This Is the Endless Frontier Pt. 6/10

CHAPTER 6: THE MAN THAT CAME FALLING IN

[Inside the Zeit Krokodil]

Haken: You sure you wanna roll into the Shurangran Kingdom in person, Princess?
Shine: Yes. I can no longer ignore the Huckebein, the Vanishing Trooper, the Raven that Heralds Death.
Arriere: I can't blame you. The Principality of Riksent has been invaded by two separate countries because of that Raven now—The SRX Commonwealth and the Kingdom of Shurangran.
Ratsel: So you've decided this merits taking personal action. Now that Queen Cenia is searching for the Raven after bringing it back...
Shine: Yes. If the search requires my precognition, then my nation will be under threat for so long as I remain within its borders.
Lamia: But if you stick with us, then the Wandering Bounty Hunters take all the heat. Is that it?
Shine: ...
Haken: There's that, and the fact that we get a free pass to cross any borders we want. That's an old perk our predecessors got us back in the Raven War days.
Excellen: Ooh, I getcha. As long as we're just carrying Her Highness around, it doesn't count as military aggression on Riksent's part. Makes sense to me.
Sanger: Gilliam Jaeger did question whether we meant to start a war with Queen Cenia when she came here leading an army of her own.
Shine: Now it sounds as though I am merely using you all in a relationship of convenience...
Haken: Now c'mon, Mopey Princess. Is that what's botherin' ya? I told you I never say no to a princess.
Shine: Captain Haken...
Haken: That said, we don't wanna cause no international incident, either. When it's time for battle, how about you stick with the security police you brought along from Riksent?
Folka: ...
Shine: Folka, you didn't have to come along.
Folka: I told you, I owe you a debt of gratitude. Besides, Gilliam asked me to come.
Shine: Goodness... Everyone's so overprotective of me. All right, Folka Alberk. I would be most grateful if you could serve as my guard until we reach the Kingdom of Shurangran.
Folka: Consider it done. You will have the full protection of Folka the Roaring Champion.
Aschen: Now there's a decent bodyguard. I think our two Free Riders will do just fine.
Sean: We can hardly take a princess's money. Oh, and I think I'll be putting your rooms near Lieutenant Kyosuke and Excellen's.
Kyosuke: I guess the residential block we're in is pretty empty other than us. Excellen, you can give them the grand tour.
Excellen: Are you suuure? I might tell 'em something juicy.
Kyosuke: Don't. ...I'm not exactly good with children.
Shine: Excuse me.
Kyosuke: Yes?
Shine: I do not appreciate being referred to as a child. You may call me a lady.
Kyosuke: It will be some time before we reach our destination. Please feel free to rest... my lady. How was that?
Excellen: You didn't exactly put a lot of heart into that. Wouldn't you agree, Shiny?
Shine: I couldn't agree more. It pisses—*cough*—I take umbrage at that.
Kyosuke: Oh, but Shiny's okay?

[Cave]

