Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Create the Future
Chapter 1: The Reformed World
2301 A.D: Republic of Krugis
The desert wind blew across the landscape, sweeping clouds of sand into the air. The sun had just set, leaving the city in the aftermath of the battle. Sights such as these were not uncommon in these times. War was being fought by guerilla groups of the Republic of Krugis and the army of the Kingdom of Azadistan. Although resistance was put up by the country, Krugis was clearly the weaker nation and, slowly but surely, it was being assimilated into Azadistan.
In this city, it had been the KPSA who had taken up the fight. Consisting of child soldiers, the KPSA was an anti-government guerilla organization whose main purpose was to fight a holy war in the name of God. Their missions involved repelling the invading Azadistan forces, along with other activities in different countries. Both the forces of the KPSA and Azadistan that had fought in this city had been completely eliminated in the battle. Or so it seemed. In the city that had been destroyed by battle, a young boy regained consciousness.
He was alive. For a moment, that simple fact was the only thought in the young boy's mind. Covered in bruises, cuts, and scrapes, the boy laid there dumbfounded. Somehow, he had managed to avoid taking any serious injuries. How he managed that would forever be a mystery. He began to remember what happened during the battle. Memories of the gunfire, the explosions, his comrades, and that machine and its green light began to flow into his mind. The last thing he could recall was an explosion. He had been close to an explosion that had knocked him out. Now, the dark of night covered the landscape.
The boy slowly rose, taking in his surroundings. From what he could see, which wasn't much, the city had been torn apart by the battle. Buildings were destroyed, scraps of the enemy Anfs were scattered on the ground, and blood and bodies could be seen if he were to look closely enough. As he put weight on his foot, the boy winced in pain. He must have twisted his ankle at some point. The boy searched around for a rifle, finding one close by and retrieving it. If he hurried, he could reach one of the bunkers that they had prepared. There he would have enough water and rations to survive for a few days. After that, he would need to figure out what to do next.
What would happen to the KPSA? What about Krugis? Where was their leader, Ali Al-Saachez? Had anyone else survived? Could he really be the only one to survive? And what exactly was that machine surrounded by light? These questions plagued the boys mind as he limped his way through the desolate city. A sudden sound snapped the boy out of his thoughts. Turning sharply, the boy fired his rifle. It took him a moment before he realized the sound was part of a building's wall falling down. Hands still shaking, the boy hugged the rifle to his chest and continued on.
He needed to hurry. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about the battle. After all this, he couldn't let himself die. Not after everything he had been through. He had to survive, to keep on living no matter what. This place wouldn't become his grave. Even if it meant that he would have to continue on his own, he would survive and continue to fight.
Although the boy did not know what the future held for him, he swore to himself that he would confront whatever challenges the world had in store for him.
August 7, 2314 A.D: Lagrange 2, Deep Space Ship: Celestial Being
Captain Descartes Shaman sat alone in the computer room. Only sounds from the computer terminals kept the room from being absolutely silent. Although he was the only person in the room, Descartes was aware that he was being watched. The times of being free from the eyes of others were now distant memories. With a restraint locked around his neck and the army's continuous monitoring, privacy was not a luxury he could enjoy. With little to do, Descartes was forced to wait out his boredom. This was how he spent his free time, locked away in a room until the higher ups needed their precious lab rat.
To the Federation, he was nothing more than a test subject. By studying him, they had hoped that they would be able to set up a standard to judge all future human beings who would undergo the evolutionary process termed Innovation. With Innovation came abilities no normal human could possess. Innovators possessed situational awareness, spatial awareness, increased quantum brain waves, and increased body strength. Theoretically, Innovators could live twice as long as a normal human being. As soldiers, they could prove to be invaluable. Not that Descartes had had any chance to prove this.
