Author's Note and Prologue:
Hello, my fellow Angel Beats fans! It's such a pleasure to meet you. I would first like to thank all of you for the amazing literary and artistic masterpieces that you have produced. The canon Angel Beats story may have ended, but you guys are doing an awesome job of keeping the story alive. Keep up the good work!
I've long been an avid fan of anime, and I've always been fascinated by stories of redemption. I love reading and listening to tales in which people are given a second chance—an opportunity to fix everything wrong with their lives. I vividly remember the joy I felt upon reading the final chapters of A Christmas Carol, in which Scrooge is transformed into a new man. Like the Roman poet Ovid, I'm intrigued by changing forms and new entities.
When I first discovered the works of Jun Maeda, Angel Beats was not at the top of my watch list. I was only expecting a simple, charming story about life (with cute girls and guns too). I got more than I could ever wish for. The story was so deep and pitch-perfect. It wasn't just a story about life. It was a story about friendship. It was a story about hope. It was a story about sacrifice. It was a story about everything that matters to me. I learned more from twelve episodes of Angel Beats than from an entire semester of dry philosophy lectures at Columbia University.
I cried buckets when Angel Beats ended. The ending was perfect. I can think of no way in which it could have been better. But, of course, being the fanboy that I am, I did not want the show to end. The story had become such a large part of my life. I couldn't simply let it go.
So after talking to some fellow Angel Beats fans at school, I decided to write my own fanfiction. Much like the original story, it's a story about redemption, friendship and life. The story follows all of the characters in the original anime, although the events towards the beginning of the story take place before Otonashi's arrival in the afterlife. Do not worry though, for all of the characters that we've gotten to know and love in those twelve (or thirteen) episodes will get a chance to shine in this story. Some chapters may coincide with events in the anime, but the stories will eventually diverge.
This story follows the life and afterlife of Ralf Jin Pak, an ingenious engineer who perished in the Second World War. I was inspired by many examples of men who endured seemingly impossible hardships in order to push the boundaries of science. I was influenced by Miyazaki's The Wind Rises as well as real historical characters such as Sergei Korolev and Andrei Tupolev (Soviet aeronautical engineers). But in addition to being an engineer and scientist, Pak is also a cunning political leader with questionable goals. This darker side of his personality was inspired by Light Yagami (from Death Note) and Raskolnikov (from Crime and Punishment). The first few chapters are narrated by Pak, but not all the chapters are told from his point of view. Some chapters also contain narratives from multiple characters as well as flashbacks. I'll try to state the narrator and chorology of the chapter at the very beginning, in order to avoid confusion.
Throughout the story, I've incorporated bits and pieces of my other passions: history and science. I realize that not all of the references may be familiar to the reader. I've added a "Jargon Dictionary" to the end of each chapter to guide you through the quagmire of obscure references. However, if you stumble upon a reference that you do not understand, please let me know. I'll try to add an explanation as soon as possible.
I've read the fanfictions written by Furiouswind and was inspired by his style. (Thanks, man. You're awesome!) I've also (poorly) drawn out my character on my DeviantArt account to help you guys visualize the characters. You can just search my name on DeviantArt; it's also Dima02. You can also use the following link (add the http yourself and change the words in parentheses into actual symbols):
Fav.
me/
d8do90o
(Update: You can also Google Jin Ralf Pak on Google Images. His photo should be the first to show up. It's the picture with the SSS emblem in the background.)
You can read a little about the background of the character on the DeviantArt page. I may or may not add more biographical information about him on my DeviantArt account, so there could be spoilers on that website. You may also find drawings of other OCs in the story and their biographical information. I've copied the all the spoiler-free parts of Jin Ralf Pak's description into the rest of the chapter.