???: Urgh...
???: Axel. Axel. It's time to wake up.
Axel: Who're you? What am I doing here?
Alchemie: Axel? If that's a joke, it isn't funny.
Axel: If I was jokin', I'd have said something funnier. Shit... Can't remember anything... Must have amnesia...
Alchemie: Really, though. I'm Alchemie, and you're Axel Almer. We were surrounded by light that one time, in that place... Wait a minute... Huh. That's no good. I don't know where I'm from, either.
Axel: Hmm. Fact check. I'm Axel. Axel Almer. Great, at least I know my own name, for whatever that's worth. You're... Alchemie? If we've both got amnesia, let's review what we've got between the two of us.
Alchemie: Okey-dokey.
Axel: I guess I'll start. There's my name, and uh... Hmm...
Alchemie: What's that blue robot over there?
Axel: Oh, that's the Soulgain. It's the urban weapon I use on assignments... Well, I'll be damned. I remember how to use it, yeah!
Alchemie: Wow, very good! Okay, and what else?
Axel: ...
Alchemie: ...That's it?
Axel: Look, it's pretty damn impressive to remember that much when you got amnesia, if you ask me. What about you? What'cha got for me?
Alchemie: I am called Alchemie. I feel like the blue robot is familiar to me.
Axel: So are you a friend of mine or an acquaintance or what?
Alchemie: Oh... I just remembered something critical.
Axel: What is it? C'mon, lay it on me. We need all the info we can get.
Alchemie: It's... a bit embarrassing.
Axel: Now you're just makin' me more curious. Don't worry! I know how to keep a secret, y'know? C'mooon. I won't tell.
Alchemie: ...
Alchemie: I um... I didn't forget to put on a skirt, okay?
Axel: Good to know! ...Not really useful to us, but hey. You should be careful wearing that getup if you don't wanna catch a cold.
Alchemie: Thank you for your kind consideration.
Axel: What else have we got... Man, I just can't remember. But I get this vibe from you... Feels kinda like old times. We're not totally unconnected, that's for sure. Let's stick together, huh?
Alchemie: Okey-dokey.
Axel: As for what comes next, well... All we've got so far is that we were somewhere, and then we were suddenly here.
Alchemie: Let's take a walk around for starters.
Axel: Good call. I wonder where we flew in from... or maybe the right word is 'fell in'.

[Scene wipe]

Axel: The hell is this place for, anyway? Feels like an ancient shrine, kinda.
???: Is someone there?
Alchemie: Axel, there's a person!
Axel: Great, a chance to get some real intel. Hey. Who're you?
Yang Long: Hwang Yang Long. Who are you?
Axel: Uh, I'm Axel. Axel Almer... I think.
Alchemie: And I... might be Alchemie.
Yang Long: I'm sure you'd rather not tell the truth, but I cannot overlook your suspicious conduct. This is the ruins of the Mount Grimold Shrine in the Kingdom of Shurangran. You don't look like a local. Why are you here? You'd better talk, and fast.
Axel: Look, we've got no idea. We're pretty much amnesiacs, y'know?
Alchemie: All we know is our names, that we got whisked here from somewhere else, and that the blue robot over there is ours.
Yang Long: From somewhere else? I've never seen an excavated weapon like that before. There's a site of Crossgate ruins in these mountains, much like the one in the Principality of Riksent... Are you two from another world? Hmm. This place is near an ancient gate called a Crossgate. Sometimes things come through that gate from other worlds.
Axel: A gate that connects to other worlds? Man, where did we come from, and where did we go?
Yang Long: I'll say that I've never heard of people coming through the gate. Is this another effect of the Raven that Heralds Death?
Alchemie: You say this is a land called Shurangran? What is it that you do, um... Mr. Long?
Yang Long: You can call me Yang Long. I'm one of the Elemental Lord heralds. I'd like to take to take you into custody. Queen Cenia isn't back from Riksent yet, so it'll be on my own initiative, but so it goes.
Axel: Elemental... Lord? Whew... Got no memory, no idea where I am, and now I'm expected to go with a guy I just met?
Alchemie: He seems nice enough. And honest enough.
Axel: I guess I'd be a real heel if I forgot my manners along with everything else, y'know?

[Kingdom of Shurangran - Mountains]

