✩ 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

[adai]

[Rossiu is perfectly fine waiting, he's lucky enough to have someone coming out to get him as it is, so he won't complain! He is pretty cold since he's used to living in an apocalyptic wasteland a desert-like area. He's been entertaining himself by figuring out what the 'Gear can do, and thankfully, he's been allowed in the lab to keep him from freezing.

He's outside when Al arrives and he smiles when Al approaches. Rossiu's expression still doesn't read "pure joy" but at least it's a change from the serious face.]

Hello! I'm a little cold, yes-- ah, you're very prepared!

[armoredsoul]

[Al laughs and pulls off his backpack to fish out the puffy parka, gloves, and hat he'd stuffed in there.]

I try to be! Here, put these on; it'll be just as cold up in the air if not moreso.

[It's hard for Al to judge the difference right now since his face is half-numb from the wind.]

Since it's so late I'll just take you over to Cherrygrove for now, otherwise we might be falling asleep in the saddle. In the morning you can decide if you want to come with me out to Goldenrod.

[adai]

Thank you so much!

[Oh wow, this is super puffy! Rossiu stares at it for a moment, then looks down at the capelet thing he's wearing. He's... not going to be able to wear both, is he...? Eventually he settles for taking off the cape-thing and pulling on the parka. It's much warmer and Rossiu zips it up as high as it'll go before putting on the gloves and hat. He doesn't care what he looks like, he's warm.]

Goldenrod? Is that another town?

[armoredsoul]

Uh-huh. It's the biggest city in the region, so there's a lot to do there. Paying for lodging is more expensive there, though.

[Al waits patiently for Rossiu to finish bundling up before beckoning Clara to hunker down for them again. He hates to rush them, but it is late--he'd like to get to a hotel with a warm dinner as quickly as they can.]

[adai]

The biggest city? It must be impressive.

[He's already impressed by New Bark Town, so...]

So are we walking or...?

[armoredsoul]

It is! I hadn't seen anything like it before.

Oh! No, no, Clara can fly us both. Getting to Cherrygrove is a three day walk on foot. You climb on first, and I'll get on behind you.

[adai]

Oh, okay. I've never flown before, so...

[HOPEFULLY THIS WON'T GO TOO BADLY. He gets on carefully though, looking a little apprehensive.]

[armoredsoul]

Don't worry, I promise it's safe.

[Once Al's helped him get all the straps done up correctly he hops on and straps in as well. The Pidgeot shuffles a little and plods a few steps away from the building, getting ready to take off.]

Wrap your arms around my waist if you need to, okay?

[adai]

...Okay.

[He sounds more nervous than he looks, but this is much better than walking for three days in the freezing cold!

Whenever you're ready, Al!]

[armoredsoul]

[Aaaaaaand WHOOSH! Clara's takeoff is smooth but very, very fast, and she flaps quickly to gain height and speed. Al looks back with a reassuring grin once they've leveled out, soaring over the forest below. He has to shout over the wind, but Rossiu should be able to hear his words.]

Pretty cool, huh?

[adai]

[Well he's going to be clinging to Al almost immediately this is not what he was expecting!!

...Thankfully Rossiu is used to piloting a gunman, which can get pretty speedy, so the speed isn't much of an issue, and once he's gotten over the initial panic, he loosens his grip a bit and looks around.]

Wow, this is incredible! We're really flying!

[He genuinely sounds amazed, and his expression kind of reflects it for once!]

[armoredsoul]

[Al laughs and nods. He's gone flying with Clara a few times, but it's never lost the magic of the first time he did.]

Yup! I don't often have a need to go flying like this, but it's so fun when I do! And thankfully Clara doesn't mind indulging me, do you, girl?

Pigeooooo~

[adai]

This is incredible! I never thought flying would be possible...!

[He's fascinated by this, but he's also playing it safe and not leaning over to look at the ground below him.]

[armoredsoul]

A lot of impossible things happen here! Though powered flight is something that can be done with machines--my brother was actually helping with projects to try and make rockets that would get all the way up into space back home.

[adai]

Going to space... That's incredible! Kamina talked about going into space, but I never thought...

[He looks absolutely fascinated by this.]

[armoredsoul]

It's complicated to pull off, but it's possible! People here have spacecraft that have gotten to the moon and in orbit, I can lend you some books on that.

[Luring an unsuspecting victim into geek-dom? No, not him...]

[adai]

It sounds amazing, but the books would have to be very simple. I'm not very good at reading yet.

[Despite being fourteen... You can't really learn to read when most people in your village don't know how to!]

[armoredsoul]

Oh! I didn't know, sorry. I could try and find some videos--I think I remember seeing a series on a whole bunch of subjects, I'm sure there's at least one on rockets...

[How Alphonse hasn't binge-watched Bill Psy yet is beyond the ken of man.]

[adai]

That would be wonderful! There's so much I have to learn about the technology here. I'd really like to watch videos like that. There isn't anything similar to that back home... well, I suppose we have the communication screens in the gunmen, but those are different.

[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.