Falcon of Tekkadan

Chapter 48: Promise

Gjallarhorn forces have surrounded Tekkadan HQ, preventing any attempt to escape. Kenji, Mikazuki, and McGillis were in the hangar where Barbatos is being stored. Mikazuki was practicing pull-ups while connected to Barbatos.

"The situation has become much simpler. If we wipe them out now, it'll all be over with. You must be in favor of fighting here on your home ground." McGillis said.

"I'll fight if Orga tells me to." Mikazuki said.

"What do you want to do?" McGillis asked.

"I just do whatever Orga wants me to." Mikazuki answered.

"Orga Itsuka has nothing to do with this. I'm asking how you feel." McGillis said.

Mikazuki drops down. "How many times do I have to tell you? What Orga wants to do is what I want to do."

"Mac, just stop already, this is how big brother thinks. He only does whatever Orga tells him to do, there's no changing that." Kenji said.

"I see..." McGillis said.

Sometime later, a meeting was held with Orga, Eugene, Mikazuki, Kenji, Akihiro, Lafter, Hush, Chad, Dante, Pops, and Merribit to discuss what Tekkadan's next move would be. Kenji learned that Kudelia came up with the idea to have Mr. Makanai of Arbrau get ahold of the data for every Tekkadan member's identity and create new ones so that everyone can "disappear." But with Gjallarhorn forces surrounding the base and the communication lines being down, it's impossible to contact Mr. Makanai from Tekkadan HQ.

"All our communication cables have been cut off. As for LCS, they shoot down all our drones." Chad said.

"If we can't use the QCCS, we can't get any outside information, let alone contact Mr. Makanai." Dante said.

"There's got to be a reason for Gjallarhorn doing this, but what?" Kenji asked.

"Gjallarhorn hasn't done anything just yet. But they could attack at any moment. We're stuck in a dead end." Eugene said.

"Then should we attack first?" Dante asked.

"No way, they've got way bigger forces." Eugene answered.

"What do we do, Boss?" Akihiro asked.

"Yeah, we're like sitting ducks right now." Lafter added.

"What can we do? We've decided to run. So we just run." Orga said.

"Have you been listening? Even if we could escape, they'd keep chasing us forever." Eugene said.

"As long as we can escape, we win. After that, we demolish this place and make it look like we're wiped out." Orga said.

"Wiped out?" Merribit asked.

"Yeah. We just have to make them believe we all died. We can contact old Makanai after that." Orga said.

"Of course, who would bother chasing after a bunch of dead people." Kenji said.

Dante was impressed by this idea. "You're right. That way, they won't keep chasing us. Amazing..."

Eugene stands up. "Get real. It's impossible to get out of here."

"Actually, there might be a way. There are old transmission cables under here from the Calamity War. If the tunnels are still there, we could escape to Chryse." Pops said.

"Is that possible?" Merribit asked.

"Seriously?" Eugene asked.

"Well, that was easy." Lafter said.

"Eugene, go check out that tunnel right now with him." Orga ordered.

"Okay, got it." Eugene said.

Orga stands up. "Listen up. This battle isn't about killing somebody to get it over. This battle is about every single one of us surviving. That's our objective. Stay alive, and we'll get the best of them by surviving this. Got it? Never back down."

"Orga, we better inform Mac about this plan and get his thoughts on it." Kenji said.

"Right, come on Kenji." Orga said.

Orga and Kenji both went to explain the escape plan to McGillis.

"I see. So you choose to escape from here. The Tekkadan I know of would've fought back without a second thought." McGillis said.

"Not the first time you didn't anticipate something." Kenji said.

"We're smarter than taking on a losing battle. We have a different battle to fight." Orga said.

"A different battle, huh? What is it that you seek from that battle?" McGillis asked.

"All I want now is for all of us to just survive this. We have to resort to whatever we find at any given moment. From there on, we'll all figure it out together. That's how we always managed. But somehow along the way, I've lost sight of our own style." Orga said.

"What a futile realization." McGillis said.

"Say whatever you want. Besides, it's not futile. Not if you're with your buddies." Orga said.

"Buddies..." McGillis was thinking about that word.

"Something you're obviously not good at keeping, Mac." Kenji said.

The internal communicator turns on, it's Eugene. "Orga, we found the tunnel!"

