Chapter 0: Fall

BA-01 down! BA-01 down!

Please respond! We've been shot down!

BA-01 down! BA-01...!

Useless piece of...!

Commander! I can't get through to the Ark!

... Commander?

...!!

No! You're going into cardiac arrest...!

A... AED...! AED!

Charging...!

Clear!

Commander! Are you okay?

Can you hear me? Smile if you can hear me!

Finally! Can you tell me which section you're from?

All right then, up and at 'em. Raise your arms up.

STR cleared!

Great...! Everything is normal!

Commander, can you hear me?

We were attacked en route to our destination. The transport ship is down.

Any Rapture within a hundred-mile radius must have heard that explosion and is headed our way.

I realize this is all a bit sudden, but I am now under your command. You're giving the orders.

Can you do it?

Yes, Commander!

Time to get to work. Keep your head down.

Please don't worry.

I will protect you,

no matter what happens.

Marian, activating combat mode.

... Encounter!

All enemies down! Transitioning to non-combat state.

...

Argh... My leg...

I suppose you could say that. Hurt, or rather... malfunctioning?

Either way, my mobility hasn't been affected.

Um... Commander... This isn't of much use to a Nikke.

...

Nonetheless, I... appreciate the gesture. Thank you, Commander.

I thought you'd be more of a rough and tumble kind of person.

Let's keep moving. The rendezvous point should be close by.

We're almost there. Are you feeling all right?

Your heart had stopped back there, but I managed to resuscitate you.

If you're tired of walking, I can carry you.

It's nothing, really. Carrying you is like lifting a feather for me.

Come on.

If you insist...

In that case...

At least hold on to me a bit.

Let me know if you need a rest.

Roger.

Let's keep moving then.

...

We've got Raptures up ahead.

I don't see any way around them.

Stay here and wait for me.

This will all be over soon.

It should be somewhere around here...

Huh? Where is everyone?

Did the plan change after the transport ship crashed?

!!

Gunfire!

Let's go check it out!

How long are we going to wait here?!

Until they come.

We're sitting ducks out here!

We'll wait until they come.

Did you not see how hard they went down?!

You saw that explosion! What are the odds of them coming out of that alive?

We haven't received any confirmation of death.

What, so we're waiting here until we do?

This is the rendezvous point. Leaving here would throw a wrench into the works.

This is absurd!

Everyone!

Ah! You scared me!

!!

I'm Marian. The Commander is here with me.

Are you serious? How did you survive that explosion?

I get that you're a Nikke, but isn't that one a human?!

... Something's fishy about this.

Are you really the Commander?

Excuse me for a moment.

Commander identification code, read.

...

The Squad 04-F Commander has changed.

Rapi, we don't even know them! How could you...

Now's not the time to argue! There are Raptures right ahead of us.

Well... that much is true.

From now on, you're in command.

As the former Commander is unable to issue orders at present, no formal procedures are necessary to transfer authority.

The situation is urgent. I'll explain the details once the battle is over.

You said your name was Marian? What branch are you from?

I belong to Silver Gun. I'm a machine gunner.

... It checks out.

...

Very well then.

All right, Commander. What's the next move?

Awaiting your command.

Yes, Commander.

Let's get this party started!

Well, that was easy.

We're Rapi and Anis. Thanks for the assistance.

But why did you ask to take the Commander up to the surface all of a sudden?

So...

I'm afraid so. Our former Commander is dead.

...

He tried to shoot the Raptures with a human weapon,

hurling obscenities at them all the while.

He knew that those pea-shooters couldn't put a dent in a Rapture...

You two failed in your duties. You let him die.

You're wrong! We've always been willing to protect the Commander

no matter what, even if that meant sacrificing ourselves!

But just because we're willing to put our lives on the line doesn't mean he'll always be safe...

...

All right... I was just saying.

Could you tell us your name?

Anis.

I'm going to do a little digging.

Let me see...

...

Hmm?

What's wrong?

This Commander is a total rookie.

... What?

They just graduated from the military academy yesterday.

...

Let's move to the commercial street. It's too dangerous here.