"I apologize for the hostility earlier," Rear Admiral Garcia said, sitting down behind his desk. "Your identities have been confirmed. However, I must inquire as to what that other ship is. And, of course, there's the matter of this individual."

The bald man looked at Zero, frowning.

"Well? Nothing to say?"

Zero just looked at Murrue, then back at Garcia.

"You can call me Zero, as my superior does," he said, but his voice now was different. Monotone. Metallic. As if he were machine rather than man.

Optical voice? But there was only one person I know-knew-who had that kind of equipment-and he's dead! Mu thought, but kept his face a mask.

Garcia's eyebrows rose.

"Really? Then you're in luck." He looked to his right. Alex walked in, alongside Mazer, both of whom looked unhappy.

"Well, well. Aleksander Kolodziej himself. Welcome," Garcia said, standing up. Alex sized him up, analyzing the man he'd known for only a few seconds, but whom he already hated.

Arrogant, pompous, political slimeball, probably lets his goons do his job for him while he sits on his ass and hogs the glory, Alex listed, smirking.

"And what's so funny?" Garcia asked, the guards behind Alex tensing.

"Nothing," Alex said flippantly. "Just glad I'm alive."

Garcia grinned then.

"If you'd like to stay that way, then you'll do as I say."

Alex suddenly felt as if the ground had disappeared from beneath his feet.

Oh, no. What do you want, you bastard?

"But first, you will tell your armored friend here to take off his helmet," Garcia leaned back into his chair, certain of victory. Alex looked at Zero.

"No," he said. The guards pressed their rifles into his back. Alex just shook his head. "No way."

Biddaulph, a rather skinny individual, and Garcia's XO, and two guards left the room. He looked at Alex, then at Mu.

"Follow me, please."

Alex glared at the guard behind him, who had taken the opportunity to press the barrel of the rifle into his spine.

Damn git, you'll pay for that. Later.

It was a long walk, but Alex was thankful their destination was Archangel, not Ark. Then it clicked.

Only reason would be…nope, still not good.

Garcia walked into the mess hall, where Archangel's crew was held.

"I'd like to know the identity of the Strike pilot," Garcia said loudly. Alex noticed Kira trying to stand up, only to be held down by Murdoch.

Good man, chief. Longer Kira stays out of their hands, the better my chances are.

He wasn't being a self-preserving prick. If they lost Kira here, now, they wouldn't have any time to get the data they needed, let alone escape.

"Lieutenant La Flaga was the pilot," Murdoch said, facing the admiral. "Ask him."

Garcia smirked.

"Interesting lie. We already know he flew the Moebius Zero."

He looked to his left, and grabbed Miriallia.

"Who would expect a young woman to be the pilot of such a machine?" He asked, a dangerous smile on his face. Tolle was held down by two guards as he tried to help her.

Kira launched to his feet, Murdoch actually crying out in surprise of the young man's strength.

"Leave her alone! I'm the pilot!"

And our chances are yet again diminished, Alex thought. Garcia released Miriallia, and faced him.

"Kid, you're a brave one for trying to defend her. But that machine wasn't meant to piloted by a twerp like you!"

His fist flew up at the last word, but Kira stepped to the side, and, with one great tug, launched Garcia into one of his own soldiers.

"I haven't done anything to deserve this treatment!"

Flay decided to try to help him, though the results weren't good.

"Kira is the pilot, and a coordinator!" She yelled.

Murdoch groaned and sat back down.

Garcia stood up.

"A coordinator?"

A while later, Kira was in the hangar.

"I want you to remove the lock on this OS," Garcia said, looking down at the young coordinator. "Also, I'd like you to show us how to make a copy of this mobile suit. The specs are in the computer, right?"

"I'm a civilian," Kira said. "I don't have to help you."

"But you've already betrayed your people by helping an Alliance warship."

Kira froze as those words registered.

Betrayed…

"You'll be well looked after in the Eurasian Federation," Garcia said gently, resting his hand on Kira's shoulder. He let go, and the guards aimed their rifles at Kira.


The umbrella deactivated, and the Blitz launched slowly. Activating mirage colloid, it slowly approached Artemis.

That was easy. Now, I just have to…

Blitz targeted the massive energy emitters placed in the front of Artemis, and fired.

Zero knew about the explosions even before the soldiers behind him did. The armor enabled him to hack into databases quickly, in ways even he didn't understand. He just wore the armor, he never asked Alex how he got it, or from who.

"What the-"

It took everything Zero had just to let the two behind him live. Neumann walked up to them.

"What's going on?"

The soldiers were flustered.

"We-we don't know-the commander-"

"Well, find out, or get out of our way! This is an attack, so just move!"

Zero sprang into action, his elbows smashing into the guards' faces, while the crew scrambled. As the guards regained their balance, Zero's leg shot up, connecting with the left soldier's face. He dropped like a rag doll, blood on his face. He knocked the rifle out of the remaining one's hands, then slammed his open hand into the man's neck. The soldier tried to gasp for air, but Zero grabbed him by the collar and threw him over the closest table. Then, with nothing more than a nod directed at the crew, he ran out of the room.