The last two years were free from any sort of major war, leaving Descartes without a chance to use his recently constructed Gadelaza to its full potential. Although the Federation army had practically scrambled to create a mobile armor suitable for an Innovator, they were cautious in deploying the unit. Then again, his status as an Innovator was classified information. The general public was completely unaware of the existence of Innovators. Until the Federation decided that he could be revealed, Descartes would remain here on Celestial Being.
Even remaining on the ship meant that he would need to be restrained. His superiors feared any sort of rebellion. The collar around his neck was wired to an explosive, one that could be activated easily should they believe it necessary. His Gadelaza also contained a self-detonation device should he try to turn against them on the battlefield. In the end, Descartes was forced to live as a lab rat with no chance of escape. And there was nothing that he hated more than being a lab rat.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of an opening door and footsteps. Turning, his eyes met those of one of the red-haired Innovades. The Innovades were living bio terminals that were connected with Veda. They possessed the ability to use quantum brainwaves and were able to gather and share data with each other. For a moment, Descartes thought it was odd that the Innovade was alone. This Innovade would usually be working together with its twin. Descartes quickly decided that it was nothing important.
"Have you come to check on the Federation's precious lab rat? Perhaps you have more ridiculous test to run?" Descartes asked in a mocking tone. He wasn't sure whether his superiors ignored his attitude or were just ignorant. In the end, whether they knew what he thought of them or not wouldn't affect his position. They needed him to continue the research on Innovators. He could remember the attention they gave him when his abilities emerged. How they jumped at the chance just to see his red eyes shift to a glowing gold. Humans were such a pathetic bunch. Then again, perhaps he should lower his expectations for those limited beings. After all, how could he expect them to comprehend his superiority?
"If you don't mind I would like to spend my time alone, Mr. Innovade."
"And what do you hope to accomplish by doing that?"asked the Innovade. Descartes' eyes widened as he sensed a change in the Innovade's quantum brainwaves. He had spent more than enough time to know how they thought and acted. The presence he sensed was new, similar to the other Innovades yet different. His expression did not go unnoticed.
The Innovade chuckled. "That look does not suit you. I had expected you to be more composed when I revealed myself."
"…I see now. This is another absurd test the Federation is conducting. You must be some new toy my superiors wanted to experiment with. Some sort of Innovade with a personality. And exactly what did they want you to do?" Descartes was sure that he had figured out the answer for the Innovade's sudden change. The Federation must have had a new type of Innovade that they discovered and wanted to see how he would interact with it. How they loved to experiment with their new toys.
"Don't associate me with the Federation. I came here on my own accord. And don't worry about them listening in on us. I have made sure that they will never discover our meeting," the Innovade declared.
"Has one of the Innovades gone rogue? Now isn't that interesting. The upper brass wouldn't like hearing that they can't control one of their tools," Descartes was determined to not show any sort of vulnerability. It was an odd feeling. Even though he had been an Innovator for a short time, less than a year, Descartes had forgotten the feeling of being surprised. This Innovade had definitely piqued his curiosity.
"You insult me. I was never their tool, only this body was. To be quite honest, it doesn't suit my taste. However, I suppose it will have to do for the time being. And I must admit, to be able to walk and feel once again is exhilarating."
Descartes frowned. "Who are you?"
"It's a shame really. Having to keep a true Innovator locked up is a terrible waste. You have yet to realize your full potential," said the Innovade, carrying on as if Descartes hadn't spoken a word. "The world has changed but not quite in the right direction. Someone needs to change the world once again. An Innovator would be the most capable of such a feat. What do you have to say, Descartes Shaman?"
"I would have to say that I see no reason to trade my position as the Federation's lab rat for the privilege of being yours."
The Innovade smirked. "Must I spell it out for you? What I offer is the chance to lead the world into the future. If we leave everything as it is, humans would lead themselves to destruction, just as they always have. Do you intend to stand by and let that happen?"
The Innovade was testing him, waiting to see if he would become an ally or an enemy. Two could play at that game. "And why should I care where the world goes. You say you have been watching me? Then you are aware that I am a precious tool of the Federation. They would do anything to guarantee that I am under their control. The moment I turned against them, I would be blown to pieces. What good would I do you in that state?"
