Episode Seven: Starlight

"What are they doing?" Ben yelled, tightening the grip of his seat. "They must understand that Earth will reject them. We have no love for the colonies. They must accept their fate and be destroyed!" Ben whinnied. How could this be happening? Ben had planned everything out. They weren't supposed to go to Earth. They must know that they will meet their doom.

"Fire everything we got! We must destroy them!" Ben ordered. Ben's eye's were filled with worry. What if they got away? What if more joined them. There would be another colony up-rising. All because Ben couldn't do his job correctly. The words of Captain Jones' words echoed through-out his mind. He had to destroy them. His life depended on it.

XXX

"Everybody hold on!" Admiral Maxwell yelled. The three ships burned through the earth's atmosphere as heavy fire continued from the Federation warships. It was hectic. Crew members being thrown around like rag-dolls while still trying to do their jobs. Ryan, Christy, and Gabriel had finally made it up to the bridge. Each of them grabbed something, trying to hold on. All that was in view was Earth.

Christy stared at it with bug like eye's. Almost like a child looking at a brand new toy. Everything around them began to shake violently as the ship was pounded with fire. Ryan grabbed Christy's hand, making sure nothing happened to her. She looked back up at him. His piercing eye's assured her everything would be okay.

"Shield's are failing!" A crew member yelled. Not the news Admiral Maxwell was wanting to hear. He bit his lower lip. He just hoped they could make it through this alive. Admiral Maxwell turned to see Ryan looking at him. No one knew what to do. Earth kept getting larger and larger as they slowly came out of range from the Federation ships.

The three Freedom Fighter ships shook very violently as they came into the sky. As soon as all three were through, the ground filled their view. They were going to crash into the Gobi desert. Black smoke followed the three ships as the power in them began to fail.

"Sir, where losing power quickly!"

Admiral Maxwell said nothing. The crew knew what they had to do. The sand of the desert came closer and closer as the ships where about to hit.

"Prepare for impact!" Admiral Maxwell yelled to the crew as he used all of his strength to hold onto his seat. Ryan grabbed Christy and pulled her close to him, holding her with all of his might. Gabriel climbed in up above Ryan, holding onto the railing. Christy buried her head into Ryan's chest as Ryan winced as they were about to make impact with Earth. Crew members let out screams right before the hit.

And suddenly it happened. First the Titan hit the ground and the rest of the ships followed. The Independence and Odysseys landed yards apart. Ryan was jerked from the spot he had been standing and fell to the ground as he held Christy. He stuck his hand out, trying to grab anything. As something passed through his open hand he grabbed it and held on tight. Gabriel was sent airborne, hitting the floor hard. Everyone was thrown from their place. The lights quickly went out, signaling that there was no power.

Finally the Titan had come to an abrupt stop in the sand. Ryan opened his eye's to see everything. Inside sparks flew from computers and lights. He looked everywhere for Admiral Maxwell. He lay on the ground, holding his side. Ryan let go of Christy, who was scared to death. She reached for his arm as he got up.

"Don't leave me!" Christy said.

"Everything is okay. Trust me." Ryan smiled.

"No everything is not okay. Just wait until the Federation comes looking for you!" Destiny said in his head. He ignored it and went over to the Admiral, picking him up off the ground. Admiral Maxwell yelped in pain as he was picked up. He held his ribs.

"I think I broke a couple." Admiral Maxwell stated.

"Most likely. I'm going to go check on the rest of the crew. Christy, help up here." Ryan said. Blood trinkled down from the top of his forehead. He put his hand up to feel. Apparently he had a gash.

"You need to get that checked out when your finished." Admiral Maxwell pointed at the gash.

"Yes sir," Ryan said, walking over to Christy picking her up. He looked at her. She was scared to death. And for all the right reasons. The Earth Federation would be coming after them soon.

"Look, I need you to take care of all the people here, okay?" Ryan asked. Christy shook her head and began to put her pink hair into a pony tail. Ryan smiled and then helped Gabriel up.

"Come on, we're going to go check the rest of the ship." Ryan said.

XXX

"Just a few minutes ago? Alright. I'm on my way." Sam hung up the phone and fixed her glasses. This was amazing. Reportedly there had just been a battle in the skies above Earth. Sam looked outside her window. Little white specs covered the vastness of space.

The shuttle Sam was on slowly moved through space, on it's way to Earth. Sam sighed. She had to hurry and get down there to see what happened. This was finally her big chance to become a the worlds and colonies top reporters. She had dreamed about this since she was little. Finally her dream was coming true. She was finally going to be a big name reporter.

Sam smiled and she wrinkled her nose. She slowly closed her eye's as she leaned back and drifted off to sleep.

XXX

"So how's everything?" Admiral Maxwell asked, looking at the monitor ahead of him. The emergency power had kicked in, allowing him to communicate with other floors and the other ships. His eye's stayed focused on the man ahead of him. He is growing up to truly become a leader... Admiral Maxwell managed a smile amid the devastation.

"A couple of people were hurt through out the ship, there doing fine now in the medical bay. It seems all the mobile suits are fine also. No major damage was done, sir." Ryan stated. Admiral Maxwell nodded and the image switched over to the other ships captains.

"Damage report?" Admiral Maxwell asked.

"Sir, the Independence engines have been completely destroyed. There's no way we can get off Earth with out engines." Captain Hemsly ruffed. Admiral Maxwell buried his hand into his palm. What where they going to do? They were stuck in the Gobi desert and it was only a matter of time before the Federation attacks. They had to get everything repaired...but how? Admiral Maxwell thought and thought. His thinking was cut off by the same young crewman as before. He believed his name was Kyle Benson. Or something like that.

