Lambda Squad

"You're more important to me than revenge. I'll follow you whenever you go, Boss"

- Cislo giving Norman some words of affirmation when he needed them the most.

Lambda Squad is the friendship between Norman, Vincent, Barbara, Cislo and Zazie from The Promised Neverland fandom.

Canon
Vincent, Barbara, Cislo, Zazie and Norman are allies and confidants who met each other at the Plantation Farm which experiments on cattle children, Lambda 7214. Norman and Vincent, as well as Barbara and Cislo were the fist one of the squad to meet each other. While Norman managed to escape from Lambda by first finding Vincent as an accomplice, Cislo and Barbara were both childhood friends, raised at Goodwill Ridge, one of the four Premium Farms. Norman and Vicent, on the other hand, are both also from Premium Farms, Grace Field and Glory Bell, respectively. Zazie, the youngest member of the squad (being only five years old), was born in Lambda 7214 and was the result of the human experiments the plantation had been doing on human babies.

Although, excluding Zazie, Barbara, Cislo and Vincent had happy childhoods growing up in the Premium Farms, all of this changed drastically when they were shipped out after reaching the age of 12 to become part of Lambda 7214's horrendous human experiments. Being tested on with numerous experimental procedures, such as drugging, all of them eventually inherited superhuman powers, Like strength, super intelligence and agility. However, these experiments severely damaged their mental health to the point of suffering from strong headaches and PTSD. They suffered countless tortures day after day, seeing kids around them being experimented on and even killed. Until one day, after unknown events, Norman destroyed the Lamba facility and saved them, escaping with them, as well as taking all of the experimented children with him.

Ever since that day, the four of them are extremely loyal to Norman, being eternally grateful for saving them, and also address them as "Boss", as they serve as his underling and allies in the plan Norman constructed of destroying all the farms to free all cattle children. In October of 2047, the Squad, under Norman's command, successfully raided a mass production factory farm and massacred all the demons that were in it with ease. They soon proceeded to the room where orphans were held in poor conditions, and freed them from the shackles that were restraining their hands. Afterwards, the team was unable to rescue the orphans since they would die immediately if they were freed from the machines they were on, hence why they burnt down the farm instead, wiping it from existence.

After some time, Norman and the Squad are seen standing on a balcony of a tall building, overlooking a sea of orphans who had managed to break free from the Premium Farms. Cheers and applause fill the atmosphere as the orphans repeatedly chant Minerva's (Norman's) name, in the newly funded Paradise Hideout, where all rescued orphans, including Norman and his Squad, would live from then on.

Some time later, when Emma and Ray reach the Hideout, alongside the other Grace Field escapees, they're greeted by Barbara, Cislo and Vincent. Barbara and Cislo insist they share some stories about Norman from when he was little. And Vincent says that no matter how much they try to hide it, Barbara and Cislo love the boss, referring to Norman. Cislo and Barbara then tease him back by saying he should shut up since he also loves everything Norman does. After Emma and Ray finish talking about their childhood memories with Norman, Vincent says that in the present Norman is a good man, who cares for his companions, going as far as spending days without sleeping, in order to plan out the escape and liberation of more cattle children. Cislo also mentions Norman saved all of them, with a tender smile, and that he made them realize the power they have.

Meanwhile, Zazie and Norman went to meet the Giran Clan to form an alliance. As soon as Norman approaches the demons, they start getting closer to him due to how "delicious" they see him as, to which Zazie quickly reacts by protecting Norman. He assures him everything is fine and eventually manages to form an alliance with Geelan, as he promised the lord that he will bring an end to the royal family and the regent houses' reign and gave him the Ratri clan, in exchange for freeing the orphans that reside the farms. Geelan asked Norman what would he do if he is unable to fulfill the promise, to which he replied he would let him eat him and the other freed orphans. Norman soon left Geelan's territory with Zazie, as he explained to the latter how all that he had explained to Geelan were lies, and how he would stab them in the back and not let him benefit from the promise the two made.

Coming back to the Hideout, Norman has a meeting with Ray and Emma where they discuss the demons' extermination and the time they spent with Mujica, which Norman refers to as "the cursed-blood girl". After that, Norman goes to meet the Squad at the Hideout's basement, and he tells them about what he talked about with his childhood friends, deeply concerning his friends, specially Barbara, who ends up having a headache that makes her feel like her head splits apart. Vincent tells Norman that this is happening more often, not only for her, but for all of them. He gives Barbara some pills and her headaches lessened. However, sobbing, she wishes all demons were gone for the terrible torture they've put them through. Then, Cislo tells Norman about their encounter with Emma and Ray. He says they're good kids, but with some bad ideas. So he concernedly asks Norman if he is still on their side, if he is still their boss. Norman reassures them that he has come so far as to back down now.

