Episode 53

The episode opens up as Serafina slowly wakes up; he's in a room full of light, definitely a recovery room. Serafina has bandages covering his head. He groans as he begins to try to move.

Shadow: So you're not dead yet?

Serafina looks over to his left to find Shadow sitting beside his bed reading a Garfield comic book (Yes Garfield survived through the millennium and is still being written with a new comic strip coming out once a week, he's currently 104 in human years (no idea what that translates into cat years) and still looking good). Serafina glares at Shadow.

Serafina: You! Where am I, what happened! Am I your prisoner now you lap dog for the King!

Shadow rolls his eyes in annoyance.

Shadow: You know you're very paranoia, why don't you look around, it's sad when a man can't even recognized his own medical bay.

Serafina's eyes open wide as he looks around again to confirm Shadow's right. He turns back to Shadow and asks still rudely

Serafina: What happened, the last thing I remember is fighting you in a Gundam Fight?

Shadow's grin widens.

Shadow: You mean losing to me in a Gundam Fight.

Serafina angrily snaps

Serafina: That was just luck, I underestimated how fast your Gundam could move and wasn't able to adapt in time.

Shadow doesn't care.

Shadow: Yea, yea, yea whatever you sore loser, anyway after you lost the safety pod ejected right into a shield shard. The pod got a huge dent and you got a banged up head.

Serafina feels the bandages on his head. He finally begins to make the connection.

Serafina: Let me guess you were the first responder and helped me.

Shadow shrugs.

Shadow: That's right you ungrateful bastard.

Serafina is annoyed at these turn of events and after a moment of silence reluctantly says

Serafina: Then I guess a thank you would be in order.

Shadow shakes his head.

Shadow: Don't thank me thank Kabira; she was the first person to notice that your safety pod had hit something.

Serafina is shocked to hear this, flashback activate. We go back in time to the moment Nightwing cut Delena in half vertically. Time slows down as Delena falls backwards, we can see the safety pod get ejected from Delena's well um side/armpit.

The pod is shot up right into a falling shield fragment (remember when Nightwing knocked Delena's exploding ball into Delena's shield). The 2 objects knock each other away as they make a big metal clang sound, time returns to normal. Nightwing stands still for a moment then begins to jump up and down in victory. The camera cuts inside Nightwing's cockpit to show Shadow "gracefully" accept victory.

Shadow: HELL YEA I WON, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! BOYEA!

The camera cuts to inside the Dark-Angel's bridge to show Nick, Roxas, Kenny, Jack, and Thomas pretty much showing the same "graceful" attitude about winning as Shadow.

Nick: Way to go mate!

Roxas: HELL YEA way to show that ass whose top dog Shadow!

Kenny: That was freaking awesome!

Jack: You made it without blowing up my Gundam!

Thomas: RAAAAAAAAA Sweet, sweet victory!

They're jumping up and down and high-fiving each other and basically going wild. Alan, Rini, Ciro, Cagalli and Raheem on the other hand are actually being graceful (not sarcastic) although we can see smug satisfied smiles on all of their faces. Zuke has put on his mask of boredom again. Kabira alone is looking concern, almost invisible she moves up to Kenny's terminal and seems to squint at something.

She taps the celebrating Kenny's shoulder. Kenny turns around still on his victory high but the moment he sees Kabira's face he calms down and asks

Kenny: Hey Kabira, is something the matter?

Kabira doesn't want to tell Kenny anything without proof.

Kabira: Um I'm not sure, could you zoom in on this point right here?

Kabira points to a spot on Kenny's computer screen, while the others still go on celebrating Kenny nods his head and sits back down at his terminal. He begins typing on his computer, everyone else finally notices something's up and walks over to see what's going on.

The camera looks over Kenny's shoulder to show the Dark-Angel's camera zoom in on Serafina's safety pod. The safety pod is on the ground a little ways away from the wreckage which once was Delena and has a very obvious and large dent in it. The color drains from Kenny's face as he reads his scans.

Kenny: That's Serafina's safety pod.

Kabira with genuine concern asks

Kabira: It looks damage.

Jack: What the hell happen?

Ciro thinking quickly says

Ciro: It must have been hit from debris from the explosion with the shield.

Nick also looks worried.

Nick: That damage looks serious mates, is he going to be alright?

Shadow and Kabira begin talking at once.

Shadow: Alan bring the Dark-Angel in as close as possible and tell the medical doctors to stand by!

Kabira: Kenny contact the liberators of Haben's ship and tell them an accident has happen with Serafina's safety pod and he needs emergency attention now!

Kenny begins to rapidly type on his computer as Alan moves the ship closer to the safety pod. We can see Nightwing on the main monitor begin to move towards it but suddenly a new window opens up.

