Gurren Lagann belongs to GAINAX. Ribo Soma Teppelin, his knights, Dai-Gantei and his mechs belong to me.
Kuroko belongs to 1 over 0.
Sorry for the long wait, but Largeham-sama's absence forced my hand and I teamed up with 1 over 0. I will commence a rewrite of the first 5 chapters soon enough.
Kamina City, formerly Teppelin, was a disaster area.
Whole blocks had been completely leveled, and what remained standing was pitiful when taken in proportion to the raw destruction inflicted on the budding city. Fires, leftovers of the inferno that followed the zeppelin's impact, still smouldered in places. Every so often they would find new fuel and blaze up again, bringing exhausted and over-stretched fire crews running, seeking to douse them before they could reduce remained of the city to ash.
The only structure left intact was Teppelin itself, the remains of a giant ganmen otherwise known as Dekabutsu, looming over the ruined city as it always had. The only other visible object was the massive Dai-Gurren, acting as temporary headquarters for the human forces.
The members of Dai-Gurren Brigade sat around the mess hall table. Simon sat at the head, with Rossiu beside him, rolling out a list of figures in a flat tone.
"Number of buildings lost: 98. Number of Ganmen retrieved: 42. About half of those are in no condition to fight. Number of Ganmen lost: 64. Number missing: 12. Remaining food not consumed by the fires: approximately enough for a fortnight, if we're good about it. I've assigned 14 new fire crews. Estimated time to repair remaining Ganmen: one month. Leeron says he just can't handle the repairs without the Dai Gurren's onboard factory, and that he wasn't able to rebuild it. Um, estimated number of wounded in the hospital: 400. Estimated number of casualties..." Rossiu paused.
"Rossiu, stop." Simon spoke up for the first time, eyes lowered. "Don't tell us that number."
Rossiu cleared his throat. "Erm, okay. Damage to command structure: All Dai-Gurren Brigade members present and accounted for, with one...exception."
All present turned to or glanced at the one empty seat at the table, opposite Kittan, who did not look up.
Zorthy pushed his cigarette around with his tongue before taking it out and exhaling a plume of smoke. "The bastards got Yoko. She should never have gone up."
Kidd snorted. "Good luck stopping that one!"
Zorthy took a drag on his cigarette. "Yeah, you're probably right. Still, I bet we would've pushed 'em back if Kittan had been able to fight."
Kittan stood, throwing his chair back, face contorted in shame and anger. "You bastard! I fought just fine out there!"
"We all saw you. You couldn't pilot a Ganman worth shit during that battle."
"I was perfectly fine!"
"You were drunk off your ass!"
Rossiu cleared his throat. "Kittan, Zorthy! Please! First item on the agenda is figuring out how to rescue Yoko. To do that, we need to figure out how to defend ourselves."
Kittan sat back down, placing his head around his hands in frustration and shame. Zorthy smirked.
"Did anyone see their new Ganmen?" asked Kidd. "Never seen anything like them before!"
"Never thought the Beastmen would be able to launch a counterattack this fast," noted Irakk. "I'm curious to know how they managed to construct a whole new army in so little time."
"Yeah, Yeah! Strange army..." "...came out of nowhere!" The twins were identically bewildered.
Makkin stroked his chin. "I'm more worried about the humans that are helping them...I mean, what are humans doing aiding Beastmen? Can't imagine a rebel faction..."
"Their membership isn't important," interjected Rossiu. "What matters now is how to defend against it. Leeron had a presentation to demonstrate to you the new Ganmen that the leader and Kittan faced but he isn't here, so…"
The Adai boy gave a shriek of surprise as Leeron rose up from beneath the table to stand next to him.
"Ack! How'd you get there?" he squawked.
"Sorry I'm late, boys...I got so caught up maintaining those big, manly mecha of yours that I plumb forgot the time!" oiled the androgynous mechanic with a particularly unsettling wink.
Kidd muttered Machine Fetishist in Irakk's ear. The brothers snickered.
Rossiu waved a hand and a screen popped down from the ceiling. At the same time Nia came in carrying a platter heaped with food.
"Oh, I'm sorry...is this a command meeting?" she asked.
"Nah, you can stay," Simon reassured her. "You're a member of the Brigade too, Nia!"
"Thank you!" said Nia cheerfully. "I brought food!"
She placed the platter on the table. The other leaders regarded it with wary looks.
Nia smiled. "I know you don't like my cooking, so I got Gramps to make it instead!"
The men all sighed in relief and fell on the platter like vultures.
