A Gundam Universal Century Fanfiction – Zeta, Once Again

Disclaimer: Usual disclaimer applies.

Character(s): Kamille Bidan/Amuro Ray/Judau Ashta

Genre(s): General/Sci-fi/Adventure

A/N: Warning, possible AU and AR. And please note that English is not my native language, so please pardon me for any possible grammar mistakes and vocabulary.


Chapter 1

It was unbelievable.

When a transmission came from Hayato Kobayashi from Audhumla, informing that a colony from Side 4 was being dropped to Earth, the whole Argama crew was devastated. Judau fell into a shock, couldn't come to believing that there were people so depraved existed in this world. How could they? Why would they? Isn't the war itself is already an excruciating tragedy for all of them? What do they seek for?

"They're going to drop a colony…?" Bright Noa stuttered in disbelief. "But… how can… what…"

"But that will be just a complete genocide!" Judau shouted in anger, pounding his fist on the controls. Torres blinked and barked at this, "Hey! Don't go smashing the bridge now, Judau!"

"Can't we do something, Captain?" Mondo asked weakly. "Anything?"

"To stop it? No, we can't," said Bright, suddenly feeling so tired. "The best we can do is to help the civilians to evacuate and defend Dublin from, I'm sure, the enemies' attack."

"Captain, Director Hayato's craft will be landing in forty-five seconds," Torres informed. Bright nodded curtly.

"Alright. Mondo, Judau, go get the others to prepare for battle situations and meet me at the briefing room for further instructions. Torres, keep up with update information."

Judau and Mondo looked at each other, then proceeded out from the bridge. While Mondo went to the direction of the mobile suits deck where everyone was probably there, Judau set for the opposite direction.

"I'm gonna check on Ple if she's doing just okay," Judau informed, and Mondo just shrugged. Judau shook his head, and he fastened his pace when he heard a crashing sound coming from the medical ward. Elpeo Ple was on her bed, covered up in her blanket, her eyes were wide from fear. Judau blinked in confusion.

"It wasn't you?" Judau looked around, searching for the source of the crashing sound. "You're feeling okay? Since you heard about a colony dropping on Dublin, I thought that you might – "

A mix of painful groan, whimper, and moan stopped him, and Judau looked up.

"I can handle it," Ple murmured uncertainly, glancing to her side, "but… he…"

A sudden realization hit Judau as he rushed to the bed beside Ple's, with the blind closed. Fa Yuiry was struggling to calm Kamille Bidan, the latter trembled uncontrollably from convulsions of fear and horror. Kamille's hands were trying to reach something invisible while his groans continued, and he shuddered as he suddenly screamed in anguish, choking for air. Fa grabbed Kamille's shoulders, trying to suppress his convulsions.

"It's alright, Kamille! Everything's alright! Calm down… calm down, please! Kamille!"

Kamille shrieked, and suddenly fell limp, gasping weakly for air. His face distorted in pain, losing his remaining strength completely. Fa held back her tears as she smiled soothingly, stroking Kamille's head gently.

"Should I get the nurse?" asked Judau worriedly. Fa shook her head, "It's okay, Judau, I have his medicine with me. Judau…"

Judau reached for Kamille's hand and squeezed it, trying to give the young man the comfort he was badly needed. Kamille turned his eyes to Judau, blinked wearily.

"Kamille can sense it after all," said Judau, uneasy. "With only the ship changes course, why else he would be in so much pain like this?"

"What… what's going on? What do you mean?" Fa asked anxiously.

"A colony's going to fall on Dublin," Judau said, feeling extremely angry and desperate at the same time. "The Argama's going to assist in the evacuation…"

Fa's hand flew to cover her mouth in disbelief. "What?! No way! If we go there, then Kamille would… he would…" Fa shook her head and finally cried, hugging Kamille tightly. Judau sighed; he knew that Fa was right. There was no way they could drag Kamille into this. He would definitely break.

