VOTOMS Pailsen Files Ep. 5: Interrogation

On planet Kuzusk, Wokkam visits Pailsen at a medical prison run by the Intelligence Division. Pailsen recalls meeting Wokkam at the tribunal, and Wokkam says that tribunal was an attempt to execute Pailsen by a military evading its responsibilities. Wokkam begins to recite Pailsen’s record, including his studies in genetics and his military medals. Wokkam then mentions the Red Shoulders, and Pailsen says that’s just a dream from the past. Wokkam asks him why he abandoned the Red Shoulders, and Pailsen asks if he’s under a tribunal again. Ruske tells Pailsen that if he cooperates, they’ll guarantee his safety for the rest of his life. Wokkam tells Pailsen that he has Chirico on Galeade and asks what he is, but Pailsen refuses to answer. Wokkam says he’s not above using any method to get the info, but Pailsen tells him such threats mean nothing to a man with no future. At the Gilgamesh base on Galeade, AT pilots drill on maintenance procedures for their Scopedogs, including replacing a unit’s supply of polymer ringer liquid. All the AT pilots complete their maintenance and move out, but the Barkoff squad is left until the end. Barkoff says that Wappe is trying to provoke them, and Zaki notes that Kochak isn’t around. Finally, Wappe gives them orders to proceed, and Godan asks Chirico to switch places with him. Chirico plugs a connector into the Scopedog to pump out PRL, and he notices a gash in the line. PRL sprays out of the hose and covers Chirico as it ignites. Zaki quickly douses Chirico with neutralizing agent to put out the fire. Wappe saves over the monitor to Yugunt that it was only minor damage, and Godan points out that those hoses don’t break like that on their own. Wappe reminds Godan that many men are angry with them over what happened in the valley, so it’s not surprising if someone was out to kill them. Fuller notes to Yugunt that Chirico seems to be special and asks why they’re supposed to watch that squad so closely. Yugunt says he’d like to know too, and Kochak says his life will be forfeit if they find out he’s a spy. Fuller promises Kochak that they’ll take care of him, and he orders him to continue reporting on everyone, especially Chirico. In a supply warehouse, Godan examines a hose and tells Chirico that there’s no way it could break without being cut. Godan then reminds Chirico about the sniping incident earlier and asks who’s after him. Chirico says he may not be the target and notes that if they hadn’t switched places, Godan would’ve been covered in PRL. A door opens, and several masked men open fire. Godan asks Chirico how much he knows about him, but Chirico insists he doesn’t know anything. Godan then calls Barkoff to ask for help, and Barkoff tells Zaki the call was just a wrong number. The masked men open fire again, so Chirico and Godan run away. One of them tosses a grenade, but Godan kicks it back before it explodes.

On Kuzusk, Pailsen is connected to an MRC device, which Wokkam explains changes how neurons function and cancels self-awareness and defense mechanisms. Dr. Mencken activates the device, which injects a liquid into Pailsen. Wokkam asks again what Chirico is and what Pailsen expected from him, but Pailsen refuses to answer. Mencken cautions against raising the magnetic field level, but Wokkam says he doesn’t care. Mencken reminds Wokkam that he has to report on Pailsen’s health, and Wokkam says that Pailsen must’ve taken some countermeasure to keep his self-awareness. Mencken raises the magnetic field level, causing Pailsen to scream in pain. When Pailsen stops screaming, Wokkam repeats the question about Chirico, and Pailsen finally answers that he’s a supreme survivor. He says Chirico possesses a special gene found in one out of tens of billions or less that makes him unkillable. Pailsen continues that he found the research on Melkia based on research on a germ that couldn’t be destroyed. Because of that, Pailsen figures such a trait could be found in humans as well. Chirico is one of those people, and the only known one in the Astragius Galaxy. Pailsen explains that he set Chirico on fire as a boy, and several years later he discovered that Chirico was alive and unscarred. He says that a supreme survivor will recover from any physical injury, but the mental damage from the fire stayed with Chirico. Pailsen says Chirico rejected that truth, and even though he shot Chirico through the heart, he survived. Pailsen then flatlines, and Mencken resuscitates him. Later, Wokkam asks Pailsen what his scheme is, but Pailsen says it’s nothing. He then shows Pailsen a damaged disk from the base that the Intelligence Department is studying. Pailsen writes them off as useless personal notes, but Wokkam knows there’s more to it than that. On Galeade, Godan knocks out a security guard and gets shot by another. In response, he grabs the guard’s gun and kills him. Watching them over a video monitor, Yugunt declares it an insurrection and orders the military police to shoot Chirico and Godan on sight. Zaki runs out of their quarters and gets shot at, but Barkoff knocks them out. Kochak comes out of his quarters and refuses to help. Barkoff says the entire squad may get executed, but Kochak says it isn’t his problem. Chirico and Godan blast into a narrow hallway as they run away from the MPs. Chirico thinks to himself that no matter where he goes, he always stands next to death.