Volume 4

(Eshiko Sugata's Opening Monologue)

Hello again, everyone. Sugata Eshiko at your service.

In Greek mythology, a Harpy is a half-human, half-bird personification of storm winds.

Zeus had given the gift of prophecy to King Phineus of Thrace, who used it to uncover the secret plan of the god. Angry, Zeus blinded him and put him on an island, where there was a lot of food; however, Phineus could not eat anything, because the Harpies would steal his food before he could eat it. Years later, Jason and the Argonauts arrived at the island, managing to drive the Harpies away. The Harpies escaped to their cave in Crete, while Phineus helped the Argonauts by telling them how to pass the Symplegades rocks.

(End of Opening Monologue)


"…I-It CANNOT be," Nymph whispered. "Is that…the GAMMAS?!"

"That's right…" said the first Harpy, the one with yellow hair, who gave an evil smile. "WE are both Harpy, the Interceptor Angeloid: Type Gamma."

"We have come to help you," said the second Harpy, the one with green hair, "retrieve the Uranus King."

Nymph slowly got onto his feet.

"Don't worry, Master's orders," said the first Harpy.

"To be honest, she's been kinda worried about you," said the second.

"She HAS?" asked Nymph.

"Of course, she gave you the simple order of taking back the Uranus King," said the first.

"But since you've been taking a long time, she felt concerned that you might've gotten hurt. So, she sent us to help you," said the second. "I guess she's gotten worried sick."

Nymph gently clutched the chain on his choker as he gave a small smile. "Is Master…really worried?"


On Synapse, Minos watched in eligible delight. "Aw, just look at how happy he seems. Smile as much as you'd like, Nymph, because once you destroy the Uranus King, annihilate the Downers, and return to me, you will be SCRAPPED for your disobedience, you defective piece of shit…hee hee hee hee…I can only imagine the look on his face once that happens. AH HA HA HA HA HA HA HAH! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAH!"


"There is no time left…you MUST save the angels…before it's too late…"

Tomoko slowly opened her eyes as she woke up out of her futon the next day.

"Good morning, Master," said Icarus, who knelt right next to her.

"Hey, where's Nymph?" asked Tomoko.

"Um…"


"WHAT?!" Sora yelled at the New World Discovery Club. "Nymph-san's GONE?!"

"Yes, he never returned last night," explained Icarus.

"B-But why?"

"No idea," said Tomoko. "I guess he didn't feel like it."

"Tomo-chan, did you do anything to hurt him?"

"Me? No! I-I—"

"AHA! Yer actin' kinda nervous, Sakurai-chan!" accused Makoto. "Looks like we hit da jackpot."

"NO! I swear!"

"You know, I saw him flying from your house the other day," said Sugata. "And he seemed kinda bugged out."

"Tomo-chan! We gotta find him!" Sora pleaded.

"L-Look, I'm sure he'll be alright," said Tomoko. "Anyways, Icarus, I need to go into town to get something, and I'd like you to come with me."

"As you wish, Master."


Meanwhile, Nymph and the two Harpies waited by a tree in the middle of town.

"THIS seems like a good place to ambush the Uranus King," said the first.

*FLASH* *POP* *POP* *POP* *POP* *POP* *POP* *POP* *POP*

Just then, a large bazooka cannon deployed on his left arm.

"W-What are you doing?" Nymph asked in confusion.

*FLASH* *POP* *POP* *POP* *POP* *POP* *POP* *POP* *POP*

"You know what to do, Beta," the second said as he deployed his own bazooka.

"You'll need to hide us with your P-Stealth System," said the first. "That way, we can help you when you need us."

"W-What do you mean?" asked the light blue-haired Angeloid boy.

"These are our High-Ferver Object Compression Anti-Aircraft Gun 'Prometheus'," explained the first. "They can shoot flaming hot projectiles that can reach up to 3000 degrees Celsius in 4 km/s."

"If he can't deploy Aegis in time, the Uranus King won't be ANY different from us," said the second. "We'll kill him in ONE shot."

"WAIT a sec! I thought we were going to BRING him back to Synapse," Nymph cried, "not DESTROY him. We have to CONVINCE him to return.

"We WILL," claimed the first. "These babies are just back-up in case we have to use FORCE."

