Falcon of Tekkadan
Chapter 35: Awakening Calamity
Kenji was currently in a meeting with Eugene, Akihiro, Shino, Chad, Pops, and Merribit in Orga's office, Orga himself was not present. Eugene was making the announcements. "Next month, 3 Shidens and then the Gundam Frame at Saisei will be delivered here. Until then, we need to finish up redeployment training and have the operational status of all Mobile Suits over 90%. Those are the orders from the Boss. Any questions?"
"Nope. That's a breeze." Shino said.
"Yeah. Everyone is putting in a lot of good work. We're on a pretty easy schedule." Pops said.
"It's almost payday, too. We should let them relax a bit." Merribit added. She and Pops were looking at each other.
Chad noticed this. "I still can't believe it."
Merribit heard Chad. "Huh?"
"It's nothing." Chad immediately said.
Kenji rolled his eyes. "Still can't get over the fact Merribit chose Pops, huh?" He unconsciously grabbed his necklace and started rubbing it with his fingers. "But I know exactly how you feel…"
"Hey, where's Orga? Isn't he back over here?" Shino asked.
"He's still stuck on Ares." Akihiro said.
"The Gjallarhorn people of Mars and the top dogs of Chryse... Seems like he has to make rounds meeting people." Eugene said.
Shino looked up at the ceiling. "That's got to be a drag."
"Tell me about it, I once had to sit through watching my father talk to a lot of businesspeople all at once about a few antique sales. I practically fell asleep after half an hour." Kenji said.
When payday came around, Kenji and everyone else saw that they each got a raise in their payment.
"Wow! I got a huge raise. No way!" Zack said.
"I can have all this money?" Fellow mechanic Dane Uhai asked.
"You've been with us for 6 months now. You fight hard and put your life on the line. We pay you accordingly for all you have done. That's how the Boss wants things." Merribit explained.
"Either way, I'm going to save this money like I usually do." Kenji thought as he saw how much he is being paid this time around.
"Eugene, Chad, how about we go tonight and have fun with girls?" Shino asked.
"No thanks." Eugene said.
Shino was surprised. "You're no fun."
"I realized something. You can't buy love with money." Eugene turns to Kenji. "Right, Kenji?"
Kenji nodded in agreement.
"Is that true, Ms. Merribit?" Chad asked.
"Well, I suppose so." Merribit said.
"Then I won't go either." Chad said.
"I'll go." Zack said.
As Shino and Zack were discussing which club they should go to for tonight, Hush notices Kenji, Mikazuki, and Atra walking out of the room.
The three of them got into the car with Atra in the driver's seat, Mikazuki in the passenger seat, and Kenji sitting in the back.
"Okay, let's go." Atra said, but Hush came up to the passenger window.
"Where are you going?" Hush asked.
"To Miss Kudelia's office." Atra said.
"Why?" Hush asked.
"Well, because we've been busy and hadn't been able to visit her. Neither Mikazuki nor I. Kenji's coming with us for a routine financial arrangement he has with Kudelia." Atra explained.
"I see." Hush opens the door. "If Mr. Mikazuki and Mr. Kenji are going, so am I."
"Huh?" Atra was surprised.
"So annoying." Mikazuki said as he ate a Mars Palm.
"Fine, do what you want." Kenji said.
Once they got to the Admoss Company, they were led into Kudelia's office by her assistant Cucubita Hougue.
"Wow, what a grand office." Atra said.
"This way, please." Cucubita said.
They looked at the pictures on the wall, one picture was of the half-metal processing plant with the caption "South Chryse Halfmetal Processing Plant."
"This is a picture of the plant." Atra said.
Another picture was of the orphanage near Sakura Farm with the caption "Cornfield House Child and Family Services."
"And the orphanage, too." Atra said.
"They're all projects of ours." Cucubita said.
"Great. Is this one a school?" Atra asked.
A third picture showed a school with the caption...
