Episode 18: Heero's Desire for Revenge
Project Eternal: An Edenite task that on the surface was meant to be a crowning glory for Eden, bringing back the dead to another life. However, the dark reality of the project has been exposed. Utilizing technology from Eden's bloody past, the hope was to create an army of soldiers for Eden.
However, one of the ancient menaces of the past has awakened. What does this foray into the dark history of Eden mean for the galaxy? And could the answer to the menace of Calnus actually be worse than the problem?
Wing Zero thrust forward, and as Juggernaut dodged, Heero countered with a blast from his twin buster rifle. The blow didn't do much damage, but it set up the next blow, sending his beam sabre right into Juggernaut's neck. As the huge suit collapsed, Heero jumped out of Wing Zero's cockpit, landing at the entrance to Juggernaut. As Calnus emerged, trying to escape the wreckage of his suit, Heero was waiting. He threw the large Edenite to the ground, where Calnus landed headfirst with a sickening thud.
With a murderous look plastered on his face, Heero jumped down as well. Grabbing Calnus by the scalp, Heero pulled the Edenite upward so that he could look into Calnus's face.
Calnus's eyes had rolled back into his head, blood oozing from where he had struck the hard ground. Heero then mercilessly delivered a wicked punch to Calnus's ribs, causing the Edenite to spit up involuntarily, a thick torrent of blood spurting forward from between Calnus's lips.
Then Heero pulled his pistol out of its holster, and aimed it straight at Calnus's black heart. One shot, and the large Edenite wasn't waking up any time soon. However, it just wasn't enough. Heero was in a maddened froth, emptying several rounds into various portions of Calnus's corpse.
When the magazine finally clicked empty, Heero then pulled out a long knife. With one sharp jab, he punctured Calnus's abdomen. Slicing upward quickly, Heero could feel the resistance as the knife slit through the diaphragm, then cut through ribs, ripping through the trachea, and finally stopping at Calnus's jaw. Heero watched with sick pleasure as the internal chest cavity of Calnus spilled forward.
Heero stood in front of the mutilated body of the Edenite general, suddenly regretting that he didn't have a flamethrower handy…
Heero waited in the cockpit of Wing Zero, waiting for Aelan to receive the coordinates in which Noin was being held hostage. He just wanted to get his hands (or even better, Wing Zero's hands) around that freak of nature Calnus, and strangle every last drop of life from that monster's body. Looking down, Heero noticed that he was clenching the control sticks of Wing Zero so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.
"I hope that you were showing me my future, Zero." Heero hissed, "Nothing would be more welcome than what I just saw." Heero's anger had surprised even himself. Sure, he had been angry before, but this was beyond even what he thought was acceptable. The mission was to rescue Admiral Noin, but at the moment, saving someone's life was the last thing on his mind.
Aelan looked up at Wing Zero, and sighed. Heero really should be relaxing! It was obvious that he had not yet fully recovered from his recent trauma. However, Aelan admitted sadly, Heero and Wing Zero were desperately needed for his plan to succeed. But that didn't mean he had to like it. Aelan could only hope that Heero would be able to keep the rampaging emotions in check, especially since they were going to be engaging the man that Heero probably wanted to disembowel.
"Just keep cool, Heero." Aelan muttered, "You'll get your chance…"
"Pardon?" Hilde asked from the seat in front of the comm console. She was looking up at him curiously.
"Nothing." Aelan replied.
"How long will the Gundams need to be fully operative?" Hilde asked. He wouldn't have taken and switched systems unless Duo wasn't going to be involved.
"The Gundams will be several more days before repairs can be finalized." Aelan admitted, "They will not be in time. In that case, you will need to pull Noin out of wherever she is."
"Me?" Hilde asked. Aelan had told her to be ready for action, but she hadn't expected that she would be asked to take on such an important role.
"Yes, you." Aelan chuckled, "According to Duo, you have experience in sneaking into places, and pulling out vital goods. Secondly, there are only going to be three units that will be capable of action: you, Heero, and me. Heero and I will be preoccupied with indulging Calnus. Which leaves…"
"Me." Hilde finished. She remembered her raid on the Libra more than four years ago. Pulling a human being out is a little trickier than a data disk. "We have no idea what condition Noin will be in. Plus, I'm assuming that you'll need me to locate Cygnus as well."
