Gurren Lagann : Mecha Emperor

The Green Area.

They were finally at the gates of the capital.

"It's here," he said

Yoko squinted, looking for any sign of the capital, but all she could see were flat landscapes. "Are you sure? I don't see anything."

Goro didn't answer immediately, instead guiding them toward a specific point in the air. Moments later, the force field shimmered into view.

A faint pulse of energy that distorted the air above it. As they crossed through, the capital city revealed itself in full, sprawling beneath them with its sleek, futuristic buildings and pulsing neon lights.

However, their arrival wasn't as smooth as expected.

As they made their way toward the entrance, a squad of heavily-armed guards stopped them. One of them stepped forward, looking at the unfamiliar Gunmen. 

"Hold up! Identify yourselves. That Gunmen doesn't match any designation in the registry."

Goro slowed Lagann to a stop, looking out from the cockpit. The guards' suspicion was understandable, they had never seen this particular Gunmen Enki before. 

Without hesitation, he activated Lagann's hatch, climbing out and landing lightly on the ground. His imposing figure immediately caught the attention of the guards.

The lead guard's eyes widened in recognition. "Wait... you... You're him! You're Goro, the leader of Team Dai-Gurren!"

"Yea, we're here to report back to the capital. I've got some new faces with me."

"no one's seen you in so long."

"Been busy," Goro replied "But we're back now. We need to get inside."

The guard gave a salute. "Of course, sir. Apologies for the inconvenience. We'll let you through."

They made their way past the gates, Ron looked around with wide eyes, still processing the sight of the advanced city. His jaw hung open, and he couldn't help but blurt out, "This place... it's like nothing I've ever seen!"

As the gates opened and the group stepped into the capital.

neon signs, glowing pathways, and massive monitors that displayed important announcements and propaganda. 

Ron froze for a moment, his eyes wide as saucers, before he started pointing wildly at everything in sight.

Before anyone could stop him, he spun around and pointed at a row of vending machines. "Are those machines handing out drinks?! Drinks! By themselves?!"

Yoko facepalmed, her cheeks turning bright red as the passersby stopped to stare at the loud, frantic man in their midst. "Ron, could you please lower your voice? You're embarrassing us."

Ron ignored her entirely, rushing over to a small robot cleaning the street. "And this! What is this little guy doing? Is it alive? Oh, I've gotta take this apart later—"

"RON!" Yoko snapped, grabbing his arm before he could start dismantling the poor robot. "Stop acting like a bumpkin!"

"But it's cleaning the streets!" Ron protested, pointing again. "A machine that cleans! Do you know how much work that would save?!"

Meanwhile, Viral, still in chains, rolled his eyes. "Pathetic," he muttered under his breath, though even he was taken aback by the city's technological achievements. He tried to mask his surprise with disdain. "You humans and your noisy contraptions. It's all unnecessary."

Ron whipped around and pointed at Viral. "Unnecessary?! Are you seeing what I'm seeing? This place is AMAZING!" He turned back to Goro, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement. "You live here?! This is where you're from?! How do you even focus with all this stuff?!"

Yoko groaned, pulling her hat down to hide her face. "I can't take him anywhere…"

Goro chuckled softly, patting Ron on the back. "Welcome to the Green Area, Ron. Try not to get too carried away. There's more where this came from."

Ron's jaw dropped even further. "More?!"

Goro smirked. "Follow me. I'll introduce you to the team."

Viral's entire life, he'd been told that humans were a primitive, scrabbling race, barely surviving in the shadows of the Beastmen.

But this? This was something else entirely.

It was vibrant, alive, and organized in a way that contradicted everything he had been taught.

"This… can't be right," Viral muttered under his breath, his brow furrowing deeper with each step.

Yet here he was, standing in a city that seemed to embody everything the Spiral King had claimed only Beastmen could achieve.

He glanced at Goro, who was calmly leading the group through the bustling streets. People waved to him, some bowing their heads in respect, others calling out his name with admiration. The humans looked to him with hope, not fear.

Viral's stomach churned. It was so… different. Beastmen feared their generals, obeying them out of instinct and domination. But here, this man inspired his people. And somehow, that made the humans even stronger.

"What's wrong, Viral?" Yoko asked, "Not what you expected?"

Viral sneered, trying to mask his unease with arrogance. "It's a façade, lights and noise to distract from how fragile this all is. You're just… lucky."

"Luck's got nothing to do with it. This is what happens when people work together, when they believe in something bigger than themselves."

The words sank deep into his mind. Could it really be that simple? Cooperation? Belief? No, it couldn't be. The Spiral King had told him humans were driven by chaos and greed. But the city before him told a very different story.

