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Episode 13 - I'm a fool, shoot me
Picking up where we were left, Garrod was in Ennil El’s crosshair. She lets out a grunt and prepares to end Garrod. She is interrupted by the building shaking. It appears that Airmaster, Leopard and Ashtaron’s fight dragged all the way to Fort Severn. Tifa’s newtype powers go to work and she tackles Garrod before an explosion outside blows the windows out. Garrod, Tifa and Carris all rise to their feet and Garrod then asks Carris to come with him. Ennil El regains her balance and cuts Garrod’s invitation short, forcing him and Tifa to jump out of the broken window. They land in a snow bank and appear to be fine. Professor Dorat orders Carris to take Bertigo. As Tifa and Garrod run away, the Ashtaron is held at bay by the Gundam X. Garrod wonders who could be piloting it. Tonya and Sarah comment on how Jamil overcame his cockpit phobia and the doctor says he’s been treating Jamil. Sam says that Jamil was inspired by Garrod. Jamil breaks from the group and leaves Ashtaron to Wits and Roy. Ashtaron takes heavy fire from the two Gundams when the Bertigo surfaces to chase Tifa and Garrod. Carris is having a moral dilemma. He knows that Professor Dorat lied to him but Professor is the only person he has to count on. He decides he only has one mission and begins to descend toward Garrod and Tifa. He is cut off by a few rounds from the GX. Jamil tells Tifa and Garrod to leave the Bertigo to him. Ashtaron continues to take damage and notices the Bertigo. While realizing it is a former space revolution mobile suit, he gets a Gatling shower from Roybea.
Carris wonders who could be piloting the GX before coming to the decision that so long as his foe is an old type, he stands no chance. Carris deploys his funnels as Garrod and Tifa look on. Jamil orders Garrod to watch closely and begins evasive maneuvers. Much like Amuro in his day, Jamil begins to destroy the funnels one by one. Garrod asks if he can do it because he is a newtype but Tifa says that Jamil isn’t using his powers. Garrod begins to realize he can see and anticipate the Funnel’s movements. Carris draws the beam saber and charges Jamil. He shrieks and the Bertigo plummets. In his cockpit, Carris begins hyperventilating and sweating profusely. He clutches his head in pain as the narrator explains “Synapse Syndrome”. Artificial newtypes experience bouts of pain usually once a month. Carris clutched his throat and hits a few buttons causing the Bertigo to fly away. Carris stares blankly as the Bertigo heads back to city hall. After the Ashtaron gets slammed into the ground, Olba telepathically hears Shagia’s voice. Shagia tells Olba he understands but orders him to return. Olba protests but Shagia tells him not to forget their mission. Olba says he understands before transforming the Ashtaron and flying away. Wits wants to give chase but Roybea tells him to relax.
After everyone has made their way back to the Freeden, Wits, Jamil and Roybea congratulate Garrod for recovering Tifa. Jamil tells Garrod not to count on him again and returns the GX control. Roybea suggests a celebration. Garrod says he will in a bit and says he discovered something important. In Fort Severn, Carris is in a small metal container that Professor Dorat says is “correcting his nervous system”. Ennil asks how long it’ll be before Carris is alright. Dorat says it won’t take longer than a night. Ennil asks if constructing newtypes is still impossible. Dorat explains that Synapse Syndrome happens once a month but if precautions are taken, the pain is negligible. By now, Garrod has reported all he learned to Jamil and the Freeden crew. Roybea asks if the Professor is retarded for talking about colonies in this day and age. Sarah says they have no guarantee that all the colonies were dropped. Jamil says that the man has power and nobody could stop him if he starts. Dorat tells Ennil that Carris is the only suitable pilot for Patouria. Ennil notes that Carris is too pure of heart for it and Dorat responds “He’ll be hard to convince but easy to fool”. In the Freeden’s hangar, Garrod is looking up at the GX when he notices Tifa is behind him. Tifa stands next to Garrod and tells him she couldn’t sleep.
Carris finally wakes up from the Synapse Syndrome and Dorat asks how he feels. At a dinner table, Dorat tells Carris that last night’s intruders learned of Patouria’s existence. Carris asks Dorat why he lied about natural newtypes being impossible. Dorat says he forbade their contact because Tifa is only an uneducated vulture who can’t comprehend the virtue of uniting the world. Carris says he will trust Dorat’s word and takes his leave. Once outside the door, Carris gets a shocked expression and runs away. He is next seen on patrol in the Bertigo while citizens wave at him. He remembers Garrod’s words and flies to where the Freeden is. Garrod tells Jamil that he realizes the Mayor is a nutcase but still understands Carris. Garrod asks just how evil Carris can really be. Jamil gives us an unforgettable line “When a person strays from the path of mankind, one need to gather the courage to raise his fist and correct that person”. Jamil tells Garrod to remember the frozen lake. Garrod peps up and asks if fighting Carris would be a form of kindness to him. Jamil and Garrod exchange nods before Tifa informs the bridge that Carris is coming.
Chock full of confidence, Garrod launches in the GX. Bertigo and the GX stand off for a moment before exchanging shots. Carris launches the funnels and begins his attack. A few shots connect with Garrod but it is nothing serious. Garrod puts his divider shield on his back and its thrusters help increase his own mobility. The funnels begin to chase Garrod as he tries to remember how Jamil did it. As the Freeden crew cheers him on, Garrod begins to focus and little by little, his shots are becoming more accurate. Soon, he is effortlessly downing the funnels. He even makes one shot reminiscent of the Gundam and the Zeong head. Carris looks on in shock as his funnels are defeated by Garrod. Carris draws his beam saber and rushes the GX. Garrod’s gun is out of ammo so he draws his saber too. In a saber deadlock, Garrod tells Carris it is over. The two suits exchange blows and Garrod is clearly the aggressor. After a flash, the two mobile suits are at a standstill. Garrod has removed the Bertigo’s left arm. The Bertigo falls into the snow as Garrod stands in disbelief that he won. The Freeden crew celebrates and Wits even says Garrod has become about 70% as good as him! Inside the Bertigo, Carris says that this is how it should be. He sensed Professor Dorat’s thoughts outside the dining hall and realized he was only a tool for vengeance. As Garrod is leaving his own cockpit to help Carris, Carris removes the magazine from his gun and ejects the loaded bullet. Carris raises his unloaded gun and says “Now Garrod...I’m a fool, shoot me!” Seemingly out of options, Garrod draws his own gun and shoots Carris in the torso. Carris passes out and Garrod looks on in horror. We’re left with Garrod’s cry of “CARRIS!” echoing throughout the area.
Paul Jr’s Thoughts:
This was another packed episode with a lot happening. It is good to see Jamil over his cockpit phobia; maybe he’ll fight alongside his Gundam allies soon. The Synapse Syndrome explained quite a bit and even shed some light on the bouts of pain that Four and Rosamia experienced in Zeta Gundam. It was nice to see Garrod overcome his fear of remote weapons. The only question for today is what will become of Carris and his potentially mortal wound?