"You still underestimate me. I could easily deactivate those explosives. I could even hand full control of the Gadelaza over to you. Just imagine what you could do with that unit. Should you refuse my offer, everything will have to remain the way it is. Do you understand now? An alliance would benefit both of us. Join me and you will regain the freedom they stripped from you."
Descartes stared into the Innovade's eyes. He could feel it now. Beneath the exterior was a mind filled with ambition. His plans were on a large scale, no doubt about that. Descartes tried to sense anything that could reveal all this to be a hoax. However, no matter how he viewed the situation, the Innovade's offer seemed to be genuine. Could he really be able to reclaim his freedom by taking up this offer?
"As intriguing as that sounds, there is something that concerns me. You seem to have impressive abilities. Why depend on me?" Descartes asked.
"As I said, an Innovator must take charge. Humanity must move forward. I lack the abilities to do what must be done. I know what a true Innovator is capable of. For years I searched for the Innovator who would guide humanity in the dialogues that are to come and now I have found you. Now the plan can continue as it should."
Descartes laughed. "You would gamble all your work on my cooperation? I could easily refuse your offer and turn you over to the Federation. What makes you so sure I would accept so easily?"
"Because you understand the weakness of humanity. Their arrogance, their corruption, and their fallibility. You of all people should understand. The only hope they have is to evolve. Those who have the potential to become Innovators must step forward and seize the opportunity to guide the world."
The Innovade's words struck Descartes. Humanity's inferiority had become apparent since the moment he had learned to control his abilities. If the Innovade was serious, he would have the chance to change the world and rid the planet of human weaknesses. People such as the fools who had caged him would be wiped from existence. Most importantly, he would finally be able to show his human superiors the true potential of an Innovator. His potential. In an instant, Descartes knew his answer.
"Very well, you've convinced me. I may even have some fun in this game of yours. I would like to hear what your plans are exactly. But first, why don't you tell me your name."
"All will be revealed in due time. We will initiate the plan when the time is right. Until then, you must be patient. So for now, I bid you farewell, Descartes Shaman," There was a shift in the Innovade's quantum brainwaves. The mind that had contacted Descartes was now gone, leaving the body confused.
Descartes smiled. "Is there something you need, Mr. Innovade?"
The Innovade, slightly startled, mumbled a response incoherently. He stood there for a moment, trying to decide whether or not to monitor Descartes. After a moment, the Innovade turned and quietly exited the room, leaving Descartes alone. Descartes let out a sigh. Once again, he was left with nothing to do but wait.
September 18, 2314 A.D: Earth Federation HRL Asia Tower District, Hospital
"Saji. Saji, are you listening?"
Saji was snapped out of his thoughts, just realizing that Louise's head was no longer on his shoulder. He had been so caught up in his thoughts about the world that he failed to notice Louise.
"You were zoning out, weren't you?" Louise said, pouting cutely. Saji couldn't help but be reminded of the carefree girl from so long ago. When Louise was admitted to the hospital in the area, he had taken a job at the HRL elevators. Louise had experienced panic attacks and Saji was needed to support her, usually resulting in him taking time off work. Though no matter how annoyed his boss would get, Saji knew that Louise's health came first.
The doctors had finally given them good news. Louise no longer suffered panic attacks and her body was back to normal from the medical treatments they applied. Soon, she would be allowed to leave the hospital and they could finally live together. She looked healthier than before, had grown her hair out, and, most importantly, was able to smile again. After everything she had been through, her life was finally about to regain the normalcy it lost all those years ago.
"Sorry. Um, what were you saying?"
Louise stopped pouting and sighed. "I wanted to know if you liked the movie."
"It was…interesting, I guess. Everything was so over-the-top and dramatic. It had its charm but it wasn't realistic at all. Nothing about it was like a real war."
