Someone's calling out to me right now
The weathervane is showing me the way
I sat down upon this hill along the way
And murmured about how nice it'd be to fly
I wanna fly away!
To seek the answer
I realized that even mistakes
And regret can become your wings
Feel the wind inside your body
And now spread your arms out wide
Straight into the sun
That's where I'm gonna fly right now
Escape the night of anguish
I'll fly further than I have
I can fly away! I can fly away!
I'm sure I'd been looking at her for all this time.
I'm sure I'd been thinking about her for all this time.
But I realized this was the first time...
that I was taking a serious, good look at Eureka.
No, maybe it was only that I hadn't really realized it yet.
Maybe it was all because I didn't realize anything...
until Eureka got hurt this badly.
Eureka...
What awaited us once we got back to the Gekko...
was a trip to the detention cell.
Running away, going AWOL...
Punishment for all of that was what the leader of Gekkostate put upon us.
But why did he put the kids in here with us...
when they had nothing at all to do with this?
What in the world is Holland thinking?
Sorry I'm late.
There were things to prepare other than your meals.
Things to prepare?
EPISODE 27 HELTER SKELTER
I'm sorry, but you're gonna have to live off of this for a while.
And make sure everyone puts these on.
I made sure there was one for each of you.
But, Brother, this is...
Yeah. Bulletproof vests.
There are gas masks in there, too.
Make sure to read the instructions.
W-Wait a minute, Brother! What's going on here?!
One more thing. Leader said you should have this.
Eureka knows how to use it.
Brother...
I don't know what the heck is going on here myself.
Everyone's suddenly all uptight.
In any case, you guys should just eat and sleep.
If something happens, we'll let you know as soon as possible.
For now, stay at Eureka's side.
She was really lonely, you know that?
Sweep, complete. Surrounding airspace reads clear.
It looks like the state forces aren't pursuing us.
Every time this happens, we end up being saved...
by the communications mishaps of the state army, huh?
And those two in the Nirvash.
Where's Holland?
Now it's our turn to protect those two.
From the bloodstained world, at the risk of our lives.
Can you put that aside? It's getting in the way of my checkup.
Sure.
"No plans set for tectonic shifts occurring across the globe."
It's so full of stories that drag me down.
"No plans set for tectonic shifts occurring across the globe." With these large tectonic shifts happening more frequently all over the world,
"Federation Council at its limit, some say!" With these large tectonic shifts happening more frequently all over the world,
more and more people want a new regime.
And the way they treated the rural areas and central areas separately...
has been completely torn up.
At times like this, the weak masses want a leader...
who has a strong will, even if it's only an illusion...
A hero.
I don't quite follow you. Example, please?
Like Holland?
Isn't something wrong about that?
You're right. It just doesn't ring a bell.
Charles Beams...
Dewey Novac...
Adroc Thurston.
It's been about 60 years since the towers began governing themselves.
Every simmering problem that's built up is boiling over now.
It's a reflection of the times.
People feel trapped and want someone to break through that.
And a leader like that would...
Expose hidden enemies to fool the eyes of the masses.
The Coralian. And the Vodarac.
We fear what we don't know.
The foundations of that have already been woven in.
Into this world...
I'm starting to feel pinched from the bottom of my stomach.
I haven't had that feeling in a while.
"The tension one feels right before death..."
"is the feeling of being alive."
An excerpt from an interview right before...
the 67th International Lift Competition finals.
Your life doesn't shine bright unless you take it to the limit.
The former leaders of SOF squadrons 1 and 2, head-to-head!
This is the perfect stage to settle the final score.
At this point, I'll say that I'm grateful...
that Dewey gave us this chance.
I've turned my eyes away as much as I could turn them.
I've run away as much as I could possibly run.
But, in the end...
this is the only thing left for me.
"Vodarac radicals create weapon of mass destruction: Code name: 'Coralian'?!" They're leaking information about the Coralian, huh?
"Frequent tectonic shifts and their aftermath." "Shadows of the weapon behind frequent tectonic shifts occurring in the cities." We've gotten into a full-on intelligence war.
Isn't it about time we call it quits on ray=out?
Looks like it.
This isn't a level of media that...
we can counter with a poor man's self-published 'zine.
I thought we'd be able to play around a little bit more.
Listen, it's no longer time for you all to be playing around!
However...
