviaire back even without its corresponding Driver.
At the going rate, she might never be able to reach Genesic and free just one girl from its grasp by herself... but Betterman Cataphract arrives. Headed by a being who knew Sakura in a greater sensethan she ever did. And though she can not hear it in any of the human or programming languages she knows... she understands.
Fight. "Don't worry... I'll do just that, Bettermen." She agrees. "On the other hand... I think Sakura must be waiting for you. So fight hard for her, all right?"
At the same time, Mikoto gets back to them: The Operations team is doing everything they can to locate Sakura within Genesic. And Guy has some knowledge of his own: She can't do Fusion, so she must be in one of the Genesic Machines.
"If it's the Genesic Machines, I might be able to do something to their systems to make it easier..." Alouette tells them. Her Aile Rapier is for more than just destruction... she can imbue it with jamming signals, too.
The Genesic Machines, even without the power of Triple Zero are self-regenerating neural networks in their own right. She won't be able to completely override them, as she did to GaoFighGar's all those years ago. But if she can shock their systems enough to help them pinpoint Sakura?
She has to force the signal through the heart of the Invisible Burst, so she waits until the others strike with attacks of their own, as Genesic takes its time to react to them.
But Sakura's words, that she'll never have a place here again? She'll hear them whether the signal goes through or not. They're sad. And it's Mari who tries to talk her out of them.
"She's right. Whether it was Triple Zero or not... you're not the only person who felt like they could never come back. But every time it's been with open arms... so I won't give up on you, Sakura."
KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Sakura Akamatsu with Jam! KTS: Alouette Pommier jams Sakura Akamatsu's sensors, reducing its accuracy. <Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.
GaoFighGar's fist clashes with its antecedent's with a blinding shower of sparks--and loses, skipping off and looping back to land on GaoFighGar's forearm. "Of course it's not that simple," she murmurs, brandishing the sword remodeled by Triple Zero when she returned to Earth. The sword that belonged to a prototype Mazin, remodelled into Reine Noire... the Lionne Blade.
Perhaps poetic symmetry will hone her blade.
GaoFighGar's ul-tech engines flare to life, and she blasts forward, closing to melee range with the King of Ruin, knocking aside its strike, and going for a deep thrust. "Ooooaaaah!"
KTS: Renais Cardiff targets Sakura Akamatsu with Lionne Blade Strike! KTS: Renais Cardiff parries Sakura Akamatsu's Genesic CQC, taking 1200 damage! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu has engaged Renais Cardiff! <Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
Shozo's first salvo isn't "native" to the Ace Robot: instead the rings of exotic latter come from a Choju, Soundgillar. Thankfully, the Ace Robot is adept at handling the monstrous skills, and begins emitting them at key locations to bind the impossible geometry of what was once the Yasude.
"Alright, Mister, let's see if we can turn this ring into a noose-" Shozo covers his mouth instinctively as he realizes the hostility in his own words, blanching as he looks back at the train, and sees the grin of Yapool in a window, watching.
"...Mister, Metallium Beam. Let's sever some of the errant machinery." The Ace Robot pauses a moment, sensing Shozo's trepidation, before nodding and forming the beam at a trapped limb.
KTS: Sakura Akamatsu rushes into the attack! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's Will Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu partially guards Renais Cardiff's Lionne Blade Strike, taking 2160 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Renais Cardiff's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Renais Cardiff has engaged Sakura Akamatsu! KTS: Shozo has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Shozo targets Weekly Seijin with Robo-Metallium Beam!
<Pose Tracker> TenRyuuJin Team has posed.
"Mobile Suits--? No. Mobile Workers." Not combat-capable, but perfectly good at soaking up missile fire. TenRyuuJin watches them fall into space as she hacks at the Jupitris' armor, just in case any turn her way. She keeps her body between Unit Beta and the tanker, disrupting the flow of outgassing H3 while the Eva's AT Field blocks the T0.
Zan's comment about tactics earns a dry laugh. "That's what they've been doing this whole time, Zan! They are--were--us!" But not for much longer, courage willing. Sakura... Galeon...
Soon. Soon!
Look out, pressure buildup! KouRyuu--who's been doing the bulk of this novel data processing--alerts her sister. In the next instant, their combined form jerks back, bending at the waist. The pressurized lance of gas rushes past them as they fall through the supertanker's Helium-3 envelope, buffeted by the winds. It's not comfortable by any means, but it beats being potentially cored by a pressure-washer that can blow through the hull of a Mobile Suit.
"Understood, V2!" says TenRyuuJin. "I'm trying to find a solution for the Dance, but this partner is so pushy...!" In less glib terms, the presence of the ionized gas envelope is adding whole layers of complexity to the already-complex calculations needed to pull it off.
We're going to need to improvise.
There is too much on the line for KouRyuu to feel smug about AnRyuu's admission.
"Smoke missiles away! If you need the reactant, V2, here it is!" TenRyuuJin jets back, raises an arm, and lets fly with a volley of small warheads from her missile launcher. Rather than targeting the Jupitris directly, they spread out, detonating at strategic points--trying to fill the stabler parts of the gas cloud with metallic chaff.
KTS: TenRyuuJin Team targets Kaiju Navi with Jam! KTS: Shozo partially guards Weekly Seijin's Jovian Drone Assault Limbs Sweep, taking 2542 damage! KTS: Weekly Seijin repulses Shozo, forcing it to disengage. KTS: TenRyuuJin Team jams Kaiju Navi's sensors, reducing its accuracy. KTS: Gai Kurenai fails to parry Weekly Seijin's Jovian Drone Assault Limbs Sweep, taking 3720 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Weekly Seijin's AI Ruthlessness activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: Weekly Seijin repulses Gai Kurenai, forcing him to disengage. <Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
The battlefield extends to the layers of thought, and Lucine is not immune to hearing the emotions behind the words, if not the words themselves. This makes it fall into the level of noise, unfortunately; it's hard for Lucine to decipher which is coming from where, or if something might be the vector for Oath Over Omega's 'infection'.
< "That's what you deserve!!" > Lucine yells, as the Orion Shot lands true. The fact that it heals over moments later doesn't completely decimate her sense of pride, but it does slow her reaction at the worst time, as missiles fire to both her and Lina.
Unable to evade safely, the Dianthus deploys the petal shaped barriers stored on its back, summoning them via tails to its left arm, which it raises like a cape. It's not enough to soak much damage, but it's better than them hitting head on.
The 'horns' on the Dianthus glow, condensing into balls of energy that shoot out, giving Lucine time to draw back. < ".... I'm not sure how many more hits I can take... but I'll stay here as long as I can..." >
KTS: Lucine Azul targets Weekly Seijin with Lunate Crown v.2 Bolt!
<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akamatsu has posed.
The psychic transmissions are coming often enough, perhaps, that the Operators at Mikoto's back may well be able to localise her -- to StraightGao, the very knee which just struck the Bettermen.
Just as Guy says, she can't Fuse with Galeon; she's in the cockpit, instead.
"i j u s t w a t c h ," a murmur echoes Mari, all her support stripped away to desolation. "i c a n ' t s a v e y o u . . ."
The Evangelion grashes in, as much GNASHING as CRASHING, and Genesic is no Angel: even so, Mari's drills shatter its shoulder, BrokenGao living up to its name as the shark is bored away. The Right Arm of Destruction is torn away with it, and for a moment, Genesic GaiGar's arm can be seen beneath the armour.
Until that shark -- and it DOES appear to be a shark, untransformed -- turns, and swims through the air towards Mari, swirling pink power consuming its nose as it RAMS into her for her efforts.
Genesic still has one arm, though -- and it grasps its Will Knife from Gadget's arsenal, to meet GaoGaiGar's punch with a thrust from that blade. It threatens to carve into his shoulder -- and it carves into his shoulder; though the Will Knife can carve through anything, Genesic doesn't plunge it straight into the centre of GaoGaiGar's chest.
Sakura says she can't save them...
... but has she really stopped trying?
Genesic staggers in response to the mighty Cataphract's headbutt -- only to charge into its kick, brave and heedless. (The G-Stone's courage -- it must come from Sakura.) Regardless of her wishes, Genesic plunges the Will Knife into the Betterman Cataphract... but, again, it won't manage to hit anything lethal.
"i c a n f e e l i t ," she mourns, to Lamia, in that strange, atonal echo. "t h e e n d o f i t a l l . . . i t ' s c o m i n g !"
But before BrokenGao can return to Genesic, Alouette springs on its weakness -- overloading its neural network with that order to freeze. Without the Right Hand of Destruction, Genesic is -- still overwhelming many times over, but it's an improvement, even so. All BrokenGao can do in response is release a wave of Triple Zero maleficience to wash over Alouette... and even a desperation move like that is thunderous.
And perhaps Genesic realises that -- because when it charges in to meet Renais, there's a blazing burst from its Protect Shade, surging out to try and send her flying.
Even so... what's coming?
KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Mari Makinami Illustrious with Broken Magnum! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Guy Shishioh with Will Knife! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Lamia with Will Knife! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Alouette Pommier with Oath Over Omega Emission Blast! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Renais Cardiff with Protect Shade Repulsion! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's Biorhythm activates Strike and Valor! <Pose Tracker> Mikoto Utsugi has posed.
The order comes- and the card reader in the console flips open. Mikoto grabs her gold key card. "Goldion Double Hammer! Safety device-"
The movements come back to her after so long. She swipes it at full force, to unleash Goldymarg's true form. It's such a simple action, but Mikoto does it like everyone's life depends on it being executed perfectly.
"RELIIIIIIIEEVE!"
The message is sent to the Mirror Catapult- where Goldymarg is waiting, ready to launch.
Meanwhile, a cry comes out. "BINGO, we've found her!" Swan White calls, from the operations desk.
"Sakura-san is in the center of StraightGao!" Entouji confirms. "She's probably in the cockpit!"
Yamajii turns to the Chief of 3G Blue. "What do we do, Mr Akamatsu? What's your call?"
"WOOOOOH! DAMNIT!" Tears were streaming down Shigeru Akamatsu's face, and the man who had survived the danger of Algernon, of Kankel, who had led 3G Blue through the years the Gutsy Galaxy Guard were lost. "Please! Renais! Everyone! Please save her! SAVE MY SAKURAAAAA!"
Special Chief Taiga steps up for his fellow chief. "Attention all forces engaged with the King of Ruin! We have a new primary objective: Retrieve Miss Sakura Akamatsu from StraightGao!"
The order flows through to the units- but there's someone else without typical comms. But... Maybe, just maybe, Mikoto could reach them. The light of the limpid channel glows upon her forehead. She's not as strong without Triple Zero- but she hopes it's enough.
