Episode 18 - Wings, Once Again
It's the day after the Numbers' devastating attack on Ground Forces HQ and Riot Force Six. Regius Gaiz is in a fury, wondering why this would happen when they've given "him" all the funding he wanted up to now. One of his aides reports that they're unable to locate or contact the person in question.
Signum arrives at Riot Force Six, having just visited their wounded in the hospital. She tells Teana she can go and visit Subaru. Meanwhile, Nanoha hasn't taken a break since returning to base. She is overseeing the cleanup operations, and is maintaining a professional facade, but is clearly barely holding herself together emotionally.
At the hospital, Fate is consoling Shario and Alto, who are blaming themselves for not protecting Vivio. In another room, Vita visits Shamal, who is already conscious; she says that Rein is expected to wake up soon as well. The most seriously injured members are Zafira and Vice, who may not recover for some time.
Teana goes to Subaru's room; Erio and Caro are there as well. Subaru says she's just explained to them about her and Ginga's origins; Tea apologizes, saying it was her idea to conceal it from the other Forwards. After Erio and Caro leave, Subaru says she thinks Ginga is still alive, and Tea promises that they'll save her.
The senior Riot Force Six staff and their sponsors meet with Genya Nakajima and ask him about the previous Combat Cyborg Incident. Genya explains that eleven years ago his wife Quint, an elite Ground Forces mage, helped take down an illegal cybernetics research facility. In the process, she rescued two small girls who had been created as combat cyborgs: Ginga and Subaru. Unable to have children, Quint and Genya adopted the girls, noting that they seemed to resemble Quint a little. They raised the pair as normal children, until Quint was killed on a mission eight years ago. The truth about her death is still secret, but Genya suspects that she stumbled onto something she shouldn't have.
At Ground Forces HQ, Hayate confronts Auris about Regius Gaiz. She notes that before such research was banned, Regius tried to develop technology for both artificial mages and combat cyborgs on behalf of the Ground Forces. Auris doesn't deny it, but says that was many years ago. Hayate asks if Regius was continuing the research covertly, saying that he could have arranged to have Scaglietti develop it in secret, then have the Ground Forces "discover" the research and confiscate it. Auris calls her theory delusional, saying that if she suspects such a thing then she should go and get an investigative warrant.
Elsewhere, Regius is informed that the High Council is threatening to suspend his work, which does not improve the general's temper. His aide also says that they have a visual recording of someone flying towards HQ during the battle, and shows Regius an image of Zest. Regius clearly recognizes him, turning ashen and then clutching his chest and slumping over.
Zest, meanwhile, is busy coughing up blood while Agito tries to help him. He receives a communication from Uno, who asks how he's doing. He says that he won't interfere with Scaglietti's plans — he just has a few things left to do before he dies. Uno seems genuinely concerned, but Zest adds that he's already died once, and is living on borrowed time anyway.
In Scaglietti's base, Sein, Wendi, Nove and Quattro are looking at several stasis pods. Ginga is floating in one of them; Cinque in another. It seems that Cinque is going to need major reconstruction to repair the damage inflicted by Subaru. Nove, who was also damaged in that attack, vows revenge on Subaru — and on Teana, too, for delaying them in the earlier fight.
Nearby, Lutecia is looking at another pod, this one containing a lavender-haired woman. Wendi comes by with Otto and Deed, and asks if the woman is Lutecia's mother. Lutecia says she is, but that she doesn't remember her. Scaglietti has told her she can be revived if they find the Number XI Relic. When that day comes, Lutecia says, she will finally have a heart.
Hayate visits TSAB Central HQ and meets Verossa. He says he's managed to get permission for Riot Force Six to borrow the battleship Arthra, now decommissioned, to use as temporary headquarters.
Late that night, Fate finds Nanoha outside, staring at the city. Nanoha says she couldn't keep her promise to Vivio, and breaks down in Fate's arms. Fate tells her that she's sure Vivio is all right, and says they'll save her together.
At that very moment, Vivio is Strapped to an Operating Table as Dieci and Quattro monitor her vital signs. Scaglietti and Uno enter, carrying a Relic, the sight of which terrifies Vivio. Jail lifts the Relic and says that the Saint will now receive the Mark of the King. Vivio, he proclaims, will be his masterpiece...
Tropes
- Affably Evil: Uno seems genuinely concerned about Zest, offering him support and telling him it's sad to talk about dying.
- Break Out the Museum Piece: Hayate has the Arthra recommissioned to act as a mobile base for Riot Force Six due to the damage the Long Arch sustained in Jail's attack.
- Curious Qualms of Conscience: Judging by her expression, Dieci is troubled by Vivio's terrified screams. By contrast, Uno and Scaglietti don't seem to care, and Quattro actually goes out of her way to taunt the girl.
- Downer Ending: If anything, even more so than last episode. This one ends with Vivio Strapped to an Operating Table and screaming in terror as Scaglietti prepares to operate on her.
- Establishing Character Moment: Dieci gets a subtle one near the end of the episode. When Vivio starts crying for her mother, everyone else in the room ignores it, but Dieci flinches and turns to look at Vivio with a worried gaze. She continues to regard the girl with a rather haunted expression for the remainder of the scene. This marks the first time any of the Numbers show visible misgivings about their plans.
- Hollywood Heart Attack: When Regius sees the image of Zest, he clutches at his chest, chokes, and falls face first onto his desk. note
- My Master, Right or Wrong: While Auris has at times seemed uneasy with Regius's plans, she defends him fiercely against Hayate's allegations. She also claims that, given the questions around Hayate and the Book of Darkness Incident, Hayate is hardly in a position to go accusing others of wrongdoing.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: We've seen Nanoha upset, sad, angry, and/or tearful before, but this is the first time we've ever seen her completely break down and cry uncontrollably.
- Perky Female Minion: Outside of combat, Wendi proves to be almost as cheerful and energetic as Sein. Like the latter, she is also quite friendly and polite to Lutecia. This contrasts with the more saturnine Otto and Deed.
- Setting as a Character: Hayate briefly addresses the Arthra as if it was an actual person, asking it to hold on for just a little bit longer before they finally let it rest.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Teana scolds Subaru for running ahead of them and nearly getting killed as a result. She also says that Subaru had better apologize to Mach Caliber, which was badly damaged due to Subaru's Self-Destructive Charge.
