God Gundam's sleek white form, evolved from its many venerable predecessors into a streamlined steel samurai reminiscent of Japan's centuries-old Shinkansen, was slowly enveloped by the twelve crimson petals of its Bud Carrier. Domon looked back for a brief instant, perhaps by instinct, and caught the last glints of light in his Gundam's eyes. The deep, menacing emerald seemed to call out to him, asking "Are you ready?" before disappearing into its shell. Domon raised a fist and smiled, the King of Hearts illuminating his hand, before turning back to his wife and friends gathered near the hangar doors.
Chibodee lounged against the power loader, while George sat with impeccable posture on some unnecessary provision crates. Argo just loomed in the background, nearly dwarfing the industrial equipment and certainly making Chibodee look even smaller. Rain joined George on another container, doing her best to stay upright. She ran a cloth across her brow, doing her best to maintain womanly composure despite having been awake for the past eighteen hours. Domon couldn't help but crack another smile, recalling the numerous occasions where Rain had proved herself to be just as fierce as he, and marveled at her ability to keep such fire tucked neatly away, glowing embers driving her ever onward, as opposed to his own reactive inferno.
Chibodee gave a wave and called out, "Hey Domon, you about done? If I'd known you'd keep us waiting I'd have brought a book, or something."
"You, reading for fun, Chibodee?" Domon replied, ever so slightly quickening his pace. "I wouldn't have expected that from you." Chibodee shot Domon a look of exaggerated betrayal, placing a hand to his chest.
"Well that hurts! I'll have you know I've read at least two whole books since we last spoke." He, George and Rain all smiled, and Chibodee tweaked the sprig between his teeth. "Although to be fair, they might not exactly have been considered classical literature." George flicked his head over to Chibodee, his hair bouncing with pomp and distinguishment.
"I certainly wouldn't begrudge you for finding pleasure in the more refined arts of literature. Tell me, were the pictures at least interesting?" Mock betrayal gained legitimacy as Chibodee responded.
"Aww, not you too! Rain, Argo, help me out here!" Rain only laughed, and Argo stayed smugly silent. After a few further moments of levity, Domon joined Chibodee at the power loader.
"Hey you gave me a hard time, just returning the favor."
"Yeah yeah... Man, I've missed all this. Even if it's mostly trash-talking. How long has it been since we've all been together? A year? Two?"
Domon nodded, looking down at his fist. "And we're still missing one."
Rain looked up, her eyes desperately trying to stay open. "Speaking of which, how is Sai? Have any of you spoken to him recently?"
George shook his head in the negative. "It has been quite some time since we last saw each other. Given his training for the current Gundam Fight, I suppose it is to be expected."
Argo stepped forward, arms crossed, thumbs just tucked underneath two leather straps across his chest. Domon had grown accustomed to seeing him with the inert bomb rig across his chest, despite him having been freed almost a decade ago. Old habits and all that.
Argo's deep voice cut the air like an axe. "I had the pleasure of being Sai Saici's sparring partner more than once over the past few months. While we have yet to have the decisive match we've both looked forward to, he has certainly grown much stronger over the years." Argo's statement was met with looks of surprise. Chibodee picked himself up out of his sideways slouch and opened his arms wide.
"What? Why didn'tcha tell us? We'd have joined in, right George?"
"You will forgive us if we still think back to those moments on Lantau Island, in the seconds after we had defeated Soaring Raven Gundam. When we were prepared to give our lives, our one regret was that we couldn't have faced each other one on one. We simply wanted the opportunity, should it have arisen."
"Yeah, yeah, I get ya. Me and George still need to hash that out some day, don't we?"
"We certainly do," George replied, "though I fear Gundam Rose may need some long-overdue refurbishment to match your... accoutrement?"
"What, you mean the hat? I do admit, it's a bit more stylish than the football helmet, but you should be more worried about these." Chibodee raised his fists, subtly bouncing in his boxer stance.
"That's precisely what I mean! While Gundam Rose certainly retains its elegance, there is something to be said for wearing a pair of revolvers on your fists." The cavernous hanger reverberated with laughter, hearkening back to better times. Domon's heart swelled with joy at having his friends near, free from politics or catastrophe, just to sit down and talk. If only for a little while.
How he'd missed the sound of all of their voices. After the 14th Fight had drawn to a close, Domon had the pleasure of seeing sides of his friends he never would have imagined. Between garden mazes and headbands to carousing in the streets of the Big Easy on Fat Tuesday, a part of Domon craved the simpler life without battle, to just be around friends and have a good time. But at the end of the day, they were all Fighters at heart, and despite everything they experienced together outside of the ring, true conversation between them only took place with their fists.
To an outsider, no one would have guessed that the streetwise city boy and a prim, proper noble gentleman could be such fast friends, much less a notorious pirate and the golden child of the Shaolin Temple. Their souls found each other equal, worthy competitors and as such hungered for the challenge. Even as they talked and joked, Domon could feel the unresolved tension in the air.
Good, we shouldn't grow complacent as members of the Shuffle Alliance. We keep each other on our toes, even in times of peace. Especially an uneasy peace, like this one.