Haken: It should be somewhere around here, if the Peeping Princess's precognition was right.
Lamia: Get a looksie at that. It's blue, and it's not the Huckebein. Is it an excavated weapon? There's a red machine right next to it.
Excellen: Hey, Kyosuke! You see that?
Kyosuke: Sure do. That's the Soulgain, an ATX Mirror urban weapon.
Arriere: Is that the rookie you referred to before? Is this where they arrived?
Yang Long: Hm? Why would there be intruders at Mount Grimold?
Sanger: You in the red SR. Are you from Shurangran?
Yang Long: Yes, I am. I'm Hwang Yang Long, herald of Granveil, Elemental Lord of Fire. They call me Fiery Yang Long.
Haken: Well, howdy, Flame Dragon. What are the chances of running into so many super-rare Elemental Lord pilots in a row? Name's Haken Browning, captain of the Wandering Bounty Hunters. Relax, we've got no beef with you.
Yang Long: The Wandering Bounty Hunters? Were the other Elemental Lord heralds you ran into in Riksent? Did you fight Queen Cenia and Masaki?!
Ratsel: Those were they names they gave us. We came under attack as soon as we entered Riksent. We had no choice but to fight back.
Yang Long: I see... That would explain why they still haven't returned.
Yang Long: (Masaki, I was a fool to entrust you with guarding the queen by yourself.)
Arriere: We're just here to search this mountain. I assure you this isn't a counter-invasion, and we have no intention of fighting or—
Yang Long: No. As they say, a man dies for those who know him well. I have reason enough to fight you!
Kyosuke: Well, we don't. We just want the blue weapon back. Did you happen to see any pilot for it around here?
Axel: Are you talkin' about us?
Excellen: Wow! Axel! Is Alchemie with you?
Alchemie: Here I am, strange older lady!
Excellen: ...I'm sorry, WHAT?
Kyosuke: What the hell? Something's wrong here.
Yang Long: Do you guys know each other? I was informed they had amnesia.
Lamia: Amnesia? They just responded when we dropped their names.
Axel: Amnesiacs can remember their names. I also happen to know how to dress myself, how to go to the bathroom... and how to pilot a weapon.
Aschen (DTD): How dumb do you have to be to forget everything else?
Kyosuke: (Were they hypnotized or drugged?)
Kyosuke: Stop joking around and get back here. That Shurangran man is an enemy.
Yang Long: Axel. Alchemie. You don't need to stick around on my account. A person's place is where they belong.
Kyosuke: Axel, we're going. If you can pilot the Soulgain then get a move on.
Axel: Ah-ah-ah, hold up. If you think you can take advantage of our amnesia, think again.
Alchemie: You shouldn't go with strangers.
Axel: Plus... I dunno why, but...
Kyosuke: Hm?
Axel: For some reason, I just don't like you. Y'know?
Alchemie: I'm curious... I'm getting... butterflies.
Kyosuke: What? What the hell is your game, guys?
Axel: My game is THIS! Let's rock!

(start of battle)

Haken: Okay, Fire Guy. I guess those two are your guest companions? What'd you do to 'em, mind control?
Yang Long: Don't you dare insult an Elemental Lord herald like that. They fight of their own accord, and it's not my place to tell them otherwise.
Axel: I don't have any memories, so I gotta make judgment calls based on what I see, y'know?
Kyosuke: And your judgment call is to fight us?
Axel: The way I see it, this Yang Long guy's no villain. Might as well help him out.
Sanger: I didn't sense any ill will from the queen either, now that you mention it. Perhaps we should ascertain what Shurangran's intentions are.
Alchemie: I'm helping whichever side Axel helps!
Excellen: I'm getting the impression you've got no idea what's going on and you're just here for the ride. What's the call, Kyosuke?
Kyosuke: What else? Knock some sense into them. Forgetting the mission is beyond unacceptable.
Aschen: Hey, I'm used to being the muscle that helps with beatdowns. Lamia, you do your thing, too.
Lamia: I'm still not entirely clear on what's going on, but understood. I will muscle aproposly.

(end of battle)

Axel: Agh! I'm down!
Yang Long: You okay, Axel?!
Axel: Thanks, Yang Long. I think that battle may have jogged the ol' noggin, y'know?
Yang Long: So it was temporarily jumbled memories from the Crossgate passing, and now you're all better? Who are you, really?
Axel: Alchemie and I are agents of the special organization ATX Mirror. Basically, we're teammates of the guys with the Wandering Whosawhatsis.
Yang Long: I see...
Axel: Lemme join 'em, Yang Long. I wouldn't wanna attack you when I'm still getting the whole friend-and-foe sitch sorted out.
Yang Long: ...Very well. I'll withdraw.
Alchemie: Have a nice day!