"Not like a real war," Louise mumbled. Saji could tell that Louise's mind was drifting back to the days when she was part of A-laws. There was no doubt in his mind that those memories would always be with her.
He could still clearly remember what it was like to be a part of war. Piloting the 00 Raiser with Setsuna, he had been closer to death than he had cared for. If it weren't for everyone in Celestial Being and his determination to save Louise, he probably wouldn't be here right now. Being out in those battles had changed him. His view of the world was much different than what it was back when he was still in Japan.
Saji snapped himself out of his thoughts and turned his attention back to Louise. "We'll have a lot to do once you come home. Louise, what's the first thing you want to do?"
Louise's expression became more somber. "I don't know. There's so much that I want to do. I want to make up for lost time."
"And we'll be able to do that. Both of us have the rest of our lives," Saji told her, hoping to cheer her up. Unfortunately, Louise seemed to have other thoughts weighing on her mind.
"Saji. Everything will be better now, right? We're going to live our lives happily, won't we?" Louise asked, her voice trembling slightly. Even after two years, the scars she suffered from those battles still lingered. A person like her, a person with such a zest for life, didn't belong on the battlefield. While Saji understood now that those who fought weren't necessarily heartless monsters, the Louise he knew wasn't someone who could enjoy being in a battle.
Saji shifted his body so that he was facing Louise. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders and smiled. Pulling her into a hug, he wrapped his arms around her tightly. The gesture wasn't much, but it was the best he could do for the moment.
"Sure we will. We'll have a home when you leave the hospital. We'll be there for each other every day. And there will be so much for us to do together, you'll probably have to drag me around like a rag doll."
Louise gave a small laugh and returned his hug with equal fervor. Saji was glad that he could have moments like these in his life. After everything that they had been through, that she had been through, moments like these were ones that they could cherish. The two of them had lost their families and innocence. They could never fully go back to the lives they lived all those years ago. But they were alive and they were together.
Mongolia
Allelujah braced himself as a heavy gust of wind blew across the area. His boots hit the dirt as he and Marie made their way through the land. Pushing his long hair out of his face, he looked forward at their path. They had been walking for quite a while without rest. Marie was probably also feeling tired and their journey was far from over. Even so, Allelujah couldn't complain of the path that his life had taken.
Two years had passed since they had left the Ptolemaios in order to find the reason for their existence. He wanted to go back to the place where he was born, Kazakhstan. They had reached the country, but he hadn't found the answers that he was looking for. He could remember the pang of disappointment he felt. He and Marie continued to travel, wanting to find answers. They decided to continue to travel the world and see how it had changed. Their lives had been relatively peaceful. So peaceful in fact that Allelujah hadn't heard a word from his other self.
Ever since their battle two years ago, Hallelujah had remained silent. Unlike before, Allelujah knew that he hadn't faded away. Although he had adjusted to living without his other self before, knowing that he was alive this time made things different. Was he hiding for a reason or could he be content with waiting for another battle to fight? The two of them had come to terms with each other and Allelujah wondered whether he would ever see Hallelujah again.
Allelujah turned his attention to Marie. He couldn't help but wonder if she was going through the same thing as he was. Was Soma Peries still present in her mind? After spending four months with her, Allelujah had become attached to her. Even if she wasn't Marie, she was still a part of the person he loved. "Are you all right, Marie?"
"I'm all right. We still have a ways to go before we reach the next town," Marie said, her braid swaying in the wind. Judging from the voice, she didn't seem to be all that tired.
"I'm sorry to have to make you go through this. It's selfish of me," Allelujah said.
Marie smiled back at him. "Don't be sorry. We made this decision together."
"Still, this hike isn't what you would call a luxury. Maybe we should try going somewhere less strenuous. We could relax for a little while,"
"That sounds nice," Marie said, keeping up with Allelujah's pace. "Say, Allelujah? Do you think everyone else is doing well?"
Allelujah raised an eyebrow. "Everyone? Do you mean everyone on the Ptolemaios?"