Goro led the group through the bustling streets of the capital until they reached a sleek, industrial building. Its walls gleamed with reinforced steel. Above the entrance, a large sign read, "Engineering and Development Division."

"This is where the magic happens," Goro said, gesturing to the doors. "First, I'll introduce you to our lead engineer. Orik's probably in the lab right now, he never leaves unless there's an emergency."

The group followed Goro inside, the atmosphere instantly shifting. The air was thick with the scent metal and the rhythmic clanging of tools echoed through the hallways. Holographic schematics floated in the air, detailing blueprints of mecha designs and weaponry.

Ron's eyes widened as he spun in a circle, taking it all in. "This place is incredible!" he shouted. "Look at that hologram! And wait, is that a plasma welder?! I've only dreamed of seeing one of those!"

Yoko rolled her eyes, grabbing Ron by the shoulder before he could bolt off. "Keep it together, Ron. We're here to meet someone, not for you to play with the gadgets."

Viral, chained and quiet, glanced around, his sharp eyes narrowing. The efficiency and sophistication of the lab gnawed at his doubts. The humans were far more advanced than he'd been led to believe.

Goro approached a large set of reinforced doors and tapped a code into the keypad. The doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a spacious lab filled with scattered tools, half-assembled machines, and rows of monitors displaying complex data.

In the center stood Orik.

The lead engineer was hunched over a workbench, his hands steady as he adjusted the delicate wiring of a mecha component. His movements were precise, almost surgical, as if every gesture had been practiced a thousand times. The soft glow of a nearby monitor illuminated his face, highlighting his stoic expression.

Goro cleared his throat. "Orik."

Without looking up, Orik responded in his deep, calm voice. "Unless the city's under attack, I'm busy."

"It's not an attack," Goro said with a smirk. "But it's important."

Orik finally straightened, turning to face the group. His piercing gaze swept over each of them, lingering slightly on Viral before returning to Goro.

"So, this is the group," Orik said this a stoic. "You brought the beastman here?"

"He's a prisoner," Goro explained. "But more importantly, I wanted you to meet Ron." He gestured toward the mechanic, who looked like he might explode with excitement. "Ron's an engineer from Littner. He's got a knack for Spiral Power tech, and I thought you two might get along."

Orik raised an eyebrow, his expression softening just slightly. "Spiral Power tech, huh?" He stepped closer, his imposing presence making Ron straighten up nervously.

"I—I mean, yeah!" Ron stammered, then blurted out, "This place is incredible! The holograms, the tools—everything! I'd love to learn from you!"

Orik studied him for a moment, then nodded. "We'll see if you're as good as Goro says. But don't touch anything without asking first."

Ron grinned ear to ear. "You got it! I'll be careful—I promise!"

Yoko sighed. "Great. Now we have two gadget-obsessed mechanics to deal with."

Goro chuckled. "Trust me, Yoko, Orik's the best. If anyone can handle Ron, it's him."

After leaving the lab, Goro guided the group to the training grounds, where soldiers were sharpening their skills. The open space was a flurry of active fighters sparring, mecha pilots running simulations, and drills being shouted over the clang of steel.

"This is where we keep our fighting force sharp," Goro said, motioning to the crowd. "And at the heart of it is Captain Riggs."

Yoko's eyes widened. "Wait, Captain Riggs? The Captain Riggs? He was part of the battle against General Adiane, right?"

Goro nodded, smirking. "Yep. You've heard of him?"

"I've seen him fight," Yoko admitted, her tone carrying a mix of awe and excitement. "We watched the battle on a projection in Littner Village. He's… incredible."

The group walked into the center of the training grounds, where Riggs stood, overseeing a sparring match. His sharp eyes took in every detail of the fighters' movements, his expression calm but intense. His rugged features were framed by unkempt hair, and his scarred jawline added to his seasoned look.

"Riggs!" Goro called, stepping forward.

Riggs turned, his tired yet piercing gaze locking onto Goro. His presence was commanding, and even the soldiers nearby instinctively straightened up.

"Well, well," Riggs said. "The leader of Team Dai-Gurren graces us with his presence. What's the occasion?"

"Just introducing some new faces," Goro said, gesturing to the group.

Riggs' eyes scanned the group, his gaze lingering on Viral. "You brought a beastman here? Bold move."

"He's a prisoner," Goro explained. "Not a threat. Besides, I wanted him to see what humanity is capable of."

Riggs didn't look convinced but shrugged. "Your call."

His attention shifted to Yoko, who stood a little straighter under his scrutiny. "You're a fighter?"

"Yoko Littner," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Sharpshooter."

Riggs gave a small nod of approval. "A sharpshooter, huh? That's good. We need more of those. Keep your aim steady and your head clear."

Yoko hesitated, then blurted, "I saw you fight during the battle against General Adaine. You were incredible."

