Kafka is attached to a metal chair with his hands behind his back. His vital are being monitored for transformation but there’s no sign. Kafka wonders what his fate will be. He recalls Kikoru’s warning that he might be used for a special weapon. Mina enters the room to bring Kafka to HQ facilities. Before Kafka is hauled into the Reno tells him that he hopes he returns. Inside the van, Mina tells him that she hopes to put together enough footage to he prove his humanity. The Third Division doesn’t see him as an enemy.
At the Defense Force Ariake Maritime Base Kafka is contained. The members of the Defense Force third division discuss their interaction with Kafka, recalling how he saved them. They discuss the fear that comes from the reality that humans can become Kaiju. Kikoru visits her father Director General Shinomiya. She “request” that Kafka be saved. Her father shows her an Xray of Kafka’s chest revealing that he has a core. He reminds her that a Kaiju killed her mother and Kafka is no different.
Commencing disposal of Kaiju No. 8
Kafka is being subject to more test. He finds comfort in his comrades. Mina debriefs the Defense Force, the Tachikawa base is down to 75% of its functionality. As a result, it cannot be used for future recruits. In addition to that they have seen several Daikaiju, No.9 and No.10. The upper brass is becoming concern. Mina tells Reno, Haruichi, Aoi, and Iharu they’re the key to stop this issue. The Defense Force will be taking the most talented rookies from each division and training them “across division boundaries.”
Haruichi is suspicious. He believes that the real goal is to split up everyone that was close to Kafka and monitor them. However, Mina explains that the plan has been in motion for a while and has nothing to do with. The four leave and consider their options. At the Ariake Base, Director General Shinomiya attacks Kafka, first shooting him with bullets then taking some of his blood. When Kafka claims that he’s a human, Director Shinomiya claims that no human would be able to handle getting shot. This altercation is going to be important for Kafka.
General Shinomiya vs Kafka
Shinomiya challenges his humanity and Kafka must prove he still human. Shinomiya signals for the unlocking of FS-1002, a pair of gloves crafted from Kaiju No. 2. The other higher ups claim that General Shinomiya was once called “the strongest soldier the Defense Force had ever seen.” He hits Kafka with several devastating blows, destroying one of Kafka’s arms completely. Kafka seems to believe that he cannot use his Kaiju form in order to prove that he’s human. The problem is that he’ll be killed if he doesn’t use his Kaiju abilities.
He decides to evade Shinomiya long enough for his suit to overheat. Kafka is surprise that his body is “reacting,” to Shinomiya like it does to other Kaiju. A higher up explains to Kikoru that Kaiju No. 2, “nearly destroyed Sapporo in 1972.” He says that her father is the only one that could use the armor created from Kaiju No. 2. Shinomiya overwhelms him to the point he loses conscience and is taken over by the mindless Kaiju within. His form transforms becoming more beastly and he attack General Director Shinomiya directly.
I really feel like General Shinomiya’s “test” for Kafka to prove that he’s human by trying to kill him is very unfair. If Kafka defends himself he will be labeled a kaiju, if he doesn’t defend himself he will die. How is that a fair test? It’s kind of like the witch hunts in North America and Europe 200 years ago. The witch would be “tried” via being held under water, or burned, or other horrible means. If the witch was unharmed or survived they were a witch and burned at the stake, if they died then they were innocent. They were still dead either way!
I agree. I wouldn’t consider it a test at all. I think Shinomiya has a blind hatred for Kaiju due to one killing his wife. Maybe the one that did it was a human/Kaiju hybrid. The only way Kafka could prove himself is by NOT attack because that’s not what Shinomiya expects.