Marie nodded. "We haven't seen them for two years. They're still going on missions, aren't they?"
"They probably are. Don't worry, Marie, I'm sure that they can handle any fighting they get themselves into."
Marie shook her head. "That's not what concerns me. They gave us a chance to see the world and leave the battlefield. It seems sad that they can't live as peacefully as we do."
Allelujah could understand what Marie meant. While they had chosen to leave, the rest of the crew had chosen to continue their mission without a second thought. When he had expressed some doubt as to whether or not he should remain on the Ptolemaios, everyone else had encouraged him to go with Marie on their journey. They had been able to contact them a few times but refrained from doing so in order to prevent themselves from interfering. For giving him a chance like this and understanding why he needed to do so, Allelujah would always be grateful to them.
"I wouldn't worry about them too much. They will be able to experience peace one day. And when they do, we'll be there for them." Allelujah said. And if there came a time when they needed his support, he would be there ready to do his part.
"You really believe we'll see them again?"
"Of course we will. After all, we're like a family."
Marie smiled. "That's right, how silly of me to forget that."
Allelujah returned the smile, his mood being lifted. Neither of them knew how long this journey of theirs would last. They had started their journey to search for answers and still had yet to find them. But that was alright. Perhaps the journey was more important than the answer or maybe they had found the answer without realizing it. There was one thing that Allelujah could take from all of it. It was nice to know that they could be more than just soldiers. For now, he would just enjoy the peaceful life he had.
Between Lagrange 4 and 5, Celestial Being Asteroid Satellite
"Linda, finally! I've been dying to see you!" Ian exclaimed as he wrapped his wife in a tight hug, without giving any notice to the two assistants in the room. After two years of being away from each other and finally completing their work, Ian was ecstatic to finally reunite with his wife. Linda's only response was a soft squeal of delight. "So is it ready yet?"
"Why else do you think I'd be here, silly," Linda chided, smiling. She pressed several buttons and switched to one of the cameras in the docking bay. Ian's face lit up as the results of Linda's work on Jupiter floated on screen. All the hard work had finally paid off. These were the first two new GN Drives in over a hundred years.
"Wow."
Linda turned to her husband. "And its equipped with a new GN particle generator. Customized exclusively for the twin drive system."
"Yeah, but it's too bad we could only make two of them in two years," said one of the assistants.
"Well what do you expect with no time or personnel?" the second assistant added. Ian understood how difficult things have been. After losing Wang Liu Mei, Celestial Being had difficulty with securing funds. They were forced to recycle what materials they had for their mobile suits and carefully use whatever Celestial Being had in its reserves. Tieria had also been using Veda to make sure that they had enough to get by but refrained from going any farther. After all, they couldn't reduce themselves to petty criminals.
"Nah, you guys did great," Ian said before turning his attention back to the new GN drives. "By using quantum brainwaves to create a shared consciousness within regions of high particle density, it'll connect the thoughts of everyone in the combat zone."
"A machine designed to put an end to fighting," Linda added.
"This is the Gundam Setsuna always dreamed of. 00-Qan(T)," Ian looked at the new Gundam with pride as it was brought out of its container. Using blueprints sent by Tieria and Veda, they had been able to develop a Gundam specifically built for an Innovator. The Qan(T) was the most advanced mobile suit that had ever built. The arm and legs of the Qan(T) could move as fluidly as a human being's limbs. The Active-mass Balance Auto-Control would allow the Qan(T) to achieve high maneuverability in zero-G conditions. Simply put, no other mobile suit had the flexibility and maneuverability that the Qan(T) was capable of.
Ian had also made sure that the Qan(T) suited Setsuna's style. As soon as they built the weapons, the Qan(T) would be equipped with the latest model of the GN sword and shield. The GN condensers in the limbs allowed the Qan(T) to transfer particles to the weapons more effectively than even the 00. In close combat, nothing would be able to stand in its way. With sword bits and a buster rifle hidden in the shield, the Gundam would be unstoppable. But combat wasn't the reason why the Qan(T) was built. It had a far more important purpose.