"But we will NOT need to use them if you successfully convince him," said the second. "You'll never believe how proud Master will be when you succeed."

"…'How proud Master will be'…" thought Nymph. "A-Alright, but you have to PROMISE that you won't use force unless needed."

"Fine," said the first.

"We promise," said the second.

But as they turned around, the two Harpies looked at each other with villainous grins.


Meanwhile, Tomoko and Icarus had just finished their errands in the city, and now they were heading back to Tomoko's house; Icarus followed his master from behind, but then stopped in his tracks as he remembered something not so long ago…


"Fine, I'll go! But DO NOT think you've seen the last of me! And DO NOT think you can continue to go around FOOLING your master!" With one last grin, Nymph disappeared.


"…I…I have to tell her…"

"Huh? Hey, Icarus, what's wrong?" asked Tomoko.

"Master, the truth is…"

"…'The truth'?"

"The truth is…I'm saying goodbye," said the Angeloid. "I know we've haven't lived together, but I fear I might cause you more trouble if I stay any longer."

Tomoko's eyes widened at what she had just heard.

"No matter what happens," Icarus continued, "I will NEVER forget my time with you. You will always be…my Master. Goodbye." With one final bow, Icarus removed his jacket and took off to the sky, leaving her now FORMER master behind in deep shock.


Icarus continued flying as far away as he possibly could. Just then, he noticed a large crevice in the woods, so he began analyzing it. "Judging from the size, my analysis indicates that this was caused by the Interceptor Angeloid: Type Gamma."

*BEEP*

Icarus suddenly got a transmission in his left ear. "Nymph…" Wasting no time, Icarus flew to where the transmission was being transmitted. "He must be after me. I'm sorry, Master, but I might become something that you'd hate. THAT is why I left you…for your own safety."


"ICARUS!" Tomoko desperately rushed all over town. "DAMMIT! Where the hell is he? I thought that with him and Nymph gone, I'd FINALLY get back to my peace and quiet, but now…" Tomoko stopped to catch her breath. "…Why am I looking for them? I…I…"

"Need a ride?" asked Sugata from right behind on her bike.

"Sugata-senpai!" the concerned female pervert exclaimed. "What are YOU doing here?"

"I'm here to help you find Icarus and Nymph." Sugata pulled out her laptop. "I just heard reports of a huge explosion last night, but they weren't by neither Icarus nor Nymph. I fear someone's gotten to them, and judging by its direction, flight speed, and abilities, we might be able to find them. QUICK! Get on!"

Tomoko obeyed and hopped onto the—

"Yo, Eshi-chan," said Makoto from behind, "you'll neva make it on justa broke-ass bike." Behind Makoto was a limousine.

"…Thanks, Prez," Tomoko said as she and Sugata entered—

"WAIT!" Sora had just arrived on the scene as well.

"Sora, please wait here," said Tomoko.

"NO! I'm going with you. Icarus-kun and Nymph-san are MY friends too! So, I'm going too! And if you won't let me, I'll karate chop you to death!"

"…Fine," Tomoko sighed. And so, all four teenagers got into the limousine to find the two Angeloid boys. "Hey, Prez, what's that in your hands?"

"THIS?" Makoto looked down at the gift he had in his arms. "Oh, it's a birthday letter for Icarus and Nymph."

"What? Do they even have birthdays?"

"No, they told me that they didn't," said Sora. "So tonight, we're giving them their FIRST birthday party!"

"I figured it would be fitting since Christmas is considered the angels' birthday," said Sugata

"Really? Why?" asked the female pervert.

"Well, Icarus-san keeps looking like a doll who doesn't laugh or smile," explained Sora. "And Nymph-san seems to be sad and lonely all the time."

"Wow! So, what do you have for them?"

"A picture book! Full of all the adventures on good times…well, ALMOST good times we had together. Like when we went to the beach and Icarus sank into the ocean. Or that psychotic festival shooting game. Or when we stayed at Prez's house, and you almost caused a curse onto this town. Or when we went Christmas shopping and Icarus told lies to 'be more human'. Or when you disguised yourself to bathe with us at the bathing house. Or when Icarus began attending school. Or that time we went to the summer festival with Icarus and Nymph."

"Cool pictures, homie," said Makoto. "I'm sure Icarus-kun and Nymph-kun will smile at dem!"

