Disclaimer: I dont own Gundam
Gundam Rise Purpose
Chapter 5: The Black Strike
Upon arriving back on the Laura Rola, Gekido was bombarded with praise by his fellow crewmen. The only ones not happy were Captain Kringle and Commander Tanner. Lizbeth moved through the crowds and Gekido knew what was about to happen. He stood at ease, lifting his face. She slammed her fist into his cheek, but he stayed on his feet.
"You understand why I hit you don't you?" Lizbeth asked.
"Yeah, cant have our cargo dying, nor can we have soldiers disobeying orders," Gekido said.
"Then why disobey direct orders?"
"Because they wouldn't have lasted if I didn't intervene," Gekido motioned his head to Peggy and Kate.
Lizbeth grit her teeth together and the disapproving look on Kringle's face fell. He walked over to Gekido and slapped him on the shoulder.
"Well done my boy, you showed true skill and sound judgement out there. Sometimes a little risk is necessary in order to preserve the lives of your comrades, but there's no shame in falling back when your not confident in your ability," Kringle explained.
"Oh I'm confidant," Gekido grinned.
"Overconfident some might say," Woolf said as he put his arm around Gekido's shoulder. "Well done Gekido, keep that piloting skill up and we'll consider letting you join our exploration mission," he added, pulling Gekido away from the crowds.
Helen stood with her arms crossed, grinning as Woolf bought Gekido to where the Shrike team was resting. Peggy and Kate kissed either side of Gekido's cheeks, causing him to blush.
"Oh how cute," Mahalia said, squeezing Gekido's cheeks.
He snarled, steam seemingly shooting out of his ears.
"Seriously though Gekido, thank you for saving us," Peggy said.
Gekido's anger faded and his face softened. He looked at the Shrike girls and Woolf.
"I'm happy to help, so long as we're together we're comrades," he smiled.
Woolf nodded his head, while the Shrike girls muttered amongst themselves. Helen withdrew a patch from her pocket and passed it to Gekido.
"This is the symbol of the Shrike team, consider yourself an honorary member, so that even when we're apart we're still comrades," Helen explained.
Gekido looked at the patch with a mix of confusion and gratefulness. He cast a look at Woolf, whom was chuckling.
"What's your problem?" Gekido asked.
"The Shrike team is filled with beautiful women, and you're the only guy…"
"Say I've got a harem going and I will punch you," Gekido growled.
Helen and her friends laughed as Woolf and Gekido pressed their forehead's together, gripping the scruff of one another's shirts. The Shrike girls removed their makeup cases and watched as the two men broke into a very fast (anime) fistfight.
"My bets on Gekido," Mahalia said.
"You willing to bet your lipstick on that Mahalia?" Peggy asked.
"I'll call it," Helen smiled.
"HA! A fight!"
The Shrike team girls looked up in horror as Gym dived towards the fight. Sweat drops ran down the back of their heads as the three men rolled around, space dust rising off the floor as they continually punched and kicked one another.
"STUPID HAIRCUT!"
"LITTLE BOSS!"
"TAKE THAT BACK LAST SAMURAI!"
"GREY'S A DULL COLOUR!"
"WHITE'S FOR PUSSIES AND SO IS BLUE!"
"COME ON GIRLY MAN SHOW ME YOUR FANGS!"
"WHATS THE POINT IN PACKING A SWORD LIKE THAT IF YOU AINT GONNA USE IT HUH!"
Dianna sighed, turning her head away in embarrassment. At least she had something else to cross off her bucket list; watch three men brawl in a style reminiscent of anime and manga arguments. The Shrike team girls however renewed their betting pool and were surprisingly joined by Commander Tanner.
"All work and no play is something I cant imagine," Kringle said, seemingly happy with the fight going on in his ship, even as Gekido sent Gym flying through the railing next to him.
Kringle simple drank his drink as Gym flew into Gekido, kneeing him in the chest.
"How do you like that punk?" Gym asked, electricity crackling around his eyes.
"Let me show you how much I like it," Gekido growled as fire blazed in his eyes.
"OI! Don't think I'm done yet," Woolf howled before he tackled Gym and Gekido, slamming them both into the ceiling.
"Just mind the paint work, and no kicking one another in the…"
"AAAGH!" Gekido yelled, clutching his groin.
Kringle sighed before walking into the elevator.