"I know, but we have no other choice. Argama has to do this, we have to do this. If not, then it would be more painful for him – "

Fa broke into his arms, her shimmering eyes pleading to him. "Please – please sneak out both of us from the Argama. Drop us on Glasgow, it should not be more far away from our position now. Judau, I can't – Kamille can't go to Dublin, whatever happens! He can't bear the pain of millions death, Kamille is already very weak, I know he can't take any more than this! Please, Judau, help us! Help him!"

Judau sighed again, rubbing the back of his head. "I'd be gladly to, but it means that we have to break through Captain Bright and the other crews… oh well," he growled in frustration, looking back at Kamille, "but I can't let you stay either! You must not suffer more than this!"

Judau was startled when he felt a sudden pressure on his mind, a burning sensation on his stomach, and a pressure of strong, overwhelming determination ran through his body. He stared at Kamille, whose eyes were now hard, even though his face still twisted in pain.

Even in his condition, Kamille Bidan still had the strong willpower to fight. But Judau knew better to oblige with Fa's idea.

"Get Kamille ready then meet me in the locker room in five minutes to figure things out," said Judau firmly. "I'll get Beecha and the others to turn in our favor."

Fa nodded gratefully, wiping her tears. She reached for a thick jacket, and carefully put it on Kamille. She laid Kamille back against the pillow and said softly, "Wait for me here, Kamille, and get some rest. You will need your strength for our short journey. Relax, Kamille, it's alright. Everything's going to be alright."

Kamille watched as Fa slipped away from the med ward. Kamille sat up slowly, swaying his legs to the ground, staggering dangerously. With a spark of determination on his eyes, Kamille slowly dragged his body to the door, trying to not make any sound.

"Kamille…?" Ple called out doubtfully. "No, you can't…"

Kamille halted, but not looking back. Ple's eyes widened when she had caught what Kamille was trying to say, and she smiled sadly.

"Just be careful," Ple whispered. "Make sure you will come back."

Then Kamille vanished from Pleo's sight.


"So Amuro's taken off to the space, Hayato?"

Bright and Hayato Kobayashi walked through the empty hallways. "Yes, even though we might be able to suppress the Federation if he's gone. While a determined Haman drops the colony, we can only watch in horror…"

"So she's trying to finish off AEUG here and now through sheer monstrosity," said Bright grimly. "How could she do such a thing…? It's unforgivable!"

"Think about it, the effect this will have on people's minds…" Hayato shook his head when Bright called softly, "Hayato. This was Katz's room."

Hayato felt like his heart dropped to his stomach as both of them stopped in front of a door. Bright pushed the button, but the door only slid open half its way, forcing Bright to push it himself. Hayato took a deep breath, and stepped in to the room.

It was empty and dark, but Hayato could see a frame of a photo on the floor in the corner of the room. With shaky hands, he took the photo, and swallowed hard at the face of Katz Kobayashi. Trembling fingers ran through the photo, Hayato blinked to prevent the threatening tears on his hot eyes.

"We leave this room as it is," said Bright softly. "All of Katz's remaining possession was stored before we entered the gravity well."

Hayato's body trembled from overwhelming emotion, but he shook his head. Bright looked at Hayato contently.

"I'm sorry," Bright said in a low voice. "If only I tried harder…"

Hayato turned to face Bright and smiled. "I guess I should speak to Fraw Bow and the kids about this."

Bright nodded. "When Kamille recovers, I think he can tell you the details about Katz's end."

Hayato seemed surprised. "Kamille? Why is he here? Is he okay? I'd like to meet him, Kamille."

"Yeah… under some circumstances, Kamille and Fa are abroad in here now." Bright reached for the phone on the wall near him. "Kamille is in the med ward. Please wait for a bit." He pushed a button, and frowned. "Strange… there's no answer. Fa should be there…" He sprinted out of the room, followed by a startled Hayato.