Rebel Captain: Stop right there you royalist scum or we'll open fire!

All eyes look up in surprise at the Rebel Captain. The camera cuts outside to show the rebel ship powering up its very big guns at the Dark-Angel then cuts back inside.

Rebel Captain: You are not to touch the President's pod, we're sending our own medical recovery team over as we speak.

Kabira looks relieved at this and asks

Kabira: When will the team arrive?

However the Rebel Captain's answer is disappointing at the least.

Rebel Captain: 20 minutes.

Cagalli is outraged.

Cagalli: 20 minutes are you out of your mind! If he's hit his head he might have been seriously wounded he needs medical treatment now!

The Rebel Captain looks hesitant but remains firm.

Rebel Captain: We can't trust you, for all we know this could be part of your assassination plan to kill the President and make it look like it was an accident.

The outrage begins to spread across the ship.

Jack: You got to be kidding me, you saw the fight yourself how could you possibly think that this was plan out from the beginning!

Even the rebel Captain isn't buying his own BS but he remains stubbornly in place.

Rebel Captain: You are the enemy you can't expect me to believe that you would just help the President out of the kindness of your own heart.

Kabira for the first time snaps angrily

Kabira: Of course we would!

The Rebel Captain feeling the pressure and uncertainty snaps back

Rebel Captain: Yea then why!

Kabira replies without hesitation

Kabira: Because Serafina is a Haben citizen before anything else, and I am a citizen to Haben before anything else and it is a Haben duty to help his or her fellow countryman, Haben to Haben regardless of allegiances or criminal stats; or are you saying that issues like politics take priority over saving lives! How would are ancestors look at us from above to see how far we as a nation have fallen!

Kabira's resolved speech echoes through the ship and leaves the rebel Captain stun and Raheem very proud. Nightwing turns around and picks up the pod. The Rebel Captain weakly says in protest.

Rebel Captain: W-wait you can't

Shadow also replies without hesitation.

Shadow: Then shoot me, but know you'll be shooting at your President too. Your medical team has permission to dock on my ship but until they get here we'll begin immediate treatment.

The flashback ends. Serafina sits in his bed listening to this in silence. Shadow finishes the story.

Shadow: Like I said, you're lucky that we began treatment on you so fast. We found you lying in the pod bleeding to death from a head wound, if we had waited for your medical team to arrive you would have been dead. In the end though we were able to patch you up by the time your medical team arrived and brought you back to your own medical base.

Serafina absent mindedly rubs his bandages then realizes there's something missing from Shadow's story.

Serafina: Then why are you here?

Shadow puffs and leans back in his chair annoyed.

Shadow: Because Kabira asked me too. After we saved your life the military board decided we were trustworthy enough to be allowed into the common areas of your camp including your hospital. Of course we're still being watch.

Shadow nods towards cameras pointed at him.

Shadow: Anyway Kabira has been in here herself most of the time watching you recover, but whenever she's busy she asks me to do it.

Serafina raises an eyebrow.

Serafina: Busy? Doing what?

Shadow gives Serafina a crazy smile.

Shadow: How about I show you?

The camera cuts forward in time and outside, Serafina obviously not supposed to be out of his bed so soon with Shadow right behind him. Serafina is grunting with effort from moving his sore body.

Shadow: Would you like some help?

Serafina glares at Shadow.

Serafina: Screw you.

Shadow and Serafina walk over to a large crowd of rebel people, at the center of the crowd on a box is Kabira in the middle of a speech.

Kabira: We are all Habens, royal, rich, poor these are all concepts we came up with when our economy crashed. I don't know the hardships you've been through, I don't know what you have had to endure but I do know pain. I know what it's like to lose a friend, I know what it's like to have watched injustice and not have the power to stop it, and I know what it's like to have people who you've never met before hate you.

The crowd is watching Kabira intensely never taking their eyes off her.

Kabira: And as a person who knows pain I can tell you that this is wrong, we shouldn't be divided like this, fighting each other trying to kill our brothers or sisters. When our ancestors first came to Haben no one believed they could ever possibly settled this desert, they gave this land away claiming it a fool's graveyard but our ancestors proved them wrong, through hard work, determination, and a spirit that would not yield to the harshest desert storms the most blazing sun and the hottest heat! They took this dust bowl and made it into a country!

The words Kabira says comes from the heart and the audience can sense this.

Kabira: And when the doubters came back in shock then anger tried to take back this country which our ancestors put their blood and sweat into, our ancestors united as one with not just each but with the very sand they had fought against and pushed the villains back! It was then they made a pact with this country, when a Haben dies their spirit will climb the stairs to the great world above while their body will become the very sand that we stand on today so that they always have a way to protect their home.

