Layzner Ep. 4: A Regretful Escape

Gostello fumes aboard a tripod carrier and vows to return to Mars and kill Eiji. A pilot named Lobelia wants to report back to the flagship, but Gostello orders him not to. He’s then informed that his Bullgrenn has been repaired and starts laughing. On the surface of Mars, the UN personnel debate their next course of action and decide to go to the American base. Arthur wonders if the base is even intact, but Simone interjects and tells him not to complicate matters further with his conjecture. Eiji arrives in Layzner, and David calls him a parasite. Eiji radios them that he’ll stay behind to draw enemy fire while they escape. One of the men doesn’t want to be protected by Eiji, but Rohan cuts in and says he doesn’t want to die. Eiji sees that no one is moving and yells at them to get going. The buggies drive away with the sandstorm still blowing, and Rei gives Eiji a status report on remaining energy. Eiji heads into a building on the outer rim of the UN base and checks its computer. The students start talking about Eiji, which makes David upset. Eiji returns to Layzner and receives a warning about three incoming SPTs: Gostello’s Bullgrenn and two Bravers. Lobelia and Gasten just want to fire missiles, but Gostello insists on a frontal attack so that he can savor killing his prey. The Bravers open fire around the remnants of the base while Layzner hides inside. Gostello orders his wingmen to stop and attacks from the air, forcing Eiji out of hiding. Eiji returns fire, so Gostello gives orders to Gasten and Lobelia to attack Eiji from behind. Eiji puts away his rifle and deploys the knuckle shot to fight at close range as a Braver moves in.

Gasten searches the area and finds no sign of Eiji, so Gostello tells him to keep searching. Once he closes in, Eiji jumps out from his hiding spot and uses the knuckle shot to disable the Braver. He then gets out of Layzner and takes injured Gasten hostage. He taps into Gostello’s radio frequency and threatens to kill Gasten in five minutes. Gostello doesn’t care what happens to a pilot in enemy hands and makes a counteroffer, giving Eiji five minutes to return Layzner in exchange for his life. Eiji asks if it’s ok to kill Gasten, but Gostello shouts that he doesn’t care. Eiji connects a power cable from the Braver to Layzner to transfer energy. Lobelia is worried that Eiji might kill Gasten, so Gostello orders him to find the Earthlings. Eiji tells Gostello not to let him go, and Gostello notes there’s only two minutes left. The buggies continue to drive through the sandstorm, with the students wondering if Eiji is fighting. With 30 seconds left, Gostello tells Eiji to surrender and notes that he doesn’t have the upper hand. When the time runs out, Eiji doesn’t shoot Gasten and tosses away the gun. Gasten demands to know why Eiji didn’t kill him, and Eiji answers that he’s half Gradosian. Gostello fires missiles in the area, and Gasten is angry that he’s trying to kill him too. Eiji confronts Gostello and opens fire, so Gostello attacks from above. Rei repeatedly suggests aiming for the cockpit to kill Gostello, but Eiji refuses to do so. Gostello fires more missiles and knocks down Layzner, allowing him to aim his rifle at the cockpit. He’s then hit from behind by Gasten, who vows to kill his commander. Gasten tells Eiji to escape while he can and not look back. Because Eiji took his energy, Gasten is a sitting duck and is killed by Gostello. Elsewhere, Lobelia picks up the two buggies on his sensors. The students see his Braver in the distance and wonder if Eiji was killed.