>>Betterman... There's someone in StraightGao- the right leg. You helped us before- please help us save Sakura.<<
Still, maybe the plea isn't needed.
KTS: Mikoto Utsugi targets Guy Shishioh, Renais Cardiff, and Lamia with Heart. KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious retreats from the attack! KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious successfully evades Sakura Akamatsu's Broken Magnum KTS: Mikoto Utsugi has activated the Attune Spirit Command targeting Guy Shishioh KTS: Alouette Pommier successfully avoids Sakura Akamatsu's Oath Over Omega Emission Blast <Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
Shozo's first salvo isn't "native" to the Ace Robot: instead the rings of exotic latter come from a Choju, Soundgillar. Thankfully, the Ace Robot is adept at handling the monstrous skills, and begins emitting them at key locations to bind the impossible geometry of what was once the Yasude.
"Alright, Mister, let's see if we can turn this ring into a noose-" Shozo covers his mouth instinctively as he realizes the hostility in his own words, blanching as he looks back at the train, and sees the grin of Yapool in a window, watching.
"...Mister, Metallium Beam. Let's sever some of the errant machinery." The Ace Robot pauses a moment, sensing Shozo's trepidation, before nodding and forming the beam at a trapped limb.
KTS: Mikoto Utsugi bares her heart, letting Lamia deal some extra damage! KTS: Weekly Seijin fails to evade Shozo's Robo-Metallium Beam, taking 5673 damage! KTS: Weekly Seijin's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Weekly Seijin fails to parry Lina Lombardi's Mazinger Blade Swing, taking 2800 damage! KTS: Lina Lombardi has engaged Weekly Seijin! KTS: Weekly Seijin's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Weekly Seijin fails to react to Lucine Azul's Lunate Crown v.2 Bolt, taking 2100 damage! KTS: Lucine Azul begins a Formation attack! <Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.
As Shozo looks away from the train to focus on the aim of the beam, he barely is able to command the Robot to raise his arm in time to get WHANGed by an errant ?limb? of machinery and detritus.
"You OK, Mister? Let's-"
"No. I thought you were stronger. I can't let you perish here, I still need you.?
Shozo looks up, eyes widening as the man in black stands over him, as large as the Ace Robot. The smile has left his face, finally, and instead those unsettling Impact Ring eyes are full of cold anger.
"Enough letting you play outside. The dimensional walls are thin enough here that I can just-"
The world splits open around Shozo, and he is in the Yapool Dimension. His eyes fill with fear as he sees the universe itself rising to capture him.
Without a word, the Ace Robot turns around, and Shozo *runs*.
<Pose Tracker> Gai Kurenai has posed.
Those colossal limbs sweep and Orb tries to smash them away - roaring in frustration and anger as he's the one smashed away instead!
Upside-down and adrift in the orbital path around the King of Kings, Thunder Breastar shakes his head and recovers, crimson light trailing behind him as he reorients to engage again with the Yasude. This time, however, he holds at bay, gathering that light in his hands - and flinging it out as a spinning sawblade of energy! "HRAAAAH!"
KTS: Gai Kurenai has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Gai Kurenai targets Weekly Seijin with Energy Slicer! KTS: Weekly Seijin's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Weekly Seijin fails to react to Gai Kurenai's Energy Slicer, taking 2640 damage! KTS: Weekly Seijin has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Weekly Seijin has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Akane Shinjo inspires awe, increasing Zan's Morale! KTS: Guy Shishioh retreats from the attack! KTS: Guy Shishioh successfully avoids Sakura Akamatsu's Will Knife KTS: Mikoto Utsugi bares her heart, letting Guy Shishioh deal some extra damage! KTS: Lamia fails to retreat. KTS: Lamia fails to react to Sakura Akamatsu's Will Knife, taking 5022 damage! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu has engaged Lamia! KTS: Mikoto Utsugi bares her heart, letting Renais Cardiff deal some extra damage! KTS: Renais Cardiff fails to rush. KTS: Renais Cardiff successfully avoids Sakura Akamatsu's Protect Shade Repulsion
<Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
*Is* it unfair to use their own tactics against them? And does this even count? It did just have a lot of Petit suits sitting around. Throwing them out to catch missiles barely even counts as tactics, though using them to attack in turn probably does.
Zan, plus his Carpenters, ends up in a powerful match between the Jupitris and its apparently unlimited number of Petit MSs. (It's limited. There are just a lot. The Jupitris is big and it kind of stole the entire drydock's collection of mobile workers.)
He manages to clear the area directly around him... mostly. There's still four or five Petit Mobile Suits, and all at once they attempt to dogpile him, clamp on - and then explode in a burst of high-energy gas as they detonate like tiny 000-powered bombs.
Kaworu's dangerous approach pays dividends. He and Unit Beta strike solidly with the rapier - and for the first time he can hear it; a scream that sounds something like being ground zero in a tornado, all chaotic winds howling across the irregular edges of the wound and the non-aerodynamic shapes of the Jupitris - for the Jupitris was never designed to enter an atmosphere, and is not shaped in such a way as to smooth the flows of air.
Caught at point-blank, one might expect the Jupitris to strike back, but it doesn't. It accelerates again, another blast of bright fusion exhaust; it's still possible to keep up with it in all the suits people are using, but it's getting to the point where it actually takes effort to do it and maneuvering in front of it is more difficult. The wind *feels* Unit Beta, taking her measure as the Jupitris examines the Evangelion it's carrying along with it.
Rikka comes in with a Synapse Attack - and this is something that, inasmuch as the Jupitris expects anything, it does not expect. Her claw reaches in, and Akane begins to get to work. The gas is energized with the energy Oath over Omega uses, held at a specific density and phase and under control, despite being in space where it should disperse immediately.
Helium has no chemical reactions. But it also doesn't really want to be a gas when it's held under pressure at the temperatures available in outer space.
Part of the gaseous field around the Jupitris-000 begins to liquefy, turning from a glowing orange gas into a silvery liquid; they condense around the chaff deposited by Kouryuu and Anryuu like liquid bubbles in a gas instead of vice versa. And when it does, the Jupitris immediately loses control of it. It 'bleeds' a trail of shining liquid that sublimates into pure helium once it's fallen away from the gas envelope, and the Jupitris leaves a comet-tail behind it.
And the Jupitris Zero Robo does *not* like that. There's a rapid series of clunks and clicks that the Kakuseijin can't hear, and then one of the *tanks of helium-3* falls away from the ship as every one of its clamps, magnetic and physical, detach simultaneously. It accelerates from a puncture on the back, flying like the world's most ponderous rock - but it's a 'rock' the size of a battleship!
Tenryuujin almost gets off free - but no, it's noticed her too, and where a jet of helium won't do mobile workers will. The deployment from the *other* side of the Jupitris rushes, more trying to tackle and hold her still than anything else, clinging on like so many limpets.
KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Zan with Mobile Worker Squad Self-Destruct! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Kaworu Nagisa with Designate L2! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Rikka Takarada with Tank Eject! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets TenRyuuJin Team with Mobile Worker Squad Dogpile! KTS: Zan has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Zan has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Zan blocks Kaiju Navi's Mobile Worker Squad Self-Destruct, taking 3050 damage! KTS: Passive attacks besides Pass require accept. KTS: Kaiju Navi designates Kaworu Nagisa, making him easier to target and opening him to indirect fire. KTS: TenRyuuJin Team successfully Evades Kaiju Navi's Mobile Worker Squad Dogpile <Pose Tracker> Weekly Seijin has posed.
More attacks hammer into the Yasude; bursts of rupturing metal and plumes of vermilion power leak out into space, and the entire, serpentine thing seems to writhe with pain. This, too, Triple Zero can recover from, but the damage is mounting. Finally, Lina manages to carve through several of its limbs; but it isn't done yet.
Battas are notoriously stubborn even without being imbued with the omnicidal amniotic fluid of the universe. It's no surprise that such a long chain of them would be similarly obstinate.
The space centipede whirls through the void, forming loose loops around Lucine's dianthus-- as if hemming her in, or perhaps getting ready for something particularly catastrophic. But it is not ignoring Lina, nor Ultraman Orb. Not when it can answer beams delivered prior with beams of its own. A ray of dawn-colored light arcs through space, cleaving towards Lina, though the terrible halo of its raw power threatens to swallow up the Ultraman as well...!
KTS: Weekly Seijin targets Lina Lombardi with Oath Over Omega Emission Pulse! KTS: Weekly Seijin targets Gai Kurenai with Oath Over Omega Emission Pulse! KTS: Weekly Seijin targets Lucine Azul with Designate L1! KTS: Gai Kurenai blocks Weekly Seijin's Oath Over Omega Emission Pulse, taking 3750 damage! <Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.
Renais manages--barely--to anticipate Genesic's repulsion attack as she moves in for another strike, StealthGao's engines allowing her to redirect and *drop* straight down to avoid the Protect Shade's wall of distortion.
"Sakura..." she calls out. "Sakura, I know you don't want to hear this right now. But we're going to stop this!" The new orders come in, and she brandishes her sword again. "... We're going to save you! And the rest of the goddamn universe, too!"
And then, maybe, she can really, properly, meet Sakura.
From below, GaoFighGar slashes upward, flips the Lionne Blade around, stabs it into StraightGao's 'body'--and, should she strike true, she brings her foot down to kick it deep into the GaoMachine's body.
KTS: Renais Cardiff targets Sakura Akamatsu with Lionne Blade Combo! KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada blocks Kaiju Navi's Tank Eject, taking 3840 damage! KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
"Partial Fusion Out!?" Doctor Liger Shishioh yelps from where he's standing on a console next to Swan. "That thing can do that!?"
"Yeah," Guy grimaces. He'd know, maybe alone among people in this universe, the full suite of Genesic's abilities. "Each Genesic Machine is a fully-operational Trinary Solar System Super AI of its own...!"
Then he sees Genesic turning its eyes on him. "Oh no!" He veers away, and BLASTS the Ul-Tech thrusters, sending Star GaoGaiGar rocketing away from the thrust from the Will Knife. He's avoided damage, but...indeed, he notices. "...she's holding it back, even just a little...we're coming, Sakura. Believe in us!"
GaoGaiGar continues to thrust away from the battle for several seconds more, as -- "HERE I AM!!!" Goldymarg shouts, firing out of the Mirror Catapult and already hollering, "SYSTEM CHANGE!!"
