Universal Century 0026
A massive purple machine was wreaking havoc in a city. A young man, Aoba Watase, was avoiding the chaos, seeing it all unfold.
"What in the world's going on?! What's with that robot?!"
Within the machine was a man garbed in dark pilot gear, face covered by a helmet. He was chasing down Aoba, laughing maniacally in the cockpit. Ha ha ha! Cower in fear, Aoba Watase! No clue how it happened, but I traveled 70 years in the past! and I found YOU! Aoba Watase! Now I finish you for good!
The purple machine stomped towards Aoba, who shouted in fear.
"Run for it, Aoba!"
He saw a girl calling out to him, someone from his class.
"Hina Yumihara?!"
"Run if you want to live! Please!" She shouted.
"G-Got it!"
Aoba ran towards one of the school buildings, getting under cover.
"No way! NO WAY! Why...WHY?!" The pilot inside the purple machine slammed his fist. "Hina! What in the world are you doing here?!"
A dark pink machine flew out of one of the buildings. Inside the cockpit were both Hina and Aoba.
"Goodbye…"
Hina aimed her machine's guns and fired several shots at the other machine, causing it to crash.
"Target enemy signature eliminated…" Hina breathed out.
"Umm… so you beat him?" Aoba asked, still confused.
"Yeah…"
"I can't make any sense of everything going on today!" Aoba said, putting a hand on his head. "First today's seating change put me right next to you, and then that robot attacked me! And then you suddenly jumped into a robot and defeated the other one! Yumihara, I heard you lived abroad for a long time, but what the heck is going on here?!"
Hina was silent at the outburst.
"Can you tell me something?" Aoba asked.
"What?"
"Everything."
"...Fine." Hina nodded. "This might be hard to believe but I actually came here from the same future as the guy in the other robot."
"Wha? Are you saying what I think you are?"
"That's right. We're from the future. Both me and him." Hina revealed.
"So what about this? Is the robot from the future too?" Aoba asked.
"It is. Exactly the same future as me. Though the situation's messy in many ways."
Aoba was left in further shock as Hina continued.
"I've actually been watching over you ever since I came to this era."
"Me?"
"That's right... You, Aoba Watase. Or the version of you from before I actually met you. I was actually really surprised when my seat ended up next to yours today. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the two of us would ever sit next to each other."
Aoba was left silent, trying to process everything.
"You seemed puzzled. But I could never have left your side… You see, I knew the guy from earlier would one day come here to kill you."
"Why?"
"Well… because you told me." Hina said.
More silence as Aoba took it all in.
"Aoba... get off."
"Huh?"
"My work is finished... I defeated the guy trying to kill you. Now you need to resume your life here. And forget about people from the future." Hina explained.
"Hold it, Yumihara! What are you going to do?!"
"I'll flee. Things could get very troublesome if I stay here." Hina told him.
"So you'll go back to the future?"
Hina shook her head. "No, I don't know how to do that. So I'll just flee."
"Yeah but where to?! If anyone ever finds this gigantic robot…" Aoba said, looking around the cockpit.
"I get that! But I don't have any other choice right now!"
Aoba looked outside and saw that the purple machine had recovered, and stood back up.
"That guy's moving!" He yelled.
"Wha-?!"
"RAAAAAARGH!"
The purple machine charged forward, grabbing Hina's as it dug its hands into the shoulders.
"Eek!" A few sparks went off inside the cockpit as Hina winced.
"Hina! I still have options even if I can't fight!" The other pilot roared.
"No…" Hina's pupils shrank. "You plan to self-destruct?!"
"Exactly!"
"You wouldn't!"
"Well, I never expected to find you here, Hina!" He yelled.
"I knew you'd come here." Hina narrowed her eyes.
"Is that so? Then you must know what happens next, right?"
Hina grit her teeth.
"You die right along with Aoba Watase and me!"
Before anything else could happen though, a yellow wormhole suddenly formed itself in the sky.
"What the heck is that?!" Aoba pointed.
"A singularity…" Hina recognized, before she seemed to have an epiphany. "Oh... I think I see…"
"Huh?"
"Hang on tight!"
She started pushing the purple mech, pulling both of them closer to the singularity.
"What are you doing, Hina?!" The other pilot screamed. "What are you thinking?!"
"I finally figured it out. This is how our destiny goes." Hina said calmly.
"Destiny?" Aoba asked.
