Part 76: Mission 43 - Zero or Infinity - Part 1
We open up in Zero’s penthouse, where Subaru asks where he’d run off to. Zero says he's been out looking for clues about the seventh Data Weapon – something neither the Spiral Castle nor Subaru’s “brother” managed to do. What a troublesome thing to find. At least Zero’s already located the Ogre.
He’s done so via the Gulfer Chips. Though the originals are long gone, regular Gurumei, Witter and Absolute are still active and their memory backup contained much intel regarding all they found about the Dendoh’s base.
But what happens now? Well, their job is already done so Zero moves to dispose of them.
The Chips freak out a beg mercy, though Zero says there’s no more any use in their existence. Subaru stops him, however, saying that they ARE still Gulfer so they should be able to find other ways to use the three.
Zero won’t question Subaru’s command and the chips are beside themselves with gratitude for… erm, what’s his name? Subaru. Yes, they’ll serve him for their whole lives!
Well, Zero believes he has something they can do.
Back at GEAR, Vega relates to Altair that they couldn’t find any clues related to the seventh Data Weapon with the Dendoh – even with Eris coordinating with Meteor. Saionji remembers that prophecy that whoever has all Data Weapons will rule the universe and figures the seventh is the final key to make it happen.
Mind, Vega doesn’t know if that’s actually true… though the Gulfer certainly think so, meaning it’s certain they’ll attack Earth again. Altair also thinks so, knowing that even if the Gulfer can’t actually pilot the GEARs, they’ll do everything in their power to keep us from claiming the last Data Weapon. It’ll be at the center of this conflict.
Still, Vega tells Altair to focus on healing for now while we work on finding the thing. He does tell her to be careful: if the Gulfer’ll come here again, it’s all but certain the Emperor’s right-hand man will be leading them.
Eris is a bit miffed that they didn’t find any clues: both the Dendoh and even Altair’s own white Gear Commander didn’t have anything that stood out.
Kirakuni and Aiko have taken off to rest but Eris wants to take another look over the data they studied once Vega’s back to help with Meteor. Well, Ginga first wants to run off and grab something to eat as he’s very hungry (he always is, Hokuto sighs).
Sneaking around, the Gulfer have already infiltrated the place with the Chips’ collected data and Absolute has no issues opening a nearby lockbox. A Gear Commander’s inside, which belongs to Subaru and his brother, the “late” Altair.
That’s not all Zero’s here to obtain, however, and he stops the Chips from leaving. There’s something else for them to do and Gurumei doesn’t like the sound of that.
A nondescript amount of time later, the kids are back from their meal… and are immediately intercepted by the Chips! Absolute confirms that they’re the Dendoh’s pilots and Eris ask them to identify themselves. Listen and be awed-jan! They are Master Subaru’s three Generals-dawa! And they’ll destroy anyone who opposes him or the Gulfer-bari!
The hell’s up with this weird accent, Ginga gapes, but Hokuto tells him to forget that – these are Gulfer! They jump the kids and are immediately slapped away by Ginga’s Kenpo. The runt’s really strong! Time to book it!
Hokuto and Ginga run in pursuit and tell Eris to warn Shibuya.
Mission 43 – Zero or Infinity?
The Chip are really quick on their feet and Ginga’s already lost them. Hokuto wants to find them quick as can be – he’s got a bad feeling. Stop talking like Maria! What’ll they do if something actually happens?
Still, Hokuto says they both knew their victory over the Spiral Castle didn’t mean the end of the Gulfer, so it’s possible they’ll follow in the Hundred Demons’ example and try to capitalize on the current uneasy state of things.
The Chips are expecting Subaru to make his entrance any time now… and there here he comes! Meteor sounds the alarm as he detects various objects on rapid approach, identifying them as a mixed Gulfer and Gyandolar force. Inoue figures the latter group are coming after the Meteor Cube, so Shibuya sounds the alarm and orders the city’s populace evacuated to shelters.
Aiko’s already here and on it, right on time as he enemy’s arrive.
Subaru surveys the city, where the Dendoh and Ogre are located, and the Chips scramble to deliver the white Gear Commander to him. Devil Saturn isn’t too keen on babysitting this kid and baldy, though Deondra tells him to shush. These are direct orders from Gades, so he’ll have to endure until they grab the Meteor Cube.
Moreover, this planet seems to be on its way to being as problematic as Cronos, so Deondra wants to wrap things up with us right now if possible. Saturn agrees, not wanting to get dragged into a certain “swirly space” again.
Ginga’s surprised to see that the Gulfer and Gyandolar are working together again – all to get the remaining Meteor Cube, Hokuto figures. Looks like they finally figured out where it was, though, honestly, Hokuto figures it’s not difficult to put two and two together.
The Chips reach Subaru and pass him the Gear Commander. As they’re ordered to pull back, Subaru figures that with gadget in hand, the Ogre will be his.
