Friday, November 20, 2020

Live A Hero Chapter 2 (Green Hope) Episode 1: This is Parallel Flight Co.

Narration begins by establishing the location, which would be Somewhere in Orient City, Japan, Earth. Some mob in silhouette is asking desperately if it's true that if he uses That he can change jobs to a hero agency. Exio tells the guy that the ability to sell yourself is important to everything. If the guy has the ability to control Them and make That Thing into a success, his ability as an Observer will be demonstrated like it or not. Exio is about to say more when the mob gets excited and talks to himself about how he won't have to bear with the cold looks of society anymore. He swears to do whatever it takes to get out of the bullshit hole in life he's living in, then runs off without another word.
 
Exio watches him go, but then continues talking to himself and goes on with the conversation. Exio says it's probably not going to go well for the guy, though the extent of his abilities probably will be shown. Once that's known and the guy realizes what he's done and admits to it, he'll be arrested immediately. But if he's lucky, maybe a villain team will pick him up, and Exio wishes the guy good luck. Though from Exio's position, the chances of That being a success is practically zero. Exio then segues to a different subject saying that if this turns into a big incident, he wonders if you'll show yourself again. How will you conduct yourself here...? He's looking forward to seeing that.
 
Scene changes over to where you are, at the top of an office building in Orient City's central ward on a clear day. Akashi says that this is everything and says to you that you guys should get to drying everything. Narration describes how Akashi is carrying a huge laundry basket as you guys come up to hang some things up. As the new guys in the office it's your guys' jobs to wash all the clothes and things, which includes change of clothes after field work, Mokdai's used lens wipes, and towels among other things.
 
Akashi talks about his surprise at seeing so many things that needed to be washed. He hasn't seen this many things that need drying since he helped handle laundry at sports practice. He picks up a pair of some big ass underwear and is amazed at it, then wonders if it's Ryekie's as he notes he's big overall before smoothing out the wrinkles and hanging it on a pole with practiced ease. You either comment that this is heavy labor, note that Akashi seems used to this, or ask him if he does this at practice too.
 
A has Akashi says he did think a hero business might rack up this much laundry to do, but the amount of dust is still surprising as he wonders where they normally go. In B, Akashi shrugs. While he does live alone, sometimes the kouhais of the baseball team have to help with laundry if there aren't enough managers. His team is no exception, so sometimes he had to wash the whole team's uniforms. In C, Akashi says he doesn't need to do it anymore now, but he did pitch in back in high school. There was a mountain of stuff like uniforms and socks, and he says it must be hard to be the manager.
 
Anyways, Akashi changes the subject to talk about how Ryekie's been in the hospital for a long time, looking anxious as he handles his things. Narration explains that Ryekie's been hospitalized due to the Kaibutsu injury for three weeks now. He can finally leave the hospital starting tomorrow, but it's still pending whether he can get straight back to work. Akashi talks about how he couldn't have done anything for him, even if it was sudden. And since it's not clear whether Ryekie can go back to work doing everything he can, Akashi says he'll need to work hard himself. You either tell him you'll both work hard or tell Akashi not to push himself too hard. A has Akashi agree as he says you guys will do your best to support things. B has Akashi thank you as he says he'll do the things he's able to do.
 
A voice calls over to you guys commenting on how motivated you guys are. Crown is behind you guys when you turn to look, and she's described as a woman in overalls. She smiles as she tells you guys are doing good work as she refers to you as newbies. Akashi awkwardly thanks her and flounders for a bit waiting for her to introduce herself. You either ask who Crowne is or say she's beautiful now that you've looked closer. B takes Crowne aback as she says the looking closer bit is rude, but she shrugs it off and accepts the compliment.
 
Either way Crowne realizes she hasn't told you who she is yet, so she introduces herself and says she's a mechanic that works for the company. She was transferred over from a spacecraft servicing workshop so it's not uncommon that she's not around, but still she says it's nice to meet you guys. Akashi greets her back and introduces himself and you to her. He then gets curious at the mention of spacecraft and asks if the business has any. Crowne says there is one, but it's old and beat up. Since it was falling apart everywhere, Crowne is fixing it up for the legal inspection. She just came a moment ago to deliver a progress report and to request funds for more parts.
 
