Laplace/Story

Spoilers!*"Your greatest villain Drake shall warn you, SPOILERS AHEAD!"*The following article or section contain **spoilers!** Viewer discretion is advised.

Overview**Story**VoicelinesGallery

## Behind the Scenes

###

Kim Ye-rim

###

Lauren Landa

###

Ai Kakuma

## Profile

Considered to be Syuen's best Nikke from Missilis. As the leader of Missilis' elite squad Matis, Laplace always charges headlong into danger, eager to prove her mettle as a hero. She loves to make her entrance by recklessly crashing through a window. Laplace is a Nikke from the 9th generation series, as they don't grow muscles.

### Nikke Backstory

The leader of Matis, the top squad in Missilis. She more than lives up to her heroic reputation inside the Ark, which goes unquestioned.

## Personality

Laplace plays the role of an archetypal superhero: she has high regards for justice, strong-willed, and sacrificial to protect others. Self-assured and confident almost to a fault, Laplace's hero-oriented mindset can sometimes cause friction with humans (who she believes are weak, helpless beings in need of protection) and other Nikkes (whom she believes must give everything, even their lives, to their mission or fail as heroes). Laplace's zeal to act as a superhero sometimes ends up in comical blunders, such as accidentally destroying a bridge during a mission with Absolute, or smashing through windows for a dramatic entrance.

After a harrowing experience of being corrupted and then cured by Vapaus, the incident left its scars on Laplace, much as she may deny it. Laplace's sense of confidence and ability to protect others was greatly impaired, exacerbated by her inability to summon her signature weapon, often leading to her fleeing or freezing up when Raptures approached. However, with a little encouragement and willpower, Laplace was able to overcome her fear and stand again as a hero.

## Story

### Main Story

#### Chapter 11

Laplace and her squad mates, Maxwell and Drake, are sent by Syuen on a mission to recover Heretic fragments from the site of their first and last cooperative mission with Absolute. Unfortunately, since they rushed to this mission right after their previous one, they've had no time to resupply, so their power levels get so low they become unable to move. They only scrape by when Neon of Counters stumbles upon them and brings them back to her squad's camp, where they share emergency batteries to get Matis back on their feet. Laplace is quick to boast her virtues as a hero, only to be shot down by Anis. After a brief discourse on what's needed to be a hero, Laplace declares that she'll keep everyone safe through the night...and immediately falls asleep on the spot.

The next day, the combined squads of Matis, Counters, and Absolute find a bridge. Matis crosses first, taking Rapi and the protagonist with them to ensure the others won't shoot them in the back or collapse the bridge...only for Laplace to, immediately after crossing, swivel around, blast a flying Rapture, and send its carcass careening into the bridge, which destroys it. Despite Laplace insisting they stick around to prove she didn't *intend* to collapse the bridge, she's overruled by her squad, the protagonist, and the gratuitous amount of munitions Absolute is sending their way.

After some shenanigans involving playing telephone with Shifty and Absolute, plus witnessing an increasingly heated feud between Syuen and Ingrid, Laplace gets the team back on track to finding the Heretic fragments, promising to split the glory with Absolute, much to Rapi's "gratitude", given how Counters is nowhere to be found in that promise.

Later, as the group engages another swarm of Raptures, Laplace calls out Rapi and the protagonist for their seeming relationship of comrades-in-arms, finding it absurd that a human and a Nikke could ever become equals in that sense. She goes on a monologue about how Nikkes must become the heroes of humanity, guardians that stand in front of the calamities facing them, and to her, Rapi getting helped by her commander is a failing as a hero. Maxwell is quick to shut down the speechifying, having heard this countless times before.

Eventually, the group arrives at the point where Matis and Absolute fought the Heretic, but the terrain is vastly different from what they recall. As they realize the terrain's been modified, the ground gives way and tentacles manage to wound the Nikkes. Despite the damage seeming relatively minor, it's pushed aside as they're swarmed by Raptures.

Successfully dealing with the swarm, Laplace notes her stomach feels numb where she was punctured, and wonders if the Raptures used poison on her. She disregards this as the others seem fine, and the ground collapsing beneath them is a much more immediate problem.