In come Vega, Kirakuni and Eris, and she tells the kids to go and call the Dendoh and Ogre over right now. The Dendoh immediately responds and hops over to Ginga… but not the Ogre. It’s not activating for whatever reason. Subaru proclaims himself to be the Ogre’s proper heir and, using the Gear Commander, summons it out of GEAR.
But the thing stops right outside, simply floating midair. Subaru and Hokuto both call out to it but it responds to neither of them. Ginga doesn’t get what’s going on but Inoue figures it out: there are two signals trying to access the Ogre’s guidance systems simultaneously.
Shibuya immediately thinks of the white Gear Commander but the thing is supposed to be locked safely inside HQ, no? Meteor isn’t detecting anything off in the area where it’s stored. Upon Vega’s request, Eris triangulates the origin of the other accessing signal and tags the Knight unit up ahead.
Subaru calls out to the Ogre again – it belongs to him – and the bot inches his way a bit before stopping again. It falls on Ginga to lead the way and grab the thing, with Deondra commanding the Gyandolar to run interference.
GADESSIR!!
Vega’s back in her bike so make sure you equip her with a Minovsky Craft again if you want her to have a post-movement weapon against the flying Gulfer.
It’s starting to fall behind in power, though.
Ginga’s got no such problems.
Enemy Phase!
Most mooks hang back.
Player Phase!
: Aiko, what’s the status on the Ogre?!
: Still immobile!
: Come, Ogre! 
: Ogre! Over here!*…*
: This isn’t good! If we don’t do something, the Ogre’ll lose all its control balance and keel over!
: Huh?!: But if we can find a way to get you aboard… you could cut the other access via a command install…!: A way to…! Oh, I got it!!: File Load: Unicorn Drill!!
: …: Unicorn, give me a ride over to the Ogre!
: Hokuto?!
: Is he?!
: Ogre! Listen to me!!: Don’t, Ogre! You belong to me! Ignore him!*…*
: Ogre! OGRE!!
: Wh-What?!: Ogre…!: You refuse to listen to me, Ogre?!
: Now, Hokuto! Get in the cockpit!: Right! : Command install, Hokuto! Hurry!
: Command! INSTAAAAALL!*Twooeeep!*
: He did it!
: The Ogre’s second access has been cancelled!
: Hokuto!
: Sorry for making you worry like that, Ginga! We’re all right now!
: Oh, dear… The Ogre went and picked that one, kid. What’re you gonna do?: Urk…! What is the meaning of this?! Did Zero lie to me?!
: Weel. Ah guess yer jist nae the Ogre’s chosen pilot. It’s that wee loon.: You shut up!: Oi, whit yer raging at me fur? That’s jist hoo it is, lad.: Silence! You don’t know the first thing about me!: ‘Ere’s a lesson for ye, lad. If ye want something, ye have tae TAKE it.: !: That’s whit it means tae be a man. And tae be EVIL! Ye ken?: …I don’t need a lecture…!: The Ogre is mine… and I won’t let him have it!
Following Devil Saturn’s lessons in EVIL parenting, we’re back to work.
Eris has fallen a wee bit behind, so I’ll try catching her up today.
Don’t let the Ogre sit where it is because we wanna try and draw some mooks over. It’ll speed up the battle.
Enemy Phase!
Subaru closes in, wasting his time on Vega. Same goes for Deondra and Saturn.
The Gyandolar mooks are keeping back.
Player Phase!
Knight Legacy (Subaru)
Pilot Skills:
- Support Attack L2
Aay, it’s our old angry boy and now he’s an angry ALIEN boy. Subaru looks way too young to have Suzumura’s yelling come out of his mouth, though.
As a pilot, Subaru’s got good enough stats but nothing major – his unit is painfully average, too, and lacks stopping power or any significant tricks.
Dealing enough damage to Subaru will progress the story but, first, I want to toy with him.
: Hey, you! How did you call the Ogre?!
: With the white Gear Commander, obviously.: Don’t you lie to me – that thing’s at GEAR HQ! Yours is a fake, I bet!: Then can you explain how I was able to draw the Ogre over?
: …! N-No way, that’s the real one…?!
Now here’s something I had absolutely no idea about when I played this years ago:
: The Knight Ogre belongs to me, son of the Gulfer Emperor! I won’t let a worm like you keep it!
: You are the son of the Gulfer Emperor?!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQDRWnIihEY
The Ogre uses the Kiba Breaker, not Kiba Striker, so he gets a unique melee weapon and FA!
Also, don’t worry about going all out with Hokuto.
: Should be any second now…: Aye! The main event’s aboot tae stairt!
: Wh-What the?!*Alarm!*
: Bulkheads #9 and #23 have been destroyed. Cause unknown.: “Destroyed”?!
: Alert. Alert. Explosions detected in the underground hangar. Here are intruders within HQ. : Intruders?!: Oh, crap!: So it wasn’t just those three who snuck in?!: Ignoring this could cost us dearly! I’m going in there – you handle things up top!*Vega runs down the amusement park crater and into HQ.*
: Yow, look at ‘er go. Bit it’s awready tae late.
