Chapter 3
The teenage Gundam Fighter Paul Snowdon stood alone on a gently rolling grass plain. Paul wasn't sure how he'd gotten there all he could see from horizon to horizon was this rolling plain, it was quiet disconcerting because he knew of no where in England that was like this. Suddenly the ground began shaking beneath his feet, as the shaking grew stronger deep cracks appeared. Abruptly the ground shattered as a massive lobster like Gundam emerged one of its massive hands grabbed Paul and lifted him towards it head.
'Death,' the booming, near animalistic voice spoke. Paul crawled at the hand in an attempt to escape.
'No! No! Get back!' he screamed but was drowned out by the Gundam's evil laughter.
Paul suddenly awoke he was lying in the Royal Britain Gundam's cockpit. He slowly looked around. 'It was a…. dream?' He stood up and leaned on the rings of the mobile trace system suddenly he wince in pain. Lifting up his shirt he found a bruise around his lower torso. 'Where it held me? No! Was it a dream?'
'Paul Are you alright?' called Lisa Gill from outside the Gundam
'I'm fine! What do you want?' asked Paul sharply.
'I...well…I came to tell you that we'll be in Neo Holland soon,' she said hesitantly
'Ha! They're still using those pathetic Nether Gundams,' he scoffed, 'My Royal Britain Gundam will crush them.'
'You shouldn't take the Nether Gundam lightly,' said Lisa, scorn boiled in her voice, 'They wouldn't still be using them if they weren't powerful.'
When the Neo England transport finally put down Paul left in the Royal Britain Gundam's corelander. To his annoyance Lisa followed him, he couldn't understand why she kept doing that he'd told her that he didn't want her hanging around, she'd just get in the way and cause him trouble. He checked the scanner again; it still showed a Gundam scale power source in or around the closet town. As he got closer he could see a series of windmills on the hill above the town. He wondered which one of them would be his opponent.
Paul parked the sleek corelander in a forest just outside town, he didn't want to attract too much attention until the fight. As he began walking around town he noted, out of the corner of his eye, that Lisa still following him. He stopped at a few shops and asked a few question he found out that Neo Holland's Gundam Fighter generally hung around a bar in the town centre. The bar in question was hardly a high-class establishment and its customers had that football hooligan air about them. After getting a drink Paul quizzed the barman, who'd said that Neo Holland's fighter hadn't been in all day. After a few minuets Lisa joined him at the bar.
'What are you doing here?' he asked gruffly.
'I told you before I'm part of your support staff. We're all one the same side you know,' she said, 'There's no need to be mean.'
'No ones on my side. You're just some stupid bimbo who'll get in my way. I don't need your type to help me,' said Paul. Lisa was obviously hurt by that remark but before she could reply one of the hooligan's in the bar started mouthing off loudly.
'Hey! You know what I heard,' he slurred
'No what?' asked one of his mates.
'I heard that those cheating bastards Neo England are in town looking for a fight,' he swung his beer bottle around.
'Those cheating gits shouldn't be allowed in the fight,' said another, 'I bet they try and cheat again. They're just a bunch of scum!'
Anger arched across Paul face. How dare they insult his nation! He'd show them. Lisa could tell that Paul was going to do something stupid.
'Paul, ignore them they'd just a bunch of drunks,' she pleaded with him. 'They're not worth it.'
'So noisy!' yelled Paul causing the drunkards to stop their insults of England, 'How dare you insult us!'
'Wha? You one of those cheaters aren't you!' grunted the lead hooligan, 'Ha! We'll show you.'
With that he threw the bottle at Paul and then swung a punch. Paul dodged and brought his knee up into the hooligan's stomach. Blocking another jab Paul punched a second hooligan in the face. By now the lead hooligan had gotten up again and was brandishing a broken bottle. Paul picked up a chair and used it to knock the bottle out of his hand then in a swift movement broke the chair over the hooligan's head.
'Tell you fighter that I'll be waiting on the edge of town,' Paul said to the bodies on the floor, 'I'll be waiting for a Gundam Fight.'
Paul left the bar and was walking up the street by the time the police cars arrived. Lisa chased after him.
'Paul! You shouldn't have done that we'll get into trouble,' she said.
'Would you just shut up! And stop following me around!' he yelled, 'It was my father wasn't it! He put you up to it, didn't he! He told you to follow me around didn't he!'
