Chapter 2: Ways of the Warriors

The V-fin on the bridge of the Gundamusai lifted up, and the fins bent upwards and split apart, the gaps filled with a purple netting.

Inside the bridge, RAIMI said, "Commencing omni-directional scan to determine our location."

Captain nodded. "Roger," Turning, he said, "Do it, Shute."

"Right!" Shute looked at the Zakurello Phone and said, "Zakurello Gate, open!"

Nothing happened. The eyes on the Phone were shut, as if it was in pain.

"Zakurello Gate, open!" Shute said again. When nothing continued to happen, his face fell. "Hey…"

"As long as the Gate opens…" Bakunetsumaru breathed as he and Zero sat in the back.

"I should be able to get back to Lacroa." Zero finished.

The Gundam Force looked ahead, waiting for any sign of change.

"The Zakurello Gate is not responding." RAIMI announced.

Shute sighed. "It's no use, huh?"

"Monitoring wave-spectrum for non-random emissions and communications channels," RAIMI announced. After a few minutes, she said, "Search complete. Result: Negative on all wavelengths."

Shute groaned.

"So we don't know what's happened to us…" Captain muttered.

Unable to think about their predicament, Shute turned to Zero and Bakunetsumaru. He had a question for them about the people they fought in that large room.

"Those Dark Axis guys were the jerks who betray Ark and Lacroa, right?" He asked.

"Correct," Zero answered, "One was called Deathscythe."

"And one was Kibaomaru." Bakunetsumaru added.

Meanwhile, at the back of the bridge, Genkimaru had been fast asleep on one of RAIMI's large hands. When he heard their voices, he slowly woke up. Confused, he looked around, before focusing on the four at the front.

"There were others, too, right?" Shute asked Captain, thinking about that mono-eyed robot and that weird robot hand-cannon.

Captain nodded. "Right."

Shute began to get excited. "Maybe it was their base! Dark Axis headquarters!"

"Miss RAIMI?" Captain asked.

"Unable to confirm." RAIMI answered.

Shute had an idea. "Hey, wait! Maybe that kid we saved might know something!"

The Gundam Force got out of their seats and walked to the hand- but it was empty.

"Hey, where'd he go?" Shute asked.

Zero looked around and pointed. "There he is!"

The rest of the Force looked and saw a helmet and a pair of brown eyes peeking out from alcove on the wall. Genkimaru had flattened himself out.

"I'm glad you finally woke up!" Shute greeted friendly as they walked up to him. "Hi, I'm Shute! You okay?"

Genkimaru said nothing. He just stared at them.

"Hey, don't worry!" Shute said, catching the boy's unease. "We're on your side!"

Genkimaru's eyes narrowed.

"Let me talk to him, Shute," Bakunetsumaru said, and stepped forward. Then, in a oh-so-cutesy and sugary tone, said, "He's right, you know! There's nothing to be afraid of! We mean you know harm! Now please, be a good boy and come down-"

That was as far as he got, as Genkimaru jumped down from the wall onto his face and began to do a frenzied kick-dance.

He said, "I am Genkimaru, who are you creatures, where are we?"

Shute, Zero, and Captain stared at this scene, as the boy continued to carry on.

"Whatever your vile intentions are, I will fight you to the very end! No matter what kind of horrible things you do to me, you fiendish weirdos!" Genkimaru finished and hopped off of Bakunetsumaru's face.

"Who are calling a fiendish weirdo, you little brat!" Bakunetsumaru bellowed as he began to chase Genkimaru around the room. "Is that how you introduce yourself to someone, by insulting them! You've gotta be taught some manners, come back here you-!"

Shute tried to stop Bakunetsumaru from throttling Genkimaru, leaping between the two and saying, "Calm down, Baku', calm down! He's just a kid, you know! Okay?"

Bakunetsumaru stopped, but he was still fuming. "He may be small, but he's a Musha Gundam! His rude behavior is absolutely inexcusable!"

Shute looked at Genkimaru, who was now staring back in some kind of disgruntled fascination. "Kid Musha Gundam? No kidding!"

