Galactic Space Patrol Brotherhood!! (IC)

"Nyah-HAAAAAAH!!" The highpitched shriek came from down the road before the little yellow vespa even came into sight, the pink-haired rider laughing hysterically as she leaned over the front of the bike.

It'd been 6 years since she was last in Mabase... but there was one thing Naota had right- the place just never changed. it looked almost exactly the same as she had left... Her Naota had to have grown though, right?

Ahh, but that wasn't entirely why she was here. N.O. was really coming up active here- even as she drove on, her bracelet was dancing about like Kamon after two bottles of sake. That was definitely something to get her interest... but way more than she could handle on her own. Nope, this meant some extra help with the Patrol... But that didn't mean she couldn't see what else she could get out of her Naota's head while they were there, either.

She slammed on the brakes, a squeel coming from the vespa as it popped up on its front wheel, Haruko using her weight to spin the thing around. "Heyyyy! Ya gonna catch up back there or what?! Move it! Move your butt! Cmon!" She stood up, straddling the vespa as she cupped her gloved hands about her mouth. Her crew seemed to be a bit lost by the place- but she'd show 'em the ropes.
She hoped the Nandabas didn't mind her bringing back a few... friends.

Cherry red, blood red, hot fire red...yeah all that and then some. As the red headed rider came flashing down the road a rather dead expression on her face along with the one K-9 tooth that poked out from her lips. In that same mouth was the tail of a cat flapping in the wind as she caught up to her crazed friend.

On her back were two guitars and a guitar case... one would wonder where she got the strength for such a thing. But then one would be more concerned as to what the hell was in that guitar case. The world may never know....

As she came into view it would look like she was moving at tops speed with how fast things were strolling past her. But then suddenly it would become clear as there was a large fan sitting in front of her and her red vespa riding on a tred mill of sorts. She looked at the strange camera crew with a glare. "What the hell!? Oh sure give Haruko the great entrance..I get cheap props!!" she screamed suddenly her dead expression coming to life. Opening her mouth wider then expected and looking much like a parana she ate the crew men and propts as her vespa finally caught up to her friend coming to a sputtering stop, then it died. "This piece of shit no good..." she jumped off the bike kicking it ten ways to Tuesday before stopping with a huff and turning to acknowledge Haruko. "So what is it chief? Why are we here..." We being Haruko, Maze and Shuga...but where was Shuga?

"Damn budget cuts...," Haruko muttered, shoving her foot out and stopping Maze's vespa before her, letting it fall over. She grinned as Maze blew up, jamming a thumb against her own chest. "Top billing, baby!" Her smile grew even wider, then stopped as she turned around, pointing over the edge of the bridge.

"See that? The gigundo thing shaped like an iron? Yeeah. That's the main issue here. They woke up Atomsk last time.. and now they're trying to do it again." She rolled her eyes, leaning further over the bridge so that she was teetering by her hips against it. "You think they'd learn the first time."

"But no worries! We got us some connections." She winked at Maze. "One of the best N.O portals available. You can yank dang near anything outta this kid's head. Of course, don't see how you wouldn't be able to. He's got a forehead the size of a billboard." She finally let go of the bar, letting herself flip right back around it and landing on her butt on the pavement, peering up at Maze and spotting the tail finally. "Heyyyyy... have you been nibbling?"

Maze was back to her dead expression, one tooth hooked outta her mouth along with the cat tail. At the mention of it she slurped the rest of the tail in her mouth like spaghetti burping shortly thereafter. "No." she stated simply looking at the large iron thing. "So what's with that big hand?" she questioned, did these people always make big house hold appliances as buildings and weird human appendages as scenic prop.

A gust of wind shot up then and Maze pulled out a remote control. A pause logo showed up on the screen as she turned going off screen. "Cut it out!" she kicked the new prop crew then went back on screne, pressing "play" Haruko came back to life as if nothing happened. "So we're looking for this kid with N.O. portal availability. Perfect...Shuga should be able to find him easily with his endless gadgets." With a shrug the guitar case on her back fell off her back to land with at thud on the pavement. With a swift kick to its locking mechanism it opened with a hiss and a billow of steam shot out. When the fog cleared inside was their 'friend' Shuga sleeping like a log.

"He got into my Pirin tablets again...knocked himself right out. Not sure how many he took but yeah..." she kicked at the case. Still not a twitch or sound. "Anyway, since Shuga ain't no use, think you can find this kid, chief?" she asked kicking the case closed again. Shuga forgotten for the time being.

