We pick off from last time with Kalaski grudgingly accepting that you guys are good fighters, and Alchiba asks Kalaski if he's a war photographer based on the camera he has and the current situation on the ground. He tries to persuade Kalaski into calming down and points out that you guys don't actually look like looters. Kalaski attempts to argue that looters come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but upon looking again at you and Mokdai, he realizes he's seen you two from a picture Narihito sent him.
Now that Kalaski's ceased hostilities, you turn off Alchiba and Mokdai's hero forms. Alchiba denies that you guys came to rob graves or interfere with Kalaski's work, then tells him he's a detective after some phantom thief while you two are his assistants. Shaft adds that he's a space taxi driver and apologizes, saying it's his fault you guys are here since you were supposed to go to the moon. Kalaski is taken aback as he apologizes for jumping to conclusions. Lately there's been a lot of people come to mess up the battlefield, so he uncharacteristically let blood rush to his head. Kalaski then undoes his transformation and introduces himself, calling himself a war photojournalist.
Mokdai recognizes Kalaski as one of the heroes from the agency Broadcasters, saying he's heard how he works as both a hero and a photographer, having won prizes for his pictures. Kalaski is mildly surprised Mokdai knows him and comments he must be famous now. You either comment that being a warzone cameraman must be tough or say he's still a kid. In the former, Kalaski shrugs and says he picked the job. It may be hard, but his journalism is about risking his life to get it done. Shaft is the one to comment it must be hard for a kid to work like that, causing Kalaski to immediately take offense. Shaft apologizes in confusion, so Kalaski lets it go this one time and tells you guys he's 28. He knows his race doesn't look his age compared to others, but he still doesn't want to be treated like a kid. In the latter it just jumps straight to him getting mad, which you quickly apologize for. He forgives you like in the other branch and mentions his age, then tells you to respect your elders.
Mokdai comments in surprise that Kalaski is older than he is, and you either say you'll be careful about that, say Kalaski is cute, or sigh and say you want to fluff him. In A, Kalaski feels a little bad about how fearfully you're treating him and says he's not that harsh. He just wants you to be careful of what you say. In B, Kalaski is taken aback at the comment and says he can't do anything about it before suggesting you say that to someone else. In C, Kalaski starts getting mad again until you go over and start touching him, causing him to purr. Alchiba is surprised and tells you to hold back on it even if Kalaski is cute. Mokdai says you rubbed his chin within minutes of meeting him and what you're doing now is still less intense than that. Kalaski then tells you to stop as he tries to wriggle away from you.
Anyways, Kalaski makes a point of clearing his throat before turning to you guys again, asking you guys for your names. Alchiba gives his name and occupation again, and Mokdai introduces you and himself. You say you're an Operator for Parallel Flight and politely greet Kalaski, and Shaft brings up his name as the last one in the party to speak. Shaft then apologizes for the abrupt change of subject as he says he needs to take you guys to the moon right away. Kalaski reasons you guys must be talking about the moon for Earth and notes that Shaft's taxi has an Earth based license plate. And if that's true, he says he won't be able to get there.
Shaft asks Kalaski what he means by that, so Kalaski says his agency contacted him about the system's warp gate here going down for maintenance starting in the afternoon. Since that shuts the gate down, there was a rush of delivery ships coming by the system to get things delivered the day before. Shaft gets alarmed at the news and asks when maintenance will be done, so Kalaski says it'll take all day before asking why he doesn't know if he's a driver. Shaft mentally beats himself up again for causing problems to his customer, but Alchiba tells him the maintenance isn't his fault. It IS a problem, but they can't just sit there and feel bad about it. And since the internet is still up, Alchiba suggests researching what you can through that for what it's worth.
Shaft apologizes again with his voice trailing off in shame, and you try to tell him not to get too depressed about it. Mokdai attempts to lift the mood by changing the subject and asking Kalaski about what kind of pictures he takes. Kalaski is flattered at the interest, then remembers that Mokdai knows a bit more about him than other people. He talks about how there's also some hero nerd in Broadcasters too and wonders what sort Mokdai likes (I think), then agrees to show you guys stuff he hasn't sent in yet.
Title card pops up, and this episode is called The Picture That Cuts Out Truth.
Back to the story, Kalaski talks about how the Muirauqa IV star system has six planets in total including itself. Tenteres has a lot of underground resources to it, so the rights to those things tends to get fought over a lot. Mokdai asks if that's what the war is about, which Kalaski confirms before saying the resources don't really belong to anyone. The wars mean that there are those unfortunate enough to be born into a life where war is all they know. It may be obvious to say a life is a life, but in war a life is only battle potential. It's a terrible thing, so Kalaski says he wants to show that there's also humanity to be found in wars instead of just tragedies.
Shaft says he can't really picture that in his head, so Kalaski says that people sent to wars aren't just tools or army drones, and he shows you guys a picture of some guys in soldier uniforms playing around with one another. He talks about when there's free time out there, there's time for people to be friends. Kalaski shows a picture of a sergeant sleeping like a baby next, and he says they aren't so different from civilians. And yet...the sergeant ended up dying the next day, so this is the last picture anyone took of him. Alchiba is sadly quiet at that, and Kalaski says he's also got more horrific pictures in the bunch too since the world needs to see them. Kalaski then apologizes for making things depressing, saying it's his job as one person to try to tell the world at large to stop warring with each other.