Even without ray=out, I will continue to document your actions.
That's the line I draw for myself to stay here,
as someone who doesn't lend a hand in your battles.
Do as you like. I won't guarantee your survival.
That was my plan from the outset. I'll decide for myself...
when it's time for me to pull out from this case.
We've almost arrived. One last confirmation.
If you're going to pull back, now's the time.
All things considered, we have no responsibility to go this far.
How about you?
No backup, a mission that the two of us are forcing forward.
Why tag along on such a reckless mission and not try to stop me?
I don't care about Dewey or Holland.
Just once more, I want to see that boy.
Renton, huh?
What will you do when you see him? Adopt him as your son?
He doesn't know anything. We still have time left.
To save him from that monster!
Ray, what was the SOF 2nd Squadron's seventh regulation?!
"Never hesitate in the face of the impossible."
Takes you back, doesn't it?
Worst case scenario, I'll take both of them down.
Before any more women like me are brought into this world.
And you? What's regulation number five?
What was it?
"Leave no traces of your presence behind."
I'm counting on you, partner.
Roger that, chief.
But still, what I don't understand...
is why things ended up so complicated all of a sudden.
Hey, Jobs, are you listening?
Yes.
Come on.
I'm sorry, I was lost in thought.
How I see it is slightly different.
This world showed its complexity from the very start.
However, I think all of this is the result of someone...
making us pretend we didn't see what we actually saw.
That is, from what you refer to as all of the "complicated things."
Oh, I kinda get what you're saying.
It's tiresome for everyone.
However... There are situations that won't allow such things to happen.
You eventually have to pay the debt you've built up.
Soon.
I'm kinda scared by that.
And what totally uncharacteristic topic are you two discussing?
Don't surprise me like that!
I mean, I asked Doggie, but all he says...
is that he doesn't know, and also about Eureka.
What about the security checks?
They're done!
Then hurry up and go rest.
I can't get to sleep lately.
Each member should stand by in their quarters.
Tell that to Doggie, too.
You rest when you're able to.
Sure.
Bye, Jobs.
Good night, Gidget.
Well?
Onboard check is complete.
Hey, Holland. If nothing happens after all of this, I'll crack up.
You should know better. Didn't Intelligence teach you that?
If I were him, I'd rush in without a break.
Even if I was all by myself...
That's what the SOF was all about.
It's time.
Ahead, bearing to port! Small compac reaction confirmed beyond the cloud bank.
It's a small ship!
Ken-Goh!
Locking on! Range...
No time!
Evasive action, full throttle!
Ship hull plates, destroyed! Actual damage, unknown!
Emergency lockdown, all bulkheads!
Upper hatch #7, breeched!
Intruders?!
Intruder alert! All hands, prepare for hand-to-hand combat!
Renton! Eureka!
Put on the emergency masks! The kids, too!
And stay where you are!
What in the world has started now?
A Kamikaze attack?
No, that's not a possibility.
True. They pretended to blow up right in front of the enemy ship...
and scattered the explosives that they had prepared.
They'd landed on the ship's hull before all of this,
and used the chaos as cover to blow open the hatch and enter the Gekko.
It was all a calculated move.
In any case, things are turning out just like Holland expected.
Jobs!
Confirmed. All controls have shifted to the sub-bridge.
Are you changing the codes for the cracking trap every second?
Yeah. If you're that worried, crawl through the ducts and hurry over here.
Intruders detected in the engine control room!
Here they come...
Completely empty.
And the power's all out in here.
I see. So, he was planning on us showing up.
Good call, Holland! But things are just getting started!
This is a party held by the leader of the SOF First Squadron!
I'll make sure to have a good time!
This is...
the infamous...
Charles Beams.
Jobs!
After you confirm closure of the duct valves,
arm the anti-personnel lasers we set up all over the ship.
Ray will be coming.
Anti-personnel lasers.
Nothing less from Holland. He anticipated this much, huh?
Are you all right, Eureka?
I'm all right. What about you, Renton?
I'm...
Uneasy?
Of course.
I'm fine.
Because I'm here with you, Renton.
I feel that I can overcome anything when I'm with you, Renton.
The intruders?
The anti-personnel lasers on the bridge foundation showed a response.
It looks like they've split into two forces after all.
And Holland?
Silent since the conversation in the hangar six minutes ago.