GaoGaiGar traverses the miasmic space of the King of Kings while its right arm redocks with StealthGao II to make room for the Marg Hand's connection. Goldy's entire main tank body folds up into itself to transform into a gigantic orange and black HAND, and while the DoubleHammer itself, positions itself with gravity pulses to move toward the hand, Guy screams, "HAMMER CONNECT!!!"
The thunder of the fist docking with GaoGaiGar's arm does not echo in space, but the light of the Goldion DoubleHammer coming online shines even in the Triple Zero haze that used to be Jupiter's location. "GOLDION! DOUBLE! HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!"
And then, orienting again on Genesic GaoGaiGar, Guy takes a long, slow, ragged breath. "Galeon...he can't stop himself from using every trick Genesic has at its disposal...maybe this'll put him further on the back foot! CLACKERS!" Guy calls, and then rears back, and HURLS one of the massive Clackers at Genesic, the gravity-generating sphere attaching itself via Plasma Hold lightning to the Hammer and then just hurtling right at Genesic!
KTS: Guy Shishioh targets Sakura Akamatsu with Clacker Smash! KTS: Weekly Seijin designates Lucine Azul, making her easier to target and opening her to indirect fire. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu rushes into the attack! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's Will Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu partially guards Renais Cardiff's Lionne Blade Combo, taking 3720 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Renais Cardiff's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Renais Cardiff has engaged Sakura Akamatsu! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu charges into the attack! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's Will Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu partially guards Guy Shishioh's Clacker Smash, taking 3255 damage! <Pose Tracker> Zan has posed.
The output of the lasers at last clears most of the swarm of Petit MS. By then the Carpenters have pulled back, collectively wiping their brow.
At least until the remaining five latch on to the Iron Zanrailer. And explode.
The giant's damaged severely by the suicide attack as it holds it's midsection where a couple latched on and his armor is giving off smoke.
Rising up from it, Zan takes stock of his injuries. The Carpenters return to where they were deployed, various hatches opening quickly to allow them to return and begin both self repairs and internal repairs to the Iron Zanrailer.
"I definitely owe Goldymarg a can after that."
Iron Zanrailer brings a hand back as if it is about to throw a punch from a distance.
"But if this thing is going to play like that, then let's see it stop this! ROOOCKET PUUUNCH!"
Unlike the previous version of the Iron Zanrailer, this one has obvious been upgraded as the entire forearm actively launches off, jets firing from behind it as it launches forward at the underside of the nose of the Jupitris to attempt to knock it upwards in one massive rocket fueled punch. Remote controls will definitely ensure it will come back to Zan as the jets turn and adjust on the way to guide it back towards him.
KTS: Zan has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Zan targets Kaiju Navi with Rocket Punch!
<Pose Tracker> Gai Kurenai has posed.
Again that wave of amber flame washes out from the Yasude, but then it narrows into a devastating ray of pure Oath Over Omega power, crashing against Orb Thunder Breastar's crackling crimson barrier. Inside the Inner Space, Gai grits his teeth. On Thunder Breastar's chest, the crystalline ring of his Colour Timer begins to blink crimson, an alarm gently sounding.
"Not..." Gai growls. "... yet..."
Burning in the dawnlight flame, Thunder Breastar crosses his arms in the classic pose. "ZETTCIUM BEAM!" he roars, and a scarlet-and-white ray lances forth through the flame, pushing back against it as it tries to tunnel hungrily towards the machine threatening to burn Orb's very spirit with that corrupting light.
"Azul-san! Lombardi-san!" Orb roars. "Don't let up! We have to destroy it!"
KTS: Gai Kurenai uses install KTS: Lina Lombardi has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: Gai Kurenai has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Gai Kurenai has activated the Detonate Spirit Command, reducing the Ultraman Orb Thunder Breastar to 1 HP! KTS: Gai Kurenai has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Lina Lombardi KTS: Gai Kurenai targets Weekly Seijin with Zettcium Beam! KTS: Lina Lombardi rushes into the attack! KTS: Lina Lombardi partially guards Weekly Seijin's Oath Over Omega Emission Pulse, taking 2250 damage! KTS: Kaiju Navi partially guards Zan's Rocket Punch, taking 6720 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Zan's Iron Will activates, causing Sparkle! <Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.
Mari hears her own words reflected back at her, devoid of support, twisted into nothing. Her brows heft at the sound of it, devoid of sentiment, parroted in emptiness. Like Triple Zero could take even her own admittances and render them as nothing.
Her fingers curl briefly along her controls.
"Hoh," she exhales in a slow shudder of a breath. "I feel like I'm getting bullied in the schoolyard! How nostalgic~."
I...is it?
The severity of the moment, however, impresses itself on the NERV pilot. For all her flippancy, it's a way to cope with the agony flowering in her breast, spreading red hot across every nerve cell in her body. Unit-04's chestplate has been half-melted off. The sight of flesh is all too apparent beneath, bulging and simmering, glowing with the orange coals of fresh burns that rapidly cool, fade, and then freeze within the unforgiving vacuum of space until all that's left is the throbbing, frosted burn mark to remember Triple Zero's passage by.
"But... I'm not going to forgive you for fibbing, young lady."
It hurts. And it's only going to get worse. But she gave her word.
"I think you can do much more than watch--!"
She's going to buy them every single second.
BrokenGao, torn free, acts on its own recognizance, freshly free from the greater gestalt that is Genesic GaoGaiGar. It swims through space at Unit-04, a pink corona empowering its ramming intent; Mari's eyes -snap- wide. The Evangelion's right Rapidborer snaps -back-.
And in a few precious handfuls of seconds, Evangelion Unit-04 shunts DOWNWARD to let the great space shark that is BrokenGao soar just barely overhead of it--
<"'Tschuldigung, BrokenGao!!">
--before it DRIVES the pointed tip of a progressive knife right into the belly of the beast.
Without any momentum of its own, knife lodged in that piece of Genesic, Unit-04 is taken along for the ride, -whipping- across space with rapidly building acceleration. But it's what Mari wants. She bears the strain with a sharp gasp. There's no laughter now -- not when everything is on the line.
But her eyes have never looked so alive as she builds more and more and more force and--
The exact -moment- that Alouette's freeze order loads in and stops BrokenGao -flat- sees Unit-04 -launching- off it with all that built up momentum, knife -ripping- from its belly.
<"And merci to you, Alouette~!">
Eva-04 has just enough time to pantomime blowing Guardienne a kiss of gratitude in passing, but it might be hard to make out as built up acceleration turns it into a chrome smear--
--slingshot directly into the StraightGao.
It's coming. The end.
In a sea of humanity's primordial soup, the hair at the back of Mari's neck stands on end.
<"I've had enough tragedies! I don't care how justified or compelling it is! Human will is capable of so much more infuriating things than that! So--"> she calls out.
And Eva-04 looks to -stab- into that leg with its prog knife as it passes. It doesn't seek to liberate. It doesn't seek to destroy.
It doesn't seek anything more than to use all that force to weaken that armor just enough for the others to exploit.
So they can do what they were always capable of.
<"Let's try some inspiring wish-fulfillment for a change!!">
KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious targets Sakura Akamatsu with Progressive Knife Thrust!
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Were it not for the high stakes of the situation, the Jupitris's silent attention would be fascinating. Even with that, the groan of the rushing wind along the Jupitris's non-aerodynamic corners is almost like the groan of a living being. When the massive ship puts on another burst of speed, Unit Beta grabs hold so as not to get left behind. Her A.T. wings fold to reduce resistance against the helium storm. The wind feels her, and they can feel it feeling her.
<"I see... So you wish to know us,"> Kaworu says. <"Unfortunately, ours is fated to be a short acquaintance.>"
He looks up sharply as the Petit MSes swarm Zan and TenRyuuJin both, one with kamikaze tactics, the other to latch on and cling. He could go to their aid, particularly after TenRyuuJin had done her best to defend Unit Beta from the Jupitris earlier, but... Akane makes a sound suggestion that she and Rikka should handle them. <"Then I'll leave them to you two,"> he transmits to her and Rikka.
As Zan pounds into the Jupitris's nose's underside with a rocket fist, Unit Beta manifests her A.T. Field, not as the continuous defense she's been managing up through now, but as a barrier that collides at the same point where Zan impacts to help increase the effect. The more the Jupitris's trajectory is altered now, the more time they'll be able to buy as it needs to correct course before reaching maximum speed--theoretically, at least.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Kaiju Navi with Rejection! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Attune Spirit Command targeting Rikka Takarada KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Lucine Azul KTS: Kaiju Navi's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Rejection, taking 2160 damage! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has engaged Kaiju Navi! <Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
"It's... a real relief." Rikka admits, as Akane points out the mobile workers. Especially with how willing the Jupitris is to just toss them out to intercept attacks.
While Rikka does her part, Akane does hers. That includes offering advice - and she has very good advice this time.
"That's a good point..." Rikka considers. There's only so much they can do against a monster that size. "If we can give everyone some room to move, things'll be a lot easier on them."
Rikka nods, then, as Kaworu says he'll leave the workers to them.
"We won't let you down. We'll be counting on ou, too." Rikka replies with a nod.
The Synapse Attack connects! ...And, the effect of it becomes clear quite quickly.
"I think it's working!" Rikka calls out. Akane's plan bears fruit, as the gaseous field begins to liquefy. Her excitement swells, as it feels like they're starting to make headway...
But then, the Jupitris detaches one of its tanks. Physics carry it forward, accelerating due to a puncture on the back.
Accelerating right toward them.
It's big. No matter how fast they are, there's no outrunning it. Rikka curses under her breath.
"Hold on, Akane." Rikka warns. They can't outrun it - but she can try to mitigate the force of the impact. Kakuseijin V2 flies backwards, trying to match speeds with the incoming tank. And then - it braces itself as the tank collides. V2 shakes, and Rikka grimaces. It's not as bad as it could have been, but getting hit with an object of that comparative size is always going to hurt.
"Are you alright?" Rikka asks with some effort. They're pasted to the front now, practically, carried along with its momentum. It takes some effort to peel themselves off. Rikka rolls her neck, and then runs across the surface of the tank before leaping off to rejoin the fray!
The plan has been decided. Kakuseijin V2 claws set in position and then, with a motion, they launch - clawing at some of the Petit MSes with one, while the other tries to hook the chain around and grapple multiple at once! She just has to keep them busy...
KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Kaiju Navi with Chain Grapple! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu fails to rush. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu partially guards Mari Makinami Illustrious's Progressive Knife Thrust, taking 1980 damage! KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has engaged Sakura Akamatsu! <Pose Tracker> TenRyuuJin Team has posed.