"That's okay, Nia" Simon patted Nia's hand. "I still love your cooking!" Nia's face somehow managed to brighten even more.
"Thank you, Simon! I made one especially for you!" She produced a separate plate, loaded with multi-coloured foodstuffs of distinctly dubious providence. Simon fell on it with gusto, managing to mutter thanks around a mouthful of...something.
Leeron clapped his hands to get attention. "Okay, boys, if you've finished satisfying yourselves, I'd like to inform you all on the new Ganmen we encountered!"
The screen flared to life. A rotating image of the three strange Ganmen from the other day appeared, with the large cloaked machine on the left and the small Lagann-esque machine on the right.
"Most of the grunt mecha were retrofits of existing models. These three, however, are unlike anything I've ever seen before. We'll start with the middle one."
Leeron snapped his fingers and the centre Ganman expanded to fill the screen as the other two slid off. It was approximately the same size as the Gurren Lagann though somewhat bulkier, with two large protrusions emanating from behind the shoulders. Two long, serrated blades protruded from the lower arms.
"This is the mecha that Simon fought. As you can see, it is very close in proportion to the Gurren Lagann, and has a similar red colour scheme. I believe it was partially based on the Gurren Lagann, but with thicker armour and more weapons."
"Not like Simon needs weapons anyways," commented Zorthy. "Not when he's got his drill!"
"Yes, that does allow the Gurren Lagann to be a bit more streamlined," Leeron admitted. "Notice how much boxier this mecha is."
"It's still pretty fast, and strong too," Simon interjected. "The guy who piloted it called himself Enzai Golgi. He said he was the Spiral King's Royal Knight." The assembly gasped, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Can't be! The Spiral King's dead!" yelled Dayakka.
"Ya screw up or something, Simon? You said he was dead!" demanded Kidd.
"We never did find the body..." mused Iraak.
"No, I'm sure I killed him!" protested a frantic Simon. "I stuck my Core Drill in him, and I blew a hole in his chest!" The meeting devolved into a hubbub of anxious chatter.
"Calm down, everyone! The Spiral King is dead!" shouted Rossiu, pounding his fist on the table. "The Spiral King is definitely dead! I can vouch for Simon!"
"As can I" added Nia.
"Eh, how can you say that with such confidence, Rossiu?" asked Zorthy, unconvinced.
Rossiu hesitated before answering. No, he decided. He wouldn't play that card yet.
"I have trust in Simon. I don't believe he would have survived if he hadn't killed Lordgenome."
"So, wait, do you trust me, or is it because you think I couldn't have let Lordgenome live and survived?" Simon asked, as he turned his head towards the Adai.
"Never mind. The fact of the matter is that Lordgenome is completely and totally dead. Not even he could have survived without the benefit of his abdominal cavity. This must be some kind of opportunistic Beastman commander who thought to take control following Lordegenome's demise."
"Still, that doesn't answer where they got the army," commented Dayakka. "Not even Leeron could muster that force, even with the Dai-Gurren's production facilities."
"Mmm, that's true," thought Leeron out loud. "Even my genius couldn't do this. Still, I haven't managed to find anything on-file about any of those ganmen. I wonder where they came from?"
"May I answer your questions?" The assembly turned as one to the doorway.
Standing in the doorway was a small, cartoonish-looking robot, with a rectangular package strapped to its back. They watched in bewildered curiosity as the robot climbed onto the table and deposited its burden.
"Don't you know it's polite to welcome a guest?" the robot admonished. "Good grief, it was a long flight here from the Dai-Gantei."
It unwrapped its parcel to reveal a portable viewscreen. The Brigade leaders crowded around as it switched on.
At first there was only static. Then the static cleared, the image sharpening to reveal an opulent throne room, the centrepiece of which was a massive ebony throne with a ridiculously high back, set on a raised dais. Upon the throne lounged a cloaked and hooded figure, idly swirling a glass in one gloved hand.
"Have they received it yet? How long am I expected to sit here?" The figure took a sip of his drink. "I can't stay here forever, you know. I do, after all, have an invasion to plan. If you could call it an invasion, when there's barely anything to invade." The figure chuckled, amused by his own wit.
A voice replied from off screen. "Your Majesty, it appears the feeds have just connected. I can patch a visual from the delivery bot through the main monitor."
The robot's eyes glowed. It straightened up and swiveled its head, centering and focusing so it could view all those present.
