Disclaimer: I do not own the copyrights to Gundam Wing, Endless Waltz, Trigun, or any songs that are used in this story. All copyrights belong to their respective owners.
Readers Note: This is a re-post. Also this contains major spoilers for Trigun, so if you haven't seen the whole series I wouldn't recommend reading this.
Gundam Wing & Trigun
Trigundam
Episode 9: Battlefield Death Valley
q
D-Day: The time was now, Peace Million was in orbit around Earth like an old Space Shuttle mission in the days of NASA. Now the Earth was taking over all the views of the windows in the mess hall. The mobile suit carrier was fully loaded; everything was set and ready. Now all that was needed was to reach the window where the mobile suit carrier may be launched reaching its destination at Death Valley. There the final battle would begin, but whether Knives had mobile dolls down there has already been discovered. The entire valley is surrounded with troops of Scorpio Mobile Dolls. So not only would the Gundams and the Peace Guns have to fight there way through that but to face one superior being who could control their machines and their bodies like dolls.
The last minute preparations were being held in the mobile suit bay. The Gundams were working within the mobile suit carrier while the Peace Guns were being strapped inside a transport called "Angel Feather" within the mobile suit transport. It was the very same transport that burrowed it's way into the colony when the Gundams and the Peace Guns were attacking Knives.
Wolfwood was feeling nervous about being strapped in like this; his teeth were showing with his lips curled back as the sweat rolled down past his lips and down his neck and his hands clutching the chair arms with white knuckles.
Millie reached over to Wolfwood's shaking hand, "Don't worry dear." She smiled, "It'll be fine."
Wolfwood seemed to lighten up just a tad with Millie holding his hand. He had good reason to be just a little bit scared of this trip because he never went on trips like this, at least going from space to Earth. Anyone would be fearful in such an inexperienced situation.
The situation was different with Vash and Meryl. Meryl was shaky while Vash was as calm and still as an undisturbed lake. He looked over at Meryl who was having a similar reaction to that of Wolfwood. He reached his gloved hand over to Meryl and placed it on her shoulder.
"It'll be alright Meryl." Vash spoke softly.
At the touch of Vash's gloved hand Meryl suddenly felt relaxed as if she had taken Valium and it was already working it's way through her systems.
"Thanks Vash." She smiled at the 'droopy-eyed-upside-down-hair goofball" as she once called him but now things have changed her viewpoint has changed. She has seen Vash the Stampede in his true form. If this would be her last moments with him, then let it be the best.
q
Peace Million's Bridge,
"Everything's ready, Lady Une." Howard called from his station reporting that the carrier was ready for launch.
At the bridge there was not only the operatives, the chief engineer Howard, Lady Une, but there was also Id, Treize and Mariemea. All of them got to know each other in the past day, it seems that the family had been reunited and now they were working together for a common good.
"I sure hope you guys know what you're doing." Id stated shaking his head
Mariemea looked up at her 'step-brother'; "You haven't seen the Gundams in action like we have." She said
"She's right, Id." Treize agreed, "The Gundams have rebellious wings, they will do anything to achieve their goals. It's part of being a pilot as well as a great soldier."
"I understand father." Id bowed his head and thought, "But can they really go up against Knives like this?"
The mission began, "Begin Operation: Trigun"
This mission was called Operation Trigun because of the three armies that would be fighting. The Gundams who are fighting alongside the Peace Guns so they qualify as one group. Then there's the mobile dolls and last of all, the final gun, Millions Knives.
Back inside the mobile suit transport Heero as well as the other Gundams heard the command.
"Mission accepted." Heero stated inside the Vindicator
"Mission accepted." Johan stated from inside Ryu.
The plan was reviewed.
The plan was reviewed, only this time each Gundam reviewed the mission from the Gundams computer, since it had all the specifications required. Tactical analysis, terrain maps, and the plan of attack. Even though the Gundams knew the plan, there were a few who needed to review it. One of them was Johan because he was nervous about this mission. As he watched and heard the mission described to him, he thought back to the battle at Colony X-18999. He thought about the new enemy Millions Knives and about the power of this new enemy outside and inside the Wing Zero.