"Now all that's left is a few touch ups on the Gundam, installing the GN drives and sending it off to the Ptolemaios," Linda said cheerfully. As soon as the words left her mouth, Ian froze. With all the excitement, he had forgotten to mention one detail. Under normal circumstances, it would have taken a couple month's at most to complete the Qan(T). However, there was a new problem that had emerged.
Ian scratched his head sheepishly. "Um, about that. I, uh, still need to finish up the Gundam's OS. There were some complications… with the Qan(T)'s systems."
"What sort of complications?" The expression on Linda's face had turned serious. Without a proper OS, the Qan(T) would not be able to operate properly. More importantly, without the Quantum System, it wouldn't be able to do what it was built for. The Quantum System was the most important part of the Qan(T), the tool that all their work had been leading up to.
"Well, something happened to the OS just before I could finish it. To put it simply, the thing is a complete mess. I asked Tieria to look into it and see if he could find a way to fix it. He might have an answer by now."
"We can talk to him over here," Linda informed. With the press of a button a new screen flickered to life and on it appeared the purple-haired meister. Even though Tieria had been like this for the last two years, Ian couldn't help but think how odd it was to speak with him like this.
"Hello Ian, Linda. Is there something I can do for you?"
"Hey there, Tieria. Listen, have you looked into the OS problem?"
Tieria's serene expression became grim. "I'm sorry. Veda and I haven't been able to deduce what caused the system data to be corrupted or find a way to restore it. It's strange. My only guess is that the corruption was caused by the Federation's analysis of Veda."
Ian sighed. "Great, now I'll have to start all over. We were so close to getting the Qan(T) ready. Looks like Setsuna's gonna have to wait a little longer."
"There's no hurry, Ian. The others can make do with their current equipment for now."
Linda placed a hand on Ian's shoulder. "Tieria's right, dear. We just need to be a little more patient, that's all."
"Yeah, I know. I guess it shouldn't take too long if I get right on it. But redoing the OS from scratch is just going to be a real pain in the ass, not to mention the Quantum system. And I still wanted to see if there was anything I could do for Zabanya and Harute," Ian complained. The normal mobile suit OS wouldn't be too difficult. It would be annoying but not difficult. Ian's main concern was the Quantum System. With their limited resources and the other projects that he needed to finish, who knows how long it would be before the Qan(T) could be deployed.
Then there were the other two Gundams to think about. With the limited resources they had, Ian had chosen to recycle Cherudim's and Arios' MS frames. He and his team focused on upgrading the equipment and systems of the new Gundams to make up for the lack of resources. Zabanya was designed for Lyle's gun slinging style of combat rather than sniping and Harute utilized a two person control system for both Allelujah and Marie. While those modifications would hopefully hold up, Ian had wanted to see if there was more he could do.
"Perhaps we should change the subject. There are a few other things I would like to speak with you about," Tieria said.
"What is it?"
"Do you remember our discussion about our financial situation? After thinking it over, I've come up with a last resort to use should anything begin to happen."
"Last resort? Tieria, you're not thinking of doing anything wrong are you? Linda asked. Ian could understand Linda's concerned. He knew that Celestial Being's activities had been far from legal. However, they never reduced themselves to common criminals. He and Tieria had already discussed their financial situation and any sort of solutions they could use.
Tieria smiled. "No, nothing of the sort. What I'm doing is looking for potential financers. If we can gain the loyalty of a person who could support Celestial Being, it would make work easier for you and your teams."
"Well, can't say I don't like the idea of not worrying about money and resources. But do you really think it's alright to bring in someone new now? It seems a little sudden," Ian remarked.
"As I said, it's a last resort. I'm still reviewing the possible candidates. Moving on, do you still have Exia's GN drive in storage?"