"Hmmm." Haruko peered into the case, grabbing Shuga's cheek and tugging hard. "Ohhh, yeah. He's gone. He would've kicked my ass by now for something like that..."

She shot a grin to Maze as she asked about finding him alone. "Are you kidding me? Naota's absolutely positively a SYNCH to find!" She turned back to the bridge's edge, peering out from it again as her tongue jutted out from her lips. "Nyaah- that's right, he's in high school now... Haaa! I know where he'd hafta be!"

She jumped back onto her Vespa, then paused, giving a sour glance to Maze. "See? Shouldn'ta killed yours."

"You're kidding right?" she said reaching off screen to shove the script in the girl's face. "This! See it? My damn role player is a fuckin' lunatic got me with crappy props. I see horrible things in the future I swear..." she groaned tossing the script over her shoulder, a cat screamed off shot which perked Maze's ears.

"Anyway, lets go..." she said looking at her vespa. "Please dear Kuu can I have my vespa back." she prayed to the heaves as she got on and started it up. With a bit of a sputter the vespa revved up. "Alright lets go..." she said following behind Haruko.

Two minute lapse...

With a whistle Maze returned picking up the guitar case Shuga was held in and slugging it over her shoulder before sputtering off on her vespa once more catching up with Haruko. Apparently they were going to find Naoto.

In a small room that sat atop a bakery on the edge of town, a small corkboard was covered with photographs torn out of magazines. Only one was of Mabase, well, part of Mabase. Atop a pile of debris and scrap stood a boy of about 12, his back to the camera. In his hands he held a blue and white solid body guitar. The others were of different places, all over the world, each shot with the same simple, but lovely melancholy. The only thing they all had in common was the credit at the bottom: Samejima, M.

In the center of town, on a hill that overlooked everything, was a massive building that looked all the world like a giant iron. Here and there were patches of a different color, as though it had been hastily repaired. Sitting nearby was a huge robotic hand, the middle part torn out.

A pair of blue eyes stared out at the massive "factory," eyes that were just below the tall, broad forehead of a thin youth with a wind tousled cap of black hair atop his head. He wore the blue uniform of a high school student, and a messenger bag was slung over one shoulder. He might have been normal with all that, but he also carried something else. Over the other shoulder, was a blue and white solid body electric guitar. With a pull start motor. The youth sighed.

"Nothing amazing happens here. Everything is ordinary. The town is cleaned up from that time, and almost no trace remains. No one talks about it, like it never happened."

"The only sign is the hand that sits next to the Medica Mechanica factory, broken and useless. As if to say that if you reach out and try, you'll only get your fingers smashed. Everyone was so happy when the factory was put back online, talking about all the new jobs and money. But no one ever goes in or goes out, just like before. So, everyone goes on like normal. Nothing amazing."

"Not since..." Naota Nandaba blinked, then turned away from the railing that went around the roof of the high school. Classes were done. He made his way through the building, half-listening as people stopped to look at him.

"Who's that guy?"

"The one with the guitar?"

"That's Nandaba, the one whose brother is playing baseball in America."

"Right, the baker's kid."

"What's with the guitar?"

"I don't know, but he carries it all the time." "People say they've seen him playing it, without plugging it in." "What's more, he doesn't play in a band or anything, he just has it."

"I heard that sometimes, he just swings it like a bat, choking up and everything." "Classic stance!"

"Wierd..."

The usual gossip. Naota paused for a moment, just listening to it. They were the ones who pretended that Mabase hadn't almost been destroyed 6 years ago. And he was wierd? He started walking again, out the door and into the cool air of autumn.

"Naota, what are you doing bringing that guitar to school again?" A crisp, commanding, familiar female voice halted him in his tracks. He looked right to see the class president, Ninamori, watching him with scornful eyes. Her arms were crossed over the front of her blue sailor shirt, a mini skirt of the same material exposing a great length of pale leg. "I swear, I don't why the teachers put up with it." "I bet they'd throw you out of school if I didn't keep sticking up for you."

Naota frowned, "They put up with it 'cause I'm the best student in our grade." "You don't need to get involved." He made a point of not looking at her. That way, he couldn't stare at her legs or anything.

"Yeah," she nodded, long purple hair bobbing with the gesture. "But I do." She cocked her head sideways, "Are you going down by the river again?" "You are so lame sometimes."