I'm also welcoming you guys to submit your own characters and include them in this fanfiction. Please use the link on my profile page titled Creating Your OC. Please include some basic information about your character and a brief description of the character's personality, skills, and perks. The description does not have to be extremely detailed, but more detailed descriptions will definitely enhance the chances of your character being selected. However, for the purpose of providing a cohesive story, I have to reserve the final say in how your character acts throughout the story, although I will try my best to keep their actions true to their personalities. Using the forum, we can discuss how we should coordinate the actions of your OCs and how they should relate to other OCs. Also, this may be a bit of a spoiler (so skip the rest of the paragraph if you do not want the plot to be spoiled), but your OCs do not have to have Japanese names. In fact, if you could give your OC a Korean, Chinese, Russian, or even English name, that'd be great! Your OCs also do not need to be fully human. I'm planning to add some catgirls (the Nekopara kind), bunnygirls (the Rabi Rabi kind), and other hybrids in later chapters. Mystical characters like vampires and mages are off-limits for now. Also, I'd really appreciate it if you could leave your OC's descriptions as a review in the comments section after his/her personality traits and background have been finalized. This can help the readers keep track of the OCs.
This story was conceived before the release of the Angel Beats visual novels. The visual novels are likely to contain information not available to me at the time of writing. As such, some elements of my story may become non-canon. However, I'm trying my best to minimize contradictions and inconsistencies between the anime and this story.
My story will be darker in nature than the anime. Some of the descriptions may be somewhat graphic, for there will be a lot of fighting. Additionally, I'm planning to include some historical political figures in my story, so the story may carry some political undertones. This story is not intended an endorsement or condemnation of any political movement or party. I only seek to condemn violence and extremism while highlighting the value of cooperation, trust, compromise and pragmatism. Regardless of your own political orientation or nationality, you should be able to enjoy the story.
The vast majority of the story will be in English, but there may occasionally be phrases from other languages. As I do not speak most of the languages that are used in the story, I cannot verify the accuracy of some of the translations. (Google Translate, unfortunately, is imperfect). If you spot any errors, please provide me with the correct translation. The ideal story should be collaborative and evolving.
The story itself starts in the next chapter. The rest of this chapter is dedicated to character descriptions. I do not own Angel Beats. Angel Beats is property of Jun Maeda, ASCII Media Works, P.A. Works and is licensed by Sentai Filmworks. Please support the official release.
So, without further ado, please, sit back and enjoy this story! And be sure to add it to your favorites and/or leave a review!
Character Descriptions:
Name: Ralf Jin Pak (박진/朴晉/パク・ジン)
Ralf Jin Pak is leader of the Saenuri Commonwealth and the main character in Twenty-One Guns. An engineering genius and brilliant polymath, Pak possesses extensive knowledge in science, literature, politics, and history. He is also gifted with an eidetic memory, which allows him to recite volumes of famous literary works from memory. Pak is also fluent in seven languages and can recreate virtually all weapons built during World War II.
Born in a small village on Sakhalin Island, Ralf proved himself to be an exceptional student and went on to attend school in Korea, China and the Soviet Union. He was later sent to study in Germany, receiving an honorary doctorate from Munich Technical College at age 18. He was involved in the development of many of Germany's most fearsome war machines, including the Me-262 jet fighter and the V-1 buzz bomb.
Ralf arrives in the afterlife with autobiographical memory loss, unable to recall details about his personal life. However, his semantic memory is unaffected. He begins to work in the Guild, where his knowledge of weaponry is used to produce heavy weapons and equipment, including tanks and warplanes.
Heavily influenced by Marxist ideology, Ralf believes that those in the afterlife should seek to build a utopian society within the afterlife realm. He establishes the Saenuri Commonwealth, a nation of "complete selflessness and unerring good." However, Ralf's ideological beliefs clash strongly with those of Otonashi and Kanade, who want people to cope with their pasts and move on.