The crowd is very slowly warming up to Kabira.

Kabira: How are we supposed to honor this commitment our ancestors put everything of themselves in to if we dare to shed even a single drop of our fellow Haben's blood? I'm not saying that we should do nothing, but the situation we are in right now is not solely my father's fault. It's mine as well, it's yours as well, and it's every true Habens fault. We have, we are, and we will always be one people! If Haben thrives then it is because we the people have struggled and bled blood and sweat to make it possible and if our country is in trouble then it is our fault for not working harder for not trying harder to find a solution! So don't think for one second that this is my father's country because it's not, it's our country. THIS IS HABEN!

Kabira finishes her speech and receives a roar of applause from the crowd. She steps down off her box and immediately gets surrounded by spectators that want to talk with her, people are shaking her hand and giving her encouraging compliments on the speech. Raheem of course is close by, within striking distance, and is carefully watching Kabira.

The rest of the crowd that doesn't head towards Kabira begin to talk amongst themselves, most of the crowd seems to agree with Kabira's speech, and they all seem to think that Kabira understands the people and has a good heart. Serafina and Shadow are still towards the back of the crowd. Serafina is once again in deep thought having heard the speech.

Shadow: Kabira has been coming out here every day giving these speeches, sometimes 3 times a day. Each speech is completely different from the last; she makes them up on the spot. The first day was murder, the only thing the people wanted to do is throw stuff at her, no one gave her a chance to talk but she kept coming out here and eventually she won the crowd.

Serafina nods his head slowly.

Serafina: This is how politics was originally, no TV, no underhanded tricks to looks good and make the opponent look bad, and no prewritten speeches looked over and modified a 100 times to fit everyone's agenda. Just one person coming outside to talk to the people, connect with them, show them they understand their pain or hardship and let them know that they're fighting for them. To win a single person over, face to face that is the true essences of what it is to be a politician.

Shadow after a moment rubs the back of his head.

Shadow: Well this kind of deep thinking crap is over my head; let's get back to talking about Gundams. Where did you get that exploding ball and beam, I have to have one?

Shadow's got that little kid gleam in his eyes, but before Serafina can answer Kabira spots them.

Kabira: Shadow, Serafina!

Kabira rushes towards them with Raheem close behind. Kabira goes over to Serafina first, her face full of concern.

Kabira: Oh my god Serafina; are you all right? When did you wake up? Are you even supposed to be out of bed?

Serafina feels awkward, after all to him Kabira is an enemy and he's made that very clear to her yet here she is all concern about his welfare, naturally he's very confused.

Serafina: Um I'm alright.

Kabira angrily turns to Shadow and snaps

Kabira: SHADOW! How could you let Serafina walk around so soon after waking up, he almost died!

Shadow raises his hands in defense.

Shadow: He said he was fine, and he um I'm not going to win no matter what I say am I?

Kabira nods her head and Shadow for once chooses to shut up. Kabira turns to face Serafina.

Kabira: Serafina when you're feeling better I like to continue discussing peace-talks and I have information that will definitely help change your mind about my father.

Serafina stiffens; old feelings are hard to die.

Serafina: I suppose you have already told the advising assembly this information in which case there's no need for you to come and personally tell me

Serafina is once again talking in his rude annoyed voice but Kabira cuts him off this time.

Kabira: That's not true!

Serafina stops and blinks surprised.

Kabira: Other than asking permission to stay in order to make sure you recover so we can continue are talks I haven't discussed anything with them.

Serafina is shocked to hear this, and then suddenly he becomes angry

Serafina: Why, are you stupid or something! I don't like you, I hate you and your father what have I done to not make that clear to you! Any real politician would have already decided that talking to me any further would be pointless and have tried to go around me by going to the advising assembly and what better time than when I was unconscious! What are you trying to prove, what's your objective!

Serafina shouts gathering the attention of everyone in the area. Raheem is glaring at Serafina while Shadow seems to have lost interest. Kabira with eyes of honesty stares at Serafina directly in the eyes and says

Kabira: I'm not trying to prove anything and I don't have any objective. The reason I didn't go to the advisor assembly is because they aren't the leaders of the liberators of Haben. Although they are in charge of certain aspects of the liberators of Haben you are the leader, this is your army your people and you care about them and want to protect them and to go around you well that would just be really disrespectful won't it.

Anger is like fire, it burns hotly and collapses our sense of calm and composer but eventually when all the fuel is burned and there's nothing else left to scream at anger/fire burns out. Serafina anger is gone, he has nothing left against Kabira, he let it all out and she's still standing.

Serafina's logic, judgment, and heart is returning. He breathes in then out finally fully feeling the ass that he's been, after a moment he bows to a surprise Kabira.