"No civility in their bonding," he shook his head, taking the elevator to his quarters.
Moonrace-Royal Palace
Kihel Heim sat on her throne, or rather Dianna's throne. She had eagerly taken the position of Dianna's double with the hope that she could change her community and bring more understanding between those born on Earth and those born on the moon. The young woman wanted to create a world where Sochi wouldn't have to worry about who she liked, where Loran wouldn't have to serve, and where Harry didn't have to hide his feelings behind a mask. He stood next to her, always by her side and Kihel could honestly say when asked that she loved the man. She wiped her eyes before she looked to Harry.
"Please send them in," she said.
"Are you sure, you don't have to go through with this if you don't want to," Harry explained.
"I must, for the sake of the people right?" she smiled.
Harry lowered his head slightly; the first time they'd met he'd told her that she was only a duty to him. He had regretted it ever since, seeing Kihel's dedication and eagerness to help, something Dianna had lost. Harry sent a signal to his men, commanding them to open the doors. Kihel put on a straight face full of authority, one needed to interact with the woman walking towards her throne. She had her brown hair tied into a bun, round frame glasses rested on her nose and she carried herself as a disciplined soldier befitting her red dress uniform.
"Colonel Une, welcome to the moon," Kihel said.
"Queen Dianna, I am ready to begin negotiations," the colonel said, pulling off a perfect salute.
Elsewhere at the Heim household, Cid arrived to deliver the bad news. But upon his arrival he found the family had already gathered around the TV. Lady Heim screamed as she fell to her knees. The media was showing the image of her husband; Sochi and Kihel's father hung on the streets of the city. Words had been painted on his chest, they read:
"The Moonrace shall rise, we don't need Earthers anymore!"
Loran lowered his head, casting a sideways glance at Sochi. She was sitting on the sofa, gripping the fabric of her trousers. Tears flowed from her face, but her reaction wasn't as horrific as Lady Heim's. The servants were gathered around her, trying to calm her down.
"Its their fault," Sochi growled, catching Loran's attention. "They did it, the damn Moonrace, its all their fault!"
She suddenly ran across the room, barging past Cid.
"Sochi wait," Loran called to her, chasing after his friend.
"Loran, wait there's something you need to know about the scene," Cid said.
Cid cursed as Loran ran out of the house, following Sochi to the barn.
"Sochi please talk to me," Loran said.
"There's nothing to talk about, I know what I have to do," Sochi growled.
She pulled a scythe off the wall, holding it in front of her. Loran stopped, raising his hands as Sochi took a step forward.
"It was you, you led us into this, put my sister in danger! YOUR NOTHING BUT A DAMN SPY!" Sochi screamed.
Loran's eyes watered, and his arms fell. Her words alone struck him worse than the possibility of the blade piercing his flesh.
"I serve Dianna yes, but I also serve this family…I've come to see them as my family," he said.
"NO! Your not from Earth, your just a Moonracer, something that shouldn't have happened. If you had told me about what you were doing from the beginning, if you'd trusted me with your secrets I could have accepted you, you'd have been exempt from my hatred," Sochi explained.
"Sochi please just drop the knife," Loran said, taking a few steps closer.
Sochi swung the blade around, keeping her eyes closed as Loran approached her.
"What did my Daddy ever do to you?" she asked.
"Nothing, none of you had done anything wrong," Loran whispered.
She dropped the blade as Loran gripped her shoulders. Sochi wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest.
"I…I love you so much!" she whispered.
Loran gasped, overcome by confusion and shock. She raised her head, looking him in the eyes.
"I don't want to waste any time," she said. "Ever since we met him, Gekido Jaeger I started reading into him. Alliance sealed his records but there are still followers who tell his story. The story of a man who sought to end the cycle of hatred that had consumed the Bloody valentine war. He fought at Jachin Due to save the Earth, the Alliance denied it because it would scare people and I understand…but I believe it, I believe that there was someone so consumed by hatred that they were willing to destroy everything!"
"That's why we can't give in to hatred," Loran said.
"I know, but it made me afraid and willing to admit my feelings, there are people out there who want to start a war and maybe Sensou cant stop them," Sochi explained.
"We can't think like that!"
Sochi raised her hand, silencing Loran's words. She cupped his cheeks and bought her face closer to his.
"Sometimes cherishing every moment is a good thing, so I love you Loran, I've loved you since the moment I first met you!"