"Really?" Orga asked.

"Lafter was right, that was easy." Kenji said.

Pops' voice came up as well. "Yeah, but it's pretty beat up. We can't use explosives in here. We'd have to dig through this by hand."

"Oh man, Lafter isn't going to like this news." Kenji said.

"Gather everyone up and start digging." Orga said.

"Got it. And one more thing. Some of the cables still work. If the terminal on the Chryse side works, we could contact the outside world." Pops said.

"I see. Got it. Anyways, clear the tunnel ASAP." Orga said.

"Roger that." Pops ended the call.

"If we can't escape quickly, I wish we could only contact old Makanai for now." Orga said.

"You want to contact Earth?" McGillis asked.

"Yeah. If we can make it to Chryse, there's Admoss Company too. We can find a way. But we're completely surrounded." Orga said.

"Yeah, that is a problem." Kenji said.

McGillis then considered something. "If it's just a few of you, you may be able to penetrate enemy lines. I am going to penetrate Gjallarhorn's encirclement on my own." He started to walk out of the room.

"What?" Orga asked.

"Seriously?" Kenji asked.

"Their eyes will obviously be focused on me. It will be possible for you to escape while they're distracted." McGillis said.

"You'd do that for us?" Orga asked.

"If that's the case, then perhaps I may have misjudged you." Kenji said.

"Don't get me wrong. I am just taking necessary measures for my objective. It has nothing to do with me whether you use that or not." McGillis said.

"Nope, I was right, you're still a bastard." Kenji said.

Orga tried to object. "But...!"

"Your strategy is favorable for me, too. By making it look like you remain, we can lure in Rustal Elion closer. I am going to use you to destroy Rustal." McGillis turns to Kenji. "Oh, and Kenji, if you want to fulfill your promise to Almiria to keep me alive, then join me." He then walks out the door.

Kenji turned to Orga. "Orga..."

Orga nodded. "It's okay, I understand Kenji, if you find an opportunity to get out of this mess alive, then take it. Don't keep your girl waiting."

Kenji nodded, then he ran out of the room towards his quarters to pack his things.

Once all of his things were packed into a bag and he was suited up, Kenji started going around the base to say his goodbyes to everyone before getting into Phoenix. He was currently saying his goodbyes to Akihiro and Lafter.

"That's pretty much it. So, this is goodbye for now." Kenji said.

Lafter nodded. "I understand, after all, you have a girl waiting for you on Earth."

Akihiro was deep in thought, then he spoke to Lafter. "Actually Lafter, there is something I need to say to you."

Lafter turned to Akihiro. "Hm?"

"Go with Kenji and escape." Akihiro said.

Lafter was surprised. "What? You want me to leave you behind?"

"Gjallarhorn will attack at any time, and I'm afraid that you might get killed. That is the last thing I want to happen. You're better off being with Kenji." Akihiro said.

Lafter was starting to tear up. "But...!"

Akihiro stomped the ground. "No buts! Escape with Kenji Hayabusa and McGillis Fareed, and live! That's an order!"

Lafter was crying but still nodded. "Okay." She put her arms around Akihiro's neck and kissed him on the lips. Then she laid her head on his chest. "I love you, Akihiro Altland..."

Akihiro wrapped his arms around her waist, "I love you too, Lafter Frankland, that's why this hurts me to do this. Thank you for teaching me what it means to love someone..."

After a few minutes that felt like an hour, they broke away and Lafter wiped her eyes.

Lafter turned to Kenji. "I just need to pack my things, then I'll meet you and McGillis in my Hekija."

"Alright, don't take too long." Kenji said as he continued around the base to say his goodbyes.

When Kenji finally got to where Barbatos was, he saw McGillis suited up and climbing up the stairs towards Mikazuki Augus. He went up the stairs as well to say goodbye to Mikazuki.

"Barbatos Lupus Rex. The king of wolves, huh?" McGillis asked. "A valiant name."

"Why are you dressed like that? Going somewhere?" Mikazuki asked.

"Yes." McGillis looked at Mikazuki. "Mikazuki Augus. Won't you join me? Kenji Hayabusa is already coming along with me as well."

Mikazuki saw Kenji walking up behind McGillis. "Is this true little brother?"

McGillis turned to look at Kenji.