Serafina: I'm sorry, I misjudged you. Kabira you have a good heart and came here with nothing but honest intentions and deserve better than the way I have been treating you. Please forgive my behavior.

The crowd begins to mumble to themselves surprised to hear their commander and chief apologize to their supposed enemy, even Raheem is shock. Kabira is taken back and appears the most embarrass, the scene ends with her saying.

Kabira: No, no, no, you weren't that bad; I've been treated worse; please you don't have to bow.

The next scene opens up showing Nick, Kenny and Roxas walking amongst the rebel tents.

Nick: Are you mates sure you want to eat the rebel's food, you mates do know its rations right?

Kenny groans

Kenny: Anything has got to be better than that garbage the cook on board the Dark-Angel is serving.

Roxas moans

Roxas: I need real food, even if I have to hunt it myself.

Nick, Kenny and Roxas get on a food line, while they wait to receive their food they can hear some of the conversations going on between the rebel troops.

Rebel troop A: I heard Kabira's speech today, it was really quite moving.

Rebel troop B: Yea, I'm surprised I always thought Kabira would be some kind of spoiled kid living the good life but she really isn't; she's just like us.

Rebel troop C: She's really nice too, she's always bringing water to us mechanics and making sure we're not hurt, heh I cut myself on a lose screw and she demanded I stop working until I got it checked out.

Rebel troop D: I had a nice conversation with her earlier. It was really weird she just came up out of nowhere and started talking to me; she wanted to know why I was fighting so I told her about how my husband who's staying in Haben Harbor has been out of work for nearly 6 months and can't find a job, she looked really sorry and even give me a couple tips about job openings she had heard about in the area. I'm going to call him later tonight and tell him about them.

Nick, Kenny and Roxas have gotten their food and upon seeing no seats sit on the floor and begin eating.

Kenny: It looks like Kabira is winning the hearts of the rebels.

Nick eating something looks unsurprised.

Nick: Of course mate, she's a good honest gal and any mate with a brain can see it.

Roxas choosing to eat a chicken leg the way a tiger would (biting and clawing) says

Roxas: It's one thing to convince people of your own good intentions but it's another to convince them of someone else's.

Nick and Kenny sip their drink thinking.

Kenny: Well that's true, Kabira is having her meeting today with Serafina, she's finally going to tell him that Fachtna is the one responsible for all of this.

Kenny seems hopeful while Nick seems more realistic.

Nick: It's going to be a tough sell for the mate to pull off; for someone with that level of hatred; changing his mind won't be easy even with physical proof.

Roxas done with her food begins to check out some of the rebel guys and girls still eating.

Roxas: I guess this will be a real test of Kabira's political skills.

The camera cuts to the Dark-Angel's Gundam bay, it's quiet, all repairs seem to be finish with the Gundams. The mechanics are working on the ship now but it's very lay back. Jack is sitting down facing Nightwing, she has a rather large Ipad thing in her lap. Jack is writing in it while constantly looking back up at Nightwing.

Jack (If I move this here, and convert the diagnostic power down wire 323 and reconnect it with the vertebral pillar.)

Jack smiles in victory.

Jack: There that should increase Nightwing's physical power by 5 percent.

Jack saves her work then takes the ipad off her lap and puts it to the side as she leans back.

Jack: I can't wait until we get back to Arianna or any city where I can get my hand on some decent parts, heh I'm even running low on regular solid metal so I can't even make the parts myself.

Jack isn't speaking to anyone, she's just talking. Jack lays there slowly staring at each Gundam on the rack admiring her work, Nightwing, Cowboy, La Rouge, Quanlier and finally her eyes come to rest on the last fifth Gundam on the rack; Zuke's Gundam. Zuke's Gundam is silver like his Neon gauntlet and clearly a different class Gundam from all the others.

Jack (Yea and then there's Zuke's Gundam. Zuke told everyone that he would be doing his own maintenance for his Gundam and that anyone caught touching his Gundam would find their hand broken in several places. Freaking stuck-up bastard doesn't think I'm competent enough to handle Gundam repairs.)

Jack definitely looks offended but then she goes back staring at the unknown Gundam.

Jack (I haven't seen Zuke touch his Gundam once, but it's always clean, not a single layer of dust on it. I wonder if it has a nanite clean base system, either that or Zuke is a freaking ninja that can wipe down his entire Gundam without anyone seeing him. I don't see any weapons or shields on this Gundam either.

Jack sits back up having fun guessing about Zuke's Gundam.

Jack (I know some fighters like Shadow prefer to go out without a shield so it's possible it's not equip with one and its weapons could simply be hidden away in a secret hatch somewhere on the Gundam's body. As for the model well if I had to guess I would say a customized elf class Gundam.)