"He will grow up, you know!" Bakunetsumaru grumbled, though from his tone, he probably didn't think it was possible for this kid.

"I didn't know that Musha Gundams could grow up." Zero remarked dryly to Captain, but was secretly amazed. He had never seen a Musha Gundam child before. They looked so different from the fully grown ones.

"Amazing!" Captain said.

"Hey, take it easy, will ya!" Shute cried.

Captain and Zero looked back to the center of the room to see that Genkimaru had tackled Shute, and was now pulling at his cheeks. The human boy had his teeth clenched in a pained smile as his brain screamed out in agony- that kid was really pinching!

"What a flabby creature…!" Genkimaru remarked.

"What are ya doing!" Shute groaned, "I'm not made outta rubber, ya know!"

"Coulda fooled me," Genkimaru muttered, but then he recalled Shute pulling him away from his portal when Kibaomaru dropped him. "Wait, I remember you! You guys showed up when I was fighting the Dark Axis! I woulda shredded 'em if you hadn't interfered! You kidnapped me to save your Dark Axis friends! You're on their side, you evil losers!" He jumped back from Shute and pointed an accusing finger at them. "Your trickery won't work! You can't catch me!" He began to run again. "I'm outta here!"

As Genkimaru ran around the bridge, Shute cried, "We're not the Dark Axis! When we got there, they were just about to finish you off! If we hadn't saved you, they would have!"

"What kind of joke do you think I am?" Genkimaru demanded, "You can't deceive me, you liar!"

He passed the elevator, hitting the down button. The doors opened, and Genkimaru, seeing his chance, zipped inside.

"Stop!" Captain cried and the Gundam Force ran to the elevator, but the doors closed on them.

Genkimaru looked around. This is what I need…how does it start? He saw a flashing button. "Aha!"

-z-

The elevator opened up on a lower level. Poking his head out the door, Genkimaru looked around.

Coast is clear! He thought, and took off down the hall. When the hall split off into two separate directions he stopped and looked both ways. That way or this way? This way! He thought, and went right. Whoops! Dead-end! That way! Doing an about-face, he took off down the left hall.

As Genkimaru charged down the maze of corridors, small, green robotic mice called Elmice scurried and squeaked at his presence. This place was crazy enough as it was without some strange kid running around.

Where's that stupid exit! Genkimaru thought as he paused in a cross-section. This way? He took off down one path, only to find another dead-end. That's not it, must be this way! He zipped in the opposite direction, scaring some Elmice off.

However, what he found was another door fenced off by the SDG.

Oh no! Another dead-end! He thought discouragingly. Looking around, he decided, I guess I got no choice!

Genkimaru quickly traced another box into the air, creating a portal. Once it solidified, he jumped through it.

-z-

The portal opened up to the area outside of the ship, but once he got there, Genkimaru realized that something was wrong.

Hey, where am I? Why are there so many clouds? He thought, looking around. He looking down, he cried, "And why isn't there any ground!"

Waving his arms and legs frantically, Genkimaru plunged downward, screaming.

Luckily, the Gundam Force heard his wails. Zero shot downward after him.

"Hold on!" The Winged Knight yelled, and grabbed Genkimaru before he fell out of sight of the Gundamusai. As they rose back up, he scolded the Musha Gundam kid. "Where did you were going? You can't leave the ship while it's still in the air, it's too dangerous! Understand?"

Genkimaru nodded helplessly, his rebellious nature shaken by the experience. "Whatever…"

Zero rolled his eyes. "C'mon…"

-z-

Back in the bridge, Genkimaru was put back in the robotic hand, as the Gundam Force gathered around him.

"You see," Shute explained, "We came from a city called Neotopia, in another dimension."

Genkimaru drummed his fingers as he lay in the hand, a bored expression on his face.

"It's protected by a defense organization, the SDG. We all belong to it," Shute continued, "And we're called…" he and the Gundams struck poses. "…The Gundam Force!"

Genkimaru shrugged. "Never heard of ya."

