Chapter Two: The Black Gundam
The door to Adrian's office opened with a loud click as Setsuna entered, quietly stepping through the large room inside. "Hello Setsuna." Adrian greeted, looking over a small pile of growing paperwork. Setsuna always wondered why the chairman procrastinated like this. "Take a seat I just need to finish this one thing up." Setsuna nodded and sat down in front of the desk looking along the walls, having a close look at the various paintings, all drawn from famous artists from as early as Van Gogh. "Bottle! That's what it was!" Adrian laughed scribbling on his paper until he set aside, Setsuna raised his eyebrow in confusion, wondering what it was that the chairman was trying to accomplish. "Okay crosswords aside, I'll be sending you down to Orb starting tonight Setsuna. I have already given you clearance to have the Qan [T] brought onto your ship so long as it isn't used unless needed." Adrian said leaning back in his chair.
"I understand sir." Setsuna nodded standing up, "Who shall I report to? Is it General Athrun Zala, or Chief Representative Cagalli Yula Autha?"
"Meh, it doesn't matter to me, one or the other." Adrian shrugged spinning his chair around.
"Sir, if I could ask you a question…"
"What about?"
"Just what is our purpose in Orb? Last time we went there under your order, attacked Morgenroete, and lost twenty eight mobile suits, and now you intend for us to protect them? Why?"
"Tell me Setsuna, why is it you insist you don't know the pilot of the Freedom Gundam?"
Setsuna paused, unsure of what to tell the Chairman. "Sir, the pilot is Kira Yam…"
"Kira Yamato has retired Setsuna," Adrian interjected. "He retired after Lacus chose to leave politics for her children, I seriously doubt you're telling me everything…" Setsuna stood up without a word, and saluted the chairman, exiting the room as Adrian's eyes followed his footsteps. "Well, well… What aren't you telling me?"
Carrus sat in his room, watching as Lotte and Kat took off in the Gundam, Harute, as they were catapulted off the mass driver, heading towards space. Mayu sat across the room, painting her nails, she hummed a quiet tune to herself.
"Hey, Mayu?"
"What is it Carrus?" Mayu replied, batting her eyelids.
"Wha? You're flirty today…"
"I'm always flirty with you silly!" Mayu giggled, trying not to ruin the colour on her nails.
"Well… anyway… do get the feeling that things aren't going quite as we'd hope?"
"What do you mean? There hasn't even been an attack in a month. I mean... sure there's what Athrun was talking about, but at least we KNOW that's coming..."
"That's… not quite I mean… I just get the feeling that something bad could happen… almost as if…"
Lawrence and Brandon sat within the hangar of their Astrays, as the pair enjoyed a quiet game of chess. Lawrence was trying to teach the game to Brandon, who hoped to get him to his level one day, but Brandon wasn't sure about if he could, as Lawrence's intellect was hard to match.
"Looks like you managed to last 13 moves this time Brandon you've improved a lot." Lawrence commented moving a knight over his flanks.
"… Well you taught me all about planning your moves a few steps ahead , I just can't seem to predict my opponent's moves so far ahead like you." Brandon replied, moving his queen forward, taking one of Lawrence's rooks.
"I always found it easier to do it at chess than it is in real life. After all, you know what kind of people we may end up fighting in the future." Lawrence smiled, as a bishop took Brandon's queen, his plan was coming to fruition.
Brandon grimaced, seeing that bishop was put into check. He moved his king back. "Think we'll last? After all, we'd be better off in ZAFT, they'd have better…"
Lawrence smiled, as he moved one pawn. "Checkmate."
Brandon's eyes widened in shock, not predicting his defeat at the hands of a single pawn. "Damn!"
Lawrence smiled, as he started putting his pieces away. "Remember, we may be what the people are calling Newtypes but we are only human. We're not Co-Ordinators, and we certainly don't possess the SEED…"
Brandon sighed, sighing, he walked towards the door. "Yeah, I know... I just wish were more likely to survive this… if you need me I'll be trying to get more inclined with the N-TD system and being able to fight efficiently after it. You should do the same with the Zero System."
Lawrence sighed, knowing Brandon was right. "Yeah, yeah… I know… but remember last time I used zero last time…"
"You stopped yourself from destroying the Novas colony. Sooner or later you'll have to use the Wing Zero Lawrence, Orb's future may depend on it…"
"When the day comes that it will be necessary to my plan, I'll tackle it when the time comes. For now, I'm happy using the Red Frame Kai. It saved my life you know…"
Brandon waved his hand, leaving the room. "Yeah… yeah… You've told me more times than I WANT to remember, if you need me I'll be in the Unicorn's hanger…"
Lawrence watched as Brandon left, then booting up his laptop, he opened up a chess program, hoping to improve his skills further.