[Inside the Zeit Krokodil]

Axel: Look, Kyosuke. I said I was sorry, okay?
Kyosuke: Sorry's not good enough. I had to all but destroy the Soulgain, organization equipment I might add, just to stop you.
Alchemie: ...I think you went a little overboard.
Excellen: Moderation is a concept that's lost on Kyosuke. He goes all in, win or lose.
Axel: Was the Soulgain an all-in loss? Boy, I dunno what to tell you, y'know?
Kyosuke: You...
Marion: You've made your point, now let it drop. You're all together now, and that's what matters. And hey, I get a chance to tinker with another otherworldly machine when I'm fixing it up.
Kyosuke: Sorry, Dr. Marion. I'll need to rework our rookie training plan.
Alchemie: I couldn't agree more.
Excellen: Wow, Alchemie. Just remember that if you screw up again, I'm ready to employ a spanking system based on the degree of the screwup.
Alchemie: But, but that system would be entirely unfair to me! It would basically be direct contact!
Haken: Okay, Direct Hips. You guys make a pretty fun team all around.
Ratsel: Everyone, a little banter is fine and all, but could you please keep it down? You'll disrupt Princess Shine's focus.
Axel: Ooh, so this is real precognition, right here?
Shine: I wear... a thick skirt... so it barely... hurts at all... Easy-peasy...
Sanger: I think she's already distracted.
Aschen: Silly princess. That's where I'd flip her skirt, of course. I could even make it drawstring.
Shine: Urgh...!
Lamia: You're brutal, Sister Aschen.
Shine: Castle... I see... a grand castle... but... no Raven...
Arriere: (It's not there? Then what is Princess Shine foreseeing?)
Ratsel: Does this mean the Huckebein won't show up again?
Shine: But... I see... a silhouette like a personal trooper... is it... friendly?
Lamia: Friendly? We've already got ATX Mirror back together...
Folka: You'd better stop, Shine. Your haki is in complete disarray. You can't handle any more mental strain.
Shine: Phew... My apologies. I haven't been able to locate where the Raven that Heralds Death will appear once so far. Please... No punishment...
Sean: There won't be any, Your Highness. That would trigger an international incident.
Ratsel: It's still valuable intel regardless. Hmm. A giant castle, a PT that isn't the Huckebein, and a friend...
Folka: The princess did foresee the place where Kyosuke Nambu and Excellen Browning's friends Axel Almer and Alchemie showed up.
Haken: Yeah. It probably ain't totally unrelated to us, whatever it is. Besides, a castle's an easy lead to follow.
Aschen (DTD): Here we are, search complete! The red Elemental Lord ran off in the direction of Shurangran Castle, bingo!
Sanger: Mm. I'm curious about the way its pilot, Yang Long, was acting. Perhaps something has happened to Queen Cenia.
Arriere: I suppose we'll have to head to the castle. That might give us a better hint who our ally will be.
Haken: XO, you know where Shurangran Castle's located, right? Take it slow, I don't wanna agitate the locals.
Sean: Aye-aye, sir. I'll bring it down to half cruising speed. Rest up and take it easy until we get there.
Axel: First we come to another world, then we go hit up the castle of an enemy queen? This's getting me pretty pumped, y'know?
Alchemie: My heart's aflutter.
Excellen: Aflutter, or pitter-patter?
Kyosuke: Don't you have better things to do than joke around? Reflect on your actions, Axel. Alchemie.
Axel: Look, I didn't ask to get amnesia, okay? Back me up here, Lammy.
Lamia: Huh? Oh, ah... Yes, absotively, Commander...