Layzner Ep. 7: His Blood Was Red

Almost everyone is surprised to see Eiji and runs over to him, with Arthur and Rohan commenting that he’s a lucky guy. Eiji asks about the others, and David angrily says they were all killed by his friends. He recites a list of the casualties and again blames Eiji, saying that he’s evil and is no savior. Elizabeth tells David to drop it and asks if attacking Eiji will bring anyone back. She says it’s her responsibility to get everyone back to Earth and will take any chance she has, so she doesn’t want anyone causing problems. On Gresco’s flagship, Zuhl reviews during a staff meeting how they were able to trick the American and Soviet bases into nuking each other. With the success of this plan, they can now move on to Earth and incite World War III to take control. Gresco addresses his officers and states that the Earthlings aren’t primitives and that their technology should be taken seriously, particularly since they have nuclear weapons. However, once the population falls to a third of its current size, its military will be weak enough for them to invade. Gresco is informed that Gostello failed to kill Eiji, so he calls up Gale. Elizabeth asks Eiji if they can get to Earth or the Moon on the tripod carrier, but he needs to make calculations. The computer reports to Eiji that they don’t have enough energy to land on the Moon, which upsets Arthur. Eiji asks for alternative scenarios, and the computer suggests abandoning the shuttle when approaching the Moon. Eiji knows the Gradosians will attack again soon, so Elizabeth suggests investigating the Soviet base in the event it has survivors. Gresco orders Gale to kill Eiji and the Earthlings, and Zuhl adds that a second failure won’t be tolerated. Gostello bursts into the room and demands another chance to fight Eiji, but Zuhl tells him he’s pathetic. Gostello blames his losses on a trap set by Eiji, but Gale notes that he doesn’t have enough experience for that. Gale asks him to stop making excuses, and Gostello accuses him of being a traitor by association to Julia and Eiji. Gale then counters that Gostello made passes at Julia and was defeated in battle by him. Gostello insists that Eiji is his prey, but Gale says that Eiji isn’t an animal and will be brought back for trial. He notes that the data shows Eiji doesn’t kill, so he intends to find out how Gasten and Lobelia died.

On Mars, the tripod carrier reaches the ruins of the Soviet base and finds no signs of life. Anna thinks about how all the work to colonize Mars has been wiped away in such a short time. Eiji asks Elizabeth where they can go, but Arthur argues that they’re doomed to die like bugs. Eiji notes that they need air and water, so Elizabeth suggests returning to the unmanned observation base. Gresco’s flagship takes off and launches Gale’s shuttle and tripod carrier. As Gale’s team prepares to launch, Gostello jumps into a Braver cockpit and knocks out the pilot. After reaching the observation base, Arthur starts hogging the water while Simone comments that this place will be their grave. She says that even with oxygen and water there’s nothing they can do, but Elizabeth explains that a surveillance ship from Gettzman base is probably heading this way to find out what’s happened on Mars. Arthur asks how long until that ship would arrive, and Rohan estimates about seven days. Elizabeth thinks a commercial ship could also arrive, but no one knows when. David yells that he’s had enough and tells Eiji to take two people with him and go protect Earth. He then punches Eiji in the face and refuses to believe that he’s a hero who’s going to save Earth. He claims that Eiji is just using them, which Eiji objects to. David tries to punch Eiji again, but Eiji dodges. He says that he’s human too and punches David in the face. David counters that he won’t let some alien do what he wants and kicks Eiji. In turn, Eiji punches David multiple times and says that Earthlings have no control, which led to the American and Soviet bases nuking each other. David notes that the Gradosians who instigated everything are also at fault. Eiji keeps punching David and says that Earth has always been his haven. His helmet starts to beep, and he says that his father taught him that Earth is a treasure in the universe. David rams into Eiji and knocks him into a pile of boxes. Eiji asks David to think about Earth and where his fists should be aimed. David picks Eiji up and is shocked to see red blood coming out of his lip. Anna pleads with them to stop, and Eiji finally notices his beeping helmet. The tripod carrier enters the atmosphere and launches Gale’s Grimekaisar and two Bravers. Eiji grabs his helmet and leaves, which David assumes means that he’s running away.