You comment on how risky Kalaski's job is and say you think it's cool. Mokdai notices that Shaft's gotten quiet and asks him why, and it turns out Shaft is crying over the pictures. Kalaski says that's the natural reaction to his work since that's the sort of journalism he does. You take a look at another of the pictures and ask about it being of a monolith, so Kalaski says it's a monument for all the people who have died over the course of the war. Most people who die hear don't leave possessions behind, so the area the monolith is has become a non-aggression zone. Mokdai comments on it having a sort of mystical mood to it, and Kalaski calls it proof that people have lived there, a mental support for those living through the war. It's the only record of the history of life on the planet remaining.
Alchiba suddenly stops fiddling with his phone while listening to the conversation to ask for a closer look at the monolith picture. Kalaski agrees, then asks what he wants to do with it. Alchiba stares at the picture for a bit before asking if Tenteres had a place with such smooth white sand on it. He thinks about how stepping on the sand would leave clear tracks, then starts thinking to various bits of things Vulpecula said in his riddle video before gasping and suggesting his entire basis for his reasoning was wrong.
You react in surprise to Alchiba's outburst and ask what he means, so he suggests going over the video again. When he plays it up again, he suggests that if the white and blue parts refer to Muirauqa IV and Tenteres, he asks what you think the envy of the onlookers for the two and the staining of stout white skin could mean. You can either say it's a hint to the warp gate going down, the space war on Tenteres, or the looters. A and C has Alchiba tell you that the white skin bit should mean Tenteres itself and stout should refer to the underground resources, then asks what the onlookers would refer to in this analogy before throwing the other choices back up.
Once you pick B, Alchiba says you're correct and says the wording was a red herring pointing to the moon. Mokdai realizes the white skin part must mean the white sand on Tenteres, which Alchiba says is good reasoning. Alchiba then thinks aloud about how Vulpecula is fixated on the present, and if the heart comment means peoples' hearts instead of a city center, it'd mean something else. You suggest either ruined construction work, Tenteres's space port, or the memorial monolith. A and B are the wrong choices that prompt Alchiba to tell you to slow down since the answer should be in front of you.
After picking C, Alchiba compliments you and says he wishes he could have you assist him with some other work too. He comments that the monolith would be the sort of thing Vulpecula would target, and Mokdai says that a monolith is something that sticks into the ground. Shaft tunes into the conversation now, asking who Vulpecula is and noting he's got a roundabout style of talking. Mokdai explains who he is, then tells Shaft it's thanks to him that you guys might be able to figure out the mystery here. This confuses him, so Alchiba says Shaft might have done you guys a huge favor. If it turns out Vulpecula is on Tenteres and not the moon, the warp gate being down means the police can't get here, so he suggests looking for a place Vulpecula might show up and set a trap there. Shaft has some trouble keeping up, but he laughs a little and asks if things worked out. You either note he's finally brightened up, confirm that yes things worked out, or call his smile cute. C gets an extra line with him getting flustered but thanking you.
Kalaski asks if Vulpecula really is going to try to destroy the monolith, then asks why he'd do so if the place is spiritual support for the soldiers and refugees. Alchiba says he's doing it because he wants to destroy the past since he hates things and ways of thinking bound to the past. Mokdai tells Kalaski that Vulpecula is a villain who goes around proclaiming to steal sceneries and has destroyed cultural heritage sites. His particular motive for this incident is unclear though.
Kalaski talks about the monolith area as sacred ground that people fight desperately to protect, even when they could die at any moment. If Vulpecula is going to destroy it, then Kalaski is going to do his best to stop him and asks to join you guys for this. Alchiba notes that he hasn't know Kalaski for long, but he can already tell that he'll be sticking his nose into this even if he were told no. You guys need more information and manpower and a guide anyways, so Alchiba accepts his offer. Shaft peeks towards you guys timidly, then asks if he can join the party too since it was his fault you guys were brought here.
You note that the warp gate will be down for the day anyways, but remind Shaft that you guys are heading into danger. Shaft says the gate being down is part of the reason he's asking, but the main part is that he hasn't actually brought you guys to where you intended to go to. That means it's his job to stay with you guys until he's seen you guys off to your target destination, and he wants to properly finish a job this time. He hangs his head in shame, and Alchiba nods at seeing this. Alchiba decides to make a new request to Shaft, asking him to stick around until the job is done and he takes you guys back to Earth. Since that'll occur another warp gate toll, Alchiba says he'll pay it all. Shaft asks if he's sure in disbelief, so Alchiba says he'd have to pay it if Tenteres was his actual intended destination. You are either happy for Shaft or say Alchiba is kind. In A, Shaft cheers about this and says he'll do his best. In B, Alchiba says he's just going to pay whatever necessary business expenses he gets and the rest is on Shaft. Either way Alchiba is about to suggest heading out to the monolith when Kalaski stops him, saying he's picking up on people behind some ruins. Since they're armed, he tells everyone to be careful.
