We continue with GaoGaiGar's plot, as well as Code Geass: Akito the Exiled! Also, I'm going to use this space to start responding to the anonymous reviews I've been getting…

-It's been shown that Charles zi Britannia's memory rewrite Geass can affect personality and thought process...and besides, the only one that needs to be fooled is Tara/Tera. Furthermore, a baby doesn't always get traits from both parents - there's a lot of dominant/recessive genes and stuff going on.

-I might have the Astray girls have a cameo or two, but they really don't have enough screen time to be worth expanding on.

Also, if you're going to do grammar/spelling nitpicking, would you PLEASE add something else BESIDES that? Say if you liked or didn't like a part of the plot/characters/etc in a chapter. Thanks!


Chapter 36 Gaiden - On Beautiful Wings of Light! Enter the 31 Machine Primevals!

No matter how fast GaoGaiGar might have gone, he couldn't have stopped it. Three colossal purple towers had destroyed GGG's Bay Island Base with a devastating energy attack.

"Everyone…" Guy said, his heart seeming to scream out in anguish and rage. He looked up at saw what had done it. He let out a long, furious cry and charged up GaoGaiGar's answer to the Rocket Punch.

"BROKEN MAGNUM!"

The flying fist found its mark, but it was deflected by a powerful barrier. The fist returned to its owner, who flew up after the three towers.

"You...I'll make you pay for what you've done," he snarled. His approach, however, seemed to trigger a response from the three purple columns - they began charging up another energy attack. Guy quickly raised GaoGaiGar's barrier.

"PROTECT SHA…"

But at near point-blank range, the particle beam was too strong for GaoGaiGar's shield to block - it pierced right through, sending GaoGaiGar tumbling into the ground within the amusement park known as Clovisland.

"It broke my barrier…damn it all..." he growled.

"Guy!" a voice called out to the cyborg over his communicator - one that seemed to instantly renew his fighting spirit.

"Mikoto! Y-you're alive!" he exclaimed.

"We're all up at Orbit Base right now," Mikoto explained; "One of our contacts at PLANT spotted these things coming and warned us in advance!"

"Forgive us for not telling you," Taiga said. "The warning came only a few minutes ago, so we had to hurry. Luckily, we had an emergency Threshold put in for us for just such an occasion!" Everyone else in the GGG support crew called out to Guy to assure him they were unharmed.

"Just as long as I know everyone's okay," Guy said as GaoGaiGar stood up.

"Even so," the leader of the Gutsy Geoid Guard ordered; "You can't allow these things, whatever they are, to destroy the Tokyo Settlement!"

"You didn't need to tell me that, Chief!" Guy said bravely, before momentarily turning his thoughts to Tara's parents as the purple columns began charging up for yet another energy bolt attack.

Gilbert and Haruhi Zifell...we owe you once again. You gave DREAM the chance to escape Britannia and ZAFT's wrath. I can only pray they'll return soon. Until then...I'll fight with everything I have!

"PROTECT SHAAAADE!" Guy roared.

This time, there was enough distance between the pillars and GaoGaiGar for the barrier to deflect the beam - and when combined with Guy's G-Stone power, it bounced back with enough to pierce the pillars' own barriers and punch gaping holes in them.

The three violet columns fell from the sky, all of them crashing around Guy, though they did not shatter.

"They must be stopped," Guy thought out loud; "But without the power of the Goldion Hammer, this is the best I can do..."

"HELL...AND...HEAVEN!"

The machine's hands glowed pink and yellow.

"Gemu-giru-gan-go-gufo..."

Just as before, the two energies began to crackle as both hands attempted to repel each other like magnets of the same polarity. Guy managed to clasp its hands together, unleashing a massive wave of energy.

But the pillar he was aiming at didn't budge at all. But he charged at it all the same, only to be blocked a second time by its barrier. But instead of just deflecting him, it began to glow in a bright purple light, and transform into something new - as did the other two.