"I could never quite figure out why you appeared before me and why I could never forget you." She said, looking at him.
"Yumihara…"
"Call me Hina."
"Hina?"
"Aoba... Just trust me."
"...Okay, Hina."
"Here we go!"
With one final push, they all fell into the wormhole together, as it sealed up behind them.
Inside of the wormhole, the robot Aoba and Hina were in was traveling through it while the purple robot that had attacked Aoba had seemingly vanished.
"What is this place?!" Aoba was looking around in awe.
"Aoba... This is where we part ways." Hina said.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You're going to the future." She said.
"To the future? But what about you?"
"Dio is waiting."
"Wha? Who's that? What's going on, Hina?! What is all of this?!"
"Dio is waiting, Aoba." Hina started to fade as Aoba was dragged further into the singularity.
"Hina! Hinaaa!"
Universal Century 0100
Tsubasa had brought Hibiki back to Section Two's base under the school... though she was noticeably in handcuffs again.
"Tsubasa, you really didn't need to bring her back here in handcuffs again." Kanade frowned.
Tsubasa said nothing as Ogawa undid the cuffs.
"Anyways, here are the results of your medical examination from yesterday!" Ryoko said.
Ryoko brought up Hibiki's body scans on the screen.
"Besides some signs that the shock of your first transformation affected you, there are no notable abnormalities." Ryoko said.
Hibiki rubbed her wrists. "Nothing notable, huh?"
"Shouldn't you actually explain that power to her?" Dio asked.
"Right. Tsubasa?"
At Ryoko's word, Tsubasa reached for her neck and pulled out a necklace that was made from what appeared to be a red gemstone.
"The necklace that Tsubasa has bears the first relic, Ame no Habakiri." Genjuro said.
"Relic?" Hibiki repeated.
"Relics are powerful artifacts documented in legends from around the world." Ryoko explained. "They were created by heretics in ancient times, yet are beyond our current technology."
"Most of them can be found in old ruins but a lot of them have lost their power due to being worn out over time. So it's kinda a rarity to find ones that still have their original power." Kanade further clarified.
"Ame no Habakiri is one such relic, though it is a mere fragment of what was once a blade." Genjuro said.
"I've heard of such relics before, but this is the first time I'm really seeing one like this." Dio said. "What exactly activates them?"
"The only thing that can amplify and free the sliver of power left in the fragments are waves of a specific amplitude." Ryoko said.
"Waves of a special amplitude?" Hibiki repeated.
"She's talking about songs." Kanade said. "They're activated through the act of singing."
"Songs? Oh, right! I remember the song I sang filled my entire mind!" Hibiki recalled.
"Yep." Ryoko nodded. "You break down the power into raw energy and reconstruct it as the Anti-Noise armor you and Tsubasa have - the Symphogear."
"Huh… Wait, how come you didn't include Kanade in that?" Hibiki asked. "Because I definitely remember her wearing one back then at the concert."
Kanade winced at the reminder, as Tsubasa slightly glared at Hibiki.
"Kanade's relic took a lot of damage two years ago." Ryoko said. "I've been working on repairing it, but it's been a long job."
"There's also… other factors that we won't get into but the point is that Kanade is unable to transform for the time being." Genjuro said. "Thus leaving Tsubasa and now you as the only Attuned we have."
"Attuned?" Dio repeated.
"We call those few people who can activate the relics and sing the songs to construct Symphogear the "Attuned."" Genjuro clarified.
"I see." Dio put a hand under his chin. It's similar in concept to one of Bradyon's functions…
"So?" Ryoko asked. "Do you think you understand the basics of the power that awakened in you now?"
"Well… no." Hibiki admitted. "I still really don't understand."
A few of the Section Two members sweatdropped.
"Well, explaining such terms to someone who was only recently a civilian would likely elicit this reaction…" Dio sighed.
"And you did use some really big words, Ryoko." Kanade added.
"Fair. For now, it'll be enough to remember that I'm the scientist behind the Sakurai Theory, which describes the extraction of power from relics." Ryoko said.
"Okay…"
"But what confuses me is that you said you'd need a relic to activate a Symphogear." Dio said. "Unlike Tsubasa's pendant, Hibiki does not have one."
"Right, that part. Well, if you all look back at the screen." Ryoko said, pulling up a clicker.
The screen then pulls up an image of Hibiki's X-ray, which shows what appeared to be shards of glass in her ribcage.
