Chapter 11: Challenge
A speeding group of jetstreams flew over the heads of those living on the Military Island. the sound of soaring mobile suits flew through their ears as two familiar machines touched down in their arena, as well as two machines they had not seen before. Everyone rushed to greet their old friends, One a resident of the island, and the other, their savior. The four suits powered down, as Alan, Melissa, Sandra and Jim revealed themselves. One man approached them from the crowds and extended a handshake offer to Melissa and Alan.
"Welcome back, my friends!" He said, as Melissa shook his hand, then Alan. "It is so good to see you are well."
"Alan," Melissa said, introducing the man, "This is Chairman Marcus Devereaux. He was appointed our leader after Lars Keough was arrested."
"Well, I'm sure if the people voted for you, you are a more than capable leader." Alan said.
"Thank you, Sir Freedom." he said.
"Enough with the pleasantries." Jim interrupted. "We are here for a reason, remember."
"You must mean the mobile suit that's on approach, don't you?" The chairman said.
Alan and Melissa seemed surprised that he already knew. Melissa stepped forward. "You mean you managed to get the perimeter scanners up and running again?"
"Ho Ho Ho! We have done a lot more than that." He responded. "We managed to re-establish a link with the perimeter defense system as well. I know we likely won't be able to do a lot of damage to the enemy, but we can at least slow him down."
"Incredible!" Jim said. "This place seemed like nothing more than a run down old installation."
The chairman looked at him, "Well, you'd be surprised what an old man like me can do, Mr. Justice."
Jim looked at him shocked. "How did you know about my suit?"
"That doesn't matter right now, Jim. We need to start sheltering the people." Alan interrupted, "Chaiman, is there a place where we can do that?"
"Ho Ho Ho! We're ten steps ahead of you." He said, sounding a bit cocky.
Sandra stepped forward, remembering an important detail, and revealed her Archangel fragment, "Sir, do you know of anyone here who may have anything resembling this fragment?"
The old chairman leaned in to look closely at it, "Hmmmm, I'm sorry, Missie. I don't know of anyone with anything like that at all."
Alan looked over at Sandra, "Don't worry. I have a feeling I know exactly where it is."
"You don't think..." Melissa said, knowing what Alan what thinking.
Alan turned to everyone, "Everyone, double check the evacuation sequence. Make sure everyone is safely in the shelter areas. I'll be back soon, and I'll have the fragment in tow."
Everyone nodded as they began to go their separate ways. Jim then walked over to Alan and tapped him on the shoulder, once everyone was out of hearing distance.
"Alan, I don't trust this chairman." Jim whispered, "I think he knows more than he's letting on."
"I know." Alan responded just as quietly, "But we need him right now. Watch him, though. If he does anything too out of character, contact me."
Jim nodded and went back to the group, as Alan headed for an area he was once familiar with.
The dank and darkness of the prison area hadn't changed since Alan woke up there two months ago. Only one cell was occupied. The figure of a once brutal enemy appeared before Alan.
"Isn't this a bit of a switch from last time." Lars said to Alan.
"Only difference is I'm not welcoming you to this society. I've come for your fragment." Alan responded.
"And why in the hell should I give it to you?"
"You're a soldier," Alan began, "Your first duty as a soldier is to protect the innocent. Isn't that what you wanted when you started your little army?"
"What does that have to do with this?" he said, teasing Alan with the fragment.
"There's an enemy mobile suit coming, and he's after the fragments. He will level this place to get it, and he will spare no one. If you give me the fragment, I can protect these people."
"That's all you're about, isn't it?" Lars said sarcastically. "You were given a war machine, and you aren't overcome by the fact that this is a war, and lives are collateral damage."
Alan gripped his fists in anger, thinking of his mother. "No life is expendible! The loss of even one life can impact hundreds of other people. Families, friends, it doesn't matter. When a person you know or love dies, you feel it, no matter how deep down you bury those feelings, they still exist."
Alan turned his back to Lars, trying to hide the tears of his loss. "You said you brought these people here, and gave them a home. That makes you family to them, even if you went about things wrongly. Now help me protect them. Please give me the fragment."
Lars thought about what he said, and threw the fragment to his back, letting it hit the ground. Alan turned around and picked it up.
"Know this, Freedom." Lars said, "I'm not doing this for some self righteous course. You got a decent reason to be fighting. I'm looking to see if you can back it up."
Lars looked at him, and gave him a supporting thumbs up, as Alan looked at him, nodded, and ran back to the others. Lars thought to himself and began to mutter.
"That boy is going to get himself killed if he continues these beliefs, Let's hope he realizes the truth about war before that happens. Good luck, Kid."
Alan raced to the arena where the others reconvened.
"Alan!" Sandra said, noticing him first. "Did you get it?"
Alan caught his breath and nodded.
"Good," Jim said. "According to Chairman Devereaux, if we keep the fight in the arena, no one in the shelter should be affected."
"Good work." Alan said, as alarms sounded in the base.
"That's it." the chairman said. "He's broken past the defenses. He's coming."
Everyone looked at eachother, and activated their bracelets. The armors were formed, and Freedom, Justice, Strike and Blitz were alive again.
"Chairman, you should head for the shelters." Blitz said to him. The chairman then took off without hesitation, as a new figure appeared before them. The suit was black, with red tints to it, and ad a set of black wings. It set down, and the wings folded over his chest, as if it were wearing a cape now.
"Greetings, I come serving Lady Deathscythe, I seek the Battleship fragments in your possession. Hand them over, and no one will be hurt. Refuse, and I will burn this island to the ground. Choose!"