The pillar Guy had confronted turned into a massive fist. After several seconds, the fist's overwhelming energy proved too much for Hell & Heaven, and shattered GaoGaiGar's hands, then sent him flying.


Meanwhile, Suzaku and Tera hovered to get a look at the fight between GaoGaiGar and the pillars. The supporting Knightmares had taken most of the Black Knights into custody - only Kallen, C.C., Urabe, and a few grunts had escaped from them.

"Who's that fighting those things?" Tera asked.

"That's GGG's Super Robot, GaoGaiGar," Suzaku said when he got a good look at the GGG robot. "We should help him!"

"But didn't they work with DREAM?" Tera exclaimed. "And what about the other Black Knights? They got away!"

"We managed to capture everyone of importance except Zero's second-in-command and their ace," Suzaku said; "Besides, catching the Black Knights will have no meaning if there's no one left to protect from them!" In spite of Charles' memory rewrite, he was still very much the man he used to be - willing to defend the innocent at any cost.

"That's true, but..." Mimir Dysphoria's pilot said, still uneasy.

"Plus, GGG and Nerv saw through Zero's lies and severed relations with them before his rebellion," the Lancelot's pilot said; "They're not terrorists like he was!"

"But Guy Shishioh's still a bloody Eleven," Harkness' voice came through their communicators; "As is most of their support staff. Can we really trust them to protect our people?"

"Huh?" Suzaku exclaimed. He and Tera turned around to see the three Aesirs - Zorum, Daoran and Rukid, all hovering near them.

"Uncle Harkness! Uncle Lugh! Uncle Peleus!" Tera said, happy to see her three uncles again.

So those are the XEM Series that wiped out Zero's rebel forces, Suzaku thought.

"He's protecting the Britannian side of the Settlement," Peleus said. "That's enough for me."

"I'm personally itching for a true challenge," Lugh said, pounding his hands together. Just then, they saw GaoGaiGar go flying after its failed Hell & Heaven attack.

"And whatever those things are," he added, grinning wickedly; "I bet they can scratch it!" With that, Aesir Daoran rocketed off toward them.

"Lugh! Hold yer horses!" Harkness cried.

"You know Lugh," Tera's spy uncle chuckled; "He's the family's consummate warrior. He can never turn down a good challenge!"

"Then let's follow him and tip the odds in mankind's favor a little more!" Suzaku said.


As Guy struggled to get up, he finally got a better look at these new enemies that were giving him so much trouble, now that the purple light shrouding them had faded. They all had great purple cloaks covering most of their bodies, but each seemed to resemble a particular body part.

The first pillar, which had turned into a fist, unfurled to show that it indeed was some sort of robotic hand made of red metal, though when its sharpened fingers uncurled, Guy could see that all of them had three joints, when the thumb usually had two.

The second pillar changed into an entity that had no proper head either - just a cube with a huge mass of gray, hair-like fibers on top. The hair sprang up in an intimidating manner.

The third pillar changed into an entity with a simple gold-colored mouth filled with sharp teeth and a mechanical tongue. And when Guy looked closer, he saw a familiar purple mass inside it - a hunk of Zonder Metal.

These things...are Zonderians! Guy realized. Could they be the same as EI-01?!

He couldn't think of much else before the hair-based entity launched a ferocious attack on its downed enemy - it turned its hair into an enormous drill and jammed it into GaoGaiGar's leg, destroying it. Mamoru, meanwhile, had just arrived on the scene, having sensed Zonderians.

"BIG BROOOOOOO!" Mamoru screamed, his terrified heart feeling as if it was being drilled through by that same attack.

Guy could not have known this, but Pasder had been but the first out of thirty-one similar Zonderians...the 31 Machine Primevals, each of them resembling based on a part of the humanoid body. In this case, they were the Fist Primeval, Hair Primeval and Mouth Primeval. And one other thing was for sure - their objective was to kill him and the rest of GGG.

