Gundam-fall: Changing fate
Episode 28: A love story
"Ok, don't need that." Lin said as she was busy tinkering with her MK.2 unit. "Make room for this." She threw out more miscellaneous parts to make room for the titan kit. "Ooh definitely don't need these anymore!" The jolly NorthStar pilot said as she threw the old control sticks out. "I may be a Pilot, but I am not that kind of pilot!"
"I heard that! I mean seriously, this place may have gotten the whole giant robot thing down, but these controls are for space fighters, not mechs. Lord knows I didn't train fly space fighters!" Simon said as he stripped away parts and other things into a crate that was tethered nearby. All the 'titan-verse' pilots were busy working on their machines except for cooper. After the clash with the mobile armor a few days ago, it was decided that priority would be given to the gundam units so that the combination could be rushed. The vanguard AI units were extremely helpful in speeding up the process since they were fed the blueprint data and given some help in design from Kamille through Cooper's coaxing.
So far, the machines were roughly almost complete with the differences in OS being a slight but manageable hurdle. The cockpit rebuilds were getting underway now, the mechanics and pilots were getting busy putting the finishing touches on. Lin was so happy now that she was adding in the Viper Flight Kit. Her plasma railgun was being prepped as a main weapon while the standard beam rifle was going to be retained as a secondary weapon. Serah's legion was definitely tricky to work with considering the overall bulk and heavy armor for the rebuild. Cutting around the armor plates and everything else to try and match up the systems was extremely difficult. The predator cannon would be a truly formidable weapon when combined with mobility upgrade from the MS conversion. All of them shared one trait in particular, the ability to survive unassisted orbital reentry. These machines were works of technological art very far ahead of their time in either universe.
Simon had decided to take a break and relax for a while he saw one of the new arrivals who'd been brought aboard the ship after the last sortie. The man wore a federation officer's uniform and had the look of an experienced veteran. He whistled to cooper and the veteran ace looked over to his subordinate. Cooper gave him a look of 'what's up?' and Simon pointed to the man over on the walkway. The two of them nodded their heads and jumped over to meet him with their jump kits. Both pilots landed with style and flair as they made a first impression on the visitor.
"Heyo!" Simon waved to the small crowd.
"Really Simon?" Cooper looked to the simulacrum sarcastically.
"What?" Simon shrugged.
"Well you only get one chance at a first impression. Hey, the name's Cooper, head of the SRS privateers." Cooper presented himself to the new officer.
"So, you're the famous mercenary? An honor to meet you, I'm captain Bright Noa. I assume that machine is the simulacrum I've heard about from Henken." Bright spoke calmly.
"Simon's the name, mechanized combat and special ops are my game. For your information by the way, I'm a dude who became a bot." The rowdy simulacrum said with what would be a smile as hut put his hands behind his head lazily.
"Well, Cooper I guess you've already heard then." Henken said as he walked over to talk with them.
"Heard what Henken?" Cooper tilted his head in confusion.
"As of today, Bright here is the new captain of the Argama." Henken said coolly.
"Here I thought I was fast." Simon remarked offhandedly.
"For your information he's a veteran of the one-year war." Henken informed them.
"Easy Henken, as you may have heard the titans aren't exactly the most accepting of their fellow soldier." Bright elaborated.
"I know captain, I'm currently dating one, an ex-titan by the name of Emma Sheen. She told me all about them, and I've heard about you. Good to know we have a seasoned commander aboard." Cooper explained his knowledge and saluted respectfully.
"Thank you for your kind words." Bright said with a small smile of camaraderie.
"No problem at all friend." Cooper said as he and the new captain shook hands. Kamille arrived on scene with quattro and all of them had a friendly chat for the time being. A short time later a girl Cooper had seen before arrived to pass out lunches for the personnel. Simon noticed the way the girl looked at Kamille and he was on it like a moth to a flame.
"Well now rookie who's this, your girlfriend?" Simon teased the young pilot.
"N-no, we're just friends!" both teens said in unison and the looked at each other with awkward blushes on their faces and quickly turned away.
"Can't hide it kid, you're hooked on that little lady right next to ya." Simon harped on with a comedic tone which made the two teenagers go even redder at the idea.
"Alright Simon, stop hassling the rookie, I'm sure he's got other things to be doing. Kid, get some chow in you, and then it's straight back to your duties, got it?" Cooper ordered to his student.
"Affirmative teacher." Kamille saluted.
"He's your student? You seem to be an amazing instructor, Major Cooper. It is major right?" Bright was intrigued by Cooper's role as the instructor of the young pilot.
