Part 130: Mission 52 - The Beginning of Life - Part 4
Location: New York – Alleyway
: After them! Don’t let them get away!
: Tsk, they don’t give up, do they?!
: We need to loose them, Sakuya! The people have to know of their corruption!: Damn it, gun them down! Do whatever it takes to catch them!
: Yes, sir!*
*
: …*Bang!*
: Gaah…!: Yaargh…!*Dropped.*
: …?!: There’s our chance, Isabelle! We gotta get out of here!: Who… Who was that just now…?: Did you forget the world we’re in? There’re Champions of Justice fighting crime in the shadows, ya know.: Champions of Justice...*Runs off.*
: Psh, those two are nothing but trouble.
: Hey, don’t complain. We were hired for this, remember?
: Damian, we need to take care of the other pursuers…*Ninja run!*
: They have already been dealt with.: Oh? That quick?
: “Quick, Precise, and Reliable” is our motto, after all.
: Very well done, everyone. I can see why the Federation Government chose to enroll the Katou Organization as a troop of secret agents!: My men and I will handle the rest of this, if you would.
: You know, Hughy, you could always ditch the NIA and come work with me.: Why, I still get all tingly remembering the passion with which you approached me during that “reform of the Federation Army” mess.: …?!: Speaking of, you also asked me out for coffee, no?: …: Mr. Hughes, did you…: N-No… I-I was just doing my job, trying to acquire intel…: Oh, what a cruel, cruel man! He’s toyed with my heart!
: You’re one to talk. No one here is going to fall for your wailing. : Besides, if we’re throwing stones, back at the Akoro village, Damian—: Soooubiii! They don’t need to hear that!
: ???: Did something happen at Akoro?: U-Um, well…: O-Oh, right! I was planning on taking you to some authentic Japanese hot springs, Karen!: Really?! Thank you so much, Damian! I’m so happy!: Hahahahaha…: That’s enough nonsense. We’ve to move on to our next mission.: By the looks of things, we’re being sent to capture the Lostbarrel. Its signal was detected around Eastern Europe.: The Skull Force has already been dispatched over there. We should meet up with them ASAP!
*Craaaash!*
: Give it up, Sawatari! There’s no way out for you today!
: You better take my Wingle Mk. II seriously or you’ll be in for a world of hurt!
: Hrm, I can’t go one day without you hounding my ass, can I?! But whatever, I’ll run off as far as the depths of Hell if I gotta! #1: Hah, “the depths of Hell”…? #2: Ya really shouldn’t use that word around us!: Y-You…!*Swooosh!*
: Cargo bay, open! Beginning descent!: Good luck, emissaries of Hell!
: Gaaaaah! We ain’t no emissaries!
: We are Hell!*BOOOOM!*
Location: JUDA – President’s Office
: Incoming message from Lt. Yuki! The Skull Force is engaging the Lostbarrel!
: Okey-dokey! Have the Shangri-La set off to help them as soon as its ready to go!
: Then again, I doubt the duo of Hell would need help.
: Still, this is the perfect opportunity to give Yamashita’s new Hind Tank a trial-run, right?
: You said it. I wanna have some good news to pass on to Moritsugu once he’s back from Nagasaki.
: He’s been very busy lately, what with working as CEO for both New JUDA Corp. and Kiriyama Heavy Industries…
: You’re not going to take up your old job again, Kiriyama?
: No, I’m more than satisfied just helping Reiji like this.
: But why is Moritsugu working as JUDA’s prez when you’re right here, Mr. Ishigami?!: As I said way back when, I quit the job to lead the 1st Unit again. : And, to be honest, I never liked the idea of holding a management post. It’s a weight off my back to put that stuff behind me.
: Hmph, glad to see you’re sticking to your old habits…: The UX might’ve been dismissed, but it’s clear the world still needs Champions of Justice.: Right, and we’ll have to keep up the good work as part of the Katou Organization!