But before Fist and Mouth could attack, several beam and hadron shots struck Mouth from behind, knocking it off balance. They turned to see Mimir, the Aesirs, and the Lancelot Conquista all heading for them.

"That's...Suzaku Kururugi...and the three machines that defeated Zero's forces a few days ago!" Mamoru exclaimed; "What are they doing working together?"

He then noticed Mimir Dysphoria.

"And what's that other one?" he said; "It looks like Lifthrasir, but…"

"Hey, kid!" Tera called out after they had arrived; "You and your fancy hairdo better clear out, now!"

That voice...is that Tara Zifell? Guy thought; But why isn't she in Lifthrasir? Damn it, I don't have time to think about this...

"Mamoru, please...do as...she says!" the cyborg yelled. Mamoru looked back at Guy, then at the five machines who had jumped to the defense of his big brother and the Settlement...even if they had destroyed the chance for Japan to be free again.

"N...no!" he cried; "I'm staying, and I'm helping!"

Mamoru changed into his winged form. In this state, he focused his mind on the five machines and on GaoGaiGar, and then channeled all of the additional energy that he could to them. But after that, he drifted back down, and into unconsciousness. This burst of G-Stone power supercharged the XEM Series and the Lancelot Conquista.

But it also started to disrupt Charles' Geass. Suzaku clutched his head as he saw brief flashes of his real memories...his reconciliation with Lelouch, seeing Euphie's eyes open after she had been snatched from death's door, and his defeat by Shapiro Keats. But it didn't last - Charles' grip on Suzaku's memories reasserted itself.

"Suzaku?" Tera exclaimed. She hadn't felt anything at all.

What...was that, he thought; What did that kid do to me? But his attention returned to the battle - he also noticed that the Lancelot Conquista was running at a far greater output than normally possible.

"So this is G-Stone energy!" Lugh said, feeling his already bloated self-confidence swell even more. "It's so invigorating!"

"All right, ya bloody aliens," Harkness yelled, his battle fury driven to greater heights by Mamoru's gift; "Have a taste of me claws!" With that, Aesir Zorum charged at Fist Primeval, dealing a powerful slashing attack and send it flying.

"Lugh, let's put that 'mane-ace' to society on ice," Peleus suggested.

"Gladly, dear brother!" Lugh said with a grin; "We'll give it a barbering it won't soon forget!" With that, they rushed at Hair Primeval, dodging a barrage of needle-like hairs from it.

"Guess that leaves us with Chompers, here," Tera said; "Let's go, Suzaku!" Euphie's former Knight nodded and joined in on his friend's attack.

Seeing that the three Primevals were occupied, Guy took it upon himself to get Mamoru to safety. He appeared from out of the lion mouth of GaoGaiGar, hurried over the rubble as best as he could and picked up the unconscious boy. He paused and looked back at the now inactive machine.

Forgive me, GaoGaiGar, he thought; It's not like me to flee, but you and I would just get in the way…


"One survivor," Leila thought out loud to no one in particular as she sat in her private train car on the way back to Paris, writing in her diary. "In exchange for the lives of those young Japanese men, my operation succeeded."

She sighed and looked out the window. She had met that sole survivor - a young man named Akito Hyuga. Since W-0 had lost all of its troops except him, she couldn't exactly call it a unit. So in order to keep him in her service, she offered to take his services as a bodyguard.

"My father said it's a person's duty to protect their homeland," she continued after a moment of thought; "But the people of this wicked nation...they send people who have lost their own country to do it for them."

She sighed, pondering what trauma she might have inflicted on Hyuga, and what the last thoughts of the rest of the W-0 soldiers who sacrificed themselves.

"I wonder," she said; "Do the Japanese see me as just another cowardly commander?" But to her surprise, someone answered.

"That's a question you'll have to answer for yourself, Leila Malcal."