She pressed her lips against his and Loran slowly closed his eyes. They fell onto the hay, deepening the passion of their kisses. Loran separated his lips from Sochi's stopping her hand at his belt.
"No, not like this Sochi, I want it to be right, for both of us to want it and not just need it," he said, caressing her cheeks.
"Loran…I'm sorry, I was just so angry," Sochi sighed.
"Its okay to be angry, and its okay to rush in sometimes, but there has to be a balance. The truth is Sochi, I love you too, and if it's a choice between spending the rest of my life serving the crown and being with you on Earth, I'd choose you," he explained.
Sochi leant her head into Loran's shirt as he rested on the hay. Whatever happened next, they would both face it together.
Laura Rola
Ever since their grand fight, Gekido had been avoiding Gym like the plague. Helen and Mahalia would always find it funny how whenever Gym would come looking for him, Gekido would be hiding in one of the vents. As soon as Gym left, Gekido landed on the floor with a crash.
"Ow," he groaned.
"You know your going to have to face him sooner or later," Mahalia said.
"Right, I mean the last two times you met you punched him but I'm sure if you find a good starting point you could actually have a descent conversation," Helen explained.
"The first time I punched him was when we had a decent conversation," Gekido retorted.
"Unbelievable," Helen shook her head.
"Men!" Mahalia sighed.
"Well women ain't so great when it comes to conflict," Gekido snapped back.
"Don't get snippy with us just because you got kicked in the balls," Mahalia grinned.
Gekido shook his head, growling as he left the room. He walked down the corridors of the ship, thinking over his fight with Chariot. Despite his bravado he saw the power of the Neros Gundam. Its true power was the 16 beams built into the suit; if that system was put into a mobile armour and tripled in scale it would become a warship breaker. Likewise a lot of what made the Purpose powerful would be terrifying if put into a gigantic mobile suit, in fact that's what the Omega had been, a gigantic Gundam. His instincts told him that he hadn't seen the last of these 'independent Gundams'.
"Mahalia!"
"Kate!"
"Are you kidding, she's too Manish for me!"
"Wells it's a good thing you'll never date even one of them isn't it?"
Walking into the café, Gekido found the bridge crew sitting around a table. Decker and Seamus were doing their usual 'debate what is better' thing.
"So gross," Maria shook her head at their antics.
"Yeah, could you both quit being so sexist," the radar operator said.
"We're not being sexist Karl, we're just having a legitimate discussion about which of the Shrike team girls is more attractive, don't tell me you don't have an opinion?" Seamus asked.
"They are all equally as attractive as one another," Karl said, tilting his glasses.
"Good answer," Maria smiled.
"More like a pussyfoot answer," Seamus retorted.
"Oh, Mr Kuzunagi, why don't you join us?" Decker asked.
Gekido walked into the room, taking a seat at the head of the table. He needed to be sat there so that he'd be close to the door if Gym showed up.
"So where is everyone from?" he asked.
"I'm from Ireland originally, my family moved out when I was really young, round about the time the IRA started their renewed terrorist operations," Seamus explained.
"I'm a coordinator, second generation born in the Plants. Though I live with some cousins of mine, since my parents died at Junius Seven," Maria sighed.
"So, going there felt like going home right?"
"I had shed my tears when it happened, whatever is left of my parents there isn't them, I keep them with me here," Maria pointed to her heart, causing Gekido to smile.
"I grew up in Orb, my dad was an Astray pilot who died during a test flight. Then after our home destroyed in the war, I decided to join Sensou, against my mother and Cagalli Yula Athha's wishes of course. So I renounced my heritage, said I'd never go back to Orb for as long I lived," Decker explained.
"Do you miss it at all?" Gekido asked.
"Orb? Not one bit," Decker smiled.
"Decker, you and I are going to be great friends," Gekido grinned.
"I was already in the military, never saw Jachin Due, but I did see action at a watch post on the moon. We were this close to being destroyed twice, one time we were defended by a lone pilot, Wes, and the next a miracle happened, Gekido Jaeger saved us from the effects of the Genesis super weapon," Karl explained.
"So you've all been touched by war," Gekido lowered his head slightly.
"But if we weren't, we'd have never have met one another and we'd never have had the chance to help people like we have," Seamus smiled.