#### Chapter 12

Despite the devices that spoof scans of the Rapture facility, Matis has no problems navigating it and destroying the jammers. Along the way, Laplace boasts about how strong Matis is thanks to the varied abilities of her squad. After they reunite with Absolute and the rest of Counters, they find the facility seems to change in real-time in a such a way that it loops them back to start. Even with this, Matis seems to have no trouble traversing the facility.

A while later, Rapi and Absolute fire on Matis, who've taken the lead. A quick look reveals the Nikkes of Matis have red-pink eyes and keep chanting to beckon the group along. They've been corrupted by the Raptures, and have been leading Absolute and Counters right into the belly of the beast. The corrupt Matis goes down to the gunfire, but they're not dead. Absolute and Rapi used suppression bullets that just knocked them out. The hope is that Matis can be brought back to the Ark and subject to a memory wipe, which can purge corruption from Nikkes.

Later, after the Heretic fragment is recovered, Laplace shakes off the suppression bullet just as the evac transports fly in. Unfortunately, she's still corrupted, so after activating a plasma field to repel anyone from subduing her, she levels her cannon on the transports, all the while chanting about how she's an invincible warrior of justice. But just as the cannon is about to fire, Laplace suddenly throws it to the ground.

Shaking off the corruption and declaring that she is a hero who will not endanger people, Laplace reaches into her coat and pulls out her backup pistol. With great effort, she brings the gun under her chin and apologizes for causing trouble. Just before she can pull the trigger, a voice quietly says "Stop." Laplace and all other Nikkes freeze in place as Extrinsic squad arrives, Maiden's kotodama having affected them all. Guillotine steps in and uses her eye to deactivate Laplace's cannon, which despite having been tossed aside is still live. Extrinsic squad exits the scene as Maiden restarts everyone's movement, and Laplace is immediately riddled with more suppression rounds, knocking her out.

Back at the Ark, Matis is put into stasis, neither allowing their corruption to progress, nor doing anything to reverse it. Despite the fact that a memory wipe could easily solve this problem, Syuen has vehemently opposed the idea at every turn, meaning Matis will be out of commission for the time being.

#### Chapter 15

Syuen uses the Vapaus bullet recovered from the Modernia subjugation operation to cure Matis of their corruption, and even having the gall to market it as a Missilis technology to fluff up her company stock value.

#### Chapter 16

Despite Vapaus curing Matis of their corruption, not everything is smooth sailing for the "heroes of the Ark". A "former researcher of Missilis" (actually a John Doe patsy by Crow) has revealed that Vapaus "cures" corruption by destroying NIMPH, the nanomachines that ensure Nikkes will never disobey commanders and cannot kill humans. In essence, Matis has free will, and that's sparked fear amongst the populace that they may refuse to fight for humanity, or even go rogue. Matis, particularly Laplace, is confused why people are so afraid of the idea that they are truly free to think and act for themselves, when all they know and desire is to continue fighting and living as they did before this.

#### Chapter 17

Laplace and her squad are watching the anti-Nikke protest in front of Missilis HQ, demanding that Matis be yoked under NIMPH once more. The whole situation is leaving Matis in...not exactly the best of spirits. That's when Syuen barges in with the protagonist in tow, telling Matis that she has a plan to erect a new defensive wall to protect the Ark. All Matis has to do is go to a specific facility and activate it, and all will be right again. Matis will once again become heroes of the Ark, and all the naysayers demanding NIMPH will be silenced. Laplace is more than happy to take the mission, eager to become a hero once more.

#### Chapter 18

Matis, Counters, and the protagonist step out to the surface, nearing the facility to activate the defense wall. Laplace is all too eager to show her hero chops and become exulted by the people again. But as they near the facility, Laplace can't shake a feeling of discomfort in her stomach, which lingers even after she empties it of its contents.