'I…no…he di,' she spluttered but was drowned out by Paul.
'That old git! Doesn't he trust me? I'm old enough to look after myself,' Paul ranted on, 'I told him I could, I can resort our honour. I don't need him always looking over my shoulder!'
'It doesn't sound like your trying to restore our honour to me,' said Lisa quietly, 'It sounds like your just trying to prove your father wrong.'
'Shut up! You don't understand!' yelled Paul as he threw an arm up and slapped Lisa. She fell to the ground holding her reddening cheek.
'Your not the only trying to restore our honour you know,' she said quietly
The wind was blowing a gentle breeze it rolled down the gentle slopes and wiped up around the Royal Britain Gundam's feet. The mighty Gundam stood without movement its beam machinegun slung under its right shoulder.
In the cockpit Paul stood silently watching his surroundings. The tight battle suit caused him a little pain from the bruises on his chest, but he wouldn't let anyone see he was hurting. He hadn't seen Lisa at all since he'd gotten back, his tough guy exterior must have been cracking because he was starting to feel kind of bad for hitting her.
He was tempted to go and apologise but he couldn't because at that moment the Nether Gundam appeared. The bizarre looking Gundam was starting to look somewhat intimidating as it transformed into mobile fighter mode.
'You're the Neo England brat who was causing trouble in town,' said the Nether Gundam's pilot
'It was your friends who started it,' replied Paul calmly, 'If they didn't insult my country I would never of happened.'
'I don't care who started it! I don't like people causing trouble in my town,' roared Rutger Verhoeven, the Nether Gundam's pilot.
'Well then you should be yell at your countrymen!' yelled Paul
'You insolent brat!' roared Rutger, 'Gundam Fight! Ready!'
'Go!' yelled Paul as his Gundam lurched forward. The Nether Gundam shoulder barged Royal Britain Gundam causing its advance to faulter. Regaining his footing Paul thrust a jab at the Nether Gundam's head, but the huge mill blades on its chest protected it. Both Gundam's launched into a series of punches, kicks and blocks but neither Gundam could gain the advantage.
Paul pulled his Gundam back and swung out his beam machinegun he sprayed the Nether Gundam with fire as it pulled upwards in reply the Nether Gundam used its Nether Typhoon ultimate attack which sent the Royal Britain Gundam crashing into the hill side. The Nether Gundam landed and started to blast the Royal Britain Gundam with its mega beam cannons.
In his cockpit Paul snarled as the pain grew. He activated his Gundam's thrusters and rocked skyward reorienting himself to face the Nether Gundam he fired his shoulder mounted cannons causing huge explosions on the Nether Gundam's chest. Dropping back to the ground he charged into a shoulder barge but suddenly the Nether Gundam brought a leg up and rammed it into Paul's side, right where the bruises were. Paul screamed in pain as he fell to the ground Rutger must have sense Paul's weakness there and started to repeatedly kick him there, with each kick the pain got worse and Paul found himself unable to get up.
Lisa Gill rushed into Neo England's mobile command transport. Across all the monitors was the Royal Britain Gundam being bashed by the Nether Gundam. She walked over to communications panel and picked up the headset.
'Paul! What's wrong? I though you said you could beat this guy?' she said down the line.
'I can! But they damaged thing in my head hurts too much,' he croaked.
'Thing in your head? What do you mean Paul?' concern hung heavily in her voice,
'How can I help you? Please let me Paul.'
'Even after I hurt her...she still wants to help me?' though Paul, 'That doesn't make sense.'
Suddenly the image of the giant lobster like Gundam appeared in Paul's head. 'Death,' it whispered.
'No! Get out of my head!' he screamed as the Royal Britain Gundam rocketed forward. He activated a beam sabre and took a massive swipe at the lobster Gundam.
As suddenly as it appeared the image left Paul's normal vision slowly came back and he found himself standing over the smouldering Nether Gundam, its head had been sliced right off. Paul dropped to his knees and his Gundam followed suit. A small image window open on his cockpit, it showed Lisa running upwards his Gundam.
'Lisa?' whispered Paul, 'I'm…I'm…. sorry,'
High up in the colonies the sleeping Domon Kasshu never noticed that his Shuffle Delegation crest had flared brightly for a few brief seconds.