"Ah I see them! Thank you." The figure on the screen cleared his throat and had a Beastman maid hold a mirror to his face. He nodded his contentment and dismissed the maid with a word of thanks. The figure then turned its head, as if looking at something above the camera.
"It's so nice to finally see the Great Gurren Brigade! Greetings and Salutations!"
Simon looked at the delivery robot, and looked at the viewscreen, curiosity and distrust in his eyes.
"Is it you? Are you the one who's sending these attacks against us?"
The man in the robe tisked. "Straight to the point, aren't you? Have you no notion of social pleasantries? I would have liked to have civilized conversation with you yet a while longer." Simon narrowed his eyes.
"I was raised in a hole if you call that civilized. Now, tell me, who are you? Lordgenome is dead. The Beastmen have no more reason to attack humans. You have already lost. Why do you persist in reviving the legacy of a man long dead?"
The man chuckled, perusing his nails in boredom, but Simon could see his eyes flicking from his hand to the screen.
"Ah, but that requires his legacy to be dead in the first place, does it not?" Simon growled, tired of the man's etiquette.
"I'm not cut out for this kind of talk! Just tell us who the hell you are already!" The cloaked man shook his head.
"Who am I? Who the hell am I? Poor, confused human. You haven't figured it out yet? Why, I am no Beastman. Neither am I human. I am much, much more than both." The figure stood and advanced towards the camera, stalking down the steps to stop at the bottom. Gripping the edge of his robe, he flung it off himself.
His bright cloud-like hair whirled around his head in the wind of cloak's passage. His eyes shone brightly, angrily, burning purple with spiral energy. His features were strong and well-defined, if slightly effeminate. He wore pristine white robes, embroidered with a spiral pattern on the chest and down the arms. Upon his head he bore a circlet of gold.
"I am none other than Ribo Soma Teppelin, heir to the throne of Lordgenome Teppelin and future ruler of the heaven and earth! His one and only successor! I come to reclaim my throne, and you will bow before me!"
"What the hell!" Kittan blurted out. "It's a guy Nia!"
Nia heard her name and came over to see what was happening. She peered at the viewscreen.
On Dai-Gantei, Ribo Soma Teppelin looked into a monitor and saw his female counterpart. His eyes briefly widened, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Ah, it seems the young lady there bears a striking resemblance to me. Pray tell, what is your name?" oiled Ribo with courtly grace.
"Ah, well, I'm Nia!" chirped the girl.
"Nia, hmmm? Well, it's nice to meet you. Did you have any previous relation with my father?"
"Your father?"
"The late Spiral King Lordgenome, of course."
"Oh! He was your father? Then that means you're my brother!"
Ribo smiled. "Is that so? Your father was also Lordgenome?" His smile was so sickening that Simon couldn't even believe that she was even listening to him.
"Yes! I had no idea I had a brother! I wish he'd introduced me to you before he threw me out!" beamed the former princess. The concept of having a "bro" like how Simon did appealed to the girl.
Ribo's smile widened. "I see then. I guess I have nothing to fear. You were simply another one of his dolls." Nia flinched at the remark, and Simon snarled. Ribo strolled up the dais again before turning and throwing his arms wide.
"How could you ever match up to I, Ribo Soma Teppelin? You are nothing! We are nothing! We are no siblings! Whereas you are a toy, I am pure royal blood! I am Lordgenome's only successor! Father threw you out like an ages-old turkey! I shall be made King, and if you are lucky, you may be fortunate enough to become handmaiden to my Queen!"
"Oh yeah, well don't count on it, buddy!" growled Simon, breaking the silence. "We'll never let another dictator rule over us again! Expect us to fight you every bloody yard!" Ribo chuckled, evidently amused by his defiance.
"Oh, but I think I have quite an advantage if I say so myself." He raised a hand and snapped his fingers.
As the Brigade watched in horror, Yoko descended from the ceiling. She was tied and gagged, hanging from the ceiling by a thick rope. Her eyes rose, as Ribo's had, brightening as she saw her comrades. She tried to turn her head to glare at Ribo, but the would-be Spiral King was standing behind and to her left. It might have been a precaution, for the imprisoned Yoko looked ready to kill.
"Oh my..." exclaimed Nia. "Brother, what do you plan to do with Miss Yoko?" The Spiral King's face contorted in rage.
"Don't call me brother!" he spat. He breathed in to relax himself, quickly coming back under control. He smiled smugly and drew close to the captured redhead. "As for this young lady...well, as you can see, she's quite under my control. From your reactions, I'm going to assume she's important to you, hmmm? Well, I assure you I have my ways of...persuading...her. Sooner or later she'll spill all your secrets, and then if she does not retain my favor, I will dispose of her. Unless you meet these demands."
