And to further please our whimsy, "Operation Skuld" will be the name we assign this.
Forge of yesterday whatever you must to save the future.
Without detectably altering the past as you understood it.
Okabe Rintarou sees Makise lying dead on the ground in a pool of her own blood.
Keep the past for all intents and purposes where it is.
Deceive yourself in every last detail.
Suzuha:
Hey Dad, hand me that screwdriver.
Daru:
Why do you keep calling me that?
Suzuha:
Chop, chop! [idiom meaning "hurry up"]
Suzuha:
Alright folks, this is our line in the sand.
There's just enough juice left in this puppy for one last jump to the past and back.
Okabe:
But then, you won't be able to return to your own time.
Suzuha:
(laughs)
Total non-issue. I never planned to.
We do this right, the future as I know it will alter enough so that I'll never have needed to come here in the first place.
And that was the idea all along.
'Course, the flipside to that equation is if we screw this up, I'm basically stuck here for good.
Bitter expat stewing in could have beens. ["expat" being short for "expatriate"]
Okabe:
Too clichéd a fate for you.
Suzuha:
Oh yeah?
Okabe:
Damn right, yeah.
You are under the wing of Hououin Kyouma, whose name among those in the know resonates with visions of topsy-turvydom and inverted status quos.
Take solace in that.
Agreed?
Suzuha:
Agreed. Let's do this.
Okabe:
Hear me! Operation Skuld begins now! Let the world tremble!
[opening]
Okabe:
Damn it all, where are you?
I had my hands on you not a fortnight ago, I'm sure of it.
Daru:
"Let the world tremble," he says.
Not a bad line. Might have had more 'oomph' if you you hadn't followed it with 'oh crap.'
Suzuha:
What's the hold-up, guys? The longer we leave the time machine parked on the roof, the likelier it is that someone's going to notice it's there.
Okabe:
I must be getting warmer.
Huh?
Heh.
Daru:
The glowstick saber?
You stopping off at a rave along the way?
Okabe:
I require the fake blood cleverly hidden in its tip.
Mayuri:
Oh, weird. You never told me it had blood.
Suzuha:
Ah, I get it. Is that going to substitute for the pool of gore you found her in?
Okabe:
Exactly.
If the me from July 28th discovers Makise's unconscious form in said pool of gore, he, that is, I, will assume her dead, and thus the past will remain unchanged.
Thus will Operation Skuld fulfill its purpose.
Suzuha:
Seems solid on the face of it, but-
Daru:
I'll say it: Doesn't that gambit seem a little too, I don't know, easy?
I mean, to my ears, the future you sounded like he had something a lot more abstract and convoluted in mind.
Okabe:
Heh heh heh.
That's just what he wanted you to think. All evil geniuses obscure their true intentions, Daru. It's in their nature.
Heh heh heh heh.
But fear not. I see behind the veil. My tricks are as child's play to me!
(laughs)
Suzuha:
I'm not sure whether I should be impressed or terrified.
Daru:
I'm going with terrified.
Mayuri:
Hey! Okarin?
Um, Did Kurisu like, sit in this chair over here sometimes? Maybe even a lot?
Okabe:
I suppose so.
Mayuri:
I can totally remember her sitting here talking to us about stuff, right?
When she was excited, she'd get all serious. Sometimes I have a hard time following her. The two of you used to argue all the time. But, you know, the way really good friends do.
Daru:
Man, I'll have whatever she's having. Trust me, May, a superstar like Makise Kurisu wouldn't slum it in a cave like this. ["May" here is short for "Mayuri", and is a homophone of "my"]
Mayuri:
Oh. Yeah, that would be kind of strange. Maybe I just dreamed it or something.
Suzuha:
Or maybe Okabe's not the only one with Reading Steiner.
Okabe:
Yeah, well. That wouldn't exactly surprise me.
By that, I mean it's not a superpower. Everyone has it.
When worldlines break off, deep down we all remember how things used to be.
It makes perfect sense to me that Mayuri would have some memories of Kurisu.
We're here, that is, Mayuri's here, because Kurisu made the ultimate sacrifice.
Mayuri:
Listen to you.
You liked her a whole lot, huh?
Okabe:
Well, now. She was my assistant. One might even say she was a confidante, as vital to me as the air I breathe.
Mayuri:
Awwwww!
Okabe:
Of course, the woman was deperately in love with me, too.
Daru:
2-D life is so much simpler than this.