Stepping inside the building, Laplace is all too happy that Syuen is helping her become a hero *and* protect the Ark at the same time. But as she hits the button, what happens is not the sounds of a barrier or a wall activating. It's a signal, the kind *Raptures* send to call *more* to their location. And it's point of origin is the Ark. Matis grills the protagonist for details, but his silence is all too damning. Laplace is frozen in shock and horror, realizing it was her hand that called Raptures to the Ark. The building begins to shake and collapse around her, and her stomach starts to ache again where the tentacle hit her.

Her mind goes back to those fateful moments, when the tentacle stabbed her, and when she became a prisoner in her own corrupted body. Laplace falls to her knees, her face a rictus of fear as she's trapped in her memories. Seeing her unable to move or respond, Drake picks up Laplace and the squad evacuates the facility.

Reuniting with Counters outside the building, Matis learns this was Syuen's plan all along; bring Raptures to the Ark's doorstep to cause a panic, then have Matis sweep them away and regain the citizen's adoration, washing away the stain this whole NIMPH business has put on their name. Laplace tries to push the group, fearing what will happen to the Ark and citizens if the Rapture's aren't stopped, but her body collapses again. Laplace insists that this is purely a temporary effect from not having NIMPH, but Maxwell isn't buying it.

The brain of Matis can easily see what's happening, and doesn't mince words; the events leading to and during the time Laplace was corrupted have left their scars on her, and now she's afraid she might be captured and corrupted again. Try as Laplace might to deny these allegations, the fact is Matis no longer has their NIMPH, meaning they cannot rely on its emotion and memory regulators to keep them from suffering fear or trauma. Laplace is hearing none of it, and rushes ahead to prove she's not afraid.

Laplace stands in front of the Raptures, and as much as she talks a big game, she can't keep the stutter out of her voice, nor the quivering from her hands. She tries to deploy her weapon system to fight, but finds herself incapable of doing so. All she can think of is the ground collapsing beneath her, the disgusting painful feeling of a tentacle stabbing into her gut. Her mind echoes that's she going be torn apart and die. She'll be ground to dust and die. She'll be corrupted and die. Matis and Counters engage the Raptures as the once-hero can only scream at her enemy to stay away from her.

The dust settles, and Laplace, while no worse for the wear, is still in no shape to fight. Despite Syuen's grumbling and urging them to move on, Laplace admits her weapon system failed to deploy, and thinks to herself that perhaps the people had a point. Perhaps Laplace really can't be a hero without the NIMPH to erase her fear. The Missilis CEO is taken aback, unable, or perhaps unwilling to believe Laplace, her magnum opus and trump card, could and *would* falter like this. Hearing Laplace whisper to herself that she's no hero, the CEO closes the call insisting the group continue the operation. They decide to find somewhere to rest and conduct maintenance before they face the horde of Raptures.

Laplace's maintenance concludes in some nearby ruins. All the systems and power supplies are functional, thus the only reason her systems failed to activate was her fear dragging her down. Thanking Maxwell for her work, Laplace shambles out into the hallway to clear her head. Shortly after, the protagonist finds her in a corner, and after she halfheartedly tries to shoo him away, the two sit in silence.

Laplace is the first to break it, apologizing for freezing up, for luring Raptures to the Ark, everything. All she wanted was to prove she could be a hero even without her NIMPH, but it turns out it was just as the naysayers proclaimed; Laplace is weak and cowardly without NIMPH. The protagonist insists she doesn't need NIMPH to be brave, a question which confuses her since they never met before she became a Nikke. The protagonist clarifies that he saw that courage when Laplace was corrupted. Since NIMPH ceases its normal functions upon corruption, that includes emotion and memory regulation. Therefore, the will to overcome the corruption and protect everyone, even if her life was the price...that was all Laplace, not the NIMPH. The protagonist assures her that she *is* a hero, no matter what anyone says. She's just resting up from fatigue and will be back better than ever, because Laplace is the ultimate hero.

The protagonist holds out his hand, and Laplace takes it. She stands, but affirms that she's *not* a hero, and walks away.

