Episode 8

## Zombies Prefer Shopping Malls?

***Zombies Prefer Shopping Malls?*** (マーモットにはボイン。サメにはボンベ, *Zonbi Wa Shoppingu Mōru Ga O-suki?*?) is the eighth episode of *The Marginal Service* anime series.

## Synopsis

A shopping mall is modified as prison to accommodate criminal "Borderlanders." Rubber is contained within a facility resembling Area 51. After Marginal Service finishes transferring Rubber, Cyrus conducts a physical examination on it. Meanwhile, the members each enjoy the shopping mall in their own ways. However, within the mall, a certain abnormality begins to occur.

## Summary

The group takes Brian to Happy Mall, stating its Area 51. They explain that the defunct shopping mall has been renovated into a prison for Borderlanders, since their previous facility was damaged in the recent cyberattack. The prisoners are given a bit more freedom, but they need to maintain their human forms. While the rest head into the mall, Cyrus calls Brian to help him with the incoming Rubber. Rubber comes in a helicopter with Zeno. He asks if he can get his perfume back, but Zeno refuses. After landing, Zeno leaves Rubber to Cyrus and Brian, as he doesn't feel well.

Cyrus checks Rubbers registration and then proceeds with the medical exam. He wants to do a blood test and an EKG, so he wishes to remove Rubber's clothes, but Rubber is against it, explaining that his bodysuit is crucial element of who he is right now and without him, he won't be himself anymore, however Cyrus decides to proceed.

Inside the mall, Bolts and Robin are continuing their duel with air hockey. Lyra visits the nail polish saloon. Brian and Zeno go see a movie, while Peck is enjoying the pet store, where he burns some calories on a wheel. Peck tries to speak with the pet shop seller, but the man looks strange and attacks him. While watching the movie, Brian and Zeno see that everyone in the cinema turns into a zombie. They go back to the mall, only to see that the prisoners have all turned into zombies. Robin and Bolts fight some zombies, but soon they get affected too. They start to remember their past, regretting it and wishing to have died. At the nail saloon, Lyra gets attacked by the woman working there, who also had become a zombie and is jealous of how beautiful Lyra is.

Zeno and Brian manage to run from the zombies and trap one. Zeno decides to ask the zombies questions and the zombie states that his brain hurts. Zeno then realizes that they are attacking people because they are in pain. A zombie Cyrus then shows up, regretting that he didn't meet his parents expectations. Cyrus attempts to take a gas mask, stating he should have noticed it sooner. Zeno then wonders if all this is caused by some gas. The two then notice that the trapped zombie is releasing some gas from its mouth and decide to quickly look for masks. They find some masks in the security room and Brian notices on the cameras, a transformed Rubber, making them realize that his fragrance is causing them to turn into zombies. While observing him, Zeno figures that Rubber is suppressing his scent with his suit and neutralizes it with a special perfume. Zeno got sick on the helicopter, because he inhaled some of his gas. Brian wonders what gas turns people violent, but thinking about it, Zeno states the gas affects the brain and triggers regret and trauma, causing them pain.

The two decide to stop Rubber and to pass by the zombies, Brian suggest they pretend to be zombie themselves. While walking around however, Brian bumps into zombie Lyra, who is annoyed that she has a bad luck with men and removes his mask. The zombies notice them and the two end up fighting them, while also passing each other the one remaining mask. Zeno ends up inhaling some of the gas and tells Brian to leave him and go stop Rubber, while also stating that he was glad to fight alongside him. Brian finds that hard to believe as the real Zeno won't say it. Moments later, he wakes up with Brian slapping him, making him realize that he started seeing hallucinations after Lyra removed his mask. Zeno gives Brian's mask back and they proceed to look after Rubber.

They find Rubber in the cafeteria, enjoying some food. Zeno tells him to stop his gas, but Rubber explains that he can't control it himself, which is why he wears his suit all the time. Brian takes out a vacuum bag, wanting him to get in it, however Rubber doesn't wish to be stuffed in a bag. Zeno asks him on why he makes the Borderlanders suffer. Rubber explains that his wish is to unite the world by making everyone happy through song and dance. Everyone becomes stronger by overcoming sadness, and being strong means being kind, which brings peace to the world. Being a zombie hurts only for a bit. He tells them to look around and they see how the zombies start to feel happy as they overcame their sadness. Zeno doesn't agree that you can overcome your sadness. The past hold memories we can't overcome and all we can do it to live with them. Brian sees that Zeno's mask is broke and he is inhaling the gas. Zeno approaches Rubber, stating that the world is full of shit. Rubber is fine if Zeno wishes to live with his sorrow than overcome it. Annoyed and wanting him to shut up, Brian then jumps in and puts Rubber in the vacuum bag.

Later, the prisoners are escorted to a new prison. Theodore blows up the mall due to the odor pollution. He explains that the prisoners will return to normal, once their brain is clear of the gas. Rubber is likely to be send to a level five isolation facility. Zeno wishes to interrogate Rubber, but Theodore tells him that they have orders from the higher ups, wanting them to back off from Rubber's case.

## Gallery

### Episode 8 Official Trailer

オリジナルTVアニメ「THE MARGINAL SERVICE」～第8話「ゾンビはショッピングモールがお好き？」Web予告～

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Brian Nightraider
* Robin Timbert
* Peck Desmont
* Bolts Dexter
* Lyra Candeyheart
* Cyrus N. Kuga
* Rubber Suit
* Zeno Stokes
* Theodore Tompson