The Gundam Force sighed.

"Very well," Captain rotated his head so that it was facing the front of the bridge. "RAIMI, display a video-image of Neotopia."

"Understood."

"Great idea, Captain!" Shute exclaimed, "Upload requested video file!"

When he heard RAIMI's voice, Genkimaru looked around. "Who is that? Who're you talking to?" Then he saw Captain's completely turned-around head and turned white. Pulling out his axe/dagger holder, he demanded in a scared voice, "Is this place haunted!"

Captain turned his head back to Genkimaru, confused at his question. He knew that Bakunetsumaru had a phobia of ghosts- did that apply to all Musha Gundams?

RAIMI then said, "Upload complete. Activating playback."

A holographic screen appeared over the holo-helm, showing an image of Neotopia.

"Take a look!" Shute said, waving at the screen. "That's where I live, Neotopia! It's in a different dimension than the one we're in now."

The screen switched to some footage of day-to-day life in the city.

"In Neotopia," Shute went on, "Humans and robots co-exist peacefully, and everyone was happy- until the Dark Axis showed up and tried to take over. But the Gundam Force wouldn't let them. We protected Neotopia and sent those Dark Axis goons back where they came from!"

The screen then showed clips from the Gundam Force's various battles with the Dark Axis, such as Captain's fight at the factory, Shute trying to knock Grappler off of a Horn-controlled swan ferry, and Zero and Bakunetsumaru's struggles against the Doga Bombers. The video finished with clips of the fight against the Commander, ending with the three Gundams, ready to unleash their Triple Attack, and then the entire Force posing in SDG headquarters.

"You see?" Shute asked.

"You see?" the Gundams asked.

But Genkimaru wasn't paying attention, he was lying down with his back at them. "Know what I think?" He asked before farting.

The Gundam Force was silent. And very, very disgusted.

Bakunetsumaru recovered first. He whipped out some ink, a brush, some red tape, and a sheet of paper.

"Ugh! Why that smelly little runt!" He growled, dabbing the brush with ink. With his eyes enflamed, he began to paint on the paper. "This kid needs to be educated!" Once he was finished, he held out his masterpiece. It was a giant character on it. Holding out the tape, he declared, "Properly educated, Musha-style!" Acting quickly, he folded and taped the paper into a fan. "Behold! Educational slapping fan!"

Bakunetsumaru brought the fan onto the ground, where it made a loud slap.

"Hold on!" Genkimaru yelped, jumping up. When he saw Bakunetsumaru and the fan, he said, "Chill out, dude."

"You must understand!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, slapping the fan against the hand with each word. "That to become a truly great Musha Gundam, you must master the way of the Musha! The Musha Code!" He began to slap the fan again. "You are undisciplined!"

"Yeah?" Genkimaru asked, "Says who?"

"I am Bakunetsumaru, the Blazing Samurai!" Bakunetsumaru declared, making the characters of his name appear. "Now listen! The way of the Musha is a life dedicated to chivalry! Where no deed is ever done that will dishonor your Gunsoul! A Musha depends on his Gunsoul for justice! An old friend and I had a difference of opinion, but he was a true Musha who understood the way!"

Bakunetsumaru gave the fan one more slap and pointed to the screen with it. At that moment, clips of his fights against Ashuramaru, a Musha Gundam Kibaomaru sent to aid the Dark Axis in their attacks on Neotopia. It had been a difficult struggle for Bakunetsumaru, not only because of Ashuramaru's power, but because he was once an old friend of Bakunetsumaru's, who had turned to a life of vengeance because of a sleight Bakunetsumaru did to him. But even though they had become enemies, he still respected the unspoken (But constantly shouted) honor between rivals, and even praised Bakunetsumaru's strength in the face of adversity.

"Try to believe me…what I did…I did for Ark…" The rival had said once defeated.

And Bakunetsumaru replied, "I believe you…Kujakumaru." using the fallen one's former name.