The teenage Gundam Fighter Paul Snowdon stood alone on a gently rolling grass plain. Paul wasn't sure how he'd gotten there all he could see from horizon to horizon was this rolling plain, it was quiet disconcerting because he knew of no where in England that was like this. Suddenly the ground began shaking beneath his feet, as the shaking grew stronger deep cracks appeared. Abruptly the ground shattered as a massive lobster like Gundam emerged one of its massive hands grabbed Paul and lifted him towards it head.
'Death,' the booming, near animalistic voice spoke. Paul crawled at the hand in an attempt to escape.
'No! No! Get back!' he screamed but was drowned out by the Gundam's evil laughter.
Paul suddenly awoke he was lying in the Royal Britain Gundam's cockpit. He slowly looked around. 'It was a…. dream?' He stood up and leaned on the rings of the mobile trace system suddenly he wince in pain. Lifting up his shirt he found a bruise around his lower torso. 'Where it held me? No! Was it a dream?'
'Paul Are you alright?' called Lisa Gill from outside the Gundam
'I'm fine! What do you want?' asked Paul sharply.
'I...well…I came to tell you that we'll be in Neo Holland soon,' she said hesitantly
'Ha! They're still using those pathetic Nether Gundams,' he scoffed, 'My Royal Britain Gundam will crush them.'
'You shouldn't take the Nether Gundam lightly,' said Lisa, scorn boiled in her voice, 'They wouldn't still be using them if they weren't powerful.'
When the Neo England transport finally put down Paul left in the Royal Britain Gundam's corelander. To his annoyance Lisa followed him, he couldn't understand why she kept doing that he'd told her that he didn't want her hanging around, she'd just get in the way and cause him trouble. He checked the scanner again; it still showed a Gundam scale power source in or around the closet town. As he got closer he could see a series of windmills on the hill above the town. He wondered which one of them would be his opponent.
Paul parked the sleek corelander in a forest just outside town, he didn't want to attract too much attention until the fight. As he began walking around town he noted, out of the corner of his eye, that Lisa still following him. He stopped at a few shops and asked a few question he found out that Neo Holland's Gundam Fighter generally hung around a bar in the town centre. The bar in question was hardly a high-class establishment and its customers had that football hooligan air about them. After getting a drink Paul quizzed the barman, who'd said that Neo Holland's fighter hadn't been in all day. After a few minuets Lisa joined him at the bar.
'What are you doing here?' he asked gruffly.
'I told you before I'm part of your support staff. We're all one the same side you know,' she said, 'There's no need to be mean.'
'No ones on my side. You're just some stupid bimbo who'll get in my way. I don't need your type to help me,' said Paul. Lisa was obviously hurt by that remark but before she could reply one of the hooligan's in the bar started mouthing off loudly.
'Hey! You know what I heard,' he slurred
'No what?' asked one of his mates.
'I heard that those cheating bastards Neo England are in town looking for a fight,' he swung his beer bottle around.
'Those cheating gits shouldn't be allowed in the fight,' said another, 'I bet they try and cheat again. They're just a bunch of scum!'
Anger arched across Paul face. How dare they insult his nation! He'd show them. Lisa could tell that Paul was going to do something stupid.
'Paul, ignore them they'd just a bunch of drunks,' she pleaded with him. 'They're not worth it.'
'So noisy!' yelled Paul causing the drunkards to stop their insults of England, 'How dare you insult us!'
'Wha? You one of those cheaters aren't you!' grunted the lead hooligan, 'Ha! We'll show you.'
With that he threw the bottle at Paul and then swung a punch. Paul dodged and brought his knee up into the hooligan's stomach. Blocking another jab Paul punched a second hooligan in the face. By now the lead hooligan had gotten up again and was brandishing a broken bottle. Paul picked up a chair and used it to knock the bottle out of his hand then in a swift movement broke the chair over the hooligan's head.
'Tell you fighter that I'll be waiting on the edge of town,' Paul said to the bodies on the floor, 'I'll be waiting for a Gundam Fight.'
Paul left the bar and was walking up the street by the time the police cars arrived. Lisa chased after him.
'Paul! You shouldn't have done that we'll get into trouble,' she said.
'Would you just shut up! And stop following me around!' he yelled, 'It was my father wasn't it! He put you up to it, didn't he! He told you to follow me around didn't he!'
