The Kaiju Runt in the Room....

[genericbiggerbrother]

One fine day, someone posts a general video message on the Unity Group network.

"Hello! This is Ranger Yancy Beckett, on loan with his brother from the Pan Pacific Defense Corps."

He smiles. "I've been impressed by everyone I've met here, and I'm looking forward to defending the Earth with you all!"

His smile fades. "That being said, there's something that I've been meaning to ask folks, something that's been bugging me for a bit." He fidgets, then blurts out:

"Why are there so many kids here?"

Comments

[monophonic]

[Tsubasa takes some time to consider this question. It's not every day that someone, a Ranger no less, asks you something like this...]

I can't speak for the others, Mr. Beckett...

...However, Kanade and I fight our enemies because we are some of the few who can do so. Like the Majestic Princes, we were trained to accomplish this for years now.

[Granted, she doesn't know that the MJP situation is kind of complicated, but they had that in common at least.]

[genericbiggerbrother]

"Were your memories erased like theirs were?" Yancy asks. "Granted, I can't see people doing that to a pair of famous music idols..."

[monophonic]

Erased...?

[She repeats. That clearly caught her by surprise.]

[genericbiggerbrother]

"Yeah..." Yancy says sullenly. "Apparently every MJP trainee has their memories of their life before the age of 15 erased."

He makes air quotes with his hands. "So they aren't distracted from the fight, apparently."

He shakes his head. "It's obviously bull. But what creeps me out the most is how at peace those kids are with not having any past!"

[monophonic]

[Tsubasa looks concerned now. A moment of silence passes before she responds.]

I don't like the way it sounds...and with how things are, I doubt that any of them would remember if they agreed to everything.

However, I can at least say that my partner and I chose this for ourselves...to become protectors who put our lives on the line. Right now, and as of this very moment, we want to continue fighting.

Did they at least tell you something similar? Not about their past, but the present.

[genericbiggerbrother]

"Well, that's the thing." Yancy says, rubbing the back of his head. "They're not cold, emotionless fighting machines, or neurotic, frightened wrecks, or even hormone filled berserkers."

He sighs. "They're all, despite everything, upstanding, cheerful, passionate kids. Hell, one of them wants to be a hero of justice!"

He smiles despite himself. "Which is kinda cool."