: The Katou Organization…: What’s up, Emi? Still not used to being part of that group?: N-No, that’s not…: Oh, right… I’m sorry, Kizaki…: Huh? Why are you apologizing?: Because you had just as many bombshells dropped on top of you… but I was always focused on myself.: We never really sat down and talked of how you were feeling about Amagatsu, the Advancers… or about Katou.: Ah…: I mean, Katou’s the only family you have left and I—: No, he’s not!: Huh…?: …: Maybe he’s family, but… that doesn’t mean I don’t have someone else who’s been there for me…: Someone who I want to be there for, even…: Kizaki…: I-I—*Door opens.*
: Well, well, everyone’s here.: …?!: M-Moritsugu?!: Hm? Is something the matter?: No, no… never mind them.: You got here early, Reiji. Cmdr. Katou isn’t with you?: No, he made a detour to visit the graveyard.: The graveyard…?: Um… B-Boss, are those bags you’re holding…!
: …
: Heh, you’ve noticed them, eh? Yes, these are…: D-Don’t tell me…!: Nagasaki’s own Castella cakes, yes.: I knew it!: (How does he manage to make souvenir shopping sound like such a big deal…?)
Location: Fukui Prefecture – Graveyard
: My ancestors are buried here…?
: Yes. I looked up the origins of Sakomizu’s family and it led me to this grave.
: I’m sure King Sakomizu would be happy to be buried in a place as pretty as this.: Hm, it really looks gorgeous. But beneath us is only…
: …
: It might be a while before society really does come together…: But we still need to face onwards and keep going.: Correct. While the past may have left several negative legacies, we cannot face away from one another.: Each and every one of us must ponder what we can do to build a bridge to the future…
: A bridge to the future, huh…
: I, for one, am thinking of being a storyteller. (Reference to the Dunbine anime, where Cham’s the narrator.)
: A storyteller?: Right, I want the entire world to know about Byston Well, about the battles Shou and our friends went through…: And, above all, I want to tell them about the new tale of life.
: Hahah, but the Overworlders aren’t really familiar with the Ferario. Don’t you think they’ll just freak out and run when you fly over to them, Cham?: Hmph, excuse you! No one would ever run from a Ferario as cute as me!: And on this subject, do you guys know where Burn went?: From what I’ve heard, he got on a ship and set off to sea. Said he was going to find his own path to follow.: He’s off sailing by himself? You don’t think he’s off crying somewhere in the middle of the ocean, right?: Hah, I seriously doubt that. I’m sure he’ll be doing just fine, wherever he might end up. : Do you think we’ll see him again?: I get the feeling we’ll run into each other, yeah.: It might be tomorrow, or it might be in a future universe – who knows? (Reference to New Story of Aura Battler Dunbine, where they’re both reincarnated.)
: And will you be staying in the Overworld, Lord Shou, Lady Marvel?: Yeah. It might’ve been in a previous universe, but the Overworld is still our home.: It’ll be good to finally rest and enjoy a regular life up here.: Especially with the love of my life…: Shou…: …: Aesap, what are you…*Swoooosh.*
: Look! The cherry blossoms are dancing in the wind…: It looks so pretty…: …: “If one should ask you concerning the heart of a true Japanese, point to the wild cherry blossom glowing in the sun.”: What’s that from?: During the War in the Pacific, the Japanese soldiers would liken themselves to the beautiful cherry blossoms.: How they, like the petals, were fated to fall at the height of their bloom. : Yet they would all be reborn as the blooming blossoms in the trees of following Spring …: …: My father is smiling…: Huh…?
: Oh, cherry blossoms…: King Sakomizu…?!*Sweeeesh!*
: U-Urk…!: Huh?! Lux and the others are gone…!: The Aura Road opened…: They’ve all returned to Byston Well…: …: (I suppose we, mankind, still need to learn…): (What is truly foolish, what is truly precious, and…): (What it truly means to defend those you love…)
Location: Frontier Fleet – Griffith Park, Overlook
: Then, we’re going to use the Accelerated Particle Engines to get back to our future world?
: Right. From what we’ve found, it looks like we can create a similar phenomenon to Yog-Sothoth’s gate by pushing the Odyssea’s two Lepton Vectrers into synchro-overdrive.
: Hey, now, are you sure that’s a good idea?: We can go in just fine, but how will we know we’re not getting warped over to a different future…?: Hmm, I’d like to think Prof. Rachel took that into account…
: Ah, I doubt there’s anything to worry about. The possibilities of all future universes have been unified, after all.