"Do you know what that is?" Genjuro asked Dio and Hibiki.
"Are those... shards?" Dio raised a brow. "Foreign bodies in her ribs?"
"Wait, isn't that where I got the wound from the stadium two years ago?" Hibiki recognized.
"Indeed." Ryoko nodded. "It appears that there are multiple fragments that are so close to your heart that it makes it impossible to remove them. And according to our research, those fragments are from Kanade's relic, Gungnir. Aka the third relic."
Both Tsubasa and Kanade widened their eyes.
"So her abilities come from those shards?" Dio asked.
Ryoko nodded in confirmation. Putting a hand over her face, Tsubasa left the room. Kanade watched as she left, briefly reaching out her hand and wondering if she should follow her, but didn't know if it was a good idea.
"Um…" Hibiki said.
"What's wrong?" Genjuro asked.
"Do I really have to keep this to myself?" Hibiki asked.
"If word got out about you having a Symphogear, it would endanger the lives of those close to you like your family and friends." Genjuro said.
"It's best if you keep this info silent. The risk factor to them would be significantly lowered, especially with the threats of Zogilia and Neo-Zeon always looming over us." Dio added.
"I see…"
"On the behalf of the second branch of the Japanese government's Disaster Relief Squad, I would like to ask for your cooperation. Hibiki Tachibana, will you use the power of your Symphogear in the battle against the Noise and possible other threats?" Genjuro asked.
"I can... help people with this power, right?" She asked.
The Section Two members all nodded. Kanade however, didn't.
"The decision is up to you." Dio said.
"Well…"
Before Hibiki could give her answer, the alarm system in the base started to go off.
"The Noise alarm!" Kanade said.
"We're getting a transmission from Captain Kuramitsu!" Fujitaka said.
The screen changes from the medical information about Hibiki to an image of Captain Kuramitsu.
"Captain Kuramitsu, what's the situation?!" Dio said, stepping up.
"Ah, sorry to make a sudden call like this, but we were on our way to link up the Cygnus with Section Two when several Noise suddenly appeared." Kuramatsu said. "The other Valiancers are defending the ship, but the number of foes are surprisingly quite high. We're requesting backup, as we're transporting important cargo."
"Important cargo?" Kanade repeated.
"Important cargo...?" Dio said, before realizing what his Captain was talking about. "I got it, Captain! We're sending reinforcements your way!"
"We appreciate it, Dio. See you in a bit."
The transmission ended, as Dio got ready to leave the room.
"Wait Dio, what's this "important cargo?"" Ryoko asked.
Dio turned around to face them. "The Valiancer unit that's meant to sync up with mine; the Luxon."
"I see." Genjuro crossed his arms. "I know this is a sudden situation, Hibiki-kun, but…"
"No, I understand." Hibiki stood up. "If it means protecting lives, then I'll fight!"
Dio chuckled. "Your resolve is striking. Then let's move out!"
At an empty highway at night, the Alliance battleship Cygnus was hovering overhead, as its Valiancer unit was squaring off against the horde of Noise that had shown up. Kuramatsu sat in the captain's chair, as the bridge crew directed things.
"What's the status of the shields?" Renee, the executive officer asked.
"67% power! We're holding out relatively fine!" Anessa reported.
"And our Valiancers fighting the Noise?" Renee asked.
"Lee and Jarl are handling things fairly well at the moment, but at this rate, the Noise are going to overwhelm them!" Mayuka, the other operator informed.
"Is it possible for us to fall back if need be?!" Renee asked.
"Negative. We'll likely expend all our resources if we try retreating from the Noise, or push past them." Anessa said, turning to Captain Kuramatsu. "Captain, our best chance of survival is remaining put."
"Then we'll remain put until Dio arrives." He said, leaning back in the chair.
"Captain, as skilled as Dio is, the Bradyon is still only a single Valiancer." Renee reasoned.
"Oh, he won't be arriving alone." He smiled.
The Bradyon flew onto the battlefield, with Hibiki and Tsubasa landing nearby. They saw the Cygnus flying overhead.
"Whoa! Is that-" Hibiki said.
"Yes, that's the Cygnus." Dio said.
"An aircraft of that size…" Tsubasa said in awe.
Dio tapped his communications line. "This is Ensign Dio to the Cygnus! I've arrived with two of Section Two's Symphogear users! Providing backup!"