"This is but one example of what the eight virtues of the Musha Code demand!" Bakunetsumaru explained in the present, and began to count off his fingers. "Kindness, justice, respect…" His eyes glazed over as he trailed off. "Wisdom…ah…and, ah…" His eyes enflamed and he cried, "In short, eat well, sleep well, defeat the enemy, be polite, and live very honestly!" Wiping his brow, he asked, "Now, did you get all that…" He then saw Genkimaru was lying with his back turned again. "…or do you need to hear it from the slapping fan!"

"Hmph," Genkimaru glanced at him and recited, "Kindness, justice, respect, wisdom, loyalty, faith, devotion, and courtesy, the eight virtues!"

Bakunetsumaru's face scrunched up and he began to count on his fingers. "Kindness, justice, respect, wisdom…uh, let's see…"

Shute and Zero fell forward. "Baku'!"

Recovering, Zero summoned a violet rose (As he was wont to do) and said, "It would appear it's time for me to take a turn," Twirling in the air, he scattered the rose's petals. "I am the magnificent Winged Knight! The elegant Knight Gundam Zero!"

Zero halted into an elegant pose, lights sparkling around him.

"Well said!" Bakunetsumaru applauded.

"All right!" Shute cheered.

Captain nodded. "Well said."

Genkimaru, watching this spectacle, raised an eyebrow. "So, you're a Winged Knight, huh?"

Zero lowered to Genkimaru's level and said, "Consider the knight's chivalry, and learn from one who has been deemed a paragon of this glorious lifestyle, possessing courage and loyalty and tolerance. I protect those in need- especially fair damsels. That is the chivalry code of the Knights of Lacroa, my beloved homeland. Like Ark, it is a country in Soladiorama, a land where humans and Knight Gundams live together, and protect the peace."

Zero as spoke, he gestured to the screen and it showed footage from his exploits, such as protecting Shute and his friends from Bagubagu at the lake, or from a rampaging robotic statue of Mayor Margaret Gathermoon under Dark Axis control. It also showed his fight against Tallgeese, an evil Knight had who betrayed Lacroa for the Dark Axis, and how he trapped him in the Dark Hole of Lacroa, where magic cannot exist. It then showed him merging with Fenn, a spirit of Lacroa who Zero raised into the great Feather Dragon, and they defeated Tallgeese again, trapping him in a breach in a magic square. As he watched, Zero remembered the last words of his princess, before turning to stone.

"I leave the future in your hands…"

"Oh, princess…" He whispered.

"Lacroa…" Genkimaru muttered before snapping his fingers, "Yeah, I remember now. Lacroa is that lame country that the Dark Axis defeated so easily, right?"

Zero glared daggers at the child Musha. "It's not defeated yet! We're finally going to save the petrified princess and her citizens!"

Genkimaru rolled his eyes. "Finally! You mean you just ditched them like that until now? What a coward!"

A vein bulged under Zero's helmet. "What! A coward!"

Zero, fuming and muttering curses, had to be led away from Genkimaru by Shute, playing his role as Gundam Force peacemaker.

"Calm down, he doesn't understand!" the human boy said appeasingly, "This is all new to him!"

Captain then decided that enough was enough. Stepping forward, he said, "I guess it's my turn."

"Captain!" Shute cried, as all eyes turned to the Gundam.

Captain did several military punches and kicks into the air. His targeting scope slid down over his eye and he said, "I'm Captain Gundam! I've been granted special dispensation to use firearms against the forces of the Dark Axis!" He did a flip and posed. The light gleamed off of his V-fin. "I am the leader of the Gundam Force! My comrades and I are dedicated to defeating the Dark Axis invaders."

The screen then showed footage of Captain's battles, such as his first assault against Zapper Zaku, the battle at the Dimensional Transport Device, the fight against the Big-Zam, and ending with his battle against Commander Sazabi.

"Currently, we are on a mission to save Lacroa." Captain stated as the video ended.

"Oh yeah?" Genkimaru asked, "What're you guys floatin' around here for?"

"We…don't know that yet." Captain admitted.

Genkimaru scoffed. "Why should I trust a bunch of losers?"