She looked up to see a teenage boy with white hair, blood-red yet gentle eyes, a white polo shirt and dark slacks leaning against the wall. Perched on his shoulder was a parrot with a body the size of a small rabbit with a black beak and slightly sparkling feathers colored like a beautiful sunrise.

"Who are you?!" she exclaimed, slamming her diary shut then reaching for a gun she had next to her; "How did you get in here?"

"My name is Kaworu Nagisa," the boy said. "As for how I got in here, let's just say my friend and I have been keeping an eye on you since you boarded this train." At this, the bird leaped from Kaworu's shoulder and landed on Leila's small desk, leaving a short trail of sparkles.

"Oh...uh...hi, there," Leila said warily, unsure of what to make of this unusual avian. "You're a pretty bird. You want a cracker?"

"Scratch-scratch?" the bird chirped. He bent his head down, but the young woman made no move to touch the bird.

"Zig seems to have faith in you," Kaworu said with a smile. "Otherwise he wouldn't want you to scratch him."

"A-all right," Leila said. She nervously let go of the gun, and laid her hand on the animal, then started to gently scratch his neck. Zig soon started making little chirps, purrs and even a little unintelligible murmuring. Leila found her initial wariness toward the parrot fade.

"He's enjoying it," the boy said happily; "That means you should be able to help me...but you are free to refuse, of course."

"What do you want my help with?" the leader of W-0 asked.

"There are people who are very dear to me that have lost themselves," the boy-Angel said. "Please..if you should encounter them, help them find themselves again."

"Even if I knew who they were," Leila replied, shaking her head; "How would I do that?" Kaworu's smile didn't fade.

"You have met the green-haired witch, haven't you?" he said, leaning in a little; "She gave you the Power of the King, didn't she?" At this, Leila recoiled in surprise.

He knows about that woman?!

Zig squawked, indicating that he wanted to be scratched more. Leila continued to do so, but her attention was more focused on Kaworu.

"If that's the case, there's a good chance you will meet my friends," Kaworu explained. "Those with the Power of the King and those affected by the power tend to be drawn to one another - such is the nature of this world."

Zig popped his head up and started to preen himself. Leila correctly interpreted this as a sign that he was satisfied.

"And when you do meet them," Kaworu continued; "The power you possess will let you know. So, will you help me?"

"Very well," she said. "I'll do it."

"Thank you! Awk!" Zig squawked. Kaworu smiled and presented his arm, and the parrot hopped onto it.

"Zig and I are glad to hear you say that, Leila. Now, if you'll excuse me, we have other places to be." The parrot opened its wings, let out a high-pitched squeal...and then a great flash of light. When it faded, both boy and bird had disappeared.

He's gone, she thought; Was I...dreaming? She looked back at the desk - a bright red, orange and yellow feather was lying there.

No, that was real, she thought as she picked up the feather and stared at it.


"Yer a tough one, ya are!" Harkness laughed as he dodged a punching attack from Fist Primeval and countering with a G-Stone-enhanced claw swipe. But even with this power boost, it didn't deal significant damage to the Zonderian's armor.

"Bloody hell, I'm actually breakin a sweat!" the sumo-shaped noble panted. "You're a worthy opponent, I see. Time to turn up the heat, then!" With Aesir Zorum raised itself upright.

"Computer, disable the TZUM'S limiter!" he ordered. The computer silently complied, and Zorum began emitting hot flames from every one of its vents. The two Egyu attacks drones also sprouted flames from their bodies. Then with incredible speed, it rushed at the Zonderian, delivering a brutal flurry of slashes, punches and kicks while the Egyu drones poured on the flames.

Finally, Zorum grabbed the Primeval, lifted it over its head, then leaped high into the air. It threw the Primeval down at the peak of its jump, then dove in, charging up a final blast.

"BURN T' ASHES! IMPERIAL RAVAGE!"

Right before impact, the two drones and Zorum fired a full strength blast of flame at Fist, seemingly incinerating it.

"And that's the way ya do it!" Harkness laughed.


