Kisaka watched his sensors, making sure the Archangel and Ark were following. The two massive ships slowly sank into the sea and entered the Onogoro base. Kisaka got out of his shuttle and walked down the deck to the hangar entrance. Mazer was visibly irritated, and Kisaka's interest was piqued. He watched as two of the young pilots tried to calm him down.
"I hope you're not angry that you have to be in Orb," he said to Mazer.
"Bah! It's that dumb Alex. He took his new, fandangled unit and blasted into space less than two minutes after showing his face to us. I think some wiring in his head got messed up when he disappeared," Mazer said, shaking his head.
"Not quite," Steve said, walking up. "He had some business in the PLANTs. Everything's okay, though."
"I hope that kid gets here soon," Mazer grumbled.
"Actually, he's coming in now."
Steve pointed out to the sea, and Mazer squinted. Something was coming down at a frightening speed.
"Oh, hell," Mazer said, then cried out as a sonic boom was heard. Cagalli and Kira, who had just made eye contact, looked to the side as Alex's new machine came in for a landing. "Damn it, kid, stop the damn thing!"
The machine suddenly turned spun ninety degrees and transformed, landing on the ground crouched. The phase shift shut off, but instead of just losing color, the blue armor seemed to flicker for several seconds before the gray color spread from chest to back. The wings rotated back and swung down, locking into place.
"Pretty neat trick," Mu said.
The pilot came out and simply jumped down to everyone's surprise. He landed on both feet, crouched, and slowly stood up. Steve just smiled and nodded. Alex pulled his helmet off and grinned. Mazer stood speechless. Alex walked forward and stood in front of Mazer. "So…how're things going?"
Mazer's fist flew up at his face, but Alex simply stood aside, grabbed the arm and twisted. Mazer yelped as he flipped into the air and landed on his back, groaning. "Getting sloppy, old man," Alex said, helping him up.
"How-did you-"
"Survive? Or do that?" Alex asked.
"Both," Mu said.
"Oh, yeah. Aegis's beam hit the chest, not the lower torso where the Blade's cockpit was," Alex said. "Anything else?"
"How'd you do that?" Mazer wheezed.
Alex's grin disappeared and he pulled his right sleeve up. Mazer looked at the bare arm, not understanding. "What?"
Alex pulled his knife and stabbed himself in his arm.
"What the hell, idiot?!" Mazer screamed, grabbing the young man.
"Look."
Mazer looked as he pulled the knife out. The tip of the blade was actually bent. "What…the…hell?" He said slowly.
"Lost the arm in the explosion," Alex said, remembering the last fight with Aegis.
"Kira!" Alex broadcast.
"A-Alex?"
"Get back to the ship! I can handle this! DO you hear me?! Now! Before-"
Alex screamed as his machine was tossed. "No," Alex whispered.
"I can't believe you killed Nicol!"
"Athrun," Alex whispered.
The Blade sunk to the ground and the battery exploded. Inside, Alex's computer fried and overloaded, blasting apart. Alex screamed as his right arm took the majority of the shrapnel. The blood sizzled as it melted into the armor. Alex groaned and tried to pull forward. He screamed as he his entire arm suddenly burned in agony, and he looked in horror to see a bloody stump where his arm used to be.
"I don't know the specifics," Alex admitted. "Seems Zero was the guy who saved us. He back?"
"Nope," Mazer said. "We thought he was dead, too."
"Any idea where he is?"
"Not a clue," Mazer said.
Alex watched as Cagalli arrived. "Oh, crap."
"Relax. Watch."
Cagalli knocked Kira down, and Alex chuckled. "Flay will be jealous."
"Flay…got transferred," Mazer said. Alex's smile disappeared. "What?"
"Yeah," Mazer said. "She and the ensign got transferred after you disappeared."
"Maybe that's why Zero left," Alex said quietly.
"Huh?"
"What if…what if he left to go after Flay?"