TenRyuuJin cracks a smile behind her faceplate as the Zero Robo's helium envelope starts to liquefy. "It's working, V2! Deploying more catalyst!" More chaff missiles corkscrew outwards, detonating around the Jupitris like bright, silvery fireworks. Microscopic nanoparticles swirl through the gas envelope, adding a bit of contrast to the baleful orange of Triple Zero.
A bright bloom nearby grabs the Brave's attention. Her eyes widen. "Zan!" she cries. A momentary distraction, and one she almost pays for as more of the Mobile Workers rush her. After what she just saw happen to Zan, she has no intention of letting them catch her. Once again, she breaks away from the main target, accelerating downwards relative to the Jupitris' deck. She weaves through a few wrenching turns, throwing the smaller Mobile Units off her tail for a few, precious seconds.
"There! All yours, Kakuseijin!" Now, they just need data. TenRyuuJin's MASER cannon locks on, tracking a single mote of nanoparticle in the storm. She fires, once, and the beam ricochets off it, towards the ship's vast hull--a simple test of whether or not the model AnRyuu and KouRyuu kitbashed together will hold.
They've already lost so much time. If the Jupitris keeps jettisoning its Mobile Workers and H3 cannisters, it can accelerate faster. The clock is ticking.
KTS: TenRyuuJin Team targets Kaiju Navi with MASER Cannon - Tracking Shot!
<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
Lina grits her teeth and pushes into the ray, holding the Mazinger Blade up to deflect some of the energy as she brings herself in closer. She lets out a hiss as her cockpit shakes, thankful for the AT Field's influence.
Once she's in close, the Ichinana twirls the blade in its hands, holding it underhanded, raising it up, and...
"REVENGE STRIKE!"
...bringing it down on the Yasude with a grunt, hoping to drive it in so deep that whoever pulls it out would be crowned the king of Jupiter.
KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Weekly Seijin with Mazinger Blade Revenge Strike! KTS: Lina Lombardi's Biorhythm activates Focus! <Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"No way... that's nothing short of incredible." Alouette echoes Dr. Liger. To Alouette, developer of GaoFighGar's Final Fusion Program, the thought that Genesic GaoGaiGar can partially fuse out and still remain fully functional is astonishing.
But all the same, her gambit to overload the Genesic Machines into temporarily dysfunctioning seems to pay off - of course, the violence Mari is able to inflict on BrokenGao certainly helps. "De rien, Mademoiselle Makinami. It was a team effort~" She replies, breezily. She only sees it for a moment, but she doesn't seem to mind - if anything, Mari's attitude is welcome at a time like this.
But as Eva-04 accelerates off, she's faced with what remains of BrokenGao. Without the Broken Magnum, it means what Genesic GaoGaiGar has to launch at her in the moment is a blast of pure Oath Over Omega, taking the form of an orange wave in her sensors. But Alouette recognizes the danger in that aura, and is quick to make a sharp maneuver to meet Genesic at another angle.
And it's then that Mikoto's transmission gets through: they've located Sakura in StraightGao's cockpit! And Chief Akamatsu's heartful plea is all she needed to hear. "You didn't even need to ask, Chief Akamatsu. We'll bring your daughter home safe and sound and we'll stop the King of Ruin at the same time!"
"If there's nothing you can do... then that's okay." Alouette starts, as she rushes the repairing Genesic GaoGaiGar, allowing Aviaire's left-taloned fist to glow a deep yellow. "Through the G-Stone, already shown you're brave... we'll make certain that you have to take the burden alone anymore." Not while Sakura's aunt and cousin are risking their life to save her."
"PLASMA HOLD!" While GaoGaiGar's clackers meet his old partner Galeon, and GaoFighGar and Evangelion-04 both charge towards Sakura in StraightGao, Gatherway Guardienne Aviaire twirls towards SpiralGao - aiming to gracefully crush that drill with thundering plasma.
If she can force Genesic to lose its balance by taking out the other leg, then...
KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Sakura Akamatsu with Plasma Hold - Graceful Grappling!
<Pose Tracker> Lamia has posed.
There's a flash of red as the Will Knife connects with Betterman Cataphract as it tries to lean back to avoid the attack, one of its mighty arms now sailing away into the void. There's no scream of pain from the creature, however, nor does it acknowledge its rather significant loss, it instead just performs a calculated counterattack as it uses its one arm to reach out and latch onto Genesic, pulling itself closer as it rams its own body into the King of Ruin's.
There's a building psychic tension as the Betterman stares into the King of Ruin's eyes, peering into it before roaring into its face. As it does, the tension peaks, and then erupts, as the horns on the monster's head elongate and shoot forward to stab Genesic GaoGaiGar in the chest.
>>PSYCHO GLORY!<<
It's a name familiar to Sakura, and unfortunately, it seems to be used against her. While the attack doesn't seem to dig deep into Genesic's armor, it doesn't have to, as the point it stabbed seems to be causing catastrophic structural failure, resulting in the King of Ruin's slow and painful disintegration.
Or at least, it should. Having fought enough Ruin Apostles, however, Lamia knows the regenerative powers granted by Triple Zero should be able to stop the effects of Psycho Finale. It will, however, result in the machine prioritizing repairs on certain parts. The most important, presumably, so he has to wonder, which will those be?
KTS: Lamia targets Sakura Akamatsu with Psycho Glory Squared! KTS: Kaiju Navi's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Rikka Takarada's Chain Grapple, taking 2250 damage! KTS: Rikka Takarada begins a Formation attack! KTS: Kaiju Navi's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to TenRyuuJin Team's MASER Cannon - Tracking Shot, taking 3520 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] TenRyuuJin Team's Adaptive Targeting activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] TenRyuuJin Team's Advanced Probability Modeling activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu rushes into the attack! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu successfully avoids Alouette Pommier's Plasma Hold - Graceful Grappling KTS: Sakura Akamatsu rushes into the attack! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu successfully avoids Lamia's Psycho Glory Squared KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Resupply Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Resupply Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
< "... damn it..." > No matter where the Dianthus turns, another segment of the chain of Battas is there to fence her in, forcing Lucine to turn another direction.
Perhaps, some part of it still senses her as Martian somehow, worthy of a personal, destructive end. That has to be it-- even when the fate of their planet is on the line... they'll always try to kill someone like her, just for existing.
< ".... No wonder you were taken in by Triple Zero... your goal was the same... programmed in by a people who wanted all of us slaughtered..." >
Lucine can't find an opening, and Gai and Lina are busy fending off Yasude's missiles.
< "You just focused on Mars first. It didn't matter who we were, what age, what race... the thing that united all of us was the reason you hated us for!!" > Her voice raises in volume, further aggravating her throat. < ".... Once I find that opening.... I'll spear you through like the beast you are!!" >
Gai's call to action couldn't have come at a better time; the ray of scarlet and white, along with Lina's spear, gives Lucine the ability to do the exact same.
< "On it!!" > Slipping out and around like a falcon in flight, the Dianthus draws its glaive and dives down, attempting to ram its blade deep into the Batta centipede!
KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Resupply Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul targets Weekly Seijin with CL0-V3 Glaive Dragoon! KTS: Weekly Seijin's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Weekly Seijin partially guards Gai Kurenai's Zettcium Beam, taking 7350 damage! KTS: Gai Kurenai completes the Formation attack! <Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Akane rocks in the cockpit as the tank rushes into them square-on. "Nnh -- I'm fine!" Akane insists, despite the fact that she's been rocked around in the cockpit a fair bit; she breathes in and out, trying to stabilize herself as the gambit works. (She's a little surprised it worked -- evidently the Synapse Attack can achieve what you want even if it requires a little indirect movement.)
Stabilizing herself, Akane lets Rikka fully focus on the mobile workers while she takes a second to assess the tactical situation again. Things aren't horrible, and their allies seem to have the other opposition fairly well in hand. Accordingly, Akane focuses on keeping Kakuseijin V2 itself stable, and enabling Rikka to do the best she can.
"I'm going to handle power management for a few seconds -- go wild, okay?" Akane suggests, making some small adjustments after that forceful impact a few moments ago.
KTS: Weekly Seijin has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Weekly Seijin has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Weekly Seijin has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Akane Shinjo targets Rikka Takarada with Dream! KTS: Akane Shinjo shares a dream with Rikka Takarada, increasing her SP! KTS: Weekly Seijin's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Weekly Seijin fails to parry Lucine Azul's CL0-V3 Glaive Dragoon, taking 4125 damage! KTS: Lucine Azul has engaged Weekly Seijin! KTS: Lucine Azul roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her vulnerable. KTS: Weekly Seijin fails to parry Lina Lombardi's Mazinger Blade Revenge Strike, taking 5400 damage! KTS: Lina Lombardi has engaged Weekly Seijin! KTS: Lina Lombardi roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her vulnerable. KTS: Weekly Seijin has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Weekly Seijin has posed.
Perhaps Lucine can sense the batta swarm-ne-space centipede's intentions. Perhaps it does, somehow, know that she is Martian, and thus she is something that must be eradicated first and foremost, before aught or anything else.
...Battas don't have DNA scanners, but the malice is certainly there. Maybe they just... remember her, a shared memory spread across their hivemind. This Is A Martian, they think.
But it cannot execute so easily on its plan. Not when blade and spear rake across its body, slicing deep into its steel flesh. Not when an Ultraman's desperate beam slams into its form, threatening to set the whole thing ablaze with power fundamentally opposed to that of Triple Zero. The enormous space centipede convulses, shrieking out a burst of meaningless machine noise, before...
...Abruptly going to try and coil around each and every one of its opponents.
...With batta-segments that are growing increasingly hot with Dawnlike power. It begins to melt through their metal frames, almost as if... as if...
"Everyone, get out of there!!" Sueo Ushiyama yells across the comms, "It's going to self-destruct!!"
KTS: Weekly Seijin targets Lucine Azul, Lina Lombardi, and Gai Kurenai with High Yield Self Destruct Mechanism. KTS: Lucine Azul blocks Weekly Seijin's High Yield Self Destruct Mechanism, taking 8520 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Weekly Seijin's AI Ruthlessness activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: Lucine Azul has been defeated! KTS: Weekly Seijin has engaged Lucine Azul! KTS: Weekly Seijin roots its unit, coming to a standstill and leaving it vulnerable. KTS: Lina Lombardi has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Gai Kurenai blocks Weekly Seijin's High Yield Self Destruct Mechanism, taking 4970 damage! KTS: Gai Kurenai has been defeated! KTS: Weekly Seijin has engaged Gai Kurenai! KTS: Weekly Seijin roots its unit, coming to a standstill and leaving it vulnerable. KTS: Lina Lombardi has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Lina Lombardi fails to rush. KTS: Lina Lombardi partially guards Weekly Seijin's High Yield Self Destruct Mechanism, taking 4260 damage! KTS: Weekly Seijin has engaged Lina Lombardi! KTS: Weekly Seijin roots its unit, coming to a standstill and leaving it vulnerable.
<Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
With the field cleared, Zan drives a rocket fist forward, into...
Well, the Jupitris does not, precisely, have a chin. It does have a nose, though; the prow of the ship and its giant orange blocks just behind. (They're always orange. This isn't a 000 thing.)
And that's where the fist hits. It shouldn't be able to turn a ship that big, but - powered by the heart of a Brave - it does indeed start to tip the ship upward, tilting it despite the Jupitris suddenly venting to try to stabilize...
...with Kaworu and Unit Beta assisting, it's having trouble doing that. It pushes, angling the entire ship. It's just a little, but a little does a lot, this far out from Earth. It will have to readjust, and that involves changing its flight path, being less accurate and slower, and the more they push it the worse it gets (for the Jupitris).
It lets out another windy groan and begins to shift, the glowing helium-3 around it churning faster and fast as it begins to reshape itself. It fires the thrusters, too. It's getting pretty fast, compared to the rest of the battle. Some of the mobile workers are starting to fall behind, especially if they get out of the energized envelope; their own industrial thrusters simply aren't enough to keep up.
For Rikka, the tank, at least, was about empty - which honestly doesn't do a LOT given its size, but it's something. And it's so big, so flat on the front, that it doesn't pierce; it's more like getting hit by a building than a javelin. It's quite possible to run across it, leap free - and go after the swarm of Mobile Workers.
There's fewer of them deployed now - if the Jupitris has more it hasn't launched them - and so at first they're easy targets for Kakuseijin. They don't have weapons! They can fight back, but only in groups, by swarming or using their tools; one Petit MS is a non-threat, even with their bubbles filled with helium-0. They can even pry them off of Tenryuujin, though they'd better get them off fast, before they explode!
Tenryuujin's MASER carves into it - not from one angle but from many. More plates of the Jupitris carve away, or are pierced; it's looking more like the framework of a ship in places than the actual ship, and when it accelerates, it shudders, as if it's not sure if it can withstand the force. Much more, and whether it actually explodes or not, it won't be able to keep accelerating - and at its *current* speed, fast as it is, it will still take a year to get to Earth, while doing so slowly enough it can be intercepted.
And so the Jupitris reaches out with all of its power.
The Kakuseijin, already engaging with the Mobile Workers, is swarmed by every one already deployed. They grab, they pinch; they strike with their primitive hands, they use welders and wrenches and cutters and all the equipment required to put a ship of this scale together. And when they've done that, they explode, detonating the energy that animates them.
Tenryuujin and Zan, Brave Robos, fight into the teeth of the gale. It draws upon its tanks, heavily; wind so hard and fierce it can catch the corner of exposed metal and begin to peel it back, bending it or simply shredding it, rasping away at every imperfection, every corner, every seam.
But it's Kaworu and Unit Beta that get the most impressive effect.
The envelope surrounding the Jupitris begins to condense, shrinking down; it's focusing on the right side of the Jupitris, forming into a sphere. Which elongates into an oval, bulging out, bending in the middle -
It's an arm.
An arm fully half the size of the Jupitris, made of helium compressed so much it feels almost solid, laced through with the 000-energy to make it real.
The arm reaches out, literally trying to grab Kaworu and Unit Beta, catching it in atmospheric pressures - and in its enormous, impossible hand made of helium and light, squeeze.
KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Rikka Takarada with Mobile Worker Squad Self-Destruct! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Kaworu Nagisa with Right Hand of Jupiter! KTS: Kaiju_Navi Changes attack to Zan and TenRyuuJin Team with Gale Ripper. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: TenRyuuJin Team has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: TenRyuuJin Team successfully Evades Kaiju Navi's Gale Ripper KTS: Zan has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Zan has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Zan has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Zan has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada blocks Kaiju Navi's Mobile Worker Squad Self-Destruct, taking 6710 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Zan blocks Kaiju Navi's Gale Ripper, taking 3550 damage! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa fails to rush. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi anchors Kaworu Nagisa, forcing him into close range. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa partially guards Kaiju Navi's Right Hand of Jupiter, taking 7920 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Kaworu Nagisa!
<Pose Tracker> Gai Kurenai has posed.
Color Timer blinking more aggressively now, Ultraman Orb observes his foe as it begins to convulse with energy.
... Self-destruct - it has to be - and the call from the Division Train confirms it. With that much energy... they're all in trouble. Gai assesses the situation, and Orb Thunder Breastar moves, to place himself between the Yasude and the Dianthus, arms crossed in front of him.
His barrier cannot hold forever, but it can at least prevent the much smaller craft from being utterly obliterated by the explosion.
... When the firestorm clears, the Ultraman has discorporated into light.
====== ======
Back in the hangar of the division train, Gai Kurenai is on his back on the gantry, smoke rising from his coat.
The Sunset Wanderer groans. This is becoming all-too-frequent.
<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akamatsu has posed.
". . . y o u c a n ' t . . ." And perhaps the desolation in Sakura's communication will ring true to Renais -- and Mikoto -- knowing what they know.
It's not, necessarily, that they can't.
Rather: she can't.
Sakura Akamatsu has no way to believe in her salvation -- let alone the universe's. She has seen the end of all things, rocking through her body and through her dissociated mind.
There is no path through oblivion but submission.
Genesic GaoGaiGar hurls itself forward, meeting GaoFighGar's Lionne Blade head-on -- and its jaws open, unhinging wide, to fire a Genesic Bolt right into GaoFighGar's face. It is not difficult to imagine the attack as an expression of blood, coughed up from such a deep bodily blow from the blade.
Even so...
... all that damage...
BrokenGao shows the futility of it all, first. Because Unit-04 carves through it, and orange light spills from its belly -- before it knits itself perfectly together. A moment later, all the damage from Lionne Blade -- and so many other efforts, besides -- begin to fade, as Triple Zero asserts its eternal stasis. One could say that it evades all its damage, regardless of how much it's taken.
(But what is the underlying logic? Perhaps Lamia would know.)
BrokenGao finally meets back with Genesic GaoGaiGar -- the shark shifting and slotting back into the greater machine, forming the Right Arm of Destruction ones more. It roars, thunderously.
GAWOO, and it will tear down the universe.
"i ' m n o t . . . a n g r y . . ."
Sakura hears Mari -- somehow, somewhen, an hour ago and ten on from now -- and it may be notable that the thing she latches onto is that infuriating human will. Is this the will of Triple Zero, crushing her emotions to nothing?
Or... is it a message of acceptance for a life spent in the Manage Machine, as her consciousness bathed in the half-light of Bolivia?
"i w a n t e d t o m e e t y o u . . . f o r r e a l . . ."
No... not just Mari. She wanted to meet Renais, a girl younger than her who is now so much older -- and Guy, the Evoluder -- Mikoto, his faithful companion -- Alouette, who escaped.
And...
... Lamia, who she's already spent so much time with.
"e v e r y o n e . . ."
Unit-04 hurtles forward, into that undying machine, and it doesn't carve Sakura loose -- but it does carve at a few weaknesses which the Betterman Cataphract has been beating into it. Some pistons are carved through; some latches, sundered.
And perhaps StraightGao would regenerate just as quickly, with Triple Zero energy pouring off of it -- if not for the way Alouette drives herself towards SpiralGao, at Genesic's left side. Much the way it had to repair Galeon, when the Lionne Blade pierced it, now it finds itself dealing with Plasma Hold's crushing grip.
And, yes -- SpiralGao's drill reforms, in that flash of awful orange.
But Alouette isn't acting alone.
Goldion's Clackers HURTLE into the right leg joints of Genesic GaoGaiGar -- and Guy, who is so familiar with GaoGaiGar, knows exactly where StraightGao connects. It means he's able to aim above, to avoid hitting StraightGao -- and Sakura -- directly.
Between Unit-04's Prog Knife and GaoGaiGar's spherical Clackers, Genesic's right leg is badly damaged. Given moments to repair, it would surely be well again -- but Lamia knows just when to act. Sakura recognises Psycho Glory -- and its disintegrating touch is the final piece to carve StraightGao from the rest of Genesic GaoGaiGar.
The Betterman is able to grasp StraightGao's cockpit -- and the precious girl inside. Lamia may well find his task, now, is to protect her --
"i t ' s c o m i n g . . . r u n a w a y . . ."
-- because the words still pass her lips, forced through them, WRENCHED, as she's torn from the machine.
"h e l l a n d h e a v e n . . ."
She doesn't want to.
She desperately, desperately does not want to.
But the courage which Genesic GaoGaiGar has stolen from her still blazes in its chest -- as its hands blaze in horrific glory, and plunge straight for its counterpart. The Right Arm of Destruction and the Left Arm of Protection are united, now, with GadgetGao's gloves protecting its hands from being stripped to nothing -- while the power without will strip EVERYTHING to nothing.
Except the pilot.
No, if they will take Sakura from her final resting place...
... Genesic GaoGaiGar will claim Guy Shishioh, and his courage will end the universe.
KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Renais Cardiff with Genesic Bolt! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Mari Makinami Illustrious with Oath Over Omega Emission Pulse! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Alouette Pommier with Oath Over Omega Emission Blast! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Lamia with Genesic Roar! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu targets Guy Shishioh with Genesic Hell & Heaven! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's Biorhythm activates Alert and Focus! KTS: Lamia's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Lamia blocks Sakura Akamatsu's Genesic Roar, taking 2280 damage! KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious retreats from the attack! KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious's Will Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage. KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious fails to evade Sakura Akamatsu's Oath Over Omega Emission Pulse, taking 2610 damage! KTS: Zan has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Zan has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Zan has activated the Trick Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Mikoto Utsugi has posed.
There's only so much Mikoto can do from here. An operator can support from afar- but they can't fight at the front lines. Maybe that's why Alouette chose to become a pilot- because it lets one do more.
But without support, a pilot can't go out to battle.
Watching the readouts for GaoGaiGar carefully, Mikoto reaches for the comms microphone. "We're all counting on you." She says, a firmness in her voice. "So please, win."
And then she sees it coming. "No... Hell and Heaven...?"
Frantically, she yells. "GUY!" There's terror in her voice. She's seen this power, the damage it can do. "Guy, don't you dare die on me! Not after we're finally together again!"
She stands, slamming her hands on her desk.
