Work Release Program

[twocoolforschool]

1. [Immediately post-Mt. Daisetzu]
[Those present for the mission in Hokkaido already have some idea, but for others it may be a nasty surprise when Getter Robo returns, and out steps - that guy who hijacked it and tried to trash Saotome Labs, and who's been cooling his heels in a cell since. Now unrestrained, and apparently not even under guard, and looking rather pleased with himself. Well, he did help save Denzel and a bunch of civilians, after all! For certain values of "saved", given the civilians' condition, but that's not his fault.

So this fine gentleman now has the run of Sakihama Base, apparently, and soon enough appears around Fort Alhambra and even the Star Rose. Granted, he doesn't seem to be up to anything obvious, and if any blood has been let in the process, none of it got on him...]

2. [Network broadcast]
[Shortly after Getter's return, a worn-looking and grumpy (but that's no change from normal) Professor Saotome makes a video broadcast.]

I'll make this short. Arrangements have been made for Hayato Jin to pilot Getter Robo. For the time being, he's forbidden to leave any UG base or my labs unescorted, and is under full surveillance within them. He knows not to give us any reason to limit him more than this. I trust all UG personnel will exercise similar restraint.

The Reptiloids are growing more daring. We do not have time to spare for squabbling among ourselves.

Comments

1

[glorystargo]

Well, isn't it the infamous terrorist Hayato Jin?

I was serious about that drink by the way. I don't know what old man Saotome was thinking to make you pilot the drill Getter... but your actions out there proved we can trust you.

[For now.]

1

[majestic_keiki]

[Seeing Hayato up close, rather than simply as a voice over the radio was clearly something Kei hadn't been prepared for. Especially not after he'd been helpful, shown basic human decency and had been a big part of making sure everyone got out alive and the genocide lab got properly shut down. So she was just standing there, looking uncertain.]

[twocoolforschool]

[What a happy coincidence that is!]

He knew he needed people who can handle the Getter - and he was confident he could convince me of the need, too.

He was right. This is a fight for humanity's survival.

[twocoolforschool]

Purple Two.

[Hayato catches her eye. He's been reading up, it seems.]

Good work.

[majestic_keiki]

[What a bright, cheerful and charming man. She clearly didn't seem terribly comfortable with his attention like that. Probably didn't help that the events of the deployment had been quite disturbing.]

...Thanks.

I guess we wouldn't have managed to deal with things out there without you.

1 (and after hearing Prof Saotome's announcement)

[dolorous_sensei]

So... you're a terrorist eh?

Re: 1 (and after hearing Prof Saotome's announcement)

[twocoolforschool]

Allegedly.

[Hayato's watching the mechanics work on the Jaguar. Watching very closely.]

Re: 1 (and after hearing Prof Saotome's announcement)

[dolorous_sensei]

And you're in some sort of work release program?

Re: 1 (and after hearing Prof Saotome's announcement)

[twocoolforschool]

My status will remain alleged, and no one will take too much trouble to investigate the allegations... so long as I pilot the Getter when it's needed.

[Hayato studies Walt. He does know the score, surely? He doesn't look like one of the naive kids from around here. In fact...]

You were there. The first time.

[twocoolforschool]

Probably not.

[Well, it's only the truth. Getter-2 had made attacking the underground base a great deal easier than it would otherwise have been. Escaping it, likewise.]

But everyone has a part to play in a well-run operation.

[majestic_keiki]

I didn't say you were the only one who mattered.

Just that we couldn't have done it without you. But how did you even end up here?

Re: 1 (and after hearing Prof Saotome's announcement)

[dolorous_sensei]

Yes, I was there the first time. When you led your men to attack the Saotome Lab. And then left them to the grinder when shits hit the fan. I'm nobody that your type would recognize though. I'm just one of the nameless grunts that was there by chance.

[abugslife]

So this is the infamous terrorist. You received a very strang punishment for your misdeeds.

[twocoolforschool]

My comrades gave their lives bravely.

[Deadpan.]

And I'd say you're more than a nameless grunt now, Lieutenant Schmertz. A marked man, wouldn't you say?

[twocoolforschool]

I don't think the Professor or his backers consider my alleged misdeeds a priority at the moment.

[twocoolforschool]

Mutual benefit. They wanted a pilot with my particular skills, I wanted to know more about what they've been keeping secret.

[majestic_keiki]

Good luck finding what you're looking for. There's lots of weird stuff the public don't know about, you'll see it soon enough, but nobody can keep track of all of it.

1

[blackhole_sunattack]

Well well, Mister Jin, good to meet you in person.

I appreciate your help back there... And I do apologize for having to deal with the Megaborgs back there.

[dolorous_sensei]

Oh man, not you too! I got eyes all over me now! I can do it without yours!