"What?! He's missing?!"

Judau groaned, tumpting his hair in frustration. Fa had just come back from the medical ward to fetch Kamille, only to find the bed which was occupied by Kamille before was empty. Ple had said she didn't hear anything earlier, and Fa was in a state of panic.

"He must be still around – he couldn't go far away, and there's no place he could hide forever anyway," Elle suggested. "How about we split up and search the entire ship?"

"Even though we're nearing Glasgow now…" Iino looked nervous.

"Alright, everyone split up and search the entire ship for Kamille!" said Beecha. "Shinta, Qum, go with Fa! You are to find Kamille, you understand?"

"Yes!" Shinta and Qum chorused, and Fa smiled at their antics. She took Shinta and Qum on her each hand, and hurriedly ran away, followed by the others. Judau ran to the direction of mobile suit deck with Elle and Roux, while Mondo and Beecha checked the other remaining rooms and hallways.

"He's not in anywhere!" Beecha panted, he and Mondo were the last to come back to the locker room. "We couldn't find him!"

"Judau…" Fa was in the brink of tears. "He must be somewhere – I'm afraid he will do something careless – "

Judau stared at Fa blankly, absorbed to the word 'careless'. Kamille would likely do something 'careless', but what could he possibly do in his current condition? He was in no shape to fight, and there was no chance he could –

"That's it!" Judau shouted, earning surprised gasps from his friends. "Mobile suit deck – come on!"

"But we searched there, thoroughly!" Roux protested.

"Yeah, but only the deck!" Judau brushed past them, sprinting hastily. The others blinked and followed Judau shortly.

"Hey, Judau, wait! What do you mean? What do you suggest?" Elle gasped, trying to catch up with Judau as well as the others. But Judau didn't bother to answer, and they finally stopped at the deck. Judau threw up his gaze to the mobile suits, panting.

"Would you finally mind to tell us what has crossed your brain?!" Roux snapped impatiently. "It's not nice for leaving us behind in the dark, Judau!"

"The Gundams," Judau finally said. "Check the Gundams - it's not impossible that he might be in one of the Gundams!"

"The Zeta!" Fa ran to the Zeta's sled post, and climbed up to the closed cockpit. She put some code on the panel on the side of the cockpit hatch, only to find it didn't respond to the command. Fa pounded her fist to the hatch, "Kamille, I know you're in there! Please, open up, Kamille! Don't be silly, you could have injured yourself! Kamille, please!"

There was no response came both from Kamille or the Zeta Gundam, when suddenly the Zeta moved backward, and Fa cried out when she was knocked off balance, but the Zeta's hand caught her in time. The hand tilted sideward, forcing Fa to slide down to the ground. Fa approached the Zeta again, calling out in panic, "Kamille, stop! Please, don't! Stop, Kamille!"

The Zeta walked to the hatch, turning the lever. The strong wind that rushed to the hangar forcing Judau and the others to fall back, and the Zeta thrust its booster into maximum. Soon the Zeta soared into the sky, and one of the mechanics swung his tools madly, "Hey, come back! Someone, get out and stop him! He's in no condition to pilot a Gundam, he won't make it! He doesn't even wear a normal suit! Oi, Judau!"

"Really… now!" Judau nodded to Iino and Elle, and the two rushed to the Core Base and Core Top. Bright and Hayato came in time to see the Zeta took off, and Bright blinked.

"What's going on in here?" Bright demanded furiously. "Who is in the Zeta?!"

"Captain!" Roux ran to the Hyaku Shiki followed by Fa. "Kamille is piloting the Zeta! We have to stop him!"

"What?!" Bright turned at Hayato, eyes widened, his anger was replaced with shock. "Kamille is?! How come?!"

"It's a long story!" Judau answered from the radio. "I'm going out to get Kamille back! Iino, Elle, let's go!"