Ribo unrolled a scroll. It was empty, but it was just for show. "First of all, the rats should return to their holes. You filthy humans will return to your hovels below the ground, leaving my kingdom cleansed of your taint. I will retain all military assets, and the villages shall remain closed unless I decide to take some of you humans for my...entertainment."
"You're a human too, asshole," Zorthy growled around his cigarette. "Does that include you?"
Ribo began chuckling. It evolved into a laugh, then a booming cackle as he clutched his sides. Eventually it subsided and he straightened.
"Human?" he giggled. Mania filled his eyes as he spread his arms wide and boomed. "I am anything but! However, that is neither here nor there. Aside from the purging of you filthy lowlifes, I have but one request. Send me the Gurren Lagann, along with its pilot. I believe you called yourself Simon? Such a common name, I guess it's fitting. Should you abide by these demands, I shall see to it that no human is harmed." He swayed his arm to the side in courtly grace, smug grin and manic eyes gazing upon the Brigader leaders.
Kittan gave Ribo the finger, his self restraint nearly gone.
"Go to hell, ya rat bastard! You must be insane if you think we'd just hand over the Gurren Lagann like that! And as for Simon, hell no! We'll never just give up a Dai-Gurren member!"
Ribo smiled, as if he were the one intelligent being the universe indulging a pack of fools.
"It's too bad, then," he said, stepped forward to stand next to Yoko. "I guess I'll have to dispose of your friend here. Or, better yet..." He caressed her far cheek, and placed his own cheek upon hers. Yoko writhed and twisted, evidently disgusted as she felt his breath upon her ear. The King looked towards the screen with a smirk of diabolic glee.
"Perhaps she can look forward to becoming my Queen and future mother of my many…"
A roar drowned out his words, the sound ringing through the mess hall. The monitor flew backwards over the table, a smoking hole in the screen, to crash into the far wall. The delivery bot squeaked in terror and tried to flee, only to be blasted apart.
Kittan slung the shotgun over his back, and stormed towards the door.
"What the hell, Kittan? Where are you going?" asked Dayakka.
"Where the hell do ya think?" shot back Kittan angrily. "I'm gonna go rescue Yoko, of course!" And he stormed out, in the direction of the Ganmen hangar.
"Your Majesty, the connection's been cut!"
Ribo shrugged. "How appropriate for such a barbaric race. That one with the scruffy blonde hair just couldn't control his emotions I suppose." He turned towards his prisoner. "You wouldn't happen to recall his name, would you, Lady Ritona?"
Yoko tried to say something around the gag. If the look in her eyes was any indication, it was not a polite word.
"Now, now. This is why I gagged you, you see? That foul mouth of yours would have completely thrown off my presence. It's quite un-ladylike, you know that?" He looked at his nails again. Yoko tried to kick, but only succeeded in swinging herself back and forth on the rope, her screams muffled.
"Tut, tut. You may just hurt yourself. I guess I'll let you down."
Some Beastman high up in the shadowy vaults of the ceiling must have heard. Yoko hit the ground heavily, followed by a long coil of rope. Ribo bent down and untied the bonds around Yoko's legs. She rose to her feet and held out her hands expectantly.
"A little hopeful, aren't you? Mmm, I think I'll just leave you like that. I'd rather not be forced to harm such a lovely lady as yourself. As for the gag, forget about it. Can't have such a filthy mouth as yours around the ruler of the world now can we?"
Ribo handed his drink off to a nearby Beastman and began walking towards the door. He turned, and noticed Yoko wasn't following.
"Well, are you coming or not?" he asked. "It's follow me or spend the day in your cell. At the very least, you should be taking this opportunity to gather intel on the off chance that those fools domanage to rescue you." Yoko's eyes lit up, and she followed grudgingly. Ribo laughed.
"Such hope. It is almost touching, yet so foolish."
Ribo led the way along a winding metal corridor. As Yoko walked, she noticed that the hallway was slightly curved with a downward slope. At certain intervals doors would appear on the inside of the curve, presumable leading further into the fortress. Other doorways appeared on the outside of the curve, barricaded by menacing steel doors. As time passed the curve started to even out, until it was barely noticeable.
"Dai-Gantei is the crown jewel of my father's forces and the pinnacle of his military genius. This mobile fortress is quite easily capable of attaining space travel, and until recently it consistently hovered at the very edge of the stratosphere." He stopped and turned to her.