Hilde then noted, "Besides, the only reason I got inside Libra in the first place was because I tricked them into thinking that I was one of them. I highly doubt I'll be able to do that again."
"I can help you with that." Aelan replied. "I had anticipated your skills when you came on board, and how they could best be put to use. Follow me."
They entered the hangar bay in which Commadore and usually Cygnus were stationed. She also noticed the strange black mobile suit that she had gotten glances at over the last few days.
Aelan announced, "Hilde, let me introduce you to Phantom."
"Who is this supposed to be…" Then the bolt of realization hit her. "No way…"
Aelan smirked, and retorted, "What? You thought I was going to have you pilot that antiquated Virgo forever?"
"Well, I didn't think that you'd…"
"Spare the humility, Miss Schbeckler. My duty being in charge of the Elite Unit is to insure that the pilots of the elite unit have the best chances of survival, one the best ways to do that is to give them the best possible equipment."
As the two rode up the small lift that led them to the cockpit of Phantom, Aelan then sheepishly admitted, "Although, I must be honest, the weapons systems on Phantom aren't totally completed yet, but that can't be helped."
Aelan jumped into the cockpit, and motioned for Hilde to follow. As she complied, Aelan explained, "Even with the weapons systems fully operational, I will tell you that Phantom falls rather short in combat ability as compared to the rebuilt Gundams or the two other suits I designed."
When Hilde snorted, Aelan quickly waved his finger in reprimand, "Don't sell this suit short yet. I haven't told you the best parts of it. This unit has a cloaking system that is five times more effective that the one found on Deathscythe Hell."
"Really?" That perked Hilde's attention.
"This suit is more designed for covert combat rather than the type of battle that the Gundams are designed for. Its abilities aren't ones that would directly defeat an enemy, but would be of great advantage nonetheless."
"Like how?"
Aelan pursed his lips, and answered, "For example, when I had the alloy for the other suits forged, I used a Durium/Gundanium armor alloy on a Gundanium frame. With Phantom here, I kept the same frame, but the armor plating is a Durium/Iridium alloy."
"Why'd you do that?"
"Well… granted this alloy isn't quite as durable as the one used on the other suits, but it has a most unique advantage. When you press this button here," Aelan pointed at a large yellow button on the right side of the cockpit, "It sends a slight electrical charge through the hull plates."
"And that does…?" Hilde queried.
"Don't rush me. I'm getting to that. This particular alloy has a quirky reaction to electricity. When electrified, the alloy radiates a type of magnetic field that repels all high-band energy sent its way."
"High band energy like plasma or beams?" Hilde asked, catching on.
"Exactly. It creates what I call the mirror shield. Most shields work on the principle of absorbing force. This one merely redirects it harmlessly away."
"Then why isn't that thing on constantly?"
"Well, it repels ALL high-band energy, including the energy found inside Phantom. Left on too long, you'll find yourself with a totally spent and defenseless suit. I had thought about adding a proximity threat indicator that would activate the shield when a threat emerges, but I discovered that the pilot was a much better judge of what was a threat or not than the computer."
"I see."
Aelan then smiled, "But that's not the best part. On this nice little suit is a miniature fold generator. The range isn't that great, only about 100-kilometer radius, but the ability to pop up right behind an enemy that never sees you coming is quite a nice advantage in any battle."
"Anyway." Aelan finished, "This is how you'll be able to get up close to Calnus's base without being detected. Then, once you found Noin and Cygnus, you'll make a break for it at top speed to North Am."
Finally, one of the comm operators shouted from ground level, "Advisor. Calnus has left us the coordinates to meet him. From that, we were able to discern where Admiral Noin was."
Aelan leaned over, and called down, "Well… out with it. Where is she?"
He stammered for a moment, then replied, "She's in… New Port City. The… presidential estate to be exact."
Presidential Estate, New Port City…
Noin couldn't help but find the entire situation rather humiliating. Sitting in a chair, the backrest crushing against her chest, with her wrists tied behind her back, and her ankles tied to the legs of the chair. She had been struggling with her bonds for the last two hours, but discovered that Calnus was quite good at tying knots.
