Gundam 00
Rajoim and Seraph are mine. By the way, it's pronounced RA-HO-IM.
Chapter 7 – Project Seraph

"Seraph… assigned number GN-999, close combat and a long range wipe out prototype… That's all the data we could collect?" the Haros chirped yes in unison.

"Armaments… GN Beam Zweihander… Its solid blade is used against those who can use GN fields. GN Blade Pistol found on the shins are used as dual beam pistols as well as daggers or shin blades. The blades are also aligned with GN particles..." Ian noted the similarities in supposed role with multiple suits, such as the Exia, but being a wipe out type like the Virtue? He couldn't figure out how. The weight however, suggested it was nearly as heavy as the Virtue.

"That being the case… where could all this weight be coming from…?" the frame of the suit itself was not heavy. Analysis of each piece of armor by the Haros indicate it being the same weight as that of Exia or Kyrios. But indications in the Zweihander are leading him to believe that's where all the weight is coming from. As the Haros scanned over the Zweihander, a huge amount of condensed particles were detected at its core.

"What is this…?"

-0-0-0-0-0-

"Rajoim?" Lockon called out.

"Hm?" Rajoim said as stopped walking down the corridor. The tall brown-haired Mesiter was behind him already as he looked back. By the look on his face, it seemed he was worried.

"You sure you're ok now…?" Lockon slowly said. He eyed the boy from head to toe. Everything seemed to be normal. He looked like he needed a good night's sleep though.

"I'm fine." Rajoim answered firmly. He turned around and floated down the Ptolemaios' corridor.

"On the outside… But I'm sure you have some things to think about… don't you?" Lockon said quietly, as he watched the boy slip out of his sight.

-0-0-0-0-0-

----You could die, do you understand that…?---- Rajoim pondered on Sumeragi's words as he slowly floated away from the older Meister.

"Dying… everyone dies at some point… don't they…? Why should I care…? I have people that I want to protect… Doesn't she understand that…?" Feldt emerged from one of the doors ahead. She slowly approached Rajoim, and they stopped in front of each other.

"Rajo-kun… I-----" Rajoim cut her off.

"I'm fine." He growled. Feldt looked rather hurt.

"…I'm sorry." Rajoim said within earshot. His best friend leapt at him. He slowly hugged her back.

"Please, PLEASE just don't get hurt like that again… please…" she stammered. He'd never seen Feldt like this. It was pretty nice getting to hug the real thing, not just in that dream he had… or rather nightmare.

"Don't worry, I won't." his serious demeanor slowly faded. A small smirk appeared on his face.

"So, what's this Alleujah told me about you and Lockon sharing a moment?" Feldt pushed him back. He was stifling his laughter as he saw how she'd reacted.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Just a few minutes earlier…

Rajoim breathed in deeply as he sat there in his cockpit. He had just finished docking with the Ptolemy, right after all the others. It was rather cramped in the hangar though. Since the Ptolemy only had four containers for the Gundams, one container was specially built to accommodate the Hpares--- now the Seraph--- and the Exia. Still, it was a pretty tight fit. He decided he should get out of the Hangar before he gets too claustrophobic. The hatch opened with a hiss.

Some Haros started to run scans on the Seraph. That's expected, he thought. It was technically a new Suit. He floated towards the door to the corridors. As soon as he got through, he met Allelujah outside. The older Meister greeted him with a smile.

"How are you feeling?" he asked. Rajoim shrugged.

"Fine, I guess." Allelujah looked like he was hiding something from him. Allelujah was just staring at him.

"What?" Rajoim asked. Allelujah let out an awkward laugh. He told him he saw Lockon and Feldt have a sort of moment before the entire ambush thing. Blackmail material, Rajoim thought. Allelujah said he had something to do and quickly walked away.

"That was strange…" Rajoim brushed the thoughts off and continued down the corridor. He met Tieria along the way, who looked like he'd just cried.

"Tieria…?" the purple-haired Meister didn't seem to notice him and just continued floating down the corridor.

"I guess I shouldn't pry…" He met several other crewmates along the way, who all asked if he was fine. He gave them all the generic 'Yes I'm fine' before quickly floating away. The question started to annoy him.

"Argh… if anyone asks me that again I'll…" he spied Lockon out of the corner of his eye while rounding another corner.

