Chapter 103: A Future That Can Always Be Changed
Everyone present could clearly hear the anger in Tei Makoto’s voice.
In Makoto’s mind, the Falcon Squadron was one of the more reliable and steady units in the aerial forces.
But today, he never imagined that the Falcon Squadron would do something like this.
Every fighter pilot in the aerial forces entrusted their lives to Makoto, trusting his tactical commands, and so Makoto valued each subordinate deeply.
“The fireworks mission is complete. All units, return to the aerial base. Falcon Squadron, assemble in the command room!”
Makoto’s tone was harsh, and as he issued the order, the three squads began returning to the aerial base.
Kajiwo glanced at the fighter piloted by Mitada, feeling puzzled: ‘What exactly did Mitada mean by those words just now?’
Over at the Cool Dragon Squadron, Nozue’s eyes were filled with concern.
At the XIG command room, the team relaxed visibly upon learning that Vasette had been dealt with off Earth.
However, thinking back to the Falcon Squadron’s incident, Chiba spoke with suspicion, “I have a feeling the Falcon Squadron knows something.”
Ishimuro kept glancing at Joe, trying to make sense of the situation.
“Wait for the Falcon Squadron to arrive and ask them, that’s the best way to find out,” Joe pretended not to notice Ishimuro’s gaze, then headed out, saying, “I’m going to the restroom.”
The command room door opened automatically as Joe walked straight out. Now in Ultraman form mimicking a human, this transformation consumed energy.
Ishimuro watched him leave, forming a theory in his mind.
Perhaps this was Joe’s special ability?
After all, the other was Ultraman; maybe he possessed some kind of cloning or doubling power. Going to the restroom now might mean he was deactivating his ability.
At that moment, Atsuko’s voice broke the silence with surprise, “Strange, is this camera broken?”
“What’s wrong?” Chiba asked aloud.
Hearing Chiba’s question, Atsuko turned and reported, “The camera in the corridor outside the command room might be malfunctioning.”
“Have the maintenance crew fix it,” Chiba said, not paying much attention to such a minor issue.
“Understood,” Atsuko responded and contacted maintenance, though she was puzzled: ‘I remember it was fine this morning, how could it suddenly break?’
Listening quietly the whole time, Ishimuro’s face suddenly showed understanding.
‘So that’s it.’
He guessed that Joe had probably damaged the camera but didn’t say anything.
---
The Falcon Squadron entered the command room.
As soon as Makoto saw Mitada and the other two, he stepped forward with a dark expression, demanding, “What were you three doing? Why did you disobey orders?”
“Sorry, Commander Makoto. This was our fault,” Mitada bowed his head slightly, admitting the mistake without excuse. “We accept any punishment.”
“Me too.” “Same here.”
Hayashi and Tsukamori also acknowledged the fault, standing obediently, awaiting Makoto’s judgment.
Seeing their demeanor, Makoto’s anger only grew.
“Punishment? Do you think punishment will change anything?”
“I’ve always felt there was something wrong with you, always volunteering for dangerous missions!”
“I used to think you were confident in your abilities, but now it seems the three of you are just throwing your lives away!”
“If it weren’t for Joe this time, you’d be dead, do you understand that?”
Mitada and the others said nothing, silently accepting Makoto’s rebuke.
Ishimuro stepped forward, looking at Mitada, Tsukamori, and Hayashi: “You don’t seem like impulsive people.”
“Tell us, what exactly happened?”
Meeting Ishimuro’s gaze, Mitada looked at him for a moment before speaking, “Commander, do you believe in fate?”
“Fate?” Chiba approached Ishimuro, puzzled by the question.
“Yes, fate,” Mitada and his two teammates exchanged a glance, then spoke seriously: “Hayashi, Tsukamori, and I keep having blurry images in our minds.”
“It’s as if in the future, an enemy invades Earth, and the Falcon Squadron fights them, sacrificing all of us.”
“What?” Makoto’s pupils constricted sharply.
At that moment, the command room door opened, and Joe walked in, overhearing Mitada’s words.
Nozue followed closely behind, hearing as well.
Worried about Mitada, she had come to check on him.
Upon hearing Mitada’s words, Nozue’s expression became urgent as she stepped forward, “You idiot! Why do you have to be so stubborn? Did you ever promise me something? Was that a lie?”
Facing Nozue’s gaze, Mitada slightly turned his head to avoid it, “I didn’t lie to you, but fate is not something I can control.”
“If the Falcon Squadron runs away, that future enemy won’t be defeated, and the trouble it would bring to Earth and humanity is unpredictable.”
“But people shouldn’t fight with a death wish!” Nozue refuted, trying to correct his mindset. “The future can be changed!”
---
Mitada and Nozue locked eyes, their relationship obvious to all present.
“The future can indeed be changed,” Joe interrupted, not wanting to witness their romantic moment any longer, stepping forward to take over the conversation.
“What are you two staring at?”
Especially Nozue, who bore a striking resemblance to Mayumi, which always reminded him involuntarily of someone else.
Back in the Ultraman Tiga world, during the final holy war, Mayumi and Nozue were dating.
“I think I can analyze some information.”
Joe spoke seriously in the manner of a scientist, looking at Mitada: “Since this enemy is from the future and you have these memories, there’s a high possibility the enemy has already come looking for you.”
“How is that possible?” Mitada’s face showed shock.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Joe smiled and continued: “I have a theory.”
“This enemy has time-manipulation abilities, able to travel back and forth between the future and the past.”
“Because the Falcon Squadron defeated this enemy in the future, the enemy tries to go back in time to eliminate the Falcon Squadron first.”
“Time exists independently of the three-dimensional world.”
“Wait, wait,” Chiba quickly interrupted, confused: “I don’t quite understand. Can you simplify it?”
“And if the enemy was defeated in the future, how can it be revived in the past?”
Trying to get an old man like him to understand concepts of time, future, and past is truly difficult.
“It’s okay if you don’t understand, just keep listening,” Joe glanced at him without further explanation.
Chiba: “???”
Ignoring Chiba’s bewildered expression, Joe then turned to Atsuko: “Atsuko, pull up all Falcon Squadron mission logs and training exercise records.”
“Filter for any discrepancies in timestamps between base records and Falcon Squadron fighter logs.”
(End of chapter)