She glanced around her surroundings one more time. She had been brought into the raid shelter of the Presidential Estate, in one of the darker corners so that she could only see due to the light that filtered in from the open doorway.
"If Aelan Marcus is nearly as noble as you claim he is, he will come to meet with me. From there, he will take me to Eden, and you will be free." Calnus commented.
Noin was not in the mood, and snapped, "Oh, Advisor Aelan will come here all right, but it sure as hell won't be to have you blackmail him. He'll come to kick your over-muscled ass!"
"Perhaps he will." Calnus chuckled, "The true desire of Eden cannot ever be totally denied. But he will find such effort for naught. My Juggernaut is invincible. You've seen that for yourself."
"Nothing is invincible, General Calnus. If you underestimate him, he will defeat you, and that marvel called Juggernaut." A strangely familiar voice chided.
"YOU DO NOT CHASTISE ME, HUMAN!" Calnus roared, "What is it you want?"
"I merely came to tell you that Aelan has indeed responded to your request. He's brought with him a friend. The pair could be trouble."
'Heero…' Noin thought, 'It has to be.'
"I WILL DECIDE WHO IS TROUBLE!" Calnus bellowed, then started to walk out of the darkened room. "I do not want to hear of the Admiral being harmed in any way. If so much as one hair on her head has been harmed, your life will be due payment."
Finally, the large Edenite left. The figure that she still couldn't fully see looked around the corner, obviously waiting for Calnus to disappear entirely. Finally, the figure stepped back inside, and she finally was able to get a look at his face as he approached closely.
It was the President of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation.
"What…?" Noin gasped, "Why…"
"It's quite simple, Admiral." The President stated, "I had worked for all my life to reach where I am now. Now, all of a sudden, some freak from another planet comes along, and is about to destroy all that."
"How dare you suggest…" Noin said breathlessly.
"Haven't you heard all the talk of Advisor Aelan running for President of the Sphere? The man has such an impenetrable wall of trust from just about every person on the whole planet, that they wouldn't even believe me if I had told them why he had really come here in the first place!"
Noin was simply shocked to silence. Aelan had no desire to run for the Presidency. As a matter of fact, it had taken months of gentle pushing to get him to run for re-election for Advisor. All the talk was just that… talk.
"You see, that alien would beat me! All that I'd have worked for would have been destroyed. But thanks to Ventrali, I have the means to end his threat. General Calnus will eliminate Aelan."
"And as for you… I'm not sure I like the way that you support that alien. Maybe I need to teach you a little lesson." The President motioned to the guards who started to wheel in a small table.
"Remember…" Noin warned, "Calnus would kill you if he found out you've been torturing me."
The President smiled mischeviously, then answered, "Who said that what I planned to do would ever leave a mark?"
Outside New Port City…
"Where is Admiral Noin?" Aelan shouted.
From the gigantic suit that must have been housing Calnus came the reply. "Take me to Eden, and she goes free."
"DAMN IT, CALNUS!" Aelan screamed, "Eden has locked itself away. I can't take you where you want to go! How many times do I or my friends have to tell you?"
Heero however, didn't wait for Calnus's reply. He rushed into the attack screaming, "You will not hurt another, Calnus! Your terror ends here!" Aelan tried to call out to Heero, but by then it was too late.
For a moment, Aelan watched as Wing Zero and Juggernaut engaged in combat. Finally, he decided that any chance of a peaceful solution was gone. While Heero kept Calnus occupied, Aelan brought his matter cannon to Commadore's shoulder. With luck, he could end it here…
Noin felt like her entire body was on fire. Whatever the chemical was that the President had injected into Noin's system, it was burning through her bloodstream, causing incredible pain. The pain was so intense that she could barely hear the sounds of struggle just outside.
Noin tried hard just to breathe straight, when another person emerged into the room. Noin's vision was a little blurred, but when the person got closer, Noin recognized the visitor instantly.
"Hilde… It's nice to see you…" Noin said softly, trying to keep her head from throbbing. The agony was beginning to recede, but it still made it hard for Noin to function.
"I've found Cygnus." Hilde commented as she used a knife to cut through Noin's bonds, "Once we've gotten it out, you can take me to my suit, and we can high tail it out of here."
"Good… let's do it quickly." Noin ordered, "We have no idea when more support will arrive."