Jack suddenly frowns and gets angry with herself.

Jack: What the hell am I doing, I don't know anything about this Gundam! Hell I don't even know its name, that stupid Zuke how could he not even tell me his stupid Gundam's name! I'm the Shadow Knights chief mechanics and I don't even know the name of a Gundam on my team, I'm going to be the laughing stock at GFC. You know what I'm going to find that Zuke and beat him till he tells me at least his Gundam's name, I'll show him who's competent!

Jack with anger fueled determination gets up and marches off. The camera cuts to the meeting room where we first met Serafina, everyone has a serious look on their face except for Shadow who looks like he's sleeping even the guards are troubled. Kabira and Cagalli are leaning slightly forward waiting for a response from Serafina about a question they must have asked.

Serafina: So you're saying that the council member Fachtna has been manipulating events and sabotaging the King?

Kabira and Cagalli nod their heads.

Kabira: Yes.

Serafina with his new found respect for Kabira doesn't want to come right out and say he doesn't believe her but well if he didn't have his new found respect for Kabira he would have already cursed her out and accused her of lying.

Serafina: But there's no proof?

Kabira can see the doubt in his face and it annoys her.

Kabira: There's proof, I saw it but it was destroyed by Fachtna.

Even Kabira realizes how stupid that sounds, and no surprise Serafina is skeptical to say the least but instead of throwing Kabira out and labeling her as some kind of conspiracy theory nut job he tries to reason with her.

Serafina: Ok let's say for the moment that you did have proof of Fachtna's treachery, what possible motive other than being pure evil and the biggest ass in the world could Fachtna have for wrecking Haben's economy and framing the king for it?

Kabira bites her lip not having an answer. Serafina sees this and decides to play towards that logic.

Serafina: Wrecking the economy doesn't get him any more money; in fact he's hurting like everyone else. I read in a news article about smart things to do with your money and found out that the only reason Fachtna is still rich is because he invested everything overseas. As for framing the king, well last I checked in the popularity polls he's nowhere close to being the next choice elected by the people when the king is overthrown which isn't surprising since I've heard his political views and speeches. Don't get me wrong it's not like I dislike his politics or anything it's just I wouldn't vote for him to be king.

The camera cuts back to the Dark-Angel, this time we're outside the Dark-Angel on top of the hull of the bridge. Zuke is just standing their unblinking and unmoving looking very much like a statue, he's staring off in the distance. Jack pops out from a hatch and she still looks angry

Jack: Alright Zuke look here, it's disgraceful for a head mechanic to have on board a Gundam that she doesn't even know its name so I demand that you tell me your Gundam's name!

Zuke doesn't move, in fact judging by his posture we wouldn't be able to tell that Jack is there. Of course this pisses off Jack even further.

Jack: HEY don't just ignore me you freaking asshole, answer me!

Zuke finally replies in his "I'm better then you voice"

Zuke: Go away; my time is far too valuable to play with little children.

This sends Jack over the edge of the raging abyss.

Jack: Why you, BASTARD!

Jack quickly pulls out her wrench and hurls it at Zuke with all her might. The wrench spins flying towards Zuke but without even turning around Zuke with almost inhuman reflexes catches it.

Zuke: Tis

Jack grits her teeth in surprise annoyance as Zuke spins the wrench around his fingers for a moment then still without turning around throws it at Jack. Zuke didn't hold back, the wrench is flying towards Jack like a speeding train easily 3 times faster and more powerful than when Jack threw it, however Jack stubbornly doesn't back down.

She tracks the wrench with her eyes and with her glove hand (note in case you forgot Jack wears a black glove on her left hand) catches it. We hear a loud bang sound as Jack catches the wrench. Zuke finally turns around and looks at Jack for the first time ever surprise.

Zuke: You caught it.

Jack is happy she finally got the upper hand against Zuke.

Jack: That's right someday I'm going to be the greatest mechanic in the world and it would be a disgrace if I can't even catch my own wrench.

Zuke and Jack stare off at each other than Zuke turns back towards the horizon.

Zuke: It's impossible for you to achieve your dream.

Jack just glares at Zuke.

Jack: We'll just see.

Annoyed at being ignored again Jack snaps

Jack: And what the hell are you doing just staring off at the distance!

Zuke answers in a matter of fact voice

Zuke: I'm waiting for the enemy.

Jack even more annoyed folds her arms and asks

Jack: Wha-

Before she can finish a missile speeds into view, time slows down as we can see the very large missile literary just miss Zuke by a hair. Zuke still has his arrogant look on his face and remains unflinching as the missile speeds by. The missile misses Jack by quite a bit more but it's definitely closer than someone would want a missile to be to them.