"I didn't know what else to get, so I just started making it."

"…Cool," Tomoko whispered.


Arriving at his destination, Icarus landed right in front of Nymph.

"Heh, I knew you'd find me if I turned off stealth mode," said Nymph. "I'm sorry to tell you this, Alpha, but…the TRUTH is…"

"You intend to take me back to the sky," answered the pink haired Angeloid boy. "Is THAT why you came here?"

"*GASP*…Yes, how did you—"

*BANG* *ZAP* *BOOM*

Suddenly, Icarus was hit by a flaming projectile, blowing up the area.

"WHAT THE…!" Nymph covered his eyes to prevent the dirt from getting in his eyes. When the dust settled, Nymph became horrified at the sight of Icarus, who was unconsciously laying on the ground, with his right wing blown off; the Harpies laughed as they stood over their prey.

"W-WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" screamed Nymph. "YOU PROMISED NO VIOLENCE!"

"You don't get it, you idiot," said the first Harpy. "We've been LYING! We were supposed to KILL the Uranus King and obtain the Uranus system core within his wings, we just need YOU as bait to lure him out."

"Thanks for your help, though," said the second.

"Oh my god! What have I done?" Nymph became horrified as the Harpies pointed their Prometheus cannons at the Uranus King.

"All too easy," said the first.

"Sweet dreams, Uranus King" said the second.

"No…No! Please!" the blue haired Angeloid whispered, right before he started getting angry. "PLEASE!"

"Oh, shut up and fuck off!" yelled the first.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! PARADISE SONG!" Nymph's raging, high-powered energy sound beam blasted at the Harpies; once the beam stopped, the Harpies were nowhere to be seen, except for some torn pieces of their Olympic-like running uniforms. "Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee! Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh! Hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah! HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!" Nymph quietly began laughing, but then his laughing began getting psychotically louder. "SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU ASSHOLES! DID YOU REALLY THINK I'D FALL FOR SUCH A TRICK LIKE THAT!" As he cotniued laughing, tears started rolling down his eyes. HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH! HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH—"

Suddenly, the light blue-haired Angeloid was grabbed from the back of his ponytail and thrown to the ground by a claw.

"—AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Looking up, Nymph saw in horror that the two Harpies were alive and well, although they both had blood running down their temples: the right side of the first, and the left side of the second.

As Icarus regained some consciousness, he unconsciously watched as the Harpies proceeded to torment Nymph.

"What do we do with him?" asked the first.

"Rip his wings off!" the second ordered as he held his right foot claw on Nymph's head.

"WHAT?! NO! PLEASE! ANYTHING BUT THAT! I BEG YOU!" pleaded Nymph. But his cries were insufficient as the second grabbed his right wing and ripped it clean off.

*RIP*

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Nymph cried in pain.

Then the second did the same to the LEFT.

*RIP*

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Despite his injuries, Icarus slowly got onto his feet.

"WHAT?!" gasped the second.

"Are you shitting me?" yelled the first. "I gave him a direct hit! How the hell is he still standing?"

"HEY! Sorry to ruin your fun," shouted a voice from behind, "BUT WE'RE TAKING OUR FRIENDS BACK HOME!" It was Tomoko and her friends.

Sora noticed the first clutching Nymph's ripped wings. "What have you done? You…You ripped off his wings!" Sora began shaking his fist. "How COULD you?! They…They were SO BEAUTIFUL!"

"Safeties disabled." Icarus' battle armor formed on his body.

"ALPHA, NO!" cried Nymph. "TOMOKO'S RIGHT THERE!"

"URANUS KING MODE: ACTIVATE!"

"ALPHA!"

But it was too late, more wings materialized right behind Icarus' back and a halo formed over his head, and then he opened his eyes to reveal that they have turned red. "Master, I am sorry. There is something I need to tell you: the truth is…I am a Strategic Battle-Class Angeloid, a weapon that you hate."

"…I know. I kinda figured it out a few days ago," Tomoko said with a smile. "The truth is…I told you I didn't want you to be a weapon because I felt sorry for you. You spent most of your days caring for a watermelon. I know you're a kind and gentle young man. I thought it was unfair for a boy like you to be born as a weapon of mass destruction. But now, in a situation like THIS, I'm glad to have you as a weapon, so you can save our friends."

