Yuji: Well, you're looking at one now, darling.
Second Contact
is a Continuation Fic of DARLING in the FRANXX written by iBlewupthemoon. It takes place 18 years after the events of the anime as a new generation of pilots fight not only the reemerging threat of VIRM, but also themselves.
Second Contact follows Squad 00, an elite group of graduates from Japan's rebuilding society, now primarily fighting in more efficient, single-pilot Hydrogen All-Terrain Mechs (HATMs). However, on one mission, they end up facing off against VIRM, which had been almost unheard of for the past two decades. However, Ruth and a mysterious klaxo sapien she meets and nicknames "Yuji," find a rebuilt Strelizia in the abandoned caves and pushes back the threat.
However, VIRM is not the only force opposing them, as a rebel squad known as Paragon seeks to topple the current regime and stop growing corruption in Japan's new society. However, as both squads seek to defeat the other, it becomes more apparent, their goals and enemy may be more aligned with each other than they realize...
Second Contact contains examples of:
- Beach Episode: Chapter 5 has the squad hanging out on the Beach after being transferred to a Mistelltein replica before Akio runs off and is captured by PAL.
- Beta Couple: The story primarily focuses on Yuji and Ruth, who bond as partners in Strelizia. The story later begins to focus on Hayato and Mayu and they are the second couple to pilot a FRANXX.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: In chapter 2, as Ruth and Yuji struggle to connect in Strelizia due to the former's embarassment, Yuji talks to her like they're a couple about to have sex. Akio notices this and jokingly tells them that they should cut off the squad radio if they're about to have their first time.
- Door Dumb: As Ruth tries to vouch for Akio's intelligence, he then tries and fails to pull open the hangar door before Ruth tells him to pull it instead.
- Enemy Mine: Akio teams up with members of the Paragon squad to fight against a VIRM attack in chapter 7. They also seek to fight against the People's Army for Liberation terrorist group.
- Family of Choice: For Squad 00, especially Ruth, an orphan, Satomi, who deals with Parental Neglect, and Yuji, who has a Dark and Troubled Past that is lost to him, the squad is their family. This comes to a head right before their final battle with Paragon as Satomi breaks down after not seeing her parents since she entered the Pilot Academy, not even at graduation, and Akio exclaims "To hell with them" and proclaims that they are her true family.
- History Repeats: The first chapter ends with Yuji and Ruth pulling a Big Damn Heroes moment in Strelizia and defeats a large monster just like Hiro and Zero Two did in the first episode of the original.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: Ichigo responds to Naomi's question about dealing with "the stresses of being PM" by opening up a bottle of scotch. She states that she's been drinking more as rebels and terrorists are popping up.
- Ironic Name: Multiple characters note that the acronym for the People's Army for Liberation (PAL), is an odd name for a terrorist group.
- Lost in Transmission: After Takeshi shoots off Alstroemeria's radio, Satomi can only hear Akio exclaim "It got my-" before he is cut off, making her believe Akio was Killed Mid-Sentence.
- Legacy Character: Squad 00 is composed of similar characters to those of Plantation 13. Yuji is a Composite Character of Hiro and Zero Two, Ruth is also a composite of Hiro as well as Ichigo, Akio is similar to Zerome as the hot-blooded member of the group and Goro as Yuji's eventual best friend, and Satomi is similar to Miku with her vitrolic relationship with Akio.
- Mythology Gag: Satomi comments how the Beast and the Prince book "doesn't throw in aliens three quarters of the way like some of the old cartoons," which could describe the fic's anime prequel.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Hayato decides to accept Takeshi's offer to defect from the police force and lead Paragon after it becomes apparent the chief was not interested in combating the growing corruption in the force. Mayu joins him in solidarity.
- Villainous Rescue: After Akio is captured by members of PAL, he is rescued by members of Paragon, who help him escape.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Takahiro is shot dead on order of his supplier, who claims they have a "new customer."
