✩ FIRST DISCOVERY | VIDEO | BACKDATED TO 2/9

[adai]

[The video feed opens on a boy sitting on a bench. It looks like the sun is setting already, so either someone got a late start today or this boy only just learned how to use the 'Gear. The boy isn't really all that remarkable, outside of a very serious expression. The background appears to be New Bark Town, so get ready for some of those New Trainer Questions.]

Hello. I was told I should talk to this device to get some answers about this place.

[He rests his hands on his knees and leans forward, still staring the device down.]

Why are there houses on the surface?

[...Well apparently we're just going to get straight to the point today.]

It should be dangerous for anyone to live up here.

[He's silent for a long time, still staring at the device like it's going to magically give him some answers. A beep comes from the 'Gear which seems to startle him a little.]

I also want to know about the creature that came out of this. [Rossiu holds up a Pokéball.] It was pink and blue and immediately went into this strange device. It won't come out.

[That doesn't seem to bother him all that much, actually. His very serious expression hasn't shifted at all. After another few seconds of silence, Rossiu glances upward at the snow still falling.]

Finally, what is this? I've never seen anything like this before. It's much colder than it is back home.

[At least he's dressed a bit better for the snow than most of his friends...]

Thank you for your time. I would appreciate any information you can offer.

[He figures that if the rest of Team Gurren are here they'll get in contact with him. With that, Rossiu gets up from the bench and leaves and the 'Gear turns off.]

Comments

[armoredsoul]

Hehe, I had to learn a lot when I got here, too! But what are the gunmen? I've never heard of those before.

[adai]

Gunmen are... they're the machines the beastmen used to kill any humans who ventured to the surface. Gunmen are sort of like robots, but they're very large and they can be piloted by a single beastmen. Their energy and willpower drive the gunmen, but they also have to maneuver it with controls. It's the most advanced technology I've seen, but they're surprisingly easy to pilot once you get the hang of it.

[armoredsoul]

[Al frowns as he listens, taking it in. It sounds like some sort of link to the nervous system, but without seeing it he can't know for sure, of course.]

We don't have anything like that were I'm from. The closest thing I guess would be automail, which are machine prosthetics that link right to the nervous system of the user. So some people have gotten Gunmen out of the hands of the beastmen?

[adai]

Machine prosthetics...?

[That sounds interesting, but he'll ask about that later.]

Yes, they have. The gunmen can be piloted by anyone with enough willpower and strength, so even people like me can do it.

[He's still pretty new at it though.]

I'm not really sure how it works. It's something I'd like to figure out, but it's more of a feeling than anything else. Once you're inside it, it's like you know exactly what to do. It was so far beyond any technology I had seen back in my village, but after watching my friends do it and trying it for myself... it's surprisingly easy. I mean, I wouldn't say I'm any good at it and it's kind of hard to control the power output, but you pick up on how to make it move and react pretty quickly.

[armoredsoul]

Yup! They're pretty expensive to get the high-quality stuff, but they're really amazing. My friend back home is a specialist in making and installing them, and my brother has an arm and leg himself.

[It almost sounds like some sort of magic...but it very well might be something like that, with how wildly different all the worlds can be.]

Whatever makes it work must be pretty complicated, from the sounds of it. But it's lucky you guys are able to use them easily like that! I'm sure you'll get a lot better with practice.

[adai]

Yes, I hope so. I don't really want to have to fight in them, but if it means that we can take back the surface, I'll do whatever it takes.

[...But now onto the more interesting thing!]

Your brother has a machine arm and leg? What happened to his original ones?

[WAIT WAIT WAIT that was an awful thing to ask, hold on.]

Oh-- No, I'm so sorry, that's... I didn't even think--!

[That actually gets a genuine response out of him and Rossiu draws back a bit, looking panicked.]

I'm... I'm sorry, that's out of line, I shouldn't have asked. Please forgive me.

[armoredsoul]

[Honestly, he's used to fielding that question, so he just smiles and chuckles a little at Rossiu's backpedaling.]

It's okay, most people get curious about it. There was a really bad accident when we were little, and Brother got hurt trying to save me from it.

[adai]

Ah, I'm so sorry to hear that. I can't imagine what that would have been like.

[Part of that is because he doesn't have any siblings, but having someone else get hurt on your behalf... it sounds very painful for both people.]

[armoredsoul]

It's okay. It was a long time ago, and were being really dumb. It was both of our faults to begin with.

[There's still a bit of an ache in his chest every time the subject comes up, but...he's used to it, really. Their lives changed, and there's no point in wondering what would have happened had they listened to the warnings.]

[adai]

I'm so sorry that happened to you. It must have been very difficult.

[The words are pretty generic and Rossiu's expression isn't doing a good job of conveying his sympathy, but he's trying. At least his voice gets it across a bit better?]

[armoredsoul]

...it was, but we managed. It was a long time ago, anyway.

[adai]

At least there's that. They say time heals all wounds.

[EXCEPT A MISSING ARM AND LEG, MAN HE IS SO SORRY]

[armoredsoul]

It does help, at least. Some things you can't completely heal from.

[That part is said a little more quietly, almost to himself.]

[adai]

...Yes.

[He's not sure if Alphonse is talking about death, but that's what it sounds like. He's more familiar with that than he'd like to be.]

I hope things are going well for you here though. Is your brother here as well?

[It's not exactly a graceful topic change, but boy did he try.]

[armoredsoul]

[Eh, Al won't judge. It's hard to transition from 'horrible family tragedy' to 'not-horrible random topic'.]

He was for a while! He was sent home a few months ago, but I'm doing alright.

[adai]

Ah, I'm sorry to hear he's not here right now, but I'm sure he'll return!

[He's not actually sure about that, but he's trying!!]

[armoredsoul]

Me too. And he's safe back home, so I'm not too worried.