Johan snapped his attention back to the screen. The plan was to deploy the mobile suit carrier over the continental United States. After that the mobile suit carrier would make its way towards Death Valley. Once there it would open its payload doors, thus releasing the Preventer Gundam Mobile Suits. Once this is done it's the job of the Gundams to engage the mobile doll troops, in essence, keep the front lines busy. As the Gundams are engaging the mobile dolls, the mobile suit carrier will make its way into Death Valley and deploy the carrier which houses the Peace Guns. They will take care of the head of the Gung-Ho Guns, Millions Knives.
Johan only saw and met Knives just once but now, he had a thought. There's no turning back now, this is the point of no return. Johan thought about Knives, even if their meeting was short.
Johan was cocky at how he handled Knives, but he thought back to those eyes of his. His deep blue eyes, they were as cold and deep as Heero's. Johan had seen the eyes of a soldier and a killer before but not like Knives. They were more frightening than any serial killer of fact and fiction, Charlie Manson and Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lector weren't as frightening as the eyes of Millions Knives.
Fear was an emotion that Johan hadn't felt, nor wanted to feel, in a long time. Now the fear was gripping onto him like a squid on a fish.
"How?" He thought, "How can that monster be the brother of a peace loving man like Vash?"
He reminded himself of that story that Vash told him, about how Knives went insane from believing himself to be a superior being. Even though it's not Johan's part in this mission to kill Knives directly, but what should he and the Gundams do once the mobile doll troops are killed? Should they go to help Vash and the Peace Guns against Knives? Or should they simply fall back and let them sort this out?
"All very good questions." Johan thought, "without very simply answers."
"Begin Operation Trigun." A voice called through the cockpit.
He felt the jerking motions of the carrier move out of the bay, now the operation was beginning, soon the battle will begin on Earth. Yet all of this is just another day at the office of Preventer.
q
In the "Angel Feather" the Peace Guns were going over the plan as well. They knew that once the Gundams were fighting the mobile dolls they would be on their own. Although Vash decided to make on last minute change, he turned to Meryl and Millie.
"Meryl," He called, "Millie."
The two "insurance girls" looked over at Vash wondering what he had to say.
"I want you two to stay behind." He said
"Why?" Millie asked, "We can be of help to you."
"No, Millie." Meryl stepped in, she suddenly realized why Vash was asking this, "If we go then Knives will take control of us and use us as hostages. We can't put ourselves and this mission in danger because of that."
"I understand, Meryl."
"How about me Vash?" Wolfwood asked, "Should I stay behind?"
"No." Vash stated, "I'm going to need you and your skills with the Cross-Punisher on this one. But I want to warn you of something, if you suddenly see a bright white light, I want you to come back to this transport, get in, take Meryl and Millie, fly as hard as you can and don't look back."
Wolfwood, Millie and Meryl knew what Vash was talking about, the Angel Arm. He knew the kind of danger there would be if either Knives or him would use it. Though now he was cursing himself for not telling the Gundams, but now that he was rationalizing it, the Gundams will probably be shielded with their lost technology metals. Still that frightening thought of him and Knives using the Angel Arm is too horrible to comprehend or measure the consequences. Because Death Valley, as Vash learned, is near a few populated areas, and if the Angel Arms were to be used they could jeopardize the lives of all those people.
Vash looked over at Wolfwood who was crossing himself and praying in his own unusual way.
"Jesus." He whispered, "What the hell am I doing here?"
Vash suddenly smiled and thought of something, "Hey Wolfwood." He called
"Yeah Vash?" Wolfwood answered without turning around to look at him since he was well strapped into the seat.
"How about you lead us in a prayer?"
Even though Vash couldn't see it but Wolfwood was smiling, he began to lead it. Although Wolfwood didn't know this but those on the bridge and inside the Gundam mobile suits were hearing their conversation.
Lady Une heard the request and she spoke to Wolfwood in the carrier
"Go ahead, Father Wolfwood." She spoke softly
Wolfwood complied
"Yea," he began, "For I was through the valley in the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. For I am the meanest son of a bitch in the valley, for thy rod and staff in my hand and my cup full of grace, with this staff I shall beat the son of a bitch in. Can I get an Amen!"
"Amen." Vash Smiled
"Can I get an Amen?"
"Amen." Millie and Meryl Followed
"Can I get an amen?"
"Amen!" The voices of the Peace Guns and the Gundams rang through the speakers in the carrier, the bridge, and the cockpits of the Gundam, "Amen!"
"Now." Johan added, "Let's rock and roll!"
Johan reached down to the stereo button and on came a song that sent the spirits of the Gundams and the Peace Guns high, gave them a feeling that they wanted to kick ass as well as a sore feeling in their ears.