"Whatever." "Just stay out of my business." Naota started walking away again, his eyes resolutely forward.

"Naota!" "Don't just walk away from me!" Ninamori stopped short of running after him, there was no way she was going to embarrass herself like that. "What is with you?" "You always get like this around this time of year!"

"Has she really forgotten? I thought Ninamori was smarter than that. Or maybe she just doesn't want to remember."

Speaking to himself, not caring if she heard, he walked on. "This time, this day, was when SHE came."

But she wasn't here anymore. So, just like before. Nothing amazing.

Shin Juku stood in the park, watching kids go by. He was supposed to be watching for strange occurences, but so far nothing had happened. Well, aside from the giant threeheaded dog, that was. He spent a lot of time tossing breadcrumbs to the vultures that seemed to gather nearby, and saw nothing out of the ordinary for a normal day. Still, he couldn't shake that feeling that something was very wrong. He started to leave, planning on going past the high school, when he saw a group of red Vespa scooters go by. "Who rides a Vespa in this day and age, honestly?"

Haruko was leaned as far back on her Vespa as shhe could get without falling off, grinning to Maze and her Shuga-filled guitar case. "I know exactly what I'm doing. Re-laaaax..." She perked as she spotted something, giving a deep laugh as she slammed the brakes, flying around one of the corners. Her Rickenbacker in hand, a devilish smirk on her face... She could just feel his presence in this area.

"BINGO!!"
*WHACK*

The butt of the guitar on his forehead, and Naota was on the ground- Haruko's legs straddling him. She acted as if she hadn't even noticed what she had done, calmly looking over her gloved fingers before looking ot him with a raised eyebrow. "Hey there... Miss me any?"

With that, she leaned down, pegging him with a strong kiss to the welt she had left on his head. "Of course you did. How could you not?"

Shuga

His cheek hurt. it was just one of those things he thought, or Haruka had pinched it, or Maze. Likely Haruka. Somewhere lower than it should be, his shoulders ached, and he only vaugley recalled why he could see nations of cats running in fear and an army of small crying children carrying tombstones was following him.

Oh yes. He had taken a bunch of Maze's prins, so he was really high. And apparently stuffed in a guitar case. This would explain the aching shoulders. Shuga settled and rolled himself a litle. he felt movement and could hear the trademark sputtering and then revving of Maze's vespa. Good god he needed to tune that thing. It sounded like, well it sounded like Maze trying to cough up the fur after a particularly large tabby. Shuga knocked on the guitar case. And again. he supposed it made no difference. he could feel the Drugs kicking in again. back to sleep for today. besides maybe being sunconscious and stuck on maze's back wasn't too bad. After all what's the worst that could happen to him? They crash or he gets molested. And it's not like he'd do much to prevent it if he were awake.

He was a terrrible driver. He put the hat back on his face and drifted off again.

Maze arched one eyebrow a brooding expression on her face as the one tooth peeked out from her lips. "That'em?" she asked sputtering to a stop as her vespa once again died. Sighing she got off kicked it a few times then gave up. Setting the guitar case on the ground she kicked it but not at its hinges she simply needed something to kick. "He's gotta big forehead..." she commented turning her head to the side then spining it all the way around as she took in Naota's form from every angle including upside down. "Yeah I suppose he's got the right equipment for him. You want me to stuff him in the case with Shuga." Pulling out her Pirin tablets she shook the bottle with a gleeful grin. "Got plenty to go around..." Though no one knew what was made of those things. Maze did...and she wasn't going to tell...yet.

Naota was almost to the bridge, walking slowly and resolutely. It had been there that he'd seen her for the first time. Like a lot of time with Haruko, it wasn't very pleasant. She'd hit him with that Vespa, then clobbered him with her guitar after realizing he wasnt' dead. Despite all that, a small smile came to his face as he thought of it.

Huh? That sound...he knew that sound. It was an engine, but not for a car or motorcycle or anything. He stopped, his blue eyes going wide. It couldn't be. No way.

Then there was a flash of yellow and red that streaked around the corner, he had time to comprehend a stylish Rickenbacker then-

"BINGO!!"
*WHACK*

As Naota fell to the ground, a familiar splitting pain on his forehead, he was in a state of shock. She still had that perfect swing.