Peleus and Lugh Zifell were also hard at work demolishing their chosen Primeval - having pounded Hair with electromagnetic energy and hyper-cold winds. But now the time had come for them to end it as well. They disabled the limiters on their machines and unleashed their machines' full power - Daoran began to emit howling icy winds from its vents, and Rukid released a surge of electromagnetic energy, blowing out the lights in numerous buildings.

"FIMBUL HURRICANE..." Lugh roared; "BLADE TORNADO!" Two huge black tornadoes shot out from its guns, but within each of them was a particularly keen blade, quickly cutting away Hair Primeval's metallic locks.

"PERISH NOW," Peleus cried; "RUKID LIGHTNING ROD!" He charged up an extendable spear with energy, then threw it straight through the tornado, hitting Hair in the body. He then began channeling electromagnetic energy into it.

When the attack was over, Hair fell flat on its back, every metal fiber in its hairdo gone limp. The machines returned to normal.

"I'd say that's that," Peleus said, satisfied with their victory.

"That was invigorating, Peleus!" Lugh said; "I almost wish it wasn't quite over."


Suzaku and Tera were also successful in taking down Mouth - it lay in a crumpled heap, its various teeth chipped, shattered and broken.

"Alien freaks," Tera sighed. Suzaku sighed with relief as well...but they had let their guards down too soon, for all three Primevals began to rise up, their injuries healing right before the eyes of the Settlement's defenders.

"Wha…" Suzaku gasped.

"Did they just…" Tera said. Suddenly, she heard a hissing, almost reptilian voice in her mind - it seemed to be coming from Mouth Primeval.

Why do you oppose us, my lady?

"Get out of my head!" Tera cried, grasping her temples as the voices caused her head to ache.

It was you who commanded us to do this long ago, a low, rumbling voice spoke - it seemed to be coming from Fist Primeval.

"I said, get out of my head!" Tera cried again.

But if you would oppose now, a high pitched, whiny voice said, and was soon joined by the other two:

Then we have no choice but to destroy you!

Instantly, the three Zonderians launched a ferocious counterattack...


In the depths of Mt. Aso, one of Japan's many volcanoes, a sleeping battleship and two of its three crew members had just been awakened. This battleship was somewhat smaller than the warships used by DREAM, but it had more than enough firepower to make up for it. It was mostly white, with a black section on the back, mounted with powerful twin-barreled Maser and Anti-Meson cannons. On the front were several white fins with dark red sections that glittered, as if precious jewels were hidden within. The rear of the ship vaguely resembled a robotic head with green fins on the back and a golden crown where a huge red jewel slept.

"Presence of 31 Machine Primevals confirmed!" a computer voice called out; "Hair, Mouth and Fist Primeval detected!" The voice belonged to a supercomputer called Tomoro 0117 - it had once been the Machine King Pinchernone, but thanks to Arma, it regained its true form. Arma himself hovered near the helm.

Standing at the helm itself was the man once named Pizza - but his true name was Soldato-J 002, the sole survivor of his home world's Soldato-J Corps. While free to soar the skies once more, he wasn't going to idly wander. As the last of his battalion, he had to defeat the 31 Machine Primevals that had appeared.

"The time for waiting is over!" J ordered. "Launch...J-AAAAAARK!" With that, the ship's engines rumbled before it burst out of the magma chamber, splashing lava along the mountain as it took to the air. Its body was completely unaffected by the hot magma, and seemed to sparkle in the moonlight.

"J-Jewel Generator...full power!" J ordered. The computer complied, increasing the output of J-Ark's power source - the J-Jewel...a powerful energy crystal similar to the G-Stone. The ship accelerated toward Clovisland, where the three Primevals were engaged in battle with Suzaku and the XEM Series.

"Anti-Meson Cannons, standby!" J ordered.

"Roger!" Tomoro replied. The cannons all started to charge energy as the computer automatically took aim, locking on to Fist Primeval, who was standing in a half-circle with Hair and Mouth around the four damaged machines.