"Yes sir, I'm a highly skilled privateer so I have a provisional rank in the AEUG to do my duties and help out however I can. Kamille does to, well actually Kamille's officially with the AEUG, the rest of my team and I are just on their payroll for now. But also, yes, I am his instructor so he falls directly under my authority with me as his superior. Anyways, I'd better get back to it, these war machines won't finish themselves. Simon come on, we have work to do." Cooper explained to the new captain of the ship, and after he was done with the explanation, he signaled the simulacrum to follow him back to their machines.
"Coming Coop, have fun you crazy kids! Hope your first time is the best time!" Simon said as he turned to float back to the mighty war machines.
"We're not dating!" The two teens shouted back with faces both red in embarrassment.
"Suuuurrrre you're not." Simon said as he and cooper jumped away. "Kamille and Fa sitting in a tree-" The simulacrum said in a sing song voice. Cooper just rolled his eyes at the well-meaning yet still very annoying robotic jokester. After enough time had passed, Lin and Serah decided to take a break from their work. The two of them sat down together and eyed Fa and Kamille together and talking to each other. The two women knew they were in love with each even if they themselves couldn't see it. While their relationship experience was a little different, they figured they might as well tell them a little story, to help the rookie relax of course. So, the two female titan pilots made their way to Kamille and Fa to get things going.
"Hi there Kamille, and who's this?" Lin started in with pointing out Fa who was sitting next to the rookie.
"Not you too!" Kamille groaned in embarrassment.
"That's no way to act mister, especially in front of a pretty girl like her." Serah chastised the young teenage boy and caused Fa to feel a little shy.
"So, what's your name honey?" Lin asked with a warm smile.
"It's Fa Yuiry." The girl replied shyly.
"Well I'm Lin Fukashima and that's my 'partner' Serah, but who am I kidding she's my girlfriend." Lin said humorously and pointed to the busty blonde.
"O-okay." Kamille said in strange tone.
"What? You got a problem with that?" Serah grew a tick mark on her forehead.
"N-no." The rookie stuttered.
"Alright, then how about Serah and I tell you two a little story?" Lin asked with a smile.
"Aw come on, this is my chow time and I have work to do." Kamille groaned.
"Just let her talk Rookie, or I'll tell Cooper. He'll understand if we asked you to do something." Serah crossed her arms.
"Fine." Kamille grunted.
"Now where to begin? Oh, I know, when Serah and I were just getting together." Lin said as she started her tale of intrigue.
-A few years ago (after the battle of Demeter), back in the Titanfall universe-
that point in time, Lin was working with the 6-4 for almost about a year. Starting from the bottom of the barrel from simple jobs like *helping a very pissed off cat from a tree* to once again piloting her titan and fighting along with the rest of the team. Though for about that same time, she's been trying to at least have a simple conversation with the elusive and reserved Serah Foche, who always disappears after a mission. She asked Gates about why she's so, distant with everyone and when she told her what happen to Serah and her suicidal tendencies, they were considering trying to get her to see a shrink. After her talk with gates Lin felt angry and sad for her. Angry at the Fact that she once was a part of The IMC who continue to murder countless civilians who are just trying to make a living, and Sad that she basically experienced what she has done back on that world to those people. Which still haunts her with a nightmare of it every now and then. She was determined more than ever to at least talk to her. Little did she know, she was going to get the chance sooner than she thought.
-6-4 MOBILE HQ-
Aboard the 6-4's old ship, which was nothing more than an old Hauler with a gun or two...or 20 strapped to its hull. Gates called everyone in for a meeting for the next job.
"Alright everyone, today we're going to take on a high-risk contract." Gates said as she brought up a file on the monitor.
"What's the job? Besides, we handle stuff like this all the time. It'll probably be a walk in the park." Davis asked. Serah just sharpened a knife of hers.
"Sure, if you like prison breaks Davis." Droz chuckled.
"Woah, oh hell yeah I do!" Davis rammed his fists together.
"That's Davis for ya." Bear shook his head.
"We'll be assisting the militia with a prison break on the frozen tundra planet of Tristan prime. The main objective here will be the rescue and extraction of POWs and civilians. We'll be splitting into coordinated teams of two for the duration of the operation. We'll have to move fast though since they're getting ready to be experimented on by the ARES division." Gates gave everyone the run down.
"So, who has to be battle buddies today?" Davis asked with his hands behind head in a lazy fashion.
"Bear's with me. Davis will be with Droz. Lin, you're with Serah. It will be a three-prong attack, Davis and Droz will attack the outer defenses and distract the local IMC QRF. Bear and I will infiltrate the prison and try securing the command center along with freeing the prisoners. While Lin and Serah, you two will wait for my call to assault the prison itself." Gates announced the team/missions and Lin felt her heart flutter a bit as she might just at least try to make small talk before the assault. After the meeting was over they rendezvoused with the Militia forces and prepped for drop. As they prepared in the armory for Titanfall, Lin tried to get ready first by scrambling to get her equipment all checked out. She turned around and Serah was already gone. When she made her way to the Titan Launch bay she was already inside her titan. With a defeated sigh she, made her way to her standard NorthStar, hopped in and waited for the signal.
