I must say, Rudo, you aren’t the only one to have that thought about Jabber. Battle shounen has a long history of masochist badasses vexing young boys (Hisoka of course being first and foremost among them). It’s only through an unfortunate street encounter topside that Rudo even knows that that word means (we don’t know exactly how Regto explained it). But in terms of doing battle with someone like that, it actually is a helpful realization – truly understanding how someone like that thinks is probably impossible, but it does give you an inclination as to what he might do next.

Was Jabber’s self-jabbing ploy effective? Indisputably – in full berserker mode Rudo’s Gris device was unable to respond to any hostile intent. Just how that jinki works is certainly an interesting question – I mean, a screaming masochist coming at you with poison steel claws seems pretty hostile. Is it detecting malice more than hostility? And what percentage of its final makeup comes from the original source of the device – Gris – and what percentage from the Giver who brought it into practice? In any event Rudo seems pretty much at the end of his rope as far as avoiding Jabber’s attacks without its help.

Fortunately, this is the moment Zanka chooses to re-insert himself into the battle. He’s been observing off to the side, analyzing – one hopes he always planned to jump in if he saw Rudo in real trouble. Zanka certainly isn’t at his best, but even a hobbled Giver is still a formidable foe. Rudo’s vital instrument can’t launch attacks, and has been neutralized by Jabber’s audible. Zanka can attack, and from longer range than Jabber can, but he’s largely immobilized by the effects of the poison. But he comes up with a pretty clever plan to utilize Rudo’s shield as a means of propulsion, and to his credit it works a treat.

One thing we learn from this encounter is just how massive the gap in combat power between Givers and muggles is. Rudo is a total noob who doesn’t even understand how all this works yet. Zanka is at best at half strength. Yet they still represent the only possible means of standing up to another Giver, never mind one as nutso as Jabber. Rudo is understandably skeptical of Zanka’s plan but it really does work, well enough to seemingly settle this matter once and for all. But Jabber has one more trick up his sleeve (at least). His left claws have the ability to temporarily dull his pain response (among other things – he’s not saying what else they do).

He’s soon back on his feet, and both Zanka and Rudo are pretty much down for the count (the latter because he’s taken a hit from the poison claws). Worse, Rudo’s vital instrument breaks down and turns to dust. Zanka speculates that it’s a limitation of his ability, or perhaps it has some connection to the condition of the object’s original source. Whatever the cause it leaves the pair pretty much defenseless, which would represent a huge problem if some of the Supporters hadn’t slipped away and found a pay phone to call for help. Old-fashioned, but it works.

Jabber’s plans to bring Rudo back to his boss are foiled, and he’s pretty clearly no match for the Enjin-led squad of cleaners who’ve come to, well- clean. Much in-character Jabber is all too willing to take them on anyway, but an associate called Cthoni (Takagaki Ayahi) arrives from somewhere and more or less drags him away. They exit through some sort of portal couched as a manhole cover – but not before Jabber notes the pattern on Rudo’s gloves and marvels at the coincidence that they’re part of “that series”. Chekov need not strain himself to assert that this is a consequential moment – it’s obvious…