"You promised we'd live together- so live!"
KTS: Mikoto Utsugi targets Guy Shishioh with Sparkle! KTS: Mikoto Utsugi has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Guy Shishioh KTS: Mikoto Utsugi has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Guy Shishioh KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Guy Shishioh KTS: Mikoto Utsugi has activated the Foresee Spirit Command targeting Guy Shishioh KTS: Mikoto Utsugi has activated the Foresee Spirit Command targeting Guy Shishioh KTS: Mikoto Utsugi sparkles, reducing Guy Shishioh's incoming damage! KTS: Alouette Pommier fails to react to Sakura Akamatsu's Oath Over Omega Emission Blast, taking 3240 damage! KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh fails to rush. KTS: Guy Shishioh partially guards Sakura Akamatsu's Genesic Hell & Heaven, taking 5250 damage! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu has engaged Guy Shishioh! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu roots its unit, coming to a standstill and leaving it vulnerable. <Pose Tracker> Zan has posed.
The Iron Zanrailer's fist comes back, just in time as it reconnects and the gale comes at it.
This time, Zan is ready for it as the shoulders unfold into an enormous shield and his thrusters fire to push back against the gale. Weathering the very storm itself as the Iron Zanrailer stands firm. Seeing that he's managed to do something to it, Zan makes a decision and transmits a bit of data to Kaworu, Rikka, and TenRyuuJin with an indicator of 'STAY CLEAR' as he fires his jets upwards, using the storm winds to get in position in front of the Jupitris.
Magnetic energy begins to spark all over the Iron Zanrailer as it reaches to it's back, where a long handle shoots up before both hands grab the deployed weapon and bring it around to in front of the turbine on it's chest as it slides open. A bladeless sword hilt is held in both hands, with what looks like a turbine in the middle of the crossbar.
"TURBINE TORNADO CHARGE!"
The new bladeless sword starts to, as crazy as it looks, channel one of the Iron Zanrailer's most devastating weapons. Something that has stopped the Goldion Hammer as it ignites a new, shining blade that shoots upwards, almost twice as large as the Iron Zanrailer itself.
The contained energy blade is raised upwards by the Iron Zanrailer as it turns the sword so the 'edge' of the energy blade is aimed at the Jupitris-000.
"ORBITAL SWORD!"
Then the mighty train robot brings down the massive energy blade at the Jupitris-000 with what could be called authority as it attempts to slice the danger to it's home in half.
"CHESUTOOOOO!"
The blade fizzles out afterwards, and the Iron Zanrailer smokes more, but it's eyes blaze as it keeps an eye on what it did to make sure the threat is gone.
"No one threatens our home!"
KTS: Zan targets Kaiju Navi with Orbital Sword! KTS: Renais Cardiff's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Renais Cardiff blocks Sakura Akamatsu's Genesic Bolt, taking 1850 damage! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu repulses Renais Cardiff, forcing her to disengage. <Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
As the Yasude's self destruct takes out Lucine and Ultraman, the Ichinana holds on by the skin of its teeth, alarms blaring around Lina as she pants and her heart pounds in her chest.
So far.
We got so far.
And here I stand.
Alone.
The grinning face of the devil flashes in her vision. After everything, you're simply a disappointment. Brave nothing, you're an insult to cowards.
Her eyes begin to sting, her head throbs. A thin green aura, imperceptible to any with an unawakened mind, glows from around her normal suit.
She screams.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!"
And she punches. She punches and kicks the Yasude, the Mazinger blade still stuck in one of its segments, screaming and grunting as tears fall under her visor.
KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Weekly Seijin with Ichinana CQC Combo! KTS: Lina Lombardi's Biorhythm activates Strike! KTS: Weekly Seijin's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Weekly Seijin fails to react to Lina Lombardi's Ichinana CQC Combo, taking 2720 damage! KTS: Weekly Seijin has been defeated! KTS: Lina Lombardi has engaged Weekly Seijin! <Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
And the Cherub stands before God, before God, before God...
A massive arm forms from the envelope that surrounds Jupitris, and its hand of light and helium reaches to grab Unit Beta. It's simply too large to evade, and so she stands still, raising her A.T. Field to maximum at Kaworu's bidding. (It's nostalgic, Kaworu reflects. The motion, the scale... Back then, he hadn't been able to defend himself, and it was for the best. Right now, he defends himself with all he has.) It grabs, and crushes, and crushes, and crushes--the A.T. Field is gradually forced inwards--Unit Beta's limbs and armor buckle as they too are forced inward--she struggles and twitches and writhes, throwing her head back in voiceless agony--compressing harder and harder and harder--and within, Kaworu reflects that agony in sympathetic pain--but his grip never releases Unit Beta's controls, and the light of their hearts never dies.
When eventually the Jupitris's hand opens, Unit Beta is bent and leaking--but somehow just barely still functional. A message comes from Zan to 'STAY CLEAR'; it is duly noted. Rikka and the others are counting on him; he has no intent of letting them down.
"Even though I can't meet you now, I'm all right," he murmurs--not quite a statement, not quite a song, but a rhythmic chant. He lifts his face and smiles lovingly at a point far past the Jupitris--to that blue planet where it would aim its deadly payload. To the young boy who still lives there, whom he will meet again. "So even though I can't meet you now, I'd like it if you were all right, too."
Unit Beta raises the Heat Rapier, which ignites with plasmic energy. Coruscating light shimmers up and around her; her wings have guttered out, but instead that crystalline orange, so similar to and so different from the light of the Dawn, flows around her as if to form all of her into a point.
Alight with two different sorts of energy, both whorling around the champagne-colored Evangelion with shining brilliance, she plows herself into the side of the massive spaceship with the intent to burrow a hole straight across and through from the opposite direction as Zan's Orbital Sword.
The Jupitris will never reach Earth. Kaworu Nagisa will stake everything to make sure of it.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Kaiju Navi with Angel Dive!
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
< "I'm trying! I'm stuck!" > Lucine yells back, at Sueo Ushiyama.
Lucine gives it her all, but it isn't enough. The force that enabled that glaive to stab into Yasude also leaves the Dianthus grounded. A falcon that nets its prey cannot easily take to the sky; it's all or nothing.
So when the segment underneath the Dianthus glows, there's not much Lucine can do but try to disengage in vain; the Dianthus barely is barely able to get off the Yasude before the thing goes off.
< "... Liam..." >
The blast quickly overtakes the Dianthus; knocking Lucine violently against the side of her cockpit. Warning bells beep furiously, but Lucine is unable to do much about it, knowing what will come next--
The red, silver and black markings of the Ultraman's back appear in front of her at that moment, taking on the reminder of the blast onto itself. < "Ultraman!!" >
She's alive, but... did he just...? < ".... Damn it... I can't even avenge you right now..." > She's a sitting duck, right now, the Dianthus unable to do much beyond simple transmission. Given enough time, she'll likely run out of air, but that's still a ways off. Far more dangerous fates can happen.
But Lina's still there.
< ".... Lina..." > Lucine feels the tickle something that takes like metal; her helmet must have cracked. < ".... Lina, you can do it!" >
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Akane's fine, at least - and that much is a relief.
"Got it." Rikka replies with a nod. With Akane handling power management, she can act a lot more freely.
...And she's going to need that, as while focuses on the deployed Mobile Workers - they focus on her. They swarm the Kakuseijin V2. They may not be conventionally armed, but their tools are still made to cut. With a grimace Rikka turns her efforts toward fighting them off, Kakuseijin V2's claws lashing out. But, attacked from all angles, there's only so many she can deal with at once.
And then, they explode.
V2 is rocked from all sides, consumed in a massive chain explosion. Sparks flash in the smoke. Kakuseijin V2 is still for a moment, in a field of debris, and Rikka is quiet in her seat for a moment, briefly knocked out of the controls, hair splayed over her face.
...But then she reaches up, grasping them again, giving them a gentle squeeze.
"...You said to go wild, right? Then let's go wild. Akane... whip up something big for me?" Rikka says. She tosses her hair back out of her eyes - and for a moment, her expression does look wild.
"G-Set! Break Synthesize!" Rikka calls out. The claws lock into place again - both of them, this time. This time, though... she doesn't need anything special. They need to bring all the force they have to bear. Zan brings down the sword, and Kaworu's Evangelion throws her very self at it - she can't give any less. "Synapse Attack!!"
The Kakuseijin V2 surges forward and, with a lunge, sends its claws flying, crackling with raw, destructive power from the force of the synthesized mixture - to grab hold of whatever's left and destroy it.
KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Rikka Takarada targets Kaiju Navi with Dual Synapse Attack! KTS: Rikka Takarada has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Renais Cardiff KTS: Zan has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Renais Cardiff
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
"Betterman!" Guy calls out in thanks, as Cataphract seeks the precious cargo. But...that hope leaves him open.
The thoughts from Sakura reach his soul. He doesn't see the Gadget Tool disconnect, but he recognizes the mitts Genesic needs for its ultimate technique. "No," he breathes out. "RENAIS, ALOUETTE, LAMIA, GET AWAY!"
Of course. The thought hits Guy in slow motion in the fistful of heartbeats before Genesic turns itself upon him. Galeon ejected him before the Mechanoid Lion turned because he knew the kind of ultimate threat the both of them, corrupted, would become. The same applies now. The temporary partner has been taken...but Galeon's true partner is right there for the taking. Even if he has to obliterate his own past self to do it.
"GAOGAIGAR!" Goldy screams, the words dragging Guy back into the present. Mikoto's scream of fear. Renais...and Alouette, and Akane and Rikka...all these people depending on him...! "GALEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!" Guy screams, and answers the Genesic Hell and Heaven - by SLAMMING the Marg Hand into the larger robot's conjoined fists.
The Marg Hand holds up magnificently to unimaginable forces. It cracks; it struggles, light running through it as Protect and Broken energies run wild within the frame...and in the end, Guy fires the Marg Hand off at the elbow, sending the entire chassis to shatter and be destroyed by the oncoming train of Genesic Hell and Heaven. Even that's only a few seconds' reprieve. But...
"GaoGaiGar?!" Goldy yells again. "I'm still here!"
...GoldyMarg's AI block is in the hammer.
"I'm trusting you, Goldy!" Guy yells, refusing GaoGaiGar's normal right atm back on and grabbing the Goldion DoubleHammer with bare hands. Without the enormous mitt of Marg Hand, the vast scale of the DoubleHammer becomes so much more clear.
The golden light explodes around GaoGaiGar in all directions, the King of Braves filling with the light of gravity, and then he surges forward, hammer held back, and, "GALEON! I'm sorry! I'll have to play a little rough! Now...!!"