Within the span of half an hour the order was given by gates and the 6-4's crew deployed, dropping to the planet's surface alongside various other militia titans. The 6-4's mercenaries landed in three different areas surrounding the massive research and detainment facility. While Davis and Droz were having fun wreaking havoc at the main entrance in a massive battle, Gates and Bear were busy infiltrating the main complex and silently killing the guards as they went along. Lin was awkwardly standing next to Serah as they and a battalion worth of militia forces, waited in a blizzard, in freezing temperature. Though the militia grunts hung around the various Scorch titans to stay warm.
Lin's teeth were chattering away as she tried several attempts to make small talk with Serah. "So, how's the weather going for ya." though it did little good and she didn't get much of a response from her partner.
She just looked over to Lin with a skeptical "Really?" look. "Lin, please try and focus your mind on the mission." The legionnaire said seriously as she walked away. Lin hunched over in defeat and growled at a few grunts who were watching with amusement over the exchange.
After waiting long enough, Gates called in when she successfully managed to take control over the facility's defensive turrets and started unleashing hell on the IMC garrison. All of the defending troops started to fall one by one when the automatic guns turned on them. Serah Led the charge with the militia forces while Lin went airborne and started bombarding responding IMC titans. The plan was going well so far, Serah and Lin had secured a spot for Militia's Crow drop ships to safely evac the grateful prisoners, meanwhile Militia Hornets and Lin's NorthStar were caught in massive dogfight against the IMC's inferior Phantom-class fighters carving out a clear path for the evacuation. But the tide of the battle began to change when fresh IMC remnant fleet forces entered the system. The IMC battlegroup launched a huge counter offensive in retaliation. Eventually, the last of the prisoners were safely evacuated into orbit. Lin touched down with a satisfied look on her face and several wrecks of IMC fighters were smoldering around her. Serah dutifully stomped her way over to the NorthStar pilot in her legion.
"Lin pack it up and regroup with everyone else." Serah said to her partner gruffly.
"No serah, I'm staying right here! We, have to buy time to help out the militia so everyone who's still alive can get the hell out of here!" Lin argued with the legionnaire.
"That's my objective, not yours!" Serah shouted.
"No, I'm not going anywhere!" Lin was adamant in her position.
"That's an order, now Lin!" The two of them didn't notice a shimmer creeping its way towards them. Lin spotted it, thinking quickly she just barely managed to kick Serah's Titan out of the way as a Ronin slashed its sword into the ground where she stood. Lin responded by throwing an ordinance missile at it but the Ronin sliced it in half. And that's when she heard "her" Voice "Helloooo Lin-Chan, Remember meee?! CAUSE I REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID YOU BITCH!" Suzie in the Ronin attacked Lin, but Lin having learned how to deal with a Ronin, engaged Suzie as she and he dueled and argued. "YOU BITCH, YOU RUINED EVERYTHING! KILLED YOUR OWN! AND NOW YOUR WITH THE ENEMY!"
"I'M NOT A GOD DAMN MURDERER SUZIE! I JOINED THE IMC BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WOULD PROTECT THE PEOPLE, NOT GUN THEM DOWN!" They argued until Serah entered the fray and they both tag team Suzie. But Suzie keep berating the embattled Lin. "HEY 6-4 MEAT HEAD, I'D BE CAREFUL AROUND LIN IF I WERE YOU. She might back stab you!"
"Serah, get out of here while I hold her off! She's my problem not yours!" Lin shouted to her partner, this surprised Serah and she flatly refused to leave.
"N-no, I've got your back! She can't take both of us!" At this Suzie mocked them.
"What's a matter Lin-Chan, couldn't get your pariah death back on Tenzin 2? So, what you looking to get one here? Oh, poor Lin-chan... allow me to assist you! You damn TRAITOR!" Lin and Serah took on Suzie, and for a while they dueled till Suzy got knocked back from Serah's predator shot. And Lin flying in slamming into Suzie's Ronin, grabbed its arms and ripped them off, and did a flying roundhouse kick and sending Suzie again screaming into a crevasse. Lin and Serah walked in silence in their titans as they fled to the evac and were the last to leave as the Militia and 6-4 left the system just as the IMC responded in force. As Lin and Serah docked their titans, Serah got out and quickly left the Hanger, But Lin wasn't gonna have it as she grappled her way after Serah. Serah "Felt" her determination and ran trying to get to her room, ignoring Lin till she got to her door. She opened it and got in her room just as Lin fired a grapple hook inside her room, reeling herself in to just barely make it inside Serah's room. She slammed into the bulkhead face first with a loud enough thud to have everyone wondering if they hit something.
