2006/12/16

Episode 18: Gemeinschaft

Meanwhile, back at Balay Kapatiran...

Matthew Luke, Hyacinth, Ayu, Misuzu, Reverie, and Setsumi have finally arrived on time.

Boy: Salamat sa pagbalik ninyo. Sa ilang minuto ay darating na si Gen. Esperon, kasama ang mga makakasama natin.
Matthew Luke: Good, good. Ngayon, habang hinihintay natin sila, ipapakilala ko ang mga bago nating recruits: sina Reverie Planetarian at Setsumi.

Reverie and Setsumi then introduce themselves to the force in their own unique ways.

Hyacinth: Oh! Ayan na yata sila! Ang nakapagtataka, bakit ang gamit nila, AFV?
Boy: Syempre, mga VIP's sila. Now everyone, stand at attention. Papababa na si Gen. Esperon.

Gen. Esperon alights from the AFV. Behind him are several men carrying a huge box. The members of the Nueva Liga Filipina stand at attention to pay respects to him.

Gen. Esperon: Mga ipinagpipitagang mga miyembro ng Nueva Liga Filipina, mabuhay.
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: (salutes) Sir, yes, sir!
Gen. Esperon: Hey. Don't go too formal on me, huh. Even though you are all part of a mercenary army, you're still civilians to me. (clears throat) Ngayon, hindi na ako magpapatumpik-tumpik pa.

With all the courtesy and hospitality they can offer, the Nueva Liga Filipina accomodates the AFP Chief of Staff as an esteemed guest.

Gen. Esperon: You, the Nueva Liga Filipina, are really excited to know who are the persons inside this big box.
Nash: Buti na lang po, General, mas malaki pa ito sa X-Box.
Gen. Esperon: Nakakapag-joke pa rin kayo, ha? O sige. Para mas espesyal ang pagbubukas ng kahong ito, inimbita pa namin ang Apo Hiking Society at ang Kamikazee.
Erich: Bakit naman?
Gen. Esperon: Siyempre, uh, for a more dramatic effect. Heto, nandito na sila.
Apo Hiking Society & Kamikazee: Hello sa inyong lahat.
Gen. Esperon: OK, guys, humanda na.

The two bands ready their positions near the box and give a signal that is almost unintelligible to the two childhood friends.

Hyacinth: (Hmm... bakit kaya nila kinakatok ang kahon?)
Matthew Luke: (Siguro, ayaw nilang malaman na mga miyembro ng Jemaah Islamiyah ang nasa loob.)
Hyacinth: (As if!)

Gen. Esperon gives a signal, and then...

Apo Hiking Society: (singing) Heto na...
Kamikazee: (singing) Heto na...
Apo Hiking Society & Kamikazee: (singing) Heto na...

"WWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"

During that long shout, the box breaks open in an abrupt fashion, giving way to the additions to the force.

Keanna, Multi, Serio, and Serika on one side.

And Nene and the Angel Brigade on the other.

Sir Mike: Ha! Talk about a GRAND entrance. Sinong may pakana niyan, anyway?
Gen. Esperon: Actually, I cannot say that. It's classified. (clears throat) Kayong lahat, ipinakikilala namin sa inyo ang mga bago ninyong kakampi!

The general then introduces Keanna's and Nene's groups.

Kim & Gerald: Kumander Nene? Keanna?
Keanna: Ooohhh... kayo ba iyan, Kim at Gerald?
Kim & Gerald: Kami pa!
Nene: Hindi ko inaasahan na makakasama ko ang mga not-quite housemates ko. Ang liit talaga ng mundo.
Yumi: Onee-sama (Ate), tingnan ninyo! Mga miyembro ng Angel Brigade ang makakasama natin! Ako kasi ay isa sa mga tagahanga nila!
Sachiko: Ows? Talaga?
Milfeulle: (approaching Yumi) Wow! Isa na namang tagahanga! Mabuti naman! Ipagbe-bake kita ng cake!
Yumi: Sige!
Sachiko: Hinding-hindi ako tatanggi.
Forte: Hoy, Milfeulle. Tama na ang cake-cake na yan. Malulugi lang si Goldilocks at ang pulang laso.
Multi: Ang dami palang mga kaalyado natin, no?
Serio: Kaya dapat pag-igihan mo ang pangangalap ng datos, OK?
Reverie: (approaching Multi and Serio) Ikinagagalak ko kayong makita, mga kasama kong robot. Ako po ay si Reverie Planetarian. (proceeds to boast her features that flatter Multi and Serio very much)
Serika: ...
Vanilla: ...
Setsumi: ...
Serika: ...
Vanilla: ...
Setsumi: ...
Serika: (whisper) Magandang araw.
Setsumi: Maligayang pagdating.
Vanilla: Salamat sa Diyos.