Re: 1

[twocoolforschool]

Seems to me we were able to help each other.

Have they been known to do anything like that before?

[Hijacking their minds, plunging them into a shared hallucination like that without even having to get them out of their cockpits... it was an alarming ability.]

[twocoolforschool]

Maybe. It's remarkable what patterns emerge once you find the right perspective, though.

[Kei should be familiar with that, after all. Sifting signal from noise is her job.]

[twocoolforschool]

Don't worry. I'm not putting you under any new scrutiny. The reports on you made for interesting reading, though.

How does it feel?

[majestic_keiki]

Yeah...But I think the only pattern here is that all kinds of weirdos and secret societies decided to pay attention to Unity Group. And that magic exists, apparently.

[dolorous_sensei]

Would you believe if I say it's everything I've ever wanted and more? Finally, I know how it feel like to be the chosen one, to be someone special!

[twocoolforschool]

So it doesn't matter who did the "choosing"?

[dolorous_sensei]

No, it was a joke. I never want to be anyone special, or anything interesting happening. Of course, a chosen one like you would never understand that line of thinking, wouldn't you?

1

[onewalksintomordor]

[Ryoma is leaning on something, just to make a point of being nonchalant. He's not gonna let Hayato feel like the big scary bad man.]

You didn't go renegade or anything this time! You're making progress.

[glorystargo]

I wonder what it took to convince you. The human genocide laboratory proved that these assholes only want to kill us all, but it seems you made up your mind even before seeing it.

[abugslife]

At the moment, perhaps, but this still does not erase your past. If your service to Unity Group will not be enough to redeem it, who knows what will happen once it finishes? You are, after all, a criminal. One who does not seem to be concerned by the fact that an alien is talking to him.

[twocoolforschool]

Soon I'll be completely domesticated.

[Oh, he's making progress, all right. He can behave himself if that's what it takes to make more.]

Re: 1

[blackhole_sunattack]

Like that... no. Typically their attacks a re either far more direct, or entirely so roundabout that their agents forget that they're not human.

They're probably getting desperate...

[twocoolforschool]

Most people who want to avoid excitement do a better job of it.

[twocoolforschool]

The same evidence that convinced Saotome. Those things have been striking at humanity from the shadows for a long time, now. If you have to wait for someone to openly declare war before you recognize a threat, you're doomed already.

[And he'd been hungry for an opportunity like this for a long time, without realizing it himself - not that he's about to admit that.]

[twocoolforschool]

Were you expecting slack-jawed amazement? I've read the files on you. More secrets hoarded by the powers that be - hardly a surprise.

No more than your threats.

[twocoolforschool]

So it's a target-rich environment. Apophenia is just an occupational hazard.

Re: 1

[twocoolforschool]

That would explain their follow through.

[Or their complete lack of it. After something that effective, they follow up with a bickering three-faced monster? Children playing with toys above their level.]

Agents who forget their nature? Do you have any examples in mind?

[dolorous_sensei]

I know! I didn't enter military to look for a fight! I just thought it'd be a solid career choice, with good dental plan! I was young and naive back then...

[majestic_keiki]

Good luck trying to figure out all the secrets here. Lots of the people are perfectly capable of protecting their business if they want to anyway.

2

[keep_your_dignity]

[The reply to Saotome comes in the shape of a mass of meal in the video connection's screen, stamped with Graveyard insignia]

I'M FORCED TO AGREE ON THAT LAST POINT.

HOWEVER, DOCTOR, I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PASS ON A MESSAGE. GRAVEYARD HAS SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT AND INFORMATION WITHIN UNITY FACILITIES. IF JIN GIVES CAUSE FOR EVEN THE SLIGHTEST SUSPICION OF ESPIONAGE OR TAMPERING, WE WILL CONSIDER IT AN ACT OF TREASON AND DIRECT AGGRESSION - ONE WHICH I HAVE BEEN GIVEN FREEDOM TO DEAL WITH AS I SEE FIT. I RECOMMEND YOU POINT THIS OUT TO HIM BEFORE ANY INCIDENT HAPPENS.

[abugslife]

Threats? I am merely stating the truth. Do not act like an innocent man under unfair scrutiny. You are a murderer. Working for Unity Group, in a way, is your sentence. But if during this sentence your deeds do not prove to be enough to repent for your past, do you really think they will just let you go when this is all over?

[abugslife]

And my presence here... Will not remain a secret for long. Soon, everyone will know...

Re: 2

[twocoolforschool]

Graveyard's secrecy is no secret itself. I've made all such issues very clear to him.

Of course, no Graveyard agents would be inappropriately curious about our work here, I'm sure.

[onewalksintomordor]

Does that mean you're housebroken? I thought you were gonna piss yourself once or twice.