Then he hit and raised a hand to his throbbing forehead. He looked up to see Haruko, barely changed from the day she'd left all thsoe years ago straddling him, her yellow eyes amused. "Hey there... Miss me any?" With that, she leaned down, pegging him with a strong kiss to the welt she had left on his head. "Of course you did. How could you not?"

"Haruko, I...did miss..." There was a faint blush on his cheeks, the lanky youth stunned past speech. She was here, right here in front of him. Well, on him to be precise. He'd imagined the shape of her face, her body, that cackling voice so many times, dreamed of it...but the pain in his head told him this was real.

Which meant trouble.

Naota struggled to sit up, "I mean, what...why are you back here?" "What's going on?" Man, his head hurt. Just like before...and it was starting to hurt from the other side as well. Not again. "Is this because of Medica Mechanica..."

Maze arched one eyebrow a brooding expression on her face as the one tooth peeked out from her lips. "That'em?" she asked sputtering to a stop as her vespa once again died. "He's gotta big forehead..." she commented turning her head to the side then spining it all the way around as she took in Naota's form from every angle including upside down. "Yeah I suppose he's got the right equipment for him. You want me to stuff him in the case with Shuga." Pulling out her Pirin tablets she shook the bottle with a gleeful grin. "Got plenty to go around..."

Naota went pale, another one? He scooted out from under Haruko, the pink haired alien landing flawlessly atop the seat of her Vespa. He snatched his guitar up off the ground, grasping it by the neck and putting it between him and the other girl. "Only Haruko gets to stuff-, I mean, forget it!" "Like I'd take anything you'd give me."

This would only bring him pain and misery, he knew it. But...in his heart, he was glad to see Haruko. He didn't want to admit it, to even think about it, but he'd never forgotten her...and part of him was still in love with her. "What the hell is going on here?" "Are you back for him, for Atomsk?"

"Heyyyy, hey, easy tiger." Haruko shot a look back to Maze. "You keep cramming things in that case and you're going to really fall of that thing." She thumbed back to the red vespa, then made a face at her. "Go chase a cat."

Turning back to Naota, she gave him a soft smile. "Part of it. Atomsk, Mechanica.. Had to call in the calvary. That there's Maze. In her guitar case, our pilot, Shuga. He's a bit.... ahhhh...gone right now." She leaned back on the small motorbike, resting her legs on the handlbars as she stretched out. "Somethin' big's going on here, Noata. You can't tell me you haven't felt something." There was a sparkle to her eyes as she looked at him again. "See you kept it. Would've thought you would have thrown that thing out years ago... Never gave up on me, did ya?"

Getting back up from the Vespa, she touched his forehead, frowning at the size the whelt had grown to. "You know, that seems to get bigger so much faster than last time. You really are growing up, aren't you, Naota?" Her eyes widened. "Say- you're.. 18 now, aren't you?" Her grin grew as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I've really been waiting for this, you know. You're the only one that works... Which makes me think you're the only one that'll work for something else, Naota." She grabbed his chin, giving him a deep kiss. "I haven't aged a day....because I've been waiting for you."

Shin followed the path of the Vespas. Coming upon the bridge, he arrived just in time to see one of the girls smack some kid upside the head with a guitar. Oh yeah, odd that. When the kid got back up, brandishing a guitar, he realized it was Naota. "OI...NAOTA. Trouble again, m'te?" He walked slowly closer, wary of the two girls.

Maze eyed the kid, he seemed eager in his own broody accusing way to see Haruko. And the glint in her friends eyes sent a smirk upon her lips as she ignored the comment about cats.

Oddly one came sauntering by, just as some kid came up the path. She eyed the kid, then the cat.... sliding away for a bit she returned with yet another cat tail hanging from her mouth. "Who you?" she asked the kid with a placid gaze. "Who's he?" she then turned to Haruko, tossing a thumb over her shoulder to the kid. "Can I eat'em?"

"Haa?" Haruko glanced over her shoulder to Maze, frowning at the flailing tail. "Hey, finish your food before you talk! Have some manners.... Ieesh."

Still, the other kid did catch her attention. "I have no idea...." She grinned. "No eating... but if you wanna give 'em a test... We should be sure of how many portals are around here anymore."

Maze grinned reaching behind her to pull out 'Rock' n 'Roll' her lovely bass and electric guitar. With a slurp of her food being finished and a resounding burp thereafter she flashed forward with alarming speed as she brandished her 'weapons' boinking the poor kid on his head... "This was a test of the emergency N.O. fields. This is only a test! Should this have been an actual emergency...well you'd be dead." she said watching for any signs that the kid might be valuable to them and their cause.