: Hm, I suppose so…
: What’s the Frontier Fleet going to do, though?
: Is it really going to just travel the galaxy again?
: No; as Cathy told us, it looks like the Fleet’ll be looking to settle in the Vajra Homeworld once we’re back in our universe and a new government has been put together. : The Vajra Homeworld…?!: The place’ll likely still be chock-full of Vajra in our universe, but we should be capable of reaching an understanding with each other again.: They’ve all decided to coexist with the Vajra, huh…?: I’m sure it can be done. Ranka and Sheryl’ll relay what we feel over to them…: Yeah, they will…: Speaking of, I trust that choice is already 100% made, yes?: What…?: Sheryl and Ranka, I mean.: …?!: Oh, yeah. We couldn’t hear you back there, so I’d very much like to hear your thoughts now.
: And, by the way, if you say something like “they are both my wings”, so help me God, I will end you.: A-Ah… No, I... well...
: You are both my wings!
: Huuh?!
: Bro, I know it’s not an easy choice, but that’s just mean.: Damn it, it’s just that… I can’t choose one or the other!: …: Then, you really do love Princess Romina?: … I do.: And do you love me…?: I do too.: Hmhmm... Fine, then I’m coming with you on that trip to Planet Ladorio.: Are you sure? We’re talking about going into a future universe, so we’re probably not coming back here.: That’s fine. I go where you go.: Unless… are you saying I’d be getting in the way?: …: Alright, we’ll go together, Rennie.: Yeah!: And, of course, I’m sticking with my bro all the way!*Door opens.*
: We’ll be arriving at Tatsumiya soon, everyone.
: Joe, are you really accompanying us into the future world?: Absolutely, yeah. That’s the future we won for ourselves; whatever it’s like, I wanna see the place with my own eyes.: And, Princess Romina? Our battle’ll begin properly once we arrive!: …!: Heheh… Yes, it will.: Hm? What’re you two on about…?
: Joe, once we’ve arrived at Planet Ladorio, what say you to one final duel?: We’ll decide once and for all which warrior is truly suited to guard Her Highness.: Yeah, you got it.: But, this time, we’ll do it as comrades who fought for the same cause!: Hah. Comrades… Indeed.
Location: Tatsumiya – Hilltop
: The breeze is quite nice today, isn’t it, Master…?
: Aye… And, soon, it will be time to bid this island farewell…: *Cough, wheeze…!*: M-Master…!: I-I am fine. Perhaps the thought of returning to our homeland at last has excited me a tad too much…
: Zhou Yu…: Young Lord… What are your plans for when we have returned to Jiangdong?: …: I… plan to establish a nation.
: You’ll make a nation in Jiangdong…?: Aye. Our father and brother paved our way into that land, and I mean to build a nation of kindness upon it, where all our families might live happily…: Quan…: You have become a fine man, Young Lord. Hearing you speak so brings much peace to my heart.: And I am certain Lords Sun Jian and Sun Ce feel the same…
: Yeah, I’m sure they’re happy too!: And I swear to help you with every ounce of my ability, sire!: I thank you, Shangxiang, Lu Xun… (Zhou Yu): …: Master…?
: You mean to stay in this era…?
: Aye, I have learned quite a lot during our stay in this world. (: If possible, I would like to compile the events that transpired and my knowledge in a text for the future generations.
: A text, is it? And I have the sinking feeling…: That that text is the one which, in the future Mirisha, shall be dubbed G-Records. 
: Wh-What?!: As the legend goes, the author of the G-Records was named “Sima”.: All things considered, I am rather certain that would be you, Sima Yi.: …: W-Wait a moment! If the legend inscribed in the G-Records refers to our battles, then…
: Yup. The Three Sovereigns of legend were you, Sun Quan and Cao Cao all along.: W-We were…?!: Just as the power shown by Joe and his allies gave birth to the Ninja Legend in the future Earth of Planet Ladorio…: So did your actions become the stuff of legends in your far future.: Then, the Souls of the Three Sovereigns which dwelled within the Yùxǐ…: Those were likely an amalgamation of our own souls, accumulated over the myriad Samsaras…: Of course, we can only speculate. : Moreover, so long as we remain human, our possibilities will continue to diverge endlessly.: Who can say what new tales will emerge from our unified future…?