Carrus silently closed his eyes, hoping to pass a little time. Mayu rested on his shoulder, spacing her fingers and toes while she lay on his bed. Carrus quietly dreamed, seeing lights and twinkling dots in space, when a dark form seemed to appear, bearing the shape of a Gundam, which slowly absorbed the other beings. Suddenly, a light emerged, the 00 Qan [T] no less. Carrus began to sweat, as his vision continued, he watched helplessly, as the shadow began to swallow the 00. Carrus' eyes burst open, and he surged forward, as Mayu gave a yelp of surprise, she fell on her side.
"HEY! I'm painting my nails Carr…" Mayu began to yell, when Carrus stood up and left. Mayu began to worry. Looking up, she watched as Carrus tidied his uniform up and wandered into the hall without a word.
"What did that mean?" Carrus' thoughts were a jumble, who wandered into the hall, his face clutching his hair, he scratched, scratching again and again to figure out the mystery of his vision. "What the hell was that?" Carrus found himself in front of Athrun's office. He knew Athrun would be one of the few people who could take him seriously. Wandering in, Athrun looked up from his paperwork seeing Carrus look distraught.
"Carrus? Are you all right? Your face is pale…" Athrun worried, he had never seen Carrus like this, but his reactions looked familiar.
"Athrun…" Carrus trembled, his eyes shook as he began to understand the vision. "I think Setsuna could be in danger…"
"In danger? What from?"
"I… I don't know… a Gundam? I think…"
Athrun sighed. "Only one Gundam?"
"Well, maybe…"
"Carrus, its ONE mobile suit against fourteen. The majority of that number are new models., most of which are capable of doing battle against a Destroy Gundam."
"I'm telling you Athrun! I honestly believe it'll happen!"
Athrun turned around, thinking about trusting Carrus, but his head still debating whether it was plausible. "One mobile suit though? Carrus, that sounds ridiculous..."
"Ridiculous or not, the fact is that it will happen! Please, just let me go in the Freedom, at least that way I can get up fast enough!"
"Carrus…"
"I'm telling you, I KNOW it's going to happen! I can't explain it, I can't even justify anything properly… but still… I can't sit back and watch as it happens and I didn't do anything!"
Athrun sighed, his head in his hands, as he contemplated the next step. "...Get going…" Carrus smiled, just about to burst through the door. "But once you get up there, Setsuna is your superior, and you listen to everything Lotte and Kat tell you to do, understood?"
"Yeah! Sure!" Carrus bounded out the door, completely ignoring Athrun's order. This made Athrun chuckle, reminiscing how close he is to Kira.
Raven strapped into his pilot suit, the black uniform felt good, almost making him invincible, as he floated towards his Strike Noir, the mechanics in the bay fled, knowing that Raven's presence was dangerous. Sliding into the cockpit, he started up the systems of the Strike, preparing him for his mission, when the captain of the ship appeared on the view screen.
"Raven, where are you going?"
"None of your business old man…" Raven sneered, as he turned off his comm systems. He stood on the catapult, knowing the Captain had no choice in letting him go. "Well, see ya jerks…" Raven smiled, as the Strike catapulted into space. He flew out into the distance, headed to Earth, spotting a ZAFT Daemon class carrier in the distance. He chose it as his target, flying out into the open, avoiding the debris field, wanting the enemy to know his presence.
Setsuna entered the bridge of his ship 'Celestial Being' and stood next to the ship captain, his eyes watched the empty void of space, as their ship drew ever closer to the Earth below. "Be ready to have the ship launch after our crew are fully loaded." Setsuna ordered while he remained hovering in his blue and white flight suit, "I have been told that we will be meeting up with an Orb unit on our way to Orb for an inspection."
"Inspection for what?" The Captain yelled in question surprised by the order.
"It's only for a precaution nothing more. Are the Trident and Elecro ready for launch?" Setsuna asked looking out the front window to see the ZAFT cruiser moving forward as two Lorasia assault cruisers flew beside the Celestial Being.
"Sir out long range scanners have picked something up" An officer below called up, "It seems to be a mobile suit."
"Not a problem, alert our Flag unit to keep an eye out. If it's an EA unit then they take it out understood?" The Captain ordered to the officer.
