Prometheus Theater Rehearsal Room, Burbank Sector.

Kuro
Nanakaaaaa, where are youuuuuu?

Nanaka
Over here! Hurry up, the rehearsal for Heterogeneity Rangers is about to begin.

Kuro
Sorry I was a bit late. I got a special Burbank Festival drink for you from Ranko.

Nanaka
Thanks. Now that I think about it, you've never watched the series before, have you? We're just in time to see them rehearse the opening scene.

Kuro
Then it's the perfect opportunity for me to learn about this show! I'm so lucky!

Kuro
Hehe, it's been a long time since I was last in Burbank. I must see what new stuff these Agents have come up with while I was gone.

Nanaka
I hear this is going to be the main act of the festival. Since we'll have to perform, we won't be able to watch it in the audience. This rehearsal is our only chance—

Nanaka
Oh, they're starting.

Male Narrator
Once upon a time...

Male Narrator
An ancient darkness was unleashed from the Dark Altar in the Far North. The world was on the brink of destruction, like a dam about to be break under the force of the raging torrent.

Male Narrator
Darkness obscured the skies and enveloped the earth. Evil creatures born of chaos, known as "the Calamities", were slaughtering humans by the masses.

Male Narrator
That was when incredible powers awakened in a group of people, who transformed into warriors and fought to protect their species.

Male Narrator
After leading humankind in overcoming the Calamities, they disappeared without a trace. Nobody knew their names, but a small number of people remembered what they were known as—

Male Narrator
"Heterogeneity Rangers."

(The stage is slowly lit up and the curtain rises.)

Kuro
So that was a background introduction of the series?

Nanaka
Yep, they've staged many plays before, and this is their latest one.

Kuro
I didn't know you were such an expert on Heterogeneity Rangers, Nanaka.

Nanaka
Well, it IS Cyber Media's signature show. I watched it once and have been a fan ever since.

Nanaka
The one that got me into the series had an enthralling villain, who I think was played by a Doll. I'd love to meet her in person.

Kuro
A Doll that Nanaka calls enthralling... Hm, I wanna meet her too.

(Two winged monsters appear appear on stage, now occupied by a set depicting a city.)

Civilian A
Aaaaah!!!!

Civilian B
The monsters... the monsters are here!!

Calamities
(Shriek like monstrous birds)

Male Narrator
Dark spores waft from the Calamities' massive eyeballs, which the monsters spread by flapping their wings as they try to assimilate everything around them.

Civilian A
Help... What is this...?

Civilian B
Why have you stopped? Keep running!!

Civilian A
(Growls)

Civilian A
...

Civilian B
W... what's wrong with you!?

Civilian B
Ugh... Gaaaaaaaaah!

Kuro
The special effects are pretty convincing.

Nanaka
This is the advantage of stage performances in Magrasea. Operand can create all kinds of effects. We also had some pretty cool effects at our debut concert.

Kuro
Hehe, all thanks to operand donated by fans. I wonder what would happen if I showed my support for this show with some operand...

Male Narrator
The Defense Force quickly arrives at the scene of chaos. While covering the civilians' escape, they launch an offensive against the Calamities.

Defense Force Commander
Who would've thought that the Calamities would return after so many years... Maintain formation!

Defense Force Commander
Open fire!

Male Narrator
Hails of bullets rain down on the Calamities, but are quickly absorbed into the monsters' bodies.

Calamities
(Deranged screech)

(The Calamities flutter their wings and attack the soldiers with dark spores.)

(The soldiers start backing away in fear.)

Male Narrator
But even so, the old commander shows no sign of backing down.

Defense Force Commander
30 years ago, I did what I could to help humankind defeat the Calamities—I will do the same now!

Defense Force Commander
Get back into formation! We have to stand our ground!

Male Narrator
The commander stands at the forefront of his force with his rifle raised!

Calamities
(Screech)

Male Narrator
The Calamities flap their wings again, and several soldiers collapse. Having grown complacent in times of peace, humankind is vulnerable when it finds itself face-to-face once more with evil.

Defense Force Commander
I won't let you have your way... Don't even think about it!

Male Narrator
The old commander remains defiant.

Calamities
(Maniacal shrieks)

Male Narrator
One of the Calamities grabs the commander's by the throat with a claw attached to the tip of its wing.

Defend Force Commander
Guh... (Coughs)

Defend Force Commander
For... the glory of humankind!

Boom!

(A beam of white light shines on the stage from above.)

Kuro
Oooh! Things are heating up!

(A white figure appears on the stage.)

Calamities
(Terrified screams)

Heterogeneity Ranger
With the radiance of this blade of justice, I rend darkness!

Heterogeneity Ranger
O evil of the ancient tomb, return to where you once slumbered!

Defense Force Commander
You... Who are you!?

Heterogeneity Ranger
Count your sins, Calamities!

Male Narrator
The Heterogeneity Ranger blocks the Calamities attack and raises his sword!

Heterogeneity Ranger
SHARP SKY SWORD SWITCH! ATTACK!

Calamities
(Terrified screeches)

Male Narrator
The Heterogeneity Ranger's sword emits a brilliant beam of white light and pierces the Calamities in the eye!

Male Narrator
The vanquished Calamities disintegrate into black spores, incinerated by the light. The infected Calamity zombies also revert to their original state.

Defence Force Commander
You...

Defence Force Commander
You are... a Heterogeneity Ranger, aren't you?

Heterogeneity Ranger
I'm merely a traveler who happens to be passing by.

Heterogeneity Ranger
"Heterogeneity Rangers." People have long since forgotten and grown tired of them.

Male Narrator
As the white light fades away, the Heterogeneity Ranger dressed in white leaves without a backward glance.

Defence Force Commander
"People have long since forgotten and grown tired of them..."

(End of Act 1)

Kuro
That's it? It didn't last very long!

Nanaka
That was just the first act. There will be more at the festival performance.

Kuro
So the Professor and the others could be watching this?

Nanaka
Haha... Maybe they'll play the civilians who got captured by the villains.

Kuro
If that's true, it'd be a real shame if no drones were around to film it!

Agent
Kuro, Nanaka, get ready. Your rehearsal is about to start.

Kuro
Eh, that's it for break time...

Nanaka
You used to be so excited before going on stage! Show some enthusiasm!

Kuro
I was excited because I got to hear your new song...

Nanaka
Then work hard for the sake of more new songs!