He dashes past the ruptured husk of the Marg Hand, and reaches into its core for one last miracle...
One last Mirror Nail.
"HAMMER! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL!" Guy screams, and drives the Mirror Nail into the heart of Genesic Galeon...aiming to grasp the Black Box that is Galeon's heart and soul, and rip it free.
"Hammer HEEEAVEEEEEEEEEN!" he roars, RIPPING the nail out on brutal main force. Will it even work?
If this is what it takes to save his friend...he will even destroy their bequest from Cain.
"King of Kings...Genesic GaoGaiGar...." the words tumble from his lips, and a second passes.
Until he swings the hammer down in a final, obliterating sweep, and he screams.
"TRANSFORM! INTO! LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!"
KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh targets Sakura Akamatsu with Transform Into Light!!
<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.
"I know," Renais replies to Sakura. "I told you you wouldn't want to hear it!" She starts drawing her blade out of Genesic's leg, "But it's for the you that'll look back on this as much as the you that's here now!"
Galeon 'coughs up' a bolt from its maw, and GaoFighGar brings up her hand, palm held out, yelling out, "PROTECT SHAAAADE!" The shield goes up just in time to keep it from hitting her dead-on. "Because we WILL NOT stay away! We WILL NOT fail!"
As Genesic reaches for Guy, she doesn't let up the attack. She cannot let up the attack.
"BROKEN... PHANTOOOOOM!" she screams into the void, as the Left Arm of Destruction and its halo spin to life... and she shoves it directly into Galeon's maw, the green of the forearm's thrusters drowned out in the orange light from the Legacy of Cain's mouth as it drills for Genesic's heart.
KTS: Renais Cardiff targets Sakura Akamatsu with Broken Phantom! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu fails to react to Renais Cardiff's Broken Phantom, taking 5640 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Renais Cardiff's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! <Pose Tracker> Weekly Seijin has posed.
Self-destruction. By all rights, it should mean the end for the Yasude. But it is, ultimately, a being spawned of Triple Zero-- a Zero Centipede. And with the power of Triple Zero overflowing from the King of Kings, Genesic Gaogaigar...
...The exploded frame of the Yasude begins to knit itself back together, fusing and rebuilding itself, piece by piece. But even that isn't quick enough-- and isn't the plan, ultimately, anyway.
No. One batta survived the explosion. And it's...
"Bogey incoming!" Sueo cries as a singular batta, glowing with imminently self-obliteration explosion, "It's slipped past the protect shade! Brace for impact!"
And then a Mazinger Blade slips through the gap between its head and its body.
...And the last of the Batta swarm goes silent.
...Or at least, long enough for Lina to chuck it out of range. With the Yasude in such a terrible state, GGG's remaining mobile forces can keep it pinned down, which only leaves...
"Phew, that was a good save," Sueo sighs, flashing Lina a thumbs up. "Thanks a bunch, Lombardi. I owe you lunch! Porc Auto's on his way to pick up you and Azul, but that Ultraman's gone and vanished again. Guess we owe him a favor too, huh...?"
...Praise for the hero who saved the day at the very razor's edge of defeat.
<Pose Tracker> TenRyuuJin Team has posed.
It's working. We've almost got it!
Almost...
KouRyuu and AnRyuu work in concert, finalizing the calculations. And then the Jupitris throws its attackers one curveball after another. Metal-shearing wind rips through the envelope, and pain feedback spikes through TenRyuuJin's damaged side. The fierce current starts flaying her armor apart--and if she lingers, it'll start ripping through the layers beneath, too.
The Brave drops out of the storm, trailing bits of armor. From her position beneath the Jupitris, she watches the envelope condense, and stretch, and...
"KAWORU, EVADE!"
It's already too late. Calculations of terror and sesperation tick through both of TenRyuuJin's cores. Are they going to lose another friend? Are they going to watch this one die? But the A.T. Field persists, and with it, Kaworu's courage--or maybe, the other way around.
Gh--! The envelope's out of position! The chaff's going with it, how are we--
We... we have to improvise! Big sis, how much reflective metal is on that thing?
TenRyuuJin takes a moment to size up her foe, and in that moment, the Dragon Twins reevaluate everything. This has to work. This needs to work.
This will work.
The Brave raises her MASER cannon, takes aim at a communications dish, and fires. The beam glances off, and starts to bounce. It bounces off a patch of abraded metal on the H3 tank rack. It bounces off an engine cowling. It bounces, and bounces, and bounces, and once the path is established, that's when TenRyuuJin pours the real power into it. It seems to come out of nowhere in a flash: a maze of burning-white beams, encircling the Jupitris, turning both its mass and the remains of the cloud of chaff into a million relay points for a weapon of terrifying power.
"FALL!" TenRyuuJin demands.
And yet, she's left open paths for Kakuseijin, Zan, and Kaworu--clear, visible paths to keep them out of harm's way.
KTS: TenRyuuJin Team has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: TenRyuuJin Team has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: TenRyuuJin Team has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: TenRyuuJin Team has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: TenRyuuJin Team targets Kaiju Navi with The Dance of Light and Darkness - Grand Finale!
<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
Lina can't hear Sueo. She can't hear anything. The rushing of blood in her ears is too loud. She pulls off her helmet, face drenched with sweat and tears. Her mouth moves, but no sound comes out. The words come from her mind.
I am a Brave.
Her vision begins to dim and she sways a bit in her seat. She pushed herself too much...just like Tsutsujidai last year...
Too bad I don't have a cute girl in the cockpit with me this time...those are the last words that come to mind before she slumps back and lets her subconscious take her.
KTS: Kaiju Navi's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Zan's Orbital Sword, taking 7670 damage! KTS: Zan has engaged Kaiju Navi! KTS: Zan roots its unit, coming to a standstill and leaving it vulnerable. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Angel Dive, taking 10270 damage! KTS: Kaiju Navi has been defeated! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has engaged Kaiju Navi! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa completes the Formation attack! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Rikka Takarada's Dual Synapse Attack, taking 9100 damage! KTS: Kaiju Navi has been defeated! KTS: Kaiju Navi's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to TenRyuuJin Team's The Dance of Light and Darkness - Grand Finale, taking 8320 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] TenRyuuJin Team's Adaptive Targeting activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] TenRyuuJin Team's Advanced Probability Modeling activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Kaiju Navi has been defeated! <Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
The chain explosion rattles V2, and when Rikka loses the controls for a moment, Akane starts to breathe heavily -- is she okay? If she loses Rikka after all this... it's not that she can't survive that, but -- it's scary.
In this close space -- and in this machine -- she can feel it when Rikka rights herself and squeezes the controls, though. Relief washes through her.
"Something big..." Akane's a little surprised that Rikka's pushing herself in such a way -- but she doesn't mind it. "Got it." She focuses, letting her hindbrain do the work of calculating potential options while she consciously continues managing the power.
Space-based battles have fewer opportunities to swap back and forth over and over again, but that's fine with Akane -- indeed, it plays to her strengths as an individual. (Perhaps her improving adaptability is, itself, a strength.)
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Rushing in to Plasma Hold down SpiralGao works -- but it comes as a cost, as Triple Zero energy desperately poors from the crushed Genesic Machine to bring Gatherway Guardienne Aviaire down with it, with no room to run this time as pieces of the armour start to crack.
That pressure means she can't stay engaged for too much longer - but her work has already been done. As she hoped, it's Betterman Cataphract that's able to swoop in and rescue the cockpit of StraightGao, bringing Sakura inside to safety. If Sakura wished to meet her... she feels the same way.
Even pried from that final coffin, Sakura still offers them a warning... and a chill runs down Alouette's spine. "Hell and Heaven...? No!" Her eyes widen - and in the physical space, she hears Guy screech for them to GET AWAY.
But that ultimate combination of two Powers could only be aimed at one person here... and Alouette is forced to watch as Genesic GaoGaiGar, driven by the scorn of Triple Zero, accelerates to tear the King of Braves to pieces in front of them. "GUY!!" She shouts, hoping desperately that the defense of the Marg Arm keeps it safe.
"...T-thank goodness." Alouette sighs, wiping away a single tear. GaoGaiGar is still alive. Goldymarg makes it, too. While Renais in GaoFighGar fires a Broken Phantom, it leaves the slightest opening... and Alouette rushes in to take it, raising Gatherway Guardienne Aviaire's right arm this time.
"Gadget Tool!" Alouette calls, unsheathing a hilt and filling it with Program Energy to the shape of a cutting knife much like Genesic's itself. "WILL KNIFE!" It doesn't shine as brightly as Genesic's, imbued with the power of Triple Zero - but thanks to the G-Stone of its hilt, it glow with that green aura.
She had said she was grateful to the King of Kings for a reason, after all, almost any tool 3G can call upon began here. And she aims to strike that knife true to carve through GadgetGao's thrusters... all to give Guy enough time to transform the mechanoid into light.
KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Sakura Akamatsu with Mass Production Program Will Knife! KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious targets Sakura Akamatsu with Rapidborer -Drillpocalypsing!
<Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
The Zero Robo making up the Jupitris does not respond to Kaworu, or at least not in words; the roar of wind, the rumble of its engines, the grind of its movement. It squeezes, hard, and holds Unit Beta for just a little longer.
The Jupitris' greatest attacks - its Right Arm (and the Left Arm, unseen) - have one significant downside: they need to use the atmospheric envelope around it. Which means that, for one moment, the Jupitris' barriers are down.
It is *only* a moment. As soon as the hand starts to squeeze, the arm starts to lose length, pulling Kaworu and Unit Beta towards itself as the envelope starts to spread across the Jupitris once again, giving it the energized protection.
But it's a moment people can take advantage of... and do.
Zan's sweep causes the Jupitris to bring its arm forward, finally releasing Kaworu from its grip. It needs that hand to try to catch the sword - and, for an instant, it does; the shining blade held in the mighty palm of the Jupitris, energy against energy, light on light.
It might have stayed an impasse except Kaworu and Unit Beta, freed from the mighty grip of the Jupitris, churning with energy, plows right into it from the *back* - and the impact is sufficient that the entire ship rocks with it. Zan's blade slips past the Jupitris' grasp, carving deep into the ship. It pulls its envelope close, as if to rebuild itself, or perhaps to hold itself together.
Rikka and Akane reach deeply into the envelope, grabbing ahold of the synthesis and destroying it. Helium does not burn, nor explode, nor really have any other chemical interaction - but the envelope simply comes apart, parts of it turning from the 000-infused helium-3 to not-helium-3. And while the Jupitris can manipulate its own gas, it doesn't have that ability with *any* gas; the envelope starts to come apart, misting gold and orange, venting in all directions.