Shin raised an eyebrow, watching them. He saw the looks in their eyes, and drew his sword immediately, keeping it low to the ground. "Naota, you okay?"

Kuuroinochou said:

Maze grinned reaching behind her to pull out 'Rock' n 'Roll' her lovely bass and electric guitar. With a slurp of her food being finished and a resounding burp thereafter she flashed forward with alarming speed as she brandished her 'weapons' boinking the poor kid on his head... "This was a test of the emergency N.O. fields. This is only a test! Should this have been an actual emergency...well you'd be dead." she said watching for any signs that the kid might be valuable to them and their cause.

Click to expand...

Shin blinked, collapsing for a few moments. He was out cold until his hands unconsciously closed on his sword. He was on his feet in an instant, holding the sword with both hands. "What the FUCK was that for?"

Maze arched a brow, "We got a live one captain..." she said animatedly, holding one guitar over her shoulder while leaning on the other. "You feelin' okay son?" she asked though no general concern in her tone. "How many fingers am I holding up?" she asked and suddenly her fingers were morphed into numbers no man could count in such a short time.

Shin raised an eyebrow, then sighed. He sheathed his sword, then stepped past them. "Baka. I take it you girls are the ones Naota mentioned when he said strange occurrences?" He looked around, taking note of his surroundings. He wouldn't get hit with a cheap shot again.

Mephistophelily said:

"Heyyyy, hey, easy tiger." Haruko shot a look back to Maze. "You keep cramming things in that case and you're going to really fall of that thing." She thumbed back to the red vespa, then made a face at her. "Go chase a cat."

Turning back to Naota, she gave him a soft smile. "Part of it. Atomsk, Mechanica.. Had to call in the calvary. That there's Maze. In her guitar case, our pilot, Shuga. He's a bit.... ahhhh...gone right now." She leaned back on the small motorbike, resting her legs on the handlbars as she stretched out. "Somethin' big's going on here, Noata. You can't tell me you haven't felt something." There was a sparkle to her eyes as she looked at him again. "See you kept it. Would've thought you would have thrown that thing out years ago... Never gave up on me, did ya?"

Getting back up from the Vespa, she touched his forehead, frowning at the size the whelt had grown to. "You know, that seems to get bigger so much faster than last time. You really are growing up, aren't you, Naota?" Her eyes widened. "Say- you're.. 18 now, aren't you?" Her grin grew as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I've really been waiting for this, you know. You're the only one that works... Which makes me think you're the only one that'll work for something else, Naota." She grabbed his chin, giving him a deep kiss. "I haven't aged a day....because I've been waiting for you."

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"Yeah, I have felt something was wierd, but..." He looked at the guitar in his hands as she spoke, keeping silent. He wasn't sure what he would say. Hell, he wasn't sure why he'd kept the thing either. But he knew he could never get rid of it. "...No..."

Then she moved close to him, and he felt a moment's apprehension. What was she doing? His eyes grew wise as her arms went around his neck, expecting to be piledrived or put into a sleeper hold. Then she kissed him.

He'd kissed Haruko before, accidentally except for that last time. But he was just a kid then, he hadn't appreciated it. He didn't remember it feeling like this. This was different. His cheeks burned red, but his arms moved to encircle her waist, his lips responding after a stunned moment.

It was over, but Naoto could only stare at her as she addressed the other youth who'd approached. The guy turned to Naota and said something...but Naota couldn't hear him. His senses were full of Haruko. "...huh?"

He blinked, coming back to the world. With Haruko still clinging to him, he tried to move back, but she just moved with him, staying right there. "I mean, uh, kind of." "Haruko was here, but I just met Maze and..." He watched as Shin drew a sword, "Uh, that's a really bad idea." "You shouldn't get involved in all this, really."

He looked back down to Haruko, "I'm the only one that works, remember?" "You don't have to drag anyone else into this...this whatever it is."

Haruko was now flat on the ground peering around her vespa like a gunfighter, her guitar tight in her hands. "You ~are~ the only one that works... for me."

She smiled over her shoulder to Naota, winking at him before holding out her bracelet and the dancing link. "See the way its moving? Never gone that pyscho before. Used to only happen when I was around you.... but its been going liek that for a week now, and we just got here the other night. N.O.'s floating out of this place like gas in your dad's store.... and it stinks just the same."