"FIRE!" J roared. The cannons fired, and a split-second later, tore through Fist Primeval - but instead of disintegrating, it broke into dozens of oddly-shaped shards.

"That was almost enough to destroy the core," Tomoro said.

"Hm...perhaps we made it too strong," J said.

"Warning: Atik Yomin presence detected," the computer then said. "Triangulating position." After a few moments, the ship's camera zoomed in on the Mimir Dysphoria.

"Is it her?" J said.

"Scan inconclusive," Tomoro said. "Closer investigation required."

"Let's focus on the Primevals first," Arma said. J nodded, and directed J-Ark to descend...


Unbeknownst to those fighting to protect the Settlement, Pagliacco was hovering just below the clouds. In spite of its unchanging expression and robotic drone, it was displeased to see J-Ark.

"The Disaster Left by Abel...danger level: 100," the robot intoned. "Changing attack priority." With that, Hair and Mouth Primevals turned their attention to J-Ark.

"They're attacking that white battleship now," Suzaku huffed.

"Good...I'm not risking mah neck any more," Harkness wheezed. "I'll see ya back at the mansion."

"Uncle Harkness!" Tera cried as Aesir Zorum took off.

"Let him go," Peleus said; "Lugh and I will remain with you." Meanwhile, J prepared to unleash something new from within J-Ark.

"FUUUUUSION!"

J levitated into the air, and melded into the wall behind him. This initiated the ship's transformation process.

"J-BIRD! PLUG OUT!"

The entire bridge of the ship, as well as the cannon section, separated from the fuselage.

"MEGA...FUUUUUSION!"

The guns on the top of the ship split into two equal halves. Meanwhile, the fuselage transformed into the torso and legs of its alternate form, while the two sections of the gun part changed into arms and connected to sockets in the shoulders. Finally, the bridge reconnected to the fuselage, forming the robot's head. The green and gold fins on the head now served as a crown of sorts. A massive J-Jewel extended out from its head, and the crown moved up, revealing its eyes.

"KIIIING J-DEEEEEEEER!"

Hair Primeval launched another barrage of needles, but they didn't even scratch this newcomer. King J-Der turned its head and raised its left arm, charging energy into its fingers.

"MASER CANNONS!"

The particle beams struck dead-on, staggering and severely damaging Hair Primeval. But as it recovered, King J-Der grabbed its hair and flung it into a nearby building. Luckily, there was no one inside.

Mouth Primeval retaliated by launching its teeth like rockets, which were quickly replaced by a new set. But again, the huge white robot was ready - it took aim with its right hand.

"ANTI-MESON CANNONS!"

These particle blasts disassembled the teeth-rockets and damaged Mouth Primeval as well. King J-Der then rushed in and delivered a devastating roundhouse kick, smashing it into yet another building.

Crap, there goes that satellite office, Peleus thought, wincing a bit as the skyscraper, a local office of the OSI, tumbled to the ground.

He just took those two out like it was nothing! Tera thought, gaping in amazement at King J-Der's power. Guy was also feeling the same way, but his thoughts were interrupted when Mamoru started to come around.

Unfortunately, Fist Primeval had managed to reassemble itself. It lunged at King J-Der and began administering another deadly electrical shock. Seeing this chance, the other two lunged at King J-Der.

But the remaining three XEM Series saw their chance, and attacked.

"FIMBUL HURRICANE! BLADES!" Lugh bellowed, peppering Hair with a barrage of icy blades.

"RUKID JAVELIN!" Peleus cried, tossing an electromagnetically charged spear at Mouth, which burst through its upper jaw and send waves of electromagnetism through it.

"MIMIR RIFLE, DOUBLE MODE!" Tera yelled, firing beam shots at Fist, disrupting its electrical shock attack and punching a hole through its still-weakened body.

This gave King J-Der the chance to throw Fist off and finish the job it had come to complete.