"You've arrived in the nick of time, Dio." Kuramitsu's voice came in.
"Hibiki, Tsubasa, I'll provide support in the air. You two handle the two on the ground." Dio said.
"Fine." Tsubasa nodded.
"I-I got it!" Hibiki said.
With that, the Bradyon flew up towards the Cygnus, while firing down at a few Noise in its path. Tsubasa slowly started to walk forward, holding out her blade to the side as it increased in size. Suddenly, she broke into a sprint as she started slashing apart the Noise.
"Whoa…" Hibiki said in awe.
Hibiki soon noticed one of the Noise leapt at her, before she quickly ducked out of the way. It then tried striking again, but Hibiki smacked it with her hand. To her surprise, it exploded into carbon upon impact.
"Right... I can do this!" Hibiki said.
A few more Noise come after Hibiki, but this time she starts throwing a few punches and kicks that take them out with each hit. Up in the sky, Bradyon sliced through several more Noise, breaking apart the main force attacking the Cygnus.
"Yo, Dio!" Lee grinned.
"Lee! Jarl! Let's wipe out the Noise!" Dio said.
"Might as well!" Jarl agreed.
The two in their Valiancers link up with Dio as they fired and sliced through waves of Noise.
"Ugh, I'm not gonna get used to fighting these creeps!" Jarl groaned.
"Keep your head in the game, Jarl!" Lee commanded, as he shot up another Noise on Cygnus.
The two Valiancers kept attacking and pushing back the Noise. Dio did the same, but did notice they were struggling ever so slightly.
We should be able to pull through this one, but any future battles we'll need more allies... I only hope the pilot of Luxon will be capable. He thought.
The Noise in the sky were all dealt with thanks to the combined effort of the Valiancers.
"Status report. Are there any more Noise still remaining?" Renee asked.
"No, ma'am. We're not detecting any more Noise signals in the sky." Mayuka said. "The few on the ground are fading."
"Anything else to report?
"Jarl and I took a bit of a beating in that fight. We'll be retreating back to the Cygnus to work on repairs." Lee said.
"Dio, stay in the air for now in case there are any more." Kuramitsu commanded.
"Understood." His radar beeped. "Wait, what…?"
Back down below, Hibiki and Tsubasa had both finished off the last of the Noise.
"So it's over…" Tsubasa said.
"Tsubasa-san!"
Hibiki ran up towards Tsubasa, who didn't turn around to look at the rookie Gear User.
"Sorry, Tsubasa-san! I know I'm probably slowing you and everyone else down right now as I am but I'll do my best to improve! So, please let me fight with you!" Hibiki said.
Tsubasa gripped her blade, and was about to speak her mind to Hibiki before Dio came in on the comms.
"Hibiki! Tsubasa! Look alive!"
"Ensign Dio?" Tsubasa raised a brow. "What's-?"
"We just picked it up on the radar; several Valiancers and Mobile Suits are approaching fast- ones that don't fly the Alliance flag!"
"What?!" Hibiki yelled.
A squadron of Zogilia Valiancers and Neo-Zeon mobile suits flew into view.
"What?! Why are they here?!" Tsubasa said.
"They likely had a spy network learn about Cygnus taking off, and also learned about Luxon's transportation." Kuramitsu presumed.
"So they're here to either steal or destroy the Luxon then!" Dio realized.
"We're... going to have to fight humans?" Hibiki asked.
"This is the reality of war, Tachibana. If this scares you, feel free to run." Tsubasa gripped her blade.
"Hibiki, your Symphogear should be strong and fast enough to keep up with mobile suits and Valiancers. Just stick with disabling the machines instead of outright destroying them; we do need to interrogate some of them, after all." Dio said.
"A-Alright!"
In the back behind all of the Zogilia and Neo-Zeon forces was a purple Valiancer from Zogilia, inside was one of their soldiers observing the situation.
"So that red one is the new model we've been after… The secret weapon of the Free Pact Alliance…" Bizon said. "We'll start by gathering data. Keep your eyes open on those two armored girls as well, and avoid underestimating them; they're an unknown enemy. It was dumb luck that they're in this situation in the first place thanks to the sudden Noise attack."
"Roger, sir!"
While the fight was going on, the Cygnus hangar had Luxon, standing and ready for takeoff. The cockpit glew, and Aoba found himself sitting in it.
"Huh?! What just-?!"
On the bridge of the Cygnus, the dashboard began to beep.