: Damn it, the Gyandolar were just decoys?!
: But it should be impossible to plant so many explosives around HQ… how did Meteor not detect any of that?!: You’re right…! And it’d take a lot to destroy Meteor’s network… So how…?!: Meteor, did something happen to you?!: …: M-Meteor…?!
: Hmhmhm… calling out to him will not do you any good.: Who are you?!
: My name is Zero… a pleasure to make your acquaintance.: A man… no, he’s a Gulfer!: Indeed, I am.: What did you do to Meteor?!: Hah… You ought to know the answer to that question, Princess Vega. It is the same as when we, the Gulfer, conquered Arktos.: No… you made him hibernate?!: I tried… though it wasn’t as effective the second time. I could only deactivate some of his functionalities.: Then the white Gear Commander really was!: Taken by me, yes. It is already in our hands.: B-But…!: Now, I’m afraid I haven’t the Spiral Castle’s fancy for taking a roundabout approach to things. I much rather take care of business in a single stroke.: Sound the order to evacuate! All non-essential personnel is to get out of HQ!: Y-Yes, sir!: Any last words before—*Sword clash!*
: Hrm?!: Zero…!!: Oh… It is you, Altair.
: It’s been a long while. Though it is the first time we’ve seen each other looking like this.: Indeed. The last time, you were piloting the Ogre.: Brother!!
: Vega, rejoin Hokuto and Ginga and take the white Gear Commander back from them!: What about you?!: I’ll stay here and buy the time everyone needs to flee!: Hm, I’m afraid that is not possible. You see, I have made a promise to them.: What?!
: Urk, more groups?!
: Heheheh… the time has finally come…! Lord Gades, please observe! I shall now claim the Meteor Cube – the New Hyribead – as our own!!: Oh, no! He’s going for Meteor’s core!
: Go help them down there, Ginga! I’ll handle the enemies here!: OK!: No, I don’t think so.
: We’re surrounded!
: Gck! Grrr! These things—…!!: Lemme go! Let! Me! Go!!
: Hokuto! Ginga!: Go on, Mr. Ashura… your treasure awaits.: Pfeh! Like I need your permission!
: Aah! The command center partition!: Th-They’re coming in here!: I will not allow it!*Sword Clash!*
: Hrm?!: Meteor’s chamber is out of your reach, I’m afraid.: Blast you, Zero…!: And if you are considering laying down your life to destroy me, I’ll warn you that you would fail, Altair.: Really now? I feel like I might actually succeed.: However strong your feelings may be, humans remain ever fragile.
: …! That’s!
: This is your end, Altair.
: BROTHER!!
: Ah, so this is the so-called “Meteor”. Then the Meteor Cube should be under it, right?: Correct.: Urgh..!
: Aaah…!!: Then here is the coup de grâce! 
: Meteor!!: GWAHAHAHA! Finally… I’ve finally got it! The Meteor Cube! And now the title of nº1 ranked commander will belong to me, Ashura, for all eternity!!: Lookit that wanker. Shows up late ‘n’ still goes oan acting like ‘ot stuff…!: None of that matters, so long as we get the Meteor Cube. Besides, we can always find ways to relieve him of that title later on. A little trap here, some assassins there, and we’ll sort this out. “That’s what it means to be evil”, right?: N-Nice one, sis. Yer 100% richt.: We should start wrapping this up now. If we drag our feet, those pests are likely to come over.: Och, noo that ye mention it… bawheid is nowhere tae be seen. : Maybe he’s finally gotten tired of being a one-trick pony?: Hey, Ashura! Hurry up! Grab the Meteor Cube and get it over to Lord Gades!Normal: Yeah, I got it!*Off he goes.*
: You’re not getting away!: Hmm? It seems you do not fully grasp your current situation. Pray tell: how do plan on pursuing him like this? 
: Kch!: Now, I believe we’ll help ourselves to one more thing.: Huh?!: Master Subaru.: Right. Capture RoBeasts, bring in the Ogre.: !!*The Ogre and the four RoBeasts pull off.*
: Ho-Hokuto!!: And with that, the Ogre is mine…!*He leaves too.*
: Hokuto! HOKUTOOOO!!
: N-No…!!: You bastard!! You wanted to take Hokuto and the Ogre from the get-go, didn’t you?!: Quite. Which is why I did not destroy the Meteor when I stole the white Gear Commander – all so we could also claim the Knight Ogre, its chosen pilot and the black Gear Commander as well.: !!
: Hm, he’s quite the crafty guy.: Damn it! Give… Give Hokuto back to us, bucket-head!!: Hmhmhmhm… And now I believe I’ll eliminate you, your fellows and GEAR HQ. All troops, open fire!: GADESSIR!!: You don’t have to follow his orders, idiot!: S-Sorry…! Auld habits.: (We… We have to do something! If we don’t, we’ll truly lose everything…!)