Into that crippled shield and damaged ship, TenRyuuJin opens up. The maze of beams are impossible for the Jupitris to shield itself from; it doesn't have enough control and hasn't released enough gas to surround itself completely, and wherever it puts the shield there's a beam coming in from another direction. She carves into it, penetrating right through in several places, melting others.
But yet the Jupitris moves. It turns slightly, using its venting as thrust for the rotation, triggers its nuclear pulse engines -
Something inside of the great ship was damaged; one of the structural supports for the left-hand thruster bells. While not broken, under the force of acceleration, it simply gives out, crumpling; the bells tilt alarmingly. Two of the thruster nozzles fire as intended. The other two fire superheated plasma directly into the side of the first two.
And the ship explodes.
It's not a fast destruction. It's too big to be obliterated in an instant. But the nuclear thrust system goes up as plasma melts away part of its own containment; rather than the four jets of thrust, the entire back half of the Jupitris becomes a slowly expanding cloud of superheated metal. The helium-3 canisters go up moments later, each one their own bomb, their own shockwave.
The explosions send blast after blast through the envelope, scattering it away from the Jupitris. It is probably a good idea to get very away from the ship.
And when it clears - which takes time - there is nothing left of the Jupitris besides the twisted remnants of about the front third of the ship and a lot of fast-moving floating metal chunks. Much of it is flying away from Jupiter, the way the ship was headed, but it's no threat to anything, having been knocked off angle and mostly aimed 'up', above the ecliptic. By the time it gets as far in the solar system as Earth, it won't hit anything at all except perhaps some very eccentrically orbiting asteroids. Some other pieces travel in other directions, which may make leaving the battlefield somewhat exciting, but the bulk of it is either vaporized or gone, launched well away.
KTS: Sakura Akamatsu fails to react to Alouette Pommier's Mass Production Program Will Knife, taking 6240 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alouette Pommier's Vividity activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Alouette Pommier has engaged Sakura Akamatsu! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu fails to react to Mari Makinami Illustrious's Rapidborer -Drillpocalypsing, taking 9120 damage! KTS: Mari Makinami Illustrious has engaged Sakura Akamatsu! <Pose Tracker> Lamia has posed.
"So this is the power of Oath Over Omega? However, I've already seen everything I cared to. So, shall we finish this, or are you going to play favorites again?"
Rakan, within the confines of the combined Betterman, goads Lamia by calling his tendencies out. Even though he may be right , Lamia, unsurprisingly, does not care.
The battered and damaged Cataphract is once again sent tumbling back by Genesic's roar before it can even think of helping to protect GaoGaiGar. Unlike last time, however, it doesn't try to engage again, especially once it's clear that the King of Braves is still able to fight. His goal was never to destroy Genesic, just to simply stop Triple Zero.
If they've truly stopped it, however, is yet to be seen, but for now, Lamia's satisfied for the outcome that's soon to be.
"Sara... We're leaving."
In response, the fabric of space tears open behind Cataphract, swallowing the Betterman before closing back up.
KTS: Lamia targets Sakura Akamatsu with Pass! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu fails to react to Lamia's Pass, taking 0 damage! KTS: Sakura Akamatsu fails to react to Guy Shishioh's Transform Into Light!, taking 8835 damage! KTS: Guy Shishioh has engaged Sakura Akamatsu! KTS: Guy Shishioh roots his unit, coming to a standstill and leaving him vulnerable. KTS: Sakura Akamatsu's King of Kings Genesic GaoGaiGar has been disabled. <Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Through all of them working together, they deal a decisive blow to the Jupitris.
"It's coming apart... good work, everyone." Rikka says. She brightens... but it's short-lived. The ship begins to explode - it's far too soon to relax just yet. "Get away from it! Akane, you're probably better suited to this... You have control!"
She trusts her to see them to safety - but she can at least help monitor the situation as best she can from where she is.
And as she does... she turns her attention on to the fight still ongoing.
"...Bring her home." Rikka whispers quietly, adding her hopes to theirs. Right now, in Kakuseijin V2's current state, that's all she can do... but she hopes it's enough.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
It is a magnificent explosion.
From within the Jupitris, Unit Beta emerges. Zan's blade is what gave her the opening to attack; Rikka and Akane's destruction of the synthesis, and TenRyuuJin's bombardment give her space to escape. This is a good thing, considering how complete and total the following explosion is.
Battered though she may be, Unit Beta's pylons are just functional enough to process her A.T. Field back into the form of wings, and through those wings burst into flight away from the Jupitris and out of its blast range.
She, and Kaworu, may need help getting back to the Division Train afterwards, mind. But for now, all is well.
<"Well done, my friends,"> he transmits to the others, echoing Rikka's sentiments. He turns his gaze to the Genesic battle in the distance as she does too. <"Home..."> He shuts his eyes and smiles faintly. <"Let us all return home.">
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
"I have control!" Akane affirms, and immediately she's got V2 running in overdrive back away from the explosion. The machine probably couldn't carry anything or anyone like this, but at the very least, it's moving. The lead time she had with the power management situation means it's well-equipped to roll out as fast as possible, even after how aggressive they had to be with the Jupitris-class.
Akane's gaze tracks to Kaworu and Unit Beta with a little worry on her face -- but once Kaworu sends a transmission, she seems significantly more relieved.
Looking off toward Genesic, Akane trusts in the miracle of their courage. It's been a long road here, and not without losses... but Akane has to trust in them.
<Pose Tracker> TenRyuuJin Team has posed.
"Target downed, decisively." The light of exploding fuel glimmers on TenRyuuJin's armor. She doesn't stay put for long, though; a pivot to adjust her trajectory, and she rockets away, alongside Kakuseijin V2. She glances over her shoulder, trusting that she won't see anything she'll regret.
Her trust is rewarded when Unit Beta comes soaring out. They're safe. They're all safe. "Home," TenRyuuJin says. "We're so close. Come on, Guy...!" Everyone believed in him once, and it helped save the universe. It can happen again.
<Pose Tracker> Zan has posed.
After the massive sword swing, and having to go through an arm made of... gas to do it. Zan's cringing a bit at the various systems damages he is picking up inside. But he's a Brave.
The sword hilt is returned to his back as he turns to look towards the battle with the King of Ruin.
Knowing that it isn't his fight, not in the state he's in, the Brave Train guides himself back towards the Division Train.
"Come on, boss. You got this." He says as he watches what is happening. In a way, it's the final battle. It's where they need to be. He notices Kaworu's plight before turning and heading that way to help Unit Beta towards the Division Train.
"I got you, sempai. I don't think any of us are up to staying out here." Zan says towards Kaworu.
<Pose Tracker> Sakura Akamatsu has posed.
Long live the King.
Genesic GaoGaiGar reaches for Guy, and GaoGaiGar reaches for Geleon. This, alone, would be a titanic meeting -- the hammer of Guy's Heaven & Hell meeting the gauntlet of Geleon's -- a destructive clash so immense, it might birth or slay the universe.
But though he, like Sakura, cries for his friends and family to save themselves -- he is not alone.
Chief Akamatsu's voice comes in, over the Division Train. He's kept his composure so well, seeing everyone's devotion to his daughter -- and Mikoto and the others have kept him from transmitting his demands that they save the universe instead of his daughter, knowing those weren't his true feelings.
These, on the other hand, are.
"Damnit... please... Betterman, don't let my Sakura be hurt! Hell & Heaven clashing against Hell & Heaven, after everyone got her free -- I can't stand it! PLEASE! SAVE HER!"
Is Lamia playing favourites? The relieved sobbing of Chief Akamatsu, seeing the fabric of space torn asunder, doesn't much care. He'll worry about where his baby girl went later -- right now, she's not here, the most terrifying place to be.
Everyone else is. And as Renais says: they won't stay away.
Broken Phantom lights GaoFighGar with triumphantly green light, as Renais feeds her fist to Genesic GaoGaiGar, deep into the heart of Galeon. She knows the pain of Triple Zero, and it's her courage to fight which will stop the world from knowing it with her.
And today, Sakura did meet Mari -- and saw her own courage for herself. The courage of an Evangelion pilot... isn't it something special? It drills into the shoulders of Genesic GaoGaiGar, and it finds itself unable to move. It must commit, just as Mari commits, and commits, and commits.
(Commiting so much.)
Alouette has her own copy of the Will Knife, meanwhile -- and she moves in from behind, to thrust it into GadgetGao's thrusters. She sees her opening, and she slips in, and with her green and blazing blade does she carve through anything -- even the Triple Zero which pours from the King of Kings. Her determination blazes, too.
From the front, from above, and from the back -- when Genesic GaoGaiGar impacts with GaoGaiGar, it is not unhindered. No: it is surrounded. Pinned.
The blazing heart of Triple Zero...
The Oath Over Omega...
This unfathomable power at the seat of the universe meets GaoGaiGar at the nexus of so many bonds, as Mikoto's will to see Guy survive shines a light across them all. It's their 'hope for tomorrow'.
And it detonates.
Genesic GaoGaiGar is reduced to light where GaoGaiGar's fists plunge into it -- and the great machine, finally, falls. Held in GaoGaiGar's hands, safe and saved, is Galeon's black box -- as that machine crumbles, all its courage and will torn from it.
But, perhaps, not... irreparably.
Hell & Heaven isn't in the business of killing a machine's beating heart.
<Pose Tracker> Lamia has posed.
"I made mention of favorites, but this is getting absurd."
Rakan frowns incredibly deeply, more so than at Lamia's predictable retreat, at a their sudden increase in numbers. An unwelcome guest, as far as he's concerned, though most of the other Somnium seem indifferent, while a few show concern.
"... I assumed Lamia wanted this..."
Sara, yet another Somnium and seeming controller of the portals, chimes in, causing Rakan to grumble in annoyance, and Lamia to continue saying nothing, instead just glancing off to the side for a bit. He does eventually speak up, with actions rather than words, as he walks up to Sara to place an affirming hand on her shoulder, before simply walking away into the void they are all currently inhabiting.
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
The final Mirror Nail dissolves as the last of the Marg Hand's circuits die. Guy releases the DoubleHammer, and holds in the Hand of Protection...Galeon's black box. He knows Galeon's capabilities. Even without Triple Zero, he can recover from this. Maybe it takes a long time, but...
Before anything else, Guy Fusions Out from GaoGaiGar, and calls, "Ikumi! It's time!"
It's time...to heal his partner. At last...at last, it's over.