Mayuri:
Well...There's no question about it, then. You've got to save her.
But I'm betting you knew that already.
Okabe:
Indeed.
Mayuri:
Promise to be careful, OK? And promise to come back.
Okabe:
Don't you worry.
Daru:
Umm...Mis Amane?
If it's really true that I'm your old man or whatever then uh, who's your mom?
Suzuha:
Don't worry, it's a pleasant surprise.
Okabe:
Sure it is.
Daru:
Uhhhh.....
Okabe:
Let's go.
Suzuha:
Alright, same thing as before. Avoid running into yourself. Otherwise, do what you have to do.
Okabe:
Got it.
You leave the glow stick for me at the appointed spot.
Suzuha:
No problem.
Okabe:
"Forge of yesterday whatever I must to save the future." Easier said than done, but here goes.
Not sure how this all fits together, but clearly the first order of business is to prevent Mayuri from getting her paws on that metal Oopa.
Take that out of the mix, and the time travel thesis will burn to cinders.
Bingo.
Past Mayuri:
I'm sorry. I know sometimes its not, but this one counts for sure. These are really, really rare, and I'm broke.
Past Okabe:
I look like an ATM to you? Too bad, so sad, Greedy Gus. Life lesson.
Past Mayuri:
Awwwww!
Past Okabe:
Heh heh heh heh heh. The reality principal does like to disabuse us of our whims.
Past Mayuri:
Aww, cool!
Past Okabe:
Oh yeah? Is it rare?
Past Mayuri:
Na uh, I don't think so. But he's super cute anyway.
Okabe:
Done. On to the next.
Past Makise:
Uh. Oh, I'm sorry.
Okabe:
K-Kurisu?
Past Makise:
Umm, have met before?
I don't think I know you, do I?
Okabe:
Kurisu...
Past Makise:
Look, whoever...
What is your trauma?!
Don't rush to help me or anything.
Okabe:
I, uh...
I'm just...I've come here to save your life.
(four chimes)
PA address:
Your attention please. Dr. Nakabachi's conference is about to begin on the eighth floor lecture hall. All who are interested are welcome to attend.
Past Makise:
At least explain what you mean!
Okabe (thoughts):
Note to self: Ad-libbing my way through a portrayal of past me is awwk-ward.
Kurisu found the Oopa? Of course! Ah, but since that little fellow is made of your garden-variety plastic, the time travel thesis will go up in smoke en route to Russia. Good. Very good. Excellent.
Next phase: deflect her homicidal maniac of a father and render Makise unconscious.
The blood's dried up!
Okabe, you fool! You can't seal a viscous fluid up for heaven knows how long and expect it not to congeal.
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
What in the hell do you want?
Past Makise:
Look, please! I just want you to read this. OK, Dad?
Okabe (thoughts):
Think, damn it! There must be something you can use! Anything! Surely...
Size it up. I can get Nakabachi out of here, that's the easy part.
The tricky bit is the blood. Something in this room will have to do.
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Shut up!
You dare call me a thief?
Okabe:
(thoughts):That's it!
DOCTORR!
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Who the hell are you?
Okabe:
(laughs)
"Who am I?," he asks. Why, anarchy incarnate, sir. An archon buffeted by the stormy passions of madness and chaos!.
But you would prefer my mortal handle. The name...is Hououin...HYOUMA!
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
I hope that's not your idea of intimidation
Wait! Your the damn heckler from the conference!
I see how it is. The two of you were in on this together.
Planning to make nattering old Nakabachi shit the bed during what should have been his moment of glory, huh?
Heh heh heh heh. Well, my boy. You've succeeded beautifully.
(laughs)
Past Makise:
Dad, no!
Run!
Okabe:
Run? Not just yet. The man's pulled his knife out for a reason. I'm curious to see what it is.
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Are you out of your mind?
Okabe:
That's a very good question. But surely the issue of my sanity is neither here nor there for a tough old bird like you.
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
You're mocking me!
Okabe:
Aww, sorry. Is it hard getting short shrift from a living god?
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Don't push me! I'll rip your goddamn eyes right out of their sockets!
Okabe:
Well, I'm right here. Can't imagine what's stopping you. Unless, of course, you're just a simperng blowhard.
That's it, isn't it? Of course it is. You're just a washed-up, spineless, COWARD!
Past Makise:
No! Oh God...
Dad? What...what are you...