"Um, yeah we do," Ian was taken aback by Tieria's question. After the battle at Lagrange 2, they had thought that Exia's GN drive had been damaged beyond repair. The Exia's burst mode was unstable and could have permanently damaged the drive. The following explosion didn't help matters either. By some miracle, however, they were able to fix it up and it worked just fine. With Seravee's drive destroyed, they had been down to three until recently. "What do you need it for exactly?"
"Let's just say that you haven't been the only one busy with developing new Gundams," Tieria replied. "If you have time, I'd like for you to look over what I have."
"So you've designed a new Gundam for yourself. Does that mean that you'll have a body again?" Ian knew that Tieria could have a body constructed. It was one of the perks of being an Innovade. The only reason he hadn't was because he believed that he would be more useful as he was.
"That is a possibility. It may come in handy in the future. From what I can tell, the Federation may have to reveal the existence of the Innovators."
"Are there other Innovators already?" Linda asked. Ian was just as surprised as his wife. While Setsuna had been an Innovator for over two years, he had been the one who was directly exposed to the Twin Drive's GN particles. Could the Trans-Am burst really have caused other human beings to undergo Innovation so quickly?
"Only one has been confirmed so far. His name is Descartes Shaman, the first Innovator recognized by the Federation. Veda has also confirmed this. The military has already developed a mobile armor specifically for his use. They call it the Gadelaza."
Ian smirked. "So, looks like we might have to gear up for one hell of a battle."
"And there may be other Innovators that we must face," Linda said. "Tieria, is this the reason why you want to come back?"
"Yes, we don't know what may happen when the existence of Innovators are revealed to the world or how the Federation will use them. I am also concerned as to how humanity will react. There may be conflicts with those who reject the Innovators, even with the Federation's peaceful policies. It seems we will have to wait and see what the future brings us. Until then, I'll continue to conduct research along with Veda."
Ian calmly took in all the information until a certain thought reached his mind. "Hey, wait a minute! You told there wasn't a hurry for the Qan(T) or the other projects. Why say that if you think that something big is going to happen?"
Tieria smiled guiltily. "I didn't want to worry you."
Lagrange 3, Colony S0E, Colony Under Construction
It was quiet out in space. With the silence, there was a sense of peace and an opportunity to clear one's mind. At least, that was what Setsuna thought as he waited in Celestial Being's Flag mobile suit that was hidden within area.
With the A-laws and Ribbons Almark gone, the world was moving in a better direction. The Earth Sphere Federation used more peaceful policies, wanting to make amends for the mistakes of the past. The battles they had fought had paid off…to an extent. Even with the changes that the world had gone through, Celestial Being was still conducting their interventions. There were still people out there who would promote conflict.
They had received information from Veda about an assassination attempt targeting Marina Ismail. The Colony Public Corporation had received workers from Azadistan during the A-laws' reign. Now that a new government had taken over, Marina had been sending request to have the workers returned to their homes. From what they could gather, the Colony Public Corporation wouldn't relinquish their workforce so willingly. If something were to happen to Marina during her visit, they would have no reason to send back the workers. Setsuna was to remain on standby in the Flag until they located the enemy.
The Flag's sensors went off at that moment, alerting Setsuna to three GN-XIIIs approaching Marina's shuttle. They must have been the assassins hired by the Colony Public Corporation. Now was the moment to begin his part of the mission. He flew towards their direction to intercept them. It didn't take long before he spotted the enemies. The GN-XIIIs weren't military issue, being gold colored instead of the military's normal blue. Orange particles flowed from GN Drive Taus attached to their backs.
"Setsuna F. Seiei, eliminating the targets."
As one of the GN-XIIIs prepared to shoot down the shuttle Setsuna fired several shots at the mobile suits, drawing their attention away from the shuttle. The three GN-XIIIs evaded his attacks and prepared to return fire. The Setsuna launched several missiles towards the targets. Unsurprisingly, the enemy responded by targeting the missiles. Exactly as planned. The shots hit the missile, causing them to explode and release the GN smokescreen. Setsuna hid himself while the enemy was distracted.