: I get it. Does that mean one of them possibilities is a world where Kongming likes saying “Hawawa”? (Reference to Koihime Musou, a porn game where Kongming’s a little girl who says that a bunch.): Quiet, you. The idea that such a world exists is positively ludicrous.: Y-Yo… it was just a joke, what’re you getting so bent outta shape for…?
: However, if Liu Bei and the others are the Three Sovereigns of legend… what does that make Lu Bu?: Hm, he also wielded a Holy Armor as we did.: That’s a bit of an enigma, yeah.: The G-Records even tells a legend of the goddess Nüwa, the one responsible for creating the world…: I’ve a feeling she’s representative of Kali Yuga, but there are no parts referring to Lu Bu even tangentially. : It could be that it took him until this Samsara to take hold of his destiny, or perhaps…: He was purposefully omitted from the story.: Omitted? What for?: Oh, none but the author could answer that question.: Right, Sima Yi?: …: Sima Yi… what you choose to reveal or conceal from the future world is your own decision. However…: You would do well to harbor more than just foolish ambition.: …!: What’d you mean?!: Katou once sought to take the reins of history via the Advancers, remaking the world to match his own ideals…: Whereas the Human Machinas sought to control the world itself, acting as gods of mankind.: Should you allow your superlative ability to cloud your judgment so, Sima Yi…: …: What would happen…?: Then the future Mirisha would be our battlefield, whereupon we would take up arms and crush your aspirations.: …: I shall take those words to heart, my lord.
Location: ALVIS – Fafners’ Burg
: Umm… And once the safety lock is released, the synchronization coefficient will have to be…
: Relax, Saya’s offered to do all the fine-tuning.: Aah, I was hoping you’d say that. These Lepton Vectrers get more complicated by the minute…: It goes to show just how much of a genius Prof. Novel was.: Hmmm… I’d say she wasn’t quite a genius in that sense of the word.
: How so?: I can’t say for sure how she managed to cross from one Samsara into the next while retaining her memories…: But, if anything, we can be sure that, through every cycle, she added more and more to these Accelerated Particle Engines. Simply put, these embody work accrued throughout all the Samsaras she’d repeated.
: To be faced with failure millions of times over, but still carrying on fighting by yourself.: That’s the kind of persistence I could never measure up to.
: Are you retiring again, grandma?: Yes, the years have already caught up to me. You kids should also take some time to rest.: As for you, Tamotsu, isn’t it about time you started working on the Goubine sequel?: …?!
: Huh…?! Then, Anko Otsubu, the author, is…!: The penname of one Tamotsu Koudate, yes.: …: My dad’s Goubine’s author…: He didn’t mean to lie to you or anything of the sort. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that there isn’t much entertainment to be found in an island isolated from the rest of the world…: You always had a habit of reading manga as a kid, and you would cry so much that you wanted new stories. So, Tamotsu practiced and practiced, eventually creating a story of his own: Goubine.: As for Anko Otsubu, he became the one and only native manga artist in Tatsumiya – an artist born just for the sake of bringing you joy.: Dad…: I’m sorry that I never said anything…: No, no, I’m grateful to you.: It’s thanks to you that I managed to grow stronger, and why I’m still here today.: Mamoru…: Could you… Could you draw some new Goubine stories for me?: Yeah, you got it!If Mamoru wasn’t saved:
: As for you, Tamotsu, isn’t it about time you started working on the Goubine sequel?: …?!: Huh…?! Then, Anko Otsubu, the author, is…!: The penname of one Tamotsu Koudate, yes.: I can’t believe it… Mamoru’s dad is Goubine’s author?: …: You should start drawing again. Do it for the memory of your son…: Ma’am…: Well, I’d love to read a new Goubine!: Me, too. I’m sure Mamoru would be happy too!: Thank you both…: (Mamoru… I know they’ll remember you whenever they’re reading Goubine.): (The memory that you were here will stay with them forever…)
*Door opens.*
: Welcome…: Oh, Mr. Asuka?!
: Huh… So, this is the café you guys’ve been running.
: And they’ve even got some “Kazuki” dishes by the looks of it.