Jack watches the missile fly over the top of the bridge and reflexively analyzes it.

Jack (A 332 blue jay long distance missile, explosion radius 3 kilometers.)

Time resumes back to normal as the missile zips by and hits the ground right next to the Dark-Angel. There's a moment's pause as Jack stands their stun to which Zuke gloats.

Zuke: That enemy.

The camera cuts to inside the Dark-Angel's bridge as a whole bunch of warning lights goes off. Rini, Thomas, Alan and Ciro are the only ones on the bridge.

Thomas: LA, RA, DOE, ME missile explosion detected right side of the ship.

Everyone is typing fast at their terminals. Alan snaps

Alan: That's impossible there's no one on the radars!

Ciro annoyed snaps back

Ciro: Well I think the missile explosion on the right side of the ship disagrees with you!

Rini makes a quick guess at the culprit.

Rini: Those must be long distance missiles, if are radars aren't picking the shooter up we must be at the optimum distance; if we move back we should fall out of range.

We start hearing more explosions around the ship. Thomas sings out

Thomas: LA-DE-DA activating shields and CIWs!

Jack and Zuke walk onto the bridge.

Jack: We got long distance missiles lock onto us and other then Mr. I'm too good to fight we don't have any Gundam Pilots on board!

Ciro rolls his eyes.

Ciro: Well this crappy ass day just keeps on getting better.

Rini shortens and restates her opinion.

Rini: We must be in the optimum zone, I suggest we move back.

Jack nods her head.

Jack: I agree, Alan get us the hell out of here!

Alan doesn't need to be told twice, he yanks on the wheel and begins to turn it. The camera cuts outside as the Dark-Angel turns around and begins to retreat from the missiles coming straight at it. The camera cuts back inside as Thomas sings

Thomas: DOE, RA, ME 2 rebel patrol ships heading in the direction the missiles are coming from.

Ciro is glad about this.

Ciro: Good, they'll distract whosever firing the missiles while we get away.

Jack shouts out

Jack: Contact, Nick, Roxas, Kenny, Cagalli, and Shadow and tell them to get their asses back here on the double!

The camera cuts back to the meeting room, to show Serafina trying to be nice.

Serafina: Look I'm sure you want this not to be your father's fault, like there's some higher person or evil at work and that desire can sometimes play tricks on the mind but

Serafina gets cut off as a messenger comes bargaining in.

Messenger: Reports of attacks by long range missiles from west side! 2 patrol ships are already engaging the enemy.

Serafina is shocked then snaps

Serafina: What, who's attacking!

The messenger hesitantly says

Messenger: From the reports it looks like 2 royal soldiers.

Raheem is shock.

Raheem: What!

Serafina eyes open wide for a moment then he turns slowly back towards Kabira. We can tell he's struggling to decide something, Shadow however butts in.

Shadow: Yea, we totally saved your life just so we could kill you in a surprise attack with royal whatever's.

Shadow says with obvious sarcasm however Serafina isn't laughing.

Serafina: The thought did cross my mind.

Raheem, Cagalli and Kabira are outrage.

Kabira: Come one!

Cagalli: Really!

Raheem: This is ridicules!

They all speak at once; Shadow on the other hand just gets up and stretches.

Shadow: Fine, I'll go out their kick those royal Gundam's asses and then we can move on.

Shadow starts to walk away when an annoyed Raheem realizes something.

Raheem: You just want to fight the royal soldier's Gundam.

Shadow stops for a moment then looks back almost pleading with Serafina..

Shadow: Oh come on you got to let me fight them, I mean they have royal in their name they must be awesome, please, please, pretty please, please!

Serafina not used to Shadow's crazy behavior is unsure of what to do.

Serafina: Ummmm sure I guess.

Serafina (Who the hell begs to go into battle against an unknown enemy with unknown number of units and abilities?)

Shadow happy begins punching the air.

Shadow: Yes, Yes, Yes!

Cagalli on the other hand has had enough and head slaps him.

Cagalli: God Shadow you stupid moron, there's more going on than your stupid Gundam Fights.

Shadow rubbing the back of his head is annoyed.

Shadow: Well sorry princess.

Cagalli angrily snaps

Cagalli: Don't call me princess!

While they continue to argue Serafina just watches with a look of bewilderment.

Serafina: He really doesn't have anything on his mind but Gundams.

Serafina is referring to Shadow. Raheem nods his head and sighs

Raheem: Unfortunately, it really is a shame he would have made a fine soldier if he wasn't so simple minded.

Suddenly Cagalli and Shadow's Neon gauntlets ring like cellphones interrupting their argument. They both bring up their Neon gauntlet then hit a button. Jack appears on the small screen.