"I see, well it was good to meet all of you," Gekido sighed.
He got off his chair, bumping into Lizbeth as she entered.
"What about you, any interesting story behind you joining?" Gekido asked.
"Just my desire to protect, that and some members of my family were in the military. A distant cousin of mine became the Captain of a very famous ship, the Archangel," she explained.
Gekido widened his eyes slightly as Lizbeth smirked.
"It always pissed me off that she made Captain when I had been in the military five years before her. Oh and that reminds me, the captain wants to speak to you," Lizbeth saluted the pilot before she walked away.
He made his way to Kringle's office. The older man was making a model ship, the kind that somehow ends up in a bottle on display on the mantelpiece. A picture of himself, Admiral Halberton and General Revil had been put on the desk. He looked up and smiled at Gekido as he entered.
"Gekido, morale has never been higher with you here, I'm glad I had the opportunity to have you under my command," Kringle explained.
"Kind of you to say sir, but I'm an independent contractor, once this missions done I'll be on my way," Gekido said.
"Too bad, Murrue spoke highly of you," Kringle sighed.
"I'm not that man!" Gekido growled.
"True, we're both different than we were, here I am on a space ship commanding a combat crew in dangerous territory, how my fortune has changed."
"What do you mean?" Gekido asked.
"If I made different choices, then I would have been the one recovering the Strike Gundam, and Halberton would have been in Washington pushing for mass production. But instead I chose a quiet little posting in the countryside, my 'retirement' plan, yet everyday I'd feel…guilty that I was sipping tea and reporting on the weather whilst young men were out there dying. I never saw Jachin Due, nor the battle of Onogoro or even Panama, I was the joke posting, I survived a war not through skill or the miracle of command but from simply avoiding the fighting and always playing it safe," Kringle sighed.
Gekido looked at the man with mixed feelings. He felt somewhat disgusted by the man's lack of experience in true war. Yet at the same time he couldn't help but feel sorry for him, Kringle truly was guilty for surviving. He poured himself a small shot of whisky and raised it to Gekido's level.
"To new lives and hopefully better endings," Kringle said.
Kringle tilted some of the liquid down his throat and passed the glass to Gekido.
"To your command…Captain," Gekido nodded as he drank the rest.
"Call me Nick," Kringle smiled.
"Nick…now your just doing it deliberately!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Kringle laughed.
Kihel negotiated a new future for the Moonrace and she did so on Dianna's behalf. Colonel Une represented OZ's true leader, a leader whom was not controlled by the Romefellar foundation. Taurus mobile suits now occupied the city; they were fast black and red suits capable of turning into wave riders. The forces of the infamous colonel Treize occupied both the outside of the colony and the inside. Colonel Une was a military woman and she took no prisoners in her negotiations.
"I want a list of names and faces from reliable sources, we will judge our soldiers and in accordance we expect you to find and punish these extremists responsible for Mr Heim's death," Une explained.
"Rest assured Colonel, I will see to it that those men face justice, but we also want to discuss the possibility of a reduced OZ presence. Everyday we find more and more reliable mobile suits from our mines, it simply isn't economic for us to fund both the production of a defence force and the maintenance of a foreign guard," Kihel nodded to Harry.
He removed a device from his jacket pocket and bought up holographic images of several mobile suits.
"MRC-F20 SUMO, JMA-0F30 Walking Dome 'WaDom', MRC-U11D Walking Dumpling 'WaD', MRC-F31 Muttowoo, these are mobile suits currently in production and upon their mass production we will no longer require the services of his excellency. We have also begun production of battleships, the Almaiya class, Aspite class, Gendarme class and our flagship Soleil," he explained.
"Though they still require work, I can see that they will vastly surpass the Flats," Une said.
"We wish to be an independent nation, no interference from the outside nations and factions," Kihel said, shooting Une a serious glance.
"I see, very well, I will convey your wishes to his Excellency, but now that until this terrorist threat is dealt with OZ will continue to have a presence here," Une explained.
"Very well, so long as that presence does not interfere with the daily lives of our people!"
General Legacy chuckled as he listened in on the negotiations. Not even the royal guard had detected the presence of his bugs. He passed the receiver to one of his men and withdrew a remote from his jacket.
"How's about this for not interfering with your people," he grinned underneath the mask as he primed the detonator.