"Fumitan Admoss Elementary School." Mikazuki read aloud.
"You can read?" Hush asked.
"Of course, he's been learning after all." Kenji said.
"Only because it's a name." Mikazuki said.
"You're right. It's the name of a dear person." Atra said.
"The one who saved Kudelia's life." Kenji thought.
"Miss Kudelia made it so tuition is free. It even serves lunch." Cucubita said.
"Lunch, too?" Atra asked.
Mikazuki, Atra, and Hush were then sitting on the couch while Kenji was sitting on a chair, Cucubita served them tea.
"If they serve lunch, less children would need to work in order to eat. Children like you who have to become soldiers in exchange for food." Cucubita explained.
"That's great." Atra said.
"And if there's a place where all children can learn equally, we might even be able to end all wars eventually." Cucubita said.
"I don't really understand, but Miss Kudelia sure is amazing." Atra said. "Right, Mikazuki?"
"If that happens, I wonder what I'm supposed to do for a living." Mikazuki said.
Kudelia then walked in. "I'm so sorry! You came all this way, and I made you wait."
"Hi, Miss Kudelia." Atra greeted.
Kudelia seated herself on another chair and was facing her four guests. "Okay Kenji, I've transferred your salary from Tekkadan this month to your bank account."
"Thanks." Kenji said.
"Mikazuki. Here's your salary from Tekkadan this month." She set her tablet down on the table. "Make sure to check it yourself, too."
"Yeah." Mikazuki said.
"What's that about?" Hush asked.
"My salary." Mikazuki said.
"Huh?" Hush looked at Kudelia. "You two are like that?"
"No, it's not like that." Kudelia said.
"Miss Kudelia looks after his money for him." Atra said.
"She knows more about money." Mikazuki said.
Kudelia was a bit flustered. "Mikazuki..."
"I also have Miss Kudelia manage mine after I send money to the shop manager. Mr. Akihiro and Ride, too." Atra said.
"As for me, I asked Kudelia to perform secure transfers of my salary to a bank account I have on Saisei, where Grandpa McMurdo will look after it for me. The account is for emergencies." Kenji said.
"I see, better be prepared for anything." Hush turns to Mikazuki. "And you're saving up your money as well Mr. Mikazuki?"
"Not really. I just don't need it now." Mikazuki said.
"So you don't need money?" Hush asked.
"No, it's better to have some, right?" Mikazuki asked back.
"But you're not going to use it?" Hush asked.
"Yeah. That's why she manages it for me." Mikazuki answered.
"Okay. Well, we do have food and a place to stay at headquarters." Hush said.
"Why don't you do the same, Hush?" Atra asked.
"Yeah, I guess." Hush said.
The four Tekkadan members returned to headquarters once their salaries, aside from Hush's salary, had been handled.
Sometime later, McGillis and Isurugi arrived to meet with Orga and a small group from Tekkadan about that large machine Tekkadan uncovered recently. McGillis called it a Mobile Armor, a mechanical monster that was at the center of the Calamity War, responsible for killing millions of people.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Mr. Orga." McGillis shook Orga's hand.
"Thank you for coming all this way." Orga said.
McGillis looked at the group behind Orga, Kenji and Mikazuki were a part of that group. "I'm glad to be able to meet you, members of Tekkadan."
"Hello." Shino greeted.
Akihiro and Chad bowed their heads.
Kenji bowed as well. "Good to see you again Mac."
"Same to you Kenji." McGillis looked at Mikazuki. "We last met on Earth, Mikazuki Augus."
"Yeah." Mikazuki said.
McGillis looked back at Kenji. "Almiria is doing fine Kenji, in case if you were wondering."
"Oh! Okay… good to know…" Kenji blushed a little while some of the guys chuckled.
"She wanted me to ask if you can send her one of those Tekkadan jackets for her to wear, she also wants it in an adult size so she can grow into it." McGillis said.
