Layzner Ep. 4: An Escape With the Heart Left Behind

Gosterro fumes aboard a tripod carrier and vows to return to Mars and kill Eiji. A pilot named Roberia wants to report back to the flagship, but Gosterro 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 Roanne 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: Gosterro’s Bullgrenn and two Bravers. Roberia and Gusten just want to fire missiles, but Gosterro 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. Gosterro orders his wingmen to stop and attacks from the air, forcing Eiji out of hiding. Eiji returns fire, so Gosterro gives orders to Gusten and Roberia 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.

Gusten searches the area and finds no sign of Eiji, so Gosterro 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 Gusten hostage. He taps into Gosterro’s radio frequency and threatens to kill Gusten in five minutes. Gosterro 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 Gusten, but Gosterro shouts that he doesn’t care. Eiji connects a power cable from the Braver to Layzner to transfer energy. Roberia is worried that Eiji might kill Gusten, so Gosterro orders him to find the Earthlings. Eiji tells Gosterro not to let him go, and Gosterro 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, Gosterro tells Eiji to surrender and notes that he doesn’t have the upper hand. When the time runs out, Eiji doesn’t shoot Gusten and tosses away the gun. Gusten demands to know why Eiji didn’t kill him, and Eiji answers that he’s half Gradosian. Gosterro fires missiles in the area, and Gusten is angry that he’s trying to kill him too. Eiji confronts Gosterro and opens fire, so Gosterro attacks from above. Rei repeatedly suggests aiming for the cockpit to kill Gosterro, but Eiji refuses to do so. Gosterro fires more missiles and knocks down Layzner, allowing him to aim his rifle at the cockpit. He’s then hit from behind by Gusten, who vows to kill his commander. Gusten tells Eiji to escape while he can and not look back. Because Eiji took his energy, Gusten is a sitting duck and is killed by Gosterro. Elsewhere, Roberia picks up the two buggies on his sensors. The students see his Braver in the distance and wonder if Eiji was killed.