Later, Matis and Counters discuss what their plan of action will be. Since it's too late to stop Raptures from even approaching the Ark, much less entering it, Maxwell suggests flanking the horde rather than facing it head-on. Syuen tunes in to the conversation, and with the course of action set, orders Laplace to come back alive, after which the NIMPH will be reinstalled or whatever else is needed to make her a hero again. Laplace is still not all there, not even rising to Drake's declaration that they've become a team of villains.

As the squads whittle down the Raptures from behind, Maxwell hands Laplace a handgun. Since her weapons system isn't working right now, she'll have to settle on using this. As this happens, Maxwell asks Laplace to let her speak her mind. The leader of Matis accepts, and Maxwell goes on a brief stint berating Laplace for always charging ahead and being in-your-face about heroism. That same attitude is what makes other Nikkes dislike her, because she's hogging the spotlight and Syuen's attention. Despite that, Maxwell lauds Laplace's desire for heroism, finding her wish to uphold justice a genuine one. Despite her leader continuing to flake out on facing the Raptures, Maxwell continues to egg her on, telling her that as the one to lure the Raptures to the Ark, she has a responsibility to see this through, if not fix it. Drake offers her own encouragement before rushing ahead to take point. Maxwell tells Laplace that only she can handle what comes next, and follows Drake. As Laplace stares at the gun in her hands, the protagonist nudges her forward, telling her not to give up.

The squads are doing fine against the horde, but then the Tyrant Storm Bringer approaches, which is odd since the signal shouldn't have called anything bigger than a Lord-class. Despite the impeding struggle, the protagonist seems unfazed, claiming "a hero is by [his] side". Laplace's grip tightens on the gun in her hand, not saying a word as Counters and Matis engage Storm Bringer.

After a close battle, Storm Bringer finally goes down. The protagonist compliments Laplace on her effort, but it turns out she didn't even fire her weapon once in that battle, continuing to claim she can't be a hero without NIMPH. As Maxwell tires of hearing this same self-defeating talk again, Drake reports that her sensors still feel off. The very ground begins to quake as another horde of Raptures closes in. Maxwell tells Laplace to grab the protagonist and run, but Laplace instead screams at runs at the Raptures, firing her gun. Trapped in a haze of fear, she doesn't see the Raptures bearing down from her blindspot. Not until the protagonist pushes her out of the way and takes a shot square in the torso. Laplace clutches the protagonist in her arms, wondering why he jeopardized his life for her. He tells her what they need is a hero, uncaring of her insistence that she isn't one. He points a bloody finger at Laplace's heart, telling her that what she needed to be a hero was inside of her this whole time. Laplace stands up and looks around her surroundings, constantly shaking from the stampede of Raptures.

Maxwell and Drake are fighting for their lives, telling Laplace to run. Counters is getting overwhelmed by gunfire and a tide of bodies. All her mind can think of is tentacles, the ground giving way, her inescapable death, and her desire to run all the same. Until suddenly...she thinks of something else. Amidst Maxwell's barks for her to run, she remembers that same voice lauding her genuine desire to uphold justice as a a hero. As Drake calls to confirm Maxwell's condition, Laplace remembers that same voice challenging her to disprove her claim that villains are better than heroes. Even as her mind is a broken record, chanting that everyone is going to die, one more voice still lingers.

[Don't give up. The hero is inside you.]

Drake and Maxwell finally go down, too drained and damaged to continue fighting. Counters went down earlier, leaving just Laplace and her peashooter of a backup weapon against a horde of Raptures. She takes a trepid step back, only to find her retreat stopped by the protagonist's body, hand still twitching with faint throes of life. She remembers that same hand reaching out towards her in her moment of despair, and helping her stand. She remembers that same hand, soaked with blood and pointing at her heart.

…Even if she is afraid, even if she wants nothing more than to run, she can't. Not while there are still those who put their faith in her. Laplace boldly steps forward into a hail of gunfire, unflinching even when a bullet grazes her cheek. Laplace thinks to herself how those around her can still be saved, clutches a hand to her chest, focuses, and in a flash of light...

Her weapon system deploys, visor flipping onto her face as her cannon hums to life. Lighting crackles up her frame, and a brilliant beam obliterates the Raptures in front of her. Laplace retracts her visor, eyes full of resolve, one thought running in her mind;

"I...am...a hero!"