"I suppose that by now you've noticed the curve of the hallways? Dai-Gantei's core is similar to a massive drill. The throne room is at the tip, and this hallway curves outward, like the edge of a drill. The doorways you see lead either inward, to the facilities in the interior of the core, or outward, leading to the outer shell. The core contains the communications centre, the main spiral generator, and all the other technical stuff that allows a ship to function, in addition to my own personal quarters, the technicians' barracks, and the high-security cells. I believe you're well acquainted with those? The outer shell completely encapsulates Dai-Gantei, and is heat-resistant to facilitate atmospheric re-entry. It is also a covered in fifty metres of steel, completely impenetrable to ordinary means. Of course, that's assuming anything can get past the spiral field surrounding it. The outer shell is the first line of defence, housing all the soldiers and their Ganmen. The next line of defense should, heaven forbid the shield fall, which it won't, is a weapon of my own design. It also houses the cells for lower-priority prisoners. I assure you, you should be grateful for your housing, as those cells are about as uncomfortable as I can get without tying you to the outside of the ship. But, I suppose you've grown tired of my chatter by now. Let us proceed shall we milady?"
Soon they found themselves in a vast hangar, populated by seven ganmen. They varied in size, with the smallest being the size of Lagann and the largest larger than if the King Kittan stood on theGurren Lagann's shoulders. A slender female Beastman in a lab coat was busy at work with one of the smaller ones, throwing objects left and right and generally looking like she didn't know what she was doing.
As Ribo stepped in, the feline ears on her head twitched. She stopped suddenly, in the middle of flinging a wrench across the room. She purred softly and straightened up, her form lithe and shapely, while turning to see the newcomers.
"Hello Ribo dear. Have you come to pay me a visit?" She strolled forward, her hips swaying. She was mostly humanoid, like Lord Regent Viral, but with the ears and eyes of a cat, along with a pink tail that swayed back and forth. Her nose twitched and her eyes narrowed. "Ribo, do I scent another female?"
Ribo gestured towards Yoko. "Kuroko, this is Lady Yoko Ritona, the prisoner we captured during the raid." Kuroko leaned forward and contemplated Yoko, tail swishing. She took a long sniff.
"Yes, I recognize her scent. It was all over my precious Magatama. Took a while to scrub that one off, it did. Ribo, you need to be educated when it comes to taste in mates."
"Kuroko, please. Lady Ritona, this rather forward Beastman...or Beast-lady, I suppose, is our best mechanic. Lordgenome created her as a playmate for one of his dolls, and after he finished with her, she decided to pursue mechanical studies. She services the Ganmen of my Spiral Knights and I. She developed the Burst System with which I believe you are familiar."
Yoko's eyes narrowed, her beatdown by the cloaked Magatama still fresh in her head.
"You make it sound like a cheap hyper-mode, Ribo!" Kuroko admonished playfully. "It's more than that! The Burst Mode allows the pilot to release spiral power into the mecha, evolving it beyond what I originally designed! It is art at its finest, changing based on the user's personality!"
"Yes, I agree that it is genius, Kuroko. It is certainly the most effective way of using Spiral power in battle short of a Core Unit."
"Hmmm, yes. I believe you promised to deliver one of those to me, if I remember correctly. If only you gave me yours…"
"In due time, Kuroko. My own Core Unit was a gift from my father, I can handle it myself."
" Ribo, you're so mean! Teasing a lady like that!"
"As far as I know, Kuroko, there is only one Core Unit remaining on this world beyond my control, and it is in the hands of the humans that usurped my father."
"Hmmm, yes. I suppose you can't just ask them nicely. Oh well. I need to get back to perfecting the Burst System, if you'll excuse me." She glanced at Yoko. "By the way, if you need a leash and collar, I've got a spare."
Yoko tried to say something very rude through her gag.
"I mean, Ribo? The outfit, the bound hands, the gag...your tastes are obvious. All you need is a leash to complete the ensemble. Hell, just a collar would do."
Yoko looked ready to leap the Beastwoman and strangle her despite her hands being tied together. Ribo pulled her out of the hangars and down the hallway before she could lose control.
Kuroko leaned out of the door, waving. "Buh-bye, Ribo darling! Remember your promise, honey!"
Once they were out of sight, Ribo untied Yoko's gag.
"I apologize for that, Lady Ritona," he apologized. "Kuroko is of a rather...unique temperament. If you can promise to keep your language clean, I'll leave the gag off."