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
You...you provoked me!
That's what you get, punk!
Okabe (thoughts):
Stay calm! Bite the bullet...just a little more.
Okabe:
You...you...provoked...me.
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
This isn't over, you crazy son of a bitch!
Past Makise:
Oh my god!
Alright, just try not to move! I'll call an ambulance.
Hello? Yes, I've got a man here who's been stabbed and is losing a lot of blood. We need the paramedics at the Radio building. Immediately.
Okabe:
I told you..
I came here to...
I came here to save your life.
Past Makise:
Huh? [almost inaudible due to music, but detectable in voice track in 5.1 audio]
(Okabe yells)
Okabe (thoughts):
Well done. I think we've got it.
Oh, Kurisu...
Suzuha:
Uncle...
Okabe:
Farewell...
Wait...
Suzuha:
Huh?
Okabe:
Please...we have to be absolutely sure.
Suzuha:
Look, you're just gonna have to take it on faith. We don't have time. I've got to get you out of here.
Okabe:
Just wait...
Past Okabe:
Uh...I know you're there!
Okabe (thoughts):
Best of luck. You'll need it.
The next three weeks...are going to be the hardest three weeks of your life.
Suzuha:
You make me crazy, you know that? There are no words to describe how stupid that was!
Okabe:
Stupid, perhaps...but it worked.
Suzuha:
Listen, I've only stopped the bleeding superficially. Get to a hospital the minute you're back!
And hold on, it's gonna get rough.
Here we go.
Okabe:
Is this...
Suzuha:
If you're asking me whether we've reached Stein's Gate, I don't know.
Okabe:
Guess we'll find out.
Suzuha:
I do know that if you're theory hit the mark, the thesis will burn. Which means the world's superpowers won't start their time travel pissing contest.
And that World War 3'll never happen.
Much as I might like to, I'm afaraid I can't stick around.
So let me get a thank you out now while I can.
It's been a trip!
Thank you!
See you in 7 years.
[start of credit sequence]
Mayuri:
Hey!
Huh?
Dr. Nakabachi (television):
Call me a crackpot if it helps you sleep at night, but mankind's future was riding on that thesis! Now it's gone! All gone!
Television reporter:
Such outbursts are motivating Russian officials to reconsider his defection.
Mayuri:
Dang it! He's so hard to track down when he wants to be.
Well, if he comes back, tell him I was here.
Ruka:
Uh. Before you go...
Mayuri:
Huh?
Okabe (flashback voice):
This identifies you as Lab Member 006.
Ruka (flashback voice):
Wait. When did I become a lab member?
Okabe (flashback voice):
Well, you probably wouldn't yet remember your induction...
Give it time, though.
Mayuri:
Huh?
I wonder what the letters mean.
Faris:
Kyouma? He was actually just here.
Mayuri:
Yeah? I keep missing him.
Hey, this may sound kind of weird, but did he give you anything?
Faris:
You know, as a matter of fact, he did.
Okabe (flashback):
007. Guard that designation with your life.
If ever you're in need of assistance, cleave to that pin.
And chant "La Yohda Systella."
Mayuri:
Oh.
Mr. Braun:
Huh? Sorry kid. Your pal went on his merry way not two minutes ago.
Nae:
Mayuri!
Mayuri:
Tu-tu-roo! Hey Nae!
Moeka:
Huh?
Mr. Braun:
Oh yeah, manners. This is our brand new part-timer.
Moeka:
Nice to meet you. My name's Kiryu.
Mr. Braun:
Took a shine to her when she got Short Round here out of a jam. [reference to a young character in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]
She said she didn't have a job, so I thought "Hey, why not."
Mayuri:
(laughs)
Shiina Mayuri.
Mr. Braun:
Heh. It's funny. Freak show was falling all over himself when he met her, and she hadn't even gotten a name out.
Okabe (flashback):
Consider it an open invitation to our humble lair.
Moeka (flashback):
Thanks.
That's very kind of you.
Mayuri:
Tu-tu-roo! It's good to have you back-arin!
Daru:
Did you just mash up "Okarin" with "Good to have you back?"
Mayuri:
Uh-huh.
Don't tell me he's not here.
Daru:
He won't be long.
Just runnin' a few errands.
Mayuri:
OK.
Ahh!
Daru:
Hmm?
Oh, those.
Lab member badges, apparently.
003 for me. 002 for you.
He says they go all the way to 008, but...