Some time later, Matis is once again celebrated as heroes of the Ark, standing against the Raptures even without NIMPH to obligate them. As Counters waits in the protagonist's hospital room, Laplace literally slides past the door to see how he's doing. After confirming his condition, and affirming that Matis is in good condition, Laplace apologizes to the protagonist, having heard from Syuen what he got tangled in to restore Matis' good name. She even bows her head, and promises as leader of Matis that Syuen will not ask him a favor of this variety ever again. Meanwhile, Ingrid, Andersen, and Mustang are angered at Syuen for her dangerous plan to deceiving Matis just to improve thei reputation.

Cut to a few hours ago, when Laplace tells Syuen to stop doing this kind of cloak-and-dagger morally-shady business. While Syuen is annoyed that Laplace is questioning her methods, she relents when Laplace promises to never falter, even in the face of the people's enmity or the terror of the Raptures. So long as Laplace is willing to promise that, Syuen is willing to promise that she will cease her "evil" deeds.

Despite skepticism from Counters on the integrity of this promise, Laplace is determined to keep her word that she will live as a hero. The protagonist has one last question for Laplace, asking if she's still scared of the Raptures. Laplace's faces briefly pales before she quietly admits that she is...but she will try her hardest to not be afraid. The protagonist is satisfied with this answer, and having said what needed to be said, Laplace opens the window, wishes the protagonist a speedy recovery, and jumps out.

### Event Story

#### High Tech Toy

Laplace and Matis are deployed with the protagonist to discover and, if possible, resolve the cause of several disappearances of mass-produced Nikkes sent to the surface, as most of the losses were of Missilis stock.

### Character Story

#### Episode 1 - Laplace the Hero

Sirens scream in the Ark's downtown as a fire runs out of control. A news reporter details the scene on broadcast as people trapped in the blaze cry for help. Firefighters have yet to contain the inferno even after two hours. Counters and the protagonist have assisted the best they can, but there's only so much they can do, and there are still people trapped in the fire.

Then Laplace shows up, telling the squad they can leave the rest to her. Counters doesn't believe she's going to charge into the flames by herself, but Laplace calls that cowardly talk, ignores the protagonist offering his assistance, and moves in.

Laplace smashes a wall and steps into the building. Rapi notes that by bringing the building down, Laplace can stop the fire from spreading to nearby buildings, an effective yet destructive scorched earth tactic. Laplace then tosses a water tank to douse the rest of the flame, and with the fire contained, heads up the stairs to rescue the trapped people. Counters follow suit at the protagonist's command.

Inside the building, the fire is slowly sputtering out, but the smoke is still thick in the air. The squad hears a voice pleading for help, and Laplace dashes to it, finding a person on the verge of blacking out. She takes the civilian in her arms and jumps out the window, much to the consternation of Anis, noting that doors exist.

Over the next stretch of time, Laplace is in an endless cycle of rushing through the building, finding trapped citizens, and getting them out to safety. Counters notes how much of a one-woman rescue force Laplace is, to the point where their presence is honestly unneeded. They watch as Laplace continues to break walls and windows in her mad dash to rescue the victims, wondering how everyone she saves is *somehow* completely unharmed by her...methodology.

A while later, the fire is completely contained and all citizens evacuated. Laplace retracts her systems as she crows over her triumph as a hero, before rounding on Counters to express her disappointment. From her perspective, Counters just sat back and did nothing, despite them rushing over from a mission to evacuate as many citizens as they could. Laplace declares she will teach the squad how to become heroes, then smashes through a window to go protect the rest of the Ark. Counters finds Laplace somewhat difficult to deal with, though they admit she *did* stop the fire and save the people.

As a reporter detail's Laplace's valor in handling the incident, Rapi advises the protagonist they should return to the Outpost.