The Squad remains one of the most loyal allies to Norman during the whole completion of his annihilation plan. And as the group gets joyous of its success in the middle of their journey to the Imperial Capital, Norman remains with them to get some rest, for their health. Cislo thanks him and tells him it's good to be there. Vincent tells him that they're only alive thanks to him and that it's thanks to him that they can do that. And Barbara says that it's thanks to him that they can change the world. Norman tells them to save their gratitude for after they win. And reminds them they're building a new world that they'll all go to see together. During their fight with Queen Legravalima, Zazie, Barbara and Cislo fight as a perfect team. However, Barbara gets severely injured. Zazie screams his lungs out in fury after it, and Cislo reminds him to keep his cool. Meanwhile, Vincent launches the poison attack on the demons, successfully. And that's when Zazie attacks her fatally.

After defeating Queen Legravalima, Norman breaks down crying, confessing his spasms, caused by the Lambda experiments done on him, progressed to level 4. The Squad gets shocked and Vincent asks him why he lied to them. That's when Norman tells them that he wanted to be a leader they could rely on, and that he didn't want to worry them. He also says he wishes to stop the annihilation, as well as for all his Lambda friends to live. Frustrated, Vincent yells at him to continue with the plan, that he'll do it regardless. Cislo cuts him gently, saying he's had enough. He tells Norman that he was vaguely aware of Norman's suffering and his true feelings: "Your power is your kindness and we took advantage of that like some kind of spoiled kids. We were using you as a tool for our revenge. Even though you're a person just like us." Even after Norman changed his mind about wanting to annihilate the demons, all of them remain supportive of Norman, although Vincent seems doubtful about it still. Cislo especially, who declared that Norman mattered more to him than anything else. He also realized how heavily the plan had weighed on him, and now only wishes for his happiness. Cislo's loyalty is further showcased when he protects Norman from Legravlaima's attack, losing his leg in the process. Norman feels appreciative to have the support from his friends despite his mistakes. They all participate in Norman's plans in the future as his trusted allies.

After this, the Lambda Squad helps Norman and his team make their way to Grace Field House to save their family and friends who were kidnapped by Peter Ratri. And back at the Human World, they work side by side in Norman's company, as well as searching for Emma while she is missing. They also start feeling better thanks to medicine developed from Adam's special DNA, to suppress side effects. Briefly seen in Chapter 181, the Squad are all living happy lives: Barbara became a star boxer, Cislo became an athlete, Zazie is learning at school and Vincent became a scientist and Vice CEO at Norman's company.

Fanon
Lambda Squad was later introduced in the second half of the manga, and second season of the anime. But despite being faily newly-introduced, they are very popular and beloved within The Promised Neverland fandom in general. Many people love the great team they are, with Norman as their Boss, and many appreciate the refreshing power and life they bring to the story. However, they also have very traumatic and heartbreaking stories, so Norman's rescue warmed the hearts of many fans.

When the Lambda Squad was animated, many fans felt disappointed at how they weren't like the Squad at the manga. Specially regarding their appearances. Fans felt like Vincent and Cislo's skin was whitened, like Barbara's hair wasn't like her hair in the manga (and like many fans expected it to be). Also, that she was sexualized more than in the manga. Norman was left to be more child-like, which surprise many fans as well. And only Zazie seemed to remain like his manga design. Some fans even edited the Squad to look more like their manga designs, claiming the anime design "did them dirty".

Fandom
FAN FICTION

Trivia

 * In The Promised Neverland Fanbook it was revealed Lambda's headaches were inspired by Kaiu Shirai's own headaches.
 * The Lambda Squad was the one who got brought Ayshe into the Hideout. They raided a home, which was inhabited by Ayshe and her adoptive father, who was a demon. Thinking Ayshe was in danger, Zazie killed the demon through slashing his face with his sword. When they arrived at Ayshe, she was devastated and she began telling them, in the Demon Language, that she would never forgive them and that she would kill them all. Norman understood her words, yet took her into the Paradise Hideout. However, nowadays Ayshe seems to hold no grudges against the Squad.