Riggs raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard by the compliment. "That so? Well, glad I made an impression."

Ron, meanwhile, was gawking at the sheer scale of the training grounds. "This place is nuts," he whispered, overwhelmed.

Riggs turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "And you are?"

"Ron," Goro interjected before Ron could ramble. "He's a mechanic from Littner. He's got potential, but don't let his enthusiasm fool you, he knows his stuff."

Riggs gave Ron an appraising look before nodding. "Good to have you on board. We can always use more talent."

As the group fell into step with Riggs, Viral stayed at the back, silent and observant. He watched how the humans interacted.

"Come on," Riggs said, gesturing for them to follow. "Let me show you the rest of the training grounds. We've got a lot more to cover."

The group fell in line behind Riggs, following him through the facility. Yoko's eyes darted between the different training zones: soldiers working in tandem with Gunmen, mecha pilots practicing evasive maneuvers, and infantry running drills that tested both their strength and agility. The atmosphere was intense, but also strangely... coordinated. Each group seemed to know exactly what their task was.

Ron, who had been trying to take it all in, couldn't help but blurt out, "This is insane! You've got mechs everywhere! And they're all—look at that one, it's practically a fortress on legs!" 

 His wide eyes were glued to the mechs. "This is the future, Yoko! Look at all this tech! The Spiral Power must be off the charts to make something like this possible." 

Riggs glanced back at the chatter between Yoko, and Ron, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "You're excited, I see. Good to have some enthusiasm around here. But don't get too distracted. The battlefield doesn't wait for you to get ready." 

As they continued through the training grounds, they came to a section of the facility dedicated to hand-to-hand combat and close-quarters training. Soldiers were practicing drills with wooden staffs, blocking and striking with rapid precision. The noise of combat filled the air, each punch and kick landing with a loud smack. 

"This is where we prepare for direct engagements," Riggs explained, nodding toward the sparring matches. "You don't always have the luxury of using mechs. Sometimes you need to fight on the ground. We drill for those situations." 

Yoko watched, impressed by the coordination and raw strength of the soldiers. Her mind began to think of the kind of tactics she could use in these kinds of battles, combining her marksmanship with their hand-to-hand expertise. 

Ron was still absorbed in the technology, pointing at a nearby training Gunman. "That one looks like it's built for speed! How fast does it go? Can it take on the big guys?" 

Riggs chuckled. "That one? It's designed for reconnaissance, not full combat. But it can get in and out fast, which is sometimes all you need." 

As they passed another section of the facility, they arrived at a massive area filled with weapons. racks of rifles, energy cannons, and other assorted equipment. Soldiers were in the middle of testing out new tech, firing off rounds with deadly accuracy. 

"This is where we experiment with new weaponry," Riggs said, pausing in front of a set of targets. "We've been working on refining our gunmen tech and weapons to give us an edge. Things change fast, and we need to stay ahead of the beastmen." 

Yoko took a deep breath, impressed by the scope of the operation. Every piece of technology and every soldier here was an extension of that effort. The effort that gave a chance for the future.

"Looks like you've got everything covered," Goro said with a smirk, nudging Yoko. 

Yoko smiled back, but her expression was serious. "You weren't kidding when you said this place was ready. I can see why Team Dai-Gurren has come so far." 

"Don't forget, we've only come this far because we never stop training, never stop improving. And we're always ready for whatever the beastmen throw at us." Riggs added, his voice stern but not unkind

As they finished their tour of the training grounds, Viral begane to think. These humans were more united than the other beastmen said. 

The doubt in his heart deepened. These humans weren't the pathetic beings he had been taught to despise. And that realization shook him more than he cared to admit. 

As the group made their way out of the training facility, Goro turned to him. "You've seen the strength of humanity now. What do you think?" 

"...I've seen a lot," he muttered

"And I'm starting to wonder what all that strength means in the end." 

Goro raised an eyebrow. "You'll figure it out soon enough." 

After the tour of the training grounds, Goro led the group to the operations center, a large, open room filled with screens, maps, and communication devices. The activity was almost constant as soldiers and strategists worked to stay ahead of the beastmen.

"Alright, this is where the real work happens," Goro said, leading them inside. The walls were lined with tactical displays, and at the center of the room stood Mara, bent over a console, typing rapidly.

She looked up as they entered, her sharp, calculating eyes briefly scanning the group before returning to the screen in front of her.

"Goro," she said, her tone a mix of professionalism and something else. "We've got updates on the beastmen movement." Her eyes flicked to the group as a whole. "I see we've got new faces. I'm Mara."

"Yoko Littner," Yoko said quickly, extending a hand. "I'm a sharpshooter, and I've heard a lot about you from Goro."