It's all right. There still are no signs of battle.
And Talho?
She's currently moving through central duct #2.
She should reach where Renton and the others in three minutes.
Everything up until now is going according to plan.
The OS hasn't been rewritten after all.
Version 10, the same as on the Swan.
It looks like Holland is having a tough time.
But that fact will serve as your Achilles Heel!
What's wrong?!
Wait! I'll get things back up right now!
To think a trap that changes second by second would be broken so easily...
We're up against someone as skilled as the Wizards.
It must be Ray.
Shutting down all power other than what's needed for flight.
Nothing less from my partner, I'd say.
Hey, Holland!
Why don't you quit hiding and come out here?
Too cheap a shot for him.
His skills haven't gone down, have they?
"Central Catapult - No unauthorized personnel" I see. So that's where the showdown will take place.
He doesn't show up on the night-vision scope?
Optical camouflage... No, stealth paint?!
What the hell is this?
I see. So that's what it really meant after all...
Holland...
Just as I thought.
Perception.
He can't see me.
I'm starting to be reminded of what this smell is about.
Miss Talho.
Everyone is all right?
We're going to head towards the sub-bridge through the ducts now.
Miss Talho, what's going on?!
Explanations later!
The enemy infiltration is much quicker than we imagined!
Soon, this area will also be...
Freeze.
It's been a while, Ray.
Talho Yuki from Intelligence, huh?
The office-working spy who was dating her demoted boss...
Now, all of you inside, raise your hands and come out.
Miss Ray!
You were able to keep your promise.
Why are kids...
Mama...
Mama?
Mama?! Why are you...
Talho, any more tricks and I'll kill your dear princess!
Stop it!
Renton! Drop the gun!
I won't! I will not drop it!
Renton, you don't understand anything!
What that thing they call "mama" sitting there really is!
Miss Ray!
I mean it.
So, please, I'm begging you... Miss Ray!
All right! Controls are back up!
It's been released.
You've gathered up a good crew.
Charles!
It's moving autonomously?!
I don't believe this!
That's impossible...
Are you recording?
Gotcha!
Why did it start moving?
What is it responding to?!
You understand?
You realize it's useless to resist, right?
So, please, stay quiet!
Holland! We've captured Ray!
Charles...
You're soft!
Your soft-heartedness is the reason for your defeat...
You should have already realized it.
I knew it from the moment I met him.
The one who inherited the qualifications to be the King.
The one who will inherit the Golden Bough left behind by the last King...
Holland. It's a real shame that it wasn't you...
Holland!
Just now... I killed Charles Beams.
I see.
Let me see him.
I won't accept it... Her, a mother?!
I will never accept it...
A body that was alive until a few moments ago.
It was the first time in my life that I saw a corpse of someone I'd known.
That was Charles.
But, at the time, I couldn't accept the death that lay before my eyes.
And I could feel nothing of it with my heart.
Ray, I'm sorry, but I can't leave the two of you alone.
At least I can kiss him goodbye, right?
All right.
Renton! Make sure to watch closely!
This is the end of the former SOF!
How the path ends for those who bear sin!
And the responsibility of those that have won their freedom!
Charles, have you had enough?
Thank you, Charles.
I love you.
She wouldn't... Talho!
Renton! Get down!
Miss Ray?
Ray had set a time-bomb on Charles' corpse...
and used the explosion as a diversion to escape from the Gekko.
I didn't understand why Ray would do something like that,
and to the very end, Holland never explained to me what it all meant.
But, at the time, I was relieved that Ray was able to escape.
I didn't realize that this battle was not truly over.
TO BE CONTINUED
To be continued.
Na Na Na why so why?
Try to imagine
Just you like
The things you like
There's not just one
Door that you've opened up
Is there an answer there or not?
I don't know. I don't know right now.
We're always lost
Adults saying "You're just a child"
But it's fun trying to work it out
Maybe you won't work it soon
It's all never ending, oh my!
Don't give up till you've solved it!
And even if you mess it up
Just say it's all "all right!"
Swim in the sea of imagination with all your might
Na Na Na why so why?
Try to imagine
Just you like
The things you like
There's not just one
Tomorrow known only to you
A woman robbed of her future, and a man protecting the future.
What awaits them at the end of their battle?
NEXT EPISODE MEMENTO MORI Next Episode: "Memento Mori."