One of the pairs of fins appeared on its arm, forming something like a bow before charging with red J-Jewel energy.

"J-QUAAAATH!" J boomed.

The bow fired an energy blasted shaped like a huge bird of prey, smashing first into Fist Primeval, destroying its body completely, and simultaneously retrieving a spiky sphere - its core.

As soon as it had the core in hand, King J-Der passed the core to its free hand, then took aim at Hair Primeval, who was charging yet again, its head formed into a drill.

"J-QUATH!"

As it did with Fist Primeval, the fiery bird smashed through Hair Primeval and retrieved its core. King J-Der then turned and fired one last J-Quath at Mouth, demolish it as well. But to J's annoyance, Mouth's head ejected and headed for space.

"You won't get away!" J cried.

"Wait!" Arma called out as he appeared from out of King J-Der's forehead; "We need to purify the Primeval Cores before they regenerate!"

"I'll go after it!" Tera cried. She made a Threshold just ahead of the escaping Mouth, then sent her three attack drones after it. They managed to stop it dead in its tracks, and began to erode its defenses further. Mimir Dysphoria followed, charging its rifles.

"Repent for the destruction you've caused," Tera cried; "DYSPHORIC PENANCE!" The final simultaneous blast tore through Mouth's armor, sending it plummeting back to earth. King J-Der fired one last J-Quath, capturing its core.

With all three cores captured, Arma began to purify them, using the same chant he had used to free the Machine Kings...

"Temperum...mundus...infinitum...ledile!"

With Mamoru fully awake, Guy put him down. He looked up to see Arma purifying the three cores...but he recognized the boy immediately.

He was one of his classmates at school!

Meanwhile, Pagliacco could only watch as the first three of the 31 Machine Primevals were purified.

"Three Primevals struck down...King J-Der…"

They had failed to completely destroy GGG, and had gotten the attention of King J-Der, who was more powerful than even GaoGaiGar. While this initial attack had failed, the Zonderian clown now had a fair idea of what to expect from Earth's defenses. With this data in its memory, the clown retreated into its ball and flew back into space.

Meanwhile, now that the matter of the three Machine Primevals settled, King J-Der turned its attention to Mimir Dysphoria.

"Now for that Atik Yomin presence," J said; "Scan it, Tomoro." The machine whirred and hummed deeply for a few moments while Kaidou looked as well, trying to sense the person inside with his telepathy.

"Atik Yomin presence confirmed," Tomoro said. "Data match as catalyst for Zonderization of home planet. Immediate termination recommended before she regains her full power." King J-Der raised both arms and began to charge energy into them. But before they could fire, Arma calmly put himself in J's way.

"Wait, J!" he called out to him telepathically; "It's not her...not completely." This instantly halted the impending attack.

"What makes you say that?" J asked.

"I've seen this person before," the boy explained. "And she lacks that power. Besides, she helped us capture Mouth Primeval." Seemingly satisfied with this answer, King J-Der picked up the three purified cores, which now resembles pieces of a 3D globe puzzle, and took off into the night...


As morning came, a GGG sea transport arrived, where Guy, Mamoru, Suzaku, Tera, Peleus and Lugh waited. Their machines were in need of repairs, and Upon docking, Stallion White stepped off. Lugh instantly recognized him, but held his tongue for a moment.

"Are you alright, Guy?" Stallion asked Guy, noting the damage the cyborg had suffered.

"It would have been much worse, had these people not intervened," he explained. Finally, Lugh stepped forward and gave Stallion a hearty slap on the back.

"Stallion White! It's been ages, boy!" he said.

"Lugh Zifell," Stallion said; "It's good to see you well. You and Peleus helped Guy?"

"Couldn't have those alien freaks running around unopposed, could I? Harkness helped too, but he's gone and limped off back to the mansion."

"Where's your sister?" Peleus asked. "She wasn't in Bay Island Base, was she?"

"She's up in space, with the rest of the GGG support crew," Swan's brother replied. "Next time I see her, I'll give her your regards."