The song was "Born to Raise Hell".
Listen up here, I'll make it quite clear
I'm gonna put some boogie in your ear
Shake and bop, don't' you stop
Dance like a maniac until you drop
I don't mind, I don't mind
I'm gonna run a razor right up your
What are you waiting for?
What do you think you were created for
Show us you care! Show us you care
You don't know what it's like until you're here!
Born to raise hell! Born to raise hell!
We know how to do it and we do it real well
Born to raise hell, born to raise hell!
Voodoo magic cast my spell
As the mobile suit transport flew out from Peace Million, the crew watched it and wondered as well as hoped. Hoped that they would come back alive, Knives isn't like any other enemy that has been encountered. With the very thought he could turn the Gundams against each other. It is a dangerous gamble to take with this mission but it had to be done. Otherwise who else would suffer because of Knives.
Almost immediately as the song continued, the heat shields of the mobile suit transport were already open and entering the hot atmosphere of Earth. The friction was felt by the Gundams and the Peace Guns but to the Gundams it was as natural as experiencing a speed bump. To the Peace Guns on the other hand it was like going on a roller coaster ride for the first time.
"If this doesn't work!" Vash shrieked, "I'm gonna haunt you all to the grave!"
Within what must have been a few seconds, which seemed like a few minutes to the Peace Guns. The mission began.
"Starting Operation." Johan stated, "Open payload doors."
The payload doors opened on the mobile suit transport, each one of them looked down to see the Earth's terrain. How long had it been since they saw it? A few weeks, a few months, a year? Time in space never seems like time on Earth.
The Gundams were released; each felt the drop from the Earth's gravity. It was exhilarating like a wonderful dive off of a diving board. As they were dropping to the ground like skydivers each of them looked forward and saw it.
They saw a mountain range against a blue sky with it's white puffy and steaming clouds. But that blue sky was dotted black, mobile dolls, there must have been thousands of them. They hovered over the mountain range like killer bees waiting to strike. Except in this case, the attack can't be avoided, the Gundams have to go in, it's the job.
"Begin attack." Johan whispered, "God help us all."
The Gundams spread out like a flock of Geese, Vindicator, Ryu, Nataku, Sandrock, Heavyarms, DeathScythe, Clockwork, and Tallgeese III.
While behind them, a small fleet of carriers was behind them, it was the carriers for the Desbats and the Maquinates. The reinforcements have arrived, now is the time to do battle.
The Maquinates called to Quatre.
"Master Quatre." Rashim called, "We're ready to go in."
"Be careful." Quatre advised, "They're not like the Virgo's."
"We know that and we're ready to do battle."
While this conversation was going on, Kazuki made a call to the Ryu.
"Johan." Kazuki called, "The Desbats and I are ready to go in."
"Attack at will." Johan stated, "Remember we have to keep the Angel Feather safe to get the Peace Guns into Death Valley."
"Roger that."
q
The battle began; nothing within words or on the screen could describe this kind of battle. If one were to watch it from a distance it was like bees fighting bees, swarms upon swarms of them. Except for those three carriers, they moved sluggishly through the battlefield.
Only the Vindicator and the Ryu were guarding the carriers, warding off every Scorpio mobile doll that came within any distance of it.
"No wonder they sometimes call it eternity." Johan thought, "Everything takes forever."
Sometimes within those few minutes both the Vindicator and the Ryu would have to fight at least four mobile dolls at a time. It was too much for either of them to handle even if they are Gundam pilots.
It came to the point where Johan and Heero, the Vindicator and the Ryu drew out their buster rifles.
"I don't know about you, Heero." Johan called, "But I've had enough."
"Roger that." Heero responded
The two pointed their buster rifles down the path of the mission, straight into the heart of Death Valley itself. In the fire of the mobile dolls, hitting their Gundanium hulls and the hull of the carriers the two Gundams held their ground with the particles of light and power gathering at the ends of the rifles.
"You all die!" Johan shouted as he pulled back the trigger of the joystick.
Heero remained silent as he did the same thing.
The beams from the buster rifles stretched and pierced through the mobile dolls like a needle through a tub of butter. At first the mobile dolls didn't explode, at least for a fraction of a second. Then the explosions happened along the path of the beams, there were so many of them that it looked like bubbles on a water surface.