"Whoa!" Mayuka saw the alert.
"What happened, Mayu?" Elvira asked.
"The Luxon's feeling-match index is rising!" Mayuka reported.
"That can't be, Mayuka! No one's riding it, right?" Elvira asked.
"But this response... And the Luxon's achieved a strong match with Dio!" Mayuka realized.
"What?! Who's matching up with me?!" Dio asked.
The enemy Valiancers fired at the Cygnus, causing a few explosions on the side.
"The hangar has been blasted open! Luxon's vulnerable!" Anessa shouted.
The hanging doors revealed the Luxon standing in the hangar.
"So the Luxon's been brought out into the open!" Dio grit his teeth.
"Defend the Cygnus! Don't let the enemy get near the Luxon!" Kuramitsu ordered.
Now that the hangar doors were opened, Aoba was able to get a good look of his surroundings from inside the Luxon and saw the situation that was currently unfolding.
"Where the heck am I? And what am I doing in these clothes?" Aoba looked down at himself, before remembering. "Hina! Where's Hina?!"
"You in the Luxon!" Renee came up on the communications line. "State your name and affiliation!"
"Umm… I'm Aoba Watase, a Seio High School freshman." Aoba answered.
"Seio High School?" Tsubasa repeated.
"Someone from the lab...?" Renee guessed. "At any rate, you're in danger there! Move the Luxon! Now!"
"Um... how do I do that?" Aoba asked.
"What, you don't have a category A license?!" Renee yelled. "It's against military regulations for someone with no license to be in a Valiancer! Get out now!"
"Wait, there's licenses for piloting giant robots?" Hibiki asked.
"If they're military-grade productions, yes." Tsubasa said.
"Get out... but how?!" Aoba was about to start rapidly pressing buttons.
"Mayu, what was it you said earlier?" Kuramitsu asked.
"Readings indicate that the Luxon has achieved a nice coupling with the Bradyon…" Mayuka said.
"If that's the case… Couple it and the Bradyon." Kuramitsu ordered.
"Captain?!" Renee said.
"We're in a bad situation. If we don't do something, the Luxon will be captured without resistance." Kuramitsu reasoned. "If Dio can share his abilities with the new arrival, he should be able to get the Luxon out of there even without experience, right?"
"Do you seriously want to couple up Dio with someone we don't even know?!" Elvira asked.
"Well, the readings show that we can, right?" He said.
"But!"
"What about the confidentiality issues?!" Renee added.
"I'll take full responsibility for that. If we just leave him in there, we'll be in as much danger as him." Kuramitsu slightly smirked. "And I really do hate losing. You know that, right, Lieutenant Commander?"
Renee sighed before she turned back to the communications. "Luxon, Bradyon, commence the coupling process!"
"Roger!" Elvira shouted.
"That's not going to be possible at this rate!" Dio dodged the enemy gunfire. "There are too many enemy Valiancers and mobile suits, and the Symphogears aren't designed for aerial combat! I won't be able to couple without a significant amount of covering fire!"
"Wait, another mobile suit signal has entered the area!" Anessa reported.
At that moment, an all-white mobile suit with a single horn on top of its head flew onto the battlefield. It pulled out a black rifle and pulled the trigger, firing a red and blue beam at one of the Neo-Zeon mobile suits, destroying it.
"What?!" Bizon shouted.
One of the Neo-Zeon soldiers recognized it. "It's a Gundam-!"
His mobile suit was slashed in half from a beam saber slash. The white Gundam turned to the Cygnus.
"This is Ensign Banagher Links of Londo Bell! Providing backup!" The pilot made himself known.
"Londo Bell, huh…" Kuramitsu said. "Guess we can count ourselves lucky."
"Ah, Londo Bell! I remember learning about them in school!" Hibiki said, recognizing the name.
"Commander, your orders?" Dio asked.
"Continue with the coupling process if you don't mind." Kuramitsu said.
"...Roger. You listening, Luxon rider?" Dio said.
"You mean me?" Aoba asked.
"Yes, you! Get ready, we're about to couple!" Dio said.
"Couple?"
"Just do exactly as I say!"
Bizon was watching things from the back, gritting his teeth. "The new model will get away at this rate! Detachment, get in there!"
"Roger! Heading in!"
Several enemy Valiancers broke away from the main group, steering clear of the white Gundam as they charged at the Cygnus. One sped forward at the hangar.