Tomoko's words moved her Angeloid servant to tears.

"Now GO! TAKE 'EM OUT! THAT'S AN ORDER!" Tomoko yelled. "We'll take care of Nymph."

"A-As you…As you wish, Master."

"Shit!" yelled the first Harpy.

"Let's get the hell outta here!" yelled the second.

The two Harpies launched into the air, with Icarus giving chase, while the four humans came to Nymph's side.

"Hold on, Nymph!" cried Tomoko.

"Are you alright?" asked Sugata.

"I'm SO sorry about your wings!" said Sora.

"His master must be a real faggot…" said Makoto.

The four humans grabbed the chain attached to Nymph's choker.

"NO! DON'T!" cried Nymph. "THE CHOKER'S A BOMB! IT COULD DETONATE ANY SECOND!"

*ZAP*

The chain suddenly electrocuted the humans, causing them to all lose their grip and fall back.

"Senpai, what do we do?" asked Tomoko.

"Chains may be resistant against pulling, but they're also WEAK against twisting." Sugata pulled out an axe from her backpack. "We might be able to cut through a part that's been twisted with this axe."

"ARE YOU BUGS LISTENING TO ME?!" Nymph screamed. "YOU'LL GET KILLED IF YOU DON'T GET OUTTA HERE!"

"We're willing to take that chance," said Tomoko.

"That's what friends are for, Nymph-san," said Sora.

Hearing their words, tears began to roll down Nymph's face. "I…I don't get it. Why, Alpha? Since our creation, Angeloids have never thought about being happy. Our only existence was to please our masters. I just don't understand. Is this what they call 'happiness'? Maybe now I can smile! Is that how it is, Alpha?"

The four humans began twisting the chain with some twigs.

*CHOP*

Using Sugata's axe, Tomoko cut the chain, successfully freeing Nymph.


In the air, the second Harpy struck at Icarus with his clawed hands and feet. "HOLD STILL!" But Icarus uppercut him in the chin, throwing him back to the first.

Icarus then struck at both of them with his wings, sending them flying a few feet.

"TAKE THIS!" The Harpies deployed their Prometheus arm cannons and launched their projectiles at the Uranus King.

*BOOM* *BOOM*

Icarus quickly deployed his Aegis shield, deflecting the shots.

"KEEP SHOOTING!" shouted the first. And that's what the Harpies did, but to no avail in taking down Icarus.

"CONNECT!" All of a sudden, a ginormous aerial battleship slowly began fading in right above Icarus.

"Is that…" began the second.

"…the Uranus System?!" concluded the first.

Three cannons from the battleship came into view of the two Harpies. "Fire!" At Icarus' command, the cannons shot rockets at the Harpies.

*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*

The Harpies barely managed to avoid the missiles. Just then, Icarus launched Artemis missiles, destroying the Prometheus cannons. Then, the Harpies were captured by two arms. Finally, a ginormous particle beam was blasted at the Harpies, but the Harpies managed to break free, barely avoiding the beam; however, instead of striking back, they begrudgingly retreated, vowing revenge.

"Retreat confirmed," said Icarus. "Returning to normal." Icarus slowly regressed back to normal, then looked down at his friends, knowing that they were safe, and that he had won.


"MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ICARUS-SAN AND NYMPH-SAN!" shouted the humans later that night; they had returned to Tomoko's house to celebrate Icarus and Nymph's birthday; in front of the Angeloids was a birthday cake.

"And HERE is my gift…" Tomoko presented the birthday boys with orange seeds in her hands.

"Aw, thanks, you guys!" Nymph yelled with a smile on his face.

"Yes, thank you," said Icarus with a small smile as—

"*GASP* Icarus!" Tomoko exclaimed. "Did you just…smile?"

"Huh?"

"Holy shit! Do it again! DO IT AGAIN!"

"…smile," the pink haired Angeloid said with a chibitized body.

*WHACK*

Enraged, Tomoko chibitized and whacked the back of her Angeloid's head with a paper fan, shouting, "GODDAMMIT, YOU MORON!"

End


Cast:

Harpy 1: Rikiya Koyama (Japanese); Matthew Mercer (English)

Harpy 2: Takehito Koyasu (Japanese); Chris Niosi (English)