Did I sleep through a couple of meetings or something, 'cause I don't remeber that many people being on board with us?
Mayuri:
Okarin must be the 'O'...
Shiina, Hashida, Urushibara, Faris, and
Hmm. Wonder what the 'M', the 'K', and the 'A' stand for?
Daru:
Beats me.
He put the last one in a box. Says 008 will show up in seven years.
Okabe (flashback):
I realize it may be hard to believe, but trust me when I say I have it on very good authority.
Daru (flashback):
That what we're calling the voice in your head?
Okabe (flashback):
You're the reason they show up, acxtually.
Daru (flashback):
Say what?
Mayuri:
That's a long time.
But I'm sure whoever it is'll be super cool and totally willing to cosplay with me.
Daru:
I'm supposed to wait seven years? My mind doesn't go that far ahead.
Mayuri:
Just think, though. How much fun will it be with so many new friends at the lab?
And I don't think we'll change too much, No matter how many years pass.
Okabe:
Where are you now, I wonder?
Doggedly hammering away at some groundbreaking new thesis over in the States?
It's not hard to see you pulling a slew of all-nighters in front of a dry erase board.
Well...Whatever the case, I just hope you've made your peace with your father's...issues.
I've made my peace with the fact of you having no memory of our three weeks together.
Took a while, though.
Whether or not you and I ever see each other again, the world's a decidedly better place with you in it.
As long you're out there, doing your thing...we all benefit.
And, bittersweet though it is, sometimes just knowing I'm not the only one who sees things as I do is enough.
Makise:
It...it's you!
I've been looking everywhere for you.
I don't even know how to begin to say what I want to...
Okabe:
It's me. The jig is up. She's wise to us.
Do what? What do you mean, you want me to protect her?
Very well. Just never let it be said I don't indulge you people to a fault.
Yes, I'm aware.
And if that's it's choice, far be it for me to argue.
Alright, then. El Psy Congroo.
Makise:
El...what?
Okabe:
So we meet again, Christina!
Makise:
Knock it off with that crap! My name's not Christina. And I'm sure as hell not your assistant!
Uhh...wait.
Okabe:
Good to have you back. Assistant of mine. Christina. AKA Kurisu.
Perhaps the Universe can't justifiably be called infinite.
Suzuha:
Daru:
Suzuha:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
[opening]
Okabe:
Daru:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Daru:
Okabe:
Mayuri:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
Daru:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
Daru:
Mayuri:
Okabe:
Mayuri:
Daru:
Mayuri:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Mayuri:
Okabe:
Mayuri:
Okabe:
Daru:
Mayuri:
Okabe:
Mayuri:
Okabe:
Daru:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Daru:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Past Mayuri:
Past Okabe:
Past Mayuri:
Past Okabe:
Past Mayuri:
Past Okabe:
Past Mayuri:
Okabe:
Past Makise:
Okabe:
Past Makise:
Okabe:
Past Makise:
Okabe:
(four chimes)
PA address:
Past Makise:
Okabe (thoughts):
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Past Makise:
Okabe (thoughts):
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Okabe:
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Okabe:
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Past Makise:
Okabe:
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Okabe:
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Okabe:
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Okabe:
Past Makise:
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Okabe (thoughts):
Okabe:
Past Dr. Nakabachi:
Past Makise:
Okabe:
Past Makise:
(Okabe yells)
Okabe (thoughts):
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Past Okabe:
Okabe (thoughts):
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
Okabe:
Suzuha:
[start of credit sequence]
Mayuri:
Dr. Nakabachi (television):
Television reporter:
Mayuri:
Ruka:
Mayuri:
Okabe (flashback voice):
Ruka (flashback voice):
Okabe (flashback voice):
Mayuri:
Faris:
Mayuri:
Faris:
Okabe (flashback):
Mayuri:
Mr. Braun:
Nae:
Mayuri:
Moeka:
Mr. Braun:
Moeka:
Mr. Braun:
Mayuri:
Mr. Braun:
Okabe (flashback):
Moeka (flashback):
Mayuri:
Daru:
Mayuri:
Daru:
Mayuri:
Daru:
Mayuri:
Daru:
Okabe (flashback):
Daru (flashback):
Okabe (flashback):
Daru (flashback):
Mayuri:
Daru:
Mayuri:
Okabe:
Makise:
Okabe:
Makise:
Okabe:
Makise:
Okabe:
[end]