"An enemy Valiancer is closing in on the Luxon fast!" Anessa said.
Aoba widened his eyes. "Ahh! Stay away!"
"Quick, say "Connective Dio!"" Dio ordered.
Dio! That's the name Hina mentioned! Aoba remembered.
"Hurry up!"
"Dio! I'm Aoba Watase! Hina said you'd be waiting for me!" Aoba yelled. "Connective Dio!"
"Acception!"
Luxon shot out of the hangar, flying towards Bradyon. The two Valiancers flew together, their backs to one another as wings of blue and red extended from their backs, and black visors lowered on their faces.
"Rrraaaaaaaargh!"
With blinding speed, the two Valiancers drew their blades and slashed at the approaching enemy Valiancer, cleaving it into 4 pieces before it exploded.
"Whoa, what the hell is with that speed?!" Bizon shouted.
"Alright!" Kuramitsu smiled.
"Coupling…" Anessa started.
"Successful!" Elvira finished.
"And it's a perfect match!" Mayuk added.
"Incredible... To think he'd be this compatible with me!" Dio said in awe.
"So that's the weapon of the Free Pact Alliance in action…" Banagher said, also impressed.
"Did I just… move this robot?" Aoba said.
"That's right. Thanks to your coupling with Dio, you now have his piloting knowledge." Elvira explained.
"Really?" Aoba said in surprise.
"That's right. You now know how to pilot Valiancers." Mayuka confirmed.
"That was amazing, Dio!" Hibiki cheered.
"I could barely keep track of it myself…" Tsubasa admitted.
"Bizon, we have orders to fall back now due to the Unicorn Gundam's appearance." A Neo-Zeon soldier said. "I suggest you and your squad do the same thing as well!"
"Very well. It would be risky to take on the Unicorn Gundam and the Alliance's new weapon with the numbers we have." Bizon reasoned. "All units, fall back!"
"The Zogilia and Neo-Zeon forces are retreating!" Renee said, seeing the signals disappear.
"We've driven them off. Thank goodness." Mayuka said in relief.
"Have the Luxon and Bradyon return to the hangar, and request the same to the Gundam." Kuramitsu said. "Oh, and pick up the two Symphogear users as well."
"Roger, sir!" Mayuka said.
As the Luxon returned to the hangar, Aoba let out a breath of relief now that the fight was over. Leaning over, he felt something brush his fingers, seeing it was Hina's hairpin.
"Hina…"
He didn't get to relax for too long however, as the cockpit opened, showing Dio had aimed his gun at him.
"...who are you?" Dio asked.
On the Cygnus, everyone had been brought aboard on the battleship and were currently in the hangar with Dio escorting Aoba out of the Luxon by gunpoint.
"Is the gun really necessary, Dio?!" Hibiki exclaimed, seeing the firearm.
"He suddenly appeared in the Luxon, with no idea of how he arrived in it, and no prior existing information. It's only natural to be wary of him." Dio said.
"I really don't think he's the threat that you're setting him up to be." Banagher said.
"And he did say he was a high school freshman." Hibiki added.
"Though we should ask this. Ensign Banagher, what is a Londo Bell soldier like yourself doing on Earth?" Tsubasa asked. "I was under the belief you were fighting Neo-Zeon in space."
"That's a bit more of a complicated explanation. I was going to link up with Section Two to further explain the situation." Banagher said.
"Londo Bell? Neo-Zeon? What are you guys talking about?" Aoba asked.
"Wha-? Are you serious?" Dio said, not believing what he was hearing.
Something's odd about him... but he doesn't seem untrustworthy. Banagher thought. Those aren't the eyes of a liar.
Captain Kuramitsu and Renee soon walk into the hangar room and approach the group.
"Glad to see you all made it aboard." He said.
"Glad that I made it in time with Section Two." Dio said.
Kuramitsu turned to Hibiki and Tsubasa. "We'll thank you two for supporting Dio."
"Oh uh, I'm pretty new so, you should say that to Tsubasa-san only." Hibiki rubbed the back of her head.
"Regardless, you did help quite a bit."
"It was no issue." Tsubasa said.
"And you must be Ensign Banagher from Londo Bell, right?" Kuramitsu said, turning to Banagher.
"That's right, sir." Banagher said with a salute.
"At ease. Why did you suddenly appear to lend your assistance?" He asked.