Captain stared. He hadn't met anyone as difficult as Genkimaru before, and the experience was very tiresome.

"You can make him understand, Captain!" Shute urged, "Keep trying!"

At the sound of Shute's encouragement, Captain felt a burst of power and his eyes enflamed. "Genkimaru!"

"Huh?" Genkimaru blinked. "What's up?"

"We don't know if we can trust you either," Captain said, stepping towards him. "However, considering the situation, I think it's best if we work together. Don't you agree?"

"Agree? No way!" Genkimaru snapped, You think you can convince me with your ridiculous videos and your so-called logic? You better go back to Gundam school, Captain! You're so lame!"

As genkimaru spoke, the flame in Captain's eyes diminished until it was completely gone. Captain then walked over to the back of Bakunetsumaru's chair, leaned against it and sighed.

"Captain! Hey, Captain! Wait a second!" Shute yelled quickly, waving his arms desperately. "What about your chivalry! You didn't tell him anything about that!"

"Shute's right!" Zero and Bakunetsumaru joined in, "We want to hear about your chivalry, Captain!"

Captain turned to them and said, "I'd guess I'd call it…mecha chivalry."

"Huh?" Shute, Zero and Bakunetsumaru went.

"Let me explain what I mean by that," Captain said, and a compartment opened up on his chest to reveal the most vital part of him, a glass ball with a flame lit inside, surrounded by two spinning gold rings; the Soul Drive. "Everytime I must choose which path to take, I am guided by my Soul Drive. And whatever choice I make, my friend Shute and my comrades-in-arms will be by my side. And we will always do our best, no matter what. That is mecha chivalry, see?"

Shute smiled, and Zero and Bakunetsumaru nodded solemnly.

But Genkimaru wasn't so impressed. Pointing at Shute, he asked, "Yeah? What about that rubber-face guy over there? What good is he when you're fighting? Is he really one of your team? I mean, a weakling like that must be real pain to put up with!"

Shute frowned. Not just because of Genkimaru was saying, but that he knew deep down he was the weakest of the Force. But he was the one who saved Zero and Captain when they were captured by the Dark Axis. He was the one who got Captain's Soul Drive back from Commander Sazabi. And without him, Captain wouldn't be able to activate his Soul Drive! That counted too, didn't it?

Before he could say just that, the rest of the Gundam Force yelled at Genkimaru, "You're outta line, pal! Shute here is our best friend!"

Shute grinned. "You guys…!" That's right, who cared what that little brat thought?

Genkimaru stared them for a minute before snorting, looking away.

"Aw, Genkimaru! Haven't you ever…" Shute began to say, really fed up with the kid's attitude, when a klaxon sounded.

"Interdimensional communication has been established." RAIMI announced, "Uploading transmission and configuring image to display.

The clockwork parts on the ceiling in the center of the room lit up, and a platform rose up underneath it.

"Great!" Shute cried, relieved to have someone other than Genkimaru to talk with. "It must be from SDG headquarters! Finally!"

"Yes, that's a relief." Captain agreed.

A circular holo-screen appeared in the spotlight shining down, and the first thing the Gundam Force and genkimaru saw was a mop of blond hair, tied into a large ponytail.

Upon seeing this hair, the Gundam Force went, "Huh?"

The hair swiveled around, showing the face of the head it was growing on. It was a cute girl with big blue eyes.

"Sayla!" Shute, Captain and Bakunetsumaru cried.

"My princess!" Zero gasped.

"Who?" Genkimaru asked, confused.

"Hi there," Sayla greeted, "It's nice to see you."

Another face then slid in front of her. "I told you it would work!" Bell Wood muttered, a small, half-eaten cake in his hand, crumbs around his mouth.

"Hey, wait!" Shute yelled, "Is that Sayla's cake you got there!"

Bell Wood ignored him. "This is strange! You guys know where you are? Whatever dimension you're in right now isn't ours or Lacroa's!"

"It's neither dimension?" Captain asked.