As Noin started to walk, she stumbled, falling to her knees. Hilde quickly came to her aid, asking, "Are you capable of this, Admiral?"
Noin nodded, "Something that the President gave me, but it's wearing off. I'll be fine, let's go…"
Heero split the twin buster rifle into two separate weapons, and quickly fired one at Juggernaut. Displaying incredible agility, the giant suit dodged the first blast, only to walk right into the second one.
Juggernaut wasn't badly damaged, but Calnus was impressed nontheless. He had never encountered a soldier quite like the one he was battling at the moment. 'It's as if he knows what I'm going to do before I know it…' Calnus mused. As he was about to maneuver Juggernaut to counterattack, his sensors detected a large energy pulse building. Glancing in that direction, he saw Aelan's suit powering up its mighty Matter Cannon.
"Well, so Aelan wasn't just cowering away after all…" Calnus hissed, and pressed the console on his left-hand side.
Aelan fired the cannon, it's blue beam of energy rifling forward at light speed. However, before the beam struck Juggernaut, it was engulfed by a small gravity well that had formed in between the two suits.
Aelan smiled wryly, and said, "I should have figured that you'd have planned for that, Ventrali. Well done." Aelan pulled the Matter Cannon back to it's stationary position, and ignited the twin beam sabers. "It appears that I'm going to have to do this the hard way…"
"DAMN… they're closing in!" Noin shouted as Cygnus and Phantom rushed from the Presidential Estates, being followed by mobile suits like the ones she had fought on Eden. However, without the sonic pulse to even the score, the enemies' sheer numbers would quickly overwhelm them.
"I'd love to just turn around, and turn 'em to scrap, but the weapons systems of this little beauty aren't completed yet." Hilde hissed, "I could probably get away, but then you'd be caught once again, and I'd be right back where I started."
Noin's mind raced through the rapidly decreasing pain; then she got a bolt of inspiration. "I have an idea… just try and keep our new friends busy while I pull it off…"
It seemed like the fight was never going to end. Neither side seemed to be able to gain any real advantage. Of course it helped Aelan's cause that Heero was fighting with the strength and intensity of twenty men. It had been obvious to Aelan that Heero was just waiting for this moment, and he wasn't going to lose no matter what Calnus did.
Abruptly, Juggernaut then pushed both mobile suits away. Expecting some sort of counter, instead the massive suit remained motionless. Finally, it turned away, and blasted off back towards the Presidential Estates.
Heero started to follow, but Aelan was quicker this time. "Heero, STOP! This fight is going nowhere. Don't worry, we'll get another chance at him."
Heero just continued to seethe, "Relena… I failed you…"
"Relena wouldn't have wanted you killing that man, and you know it. Revenge is a strong emotion, I know, but all too often we let it control us. You have to be fighting this man for the right reasons."
There was silence for a moment, then Heero answered, "You're right…"
At that moment, Cygnus and Phantom appeared. Hilde then patched over the comm, and said, "I see things went well on your end."
Aelan looked curiously in the direction of New Port City, and replied, "It could be phrased that way, although Calnus's sudden departure leaves several questions."
Hilde laughed, then said, "Tell him, Admiral."
Noin joined Hilde in laughter, and answered, "Calnus doesn't like to harm women, and it became apparent that he didn't like others harming women either. I patched into Calnus's comm, and told him what the President had done to me. Calnus was so pissed, he's probably heading for the Presidential Estates to give that bastard what for."
Instead of amused, Aelan was furious, "YOU IDIOTS!"
Hilde, Noin, and Heero all had the same reply, "Huh?"
On the horizon, an object barely visible shot straight upward. It could only have been Juggernaut. The giant suit hovered over New Port City, then a massive beam of energy zipped down towards the central square.
The four Elite Unit members could only watch helplessly as all of New Port City was engulfed in a blinding white light…
Next Time…
It is a dark day in North Am, as the destruction of New Port City at the hands of Calnus weighs heavily on their minds. Aelan prepares to battle Calnus again, and when Juggernaut arrives once again in North Am, he unveils a new weapon to assist in the battle. But what cost does this terrible new development hold for everyone?
Coming in Episode 19: And it was Called Commadore Eternal…