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Episode 16 - Because I'm a person too
Since our last episode, Wits and Roybea rejoined the Freeden and headed to a costal city. They sell 3 Daughtress' to the local defense force. In the Freeden’s chow hall, Garrod is busy stacking a tray. He passes the mechanics and the Doctor, bidding good morning to each before stopping by Wits and Roybea’s table. Tonya and Sarah go there as well and Tonya asks why Roybea didn’t take his breakfast out today. Roybea says he wanted a change of scenery and Wits says it is none of her business. Tonya calls him a jerk and tells Garrod not to be a jerk; Tifa doesn’t like jerks. Roybea asks how Garrod and Tifa are doing and Garrod insists they’re ‘not like that’. After another bout of being teased, Garrod leaves to take Tifa’s breakfast to her. He enters Tifa’s room to find her cold on the floor. He quickly drops the tray and runs to her.
In an instant, Tifa is in the infirmary where the doctor says it’s only mental stress. Jamil looks at her latest drawing of a dragon shaped rock. Jamil orders the Gundam team to search for it. With the picture of a dragon shaped rock as their only clue, they begin to comb the coast. After spotting a group of civilians, Roybea gets a flash of inspiration. On the Freeden’s bridge, Jamil orders the crew to take a break. Sarah offers to get him coffee and he apologizes to her for bringing them along on his personal quest. Sarah tells him not to apologize and that to most of the crew; the Freeden is their only home.
Tifa wakes from her infirmary bed and quickly looks out the window. Just after, Garrod finds the dragon shaped rock and calls the Freeden over. The Freeden heads to San Lucas Coast, where Tifa’s picture showed. Roybea shows his earlier ingenious flash and hands paper bags to Sarah and Tonya. They open the bags to find swimsuits. Roybea explains that their next mission is by the ocean and they should be comfortable. Roybea then throws a bag to Garrod. Garrod asks if it is for him. Roybea gives him a dirty look and says it’s for Tifa. Garrod doesn’t think Tifa swims in the ocean or anything and Roybea says that is Garrod’s job to get her to. Sarah asks Roybea if relaxing is really a good idea. Jamil, who has been standing in the doorway, says he thinks it’s a good idea.
Jamil approves of taking a break but warns everyone to stay close to shore. Offshore, there are seaborne Vultures known as ‘Orcs’. After the colony drop, the quickest places to recover were costal cities which now make money by selling salvaged federation amphibious mobile suits. Despite the high standard of living in the coastal cities, people still wish to make a living dishonestly. The Freeden docks on a beach near the dragon shaped rock. Freeden’s mechanics are busy waterproofing the GX because it’s the only suit versatile enough to fight under water. Garrod brings Tifa her lunch and conceals her swimsuit in his jacket. He can’t bring himself to give it to her so he leaves it on her chair as he exits the room. Tonya, Sarah, Wits, Roybea, Garrod and Sam head outside in the sun. Tonya and Sarah dive in as the boys stare. Wits says “very nice” and the other guys look in disbelief. Wits insists he was only referring to her diving form. Roybea told Wits he dug the hole for himself and everyone but Wits laughs.
Wits takes his leave to go swimming. Garrod says he wishes Tifa would come out. Tifa is still in her room, gazing into the ocean. She says she is on her way. Tonya and Sarah walk over to Garrod and asks why he isn’t swimming with the others. Tonya teases Garrod about being lonely because Tifa isn’t there. Before he can feel insulted, Tifa takes off in a Dinghy. Garrod and Wits launch after her and Jamil reminds them that her safety is paramount. The Orc leader sees the two gundams which he assumes will soon be his. As Garrod and Wits place themselves between Tifa and the Orc ships, two Orc Daughtseat mobile suits launch. The GX is taken under by one Daughtseat. The Daughtseat kicks him and sends the GX flying. Garrod fires a beam but only succeeds in heating up water. Two more Daughtseats show up and one holds the GX’s arms. The Orc leader orders them to only kill the pilot. One Daughtseat fires torpedoes at the trapped GX. As the torpedoes near the GX, a group of dolphins surround the torpedoes. The torpedoes suddenly veer off course and explode prematurely.
Garrod resurfaces and destroys a pursuing Daughtseat. Wits picks up Tifa’s dinghy and the group retreats. Later that night, Garrod has finally found the shield and rifle he dropped before. While heading back to the Freeden, he sees Tifa outside by the water. He heads over shortly and listens to her. She is talking to someone and thanks them for saving Garrod. Suddenly a group of Dolphins flocks to her. Tifa appears to be talking to the dolphins and the way they react makes it seem like they understand. They invite Tifa to join them but she reminds them that she is a human too. Tifa drops her clothes and jumps in the water as Garrod gawks. After swimming a little further from shore, a white dolphin jumps from the water. Tifa and the white dolphin stare at each other for a moment before the group of dolphins about faces and begins barking. The satellite system on the moon activates and the beam lands somewhere in the horizon.
Paul Jr’s Thoughts:
Erm...Newtype dolphins? Dolphins are supposed to be pretty smart but I wasn’t expecting this. What unit other than the GX could receive the Satellite System’s ray? How will the Freeden handle its new seaborne enemies? Will Jamil ever take off his glasses?