Shadow: Oh hey Jack what's up?

Jack rolls her eyes.

Jack: Oh the sky, some clouds and a partial chance OF FREAKING MISSSILES! Some nut job with a long distance missile launcher appeared and is freaking shooting at us!

Serafina now becomes interested as Cagalli asks with concern.

Cagalli: Are you alright Jack?

Jack: We manage to get out of range without taking any hits but whatever they got its mobile and heading straight towards the rebel I mean the liberators of Haben's base.

Serafina definitely starts asking questions about this.

Serafina: Did you see who was attacking, do you know the enemy's fighting capability!

Jack shakes her head.

Jack: We didn't see anything other than your 2 patrol ships get their asses handed to them.

Serafina is horrified.

Serafina: What!

Jack nods her head.

Jack: Yea there's nothing on the radars so the only way they can tract the enemy is by following the flight path of the missiles but their just 2 big easy targets, they were under heavy fire when we got out of there.

Serafina grits his teeth.

Serafina: Damn it!

Raheem looks outside; we can see a lot of the young recruits just chilling out and listening to music.

Raheem (If those missiles come into range of this base it's going to cause a lot of damage, a lot of kids are going to die.)

Raheem suddenly gets a resolve look in his face.

Raheem: If battleships are too big than are best bet is to go in with Gundams, the missiles will have a hard time locking onto a target that small and agile.

Serafina looks up at Raheem not completely sold on them yet.

Serafina: I feel obligated to tell you that if this is an attack by the King then you are breaking your oath as a royal soldier by helping us.

Raheem looks up at Serafina and matches his gaze evenly.

Raheem: Although I don't rule out the possibility that this is an attack by some faction of the Haben military this is definitely not the work of the king. He would have certainly sent out a warning before he began the attack.

Serafina and Raheem face off for a moment before Serafina decides to accept Raheem's help.

Serafina: So Gundams it is, each patrol ship has about 30 Gundams in it already and I can have 4 carrier ships be ready in 10 minute.

Raheem nods his head satisfied but Cagalli on the other hand looks shock.

Cagalli: Wait a single patrol ship can carry 30 Gundams!

Both Raheem and Serafina look at Cagalli not understanding her surprise.

Serafina: Well no, if you really push it our patrol ships can carry 50 Gundams but there are currently only about 30 on board now.

Cagalli bites her lip not liking where this is going.

Cagalli: And your carrier ships, how many Gundams can they hold?

Serafina doesn't understand what Cagalli's angle is.

Serafina: I hope you realize I'm not stupid enough to tell you how many Gundams we currently have in our possession.

Cagalli shakes her head almost a little desperate now.

Cagalli: No it's not that it's just; please can you tell me how many Gundams it can carry.

Serafina just stares at Cagalli for a moment then says

Serafina: 70 Gundams why?

Cagalli has to take a step back in shock.

Cagalli: 7-70 Gundams wow that must be a lot?

Everyone is staring at Cagalli wondering if she's losing it suddenly Raheem and Serafina laugh (it doesn't make sense to us but on Sora it's one of those obvious questions that only someone who's lived in a hole would not know).

Raheem and Serafina: HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

Raheem: A lot yea right.

Serafina: You don't have to act shock I know are carrier ships are pretty small.

Cagalli is scared.

Cagalli: Small?

Serafina nods his head.

Serafina: Yea, most nations now a days use the Nouyew class carrier which can hold 120 Gundams but I think the record for largest Carrier was 500 Gundams?

Serafina not sure turns to Raheem. Raheem nods his head.

Raheem: 500 Gundams but that thing is worth more than all of Haben plus its freaking massive, easily the size of a couple of city blocks. Only the largest of nations have one of those puppies at their disposal.

Serafina and Raheem done with their laugh turn back to the battle plan. A messenger has come in carrying a screen like the iphone to which immediately Serafina starts talking to his men. Cagalli on the other hand is still shock by what she's learned.

Cagalli (70 Gundams times 4 ships, 280 Gundams just like that and they're talking about it like that amount of Gundams is nothing.)

Suddenly an even scarier thought enters Cagalli's mind.

Cagalli (Maybe it is nothing compared to Sora standards. I knew that Gundams were more enrich in Sora society then on Earth but this is)

Cagalli gets brought back down to Sora by Shadow.

Shadow: Hey Cagalli you alright?

Shadow isn't the only one concern; Kabira is also looking at Cagalli worried, seeing her friend's concern faces Cagalli gets a grip.

Cagalli: Yes I'm fine, thank you.

Cagalli (Right this isn't the time for that, I'll worry about it later.)

Shadow stares at Cagalli for a moment more then gets back to business.