"That's great, Argo," Rain continued, redirecting the conversation "but how is he? I've heard a lot about the new hope for the Shaolin Temple these past years, but that doesn't tell me much about his state of mind."
"He is filled with vigor, stronger in both mind and body." He smiled, closing his eyes and resting his chin against his chest. "Though he still looks like a child next to someone like me, he has most definitely grown up. He is much like you were, Domon. Full of determination."
"Is he still fawning over the Holger girl?" Chibodee chimed in.
"Of course he is. When she came by during one of our matches, it was all over." Argo smiled with closed lips, looking up. "In one instant, he transformed from the disciplined monk he had become to the bubbling, giddy child we all recall so fondly."
"I'm glad," Rain replied, "I'm really glad he has someone he can let his guard down around."
"Mhm," Domon nodded, "It can get exhausting, training constantly with no outlet but to keep fighting. Of course, that's never stopped us, right?"
"But of course, monsieur," George replied, "the rigors of combat are best soothed by the calming attention of a lovely woman."
"Oh yeah, pretty boy?" Chibodee cut in, with a lewd grin on his face. "And you'd know a-a-all about that, wouldn't you George? Speaking of which-"
"That is not at all what..." George composed himself, though his rouged expression betrayed more than a hint of embarrassment. "And let us not speak of that in present company, shall we?"
"Oh come on, you were so excited when you told me. I thought we were going to-"
"That is quite enough, Chibodee Crocket."
Rain gave each of them a quizzical glance in turn. "What's this thing you're talking about? Apart from the obvious, Chibodee."
"Well, I was gonna let the big man tell you himself, but if he's not quite feeling up to it-" Chibodee crossed his arms behind his head and lazed against the power loader, dangerously close to the right arm control column. Rain's technician senses tingled, and she scooted her container a few extra inches away from the inert grasping arm. George sighed, seemingly resigned to his fate. Despite this, Domon noticed a broad, beaming smile creeping across his face.
"Well, if you do insist, and I must apologize in advance, madame, for any-"
"Will ya just get on with it? Sheesh."
George cleared his throat. "Very well. I, George of the de Sand family, do announce to you..."
Rain tensed, imperceptibly to all but Domon, who placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"-that I, and my wife Marie Louise de Sand, are with child! I will be a father!"
"See? I told ya it wasn't so difficult." Chibodee smirked, "Did ya have to make it so flowery, though? Could have just said-" Rain cut Chibodee off before he could place his size-11 sneaker any further into his great big mouth.
"It's fine, George, really. I couldn't be more happy for you." Domon squeezed her shoulder, and she placed her hand over his. When had he suddenly become so perceptive of her feelings?
"Yeah George," Domon replied, "you'll be a great father, I just know it."
"I... Thank you for your kind words. It has been such a long time coming, after so many years."
Rain recalled her own involvement in those endeavors. "That's right, you've been trying for a while, haven't you?"
"Yes, and I must thank you again for all your help. Without your experience, we never would have guessed her repeated exposure over the course of the last Gundam Fight was the cause." Domon didn't recall the specifics, but he remembered hearing Rain talk about accompanying George on various visits to medical facilities throughout the colonies.
She would return home with long-winded tales and talk of nucleobases and chromosomes, cancerous growths, all incredibly unpleasant, and all affecting Marie Louise to some extent. Her proximity to the fully activated Shining Finger, as well as the gap in the barrier pylons on Lantau Island had riddled her young body with maladies more common in ice miners from the asteroid belt. The second part Domon hadn't heard about until a few months after the 14th Fight.
"High doses of ionizing radiation, extensive cellular damage..." Rain sighed, in equal measures of exhaustion and relief. "George, as a doctor, I'm surprised you two were even able..."
"As were we. However, there was an experimental treatment being offered on Earth that helped greatly. A type of gene therapy, which restored most of her body to a more youthful, healthy state. I don't quite understand the details, but-"
"It's alright. What's important is that it worked, and you're happy. And I wish the both of you the best of luck in the future." There was audible sincerity behind her words, but each was tinged with pain.
"Don't worry, Rain," Domon interjected, "once this Fight is over, when my duty as the reigning champion is fulfilled, we'll have a bit of an adventure of our own."
"That's right," Argo said, "the two of you are still young. Why you are younger than I was when my Tatyana was born."
"And how's your little pipsqueak doing, Argo?" Chibodee replied. Domon took a sidestep and put his other hand on Rain, doing his best to massage the pain from her heart through her shoulders. I hope she appreciates the lessons she gave me. Otherwise I'd probably be tearing her... Trape-something? I don't know. A contented exhalation told Domon everything he needed to know.
"Little Tatyana has so much of her mother in her," Argo continued, "she is already reading before we anticipated, and Nastascha is teaching her some basic orbital mechanics. She'll be a fine captain some day."
"And she fights like a bear!" Chibodee said, "I still have the scars to prove it!"
"Ah, Chibodee, I may have had more than a passing rivalry with a pamplemousse, but you surprise me in your ability to be defeated by such a small child."
"Hey! She bites! Hard! And scratches, too!"