"Sir, we have visitors." Kyle said, looking back at the Admiral to check his expression. The screen wiped from the other two captains to an outside camera of a group of jeeps and two tanks moving quickly towards their position.

"Oh great." Admiral Maxwell grunted. Who where these people? Feddies? No. No they would have brought Mobile Suits.

"Send Ryan and Gabriel out to greet them. No attacks," Admiral Maxwell commanded. Kyle shook his head and contacted Ryan and Gabriel and told them. The two friends didn't waste any time and got strapped in without their pilot suits.

Ryan sat in the seat of the cockpit, buckling himself up. The door slowly shut, leaving darkness amid the room. Ryan tapped on the control panel and suddenly the Jove Gundam was brought to life. Outside, its green eye's came alive while on the inside, the lights from the monitor and flashing buttons lit the cockpit. Ryan gripped the controls and moved the Jove out into the open desert.

Gabriel was right behind with his own personal Jegan, towering over the oncoming jeeps and tanks. Dust followed the oncoming visitors as they drove through the dunes of the desert sea. As they came near the Gundam and Mobile Suit, they stopped holding up their hands in a sign of peace. Ryan looked at them.

"They seem peaceful, I'm going to see what they want." Ryan said into his head set.

"Be careful." Admiral Maxwell warned. Ryan said nothing, unbuckling himself from the cockpit as it slowly opened. The bright sun hurt his eyes. This was only the third time Ryan had visited Earth. Yet, he was not use to all this. He brought his arm up to shield his eyes from the sun as did Gabriel as he got out. Ryan looked down. He figured it would be a long fall, but if he landed the correct way he would be just fine. Ryan sprung out, jumping in mid-air as did Gabriel. They both landed softly on the sand, standing up to see their visitors.

Ryan figured that there was about six or seven jeeps full of men along with two tanks. They all looked like hardened war-veterans. Almost everyone of them carried some kind of weapon. Both Ryan and Gabriel slowly approached them, holding up there hands.

"Look we don't want any-" Ryan started but was quickly cut off by what seemed to be their leader.

"What are you doing here, damn feddie?" The man's voice sounded as if you didn't want to mess with him.

"Whoa. We are no feddie scum!" Gabriel yelled. The man raised his eyebrow, wondering what he meant.

"What are you?" The man asked as his long braided hair dangled behind him.

"Were Freedom Fighters. We fight to free the colonies," Ryan proudly stated.

"That's the dumbest name I've ever heard of." The man said. "Nevertheless, your no feddie lover."

"Who are you guys?" Ryan asked, looking at them.

"I wouldn't trust them." Destiny had said. Ryan learned to ignore her most of the time.

"Were ex-zeon soldiers. After the war our commander left us out here to die. We've lived out here ever since. Thankfully there are nearby towns with lots of water and food. The name is Owen Snyder. Leader of these hopeless renegades." Owen said as the others began to laugh. Ryan moved up to greet him.

"Ryan. Ryan Fujita. Please to meet ya."

"I'm Gabriel." He said, not sharing his last name.

"Well what's going on?" Owen asked, pointing his guns at the ships. Ryan looked back and saw the black smoke still lingering.

"We had a run in with the Federation. They forced us here." Ryan laughed with his eyes closed as he rubbed the back of his head. He was kind of embarrassed.

"I see. I see. Well. You guys must not be feddie lovers. So...I guess we can help you out." Owen said as he ran his hand through his beard. Ryan smiled. That was very good news.

"You may want to talk to who's in charge of me." Ryan said. Ryan glanced at Gabriel. He didn't seem to like the idea. After directing them to the Admiral, Ryan slowly walked up to his friend.

"What's wrong?" Ryan asked in an almost whisper tone. Gabriel sighed and shrugged, watching Owen and his crew being escorted to the Admiral.

"I don't know. They seem like good people that will help us." Gabriel said, watching the sand.

"And..." Ryan continued.

"And I think the Federation will destroy both of us if we get them involved. This is our war. The Zeon had there chance. They blew it. It's our turn." Said Gabriel.

"Look, if you haven't noticed already we aren't in the best position right now. We need a little help and soon we'll be back in space. I promise." Ryan said, looking at his best friend. Gabriel though about it for a moment and shook his head. Ryan laughed, throwing his arm around his best friend walking back towards their Mobile Suits.

XXX

"I never knew they were so beautiful from down here," Christy said was Ryan held her. Both looked up at the star filled sky wondering how many there were. The cool, crisp air felt good against both of their skin as they laid out on a blanket in the middle of the Gobi. Ryan knew they couldn't stay out here for long. It would get to cold outside.

"They are beautiful. I remember my first time on Earth. I was just five or six. It was after my mother died. I went to live with my Aunt for a while. I remember looking up and wishing mom was still here. I always thought she was up there, with the stars. I cried for her, telling her to come down. That night after crying myself to sleep I had a dream that she was speaking to me." Ryan said.

Christy turned towards Ryan, getting lost in his in the sea of eyes.

"What did she say?" She asked.

"She said that she loved me and would always watch over me from the stars." Ryan said, glancing up at them. Christy touched his face, kissing him softly on lips. Ryan looked at her and smiled.

"I love you," Ryan had finally said it. After all the time they spent together, he never said it. This time he did. He kissed her again, this time more slower. He pulled away and looked into her eyes.

XXX

Ryan and Christy quickly moved into her room, bumping into stuff on the way. Ryan continued to kiss her as he shut the door behind him. Both made it to the bed. Ryan pulled his shirt off as Christy began to unbutton hers. Ryan looked up at the lights and clapped twice for them to go out.

"Big mistake..." Destiny echoed through out his head.

To Be Continued.