"I just hope he doesn't ask me that again…"

-0-0-0-0-0-

And yet he still asked him the question. He sighed, and then turned to face Feldt, who was wondering why he sighed just now.

"C'mon, don't be shy, tell me already. *pffffft…*" she hit him hard on the arm. She had good power, he gave her that.

"Jerk !" she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Oho, what's this? Has the stoic Feldt Grace's heart been stolen by a dashing man reducing her attitude to that of a love-struck, in-denial adolescent?" he dodged some more punches she tried to throw at him. A pair of hands caught Feldt's as she tried to swing again. Rajoim couldn't help but laugh.

"Speak of the devil…" Rajoim smiled. Lockon caught Feldt's hands right before she could smack him again.

"That's enough you two, Feldt, you need to report back to the bridge and YOU need rest." Lockon said. He dragged Rajoim away. As they passed Feldt, he could feel the tension between the two of them.

(You tell him anything so help me Rajoim Kruez-----!)

(Ohhh I'm so scared….!) They whispered more remarks as they passed each other. Lockon sighed.

(One minute he's all moody the next… Hahhh, I don't get this kid… Still, he seems more… mature now…) Lockon thought as he looked back to the boy he was dragging. He was sticking his tongue out at Feldt, who did the same.

(… Then again…) Lockon laughed.

-0-0-0-0-0-

"Sumeragi-san?" Sumeragi turned around. Christina was passing a bottle to her.

"We can't have you passing out now can we?" she thanked the girl as she floated away. Sumeragi gulped down on the water bottle. She could appreciate something other than wine right now, and she welcomed the refreshing feeling it brought to her. For a small moment, she broke away from the troubles of being a member of Celestial Being. Her moment of solace didn't last long, as she remembered her duties.

"Lichty, how are the repairs on the Gundams doing?" she asked the helmsman.

"Everything's going smoothly so far-----" Lichty suddenly clasped his earpiece. Ian was sending him a message.

"Sumeragi-san, Ian wants to see you in the hangar right now." Sumeragi blinked.

"Tell Ian I'm coming." Lichty nodded as she got up from her chair. As she floated down the corridor, she saw Rajoim and Feldt having an argument. She sighed and continued down the corridor towards the hangar. As soon as she got through the door, Ian motioned for her to look at the screen he was looking at.

"Is that… a concentration of GN particles…?" she asked the mechanic. He nodded in reply.

"Yes. The Zweihandr has indications that it may not only be used as a sword, it is convertible into an extreme long range assault module." Sumeragi's eyebrows furrowed.

"Do you know how?" she asked. Ian shook his head.

"No, but the Haros are doing everything they can to analyze the weapon as soon as possible."

"But what's the problem?" Sumeragi asked. Ian scratched his head.

"The condensed particles are what's bothering me. It's even larger than Virtue's Burst Mode Cannon. We can't even activate it, and Veda isn't providing me with information either" Sumeragi looked at Ian suddenly.

"Not even Veda has data on this thing?" Ian merely nodded.

"But that much particles… is troubling… Where'd this come from?" Sumeragi muttered. Ian looked at her. It was one of those times not even she knew what to do.

"The only possible explanation would be the South-East Asian facility that was destroyed several years ago." Ian finally said.

"You mean where Rajoim was from?" Sumeragi asked.

"Yes, that's the one. Before the incident they were researching on a GN Buster Rifle, capable of taking out an entire squad of mobile suits with one shot. It could be considered on par with, say, a colony laser." Ian said. Sumeragi was now extremely frustrated.

"Let's leave it at that for now. I don't think we can solve this problem in one day." She said, looking at the Seraph.

"Just like the war cannot be solved at one time. We'll commence operations once all the Gundams are up and running." Ian said as he put away the files on the Zweihander and the Seraph. Sumeragi nodded.

"If we only had the leisure of having time, but we're against the clock. We have to work quickly." She said to him. Ian blinked, then smiled with her.

"I'll have the repairs done as soon as possible." As Sumeragi left the hangar, Ian turned to look at the Seraph.

"We'll just have to find out what you're made of some other time." Ian laughed.

-0-0-0-0-0-

"Allelujah." Rajoim called out. The other Meister was getting ready to head out for something. Allelujah greeted him with another one of his smiles.