Akashi wonders if that means that the agency also goes into space to do business. He mentions that he hasn't been to space that much, so this is kinda interesting for him. You ask him if that means he's been to space before, which surprises Akashi as he says you guys went to the moon for a trip back in elementary school. On that trip, you guys went to Nos Clavius, saw the paraterraforming facility, and had free time at Archimedes. Akashi then realizes you've forgotten about that and apologizes.
 
Crowne says that space travel from Earth only started getting popular about 50 years ago, and in Japan the only space ports are in Osaka and Orient City. It's probably rare to go even if you do live in a metropolitan city. As for whether the agency goes all the way into space, well that's a complicated situation. Heroes are individuals in the end, and they're busy running around Orient City for work. The agency's spacecraft is 15 years old and a mess, so even if it didn't need to old standard sound barrier for supersonic flight, the 3rd gen friction canceller it has for atmospheric reentry sucks like hell compared to standard gear in the current generation. The onboard environmental stabilizers are also problematic, so if someone not used to riding it is in it for the long haul the seasickness is going to be something fierce. You go oh and say you didn't understand a thing.
 
Akashi says he didn't get the technobabble either, but he does understand that the ship is too old and falling apart to be taking it out for a ride. Crowne laughs and apologizes, then asks you to ignore all the tech details as geek speak for engineers. If the opportunity to go ride to space ever comes up, she figures Huckle will explain how to handle the ship then. That said, Crowne mentions there's no one decent enough to have a license to drive that thing in the agency. One of the guys is only a driver on paper while the other is a crazy ass driver who was once Japan's #1 hero. You either think on the crazy driving hero part or ask who's the not-a-driver. In A, Crowne says that if the engine stalls she'd tell them to jump start it themselves and you'd be better off not riding with them. In B, Crowne declines to say but decides to just say that Huckle's license is expired. Either way Crowne decides to end the chitchat there and invites you guys to go back to the office with her if you're done with hanging the laundry.
 
Some time later Sui is standing in front of the office door, which you notice and point out. Narration describes her as looking petite and delicate, carrying a large bag and standing around looking troubled by the door. Akashi notes that he's never seen her before and wonders if she's also related the agency. Sui notices you guys at this point and talks to Crowne, saying she's come at a good time. Crowne greets her and asks if she's on errands too. Sui answers that she is. She's here to delivery some stuff, and also to talk about a problem coming up with repairing the suit. Sui then asks who you and Akashi are since she's never seen you before. Crowne introduces you two, and you either greet Sui or call her cute. A has Sui respond politely, though she mentions she might not see you much. B shocks Sui for a second before she thanks you.
 
Akashi greets Sui after you, and Sui recognizes him after a moment and says the rumor is true and that her master would be happy to tailor something for him. She sizes him as she looks him up and down, which embarrasses Akashi into asking her why she's doing that. Sui is surprised then apologizes, saying she was talking to herself as she asks him to not pay it any mind.
 
Akashi asks Sui why she's there, so she answers that she's here to deliver the suit that's been fixed up for Ryekie at her master's request. She tried ringing the bell but no one answered, which worries her. Normally no one would be out at this time if it's not some sort of emergency. Akashi is surprised by this since Mokdai should be inside and able to answer. Sui is surprised and asks if Mokdai really is alone inside and where Huckle is, so Akashi answers that Huckle is at a meeting at a nearby agency. Sui sighs and says things must be following that one pattern, which Crowne agrees with. You try to ask what they mean by that pattern.
 
Crowne asks you to open the door with your key card, saying that Mokdai won't be able to hear the door if she's right. Akashi wonders what she's talking about, and you move to do as instructed. Once you do so and enter the office, a TV is blaring somewhere as a villain character on the show playing says that the Summon Rangers Summoner Five are going to die that day. One of the team members yells back that they won't let him get away with what he's doing and calls for the Summoner Formation to be deployed.
 
Mokdai is watching the show excitedly and says he can't get enough of the 3D CG the show uses as it first came out. The sounds of the show are audible even through the headphones he has blasting them straight into his ears, and he's also eating a cup of instant ramen while he's at it. Mokdai starts reacting to the Yellow Formation being used, which is apparently specific to a limited time video compilation that he's looking at, and he jabbers about there being 10-25 more episodes after this before he loses his mind over a gun on the show being brought out. Akashi is shocked speechless while Sui sighs in resignation. You either cringe, say the place is so relaxed, or bring up the cat's away expression, which Japan substitutes with an oni instead. C has Akashi says Huckle doesn't get as mad as oni do but figures that's also why this happens.
 
