CHAPTER 09
SECRET POINT (OF LOVE)
/ Tunisia /
"Remind me to introduce them to… umm, what's your name again?"
"Bauer, Ivan Beckenbauer. Ivan is enough."
Ibis coughed in slight embarrassment. "Sorry. I'm just nervous after you saved me," she apologized. "Sleigh's going to laugh at me if she ever knows about this…"
"Hey, don't mind it. I'm the one who should be thanking you instead," Ivan said. "I'd be stranded out there for the rest of my life if it wasn't for you efforts. Maybe I should buy you coffee to show my gratitude."
"You don't have to," Ibis said with silly giggles. "I only saved you. That's all I did."
"Excuse me for my curiosity, but what's someone like you doing out there?" Tsugumi asked.
They would probably not believe me for the Bermuda Triangle story, Ivan thought when he remembered how he was transported from his home world. "I'm a secret agent," he began his fabricated story. "My employers, who I can't reveal their identity, assign me to investigate an illegal fossil fuel trade between European governments and Middle-East terrorists."
"Fuel trade?" Ibis asked.
"Unfortunately that's all I can tell," Ivan answered. "Even I don't have a clear idea of the nature of such thread, though I have long suspected the involvement of Celestial Beings."
"Ah, this reminds me," Lowe blurted. "The Federation also mentioned something about Celestial Beings, though they didn't put much focus on them. I suppose with the advent of the Green Sphere everything becomes too complicated for them."
Ivan scratched his chin. It must be the grunts he had encountered at the desert, and judging from the mechas they were operating they were not to be taken lightly. The only problem was, he pondered, would they strike again?
"Say, what were you doing in that Ashsaber?" Ibis asked.
"You certainly like to ask a lot," Ivan said (Ibis blushed when Ibis teasingly smiled to her). "My employers gave it to me. It was salvaged from an unused base some years ago. I can only imagine how bad Ashley was when they found it."
"Ashley? That's… very girlish to me," Ibis said.
"Ibis, you've been asking him so many times," Tsugumi reminded. "Give him a break, will you?"
"Well, why must it be Ashley? Saber sounds nicer to me," Ibis insisted.
"I think somebody else has used the name Saber," Ivan laughed. "Don't you worry, Ibis. Everywhere I go people will question the name of choice, so there's no big deal. And speaking of which," he said and changed topic of discussion," what are you doing out here?"
"In case you didn't know, we're from the Junk Guild," Lowe said. "The Federation has asked us to do some salvaging works during our North African trip. It's not easy work, if you want to count the Green Sphere's constant threats."
"I thought the Federation has adequate strength to… lend you some of their robots," Ivan said.
"Well, they wanted to but- oh, you know the rest of the story," Lowe sighed. "Besides, trucks? TRUCKS? Of all transportations they gave us TRUCKS? What the hell did they smoke at their office?"
"Okay, I won't ask anymore," Ivan laughed.
"Anyway, since you're here, I guess you can stay with us until your… Ashley's fully repaired. In return you're allowed to work with the guild for a while," Lowe continued and offered a handshake. "Do we have a deal, Ivan?"
Ivan smirked. A chance that should not be ignored. "Under the condition that you find me a robot to drive," he said and took the handshake.
"Consider it done," Lowe answered.
-
-
The convoy was preparing to leave. They had salvaged a number of mechas at the outskirt of the capital city during their two-week excavation, and with the help of the city authorities they were able to transport the cargoes to Earth Federation headquarters at Sicily on schedule.
"Where are we going next, then?" Ivan asked.
"Our next destination is Central America," Lowe answered. "To be more specific, Chichen Itza. We're going to do more salvaging once we arrive."
"It's going to be one wild ride in the jungle," Ivan joked.
"You have quite a sense of humour, Ivan," Lowe said. "I like that."
The last of the containers had been transferred onto the merchant ship. All that was left to do was to prepare their next travel, and Ivan was less than certain of the awaiting journey. He was concerned of SM Ibis' safety more than his own, but with her whereabouts unknown he could only hope she would be able to survive the ordeals without his presence.
The port rocked when, out of nowhere, an explosion destroyed a nearby warehouse. Chaos took over when deck workers ran for safety and in the confusion Ibis got separated from Tsugumi and Lowe, and was unable to find her way out. Ivan made his mode and brought her to the safety of the Guild's land convoy.
"It's not safe here," Ivan said while covering Ibis' head with his trench coat.
"I need to find Tsugumi first!" Ibis cried.