: Then, I guess I’ll go with a Kazuki Curry and some coffee.
: Wh-What’re you all doing here…?: We’re seeing off the folks returning to the future.
: Ah, right… that’s tomorrow. I bet they’re all happy.: What about you, Sakura? Is your body doing better?: It is, thanks for asking. I’m good enough to send Kenji flying again!
: Come on, they’ve got the juniors here. They don’t need to hear about that…: And from what I’ve heard, Hiroto and Seri are transferring over to a high school in Japan? 
: Yes, sir! I’m looking to become a science teacher…
: And I’m not stopping until I’m a top singer just like Eida!: Still haven’t given up on that dream, eh…?: Hahah, but I don’t see a problem there. Everyone’s free to choose what dreams and possibilities to pursue.: Right on! I dunno if I can make it or not, but I’m still going to give it my best shot!: What about you and Soushi, Kazuki? Are you planning on staying here for good?
: Yes. This is our home…: But, most of all, this is where everyone is…: (Kazuki…)
: …
: (Get in there, Shouko.): (C-Canon…?!): (Nothing’ll ever change if you don’t decide to make it so.): (Nothing’ll change…): …: Um, Kazuki? I know this is your day off, but would you mind teaching me how to cook?: …?!: You want me to teach you?: W-Well… I’m not the greatest cook around, so I figured…If Shouko’s gone, Canon’s the one who cuts in after Maya:
: …: Um, Kazuki? I know this is your day off, but would you mind teaching me how to cook?: …?!: You want me to teach you?: Y-Yeah… I spent pretty much my whole life in the army, so I never learned how to cook any household foods.: And… my mom also said I should try and learn a bit of that, so…Common ground:
: I-I could go for some cooking lessons, too!: Y-You, too, Toumi…?: I’m not that great of a cook either… I’m terrible, actually!: (That's not the kind of thing you brag about...): …: Yeah, alright. We can do this.: R-Really…?!: You wanna come with, Soushi?: Huh…?: What…?: You never learned to cook, so I might as well take the chance to show you.: Thanks, but that’s not necessary. I saw much while my mind was crossed with yours, and I’m pretty sure I could even put some Kazuki Curry together.: W-Wow, talk about convenient…: Still, I’m always interested in social interaction.: While I don’t need to be taught… yes, I would very much like to take part in this event.: …: Oi… Time hasn’t made him any less dense.: Heheh. I’m a bit relieved to see that, though. 
: Ooh, look! The sky’s so pretty!
: Yes, it is…
: That’s the blue sky daddy and his friends protected…: …: He’s smiling…: “He”?: Yes. He says he’s happy he was born…: That he’s really happy to see a sky as blue as this!: Miwa…: (Kurusu… wherever you are, you’re still watching over this sky, aren’t you…?): Come back and visit us sometime, mister…
: (The boundless pain that fills our world… does all of it have a place to come home to?): (For now, I choose to believe that supreme tranquility awaits us where we’ll return...): (And that that is why we are here…)
Cue the credits – special props to Miyuki Kishimoto, chief scenario writer and pretty much the man in charge for everything plot-related.
: They’re all gone, back to the distant future world…
: They all heard that voice and gathered in the world of the past…: But, this time, it’ll be your voice guiding them. I’m sure of it…: M-Mine…?
: Hmhmm. You’re the one who’s understood the Beginning of Life. : Your voice’ll act as a beacon for them as they set off towards the future…: My voice…: Like your name says, Saya… you’ve become the life of all our friends.: …: Thanks, Arnie…
: We should be heading back as well.: Next month’ll be here in a heartbeat, and so will the unveiling of our orphanage. We’ve a lot to do to get it all ready.: And as I’ve been told, Princess Marina has offered to play the organ at the opening ceremony. : The princess? That’d be wonderful.: Speaking of, Saya, you’ve been practicing your acting for a while now, haven’t you?: Well, of course. Orphanages need teachers and what better way to make the classics interesting than with some real acting?: I could show you how far my practice has brought me, if you’d like.: Hah, yeah, absolutely. I’ve been looking forward to it.: Okay, then… how about a scene from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”?: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream…”?: …: Is there a problem?: No… it’s weird. I could swear I heard that name somewhere before.: Where was it…?: …: Okay, maybe some other time.: Huh? Why?: Because…
: The last thing I want is for “this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream.”