The whole colony shook as explosions consumed key areas. It was the signal the rebels needed to attack the OZ forces. Camouflaged Flats emerged from the forest, firing their rifles at the backs of the Leo units. Armed men and women flooded the streets, firing rockets and throwing grenades. They pushed civilians to the floor and executed the romefellar foundation troops. An explosive caught the Turn A artefact, causing it to collapse onto a line of jeeps.
"For the moon!"
"Repeat the Dark History and we will rule!"
Extremists were flooding the streets, gathering up civilians as hostages. One of the Leo's fired at a Flat, shooting it to pieces. Then it blocked several shots from two more Flats before shooting them both. Three more advanced Moonrace mobile suits landed on the field, though they still looked as if they had been put together in a workshop, the Bandits moved across the field, slashing Leo's and Taurus's across the chests with their beam sabres. One launched a volley of missiles, knocking a Taurus out of the sky. Outside of the colony, space type Leo's and Taurus's engaged new Moonrace mobile suits. Two blue Gozzo's moved across the field, firing their massive rail guns into the Taurus's. A red mobile suit with a grey head swung a massive drill staff, crushing through the cockpits of two Leo's. The Eagail raised its Minchi drill, its pilot laughing.
"Finally, months of preparing and finally we're having a good fight, Jacop, Bruno, show these Romefellar bitches no mercy," the pilot said as he approached a fallen Leo.
"Romefellar, but we're not with them," the weakened pilot looked up at the Eagail in terror.
"Not that it matters to me anyway," Corin Nander grinned before stabbing his drill through the Leo.
Blood sprayed across the Eagail's armour and Corin's wingmen, Jacop and Bruno grinned as he fired his rifle at two Taurus's, bringing them to the sky. Bulky, tank like mobile suits known as Zssan's fired their missile launchers, hitting the OZ battleships from the moons surface.
"Damn it, we need immediate support, send a distress beacon to any ships in the area," the captain said.
"Oh my god, we have incoming, designated mercenary mobile suits, codenames Zila," the radar operator said.
"Shit, damn space pirates of Zalam, have the pilots sortie, send out the Vayeate and the Mercurious!"
The ship opened its launch catapult as two pilots in black flight suits climbed into their machines. Both were twin units of identical frames. But the first to launch, the Mercurious had distinctive red armour and planet defensors attached to its back. A shield was on its right arm while the left hand held a beam pistol. The Mercurios spread its arms, as if flexing muscles. It was the command to release the planet defensors, the black disc devices flew off its back, forming an electric field that disintegrated the bullets fired by the Zila's.
"The Mercurious is the perfect defensive mobile suit, and its twin the Vayeate is OZ's moving buster cannon," the captain of the OZ ship.
The blue armoured Vayaete flew out behind its brother. It carried a huge battery pack on its back, which began to spin and hum as the mobile suit drew its beam cannon. The Vayaete fired a single shot from the cannon, consuming the Zila's with a yellow beam. Both advanced machines floated side by side, their visors blinking as they looked towards more approaching enemies.
Far away from the conflict between the Moonrace rebels and the people of the Moonrace, the Laura Rola received a distress beacon from the OZ ship. The crew on the bridge gasped as they heard saw the signs of battle far away from them.
"I don't believe this, what are we going to do, we only have a small contingent of mobile suits and the Genoace's aren't fully repaired," Seamus explained.
"They're probably after Dianna, if we go around the battle and head for Corpenicus then Dianna will be able to seek safety there whilst we wait for Sensou reinforcements," Lizbeth added.
"Most of Sensou's resources are dedicated to supporting Edward Harrelson, OZ and the Moon can't fight a rebellion alone," Kringle said.
"We're not equipped for a battle," Maria said.
"But you're equipped for transport right?"
The crew turned to the doorway to see Gekido standing there with his arms crossed.
"I know of mobile suits we can use to tip the balance, in fact one is already on the Moon. Alls I need is access to a long range radio," Gekido explained as he walked to Maria's station.
He took Maria's headset and typed in a specific frequency.
"Code word: Come out Gundam!"
A text message spread across the screen.
"On way to your location!" it read.
Gekido typed in another frequency, bringing up the Heim household. Loran was already had the station, his eyes wide in shock.
"Gekido, thank god your all right, there are machine dolls heading towards our house," Loran said.
"Everything's gone to hell with Dianna gone," Sochi stated.