The important part was that there was now a clear path for the Vindicator and the Ryu to take. They sped through the path like the Hebrews through the parting of the Red Sea. They knew that at any moment the mobile dolls would start attacking and they would have to clear the path again, but fighting them wasn't the important task on their minds. The only important task was getting the carrier to Death Valley.
"Midas", Heero called, "How much further do we have to go?"
"Approximately 30 miles. Approximate ETA… 1 minute."
"We can hold that long."
1 Minutes
The path was still clear, the mobile dolls were behind them trying to fight the other Gundams. From Heero and Johan's point of view they seemed to be holding up, but how long can they last against that swarm of mobile dolls on their own. They need the Vindicator and the Ryu.
30 seconds
Suddenly the mobile dolls started to crowd the path, Death Valley was just over the mountain range. Just 30 more seconds and soon the carrier can drop off the Angel Feather, return to the battle and let the Peace Guns fight their own battle.
20 seconds.
The mobile dolls began to swarm, striking the hulls of the Gundams and the carriers with their shower of bullets. The time was growing shorter and the patience of Heero and Johan was even more so.
10 seconds
The storm raging outside felt like a combination of a Killer Bee attack and a hailstorm. Stinging, raining bullets from every angle. In situations like these, it does apply to the idea of Einstein's theory of Relativity. Time can only last for one minute and it'll feel like an eternity. Similar to those times when Johan was with Haruka, in those intimate moments of ecstasy. One night can feel like a minute, it's all relative. Now this one-minute in time is beginning to feel like eternity.
Zero.
"Heero." Midas called out from the noise of bullets hitting the hull, "We've reached the drop site."
"Copy that." Heero said, he reached down to the COM switch, "Johan, we can begin!"
"Roger that!" Johan called out from behind the static, noise and bullets in his cockpit.
The call was made; the Peace Guns were sitting tight feeling the whole carrier shift from left to right and back to left again.
"What in the hell's going on out there?" Wolfwood asked gruffly
"I don't know." Vash answered
As it would happen within the course of a few seconds a command came in.
"We're beginning the drop of the Angel Feather. All occupants, please stay in your seat and prepare for the drop."
"Aren't they going to say enjoy your flight?" Meryl asked
"I don't think so, Meryl." Millie answered
Just then they felt a quick jerk downward like an elevator and they froze in their places like statues. Their hearts raced within them waiting for the long drop down to the ground and wondering whether they'll live this drop. They knew what would happen once the Angel Feather would be dropped from the carrier, it will make its way to the ground. Though in the briefing they didn't mention if the Angel Feather had wings or a parachute.
The first second felt like a straight drop on a roller coaster that would go straight up. The Peace Guns felt themselves being pushed against their seats. With the few windows they saw they watched as they were being dropped, the horizon stood still while the ground kept coming at them faster and faster like an oncoming car.
Each of the Peace Guns closed their eyes hoping that their lives were wonderful if they were going to die right now. With their eyes closed they didn't seen the oncoming ground stop but they felt themselves being yanked upward.
They opened their eyes and they saw the ground coming slowly at them, there is a parachute for this transport. Now the real frightening question on their minds was how to fight Knives.
They saw the ground and felt a rush upwards, as if the transport were turning its nose up to it wouldn't land on it. Then they landed with a soft, soothing thump, but that wasn't all. To add onto this unusual trip the Peace Guns heard a voice say.
"Thank you for using Angel Feather Transport. Have a nice day."
"This day keeps getting better and better." Wolfwood moaned
q
In the heart and the searing heat of Death Valley, Knives stood at the foot of the Gundam Wing Zero Custom. It stood out in the middle of Death Valley like a sore thumb or like a white tack on a black background. He looked up and watched the Angel Feather make its downward tumble to the ground. To Knives it looked like it was going to crash but it didn't, as it came down a parachute popped out of it's back and allowed itself to make it's slow, soft, and nose down descent to the ground. It looked like it was going to bury it's nose into the desert sand, yet again it did something different, two bursts of air from the nose shifted the position of the streamlined cigar shaped transport to a lying down position.
"Interesting technology that these humans have." Knives smiled, "Even better than what I had. Never the less, they must all die."
To be continued…
Author's Notes: This was a scary thought that occurred to me when I thought about the Wing Zero in the possession of a villain like Knives. I thought to myself, "What kind of effect would the Zero system have on a guy like Knives". I guess that will be found out later on.
Come back soon for more chapters of Trigundam…