"Why is he doing such a reckless thing?!" Hayato groaned, feeling frustrated and worried at the same time. "Hold it, Bright – we will need the Double Zeta for our next operation, there's no time! Send out just Fa in the Hyaku Shiki! Roux can't go out!"

"But – !" Judau protested, but Astonaige shook his head, "No, Judau! We will need as much our pilots to assist Dublin! The enemies would surely not go to let this slip away easily. Fa alone is enough to get Kamille back here!"

"But you said yourself there's not much time! How if Kamille engaged with the enemies? He could be killed out there!" Judau shot back.

"That's why Fa is taking out the Hyaku Shiki!" Astonaige barked. "All of you are to be on standby in Argama until further notice. The operation will be announced in no time!"

Hayato nodded curtly to Fa who had made it to the Hyaku Shiki. "I will be going back to the Audhumla now, Bright. We will commence operation and communicate to organize our move." Hayato jumped in to his craft, and took off with Hyaku Shiki in tow. Bright sighed, and turned to the kids.

"Come to the briefing room now," said Bright, rubbing his temple. "We need to do quick briefing for your each assigned post."

Judau did not move, and instead glared at Bright through the opened hatch. Bright's expression softened at this, and he approached the Core Fighter, patting Judau's shoulder.

"Judau," Bright began, "I understand what you are feeling. But right now, Dublin comes to our first priority, and Fa is more than capable to take care of Kamille and herself. Besides, I'm sure even in his current condition, Kamille is still Argama's best pilot. You can't underestimate him." Bright smiled, and Judau hesitantly nodded.

"If you say so, Captain," Judau murmured. "But still… it's too dangerous out there for Kamille now…!"

"Judau," Bright stared at Judau's eyes intently, "it's not just you. If I have to admit, I am more worried than you. After all, Kamille is just like my own son. He will always be."

Judau blinked at this unexpected exclamation. He looked at his friends who were taken aback, and turned back at Bright again.

"I… think… I saw into Kamille's heart," Judau stared down at his hands, and clenching them tightly. "It has a lot of sad feelings. He's… he's a very kind person."

Bright nodded in agreement, suddenly looked so old. "I agree with you."

Adults did have their own problems, after all.


The sky is falling. The sky is filled with despair. The cries of the people sullied the falling sky.

It can't! It mustn't! There'll be more grief!


Kamille panted heavily, his knuckles were white from his strong clutches on the Zeta's control. It had been a while since he was in a cockpit, but it didn't mean that he had lost his touch. Everything felt strangely familiar and normal, but his body wasn't. His body wouldn't move like he wanted it to be.

Kamille closed his eyes, groaning. He could feel pressure of emotions pushed him from every direction, his chest felt so heavy, as if a big rock was placed on it. He could see that the sky was slowly becoming dark; and with all his might, Kamille pushed away the overwhelming vanishing presence and fear of millions that rushed into his mind. He suppressed the urge to scream, cold sweat running down his temple. Gasping and choking for air, he let out a low whimper.

Then he could feel another presence coming closer – these ones were different, filled with such hate and malice that he shuddered. He knew that the enemies were finally coming. Following his instinct, he shot his beam rifle up to his left, and a small ball of red flame exploded, a mobile suit fell from it to the ocean below.

Kamille shut his eyes again at the sickening feeling of a life vanished.

Various shots and missiles came to him and Zeta, and Kamille knew he had done his job. He coursed the Zeta away from the city to the ocean far ahead, and a bunch of Neo Zeon mobile suits followed him behind.

All he had to do now was to shoot them down and let Judau and the others did their part.


"Captain!" one of the men on the Argama's bridge exclaimed, frowning. "The Zeta is engaging enemy mobile suits!"

Bright's breath left his lungs temporarily before he gained his senses again. "What?! What is his position?!"

"Ahead of the coast, distance is fifteen kilometers! Platoons of enemy mobile suits following close behind!"