Shadow: Alright the Dark-Angel should be close; let's take a transport shuttle back to it and then get started on some Gundam Fighting.

Shadow looks really excited. Cagalli rolls her eyes but nevertheless follows behind Shadow. Kabira gets up and also starts following them but Cagalli immediately puts a stop to that.

Cagalli: Hold on a second, where do you think you're going Kabira?

Raheem and Serafina look up at this new turn of events. Kabira appears to be annoyed.

Kabira: To the Dark-Angel with you guys of course.

Shadow looks impatient but Cagalli doesn't care and puts her foot down.

Cagalli: No, you're going to stay here.

Raheem likes this idea.

Raheem: I agree under the circumstances it's safer with you here rather than on the Dark-Angel.

This of course makes Kabira angry.

Kabira: I've already been on many battles with the Dark-Angel why is it suddenly more dangerous now.

Raheem struggles with saying an answer that won't upset Kabira further.

Raheem: Well you see we didn't really

Cagalli cuts him off before he says anymore; she puts her hand on Kabira's shoulder and crouches down a little to be at eye level.

Cagalli: You've got it all wrong Kabira it's not that it's too dangerous it's that we need you right here helping Serafina coming up with a battle plan, we need you as a second commander.

Cagalli looks up at Serafina for confirmation. Serafina clearly doesn't like this bullshit but he grits his teeth and smiles.

Serafina: It would be an honor to have your expertise.

Serafina (This is a load of crap, if my Gundam wasn't so heavily damage I'll be leading a ship out there myself.)

Cagalli nods her head satisfied and turns back to Kabira, for a moment Kabira hesitates thinking it over then she losses it. Kabira shakes Cagalli off and shouts

Kabira: This is bullshit! Do you think I'm so stupid that I can't see that you're trying to manipulate me into staying here where it's safer! What the hell do I know about battle planning anyway, I'll tell you what, NOTHING! I'd be absolutely useless! I'd rather go with you guys and fight!

Cagalli steps back shock. The camera switches to Cagalli's view point to show Kabira's image fade for a moment and be replace by a young Cagalli (Cagalli when she lead the Orb forces at the first battle of Orb, it's the episode where Kira and Athrun finally join forces.)

Cagalli (There's nothing I can say to change her mind.)

Shadow looks back and forth between Cagalli and Kabira then steps in.

Shadow: And you think you'd be useful on the Dark-Angel?

Raheem doesn't like the meanness in that statement.

Raheem: Shadow!

But Shadow ignores him and stares down at Kabira. Kabira looks away.

Kabira: Well, no but still

Shadow cuts her off.

Shadow: But still what? You're going to end up just watching the battle in any situation so why not choose to watch it in the safest location.

Kabira looks back at Shadow and shouts

Kabira: Because I've been with you guys since we first started this mission, I've been with you every battle every Gundam fight and it just feels wrong backing out now!

Shadow sighs and scratches his head.

Shadow: Look Kabira right now you're useless.

Cagalli finally coming out of here trance snaps at Shadow angrily

Cagalli: Shadow!

Shadow goes on.

Shadow: But you're our friend and we want to keep you safe and the safest place right now is here, don't worry someday you'll get strong enough that you can walk on your own and don't need protection or a place to hide. It will come soon but today is not that day.

Kabira folds her arms and looks away angrily not wanting to admit Shadow is right. Shadow just grins.

Shadow: But if it makes you feel better you can pretend that you're Serafina's hostage to make sure we don't betray him or anything like that.

Serafina and Raheem look at Shadow annoyed but Kabira can't help but laugh at that ridiculous notion.

Kabira: HAHAHAHAHAH you watch way too many movies Shadow.

Kabira seems to have cheered up somewhat. Shadow crouches down and makes his final move.

Shadow: Tell you want Kabira, since you're not strong enough to fight yourself yet I'll go out there and fight for the both of us, you and Kenny can act as my brains out there when I fight.

Cagalli can't resist saying

Cagalli: God knows you could use some.

Shadow annoyed ignores her. He holds out his fist, Kabira looks at it for a moment then back at Shadow. She finally caves.

Kabira: Ok fine but just this once and next try just telling me instead of trying to manipulate me.

She fist bumps Shadow's fist. Shadow smiling straightening up, he gives a triumphed smirk to Cagalli.

Shadow: Sure no problem.

Cagalli looks at Shadow annoyed but says nothing. Shadow and Cagalli begin to walk away. Kabira becomes frighten for a moment and shouts out

Kabira: And since you're fighting for me you had better win!

The episode ends with a confident Shadow wave back to Kabira and reply.

Shadow: Well duh, see you later Kabira.

Author's Note: Happy Birthday ilianna620! Cheers to a great year and many more to come!