"Does that mean 'go'?" Murdoch asked, grabbing one of the rifles.


Murrue was screaming at the top of her lungs. Mu had gotten the brilliant idea to pretend that the air in the room was being sucked out. Even Badgiruel was participating. They heard two dull thuds on the door, and stopped. The three stepped to the side as the door opened.

"You don't really think you can get the drop on me, do you?"

"Zero!" Mu said, surprised.

"You were expecting more of Garcia's flunkies?" The faceless being asked. "My guess: the Blitz. Get to the Archangel. I still have something to do here."

"That 'something' happen to be what Alex said you planned on getting here?" Mu asked quickly, looking around.

"Precisely, Mr. La Flaga. Now get going. Don't worry, I know my way around."

With that, Zero disappeared again.

"I hope I live long enough to see the man behind the mask," Mu muttered, then followed Ramius out.


In the hangar, the soldiers were trying to figure out what was going on.

"Control, this is Garcia! What's happening?!"

"We don't know! There's nothing on our scanners!"

"I'm pretty sure those are explosions!" Garcia screeched.

Kira quickly closed the laptop and kicked the soldiers by the hatch. The cockpit closed, and Garcia whirled around.

"You little bastard!" He screamed up at the Strike, which was now moving away.

"We're under attack! Don't waste time arguing!" Kira broadcasted, now waiting as the side panel on the wall opened, attaching the Sword Striker module.

The Blitz had entered the base, and was now firing at every Moebius unit it caught in its scanners. The Strike suddenly floated into view, and Nicol grimaced.

"You again?"

The Blitz fired its Gleipnir anchor, and Strike responded with its Panzer Eisen rocket anchor. The two smashed into each other, and the mobile suits began their battle.

"How did this happen?!" Garcia panicked, looking outside as X-102 Duel and X-103 Buster suddenly arrived and began destroying Artemis' interior.

"Your own pride."

Garcia whirled, only to get shot in the shoulder. He fell to the ground, groaning, as Zero expertly shot the remaining soldiers in the head.

"D-damn you," Garcia whispered.

"Damn me? Figures you'd say that, Garcia. You don't remember me, do you?"

"What-what are you talking about!?" Garcia yelled, eyeing the pistol on his right.

Zero relaxed, and the helmet hissed. He took it off, and Garcia's eyes widened as he recognized the face.

"You-it can't be! You're dead! You're DEAD!"

"Yes, scream all you like. I survived," Zero said. "You should have known that. I'm back. And I remember everything, Garcia. I remember you. And now you die. Heads up."

With that, Zero rushed out of the room, and Garcia looked out the viewport just in time to see a Moebius slam into it. Behind Zero, the wall exploded, and he stumbled and fell.

"That…wasn't the brightest idea I had," he said, putting the helmet back on. "See you in hell, Admiral." He took off down the corridor.


The Strike swung its sword, cutting a lancer dart in half before attempting to cleave Blitz in half.

"Kira! We're launching! Please return!"

Miriallia's voice made Kira pause, and he immediately pulled the sticks back. The Strike flipped and flew after the Archangel.

"Running away?!" Nicol yelled, attempting to follow. A beam blast stopped him.

"Sorry, but I can't allow that," a voice said. Nicol stared at the near-replica of his stolen Suit, and then pulled away.

Inside Hellshadow, Steve sighed.

"That was close. I only have two minutes worth of energy right now, anyway," he said, entering Ark.

The ships activated their engines, and slowly pulled out of the exploding hangar. Inside Ark, Mazer gritted his teeth.

"Come on, kid. Get out of there," he whispered.

Alex rushed into the room, staring at the screen.

"Holy God! Didn't think it'd be this bad!" He flinched as an Agamemnon-class flagship exploded, peppering the hangar with flame and debris. "Where's Zero?"

Murrue's face appeared on-screen.

"He's on our ship. He's in a room right now, resting, I guess."

Resting? He wouldn't-oh, no. And I can't-damn!

"That's fine for now, Murrue. Leave him be for now. I'll get him here later."

He disconnected. Then sat down slowly, grimacing.

"Something wrong?" Mazer asked, watching Alex and the scanners simultaneously.

"I hope not," Alex whispered.

On the Archangel, Kira walked into his room and dropped onto the bed face first.

Traitor. Am I one? Maybe he was right.

He buried his head in the pillow as Torii landed on the desk. He heard a thud next door, but was too tired to check it.

Zero collapsed onto the ground, struggling to get the helmet off.

Damn it! Not now, please! Just…have to get…

He pulled a briefcase to the ground, and unlocked it. Hands shaking, he pulled out a syringe, and injected himself in his left forearm. He spasmed as the liquid entered his bloodstream. After a while, he dropped the needle and, with great effort, pulled himself onto the bed.

If we don't end this war soon…if we don't find it soon…I'm dead.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Faster than I thought, but I had some free time, and decided not to waste it. Hope you liked it. Next update shouldn't take any longer than two weeks, thought I'm hoping for one only. Zero's past will be explored later in the story. -Hellshadow