Gather at the beginning…
Here’s the 100%’d save file, for anyone looking to start a game with all secrets unlocked. The save you’re looking for is the one in slot #1.
One final bit to expose my take on the finale, for those curious: as we saw Kali Yuga was, as the game itself dubbed her, a system. As far as she was concerned, the world is only "correct" when it's aligned with fate and follows the Mahayuga nice and easy.
I've heard the UX's dealings compared to a nonstop run of Super Meat Boy: you start, you get a little far, you die, you start over and get farther, then you die again, etc. The same process applies to the UX folk over the past cycles, in that they whenever they got farther, they were moving away from what fate had in store. Every new possibility we opened up was a wee bit we pushed against fate - by themselves they weren't all that significant, but add enough of those and you start to have a problem. Our possibilities were clashing with the underlying truth of the universe (that is, the Mahayuga cycle), in that we were starting to push it away and running things as we wanted.
As the game takes place, things have gotten to the point that we've bent fate over our knee so much that we're outright keeping the universal cycle from working as intended. A metaphor used in the JP is of a computer that's got so much stuff running in the background (the divergent possibilities), that it simply can't do anything. Leave that alone, and it's only a matter of time before stuff breaks down. That's where Kali Yuga comes in, to format that PC and start things fresh. That'd erase all the satured possibilities and the Mahayuga'll be free to being anew.
Our folks didn't care for that, of course, and neither did the lingering souls of all past cycles, which were slowly empowering and pushing us towards the events of the finale: we defeated Kali Yuga and overthrew the Mahayuga cycle, setting our unified possibilities as the new central pillar of the multiverse. From what I see, those "past futures" like Mirisha, Ladorio, the Frontier World, etc., now are actual parallel universes, since the possibilities of past cycles have been united now.
And that is that. I’m surprised I managed to get through the entire game in just under 9 months – only two over L and MX, despite having a much bigger text count and the fact that, unlike in those games, past a certain point I just decided to go “fuck it” and fully translate everything.
I came in with not a lot of expectations – the only things I was familiar with were the Odyssea, TAMASHII and the fact that Demonbane Is Broken – and almost didn’t do it due to Frontier and Trailblazer annoying me as they do… but I loved it every step of the way. Even Frontier didn’t irk me AS much (Trailblazer did, but, hey, you can’t have it all).
The scenarios, the weaving plotlines, the love the secrets got, the stellar BGM selection, all of it has propelled UX from an unknown to baaarely beating MX and joining W and Z1 as one of my top 3 favorites SRWs (no, I can’t pick an actual favorite). The less-than-amazing graphics due to BP’s inexperience with the 3DS engine don’t bring UX down nearly enough face everything else it does so well. I’m very happy I decided to check how Citra was doing after finishing L.
Now, as I’ve seen in the thread, I know there’s some expectation over what I’ll do next. But, unfortunately, I’ve no plans for another LP at the moment. As I’ve often noted, my free time has been steadily diminishing, and I made a concentrated effort to blast through this game over the past months – I expected to end it by december, so maybe I pushed too hard, even! As much as I want to redo W and give it an actually good translation, I’m not at a point where I can say with confidence that I’d be able to finish another LP, and I absolutely refuse to start one if there’s a risk I’ll abandon it. I’m not saying I’m never doing one again, but I also can’t in good consciousness say I will do another. Time will tell.
But if any aspiring translation LPers are out there and are looking to try their hand at this, feel free to hit me up. Over these 6 years, I’ve come to automatize a good lot of the non-translation aspects of SS LPing (God knows, pasting all these portraits and pictures by hand would be maddening), so maybe I can offer pointers or show you to websites with SRW scripts.
Regardless, I’ll be combing through this thread to look for typos (that somehow eluded the eagle-like sight the thread’s readers have) and cleaning it all up. Maybe I’ll post some translated save skits as well. Once that’s all done, it’s another LP off to the archives.
Finally, very special thanks to Hokuto and MajinZenki for their constant assistance and support, including hearing me rant whenever the game gave me a headache with its metaphysical concepts.
See you folks around.