Enjoy


Later that day, Rocky, Elliot, and Clifford were walking a hallway.

"Why the hell didn't they use this stupid mission synchro thing from the start?" asked Rocky.

"M-Maybe it's because the data of us was highly classified?" suggested Clifford. "Although, if you think about it rationally, this is all very strange."

"Yeah, just putting Stigmata into normal human beings should be a large strain as it is, but they're going to try to raise their compatibility levels by force!" said Elliot. "Can they really withstand that?"

"That's what the MARK IV medicine is supposed to be for...but THAT is what's been bothering me the most," said Clifford.

"Yeah, think about it: when a regular Pandora raises his Stigmata density, it creates an unbearable strain on our bodies. That's why every Pandora has a different number of Stigmata implanted in them...yet here they are saying there's a medicine that can protect against that in their bodies that aren't even compatible with the stigmata...? I find that extremely hard to believe."

"I agree," Rocky said as he and the others came to a halt. "A project that, up until now, had little funding and wasn't officially approved...no matter how you look at it, there's a lot of shady parts to it. Of course, most of the things the government does are like that, but—"

"—but you have NOTHING to worry about, Mr. Zombie Man."

"WHO SAID THAT?!" Rocky turned and saw two Pandora right in front of them; the shorter one had cream-colored hair with headphones around his neck and a motorcycle jacket around his waist, while the taller one had medium-length dark indigo hair set into a ponytail and wore a brown gym jacket."

"*GASP* It's THEM..." gasped Elliot silently.

"Oh, YOU two," groaned Rocky.

"We're ALL part of Genetics, it's our job to simply follow the orders we're given," said the shorter of the duo. "The Chevalier are the ones who decide everything, mon ami."

"Oh, really?" asked Rocky. "How much did those idiots pay you to say THAT?" He showed his middle finger and peeled the bottom of his eye, making an akanbe.

"*TSK* As taunting as always. I suppose it might be a bit too hard for a zombie like you to understand."

"Who you callin' 'zombie'...?! Around Genetics, I'm the 'Immortal', and I LOVE that title."

"You know what I mean," the shorter Pandora said to Rocky, before turning his attention to Clifford. "And YOU...Mr. Unparalleled Monster, Clifford Fairchild. We're an existence born as the cornerstone of humanity; therefore, we have to think about the whole rather than the individual, oui? Being prepared to sacrifice the few to save the many is what it means to be a Pandora, oui, Mr. Unparalleled Monster of Japan...?"

"You know..." Clifford began, "...how do you think I look like a monster? I know I look like one, but I'm not that scary...am I?"

*THUD*

In that instant, all the other Pandora fell to the ground like anime characters.

"Oh, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha," the shorter Pandora laughed as he and the taller Pandora began to leave. "Well, we gotta go, so later."

"Se ya around, brat," hissed Rocky.

"And THEY are...?" asked Elliot.

"Oh, you don't know? That's Charlie Bonaparte and Jules Munberk, two of the five strongest Pandora on the planet, and of course I'M one of them!"


Meanwhile, Dr. Ohara was drinking coffee in her office.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

"Come in."

*CLICK* *CREEK*

Anthony entered the office.

"Ah, Anthony, have a seat," said Dr. Ohara politely. "Coffee?"

"Nah, I'm good," Anthony said as sat down. "So, about MARK IV—"

"It was decided by the committee, not me."

"I-I just wanted to ask: Is this supposed to be an improvement of MARK III?"

"Yes, this one has better stabilizing capabilities."

"WHY?! That medicine was a total failure, right?! It's almost impossible to stabilize the Stigmata with our current level of technology...! I should know, I volunteered to use it, didn't I?"

"MARK IV is NOTHING like MARK III. It was created based on the original Pandora's official data we obtained. There's no need to worry about the intensity of any violent after effects anymore. MARK IV is so much safer and more effective than MARK III. It's basically like a while NEW medicine."

"But...it STILL poses a huge risk as time goes on, and to the Stigmata fused with our bodies, doesn't it? Is it really safe to use...? Can the fuck you say that...our lives won't be in any danger?"

"WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE!" Dr. Ohara finally screamed as he angrily stood up out of his chair. "You agreed to this project knowing the risks! You signed the contract, didn't you?! I'm the one who decdes if there are risks or not! YOUR job is to do what I tell you! Nothing MORE! Nothing LESS!"

"I...I know that...but still...you KNOW how greatly MARK III traumatized us. The fear we could die...and pain great enough to make us nearly forget about that...that's why everyone is terrified...DON'T WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEAR DEATH?!"

"NO! Even if your life is in danger, this project will move forward, whether you LIKE it or NOT!"

"...*SIGH*...You're right," Anthony said as he got up. "I'm sorry to trouble you. I just...I just hope we won't have any problems like last time..." And so he began to walk away, leaving Dr. Ohara to calmly sit back down and continue drinking his coffee.

End


Cast:

Charlie Bonaparte: ? (Japanese); Chris Niosi (English)


Later