"Loran, you need to get everyone out of the house, get them someplace safe then move into the city, I trust you have enough military training to know how to fight," Gekido explained.
"I can fight, but what's this about Gekido, let me talk to Dianna!"
"Loran," Dianna said, walking up behind Gekido.
"Good to see you surviving Laura," Gym grinned at Loran.
Gekido looked at Loran (the 'what the hell' look) but the young man simply looked away in embarrassment. Dianna walked up to the screen, gripping it as she looked at Loran.
"Loran I am ordering you to follow Gekido's orders as if you were following mine," she said.
Loran widened his eyes slightly before nodding his head, his determination renewed by the order of his queen. Gekido lightly shoved Dianna aside and looked Loran in the eyes.
"Activate the Turn A Loran, use it to protect the people and buy us as much time as you can. This is dangerous, so dangerous that your going to be fighting on your own for a while, but we cant afford to be cautious, we need absolute confidence and determination. Are you willing to do whatever it takes to protect your home?" Gekido asked.
Loran nodded his head and saluted Gekido back. Gekido cut communications and looked to the crew. He took a deep breath before he addressed them.
"We didn't ask for this fight, none of us wanted this but its come anyway. So let me make myself perfectly clear, we're gonna fight, some of us might die and I'm sorry for that but if we don't put our lives on the line then those people down there, the people that have no idea what kind of life we all live…they'll be the ones suffering and both in the eyes of military law and god, we'll have failed in our mission, our duty, our purpose. So I'm going to fight and whoever isn't with me can go now, because I promise even if your all against me, I'll fly to the moon with a rocket pack if I have to!"
The crew remained silent under Gekido's gaze. He awaited their responses with a thumping heart. They all stood and much to Gekido's surprise, they all saluted him like an officer.
"We are with you Mr Kuzunagi," Kringle said.
"YOSHA! Lets get it done!" Woolf howled over the radio.
"Shrike team is ready to go," Helen said.
"But Helen, our machines are damaged," Kate said.
"We're trying to sound cool and supportive Kate," Peggy chimed in.
"Oh!"
Gekido slammed his fist into the palm of his hand, pleased with the results of his struggle.
"Lets go and save our home," Gym smiled.
He and Gekido nodded to one another in respect, both willing to fight. The agreement came not a moment too soon.
"I've got a heat source approaching us captain," Karl said.
"I've got a match in the database, it's a Strike sir," Seamus said.
Gekido grit his teeth together before breaking off into a run. He took the elevator down to the hanger; he was already in his flight suit so he had no worries about taking the Shalldoll to deal with this threat. The G-Exes was already walking onto the catapult and the Shrike team was assisting the mechanics in equipping the Shalldoll with a bazooka. Gekido floated towards the Shalldoll's cockpit, giving a thumbs up to Helen as he climbed into the mobile suit.
"Good luck Mr Kuzunagi," Maria said.
"Roger that, Gekido Kuzunagi, Shalldoll ready," Gekido announced.
"Woolf Enacle, G-Exes launching!"
The G-Exes slid across the catapult, jumping into space. Woolf kept his shield up as he flew around the ship, keeping his eyes on the arriving enemy. It was definitely based on a Strike, but the Aile flight pack was larger, obviously built with a better power output. The shoulders were also modified with layers of armour that spread to the chest and legs. Rockets had been attached to the elbows and legs, not doubt increasing the speed of its strikes. Its eyes were tinted red and attached to its hips was a pair of antiship swords, with saw blades built into them. Overall this black Strike looked like a warship buster, meaning that it alone would destroy the Laura Rola.
"Gekido Kuzunagi, Shalldoll launching!"
Woolf raised his shield as a mechanical arm on the Strike's shoulder drew a weapon from its hip. The weapon was a beam rifle of some kind, clearly meant to have other attachments. Grabbing the rifle with its hand, the Strike pointed it at Woolf and fired. On instinct, Woolf flew upwards, dodging a sizzling beam that singed his armour. He fired back with his rifle, widening his eyes as the extra layers of the Strike's armour took the beam. Gekido aimed his bazooka at the black Strike, launching a rocket towards the suit. The rocket broke apart, launching a shower of shrapnel at the Strike. It raised its arm, the generator in its wrist creating an energy shield. The Black Strike fired its rifle, hitting the Shalldoll's shield. Then a pair of cannons slid out of the aile pack, past the Strike's shoulders. Emerald beams flew out of the cannons, forcing Woolf and Gekido to fly around the machines.