"Whaddya mean?" Bakunetsumaru demanded, "Where are we!"

Bell Wood continued to type. "Those coordinates are imaginary numbers! Makes no sense!"

As Bell Wood tried to work it out, Sayla hopped in front.

"There's cake in the food storage are for all of you," Sayla said, "Please don't hesitate to eat them, all right?"

Shute's eyes rippled, his cheeks reddened, and his mouth watered. "Thank you, Sayla," He said, wiping away the drool. "That sounds really good!"

Next to him, Zero pondered their conundrum. "Neither our dimension or Lacroa's…I've got it! We must be in the Minov Boundary Sea!"

"Minov Boundary Sea!" Everyone repeated, looking at him.

"Correct," Zero explained, "When supernatural powers collide, there are those who will fall into the divergent gaps that exist between dimensional boundaries. It is said that one of these gaps is the Minov Boundary Sea, from which no one is capable of returning."

Shute felt his throat dry up. "You mean we're gonna be stuck here forever?"

Zero considered. "Well, according to the ancient legends of Lacroa…"

"Wait!" Bakunetsumaru interrupted, "That rascal Genkimaru has disappeared again!"

"What!" But it was true. The hand was empty.

-z-

On the V-fin of the Gundamusai, Genkimaru opened the basket he had found in the food storage. Pulling out the pastry within, he studied it, sniffed it. So…this was a 'cake' huh?

Is this stuff even edible? He wondered. It felt like bread, with some odd creamy stuff on top. Cautiously, he licked it.

The result was instantaneous. His taste buds did a joyous dance while his cheeks reddened.

"Not…bad…" He muttered, shaking at these new sensations running throughout his body.

-z-

Back at the bridge, the Gundam Force reconnoitered after searching the ship.

"Did you find him?" Bakunetsumaru asked.

"No!" Zero replied.

"We know he was in the food storage area," Captain remarked, "It was in shambles!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Shute saw something fell down the outside through the bridge's window. Rushing over, he saw that it was a basket!

"That was my cake!" Shute cried, and looked up. He made a dash for the elevator.

-z-

Genkimaru was doing an impressive imitation of a piranha as he devoured Sayla's cake. It was so good!

"Aha!"

Genkimaru looked up and saw the Gundam Force looking down at him. Shute had a particularly angry look in his eyes.

"Just as I thought!" Shute shouted hotly, pointing an accusing finger. "He found Sayla's cake and now the little glutton is gobbling it all up!"

Genkimaru blew raspberries at Shute before eating faster than ever. "Don' like it anyway!" He muttered between chews, "I' tastes awful!"

That got Shute's ire up, and it took all three Gundams to keep him from throttling the little Musha Gundam.

"Genkimaru!" Shute roared over the Gundams' pleas to stay calm, "Listen you! You just can't take things that belong to somebody else! Especially when it's the best cake in the universe! Just wait till I…"

Genkimaru ignored him. This weird detour might actually be some fun!

-z-

Hanging underneath the Gundamusai, Cobramaru sighed. This weird little detour might actually be some fun…if he didn't die from boredom first. Behind him, he sensed Deathscythe's magic shift as it clung to the bottom of the ship. As he heard the antics going on above, he allowed himself a private laugh. Those fools wouldn't know trouble until he was through!

Meanwhile, on the very back, some Zakos stared out at the endless clouds while one jumped around.

"What's going to happen to us now!" He cried hysterically, "Zako!"

-End chapter 2-

A/N: If this chapter seems familiar to you, than that's because the episode it's based on was a clip show, just like the first chapter of Book 3. Yeah, there was such a gap between the two seasons that the makers decided to throw one in to tell late viewers what's going on and stuff, or they just had to fill up time. In any case, Genkimaru certainly isn't starting out well with the Force, what with his bratty behavior. I also wanted to state what the character of Bakunetsumaru's 'educational slapping fan' was, but I couldn't find it. If anyone knows, please say so, and I'll give you a credit.

Also, we finally know the name of the planet Ark and Lacroa is on! Soladiorama! Yay!