"He's trying to draw the enemies away from the city and give us the opportunity to execute our plan with minimal disturbance…" Bright scowled. "Doing such foolish action! How about the Hyaku Shiki?"

"Hyaku Shiki is two kilometers away from Zeta's current coordinate. Should we send reinforcements?" the operator inquired worriedly.

"I would like to, but our situation doesn't allow that. We're losing time," Bright took the phone on the captain's seat. "Hayato, half of the enemy forces are drawn away by the Zeta! Twelve o'clock to the south, fifteen kilometers ahead by the coast! We're sending out Judau and the others from Argama!"

"Kamille's doing that…?" Hayato murmured from the other line, and then his frowning face appeared on the visual monitor. "I got it. The enemy's coming from inland too. I'm sending everything I have to help the evacuation, and I will later send you the Audhumla's assisting position. You're in charge, Bright. The enemy's apparently also waiting around in the airport. We must not let this chance slip away. Kamille's struggle will not be in vain!"

Bright nodded. "You still see him as the same as before, Hayato."

Hayato gave a bitter chuckle. "Don't give me that. Are you sure with this?"

Bright looked out to the window. "It's not like I have another choice." Then he turned around to face his men and commanded, "Drop off the containers! Give full support to Judau and company!"


Fa held back her threatening sobs and tears, focusing on Hyaku Shiki's control, following the Zeta's coordinate dot on her radar. She looked around, she could see ahead that Neo Zeon's mobile suits were in pursue to the Zeta. A sharp pang of emotion jabbed her chest painfully, and she called to the voice comm, "Kamille! Retreat! Go back to the Argama! Please, Kamille, listen to me! You can hear me, right? You can understand me, right? Please… please, come back with me! Kamille!"

She felt a familiar calming wave on her mind, and she knew that it was Kamille's respond to her. Fa couldn't help but to feel amazed at Kamille's skill – the Zeta swiftly dodged the incoming attacks, flawlessly shooting or charging back with his beam saber and rifle. One by one, the enemy was taken down, and the Zeta suddenly shot its massive beam rifle to the sky, and a huge explosion occurred.

"Kamille…" Fa was speechless. She approached the Zeta, but the Zeta flew passing her to the direction of the airport. She blinked and followed; but now Kamille's heavy and irregular breathing was coming to her communication radio. He's… hyperventilating…

"No!" Fa cried, trying to reach the Zeta, but she was too late. She knew that Kamille had fallen too far into the overwhelming pressures bombarding him, and in his current mental state, he would definitely break. She would have to stop him.

"Kamille!" Fa called out desperately, shooting her own counters to the enemy's reinforcements which seemed increasing. "Retreat, Kamille, you don't have to fight anymore! Leave this to us – Judau and the others will do it in your place! There's nothing to be afraid of, everything's going to be alright! Please, Kamille! I beg you… please!"

A platoon of Zeon's Zaku emerged from the gloomy sky above, and Fa charged forward, shooting her own beam rifle. She drew her beam saber and knocked down one Zaku. The Zeta threw some quick shots, particularly covering the Hyaku Shiki. Finally realizing that she wasn't going to succeed in convincing Kamille, Fa instead concentrated on taking down on her opponents and, if she could, protecting Kamille. Fa was on her fourth engagement when Kamille's agony scream suddenly rammed her communication, and the Zeta was sent spiraling down to the edge of the airport with a loud crush, electric statics and minor explosions occurred around the cockpit area.

"N-no… Kamille!" Fa's eyes widened, thrusting to the unmoving Zeta. She yelped when a beam rifle shook her entire cockpit, missing her by a few inches. She gritted her teeth and continued make her way to Kamille, and gasped when a face with monoeye of a Zaku filled her entire panoramic view –

But the expected didn't happen. Instead, two beam rifles crippled the Zaku, and it vanished into a fire of big red ball, knocking her off balance before she made a hard land beside the Zeta.