#### Episode 2 - Laplace the Hero?

A few days later, Laplace visits the protagonist's room at the Outpost, using the door normally for once instead of barging in through the window. Apparently she was serious when she said she was going to train him and Counters to become heroes, so she's here to do just that. After some mild grumbling from Anis, Laplace declares the beginning of the squad's hero training. It's the first day, so she'll pick something easy to start with. Her idea of easy? Dodge 10 bullets. *Simultaneously*. Anis and Neon protest being a part of her ridiculous regimen, but they are interrupted by Rapi who informs them another fire has broken out downtown. Since the fire department needs backup that won't arrive for a bit, it's up to the Counters to help put it out in the meantime. While Anis mentions there have been a lot of fires sprouting up recently, Laplace is ready to put their training session on hold and save the civilians in the blaze's path. After ignoring Anis calling out her hypocrisy, she breaks through another window and heads out ahead of everyone else.

Laplace arrives on the scene to hear civilians in peril. After one share's their daughter is trapped in one of the burning buildings, the hero agrees to help. The Counters warn her that these flames are worse than before and would be near impossible to handle alone. Her plan is to demolish the buildings that have yet to catch fire so it can't spread and then rescue the baby. Anis and Neon try to warn her that she will just end up destroying perfectly fine homes only for her to break into the nearest building to execute her plan. While they are worried anything she will do will actually accomplish anything, they know that all they can do now is help wherever they can while she does what she wants. The house Laplace was in was demolished and its rubble ignited. Rapi figured she accidentally touched something she shouldn't have. Sirens can be heard blaring not long after.

After the conflagration was put out six hours later, civilians who witnessed her actions blamed Laplace for making the fire worse. The woman she tried to save was put in a coma and her home is in ruin leading to approximately 10 million credits in damage. A fire expert claims that Laplace and some gas leaks were major factors in the flames spreading. Her reputation plummeted as a result. After hearing people insult the hero, the five of them leave.

Everyone was in a glum mood after the fiasco, but Anis and Neon were glad the fire was put out after the A.F.F. eventually arrived. Laplace wants to rest for today, but the commander can tell she's not feeling well. After assuring him that it takes more than some harsh criticism to put her down, she attempts to leave until she becomes unable to move her arms.

#### Episode 3 - A Hero's Sense of Duty

After returning Laplace to Missilis to have her examined, Maxwell observed her and couldn't find anything physically wrong with her. Neither she nor the protagonist understand why she can't move her arms and after the scientist asks if anything unusual happened to her recently like being stressed, she tells her she feels the same as always but admits to being a little more stressed than usual. Maxwell believes that's the most plausible problem. Stress is almost always the leading cause of every disease known to man, so the hero has to be examined so she can be thoroughly sure there is no other internal influence corrupting her. For the next few days or until Laplace can regain control of her arms, she will remain like this. She takes this as a sign to get some rest.

With her arms unable to move for the time being, the commander will help Laplace until she feels better. She feels she doesn't need aid from humans, but after pointing out he just opened the door for her, she considers that a favor. Anis and Neon are curious to hear about what happened, so he shared what Maxwell told him, but she felt he was mocking her. An itch developed on her nose and she was unable to scratch it so Anis did it for her. She sees the help that ordinary Nikkes can provide, but the two ask why she can't get her squad mates to help her instead. Drake and Maxwell are too busy, but Anis tells her that they have things to do as well which she ignores.

Birdie makes the two tend to Laplace until they get annoyed with her a few hours later. Anis feels that the hero is too bossy and gives examples like making her wash her feet and berating her for ordering the wrong flavor of Splendamin. Neon had to work on her legs because they aren't working either. Though she felt she wasn't asking too much, the two left in frustration. After promising to train them after she recovers to make them stronger, the commander once again offers to take care of her. She refuses to be nursed by a human to save the last shred of dignity he has left. She wants to watch the news and tries to operate the TV remote with her feet, but accidentally shatters it in the process. After more prodding she clarifies that humans and Nikkes are different and she believes that Nikkes are meant to serve humans and not the other way around. After again pointing out the situation she is in, he questions if she really truly understands humans. She admits to having never observed the daily life of a human before so he offers to give some first-hand experience so she may change her mind, much to her shock.