"Not with those rockets flying over our head," Ivan replied and ducked when an RPG detonated over the convoy. "Whatever they're after, they're determined."
"It's the Green Sphere! They've come to steal the containers!" the dock supervisor shouted. "We must protect the merchant ships! Alert the city guards!" In an instant a team of Strike Daggers was rushed to defend the port, none of the pilots having any idea of the scale of the threat they were facing.
"We need to get the ships out of the port!" Lowe shouted as he and Tsugumi got near the convoy. "Is everybody alright?"
"I don't know if we're alright," Ivan said, still holding Ibis in his arms (Ibis blushed at the close proximity between her and Ivan, and was trying to suppress her reactions).
The Strike Daggers were slowly overrun, despite their best efforts to protect the port from the Green Sphere. Some of the Mobile Suits were even decommissioned due to the vast number of the grunts. "At this rate they'll overrun this place and steal the cargoes! We need reinforcements!" the dock supervisor screamed.
Another RPG detonated near the trucks. This time it ripped one of the unmoved containers open and revealed, of all cargoes, a Gouf Custom. With Ibis still securely held in his arms Ivan glanced at the Mobile Suit; he could not have been any luckier, because it was just what he needed to solve the problems. "Ibis, I think I'm going to leave you for a while."
"W-what?" Ivan already let go off Ibis and ran towards the Gouf Custom. "Ivan! You can't possibly go and face the Green Sphere! Ivan!"
Slowly the Gouf Custom rose from its back and turned to face the oncoming grunts. "Alright. Let's see if I can get this old buddy working," Ivan said and monitored the radar screen. "So did anyone ask for reinforcements?"
"Who the hell is this?" one of the grunts asked.
"Somebody you don't want to know," Ivan replied in joking manners.
The grunt was infuriated and attacked. Ivan quickly took cover behind the building and avoided the rocket that bounced off the concrete wall and into the sea. He waited for the attackers to come close and opened fire with the shield-mounted cannon at the GS Doms, before he ran to take cover at another building. None of the three partners on the ground had any idea of Ivan's apparent piloting skill or his experience in combat, but all of them knew he would not be able to dish out the attack on his own.
"We can't possibly let him do all the works," Lowe said.
"Got any suggestions?" Tsugumi asked.
"First, we need to get to our mechas at the hangar," Lowe answered. "Hope Ivan knows what he's doing."
Not taking care of his Guild friends Ivan kept on the pressure, exerting his best efforts to keep the grunts away from the ports. The Gouf Custom was manoeuvred expertly across the urban battlefield, as the Shadow Mirror operative exploited its advantages to its fullest to wreck havoc to the grunts.
"Ivan! Let us help you!" Ivan turned to the direction of the radar signal and saw the Astelion AX and the Astray Red Frame near the hangar. He shook his head in amazement; how they managed to contact him he did not - and would not - know but at least he got several extra hands to do the job.
"You sound concerned," Ivan guessed.
"I-I only want to help!" Ibis replied. "Don't get me wrong, okay?"
Ivan chuckled. "Alright. I may need some useful helps here."
The first set of the grunts had been defeated, and many of them were taking a hasty retreat to the desert. "Are we done?" Ibis asked.
"Not yet, I think," Ivan said and glanced at the radar. "Lowe, Tsugumi what's your radar reading? I believe we may have to face another phase."
"What? I don't want to!" Ibis moaned.
True to Ivan's words, more of the Green Sphere grunts appeared to the south. It seemed the retreat was to mask the reinforcements' arrival -- the same tactic the Green Sphere had employed during the assault on Pearl Harbour -- and the numbers were greater than the first batch.
"Are they really after the cargoes?" Tsugumi asked.
"From the look of it, I doubt they're targeting the ships anymore," Lowe said.
"Kill all, loot all, burn all," Ivan said. "I don't really get their motives."
The second batch began their moves. The Doms spearheaded the offensive, bombarding the port's defence line with rockets and beam rifles. With only Astray Red Frame, Astelion AX and Ivan's Gouf Custom defending the port the end seemed inevitable.
"Caloric Missile!"
The frontline Doms got knocked out of service. The attack, along with apparently spectacular entry ("Cue dramatic music," Ivan commented) could only bring everybody to a conclusion.
"Cybuster, go!"
The white Masou Kishin arrived just in the nick of time, and its presence meant the guild could protect the escaping merchant ships for a little longer. "Took you a long time to come here, Masaki," Tsugumi said.
"Hey, I can't just let them hurt my buddies, can I?" Masaki said.
"Actually, Masaki got lost again while heading to South East Asia," Shiro corrected.