"Fa!" Judau's voice called through the radio, and she could see the Core Fighter, with the Core Top and Core Base following close behind. "Get the Zeta Gundam out of here! Kamille have done his job! There's nothing he should be worried anymore!"

"Fa, retreat! You and Kamille have done a great job. Leave the rest to us!" Elle winked. "We will cover you!"

"I know!" Fa responded, smiling weakly. "We're counting on you. You guys make sure you watch out for yourself out there, okay?"

"Don't worry about us!" Elle rocketed forward, throwing her missiles. "Go!"

The Hyaku Shiki grabbed the Zeta, and slowly retreated from the battlefield. Judau sighed in relief at this, and he shouted, "Elle, Iino! We're docking!"

"Roger!" Iino and Elle chorused, and they began their usual docking sequence, forming the ZZ Gundam.

"Let's go!" Judau exclaimed, pushing down on his thruster. "Cover the Audhumla! I'll take down the rest of these fool adults!"


"Captain, the Hyaku Shiki is coming back with Zeta!" Torres exclaimed, and the bridge filled with relief sighs. But their joy was short-lived when Torres' trembled voice informed again, "T-the Zeta... it's heavily damaged... Fa's requesting medical assistance on landing!"

It was hard for Bright to keep his composed figure, and he ordered brusquely, "Do as what Fa asks. Send the available medical personnel and the mechanics for assistance!"

Bright opened the communication with Audhumla. "Hayato, how is it going on your end?"

"Are those Kamille's doing?" Hayato asked incredulously. "It's half of the enemy forces, for God's sake! Has he lost his mind?! He could have killed himself out there!"

"Kamille did it," said Bright heavily. "The Gundam team is taking care of the rest. Roux will soon arrive with the containers to provide more accomodation for the civilians. How is it going?"

"We're filling up the Dodais, but still, it doesn't seem that we will succeed to evacuate all of the civilians. Bright, a refugee boat was shot down by the Neo Zeon just a few moments ago," Hayato scowled, pounding his fist in anger. "Cowards!"

"What?!" Bright was shocked. All of the crews on the bridge exchanged a mix of anger, hatred, and shock of looks. How could someone go that far to a level of shooting down a refugee boat?!

"That... that was... they..." Bright couldn't find a word to describe the sheer rage everyone was feeling. He shouted in frustration, feeling so powerless. "Send us the coordinate, Hayato!"

Hayato looked at Bright with an unreadable expression for a moment before cutting off the line. Bright shrunk back to his seat, suppressing the anger that coursed through his mind and body. Taking a deep breath, Bright stood up, "Keep giving Judau and company full support! Defend the city from the enemies! Anti-air surveillance! Keep spanking them with our missiles, intercept their mobile suit forces! How much time do we have until impact?"

"Less than twenty minutes!"

"Captain, transmission from Audhumla! Roux, Beecha, Mondo, Iino and Elle are aboard, supporting Hayato. They're short-handed, most of their crews have launched in mobile suits to draw back the enemy. Audhumla's Dodai Kais with civilians aboard are heading to the southwest at safe point 665! Double Zeta, engaging enemies, distance, seven kilometers to the north! We have to have him retreat to avoid impact!"

"Take us out from this area! Set course to safe point 665! We will rendezvous with Audhumla!" Bright ordered. "Our main objective now is to protect the Audhumla and the Dodai squad until the rendezvous point. What is the status of the enemy forces?"

"They're starting to run away, sir! They're most likely pulling back their forces!"

"Good! Tell Judau to go back to the ship! Set us down to port 80! Prepare to retrieve – "

"We cannot reach to Judau! There's too much interference!" said Torres. "What should we do?"

Bright cursed at this. "Judau… there's still enemies out there? We can't opt to wait for him. As long as he's not in the colony surrounding area, the kid will make it! Send an encrypted message of our destination coordinate and a notice to rendezvous with us! Argama is to continue its main objective!"