"Fine, I guess," she responded gruffly, her yellow eyes still glaring at her captor. "Still not promising I won't kill you."
Ribo chuckled. "As if a lady such as yourself could harm me."
Yoko sniffed. "I'll have you know, I was able to beat up everyone back in Ritona. 'Cept maybe Dayakka, pretty sure he let me win. In any case, I could out-shoot all of them by the mile."
"Well, you'll have to refrain from such behavior in the future. And although you may dress like this when around me… you will also be required to dress appropriately when around company." He looked pointedly at her outfit. The redhead blushed.
Yoko snorted. "Why should I be forced to listen to you?" The boy looked at her with a knowing look, as if he was going to point out the most obvious thing in the world.
"Why, because I intend to make you my queen of course." Yoko stared at him for a while.
"Fuck you and the horse you rode in on."
Ribo sighed. "Lady Ritona, what did I say about the swearing? I'll have to detain you in your cell now."
"That's if you can catch me! Hell if I'm going back to that hole!" She started sprinting down the hallway.
Before she had gone more than twenty steps, however, she felt a hand tighten around her arm. She lost her footing and would have tripped if Ribo hadn't held her up.
"Damn you! Bet you couldn't take me in a fight, coward! You hide behind your Beastman servants and those Nucleo-whatevers you talked about, but you never fight do you? I'll never abandon the Dai-Gurren Brigade! You'll never get the respect Simon has! You can just go to hell, you little..."
Ribo laid his hand on her head, and Yoko promptly fell asleep. She rolled her head, muttering expletives as she dreamed. Ribo shook his head in exasperation as he carried her back to the cells.
'What a troublesome woman,' he thought to himself.
Kittan sat cross-legged on top of his ganman, looking into the sky. The stars winked down at him, and he blinked back. Vaguely, he wondered if Yoko was able to view the stars from wherever she was.
Gurren Lagann stomped up next to him and knelt on one knee. The helmet's hatch slid open, and Simon stood up to look at the stars as well. For a while both stood there, neither saying a word.
"I thought you were going after Yoko?" Simon finally said. Kittan did not look down.
"I was all ready to launch before I realized that I had no idea where I was going. So, here I am."
They stood a while in silence again.
"Ya think Yoko's okay?" asked Kittan.
"Maybe. Rossiu told me something about hostage situations, like how it relies on the idea that Ribo won't hurt her. Anyway, I'm pretty sure he's okay. Don't worry, we'll rescue her."
"That's a big maybe though."
Simon did not reply, not wanting to think what things Lordgenome's supposed heir might have done to Yoko. For a long time Simon had thought that only Beastmen were evil. Now he knew that, when given the right circumstances, even humans could become devils.
"Man, that air of confidence." Kittan leaned back on his hands and closed his eyes, smiling. "Y'know, I always thought that I would be the one to lead the Gurren Brigade after Kamina bought it...but now that I look back on it, I realize he intended you to take his place from the beginning." Simon smiled too.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Still, I think you could have done a pretty good job of it, Kittan."
"Naw, I can't lead people like you can. All I'm good for is fightin'. An' now I'm not sure I can do even that." Kittan's smile turned upside down in shame upon his memory of the other night.
"Kittan..."
"That day? I should've been able to fight those guys no sweat. But I couldn't do jack. I was so drunk from celebrating I don't even remember much other than getting my ass handed to me."
"Kittan, nobody blames you for anything," Simon insisted. "You didn't do anything wrong! How could we have expected Lordgenome to have an heir? No, all we care about now is getting Yoko back and paying that bastard back for all the people he killed."
Kittan laughed, once.
"Man, Simon, you're a hell of a leader. I can't even get angry with myself after what you said. Don't worry, I'm not gonna off myself like some kind o' coward. I'll follow you to the very end, Simon, and we'll get Yoko back, together."
"You got it. After all, just the who the hell do you think we are?"
They both laughed and stared up, not knowing of another person watching them from the Dai-Gurren's command center.
Kiyal looked on, at once worrying about her brother and at the same time confident that Simon would pull Kittan through. Two of the people that she cared for most deeply. Her gaze wandered up to the stars that watched over all of them, and she wondered if they knew how the future would play out.
A shooting star streaked across the sky, as if in answer to her silent question.
Big thanks to 1 over 0 for helping out this time. I may be doing a Nucleotide rewrite so be on the watch.
Written by 1 over 0, and edited by Zaru and Juubi-K.