"Yes sir!" The officer responded looking to his control console, "Space Flag units one through six we have picked up an unidentified mobile suit incoming. If it appears hostile you are free to engage it."
Golden visors of the six Flags flash brightly as they look around. Two Flags arm themselves with a bazooka while all the others gather beam rifles.
"Roger sir, we are prepared. Stay on high alert all of you," The commander of the Flags ordered as they readied their weapons and began to look around. "Remember soldiers that there is an Orb unit coming as well so watch your fire."
"Yes sir!" The other five pilots responded quickly.
Raven watched as the Daemon's two catapults loaded with Flags. Smiling, he drew the "Shorty" beam pistols, and aimed them carefully between the decks, as the Flags began to launch. Raven pulled the trigger numerous times, as the beam rounds ripped through the torso of the machine. Both Flags went up in an instant, shaking the Celestial Being violently. Raven accelerated, as he drew his beam sabres, the laser cannons on his Striker pack, firing them and slicing through the beam guns and the missile launchers on the ship. Passing them, he watched as the last four Flags shot from the catapult.
"DAMN IT!" The commander of the squadron roared. "It's too damn fast!" Suddenly, an orange flash appeared, as an orange fighter fired several beam cannons at the black Gundam, as it flew past. "Wait a minute… what's that?"
Inside the Harute, Lotte and Kat flicked the controls quickly and in synchronisation, their minds working together.
"I don't think that's part of the ZAFT Forces...so..."
"Right, we take it out."
One of the Flag pilots called out, seeing the orange mobile armour. "Commander! Gundam Harute has been spotted!"
"All right! Then take out that black mobile suit!" The Flags turned around, aiming their weapons on the Noir, and began opening fire, driving Raven from the ship, which was now completely defenceless.
"Well, well, GN particles? Those aren't the same as a Flag..." Raven smiled, when suddenly, he gets a tingle at the back of his neck, and playfully fires, inches away from the Harute's cockpit. "Nice Mobile Suit... Clearly isn't a Flag..."
Kat jerked, seeing the beam. "That wasn't aimed at us…"
"Is he toying with us?" Lotte answered, transforming the Harute, while Kat took aim, firing all weapons at the Strike Noir.
"Oh no you don't..." Raven chuckles, firing a pair of Rocket Anchors into the hull of Celestial being and swinging around out of sight of the Flags.
"Hmm?"
"Out of sight…" Kat sighed.
Suddenly the Cannons on the Noir Striker fired from the other side of the ship, aimed at the Flags destroying all four in a few shots, when suddenly, the Noir flew out from its anchors, disconnecting entirely, and flying straight at the Harute, beam sabre drawn.
"DAMN!" Lotte and Kat cursed in unison, having no time to defect with a beam sabre, and deflecting with one of the fore arms, barely holding back Raven.
Aboard the bridge, Setsuna stands still looking at the monitors while the ship shakes slightly from the blasts. On a monitor next to Setsuna the Captain walked up to the FAITH agent. "Commander, that enemy unit is attacking us and we've lost our support."
"Harute is here...there are no problems... have the Elecro and Trident support it." Setsuna commanded.
Moments later the two other ZAFT carrier ships begin firing their cannons at the Noir, making sure none of their shots
hit the Harute or the smoking remains of Celestial Being
"Carriers? How boring..." Raven grinned, as he drew one of the beam pistols, aiming at the bridge of one of the Carriers and pulled the trigger, five times, watching as the Trident was shot in the bridge, exploding almost instantly. However, several life boats launch, although it is unclear how many crew had survived. But then, a large pod appears from the wreckage, as a lone Kshatriya opens its fins, launching all of its funnels directly at Raven, who kicked the Harute into Celestial being. "I'll deal with you later. After all, needing to use funnels against me… that's just sad!"
Lotte and Kat grunted, as the Harute slammed into the carrier. Raven spun around, drawing a second beam sabre, deflecting each shot from the funnels with precision, when the Kshatriya grabbed the left arm of the Strike with one of the claws in the right fin. Raven chuckled, as he spun behind the Kshatriya, tearing off the fin that held him, and aiming his beam sabre at the core of the mobile armour. "Too slow!"
Suddenly, a pair of railgun rounds burst from the direction of the earth, striking the Noir on the chest, pushing it away from the damaged mobile armour. "The hell?" Raven growled, turning his head to the source of the attack, and saw a white mobile suit fly at an incredible speed towards him, its frame was reminiscent of an angel. "What… is that?"