And now, the introduction and assimilation of the new allies turns into an impromptu party. As the party drags on, Gen. Esperon, the Apo Hiking Society, and Kamikazee have to leave Balay Kapatiran for their individual important appointments. They informed the force beforehand (why wouldn't they?).

However... half an hour later...

"Asa, asa da yo, asagohan tabete, gakkou iku yo!" [Umaga, umaga na! Mag-almusal na't papasok na tayo!]

Nayuki's catchline is, surprisingly, Matt's cellphone ringtone; much to the jealousy of Hyacinth.

Hyacinth: Matt? Meron ka bang ibang babae sa buhay mo?
Matthew Luke: Ringtone lang 'to, eh!
Hyacinth: Oo, ringtone nga, pero... niligawan mo siya kapalit ng pagrekord ng boses niya sa cellphone mo, no?
Matthew Luke: HA?
Asa: (approaching the two) Hoy, Matt, Hyacinth. Tama na ang LQ. Tutal, hindi ko naman boses yun, eh.
Ayu: (approaching the two) Uguu! Tama si Asa! Tigilan ninyo yan! Boses iyan ng kaibigan kong si Nayuki! Binigyan ko lang si Matt ng ringtone na iyon noong isang araw.
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: Haaaayyyy. Tapos na rin ang LQ.
Asa: At tapos na rin ang pag-ring. Missed call na iyon.

But then, the partying stops. Because Ogie informs the entire force of a concern that is very pressing.

Ogie: (as Gosh Abelgosh) Mga kasama, itigil muna natin ang pagpa-party. May mas mahalaga pa tayong aasikasuhin sa ngayon. Pumunta na tayo sa control center ngayon din.

At the control center of Balay Kapatiran, the force sees the ongoing events on the giant monitor.

P. Kandule: P***! Naglalaban na ngayon ang mga robot ng EY BI ES SI BI EN at DYI EM EY!
Kira: At saka... nararamdaman ko rin... na ang isa sa mga dati nating nakatagpo, ay nandoon sa loob ng robot ng Dos, Athrun.
Athrun: Ewan ko, pero baka magkakatotoo ang kutob mo, Kira...
Hero: At ang mas masaklap... naglalaban sila malapit sa EDSA! Baka may mga madadamay na inosente!
Sandara: Kawawa naman... ayokong dumanak ng dugo sa walang sapat na kadahilanan...

Matt's cellphone rings again with Nayuki's sweetness (and without Hyacinth's jealousy this time). He answers it immediately.

Matthew Luke: Sir Gabby?
Mr. Lopez: Matt! Dahil nararamdaman kahit dito sa ABS ang lakas ng robot namin at ng robot ng kabila, ikinatatakot namin ni Ma'am Charo ang civilian casualties. Idispatsa ang mga kaalyado ninyo sa pinaglalabanan para masigurong walang madadamay. This is urgent!
Matthew Luke: Understood. (hangs up and faces the rest of the force) Mga kasama, dapat nating siguruhin na walang madadamay na sibilyan sa labanan nila. Kaya tayo ang aakto bilang mga peacekeeping lumberjacks!
Hyacinth: Tama si Matt! Ngayon, idispatsa natin ang mga lumberjack units.

(This is the portion where you are free to select your units. Because infantry-type units are no match for big, hulking mecha units; mecha units and similar vehicular units must be selected, as well as their pilots. This is in preparation for the next strategy battle, while will happen in the next episode.)

The selected units are the following:
1. Freedom Gundam
2. Aegis Gundam
3. Ren'ai Rangers
4. GA Emblem Frames

When the undispatched members wonder why the Ren'ai Rangers are selected (they already know that the Angel Brigade has Emblem Frames; even Nene has her own, thanks to the combined expertise of Mint and the resourcefulness of the AFP)...

Mizuki: Matt, Hyacinth... tungkol sa sinabi ninyo noong Big Brother House siege...
Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: Na kayo'y mga panibagong bersyon ng Power Rangers...
Mizuki: Well, nandyan na ang mga morphers namin, na suot-suot pa namin simula nang kami'y naparito sa Pilipinas...
Arcueid: ...at meron din kaming special finishing move sa bisa ng pagsasama-sama ng aming mga lakas.
Saber: Sa katunayan, hindi makukumpleto ang pagiging mga Ren'ai Rangers namin nang wala ang mga ito.
Korina: Sige. Ipakita ninyo ang natitirang katibayan ng pagiging Ranger ninyo.

