Episode 10 - Riot Force Six's Day Off (Part 1)
The three-part climax to the first half of the season kicks off with deceptive calm...
Riot Force Six has settled back into routine, and the Forwards are steadily improving their skills. In fact, they've improved to the point where the captains decide to unlock the second stage of their device limiters.
In the mess hall, the officers catch a news broadcast featuring Lt General Regius Gaiz of the TSAB Ground Forces. He is arguing in favor of additional funding for weapons and anti-crime measures. Signum remarks that he's a well-known hawk; judging by their expressions, none of Riot Force Six's officers are fans.
The Forward members are given the afternoon off, and head off into the city to enjoy themselves. Erio and Caro have been furnished with a detailed itinerary by Shario (who seems to think they're going on a date) which they prepare to follow faithfully. Erio asks Caro if it's true that she has another dragon besides Friedrich. Caro clarifies that, while there is another dragon she can technically summon, he's not really hers — Voltaire is the ancient guardian of her homeworld, Alzus, and she can only call him at great need.
Subaru and Teana are enjoying the city in a more impromptu fashion. After having some ice cream and briefly checking in on Erio and Caro, they reflect on how nice it is to be able to relax without any crimes or incidents to interrupt them...
But elsewhere in the city, an incident has occurred. Ginga Nakajima is investigating a mysterious accident in which a truck apparently exploded without warning. She is dismayed to discover the remains of Gadgets at the scene... as well as something far more worrisome: a large container she identifies as a "life pod".
In Scaglietti's base, his assistant is reporting to him that the Gadgets were destroyed, but not by the TSAB. She talks about sending some of her younger sisters to retrieve "it"; a young woman named Nove joins them and asks to volunteer, but is told she isn't ready yet. Scaglietti contacts Lutecia and tells her he'd like her help as well.
Underneath the city, a small girl in rags is stumbling through the sewers, dragging a pair of metal cases that look suspiciously like Relics. One of the cases tumbles into the water when the girl falls down; she gets to her feet and continues unsteadily. At the same time, Erio and Caro are making their way through the city streets above when Erio hears something. They turn into a nearby alley just in time to see a sewer cover being pushed open from the inside...
Caro contacts the other team members and reports that they have found a Relic, carried by a young girl who has now fallen unconscious. Hayate orders the other Forwards to Caro's position and prepares to send a team to assist them. As of now, everyone's day off is cancelled...
Tropes
- Busman's Holiday: The Forwards' day off is interrupted when they accidentally rescue Vivio and the Relic — which kicks off a series of events that will turn their lives upside-down.
- Early-Bird Cameo: Nove is briefly introduced, albeit with her face hidden. She has no impact on this episode's plot, but this does make her the first of the Numbers to be introduced after Uno — and, in fact, the first one to be named on-screen at all note .
- Evil Sounds Deep: Regius Gaiz is clearly an antagonist from the moment he appears, in no small part due to his growling baritone voice.
- Hidden Eyes: When Vivio first appears, her bangs are concealing her eyes. This stops once she's out of the sewer, but by that point she's unconscious. We won't get to see what her eyes look like until episode 13.
- Mid-Season Twist: The final six minutes of this episode mark the exact point where the season's real plot suddenly emerges and takes off running.
- Shipper on Deck: Shario has apparently set up Caro and Erio's outing as a date, a fact of which the two principals are charmingly oblivious. Subaru and Teana clearly catch on, but decide not to say anything.
- Skinship Grope: Subaru tries various means to wake Teana up and finally decides to try to do so by squeezing her breasts. Once she realizes what's going on, Tea is not amused... although she seems to get over it pretty quickly.
- Voiceover Letter: The episode starts with another narrated letter from Subaru to Ginga.