Crowne sighs and calls Mokdai a huge nerd before slowly sneaking up behind him. She takes a deep breath, then shouts BOOM at him, which startles him into knocking his cup of noodles over off the desk and onto himself. Mokdai asks what's going on for a second before jumping at how hot the BBQ pork in his cup noodles are. Crowne laughs at him and says she almost wished she took a video of his reaction.
 
Mokdai finally processes that Crowne is there and complains that she ruined the best part for him. Crowne gets annoyed as she points out that's not an excuse for him to slack off and be a couch potato ignoring the door. She sighs at him for using noise cancelling headphones as well and asks Sui how long she's been waiting. Sui says she was waiting for about ten minutes, during which she rang the bell three times and tried calling Mokdai's phone twice. Mokdai is surprised by this as he apologizes and says he never noticed. Crowne is sadly amazed that he'd say that after three years of working there and chides him to at least pay attention when holding the fort. Mokdai is unable to say anything to this, and you either comment on him liking tokusatsu shows or bemoan his lost noodles.
 
Mokdai nods and says he started getting into the program when he started watching, but stops himself and says he needs to reflect on himself. Sui looks at the screen and notices that he's watched it before, noting that it's a toku show from 200 years ago. Mokdai awkwardly laughs a little and says he likes it, so he couldn't help himself. Anyways Sui says she'll clean up and says Mokdai should change before his clothes get stained. Mokdai nods and wonders if there's anything that hasn't been washed yet. He then apologizes for adding more to the laundry after it was just done to Akashi, who just tells him to put it in, resigned to it all.
 
Some time later Sui asks Mokdai if Huckle's come back yet. Mokdai thinks on this and says he should be back soon, then wonders if there's something up with the suit they asked to have fixed. Sui says there is, explaining that the connection part with the Parallel Weapon, the right hand glove gadget, is more damaged than expected. While they can handle light repairs to gadgets that are incidental to the suit repairs, the amount of damage to the thing needs to be taken to a mechanic. She came to ask Huckle how he'd like that handled.
 
Crowne asks to see it, then notes that the microchip is completely destroyed. It shouldn't be breakable so long as the cover stays on, but she sighs and wonders if that moron did something crazy again. Crowne says she can fix it with the things she has on hand and asks to be given the thing. She estimates it'll take her about an hour to fix it, and she says she'll borrow a desk for it. Crowne then takes out a box of small parts, some tools, and a scope from her toolbox, then gets to work on repairing the glove.
 
Sui says she'll wait around until the repair work is done, mentioning that her master is the type that can't move on if they don't do the finishing touches themselves. She then goes to a corner where a water boiler is to put on some tea. Akashi notes in surprise that she and Crowne are familiar with the place, and you ask Sui if she comes here a lot or what her job is. A gets extra lines where she answers that the agency is a frequent customer, and whenever there's business here she gets sent over. Her master is often busy, so they can't come over themselves. Akashi asks her what kind of master is she talking about.
 
Either way things segue back together as Mokdai explains that Sui is a designer from a nearby fashion design agency. They handle the tailoring of the suits you guys use to the repairs of such among other things. Sui says she's still an apprentice though, but she can do light repairs at least. You either comment on how amazing she is for how young she is, or you ask if she's a student. In A, Sui finds the comment a little weird since she's already 19 and notes that you don't look that far in age from her. In B, Sui says she doesn't go to school as she tells you her age, then says she plans to be a proper member of society.
 
Akashi is a bit interested in the subject of hero suits as he asks about them being custom made. He also mentions thinking about it earlier, but he notes that hero suits are different from weapons that Observers pull out from somewhere. Sui explains that while it's not impossible to bring it out together with a Parallel Weapon from a parallel world, but if the clothes you have on at the time of transformation has high affinity with your Parallel Weapon, it'll make it easier to stabilize its existence on this end. That's why heroes have their hero suits made to order. Plus on the off chance your weapon disappears, you won't be left empty handed since being stripped of your suit renders you defenseless. Making suits that reinforce a weapon's existence and strengthen defense is the sort of work her workplace does.
 