Time passes a bit as the party sneaks over to check out what's happening, and you guys find some suspiciously looking guys carrying weapons and trying to shift something inconspicuously. Kalaski recognizes them as the looters he saw earlier, and now that they've come back he resolves to catch them this time. Mokdai turns to you and asks if he looks that shady if Kalaski mistook you guys for them, and Kalaski apologizes again out of embarrassment. Since they still don't know you're here he suggests ambushing them and taking back whatever it is they have.
Alchiba offers to help Kalaski with the attack, though he admits using force to make people submit isn't really his forte. Kalaski points out that you guys are supposed to have unified as a party, then argues that the looters are just like Vulpecula as people making a mess of the battlefield. After that he turns to you and says he's placing himself under your command and asks you to take over operating for him. Mokdai asks you to transform him too, saying he can't let evildoing go when it happens in front of him. Alchiba sighs and gives in, saying he'll make Kalaski pay him back for this.
You activate everyone's hero modes, and Kalaski gets fired up to take the looters down after he gets suited up. Mokdai asks Shaft to somewhere near you in case you guys end up getting attacked, so Shaft says he will. Alchiba turns to you and suggests working together to finish things up quickly. Kalaski volunteers to circle around and cut off the looters' escape while you guys attack them. Mokdai agrees to the plan, and you set up the livestream before counting down to declare the start of the battle. Mokdai and Alchiba jump out on cue, surprising the mobs into asking who you guys are.
Alchiba declines to tell them his name, and Mokdai says stealing is a crime as he orders the looters to return the stuff they took. The wolf mob tells the mafia mob that they've gotten most of the stuff, so he suggests getting out of there. The mafia guy agrees as the both of them transform before attempting to escape, at which point Kalaski walks out ahead of them. He scoffs at their getaway attempt and says they'll know how big their crime is.
The wolf mob calls Kalaski a little brat and demands he move, which causes Mokdai to go oh no at that. Kalaski lets the insult hang in the air for a sec before asking if they really said that. He was planning on letting them go if they just returned the stolen stuff, but now he's pissed as hell about them looking down on him. The mafia guy is taken aback at Kalaski's reaction and how threatening he's being despite his size. Kalaski gets further pissed and gets ready to throw down, and you either attempt to get him to calm down, sigh about how he's totally going to be throwing hands, or be surprised at how easily provoked he is. Kalaski yells about getting payback for the insults as the episode battle begins, and more happens after that.
After the battle, the story picks up with another video announcement from Vulpecula. He addresses the audience and asks them how the second showing of the (side?)show went over for them, saying that the bird of parting is still asleep. It's still at the quiet, gentle part of things, and he asks everyone to enjoy it all. Another wilted petal dances through the air as it drops off beautifully, he says. Comments start pouring in from the site he was livestreaming from. One guy excitedly says he's been waiting for Vulpecula's video. Some lady says she'll be able to live happily in the present if she follows Vulpecula. Some third guy cheers Vulpecula on to destroy everything.
Once Vulpecula shuts off his camera, the video he was making is deleted with no archive saved of it. The comments go as well, so someone goes to some other site to tell people Vulpecula made another video to prompt a bunch of sympathetic comments. Vulpecula sighs about the first guy mentioning cutting out the present, commenting about how there's a lot more comrades with beautiful senses of awareness now. Raising awareness is a great thing since foolishness prevents one from noticing how beautiful things are. He believes that if things tied to the past were to disappear, people can forget about the past and treasure the present.
Vulpecula calls the monolith a veil that blinds the people who look at it to the beauty around them. It may be a memorial for 100 people, but he says it does nothing but reduce them to a single tragedy. If all it does is make people look to the past, it means they aren't living in the current times, and Vulpecula closes his eyes as if tired after having a little rant to himself.
Vulpecula flashes back to his own past where someone is banging at his door. He answers the door and is a little afraid of the man, asking why he's so agitated and saying he's fixed his watch. He then notices that there's a lot of crowds and noise outside, so he asks what's going on. The man at the door tells him a giant monster is heading their way, so he has to get his ass out NOW. Vulpecula is alarmed at that, and tremors start shaking his house. Vulpecula says he'll go get ready, but unfortunately his roof is crushed by a monster arriving. Vulpecula panics as he pleads for help, grabbing onto the man who came to his home, but the man isn't any calmer as he attempts to shake him off and call him an ass.
Vulpecula is quiet when the flashback ends, then starts talking about how unsightly it was and how he's changed himself after throwing his past self away. He says that the monolith will stay in view as long as he doesn't steal it away, then changes subjects to wonder how those fools are acting now. He smiles as he comments about coming up with a good poem again when his phone lights up. He answers, figuring it must be important if his 'family' is calling his personal line, and the voice on the other end apologizes and tells him a mystery space taxi was spotted near Tenteres's space port. The episode ends with Vulpecula curious about this and asking for more details.
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