Mazer stared at Alex for a few seconds. Then the ranting started. "Ah, shit! What the hell's that armored freak thinkin'? All he's got is one stinkin' mobile armor! And a sword, a SWORD! That's not nearly enough!"
"Maybe it will be," Alex said. "Alaska won't expect him to do that. They have no reason to. They think he's dead, remember?"
"Not dead, kid, just missing. But I get your point," Mazer said, lighting a cigar.
"Come on, let's go see Uzumi. And put that cigar out," Alex said.
"Yeah, yeah. Rotten kid," Mazer grumbled, tossing the cigar.
"Thank you," Murrue said to Uzumi.
"With the destruction of the Alaska base, the world has plunged into chaos. For now, you and the crew can rest here. We can discuss things later."
Cagalli looked at Kira and Alex. The three were in the hangar. "I found Athrun after Aegis self-destructed. He thought he killed you two. Why would you fight your own friend?"
"If I didn't, everyone would have died," Kira said.
"And I couldn't let my cousin do that," Alex said, surprising Cagalli.
"Cousin?! Zala is your uncle?" Kira asked.
"I thought we went through this already," Alex said.
"Maybe. I don't remember," Kira admitted.
"Oh, well. Let's go see Uzumi for now," Alex said.
Alex, Kira, and Cagalli walked into the room, where Mazer, Mu, Murrue, and Uzumi stood around a map.
"The stunt at Alaska destroyed eighty percent of ZAFT forces attacking. Anti-Coordinator hatred is growing, as well."
"Looks like the government's putting a spin on things," Pawel said, walking in. He smacked Alex on the shoulder, who nodded grimly.
"The Atlantic Federation is also pressuring neutral nations like ours to join," Uzumi said.
"So free will goes out the window," Alex said.
"Orb accepts people whether they're coordinators or naturals. But the Atlantic Federation sees all coordinators as evil," Uzumi said. "You and your crew are young and brave enough to make the future come true."
"What do you think, Lord Uzumi?" Kira asked.
"I think its time for our swords to stop being mere decorations," Uzumi replied. Kira simply smiled and nodded. Alex looked at Kira, silent. He's definitely changed. The old Kira would be doing his best to get out of here.
Along Panama's coast, GOOhNs, ZnOs, and DINNs. The Duel landed on a Guul and proceeded to the front to the front of the pack.
"Slow down, Joule!"
Daurio's machine flew up to his, staying in tight formation. "Even if we get there early, we have to wait for orders."
Yzak gritted his teeth. "I hate this waiting."
"Wanting payback for earlier? Quit thinking about that. I told you Alex was better. And with his new machine, it'll take all of us to take him."
On the sub, the captain turned to Rau. "Isn't this force too small?"
"If we don't attack, the chairman's political situation will destabilize. And we have to destroy Panama's mass driver to keep the Alliance on Earth."
The sub suddenly shook slightly, and the captain immediately barked orders. "Status! Is it an enemy attack?"
"No, sir. Nothing on sonar, and our air troops report nothing."
"It's the sea, captain," Rau said. "Not every wave caused is an enemy. I'll go check on our guest. She must be very unsettled right now."
Flay was unnerved. She'd just felt a tremor, and the entire sub had shook, the massive transport shaking and groaning. "Hello?"
There was no answer. She sat on the bunk, until the door opened. Rau stood there, smiling. "Come with me."
She followed him slowly, keeping her distance. They entered his office, and when he closed the door, Flay leapt forward, pulling his gun. "I apologize for dragging you around like this. As far as everyone is concerned, you're dead, and if you shoot me, you'll be killed. If you can't accept that, you should just kill yourself."
The vent above them suddenly blew out and Zero fell out. His sword was brought to Rau's throat as he used his left hand to grab the gun from Flay before she could fire. "I have a better idea," Zero said. "How about I take Miss Allster from here, and you can go to hell."
Kisaka rushed into the room. "ZAFT is attacking Panama!"