While on the streets, Laplace is still unsure about the point of this, but he intends to show her how adaptable humans can be regardless of the situation and they don't need a hero to protect them all the time. She knew that already, but before they could continue to chat, they discovered some trapped under a heavy box. She wants to be the hero in this instance, but he holds her back since her arms still aren't working. In her staid, many other civilians work together to save the individual, the protagonist included. Though it took some coordination, the rescue effort was ultimately successful. After the crowd subsides, he feels he made a pretty good case for himself. She tries to refute him, but only loses control of her legs and falls over. Another citizen noticed her tumble and tried to give her a hand, though her heavy body didn't make that easy.

#### Episode 4 - An Obstinate Hero

After a few days, Laplace is feeling better again and she can control herself once more. After lifting the commander's sofa (only to immediately break it), she thanks Birdie for his help, but he is more concerned about his sofa. Now that the hero is back in action, she tells him to contact her if he needs to. She decides to stick around in case someone requires her aid so she turns on the news as a gauge to find those whom she can help. At first, things seemed peaceful. That was until a report aired that announced another fire had erupted in the shopping district that forced 500 people to evacuate. The fire department is having trouble managing it and a string of spontaneous fires suggest a serial arsonist is involved. Ever the hero, she bursts through another window as they head to this new pyre.

As the Counters ponder as to why so many fires are sprouting around the Ark, Laplace wants to spring into action and has learned from her mistakes. Though they have their concerns, she rushes towards the flames blasting away debris that makes the flames larger and spread further. Sensing she is not helping matters, the Counters try to douse the flames. While she was glad that they are being put out, Laplace was not upset about not being able to help. She soon discovers to her horror that her arms won't budge again. Before she can get some rest, a clerk asks if they can help put out the fire so they and the protagonist join the fray. More humans also provided their support and eventually, this human-Nikke team managed to to eradicate the fire.

The hero is still unable to move her arms, causing her to be mocked by some onlookers. While Laplace was about to heed their calls to leave Matis, she hears someone suspiciously say they are going to reignite the flames. She easily discovers the criminal with her super hearing and he admits to starting them all because he feels very cold. As his source of warmth was destroyed every time, he douses another building in gasoline and prepares to light it. She makes her way towards him as he tosses his lighter towards the ground.

#### Episode 5 - Laplace the Hero

The hero tells everyone to stay away as she rushes off into this new fire. Using her hands and feet, she manages to stomp out the flames. Without anything else to burn, he considers igniting himself. Before he can light himself, she grabs his jerrycan while accidentally getting some gasoline on her arm. She questions the arsonist as to the motive of his crimes and he reiterates to being cold, something he hates more than anything and hints he is lonely. After taking his lighter, she proceeds to ignite her own arm. While she is fortunately not in searing pain, the arsonist is still not warm enough. After she holds his hand with the one that's currently not on fire, he admits to feeling slightly warmer. She considers it a hero's duty to spread warmth to others and tells him that if he ever needs anything or wants to continue to feel warm, he should look for a hero. A hero doesn't leave anyone when they are suffering. Touched by Laplace's kindness, he stares at her and begins to cry. Finally, he no longer feels he is alone.

On the news, the arsonist was revealed to be an ex-researcher from Missilis who lost most of the use of his sensory nerves during a failed experiment. He resigned from the company as a result. As his condition worsened, his mental health also tanked causing him to become a criminal. The police were looking into the matter. While the Counters thought this explanation made sense enough and they feel bad for what happened to him, Rapi shares she was glad Laplace helped when she did to prevent the worst case scenario; him taking his own life. The hero herself was fine despite having her arm on fire earlier. What matters most to her was that many lives were saved as her duty decrees and she was glad to be of service. She has no idea about how she managed to regain control of her arms, but she was determined to protect everyone at the time. After Birdie called Laplace a "true hero", she confesses to now understand that humans aren't as weak as she thought. She still doesn't consider them strong and will come to their rescue whenever she can.

Since she has no business left here, she crashes through one last window as she looks for those who need her. Neon questions if Laplace has something against windows.

## References

Notes

References