"This guys not just a powerful suit, he actually knows how to use it," Woolf said.
"He's good, be careful Woolf," Gekido said.
The G-Exes dived towards the Strike, firing its beam rifle. Woolf dodged several beams from the Strike's rifle, flipping around the back of the Strike. He raised his rifle, firing at the Aile pack. But the Strike rolled out of the beams path, firing its CIW's. Woolf blocked the bullets with his shield, and then drew his beam sabre. He moved towards the Strike, swinging his sabre downwards. The Strike drew its own beam sabre, clashing it with Woolf's. Gekido flew at the two units, raising the Shalldoll's fist to punch the Strike. But the machine knocked Woolf back, then swung around and slashed off the Shalldoll's arm, including its shield.
"Shit," Gekido growled.
The Strike sheathed its sabre and drew its great swords. It pointed its blades at both machines, an unspoken challenge. Gekido threw his bazooka aside and ignited his second beam sabre.
"You try to go around him Gekido, I'll hit him from the front," Woolf said.
Gekido nodded his head before dashing to the left. He looked at the Strike and saw it was focusing on him.
"Don't worry Gekido, I've got a good shot at him," Woolf grinned as he thrust his sabre at the Strike.
Suddenly, the Strike swung around, hitting Woolf's sabre and sending him flying backwards. The G-Exes came to a halt a mile from the Strike, which was revving the saw blades attached to its swords.
"This guy's machine is too good for us, they can keep up with his attacks but they cant match them," Helen explained.
"And with that armour the only way they're going to stop him is with a beam sabre or a cannon," Peggy added.
Dianna stepped onto the portside observation deck, watching Gekido clash with the black Strike. He swung his sabre, hitting the Strike's sword. The Strike then span, deflecting Gekido's second swing before slashing the Shalldoll across the chest. Dianna gasped, for even though the slash wasn't enough to pierce the cockpit it still left Gekido exposed. Gekido looked at the Strike, everything was silent for him. He could only hear the radio attached to his helmet.
"Gekido are you all right?" Maria asked him.
"If you've got anything in storage capable of crushing heavy armour, send it out now," Gekido said.
"I'm sorry Gekido, but this isn't the Archangel," Kringle said.
Gekido widened his eyes slightly before gritting his teeth together. He moved the Shalldoll forward, yelling as he swung his sabre downwards. The Strike simply tilted its sword, deflecting Gekido's blow. Dianna put her hands together, silently praying that the young man, the man that had questioned her at every turn would be all right.
"Gekido," she whispered.
He drew his beam pistol, firing beams at the Strike. The Gundam moved to the left, firing back with its Vulcan's. Gekido manoeuvred his Shalldoll around the Strike, firing again and again with his pistol. The Strike dodged a beam that came behind it, turning to see the G-Exes approaching.
"Gekido, wait for backup," Woolf growled.
He stopped, dodging a yellow beam that seemed to come out of nowhere. Woolf looked at his surroundings, widening his eyes slightly as several bits flew past him. Gekido spotted one of the bits, narrowing his eyes at their limb design. They began assembling, sticking together to reveal the mobile suit Gekido first sir when he arrived on the moon.
"Turn X, a machine that with its brother unit Turn A, is capable of plunging the plunging the word back into the days of the Dark history," a familiar voice spoke over the radio.
Everyone on the Laura Rola gasped as Gym appeared on their screens. He was wearing a flight suit heavily inspired by samurai armour.
"What the hell Ghingham, whatever happened to protecting your home?" Woolf asked.
"Well you see Gekido, in a way I guess I am protecting my home, you see while Dianna encouraged appeasement, I put together a nice little army. I united those on the Moon tired of being oppressed by those born on Earth, Heim even helped me find mobile suits I could use to drive back OZ," Gym explained.
"Heim, Sochi and Kihel's father," Gekido said.
"Yes, you meeting and forming a friendship with them wasn't part of the plan, in fact your whole arrival has put a pin in things Gekido Jaeger, first of the Cyber Psyches," Gym's grin widened as Gekido snarled.
"Gym Ghingham, stop this madness at once," Dianna commanded.