Freedom and Justice scanned the machine, revealing it was the Master Gundam. A high efficiency mobile suit designed for melee and hand to hand combat. Freedom stepped forward.
"Deathscythe? the one who massacred Edgetown? Freedom said in a rage.
"Ah, that was a beautiful storm, brought forth by M'lady. Truly, a masterpiece."
"Masterpiece!" Freedom screamed in anger as he charged at him angrily
"Freedom, NO!" Justice shouted to no avail.
"YOU BASTARDS KILLED MY MOTHER!" He screamed as he charged forth, drawing both beam sabers, and joining them to create a double edged beam staff. The attack was blocked by Master, who parried the attack with his arm, forcing the staff out of Freedom's hands, and countering with a flurry of punches to the chest, with a knockout punch across the face. Freedom was flung back, and hit the ground hard. His chest was dented with fist marks.
"You can't let your emotions get the better of you like that!" Justice said. "Let me take him."
Justice walked to Master, "Hey, I have a proposition for you."
"Speak." Master responded.
"You and me, Winner take all. If I win, you give me your fragments. If you win, you get ours, and We'll let you take us to your Lady Deathscythe."
"Hmm, I do like a challenge." Master said. "Very well."
"Justice, be careful." Freedom said.
"Dont worry, I have a plan. I need the fragments though."
"What?" Freedom said.
"Just trust me." Justice insisted, as Freedom handed over his fragments, and Strike handed hers.
Justice walked over to an area, giving him plenty of distance between himself and Master.
"On three, we throw the fragments to the center, Then last one standing gets them!" he shouted.
"Very well." Master said as he pulled out his fragments.
"One, Two... Three!" Justice shouted as they threw their fragments into the air. The instant after, Master raced after them with enormous speed. Justice, remained in his place, only revealing his Beam rifle and two blasters from his back mounted Accelerator fired off thin but precice beams. The beams connected with the unsuspecting Master, which penetrated his armor clear through the shoulders and one knee. Master fell instantly, screaming in pain, as Justice walked to the center, grabbing the fragments, and then walking to Master.
"You may be a good melee fighter, but you kind of need arms and legs to do it."
"You ungrateful Bastard!" Master said. "That fight was without Honor!"
"Anyone who will applaud the massacre of a town deserve no honor..." Justice said in a dark voice.
Justice drew one of his beam sabers, and activated it, He placet it at the edge of Master's Neck and was about to swing with all his might, with intent of removing his head clean. The thrust was stopped by the hand of the damaged Freedom.
"Stop!" Freedom said, "You promised me no killing!"
Justice tried to fight him to finish what he started.
"Don't sink to their level, Jim! Please!"
Freedom's words finally struck Justice as he put his saber away. He walked away. as Freedom looked at master.
"Remember this defeat, and tell your Mistress that this is only the beginning. We will bring her to justice.
Master managed to find the energy to open his wings and fly off, but his arms and leg hung uselessly during his flight. Freedom walked back toward the group as he and the others powered down. Jim fell to his knees and began to cry, thinking of what he was about to do.
"Why?" He shouted. "Why do people like him exist?"
Alan knelt down to comfort him, even though he knew it wouldn't help. Jim had been nothing but strong since the massacre, so Alan knew that it would only be a matter of time before he broke down.
"Why they exist doesn't matter. We just have to stop them." Alan said in comfort, "You and I are the legacy of Edgetown. Let's make sure it is avenged properly."
Alan stood up and offered his hand to Jim. "Will you fight with me?"
Jim looked up at Alan, standing with confidence. He grabbed Alans wrist and was pulled up to stand. Alan then looked at Sandra and Melissa.
"Ladies," Alan said. "We are planning to avenge the loss of our home. Will you join us?"
Sandra and Melissa looked at eachother, "We've been with you this far, why not go the rest of the way?" Melissa said.
"Thank you all." Jim said as he looked at the six fragments he fought for. "Now, how do these things work?"
"I can help you with that, Dear Jim." said a voice from the distance. Everyone looked to see Chairman Devereaux walking back to them. "If you'll come with me, We'll get started with the preparations."
Everyone was a bit curious of how he claimed to know so much, but decided to follow, if not to find something to eat.
In a shadowed corridor, somewhere in the northern hemisphere, The tattered and wrecked Master Gundam knelt before a high altar. Atop stood a black mobile suit, carrying a large beam scythe. Its arm was mounted with what looked like a small shield with a blade sticking out the top of it.
"M'Lady, I have failed you." Master said to it.
"Failed me? Failed me?" she said, sounding angry. "Not only did you fail in retrieving an Archangel fragment, you lost them All! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you?"
"I have news of the enemy. News that may interest you." Master said, hoping it would spark some intrigue.
"Really?" She said, "Speak then."
"The enemy, two of them, if not all, claimed to be from the town M'Lady just incinerated."
"They're from Edgetown?" she said, quite intrigued.
"Yes, M'Lady. One said so himself." He said.
Lady Deathscythe walked down the altar toward Master, "This does bode interesting. If they are survivors, then I must wipe them out. As for you, Master, You have given decent information to me. However..."
"However?" Master asked looking up, seeing his mistress swing her scythe across his neck. His head fell off with ease afterward.
"However, it wasn't good enough reason to keep you alive."
Just after, the Calamity walked into the room.
"Calamity, Clean this mess up, and then finalize the preparations for the Vesalius, I have to go and acquaint myself with some homegrown heroes."
Calamity bowed down in respect. "Yes, M'Lady."
Calamity rose to pick up the wrecked body of the Master, as Lady Deathscythe flew past him out the door in a hurry to meet those who survived the Edgetown massacre.