You bring up that before transforming, someone might not have worn anything similar to that suit before. Mokdai says he'll explain. So you guys were likely given a watch model personal terminal for work after you guys got hired on, and Mokdai says it can do more than transfer views to heroes. It's called a Micro Warp Gate, and it can transfer and switch out things around the size of clothes. The principle behind it is the same as the Warp Gates already in space. A hero equipped with the terminal can have their clothes before a transformation replaced with a hero suit before getting atomized when the transformation is approved. Of course, when the transformation is undone you'll return to your previous appearance. It's standard for all agencies even if you were told it was company issued. You either wonder if it was that high tech, comment that it must be expensive if you break it, or say it's a pretty convenient system.
 
In A, Mokdai says the terminals are pretty impressive, but that's also why a single one can be expensive. You should do your best to not break the thing, since while they are made to be waterproof, heatproof, and shock absorbent, the repair charge for fixing one isn't something to sneeze at. In B, Mokdai tells you the same details as in A about the terminal's traits but tells you to be careful with it. If it breaks, it'll cost you about three months' worth in wages to pay for repairs at least. In C, Mokdai talks about how hero products also come from opportunities. Developing the system took a crap ton of money though, and one of these terminals could also buy you a small spaceship. That reminds him to tell you to be careful with it and tell you its resistances.
 
At any rate, Huckle comes back at this point and comments on all the activity today. Mokdai welcomes him back while Sui greets him. Huckle greets Sui back and asks if she's here about Ryekie's suit or about something else. Crowne notices Huckle is in and tells him she's borrowing one of the desks to fix some stupid gadget and will be done with that soon. Huckle notes it must be really messed up inside and thanks her, and Crowne responds that she'll have it good as new. She's doing her best to get everything up and running by the time Ryekie will be back.
 
Huckle agrees, saying that Ryekie's suit does need to be fixed up before he turns to address Sui. She asks him if he's going to ask about the new hero's suit development. Akashi is surprised and asks if they mean him, which Huckle confirms. Since they've hired him on they have a duty to ensure his safety, so that's why they're ordering a special order suit for him. Akashi is taken aback by this and apologizes since he figures it can't have come cheap. Sui takes some offense at this as she says that while her business place is small, they plan on making it a bit cheaper than the competition. Akashi quickly apologizes and says he didn't mean it like that.
 
Huckle concedes that the suit isn't priced like the sort of thing you'd find in nearby stores, but Akashi only has the one life. He's making a living by putting his life at stake, so it's only natural to invest in his safety. The suit is a necessary expense, but Huckle assures him it won't be coming out of his paycheck and that he won't need to worry about paying for it. Akashi thanks him and says he'll work hard to make it worth it, which causes Huckle to laugh and say he'll be happy if it doesn't worry him too much.
 
Sui comments on how motivated Akashi is and wonders if he's not afraid of fighting against Kaibutsu. Mokdai thinks on it for a sec before shrugging and saying that only Akashi knows how he feels while fighting. Still, he believes that it's a good thing for a hero to be willing to fight and good for those being rescued. Of course someone being rescued would want a hero with the strong spirit and guts to save them rather than a hero who's scared. You notice that Mokdai is looking unsure of himself and try to talk to him, but Mokdai quickly claims that it's nothing important.
 
At that moment, Huckle's computer pings him, so he goes to take a look. He nods and hmms to himself before turning back to face you guys. He informs you guys that several small Kaibutsu have appeared on the street leading to the north entrance of Central Station, and he was just emailed that the neighboring hero agencies have been asked for help in dealing with them. That includes you guys, so he asks if you can go. You either respond with a yes boss or sigh about your down time being interrupted.
 
Huckle asks you to head to the location straight away for the engagement and reinforcement request. He then asks Mokdai to get the camera for the live ready and for Akashi to get ready to fight and head out, then declares it's all hands on deck. Akashi and Mokdai respond affirmatively, so Huckle turns to Sui and Crowne as he tells them they'll be heading out. Sui says she understands and will come do the measurements another time. Crowne nods, saying she'll hand the gadget back to Sui when she's done fixing it up and lock up on her way out. Crowne turns to Akashi and tells him she'll adjust the mechanical parts on it when it's done, so she tells him to be careful when fighting. He acknowledges this and says to you it's time to go. The party runs out, and Sui mutters to herself about Kaibutsu extermination as she watches you all go to the episode battle.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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