With the enemy blinded and their sensors jammed, Setsuna had the advantage. He spotted one of the GN-XIIIs and positioned his Flag behind him. Switching the Flag to fighter mode, he pulled out the Flag's GN sword. Before the enemy could make a move, Setsuna sliced the GN-XIII in half. The other two mobile suits spotted him and fired. One of them chased after him while the other went after the shuttle.
The GN-XIII tailed his Flag, attempting to shoot him down. Setsuna easily evaded the attacks, weaving his mobile suit around. The other GN-XIII would reach the shuttle soon. He needed to eliminate this one now. In a swift maneuver, Setsuna flipped the Flag around and pulled out a plasma sword. Before the GN-XIII react, Setsuna ran the weapon through the mobile suit. That left only one enemy he needed to eliminate.
Moving out of the smokescreen, Setsuna spotted the GN-XIII as it opened fire on the shuttle. Before the shots could connect, the shuttle veered to the side. Lyle, or rather Lockon Stratos, was doing his part of the mission. The pilot of the GN-XIII seemed shocked that his attack had missed. Before the enemy could take any sort of action, Setsuna positioned his Flag above him and aimed his linear cannon at the GN-XIII.
Firing down at the last GN-XIII, Setsuna drew the enemy's attention towards his Flag. As the enemy reached for a beam saber, Setsuna closed the distance between them and readied his GN sword. The enemy lashed out with its weapon, attempting a backslash. Anticipating the attack, Setsuna ducked beneath the saber and cleaved the mobile suit in two. All three mobile suits had now been destroyed. His role was now over.
Moving towards the shuttle, he waited patiently for Lyle. The Colony Public Corporation could still have had a contingency plan. Marina could still be in danger. Setsuna matched his speed with the shuttle and waited. He focused, trying to feel the emotions of the passengers. There was shock and adrenaline, but more importantly there was relief. Moments later, he spotted Lyle heading towards the Flag's other cockpit.
Once Lyle was inside the Flag, Setsuna gave the window of the shuttle a glance. He could clearly see Marina and her assistant, both watching the Flag with obvious interest. Setsuna looked away from the shuttle. They had dealt with the assassins and accomplished the mission. With the mission over, they needed to leave quickly. Setsuna took off, heading towards the location of the Ptolemaios.
"Aren't you even going to say hello to her?" Lyle asked. He was within range of Setsuna's quantum brainwaves. With his Innovator abilities, Setsuna sensed a strong wave of curiosity came from Lyle. Not wanting to linger on the subject, Setsuna decided to close the matter immediately.
"I don't feel the need," Setsuna replied. There really was no reason to see Marina. While they both worked towards a similar goal, the paths they took were different. He chose conflict while she chose pacifism. Fighting was the only thing that he was good at while she could reach others through her words. Even without taking that into account, Celestial Being had chosen to conduct their missions in secret. Seeing each other would only complicate matters. It was better this way.
"Alright then," Lyle said as he ended the transmission. Immediately, Setsuna could feel waves of exasperation and confusion from Lyle. What was he thinking exactly?
Setsuna forced himself to ignore the subject and brought his thoughts back to the mission. It went far easier than he had expected. While the Flag had been customized to take on superior mobile suits, he was surprised by how easily he had dispatched his enemies. Even with this obsolete mobile suit, three GN-XIIIs had proven to be no match for Setsuna. But was that because he was a Gundam Meister or because he was an Innovator? Was it from his growth as a mobile suit pilot or his evolution as an Innovator? Setsuna pushed the question out of his mind.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading the first chapter of Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Create the Future. This idea was in my head after seeing the trailers of the movie. I decided to wait and see the movie before I started this fic. It would probably help if you see the movie because I will be using some of the earlier scenes, at least in the first few chapters. This chapter might be a little rough but hopefully the following ones will be better.