She tapped her cheek as she turned aound on the ground, straddling the guitar between her legs. "With that much out, its bound to find another outlet... If it tried to all use you, your head would explode. Rather that didn't happen.... So... that's why we're hunting for the back up deposits! Maze is hunting for her best, and that leaves ol' sleepyhead Shuga to hunt one too.. if he can ever keep his hands out of the candy jar and stay awake longer than 5 minutes.."

"Your bump's getting bigger," She observed, grinning like the chesire cat as she pointed to it. "You must have one doozy of a present for me."

Maze grumbled as she looked to the boy...nothing. She turned to Haruko with a huff. "He's not the one." she muttered and returned her beloved guitar's to her back going over to open the guitar case with Shuga in it. He was sleeping soundlessly which she picked up a nearby stick and began poking him. "We need to find the right one, Haruko. Samurai Jack over here is a disappointment."

Shin scoffed rubbing his head slightly. He'd have a nasty bruise on his temple tomorrow, he thought. He sighed, then turned to Naota. "Your friends are wierd. And the next time someone hits me with a guitar, I'll be hitting back with the sharp end of the Kikuichimonji." He turned to glare at the girl. That's when he felt something in his pants. Something growing that wasn't his penis. "That's odd." He looked down, pulling his pants loose and looking down them. "What the hell did you do to me?"

Mephistophelily said:

Haruko was now flat on the ground peering around her vespa like a gunfighter, her guitar tight in her hands. "You ~are~ the only one that works... for me."

She smiled over her shoulder to Naota, winking at him before holding out her bracelet and the dancing link. "See the way its moving? Never gone that pyscho before. Used to only happen when I was around you.... but its been going liek that for a week now, and we just got here the other night. N.O.'s floating out of this place like gas in your dad's store.... and it stinks just the same."

She tapped her cheek as she turned aound on the ground, straddling the guitar between her legs. "With that much out, its bound to find another outlet... If it tried to all use you, your head would explode. Rather that didn't happen.... So... that's why we're hunting for the back up deposits! Maze is hunting for her best, and that leaves ol' sleepyhead Shuga to hunt one too.. if he can ever keep his hands out of the candy jar and stay awake longer than 5 minutes.."

"Your bump's getting bigger," She observed, grinning like the chesire cat as she pointed to it. "You must have one doozy of a present for me."

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"Well....I guess that's, uh, good then..Nnn," was all he could get out. The bump was getting bigger, fast. It took hours, days even last time. That same pushing, pressing against the inside of his forehead. He couldn't see it, but he could feel it swelling, reaching...

"I think...I better...get away from town." In the past, giant robots had come out of his head, and Haruko had fought them. Lots of property damage and a big explosion at the end, which meant he should get at least to the river's edge. He kept a firm grip on his guitar, the other hand going to his head, pushing the bump back in. It fought hard against his hand as he sprinted away from the little group.

Damn it, what did this all mean? What was with that kiss? She had been waiting for him to turn 18? Why? Why was she coming back now? All the questions just made the pounding on the inside of his skull worse.

He tripped and tumbled, rolling down the grassy hill to the river's edge where he and Mamimi had spent hours together years ago. As he hit the ground at the bottom, he felt a serious push, and he cried out, "Gah!" "Aaaahh!"

A huge, yellow robotic arm pulled itself out of Naota's forehead, scrambling ont he back for purchase. It gripped the river bed, heaving. Slowly at first, a shoulder, then a neck and head emerged, until with a disticntive "pop" the whole thing flew out and landed in the river with a huge splash. Naota shook his head, raising himself up on his hands, and gaping at it. It towered over twelve feet tall, with a lean, almost emaciated build. It's forehead jutted out like a baseball cap, and it had a single large red eye in it's face. It heaved it's shoulders, bringing a massive club out of the water, one that grew larger toward the end. It slapped the club against one hand, looking around as if it expected to see something.

Naota suddenly felt very small. Like when he was a kid. "Tasu...no." He stood up slowly, his face serious though afraid. He wasn't going to ask his long absent brother for help. Or Haruko. He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. Reaching back, he took the handle of the pull cord in one hand. "Hey!"

The robot looked down, the large lens in it's face focusing on him. Naota blinked, but yanked on the cord, the motor in the guitar's base roaring to life and then humming. "He's not here, so you better leave!"