"I thought Lockon already dragged you to your room?" he asked. Rajoim sighed.

"I'm fine, more importantly where are you going?" Rajoim asked. Allelujah had a sullen look on his face.

"To face my past." Allelujah said resolutely. Rajoim was a bit surprised. Allelujah wasn't the happiest of people he's met, but he was quite a nice man. Seeing him this serious, Rajoim thought, it must be something important.

"Super-Soldier right?" Rajoim asked. Allelujah titled his head in a questioning manner.

"How did you…?"

"Sumeragi's let it slip once or twice. When she gets drunk there's no going back." He said slightly joking. Allelujah smiled a bit, but his expression reverted. Rajoim thought it was best not to take it too far.

"I'm sorry, it isn't not your fault Rajoim." Allelujah said. "But I must destroy the facility that creates people like me. Their horrible experiments have to stop." Rajoim didn't know what to say.

"If we don't, another one like me might be created. Not the me right now, another me I've been suppressing, and he's the one you should be worried about. He'll snap your neck without a second thought." Rajoim didn't know if Allelujah was joking or serious. Allelujah laughed slightly. Not a comforting joke, Rajoim thought.

"I wish you good luck Allelujah." Rajoim reached his hand out to Allelujah. He took it and shook firmly.

"You as well, have changed, eh Rajoim?" Rajoim smiled at the compliment. Allelujah walked off towards the hangar.

(I wonder if he'll find his answers…) Rajoim thought.

(Let's hope I find mine as well…)

-0-0-0-0-0-

"Rajo-kun?" Sumeragi asked in surprise as she spotted him at the Bridge's door. He greeted his senior.

"Sumeragi-san."

"What's wrong?" the captain asked. Rajoim hesitated slightly.

"I… I'd like to go back to the surface, to check on something." He said. Sumeragi raised an eyebrow.

"Check on what? We've barely any time to spare before the HRL might attack us again."

"I know I know, but it'll be quick." Rajoim pleaded. Sumeragi crossed her arms over her chest. Rajoim tried his best to keep his eyes… above the border. Damn hormones, he thought.

"I'm listening." Rajoim sighed with relief.

"Since it might work to our advantage if we had known everything about the Seraph, I thought it would better for me to investigate the South-East Asian Facility located in the Philippines." Rajoim smoothly said, thinking he couldn't talk his way into actually getting the mission. Sumeragi was actually amazed that Rajoim took the initiative like that.

"But you do know that it was destroyed by the self-destruct mechanism-----" Rajoim cut her off.

"I know, I was there when it happened remember? Still, Celestial Being's data banks were designed to be sturdy enough for any explosion. If I could find the main terminal, I could get the information we need." Rajoim said. Sumeragi looked skeptic about it.

"I dunno…."

-0-0-0-0-0-

"In the end you really had to let him go didn't you?" Lichty asked the captain. Rajoim had launched already briefly after Allelujah and Tieria did.

"I could've refused, but we need that data, IF it exists." Sumeragi said. She motioned for Feldt and Christina to monitor the three deployed units.

"You know yourself there's a possibility the HRL won't continue their capture attempts, why'd you give him a time-limit?" Lasse asked the captain. She laughed slightly.

"I've known that boy for a long time, and he works extremely well under pressure. Might as well be safe." She said. She suddenly looked serious. "As well as, I know he won't be comfortable staying there for long…" Feldt fidgeted in her seat.

"What's the status of the Kyrios and the Virtue?" Sumeragi asked.

"They've nearly reached the Orbital Elevetor. Seraph is already descending into the Earth's Atmosphere." Christina said. Sumeragi sighed and thought of what the next move should be.

-0-0-0-0-0-

"Entry point was perfect, I'm directly over it." Rajoim said to himself as he flew towards the islands he'd once called home. As he quickly descended into the Earth's atmosphere, he knew he had to keep a low profile as he was approaching hostile territory.

"Activating GN amplifiers…!" the 'fins' at the sides of the head lit, and the six wings appeared from its back. It wrapped around the Seraph like before, as it went into a sort of stealth mode. From all angles it would blend into the background. From below its colors blended with the sky, and from above it blended with the land or the sea. He was descending even more quickly now, towards an artificial island somewhere along the stretch of the bay of the main capital. Hidden in the dense forest there was---- or rather was what remained---- of the Facility of Celestial Being.