"I was under orders of Captain Bright to relay a message to Section Two, and temporarily join up with them." Banagher said. "I contacted Commander Kazanari and found out about the situation here, so I promptly arrived to lend my support. I'll explain the situation further once we join up with Section Two."
"Very well. And lastly… Aoba, right?" Kuramitsu turned to him.
"Y-Yeah?"
"Would you mind explaining how you ended up in the Luxon?"
"Umm… that might be a bit difficult to explain..."
"Why?" Hibiki asked.
"Well, you see…"
Sometime later, the Cygnus docked into Section Two's special hangar. Waiting to meet them were Genjuro and Ryoko. Genjuro and Kuramitsu shared a handshake.
"Glad to see you all made it here." Genjuro said.
"We'd be in a bit of a pickle without those Symphogear users of yours." Kuramitsu said.
"It was no problem at all." Genjuro said.
"So I hear we actually have a Gundam with us now, huh?" Ryoko grinned.
Several of them looked up in the hangar, to see white white Gundam towering over them.
"What's this one called?" Ryoko asked.
"The Unicorn Gundam, Ma'am." Banagher said.
"...you know, with that horn, I should've guessed."
"But… it really doesn't look that much like a Gundam to me." Hibiki said, remembering seeing the Gundam fights on television.
"From what I know of it, the Unicorn's other functions are... locked off at the moment." Banagher said.
"Other functions, you say? That sounds very intriguing!" Ryoko had sparkles in her eyes.
"I wouldn't poke around it. Word of advice." Banagher suggested.
"That only makes me even more curious, but I suppose the pilot is the expert." Ryoko sighed.
"Hibiki-kun, Tsubasa, what is there to report?" Genjuro asked.
"Well... it's complicated, Commander." Tsubasa said.
"Complicated how?"
"The Luxon suddenly gained a new pilot during the battle, but…" Tsubasa started.
"He says he came from the past." Hibiki said.
"What?!" Genjuro said, surprised.
"Oh my~!" Ryoko lowered her glasses.
"It seems quite ridiculous, but he had several forms of identification on him, dated back by 76 years." Kuramitsu said. "He's back on the Cygnus, waiting for interrogation."
"Considering who you're talking to, something like that wouldn't be that ridiculous to us." Ryoko said. "Now I definitely would like to talk to this young man."
"With that decided, Ensign Banagher, what do you have to report to us?" Genjuro asked.
"Well, it's about the current actions of Neo-Zeon." Banagher said.
"Neo-Zeon, huh? What are they up to exactly?" Kuramitsu asked.
"While the main force is still in space, they seem to have moved most of their actual actions onto Earth." Banagher said.
"Why down here exactly?" Ryoko asked.
"We're not quite sure ourselves, which is why Commander Bright sent me down to try figuring it out."
"And you would like us to assist you with figuring out their intentions?" Genjuro asked.
"That is the reason we contacted Section Two, since this sort of thing is their specialty, from what Commander Bright heard." Banagher explained.
"Gathering intel is something we're very good at." Ryoko nodded.
"And we'll lend our aid to you and Londo Bell in finding out Neo-Zeon's intentions." Genjuro said.
"Thank you, Commander Kazanari." Banagher gave another salute. "I'll be sure to let Commander Bright know. In turn, the Unicorn and I will lend our support to Section Two."
"Welcome aboard then, Banagher." Genjuro smiled.
"Hmm…" Anessa stared at Banagher.
"What is it, Anessa?" Mayuka asked.
"Well, Ensign Banagher somewhat reminds me of Dio." She said. "I'm not sure why, exactly."
"Ensign Dio, was it?" Banagher turned to Dio. "You and that other pilot were pretty good out there."
"Your covering fire helped. You weren't too shabby yourself." Dio praised.
"It's like hearing things in stereo…" Hibiki noted.
Pre-Battle Quotes vs Zogilia/Neo-Zeon
Aoba: I don't know what's going on… but I guess I have to fight! I'll survive this and find you, Hina!
Dio: Zogilia… I won't ever forgive you! And you're equally as guilty, Neo-Zeon!
Banagher: Neo-Zeon… what are you planning with Zogilia…?
Hibiki: Fighting another person like this… I'm sorry!
Unit Acquisition
Cygnus (Gengo Kuramitsu, Renée Kleinbeck)
Luxon (Aoba Watase)
Unicorn Gundam (Banagher Links)