Born: July 24, 1925
Tomarioru, Karafuto Prefecture, Empire of Japan
(Modern Tomari, Sakhalin Oblast, Russian Federation)
Died: July 23, 1944 (age 18)
Kaarst, Düsseldorf Gaue, German Reich
(Modern Kaarst, North Rhine-Westphalia, Federal Republic of Germany)
Education: Munich Technical College
Ordinance Weapons:
Panzerbüchse 39 anti-tank rifle
MP 40 submachine gun
Walther P38 semi-automatic pistol
Gerber Mark II fighting knife
Mechanized Weapons:
Volkswagen Type 82 Kübelwagen light utility vehicle
Panzerkampfwagen V Panther medium tank
Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10 fighter
Ilyushin Il-2 Strumovik ground-attack aircraft
Appearance:
Ralf Pak is a young male with curly red hair and brownish eyes. Afflicted with Marfan Syndrome, he towers in at 1.98m (6 feet 6 inches) while weighing merely 70.0kg (154lb). His most striking facial features are the eyepatch over his right eye and the prominent scar running down his right cheek. His scar, eyepatch, and height cause many people mistake him for a delinquent or gangster, although he is usually polite and soft-spoken.
Pak is a Korean-Chinese-Russian mix, and he displays characteristics of all three ethnicities. His hair is a dark red color, a trait inherited from his Russian grandfather. His facial features, however, look Korean, and it was said that he strongly resembles his Korean father. Despite all his scars, many girls consider him to be quite handsome due to his "bad boy" looks.
In his youth, Pak suffered egregiously from malnutrition and disease. He is very thin and bony as a result. His left leg is atrophied and malformed due to a childhood polio infection, although the defect is not noticeable under normal clothing and does not affect his mobility. He has numerous scars across his body from fights and accidents. His hands and forearms also bear extensive burn marks due to a chemical explosion.
His usual attire consists of either the standard SSS uniform or in a modified Luftwaffe uniform. He typically keeps a Walther P38 pistol in a hidden holster underneath his jacket in case of emergencies.
Personality:
Due to his background, Pak is headstrong and determined. He is used to a life of hardship and can endure a great amount of both physical and mental strain. He has high standards for himself and those with whom he works. He is typically reserved, not letting his emotions get in the way of his work. However, he is also prone to bouts of anger when things don't go the way he plans. When under extremely high stress, he sometimes enters a drug-induced, trance-like fury, stunning allies and opponents alike.
As he devoted a large portion of his life towards the pursuit of knowledge, he is very intelligent and well-versed in both science and art. He prefers a "by-the-book" approach to most problems and is quick to respond to changing conditions. He is also very charismatic, thanks to his ability to quote directly from classic literature and political speeches.
Pak possess very strong philosophical beliefs: beliefs that define both his actions and his motivations. The most notable is his complete and utter obsession with socialism and utopianism. Unlike many other socialist thinkers, however, Pak does not emphasize hatred of the upper classes but instead emphasizes unity and brotherhood. He primarily sees socialism as a socio-political objective and does not have much interest in major economic reforms.
Many report that Pak's unusual and conflicting positions and mannerisms are almost schizophrenic in nature. In public appearances, Pak appears as a strong, confident, and bold leader. In private, he is more laid back and polite. At times, he staunchly supports his version of socialism against all opponents, while at other times, he could be conciliatory and eager to find moderate and peaceful solutions. At all times, however, he demonstrates elements of paranoia, even to close friends. He is particularly distrustful of modern communications technology and rarely uses it for serious matters.
Despite his preoccupation with creating perfect machines and societies, Pak is very proud and protective of his humanity, which he defines as his willpower and "soul". During one battle, he rejects the temptation to use Angel Player to augment his own abilities and ensure success, even when he is on the verge of defeat. It is this pride that leads to Pak's hatred of Kanade, who he views as a monster for sacrificing her humanity for power.
Quotes:
"The poor man who takes property by force is called a thief, but the creditor who can by legislation make a debtor pay a dollar twice as large as he borrowed is lauded as the friend of a business. The man who wants the people to destroy the Government is an anarchist, but the man who wants the Government to destroy the people is a patriot."
"Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved."
"Terror is only justice: prompt, severe and inflexible; it is then an emanation of virtue; it is less a distinct principle than a natural consequence of the general principle of democracy, applied to the most pressing wants of the people."