The Ren'ai Rangers prepare, and...

Mizuki, Asa, Ayu, Misuzu, Arcueid, Saber: Ren'ai Rangers, power up! Ha!

The Ren'ai Rangers are transformed, as usual.

Mizuki, Asa, Ayu, Misuzu, Arcueid, Saber: Summon the Carezords!

From a rainbow out of nowhere, the Carezords, the Zords of feeling, display in all of their glory.

Nikki: Wow! Para silang mga higanteng bersyon ng Carebears!
Joseph: I don't care. Even the Carebears don't care.

The Ren'ai Rangers then enter their respective Carezords.

Mizuki: Ngayon, panahon na para magkaisa!
Mizuki, Asa, Ayu, Misuzu, Arcueid, Saber: Synaesthesia Megazord Formation!

And another complicated formation sequence (that I can't tell in detail, yet again) ensues. At the end of the sequence...

Mizuki, Asa, Ayu, Misuzu, Arcueid, Saber: Synaesthesia Megazord, ready for action!
Normad: Olrayt, nasayang na ang dalawang minuto para lang sa isang walang-kuwentang sequence mula sa mga paulit-ulit na sentai series.
Ranpha: Tumahimik ka, Normad! Kung hindi...!
Matthew Luke: Hoy kayo, walang rason para makipagtalo. Atupagin muna ang dapat trabahuin.

The explanation ends here.

Matthew Luke & Hyacinth: Lumberjack Peacekeepers, move out!
Kira, Athrun, Mizuki, Asa, Ayu, Misuzu, Arcueid, Saber, Milfeulle, Mint, Ranpha, Forte, Vanilla, Nene: Heading out!

While the Lumberjack Peacekeepers are heading out, let's look at the events in the unknown place.

????: (viewing the events via a monitor) Ayan, tamang-tama. Oras na upang "simulan ang init". Hahahaha...

The unknown person presses a button, and...

????: Scroll of Brutality, descend!

A scroll descends from the sky and into the battle site. While the two opposing mechs are in the middle of their brawl, the scroll brings out malevolent energy that is easily absorbed by them. Seconds later, the mechs exude a purple-crimson aura.

Only at that time did the Lumberjack Peacekeepers arrive at the battle site. Their first and most important collective action? Defend the innocent civilians from any attack that the two mechs may accidentally inflict.

And Kira and Athrun's hunches are correct.

Kira & Athrun: Shinn Asuka!

The two then try to radio in Shinn, but...

Shinn: Drr... trr... drr... trr...
Kira: Ha? Anong nangyayari sa kanya?
Athrun: Hindi ko nga alam, eh!
Kira: Pati ang dati nating kasama, si Jin ng Raijin-Oh, ay nagsasabi ng kung anu-ano!
Jin: Lashuvash... lahurah... lashuvash... lahurah...
Mint: Kira, Athrun, mga kasama, mukhang may masamang enerhiyang bumabalot sa mga robot na iyon! Ang enerhiyang iyon, base sa analysis ko, ay sadyang nagpapabrutal sa ugali ng kahit isang pinakamaamong nilalang!
Mizuki: Kung gayon, pakalmahin natin--

But the interaction is interrupted by a huge blast that destroys a small part of EDSA.

Milfeulle: Naku! Baka may nadamay na sibilyan!

And the souls of Gozon and Abrera, the heart of the Rainbow Serpent, also show no signs of letting up.

Gozon's and Abrera's souls: Urlangth-ikmal-wasfamayorch...

From the control center...

Ogie: (as Gosh Abelgosh) Salamat sa pag-analisa sa masamang mahika, Mint Blancmanche. Ngayon, wala na tayong magagawa kundi pigilan ang mga sinapi ng mahikang iyon.
Kira & Athrun: Kahit na madadamay sina Shinn at Jin?
Ogie: ............. (as Gosh Abelgosh) Tama.
Matthew Luke: Minsan kailangang magsakripisyo upang magantihan ng pabuya.
Hyacinth: Matatapos din ang panibughong ito.
Kira: (pause) Tama. Shinn, Jin, ililigtas din namin kayo! SUGOD!

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Stars Introduced So Far

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