Dr. STONE (Dr.STONE)

With grit and determination,

we took this journey one brutal, ridiculous step at a time,

leaving our primitive world

and making it all the way to the moon.

We still don't know who or what Why-man is.

Our weapon's meager at best.

Weapon?

Are you talking about that kablooey net-launching thingy?

The net grenade gun?

No, they've brought one more.

The capsule Medusa.

Hot dog!

Yeah, of course.

They're doing their whole gig up in space where there's not a peep of sound to speak of.

The Medusa wouldn't even work without the capsule.

What do you mean?

The Medusa is a powerful tool,

both weapon and healing item.

If the capsule is filled with air,

it should be able to receive the voice commands we speak into our mics.

Ha! And if it comes down to it,

I can just hurl this thing straight at the enemy.

I'll say 10 meters, one sec--

Oh, whoops. Sorry.

That could have been pretty unfortunate for us, huh?

Areful-cay.

Think first.

Look, let's just save the chit-chat for later.

Yeah, don't waste that sweet O2.

I say we find this Why-man and settle the score.

OK, I guess we're not getting a viral, heartfelt quote.

Soldier, efficiency freak and lioness on a hair-trigger would never wait for such a thing.

Next stop--

The Taurus-Littrow Valley!

They're heading towards Taurus-Littrow.

A.k.a. the moon bunny's little neck.

More importantly,

that is where our satellite discovered the large, mysterious black spot on the surface.

It's gonna be easy for the enemy to see us coming,

since we're driving around in this shiny-ass thing.

It's a stealthier approach than landing on them.

Do you see that?

It looks like a flag, right?

That's because the USA planted our stars and stripes here.

The cosmic rays have been bleaching that thing out,

so there aren't any stars or stripes left on it.

So Why-man just happens to be around here,

right around the spot where humanity planted a flag.

Yeah, that is a little bit suspicious.

It's not like the moon is some tiny rock or something.

I bet it's not a coincidence.

There's gotta be a reason for that.

Let's not jump to conclusions.

Assuming you know can be deadly.

We'll just have to go and see for ourselves.

Kohaku,

if you would, please release the capsule Medusa.

Wow, Senku.

I don't think you've ever said please before.

You want me to open it now?

Correct.

Quickly, please.

Hey, Kohaku.

What do you think you're doing?

It's quiet.

No one asked you to do anything just now.

Why-man's using Senku's mic frequency and copying his voice.

He's forging comms.

They unlocked it for me.

Thank you so much.

Throw that thing, Kohaku!

Kohaku and her lioness strength ought to get that far enough away from us.

Especially true since we're up here on the moon,

six times farther than on Earth.

Not bad.

I think we may have found what we're looking for.

There it is.

So this is what's behind that creepy black spot we've seen writhing around on the surface.

Holy shit.

Finally, the truth behind all these mysteries

is coming to light.

That green glow thousands of years ago,

the mastermind behind it all, who petrified humanity.

All of that stuff was your doing, right?

Because you're Why-man.

What happened?

Why did they find up there?

What's on the moon?

This one tiny spot here has been changing shape little by little.

That's the Medusa I threw.

The one we brought from Earth.

The whole capsule is floating.

You're the only ones who could have been crafty enough to fake my voice

and send those forged comms earlier.

You speak through radio, isn't that right?

So go on ahead and give us an answer.

Yes.

It's nuts.

All this time, you were right there.

Closer than we ever realized.

It's you, Medusa, or Medusas.

You're like a collective organism.

Together you make up the machine lifeform, Why-man.

Do you wanna die?

Do you wanna die?

Hearing that again sends chills up my spine.

I don't love that being the only other question Why-man has asked us

and I wonder how come it's asked right after they dodged a petrification blast.

Dude, you know what?

It could be that Medusa

or I guess-- I mean, Why-man,

maybe they're not trying to kill us after all.

And the reason they petrified us was so we won't die.

Hey there, Senku.

I don't know if there's any point in trying to talk to it,

but I had a thought.

Throughout the entirety of world history,

diplomacy between peoples or nations has always had an element of gift-giving.

Is that right?

But we don't have anything with us to give them.

What would they even consider a gift anyway?

I mean, are they alive?

What do they want or need?

Think.

What rules do they operate under?

As long as there are replicable rules,

we've got science.

You know, I'm positive about one thing.

As spooky as that question is,

it was polite enough to ask us if we wanna die.

And that tells us continuing to live

is something that these little guys also think is important.

Why-man--

I know that's not really your name,

but that's what I'll call you.

Anyway,

unfortunately, our science isn't advanced enough to replicate your kind,

although we can replace those diamond batteries.

You need those to power yourselves, don't you?

One stupidly tough step at a time,

we managed to bring human science that far, at least.

That's our gift to you.

But we have some demands in exchange.

Now, Senku, be careful.

You need to frame this request uber olitely-pay.

Quit doing that shit with the petrification!

It really sucks!

Oh, no!

Don't cuss him out!

Why?

Stop it.

I ask you, please, be silent.

There's more than one Why-man.

Seems as though they're not a monolith after all.