Now the guys were really trying to hold in their laughter as Kenji was blushing like crazy. "I'll… keep that in mind."
"I recommend preparing one that looks exactly like Miss Atra's jacket." Shino said, teasing Kenji.
"…noted." Kenji said, resisting the urge to stab Shino.
The group escorted their guests to the site where they found the Mobile Armor, they only brought Mobile Workers with them since Mobile Suits could awaken the monster due to them being archenemies. McGillis was looking at the partially uncovered Mobile Armor with Isurugi, Orga, Mikazuki, and Kenji.
"There it is." McGillis said.
"To think something like that could kill millions of people, whoever created it thought they could control it but couldn't." Kenji said.
"Indeed." McGillis said.
Then Kenji and Mikazuki heard something above them and looked up. Orga noticed this. "What's wrong, Mika, Kenji?"
"What's that?" Mikazuki asked.
"What are they?" Orga asked when he also looked up.
"Are those Mobile Suits on heat shields?" Kenji asked.
Indeed, they were, once they got close enough to the ground, they threw away their heat shields and prepared for landing, they were being led by a familiar-looking black Graze.
"Gjallarhorn?" Orga turned to McGillis. "Are they your guys?"
"No, they're with the Arianrhod." McGillis said.
"Don't move, McGillis Fareed." The black Graze said.
"That Mobile Suit. It's from before..." Mikazuki said.
Kenji finally remembered. "You're right, from our battle with the Dawn Horizon Corps, it's that idiot sniper who can't aim!"
Isurugi was troubled by this. "General."
"Yes. It seems like my movements were leaked somehow." McGillis said.
"The only people who knew about this were Tekkadan and the engineering team at Teiwaz." Kenji then realized something. "Did someone at Teiwaz leak the information?"
"Lord Kujan. What do you want?" McGillis asked.
"Kujan? As in Iok Kujan of the Seven Stars?" Kenji asked.
"I heard you were planning a rebellion so I came after you to Mars." Iok said.
Isurugi was surprised. "Rebellion?"
"Don't act all innocent." Iok raised his weapon. "You came to destroy a Mobile Armor and obtain an Order of the Seven Stars. I know you're trying to snatch the top rank of the Seven Stars."
Kenji was confused. "A what now?"
"The Order of the Seven Stars? I see. That's how you mistook this." McGillis said.
"So, this guy really is an idiot." Kenji said.
"I didn't mistake it! And I'm not an idiot either you brat! The fact that you hid the Mobile Armor and acted on your own is proof. McGillis Fareed. I shall apprehend you!" Iok declared.
"What should we do?" Isurugi asked.
"We can't do anything against Mobile Suits." Orga ran back to the car where Chad is. "Chad, call Eugene at headquarters. Tell him to send the Mobile Suits."
"It's no use. We can't use the LCS from here." Chad said.
"You said a Mobile Suit could wake the Mobile Armor up, right?" Kenji asked McGillis.
"Yes, that's right." McGillis answered.
"Lord Kujan! Whatever you do, do not get any closer to the Mobile Armor, your Mobile Suit might wake it up!" Kenji called out.
"It's just an old machine buried for 300 years. I doubt it could just wake up. Now, McGillis Fareed." Iok said as he stepped forward. "Be prepared!"
"Stop, Iok!" McGillis yelled out. "Listen to what Kenji said! Don't move your Mobile Suit any closer!"
"Don't waste your breath!" Iok said.
Kenji then saw lights flashing from the Mobile Armor along with what sounds like activation noises. "Oh no..."
The Mobile Armor fired a beam weapon that made a long trench in the ground before raising itself up from its burial site. It looked like a bird with a beak and wings, but also with a tail, it then fired its beam weapon at the sky.
"Iok Kujan just killed us all..." Kenji thought as he looked on in horror at the mechanical monster, now fully awake after its 300-year slumber.