"Ah, my little bear cub. Destined to be a fierce pirate in her own right, some day. And you, Chibodee, have the honor of being her first victim." Argo leaned into the phrase, as a father would to emphasize a big scary monster to his child.
Domon smiled. This day had brought more real smiles than so many in the past few years. Not to say that his time with Rain had been anything but a pleasure, but there was just something about these men that brought out the best in each other. He was about to join in, until he noticed the datapad in Rain's hands. Her attention was entirely focused downward, away from whatever conversation she might have otherwise been involved in. He leaned down, whispering in her ear. "I'm sorry. I know this is hard-"
"Don't worry about me, Domon. Like you said, it's almost over. We'll be fine. Besides, isn't this the stereotype? Couples with kids always want to talk about kids; kids this, kids that, 'have I told you what my son did this week?' I expected this. I'm fine. Besides..." She raised her voice beyond a dull whisper, interjecting as the three other men carried on without the two of them. "And what about you, Chibodee? About ready to settle down, yet?" Domon moved his face away, and caught a glimpse of a satisfied smirk on his wife's face. At about the same time, he noticed a blush creeping out of Chibodee's neckline, almost the same shade as Maxter's gaudy livery.
"Who, uh me? Well, ah... W-when you're surrounded by beautiful and talented women like my girls, it's impossible to just choose one! I-I mean, what's the point of settling down? I've still got big plans in the-"
"Janet dumped you, didn't she? Oh I knew, Chibodee. We talk."
"H-hey, it's not that..." Chibodee's carefree demeanor took a downturn, the energy in his voice becoming more focused. "Listen, what I said is true. They're all really special to me, and I do have big plans." He picked himself up out of his slouch, and strode forward. "Yeah, things with Janet didn't work out. What's that saying, 'don't mix business with pleasure'? Well, that's exactly what happened." He looked Domon dead in the eyes, his emotions spilling out all at once. "You should be real familiar with that, aren't you?" His words hit Domon almost as hard as a punch to the gut. Domon grimaced, and couldn't look his friend and rival in the eye.
As much as I hate to admit it, he's right.
If Rain felt the same blow, she didn't let it show. "What do you mean by that?" she asked.
"Are you kidding? You and Domon have been on and off more times than I can count. He may be King of Hearts, but I remember those times where he wasn't exactly king of your heart, Rain."
"Chibodee," George cut in, "I think that is quite enough. Dragging up the past like that is brutish, and I will not have it."
"But what of it? Look at you two now. All I'm saying is..." He finally spared Rain a glance. Between the bags under her eyes from lack of sleep and the slow twinkling of tears forming, try as she might, she wasn't hiding her feelings from anyone.
"Ah... Sorry. I don't mean anything by it." Chibodee took a step back, putting one foot up against the power loader. "George is right, that was real low. Look at me, I sure can dish it, but I can't take it."
"It's fine, Chibodee," Rain dragged the back of a hand across her face, doing her best not to smear anything, but the hours of toil and grease had already ruined that. "I'm tired, things came out, I'm sorry."
"It's been a long eight years," Domon replied, "I'm glad to have all that behind us. You're right, Chibodee. Really. I know I wasn't the best to her, but-"
"Look, Domon," Chibodee said, "we're Fighters. Ill at ease, however you say it. Janet and I got past our disagreements, just like the two of you have. Well, maybe not quite like that, but we still work together just fine. Doesn't mean I can't be in the wrong, and maybe I was. All I know is, I've still got a dream to work towards, and my team will be with me every step of the way, just like yours is for you."
"Then, what are your plans?" There was only the slightest quiver in Rain's voice.
I probably would have punched him if I were her. I think maybe I should have punched him. She's a lot stronger than me when it comes to feelings, that's for sure.
"All I'll say right now is," Chibodee replied, "I remember Master Asia's last few words. The ones I caught from back on the ridge, anyway. Coming from the streets of New York, looking back, I know exactly how he felt. We fight, and fight, and continue fighting, while the poor, tired, huddled masses that looked to Neo America to shelter them had to their own share of fighting among themselves." Domon thought back to the restaurant, where a caricature of American culture served them the finest cuisine Neo Japan had to offer.
"I intend to do something about that, in my own way. Make the world a better place, however I can. But now there's this whole new movement for Earth independence, and all that pent-up anger suddenly has a place to go." Chibodee clenched his fist, Queen of Spades lighting on the back of his hand.
"Makes me mad to think the Coalition can just open up Earth to the wolves like that. Suddenly now it's not just nations, but regular folk fightin' for control of the universe? Didn't they learn from the last Fight?"
"I do concur," George added, "it is most puzzling that after seeing one man's lust for power that they would choose to open the floodgates for similar unsavory individuals to lay claim to ruling the universe."
"And individuals," Argo interjected, "have the most to gain from such contests, and very little by comparison to lose. It makes them unpredictable, and dangerous."
"Speaking of which," Rain replied, giving her eyes a definitive final rub, "there's something about one of those wolves I think you'll all find very interesting." She tapped her dormant datapad, bringing to life a news report. A sleek, black mobile suit, outlined with blocks of text, featured prominently on the front page, with the headline, '10 Facts About Tau Gundam (That were Stolen from its Crew)'.