"Roger, sir!" Torres returned back to his console. Bright walked to the door, followed by pairs of nervous eyes.

"Captain, where are you...?" One of the crew asked hesitantly.

"I have to check on Kamille for a moment," replied Bright curtly. "I'll be back shortly. Torres, open a channel to the Karaba and request for Hasan to aboard the Argama as soon as possible, with medical supplies! Tell them it's an emergency!"

The whole crew watched their captain went out from the bridge in anxiety.

"Do you think he will be alright?" one of them asked quietly. "Kamille?"

"I hope so," Torres replied slowly, throwing his glance to the mobile suit deck camera observation. A sinking feeling on the pit of his stomach crept up to his chest when his eyes caught the damage the Zeta had taken.

The cockpit was barely intact.


Bright hastily made his way to the medical ward, a nervous energy ran through his whole body. He gasped in surprise when suddenly Fa appeared, bumped into him.

"Fa? Where are you going?" Bright grabbed Fa's arm before she could hit the floor.

"I'm going out with Hyaku Shiki," said Fa, her eyes were red and swollen. "I'm going to support Judau!"

"What? No!" Bright tightened his grip on the girl. "Not in our current situation! The colony will drop in just a few minutes! You are staying here, Fa!"

"I have to go!" Fa sobbed, glancing back to the medical ward door. "Captain, it's – it's Kamille. He said… Judau is in danger! Kamille and Ple keep saying something awful is coming… I have to go!"

Fa yanked her arm and ran away. Bright could only look in confusion, and then proceeded to the medical ward. A mix of painful groans and moans could be heard, and Bright braced himself to the bed on the left. He held back his breath at the sight in front of him.

Most of Kamille's bed sheet was stained with blood, and the nurse had just finished cleaning the large cut on his head. A large gush and wounds were on his stomach and waist, and Bright gritted his teeth at a large metal chunk on the table beside the bed. Scratches were on Kamille's face and arms, and a deep cut could be seen on Kamille's upper left hand, dripping blood to the bed sheet. Bright slowly approached the bed, and he realized that Astonaige was on the other side of it.

"Astonaige… what… how… what happened?" Bright croaked out, touching Kamille's arm gently. Kamille let out a low whimper, having no strength left. His eyes were dull, and he was sweating a lot. Bright could feel a burning heat radiated under his fingers, and he knew that Kamille had lost too much blood. His body had increased its temperature abnormally, trying to keep it warm under the loss of blood.

"Ca... cap... tain..." Kamille's weak voice was barely could be heard in a strained effort, and Bright almost jumped in surprise upon hearing it. Kamille was speaking?

"Kamille?" Bright grabbed Kamille's arm carefully. "What is it?"

Kamille opened his mouth to speak, but he coughed harshly, retching out dark blood instead. Bright and Astonaige stepped backward instinctively, shocked. The nurse injected a liquid to Kamille's arm, and Kamille groaned painfully. Bright turned to Astonaige, silently demanding for explanation.

"Half of the cockpit collapsed," said Astonaige in a low voice, looking at the blood-covered metal chunk grimly. "I don't know, but, from what I saw, it seemed that Kamille was intentionally took the blow on the cockpit to minimize the damage on the Zeta itself. And the fact that he wasn't wearing a normal suit also... that's why... he's… he's… he's nuts, Captain!" Astonaige shook his head, wiping tears away from his eyes.

"Oh my god," Bright whispered, leaning forward to Kamille. He squeezed the young man's hand, "Kamille? Kamille, can you hear me? Hey, it's alright, everything's going to be alright. Can you hear me? We will fix you up, so don't you worry. You've done a great job. You saved a lot of lives. Everything's going to be alright."

But it seemed that Kamille had lost his senses as he didn't even turn to Bright, his breathing was laboured, staring at the ceiling blankly. Bright jerked away, fearing the worst.