She pressed her finger against the intercom system, keeping her eyes on the Shalldoll, surrounded by the Turn X and the Black Strike.
"Ah, Queen Dianna, my great ruler, the one who has dragged our people down into the dirt instead of rising as we should," Gym growled.
"What are you talking about Gym?" Dianna asked.
"Men like my grandfather had to fight to give us the right to live on the moon, he fought a war with the American government to secure you the resources you needed to rule a people. The Heim family only served you because of my families actions, but instead of honouring our warrior heritage you dragged us into a pacifistic regime where we forgive those whom wrong us. It is the strong, the victors that dictate the course of history, but you've deliberately created a moon that cant rise beyond what it is, our people are weak because of you. My father and grandfather died for nothing, so I'll turn the world to darkness so that a stronger generation can recreate the world."
Gym had become nothing more than a mad dog, barking a rant that was filled with selfish desire and blind hope.
"Nothing we do is going to lead us to peace, so I'll use the power of Turn X and Turn A to create a world where we'll be forced to be strong and from that strength we'll create something better," he explained.
Gym looked at Gekido's indifferent eye and smirked.
"Don't you agree with what I'm saying Gekido? Don't you think people are weak, and that they need to be put into the fight in order to force change? There are so many people on Earth, even your own friends that are living off the peace people bled for while other wars and conflicts are going on. 'Our war is over, so we don't need to be involved anymore' but the conflict never ends, for humanity," Gym explained.
"Is that what this is about? You thinking humanity cant bring about its true potential unless it's fighting? Maybe you're right about that, but it has to happen by accident, we can't force war on other people just to create a change we hope will happen. Your not talking about being a warrior or revolutionary, you're talking about WANTON MURDER!"
"OH SO YOUR ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE HUH!" Gym yelled.
Gym released his leg funnels, shooting off the Shalldoll's legs. Gekido swung his sabre at Gym, only for the Turn X to ignite a beam sabre on its arm, slicing off the Shalldoll's arm. The Turn X fired a blast from its hand, hitting the Shalldoll's head and throwing it back. Gekido looked at the Strike and the Turn X, making sure both enemies weren't trying to shoot him.
"That's it, get the Genoace's fixed so we can help," Helen said to the engineers.
"Its no good, the Genoace's won't stand a chance against those kind of machines!"
"But we cant just let them kill Gekido like that," Mahalia said.
Gekido kept his eyes on the barrel of the Strike's rifle; it was aimed straight at him.
"I'll let my friend finish things here, I have a revolution to lead," Gym grinned.
"GYM GHINGHAM!" Gekido roared.
Gym turned curiously to the Shalldoll, spotting Gekido hanging out of the cockpit. The young man formed his hand into a fist and slapped it to his chest.
"I swear, by the end of this civil war, I'LL KILL YOU!" Gekido yelled.
Gym grinned as the Turn X pulled a beam bazooka off its back. He fired a single blast, grinning as he flew away.
"A little extra incentive," he said.
Gekido widened his eyes, watching the blast fly past the Shalldoll. It slammed into the Laura Rola, triggering an explosion that shook the whole ship.
"Sir, we have a hull breach in…the portside observation deck," Decker gasped.
Maria shook her head in denial, whilst Kringle slammed his fist into his armrest.
"DAMN! WOOLF! GEKIDO! CONFIRM DIANNA'S STATUS!"
Gekido turned the Shalldoll around and widened his eyes.
"DIANNA!" he yelled.
The young woman was floating away from the wreckage of the observation deck, her body badly burnt.
"We failed, WE DAMN WELL FAILED!" Woolf punched his screen.
Gekido was about to punch his side screen as well, until a line of text spread across it.
"Sorry I'm late!"
A grey and red blur flew by Dianna, seemingly swallowing her whole. The figure began to change, its form folding and hands popping out of the arms. Eventually its head popped out, the blue eyes flashing as it spun around.
"What is that, and where's Dianna?" Decker asked.
"I think it's the Purpose, she must be inside its cockpit," Seamus said.
"But whose piloting it?" Lizbeth asked.
The Purpose drew a beam rifle from its back, aiming the weapon at the Black Strike.
"Pick me up Purpose, we've got a fight to finish," Gekido growled.
Next Chapter 6: Strike vs. Purpose-Battle of bitter tears and rage
Finally the Purpose returns, it'll have its long awaited battle with the Strike next chapter.