Continuing our Dual Monster Mondays we got the Double Eagle was a two headed bird Robot Kaiju unleash by the Dark Horror Army as the 36th Monster of the Week in Episode 31 of Dino Mecha Gaiking: "The Double Eagle of Revenge".

_Appearances and Abilities_

Double was a Robot design by Dr. Stein as his pick for the weapon that would protect Earth from Invaders; when Daimonji's Daiku Maryu design won, Stein left the field in anger and spiral into depression and alcoholism, his mental state worsen by the deaths of his son and later his wife. After the Zelans made contact with him, and seeing no sense of Loyalty to Humanity, he sided with the invaders to build the Double Eagle, Stein becoming a Death Cross Knight, renaming himself Cain, been posted to the position as the pilot of its creation, to get his revenge on the Daiku Maryu.


Double Eagle shares the same look to the Daiku Maryu, with the major difference been its Avian design and possessing two heads, instead of one, as well had two giant Boosters on it wings with Black and Bronze Yellow been its primary colors, with Red, with two bulbous plates under its Belly and sharper Red spikes. The Robot held great destructive power, Daimonji describing it as a Demon, relentless once it enter in combat, this was the principle reason why the Earth Defense Council rejected the Double Eagle and went with the Daiku Maryu.

Its principle weapon consisted of its optic laser beams fired, capable of causing damage to Daiku Maryu's alloy, Fire breath, and pecking attack, as well its Over Destructive Power and been as big as the Daiku Maryu itself; its major weakness was that underwater, Double Eagle would be at a 30% disadvantage, hence Cain avoided following this venue, and was severely damage by a meteor shower during the final battle as did not possess of a defense mode like Daiku Maryu's Volution Protect mode, and the Beast's laser beams would loss its Destructive Potential when losing one of its heads.

Double Eagle joins a list of Monsters destroyed by the Daiku Maryu.

_Story_
A new Agent enters the Emperor's chamber, Cain, now having become one of the finest Death Cross Knights, to deliver the news of the Double Eagle has been completed and travels to Earth, blasting a missile response before destroying the NASA facilities in Houston; the last message from that staff "Isn't that the Double_" before it cuts out. Later, Daimonji and the Daiku Maryu team have the opportunity to learn this as they were on their way, he and Sakon come to realize the attacker was none other than the Double Eagle itself, and their suspicious get confirm when they see the Monster approaching at them at top speed and firing at the Daiku Maryu, causing damage to its hull. In a very uncharacteristic behavior, Daimonji orders a retreat and the Daiku Maryu dives into the sea, escaping its attacker; Cain retreats as the Double Eagle loses Combat efficiency underwater, scoffing at the General's reprimand, since his actions come from direct orders of the Emperor himself, but promising to finish the Daiku Maryu at its next encounter.

After escaping their first Encounter, Daimonji explained how the Daiku Maryu was chosen over Dr. Stein's Double Eagle – the latter been a brilliant NASA scientist at the time; when his design was rejected, Stein left the field refusing all idea of working with Daimonji, last hearing he became an Alcoholic and a recluse, living in the mountain Town of Valley, Texas.

Wondering "how the Zelans got their hands on the Double Eagle designs?", he sends Sanshiro to investigate the matter and he travels to Valley on Skylar – its fly by witness by Stein - and following the information from the local Sheriff, he makes it to his cabin in the mountains, where he encounters Stein listening to a small music box (similar to one Sanshiro owns, seeing at the start of the Episode), but is surprised and taken out by Dark Avians. When he awakens, Sanshiro is tied to a chair and finds out Stein is now a Death Cross Knight named Cain, having turn to the Zelan cause following the deaths of his son and wife, as well seeking revenge on Daimonji and the Daiku Maryu; after destroying the Music Box, in a symbol of cutting all ties to his past, he frees of Sanshiro, so he can send a message to Daimonji that he will suffer like he did and leaves. Returning to base, Daimonji feels further Guilt for Stein's fall.

Later, the Double Eagle reappears and levels the Town of Valley, forcing the Daiku Maryu to enter into combat and as soon they meet, it destroys the video feed with its fire breath, forcing the Daiku Maryu to fly blind; it then grabs onto the ship and tries to crush it with is talons as well break the alloy hull further with its beak. Gaiking is launched (Sanshiro surprise to see the Music Box in the cockpit, left there by Midori) and attacks with Hydro Blazer, calling the attention of Cain who pursues the Mecha, with the Daiku Maryu in pursuit; as the Pursuit reaches space, Cain blast a leg and arm off the Gaiking, as well repelling its Saur Geyser attack. The hunt comes to an end when a Meteor Shower hits; the Daiku Maryu is able to defend itself with Volution Protect, but the same can not be said of the Double Eagle, as it is battered by the Meteors, losing one of its heads and its propulsion been damaged.

Adrift, Cain awakes hearing the Melody of Sanshiro's Music box via the radio, its tune forcing him to remember his son and wife in happier times and smiles; Meanwhile, searching for Sanshiro and Gaiking, the Daiku Maryu receives a Signal Wave - not from the Mecha, but the Double Eagle's; when establishing contact, Daimonji tries to convince him to join him, but Stein – too far gone to change – opens fire with the remaining head, though the beam's destructive power is weaker by the lack of the other head. Reluctantly, Daimonji orders to shutdown Double Eagle with a Miracle Drill Missile, destroying it and killing Stein.

On its way back, Daimonji concludes it was Stein who send the Signal trying to have Daiku Maryu locate and rescue Gaiking.

Personal Opinion about this one:
Not a bad episode, but falls in the category of "here's another Zelan agent who's motives, actions and lessons will bare no importance in the next episode" gimmick. Cain was sort of a role reversal of 803 (From the 2nd Episode): a father and husband who loses his way when his family dies and seeks vengeance, albeit in Stein's case, an Earthling who betrays Earth after his life gets ruined because his design didn't won the rights to be Earth's protector, and later his lot in life worsens when his family dies for unrelated circumstances. I think there was potential here for another tragic character, where he becomes the reluctant villain, opposite to 803's brief Rebel Hero, but since Gaiking is not meant to be a long series (only 44 Episodes) the prospects of such character arcs are never explored, specially when the show not just giving us a Monster of the week, but a new side antagonist not meant to last more than one episode.