Heads Up: The FULL title is "Those Who Crawl Along the Ground".


Early the next morning, the Chevalier had a board meeting.

"It would be nice if this doesn't have any negative effect on the project's future."

"That was quite a pathetic display."

"That's wasn't even fitting enough to be called a 'mock battle'."

"Even if you didn't have official fundings...that was still..."

"This is a huge project; we even went so far as to suppress the opposing party."

"You have to get us tangible results A.S.A.P."

"It's only a matter of time before the mass media and mass media begin to criticize us."

As he listened to the rest of the men yelling at him, Dr. Ohara sat in his chair with his arms crossed. "Do you honestly think that this problem can be solved in a rush? I need more data for this plan to succeed," he finally said. "By acuminating data, we can speed up the E-Pandora's growth...I wrote in the report that the best option is to wait for their recovery and move to the next step."

"But now you need to make it go faster!" said Maria Spencer suddenly; Maria was the only woman in the meeting. "I believe I said to give us a result we can see...and I meant just that. We need the a result to amaze the entire world. If you can secure that for us, we'll allow you more time until the next step. Do you think this is the time to worry about such trivial things as recovery...? You need to do everything that you possibly can, even if it means using the medicine mentioned at the end of your report that releases antibodies in proportion to the activity of the stigmata...do you not think that it would be wise to use MARK IV...?"

"The medicine loses its effect the moment the rate of cell division crosses the line!" claimed Dr. Ohara (or, at least, I THINK it's her). "If we use it, the recipient might die...!"

"We are looking for quick results and data," interrupted Maria. "Using those boys as sacrifices is unavoidable...you'll be able to get plenty of new subjects afterwards, right?"

"Hearing enough, Dr. Ohara got out of his chair and began to walk away, secretly giving a smile. "I'd expect no less from the head of the committee. Such a perfectly logical decision..."


Meanwhile, the defeated E-Pandora were in their locker room.

*BANG*

"FUCK! I can't believe we lost!" Jin yelled as he banged his fist against a locker. "I had no idea they could use Accel—no! You know what? Scratch that—I had no idea they could use DOUBLE Accel 24/7! And WE were fucking made to—"

"*MUNCH* *MUNCH* *MUNCH* *MUNCH* *MUNCH*"

"RATTLE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Jin suddenly screamed. "HOW THE HELL CAN YOU BE EATING AT A TIME LIKE THIS?!"

"R-Relax, Jin," said the suddenly recovered Anthony. "Y-You know Rattle's family d-didn't have enough money to by food, so he became an E-Pandora to finally eat something f-fresh and NOT garbage all the time."

"*SIGH* I'm sorry, it's just...I'm just frustrated! Not just because we lost, but becuase I was forced into becoming and E-Pandora, while all those OTHER Pandora got to be born with Stigmata on their backs...and wre even born into rich, luxorious lifestyles!"

In concern, Anthony placed his hand on Jin's soldier and smiled. "I...I know know how you feel," he said calmly. "But remember, we were all created the same way YOU were."

Jin began to calm down a bit.

"And we ALL have reasons for becoming E-Pandora: Rattle came to stop being hungry all the time, YOU, Jin. were sold to the project by your parents, and ME..." Just then, he paused for a bit. "...well...because we ALL came here, we've been able to meet each other...to be friends...and to save humanity. We're E-Pandora, and we should be proud to have this opportunity. We already lost once, but we WON'T lose again!"

"YEAH!" cheered Jin. "We'll get 'em next time!"


But little did the E-Pandora know that outside the room, Satellite was eavesdropping on their conversation while smoking a cigarette.


Later that day, the Pandora and Limiters were in the hallroom, preparing to hear an announcement from Dr. Ohara.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen," said Dr. Ohara up on stage. "Today, I have an announcement for all of you: as of today, we shall be initiating a brand-new project to help raise the E-Pandora's abilities to the level of the originals. To do so, we shall first examine the E-Pandora's Stigmata, and then assign them a temporary Pandora partner who they will synchronize their Stigmata activity with. The E-Pandora will experience a simulated version of the original Pandora's power. The level of Stigmata density the E-Pandora experiences will be converted into the real-life vitals. This mission will increase the abilities of the E-Pandora greatly; however, in order to protect against the overflow that can occur in a body not originally suited for handling Stigmata...the committee has decided that all E-Pandora...shall have a new medicine administered to them as a precaution: MARK IV."

End


Cast:

Maria Spencer: ? (Japanese); ? (English)