"True, true," Kuro agreed. "And he was very confident to say he could find his way this time."
"Shiro! Kuro! Not now!" Masaki groaned.
"That's our Masaki indeed," Ibis giggled.
"Hey, who's this new guy?" Masaki asked.
"Ivan here," Ivan introduced himself. "Just happened to help these people moving their stuffs to the ships when the enemy appeared."
"They've strengthened themselves with reinforcements!" one of the grunts cried. "The new mecha's not in our database! What must we do?"
"Don't bother! Destroy the port! That's our order!" another grunt said.
"That's not so easy with Cybuster around, you fool! Let's go, Cybuster!" Masaki shouted and charged at the grunts. The Masou Kishin withdrew its Zephyr Sword and started hacking through the Doms and Gespensts, evading everything the grunts were tossing at with great degree. Ibis and Tsugumi were next to join the fray, and the combination of the two "speed deities" were more than enough to put the grunts out of order.
"Take this! CYFLASH!!" The Cybuster emitted a bright flash of pure energy that knocked the surrounding Doms away from it. The Astelion AX followed suit and fired barrages of missiles at the remaining Mobile Suits. The Cybuster took another turn and executed the rarely-seen Ranbu no Tachi onto an unsuspecting Gespenst, putting more dents on the already weakened enemy.
"Who's that guy anyway?" Ivan asked.
"Masaki Andoh, for your information," Lowe answered. "Very skilled pilot, but has very terrible sense of direction. He can't even find himself a way out inside the carrier ship." (Inside the Cybuster, Masaki sneezed). "But he's very helpful, so you may want to forgive him for his weak spot." (Again, Masaki sneezed and almost lost concentration of the battle.)
"I think I'll be working with him a lot after this," Ivan said and entered the fray with Lowe behind him. "By the way, Lowe."
"Huh?"
"You better find me a good big gun," Ivan said and started shooting at the enemy. "Because this old friend really needs to shine itself."
"I see if I can get that arranged," Lowe answered and withdrew the katana. "And you sound so old school, you know."
"Trust me, my friend," Ivan said. "Some things really need to be brought back to life."
After thirty minutes of hectic desert battle the Green Sphere was finally driven back to the south. Everybody in the team cheered for their success and returned to the port. Ibis and Tsugumi never stopped thanking Masaki for his impromptu presence, and the Masou Kishin inheritor kept yelling at his black and white familiars that did not stop highlighting his lack of directional sense.
"Listen up, everyone," Lowe spoke after they gathered. "I just received a message from the Guild. The Hagane will be picking us here in half an hour, so we better get ourselves packed up. Some of the cargoes the merchant fleet didn't bring with will be taken with us, by the way."
"Is Tetsuya coming?" Ibis asked.
"He'll personally greet us onboard," Lowe answered. "And there's going to be some people you might know."
"For once, I thought we're going to have to go onboard the ship," Ibis sighed in relief. "Because I don't know if I can keep myself from throwing. Thank goodness for Tetsuya."
"Ibis, you're worried of yourself too much," Lowe said. "You should ask Ivan on seasick curing advices."
"But- hey! Why am I suddenly paired up with Ivan?" Ibis demanded.
"Oh? What's this new love story I just heard?" Masaki asked.
"Lowe's making things up! Don't believe in him!" Ibis wailed.
"Ibis, you're being denial," Tsugumi teased. "I saw how comfortable you were when Ivan-san held you."
"Ibis is too shy to admit her feeling, boo," Shiro said.
"True, true," Kuro agreed. "After all, Ibis the Shooting Star has become quite popular with boys and men lately. She's even got a fan club at Hong Kong."
"Shiro! Kuro!" Ibis whined.
"Whoa! Ibis is getting herself a boyfriend! This is way too cool to be ignored," Masaki added.
"Stop teasing me, Masaki, Tsugumi!" Ibis begged. "Aw! I wish Sleigh were here to help…"
Ivan laughed. If Ibis and SM Ibis ever met, he pondered, all hell would break loose, and he wished such day would never have to come. He shook his again in amazement and went to listen to the friendly conversations on his radio. "You better mind your manners, Ibis," he reminded. "Good girl doesn't shout on the radio."
"Not even you too, Ivan?" Ibis growled. "Why is everyone teasing me today?"
"I don't know. Maybe because ibis is love?" All but Ibis laughed at Ivan's joking answer. "Yeah, that's right. I know this sounds crazy, but from now on Ibis Douglas shall be known as Ibis is Love."
"Ivan!!"