"But how?" Tera exclaimed.

"Your father left us an emergency Threshold connected on the chance a powerful enemy directly attacked, Tara," Stallion said.

"My name's not Tara!" Tera shot back; "It's Tera! And as a Knight in His Majesty's service, I should be referred to as 'Lady'."

That's odd, the GGG member thought; Swan told me that this girl's name was Tara...and what's she doing separated from DREAM? That machine definitely isn't Lifthrasir."

"I see," he said, bowing politely; "It was my mistake, milady."

"Well, I'm glad to see that my brother was also helping reputable organizations like GGG," Peleus said.

"Was?" Stallion exclaimed.

"He was betrayed by the Black Knights," Tera said. "They killed him and gave DREAM the XEM-00 that he worked so hard on! At least his Eleven mistress got what was coming to her."

Zero wouldn't have killed Gilbert and his wife, Stallion thought; the rest of DREAM would have had his head on a pike for that!

"First he runs off with an Eleven whore, then he sells his life's work to a terrorist group. How could such a brilliant man be such a fool?" Stallion leered at her. He noted the shape of her face, her eyes, her tone, and her words.

I'm sure of it now...this girl IS Tara Zifell, and she must have been brainwashed somehow. But I can't let them know that I've realized this...not until Liger and I work out how they did it.

"It's a shame," the Britannian GGG member said with a sigh; "If there are more like these new Zonderians, DREAM might have helped us. Without GaoGaiGar, GGG is lacking considerably in firepower."

"Tera and I will do whatever we can, Mister White," Suzaku finally said; "You don't need to rely on Zero and his ilk to defend the planet." Tera nodded.

"You'd help us?" Stallion exclaimed happily; "Wonderful! It just so happens that there's problems in the E.U. that require GGG's specialties, but would benefit from the extra help."

"What?" Clovis' Knight asked.

"BioNet is up to no good again...that's all we can say for now. Once we know more, we'll contact you, Tera. This is something that requires the Zifell clan touch."

"Understood," the girl said; "I'll be waiting!"


That girl hasn't lost any of her skills. If anything, she's become deadlier since her memory was changed.

And she'll become even more formidable once she receives training from the Rounds and further experience on the battlefield.

Lord V.V...

Is something wrong, Prioress?

I must say that it's truly amazing how deep the influence of His Majesty's Geass is. Gilbert's daughter and I look nothing alike, but she truly believes me to be her birth mother.

That girl is the vessel spoken of in the Scrolls. Her mental development must be guided carefully if the Project is to succeed.

Indeed, she will be the linchpin of mankind's salvation...the link between the Catalyst and the Ragnarok Connection.

Yes...of course, Commander Ikari.

(But...why do I have these doubts? Are all my years of devotion to the Committee and the Order being challenged by my affection for Gilbert's daughter?)


Next time…

*With supplies procured and Zeorymer on board, DREAM heads for the Moon upon hearing rumors that Char Aznable is holding a party to celebrate an official alliance between Neo Zeon and the Lunar Empire, and sends spies to learn more! But while DREAM's infiltrators shmooze with the fanciest folks in Neo Zeon and Gym Ghingnham's new Empire, Invaders, Muge troops and Titans make a move to turn the soiree into a slaughter! Can DREAM protect their allies, and what will the spies learn? Find out in Chapter 37: Spies at Dinner! Moon & Axis Are Allies!

*Tera ends up getting two assignments - one from GGG and one from the Emperor. From GGG, she is to go hunting for one of BioNet's most dangerous employees - Gimlet, who may be out to aid terrorist efforts in the EU! Meanwhile, she is also to look out for and get information on the commander who foiled the efforts of the Knights of St. Raphael in Euro Britannia's war with the EU! How will she handle things when both missions end up dovetailing together? Find out in Chapter 37 Gaiden: Onward to the E.U.! Chaotic Struggle in Paris!

Until next time, mecha fans!