Alex looked at the ceiling and shook his head. "Damn it."
The battle was going well, Yzak found. There was almost no resistance. Well, no resistance that posed a threat.
"Joule! Watch out!"
Yzak pulled back just in time as several beams passed him. "What the-no, it can't be! What's the Strike doing here?!"
Yzak zoomed in on the unit.
"That's not it, Joule. That's something else. It's called cannon fodder!" James yelled firing at it. The blue mobile suit, which had a visor instead of two optics, fired its beam rifle, its shield in front of it.
"Damn it! This is all the Strike pilot's fault! If I'd killed him before-"
"Zala killed him, idiot! Focus, and forget about the Strike! Your anger got the best of you, then! You gonna let it happen again?!" James yelled.
The Duel pulled its beam saber and dropped down, cutting the unit in half.
"Well, well, such an entrance. And you are?" Rau asked.
"No one you need to know," Zero replied. "But Alex is no fan of yours."
Rau smiled. "Alex? I heard he's dead. And yet, I sense that he's…a friend? Or perhaps your commanding officer? Surprising, as you're much taller, and judging by your voice, older."
Zero activated his optical voice, though he knew he'd already made his first mistake. "Flay, go down the left corridor here. I'll catch up-"
Rau thrust his open hand into Zero's hand, knocking the sword away. Zero spun away as Rau caught it and swung. He caught the incoming blade by brining his hands in, stopping the sword.
"Impressive," Rau said.
"Thanks," Zero. "Now for the next trick."
His right hand shot forward, smacking Rau's. The sword flipped in the air, and Zero caught it and swung again. Rau twisted his body as he ducked, the blade passing his face. He kicked the sword away again, the blade falling next to a shrieking Flay.
"Not helping!" Zero cried as he blocked Rau's punch. He kicked the masked man in the chest, forcing him back.
"It doesn't matter," Rau said. "The Earth forces new machines have been employed, so the Gungnir's EMP effect will work perfectly."
"What?" Zero asked. He whirled. "Flay, go! Down the corridor! NOW!"
Flay ran, and Zero looked back, thinking Rau would attack again. Instead, he found nothing but an empty hallway. He looked down on the floor, noticing the disk. He picked it up, examining it.
What is this thing? If it's from Creuset, it's nothing good. I'll leave it to the Earth Forces, he thought, throwing it into a nearby trash can.
Flay was in the hangar, already being interrogated by several soldiers. Zero rushed in and pulled his sword, swinging instantly. Flay screamed again as the bodies fell one by one, several heads along with them.
"Hurry up, Flay," Zero said, pulling her to the modified Sky Grasper. She got in, and the jet took off. Zero looked around at his surroundings. ZAFT forces were at a stalemate with the Strike Daggers, and Zero shook his head. If those are the new units, I should talk to Alex and Djarum about the proposed Blade Runner specs. They'd be a good countermeasure.
"Zero, what's that?" Flay asked, voice shaking.
"What?"
"That!" Flay pointed above them, and Zero zoomed in. "Damn! Gungnirs! Hang on, Flay!"
The sky grasper's engines kicked in and Zero banked hard, trying to gain distance.
"What are they?" Flay asked again.
"Really big EMPs, Flay! That thing hits us, we crash and die, okay?!"
He realized too late that was the wrong thing to say, as Flay started panicking. The Gungnirs went off, and Zero watched as Alaska darkened for a second, before the sky turned a deep blue, and a manmade electrical storm was unleashed. Good thing I didn't steal a mobile suit.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: On time for once. And I skipped the Freedom/Strike mock battle. I'll hopefully add that in at the start of the next chapter. I'm sorry if you wanted to see that. I didn't want to just make it as short as in the series. Flay has been rescued, and Zero has squared off against Creuset. Next comes the reunion party for Flay, Kira, Mazer, Alex, and Zero. I hope you enjoyed. Until next time. Hellshadow