"A point in my life I'd rather not reminisce…" he laughed slightly to hide his unrest at being there. He didn't actually want to go there, just a burning curiosity of his… his not being able to let go of the past. He had to know the secrets of the new Gundam he'd been given, how it survived the explosion in the facility. He didn't even know where to start looking. He landed near the remains of what he thought was a scorched entrance.

"Haro, let's go." He brought along a Haro for data gathering if he actually came across a data terminal.

"Yokai! Yokai!" it chirped back. He exited the cockpit as he let the Seraph stay in Camouflaged. He set foot on the metal surface of the area he landed on. He lifted the tint on his helmet to see better.

"Let's explore shall we?" he carried the Haro in front of him as a flashlight. The dark corridors lit up as he walked along them.

"*groan* It's dark…" Rajoim whined. He never liked the dark, or rather, being left in a tight dark space. It was like being on his own. No one to count on…

"Scared! Scared!" the Haro mocked. Rajoim knocked it on the top of its round body.

"Yeah, so what?!" he retorted. As he walked along some vaguely familiar corridors, he came across a door that was sealed tight. The light on top of the door was still slightly functional, and a card-key slot was on the right side.

"Haro, you think you could hack this?" Rajoim said as he put it in front of the card-key slot. The Haro chirped loudly and a cable came whizzing into the terminal. Within seconds, it was open.

"There we go." He said as he turned the Haro into a flashlight again. He walked down a narrow path that lead to another door with a card-key terminal. He raised Haro to the terminal and unlocked it. A giant room was in front of him, with a big gaping space in the middle. He imagined it was big enough for something like a mobile suit to fit in. He slowly examined the entire room. It seemed like it hasn't been in use for a while.

"That aside, it looks like it's been in fairly recently…." He said, noting some plastic cups that littered the area. As he was walking along a bridge, a data terminal at the very center caught his eye. It was flashing on and off. He walked to it, and in front of him was the flashing terminal screen.

"No way… is this…?" schematics of what probably was the Seraph was being displayed, across the screen, a sort of message was flashing on and off.

"Hierarchy system… on standby…?" he set the Haro down, and it rolled away for a bit. He tapped a few keys on the terminal, and files were brought up. The schematics of the Seraph were among them.

"This must be where the Seraph was completed… or at least almost completed…" he opened files about test results, and he noted that most of them have a problem referring to missing syntaxes in the main matrix of the system, not allowing the Seraph to shift its armor to its normal state. He guessed the missing data was contained in the controller he carried with him all the time. But who could've continued the project, and why the secrecy? No report of a lab like this was present anywhere. He called the Haro back.

"Haro, transfer all the data into yourself would ya?"

"Yokai! Yokai!" the Haro's cable shot out to the terminal, and the files were being transferred into it. But the Haro let out a high pitched beep a few seconds after it began file transfer.

"File Corrpution! File Corruption!" Rajoim checked the screen. A warning flashed along it, reading that all files have been corrupted. He saw each file slowly being deleted from the system.

"Damn it, a fail-safe… I should've known better. Someone really doesn't want anyone to know about this project…" he cursed his luck at having to come all that way for nothing. He detached the Haro's cable. He looked around to see if any other terminal was present, but he didn't find any. With his spirit crushed, Rajoim started to head out of the facility. Amidst the files being deleted, a timer could be seen on-screen.

-0-0-0-0-0-

"All that for nothing…" Rajoim sighed as he sat back down in his cockpit. Rajoim's mind was unsettled. He couldn't help think something was wrong. Someone went to great lengths to keep the background of his mobile suit a secret. He turned the Seraph and headed back towards space. As he was quite a distance away from the facility, a loud explosion was heard from the distance. He turned towards the Facility, and it was consumed by a giant explosion. The whole island was scorched; the hangar he was in became nothing but a giant hole in the earth.

"Well that was expected…" he laughed grimly, and he headed back towards space. The Seraph was a project that those who created it wanted not even the main branch of Celestial Being to know. It was either the ones working on it couldn't contact Celestial being, or the project itself was supposedly abandoned by Celestial Being themselves. Who could've continued it, or more importantly, why would they want to keep the Seraph a secret?

To be continued…