Part 47: Mission 28 - Tragedy Beneath the Moonlight - MXP Epilogue
This is the epilogue of mission 28 for MXP. If you're on the PS2 version, follow the other one because there'll be significant differences from here on out.
Domon goes after Harry, who relates that the Garmraid’s cockpit was recovered. Aqua’s injured but nothing life-threatening… As for Hugo, however, his seat was torn right off the unit. They searched the area after the battle was over but found nothing.
Domon asks if he’s suggesting Hugo’s dead but Harry doesn’t quite want to say that. Saburouta understands: we shouldn’t assume that before we know for sure. Besides, Harry and everyone else don’t believe he’s dead. We saved Aqua, so he might also be fine, Ryouma thinks.
It’s still too early to give up hope considering the lack of proof.
: U-Urk…
: Aqua… you’re awake.: Rain… I’m…: Your cockpit block was ejected after the battle and we recovered it.: What about Hugo…? Is he alright?: H-He…
: …Aqua, I want you to stay calm and listen. We… couldn’t recover him.
: …!!
: We searched the area around the Garmraid’s explosion but were unable to find Hugo.: N-No…!: Aqua...: A-Aah…! It... It was my fault...! I gave the Medius the opening it needed…!: Aqua, calm down…!: I-I… I got Hugo…!: Don’t blame yourself, Aqua… No one could have expected the Medius Locus to do what it did…: B-But, if I’d been a better support, Hugo…!: … You need to accept reality for what it is. Wallowing on past mistakes or “what ifs” won’t do anything.: …!!: Lt. Hugo Medio has been marked as MIA… The federal troops will continue searching for him.*Ruri leaves.*
: Captain…: …: She didn’t need to say it like that…: What she meant is that we’re not sure that Hugo’s dead yet. That’s why she classified him as simply missing in action.: Ah…: Everyone else is thinking the same thing as her.: …: Aqua, let us handle the rest. Your priority now should be getting some rest.: …: Alright?: OK…: …Let’s go, Rain.: Huh? But…: (We should give her some time alone.): (Alright…)*Off they go.*
: Kch…: I’m… I’m so sorry, Hugo…: None of this… None of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t lost my grip over Ms. Mitte…!
: …And that’s the end of Elde Mitte’s report.
: Taking precautions was, indeed, the right move.: Hm. Initial treatments are already being administered aboard the shuttle but…: I’ll handle the repairs personally. Make sure everything is prepared.: I will, but are you truly fine with what happened to the Garmraid and its TE Engine?: It matters not – the new model’s already finished.: But the Medius Locus…: Is showing some very interesting results. We’ll keep observing them for a while.: Understood…: Oh, and send that Dragoon we have to Aqua. I’d rather she get used to piloting humanoid mobile weapons before the new model’s delivered.: Yes, sir. I’ll see to it right away.
Back in Tekkoryu Castle, Yura isn’t happy. Why the hell did Lurahn keep quiet when he found out that Miku wasn’t human?! The old man can only apologize but that’s not worth much after they even lost Ritsu.
Well, that does it for Yura – no more waiting around. He proclaims the immediate start of the final phase of the Hades Project, the entire planet transformed into the Underworld. Only those chosen by the Tekkoryu will survive and she’ll lead them as Hades!
She orders Saiga, Rockfell and Gisou to lay waste to Japan: that country will be the starting point of the Project. After they salute and head out, Lurahn meekly asks if this is truly what Yura desires. He doesn’t think it is.
Yura yells at him to stop that nonsense – she was brought into this world precisely for the Hades Project! Lurahn watches on as Yura momentarily reels back before shooing him away.
After he leaves, she stands ill at ease: “What happened…? The destruction of this world is what I desire… yet, when I proclaimed it, my heart ached… as though it is not truly me who desires it. Why? Oh, Taiha… Could you make sense of this…?”
Oki’s trying to come to grips with the fact that he’s talking to Masaki Kihara but what Miku wants to know is what happened to Masato. Masaki figures a puppet wouldn’t understand even if he explained but the gist is that he is Masaki, within Masato. Rather, no, Masato isn’t even here anymore.
Masaki built the Zeorymer so that he, himself, could claim the throne of Hades but he anticipated the possibility that he could lose his life along the way.
Thus, he created a clone of himself and registered that zygote as the Zeorymer’s pilot. And as that clone was made, he also left a hidden program coded into his DNA: when the clone found his way to the Zeorymer’s cockpit, his original personality would be recovered.
And as his name tag changes, he proclaims: “I am Masaki Kihara.”