Back in the present, Simon had been listening intently the whole since he was so bored. The two women got a little chuckle seemingly from nowhere, with Simon saying "I knew her head was thicker than a ship's hull."
Back to the story at hand, after Lin pulled her head out of her old IMC helmet that was now crushed and stuck in the wall. She was now sporting a slight cut above her eyebrow. Serah sighed briefly, before she tended to Lin's self-inflicted injury. As she did that, Lin took her chance and tried to start a conversation. After trying her best to ignore her as she fixed her, she caved in and ask "Lin. What is it that you want from me?"
"Just a conversation, a simple conversation between you and me." Lin said calmly.
"What is it that you were so desperate to say that you would imprint your face into my room?" Serah asked with a sigh.
"I just...I noticed you been... your always distant from everyone, even Davis since he's your boyfriend and all." Serah said nothing as she patched up Lin.
"Look...I... I asked gates about...you and all. And she told me what happen." Serah stopped, well more like froze in place. "And...I just want to... just want to talk to you about this."
"There's nothing to talk about." Serah said in a hurry.
"Yes, there is. Serah you're throwing yourself in front of bullets and missiles when there is no reason to do it. You're hiding and keeping your distance away from everyone." Lin brought up all the things in Serah's behavior.
Serah remained quiet, until she responded "It's for their own good."
This confused Lin. "What do you mean for their own good?"
"For when I die, they can just easily forget me and move on." Serah said with a melancholy tone. "They don't have to worry about me when they have more things to worry about!" Hearing this, Lin erupted furiously and grabbed Serah by her shoulders.
LIN: "You think that's ok?! You think that would help them if they simply forgot about you?! Serah the 6-4 is a family! We look out for and take care of each other! What you're doing is gonna make things a lot worse than what you think!" Serah was surprised by this but Lin wasn't done.
LIN: "Serah, everyone here worries about you. I WORRY AND CARE ABOUT YOU! They and I been trying to help you but you just kept running away and throwing yourself in harm's way. Gates may think this would take time but damn it I won't let you die over a stupid reason like back at the prison!" Serah was surprised and shocked at Lin's proclamation but what next may hit her like a cargo ship coming out of a jump.
LIN: "Serah. If anything, I'm the one who should be taking the bullet for you. For the things that I've done, like willingly joining the people who bring death and destruction to the people of the frontier. I'm the one who should be throwing myself in front of everyone so they can survive, for what I have done. The Militia won't take me, the IMC have a bounty on me, I can't go back home because I would endanger my family. Gates is the only one who took me in and gave me a second chance. And by damn I will protect everyone one of them AND YOU with my life. Cause You...you saved my life."
LIN: Tears streamed down Lin's face as she looks down. "I could have died on that planet, and I was content with it. I was ready to be judge for my crimes by whoever deity I was gonna come to. But you, saved me. And cause of that I want to thank you, cause now I have another family, a home, that accepts me. And I'll be damn if I let any of them, even you. To die while I still draw breath. So please Serah I'm begging you. Take more care of yourself. Cause everyone here worries about you..." Serah was in shock. She didn't know what to do as Lin slowly cries "And I don't want you to go..."
It was at this that Serah Hugged Lin, which surprised the hell out of her. She started to cry, apologizing and repeatedly saying that she was sorry. Lin accept her apology as the two embraced for a while. It was the next morning, after everything calmed down when Lin was in the rec room lying on the couch thinking on the events day before. Davis, Droz, and some of the crew were in the same room around the pool table. When to everyone's surprised as Serah came into the room, walked up to Davis, and Told him she's breaking up with him. Not much to everyone's surprised as there was a bet going around on how long that relationship would last, as Serah just accepted it the first time as she didn't really understand. While Davis was sad in a corner with the chuckling of the crew and Droz trying to comfort him. They were all surprised, even Lin, when Serah sat next to her on the couch, and asked how she was doing since last night.
-Back in the present-
"Ah that night though…" Lin said dreamily as she remembered the hot and heavy night of passion.
"Lin, no not in front of them. They're only kids after all." Serah stopped her girlfriend from going too far in front of the teens, and the entire MS deck.
"Aww man." Simon groaned sadly as he took a break and drifted by.
"Simon, but out of this you pervert!" Lin growled.
"Oh, you two are no fun!" Simon crossed his arms and phased away.
"Y-yeah we don't need to hear that. But wow, that was well…" Kamille stuttered and trailed off.
"It's all true, every word." Serah confirmed.
"The action aside, I think it's sweet a good love worth putting in a book." Fa said with a smile.
"Well thank you very much." Lin smiled.
-END CHAPTER-