"Yeah, I made a promise to Almiria to keep Mac alive. If not for that I would've killed him myself by now." Kenji said.

McGillis chuckled. "Oh, you are so amusing." He turned back to Mikazuki. "I'll ask again. Won't you join me?"

"Why?" Mikazuki asked.

McGillis paused for a second. "You're right. I know. I thought the way you fought was beautiful. My ideal form of power. The power that can obtain a bright future. You don't know how to use that power. I thought I could lead that power toward our common goal. But I was wrong. Your brightness has no ideals, no objective, no destination. It's so fleeting and..."

Mikazuki then spoke up. "You talk too much. We will get there."

"Where to?" McGillis asked.

Orga's voice came up from behind Kenji and McGillis. "Hey, don't be poaching more of our members."

"Forgive me. I shall be going now." McGillis said.

"Just so you know, Lafter Frankland will be joining us, Akihiro Altland's orders." Kenji said.

McGillis nodded. "Understood. I shall await you both, excuse me." He proceeded to walk down the stairs.

Kenji looked at both Orga and Mikazuki. "Well, I guess this is it."

"It would appear so." Orga said.

"Thanks again for helping me deal with Hush's training." Mikazuki said.

"Of course." Kenji bowed. "Thank you both, and Tekkadan, for everything. I couldn't have asked for a better family."

Orga and Mikazuki both smiled.

"No problem. Thanks for your contributions to Tekkadan, and for all the memories. Now good luck out there, Kenji Hayabusa, and be with your girl." Orga said.

"Yeah, good luck, Falcon of Tekkadan, I think you're perfect for Gali Gali's little sister." Mikazuki said.

Kenji gave each of them a hug and left to get into Phoenix.

Once Kenji, Lafter, and McGillis got into their Mobile Suits, they started to move towards the encirclement.

"Remember Lafter, keep their attention on us until the convoy has snuck past them, then we bail." Kenji said.

"Got it!" Lafter said.

"It's nice to have some backup with me, just follow my lead." McGillis said.

"We'll do what you say, but that doesn't mean we like you Mac." Kenji said.

McGillis nodded. "I understand."

They then noticed a certain black Graze approaching them from the encirclement.

Kenji recognized it. "Oh my god... is that Lord Dunce?"

Lafter groaned. "You mean the moron who killed Darling, just our luck."

Iok then dropped all his weapons while still charging forward.

Kenji was surprised. "What the heck?"

"He put down his weapons? I see. He needs us to attack first no matter what it takes." McGillis said.

"What? Is that guy serious?" Lafter asked.

"Someone please put Lord Dunce out of our misery already." Kenji said.

"No, Master Iok!" The Gjallarhorn commander called out.

"Do not stop me! I've been saved many times by so many of my subordinates. Their lives are the only reason I still live today. That is why! It is my turn to use my life to save all of yours!" Iok declared.

"A commendable devotion, Iok Kujan. But I must cause a bit of a commotion. Your cheap provocation. I'll take it!" McGillis proceeds to strike Iok down.

Kenji and Lafter circle Iok as he hit the ground.

"What...? Where's McGillis?" Iok asked.

"Alright Mac, he's all yours!" Kenji said.

"Finish him!" Lafter said.

McGillis drops down onto Iok with one of his swords.

"Master Iok!" The commander screamed out.

"Did you get him?" Lafter asked.

"Commander, call for attack!" Iok screamed out.

"Lord Kujan... roger that." The commander said.

Lafter couldn't believe her ears. "Iok is still alive? Are you serious?"

"Dang it! Mac, work on your finishing strikes!" Kenji said.

That's when the Gjallarhorn forces started moving towards them. The three of them scattered, keeping the enemy forces focused only on them while the convoy carrying Orga, Chad, Ride, Kudelia, and Atra made its way out undetected. Once the convoy got away...

"I see it's over. Farewell, Tekkadan. Kenji, Lafter, it's time to go." McGillis said.

"About time. Lafter! Let's bail!" Kenji said.

"Okay!" Lafter looked at the base one last time. "Akihiro... you better get out of this mess alive..."

The three of them made their escape. Kenji and Lafter then followed McGillis to... wherever he's going...

"Hey Mac, where are we going exactly?" Kenji asked.

"Just follow me." McGillis said.

"Well, that was helpful..." Lafter said.