&drama; Guilty Gear Drama CD

part I and part II

The Guilty Gear X Drama CD (no seriously, the narrator just says that) follows two stories, all revolving around the conflict with the black tech discovered in a rural area. The main protagonists are mostly Ky and Sol, but other characters shown include: Johnny, May, Venom, Potemkin, Jam, the Jellyfish Pirates, and some new ones. There is even a side story at the end of the main plot in the second disc featuring an emotional story where Dizzy first meets Testament.

There are two discs total: one highlighting Ky, the other highlighting Sol. Each track has over 5 minutes of intriguing dialogue between the cast members. Even if you don't speak Japanese, you can try to interpret the scene through the character's reactions. Adding sound affects and even background music from the game also makes wonderful imagery.

In the first arc:

• Ky is having a meeting with an officer. They discuss an unusual ruins site... with holds plenty of Old World items. With the fear of Gears involved, Ky implores that they must hurry and prepares an air ship to leave immediately.
• Ky is questioning the showman for information on the ruins; the showman denies it. Johnny and May suddenly appear from inside the ruins and argues with the showman. Before escaping, Ky catches Johnny. He thanks Johnny for recently escorting villagers during an similar incident involving Gears. But as a pirate, he can't let Johnny go freely.
• Johnny questions why Ky chooses to fight in a dangerous place such as these ruins. The officers jump in to arrest Johnny, but May knocks them out before they can reach him. Assault to officers, Ky figures, gives him no reason to let them go freely. Ky and May commence in a battle, though Johnny tries to get his "princess" out of it. Ky attacks her now distracting, and in rage, she pulls the Great Yamada Attack. That skill, from the games itself, releases a huge whale. This causes the ruins to crumble, and an artifact is released as a result. An Old World data disc, or rather called "blacktech", transmits a hologram, which is divided into chapters of scientific knowledge - inventions, history, and theories. May assumes that it is treasure and tries to take it, but Ky is ordered to return this to the authorities. Johnny settles this by breaking it in half with Mist Finer. Johnny snatches one piece and escapes with May as the ruins continue to break down.

In the second arc:

• Ky is left with only a tablet (only half of the disc). Luckily, everyone including the aircraft is safe from harm. The showman would be arrested, and the ruins would be sealed away. Before departing, Ky checks to see if the battle had affected any nearby villagers.
• Ky strolls through the village and is relieved to hear it the serenity, as children played around him. He then ponders about the disc and what effect it could have. Suddenly, when searching his clothing, he found the tablet gone! But the only culprit in mind were those children who passed by him...
• Ky follows after the children to find an underground hideout; in which a man is holding out food for orphaned children unless they steal valuable things for him. The man is already getting a beating from Chipp Zanuff, and Ky stops him. Ky explains that he is a victim of the pickpocket, and Chipp gladly gives the tablet back, then continues his bullying. Ky identifies himself as a police officer and offers both the man and Chipp a visit to the courtroom. Chipp, who isn't fond of the police for the fact that they care more of making friends with the rich (similar to the Hamiltonian government of early America), and fights off Ky. Ky develops a strategy in his mind, fully aware that he is at a disadvantage and that innocent people could be hurt. He then lures Chipp off the village, and ends up back at the ruins. Suddenly, their battle is interrupted by a Zepp Airship. The airmen demands that Ky releases the tablet, or they will use the Old World technology of their's to attack him and anyone around. Ky calls his own air ship to charge after them.
• The showman is still here, but Ky plans to deal with him later. A battle of ships commences as the Zepp ship fires at them. However, the Old World weapons are still powerful, and the ship reduces speed. To make matters worse, a thunderstorm disrupts the engines. Feeling no other way possible, Ky then leaps on the ship by himself. A blast knocks down the ship, and Ky prays for their safety, but must continue onward. Several soldiers detect the invasion and chase after him.
• Ky finds Potemkin examining the tablet, but because it is only a piece, it only brings up errors. Potemkin explains that he cannot let the Police deal with the tablet - because Zepp believes the knowledge could heal the world, not hurt it more. Ky, however, is more conservative and reminds Potemkin the history of mankind's fault of technology. With their ideals conflicting one another, they decide to end this with a duel. Ky wins (barely) and dashes out with the tablet to find some sort of exit...
• Ky finds plenty of dead ends, and the soldiers continue to chase after him. He is able to open one door, but the jump from here would certainly kill him. The soldiers catch up and prepare to fire their guns, until Potemkin knocks them out with brute force. Ky exclaims that the police won't use the tablet for harm, only to prevent the dangerous power it holds... even at the cost of his life. Potemkin simply laughs at his idealistic view. Suddenly, the IPF air ship rises up. The showman was temporarily released to aid the officers to find the tablet... meaning that they would find their captain. Ky is relieved that they are safe, and gives one last message to Potemkin that he will remember his words, then returns back to his ship.
• Ky and the officers try to make their escape (And rather interesting quote an officer makes is when he gives Ky much respect to refer to his as the "danchou" title and not "captain"). Zepp withdraws their weapons due to orders of Gabriel, leaving Ky time to think. He demands a call to Headquarters for permission to destroy the tablet. HQ rejects his request, and orders him to bring it back - not for sealing, but for investigation. Ky is stunned and remembers what Potemkin warned him about the Police. The storm ruins the connection, and Ky then requests to return to HQs. While making their return, an unanticipated surge of energy malfunctions control, and Ky is forced to land the craft.
• Ky knows perfectly well what... or who was in front of him. He urges the crew to escape, while he alone deals with the trouble. A figure of a man appears before Ky... engulfed in flames. Sol...
• And of course the ever-so epic battle of Sol vs. Ky commences - what every release needs! Ky, of course, isn't doing so well against his rival. Their battle is interrupted by a gun shot. His boss, the Defense Captain stands before an army of soldiers ready to attack with Old World weapons. They all fire at Sol, who drops down. Ky is speechless. The Defense Captain mandates that Ky return the tablet, but he refuses. The captain mocks Ky's rebellion, and explains that power is the one thing needed to save the peace... a world Ky wishes... but Ky doesn't believe that power would lead to happiness. The Captain sneers, then orders the officers to shoot him. Just as fires were shot, a familiar muscular man rises up, rather annoyed. Sol and Ky temporarily cooperate by fighting off the officers. The Defense Captain cowardly tries to make an escape, but Ky knocks his feet down. Sol prepares to kill him off, but Ky snaps at him to stop. Ky calmly states that he will arrest the captain and let the government deal its punishment. Ky now has the right to destroy the tablet, but the other half still remains. Sol informs Ky that he has already taken care of Ky. An interesting conversation unfolds as Ky is questioning whether Sol was helping him or not, even though the man denies it. Ky destroys the tablet, then thanks Sol. Sol doesn't take it seriously, and leaves. The crew under Ky return to find him safe. They see Sol and jump to conclusions to arrest him, but surprisingly, Ky stops them. "Its okay... for today." Ky changes the subject and commands the officers to round up the traitors. The showman, apparently, had escaped, but Ky is content enough to let it pass. Ky has learned a valuable lesson of peace... something he still hasn't fully grasped as of yet.