"What... what is his condition?" Bright asked hoarsely. "He will make it, right?"

The nurse reached for a new clean cloth and a washbasin with a clean water. She set to clean up the blood on Kamille's arm and abdomen area, the latter could only frown in pain, having no more strength left to even let out a moan.

"He will," the nurse answered after a few moments in trembling voice, "but he's in a very critical condition. He had lost too much way of blood, and we don't have any anesthetic left after this one - this is the last, we're running out of other med supplies, too."

"I've requested for doctor Hasan to be sent here as soon as the condition allows to," said Bright. "Please continue to treat him as the best as you can."

"Of course. Meanwhile, I'll do my best to keep him as comfortable as possible." The nurse smiled.

"Kamille... why would you do that?" Bright shook his head, but Kamille had already fallen prey to exhaustion, unconscious. The ship shook wildly and Kamille groaned. Astonaige cursed, "The colony is going to drop in any moment. Captain, go back to the bridge! I'll be in here to watch for Kamille! Go!"

"Right," Bright nodded hesitantly, once again squeezed Kamille's hand before leaving the med ward. The vibration became more intense, and the nurse took two safety belts from the nearby cupboard.

"Please help me to put this on Kamille to minimize the vibration impact. He must be kept safe from unnecessary extensive move, his wounds are too severe," said the nurse, protruding one belt to Astonaige. "Put this one over his legs, it should be easier because there's no damage on them. Make it tight. I'll put this one over his chest."

Astonaige did as he was asked, his hands were slightly shaking. Kamille's hand twitched in pain when the belt pressed over his chest, and the nurse whispered soothingly, "Sshh. It's alright, Kamille. This will keep you from unnecessary movement that can hurt you. It will be alright, I promise. You won't feel the pain anymore, so hang on a little longer."

The nurse took a hypodermic needle and injected it on Kamille's left waist, where the large hole of the wound still dripping blood. She wiped it with white cloth. She then reached for a needle and a brownish surgical yarn, and Astonaige gasped.

"W-wait! You're doing it here, now?" Astonaige squeaked.

"I have to. It is to prevent further bleeding. It's just an emergency stitching, though. If you feel like can't stand it, you can go out." The nurse smiled thinly. "Or you can stay with Ple there just behind this curtain."

"Ah, Ple?" Astonaige blinked, pulling the curtain beside Kamille's bed open. Ple was scared, her wide eyes looked up at Astonaige in despair. She sobbed, shaking her head.

"Too much people died," Ple whimpered. "It's horrible! Why would they do such a horrible thing?! Kamille can't endure it any more than this! We have to get out of here!"

"Ple..." Astonaige couldn't think of anything to answer. The ship shook again, now even wilder, and Ple screamed in fear, "No, no! Something scary is coming...!"

They were surprised when suddenly Kamille howled, convulsion shook his whole body. His eyes snapped open, wide in pain and fear, and despite the intense pain he felt from his injuries, he struggled to set free from his restrain. The nurse quickly put away her surgery tools, and injected a clear liquid to Kamille's arm, trying to calm him down, "Sshh, it's fine! Everything's fine, nothing's wrong! Calm down, Kamille, please, calm down, you will only worsen your wounds!"

Kamille's scream subsided when finally, the sedative took effect, and Kamille fell limp on the bed. Astonaige could only watch in silent, and Ple whispered, "He can feel it. I can feel it... people... dying... the fear, the pain... the sadness... it shouldn't be like this... this is not right!"

Ple curled up on her bed, sobbing and clutching her blanket tightly as tears ran down her cheeks.

The roar of the dropping colony was the only thing they could hear while they just waited in there, not being able to do anything.

This was so wrong.


I've been into the UC timeline lately, and also play the GvG Next Plus on my PSP at night after I go home from office. I want to take another option after what happened in the Zeta and the first-half of ZZ… so here comes this!