'I…no…he di,' she spluttered but was drowned out by Paul.
'That old git! Doesn't he trust me? I'm old enough to look after myself,' Paul ranted on, 'I told him I could, I can resort our honour. I don't need him always looking over my shoulder!'
'It doesn't sound like your trying to restore our honour to me,' said Lisa quietly, 'It sounds like your just trying to prove your father wrong.'
'Shut up! You don't understand!' yelled Paul as he threw an arm up and slapped Lisa. She fell to the ground holding her reddening cheek.
'Your not the only trying to restore our honour you know,' she said quietly
The wind was blowing a gentle breeze it rolled down the gentle slopes and wiped up around the Royal Britain Gundam's feet. The mighty Gundam stood without movement its beam machinegun slung under its right shoulder.
In the cockpit Paul stood silently watching his surroundings. The tight battle suit caused him a little pain from the bruises on his chest, but he wouldn't let anyone see he was hurting. He hadn't seen Lisa at all since he'd gotten back, his tough guy exterior must have been cracking because he was starting to feel kind of bad for hitting her.
He was tempted to go and apologise but he couldn't because at that moment the Nether Gundam appeared. The bizarre looking Gundam was starting to look somewhat intimidating as it transformed into mobile fighter mode.
'You're the Neo England brat who was causing trouble in town,' said the Nether Gundam's pilot
'It was your friends who started it,' replied Paul calmly, 'If they didn't insult my country I would never of happened.'
'I don't care who started it! I don't like people causing trouble in my town,' roared Rutger Verhoeven, the Nether Gundam's pilot.
'Well then you should be yell at your countrymen!' yelled Paul
'You insolent brat!' roared Rutger, 'Gundam Fight! Ready!'
'Go!' yelled Paul as his Gundam lurched forward. The Nether Gundam shoulder barged Royal Britain Gundam causing its advance to faulter. Regaining his footing Paul thrust a jab at the Nether Gundam's head, but the huge mill blades on its chest protected it. Both Gundam's launched into a series of punches, kicks and blocks but neither Gundam could gain the advantage.
Paul pulled his Gundam back and swung out his beam machinegun he sprayed the Nether Gundam with fire as it pulled upwards in reply the Nether Gundam used its Nether Typhoon ultimate attack which sent the Royal Britain Gundam crashing into the hill side. The Nether Gundam landed and started to blast the Royal Britain Gundam with its mega beam cannons.
In his cockpit Paul snarled as the pain grew. He activated his Gundam's thrusters and rocked skyward reorienting himself to face the Nether Gundam he fired his shoulder mounted cannons causing huge explosions on the Nether Gundam's chest. Dropping back to the ground he charged into a shoulder barge but suddenly the Nether Gundam brought a leg up and rammed it into Paul's side, right where the bruises were. Paul screamed in pain as he fell to the ground Rutger must have sense Paul's weakness there and started to repeatedly kick him there, with each kick the pain got worse and Paul found himself unable to get up.
Lisa Gill rushed into Neo England's mobile command transport. Across all the monitors was the Royal Britain Gundam being bashed by the Nether Gundam. She walked over to communications panel and picked up the headset.
'Paul! What's wrong? I though you said you could beat this guy?' she said down the line.
'I can! But they damaged thing in my head hurts too much,' he croaked.
'Thing in your head? What do you mean Paul?' concern hung heavily in her voice,
'How can I help you? Please let me Paul.'
'Even after I hurt her...she still wants to help me?' though Paul, 'That doesn't make sense.'
Suddenly the image of the giant lobster like Gundam appeared in Paul's head. 'Death,' it whispered.
'No! Get out of my head!' he screamed as the Royal Britain Gundam rocketed forward. He activated a beam sabre and took a massive swipe at the lobster Gundam.
As suddenly as it appeared the image left Paul's normal vision slowly came back and he found himself standing over the smouldering Nether Gundam, its head had been sliced right off. Paul dropped to his knees and his Gundam followed suit. A small image window open on his cockpit, it showed Lisa running upwards his Gundam.
'Lisa?' whispered Paul, 'I'm…I'm…. sorry,'
High up in the colonies the sleeping Domon Kasshu never noticed that his Shuffle Delegation crest had flared brightly for a few brief seconds.
