Ch.27
A month had passed since Leo had his encounter with Leilong and the White Knight. He had just arrived at Sydney, Australia looking for a ride into space.
Leo-"Damn, how hard could it be to find a flight out to Mars?"
He looked all over town trying to get a ticket out to Mars yet all flights were booked.
Leo-"It's like I had enough trouble looking for the others. Shit! Oh well, they might as well go ahead without me knowing them they're planning to go out to space right away and I always wanted to visited Mars."
The day passed while Leo hung out at the local bar. He had a few drinks and sat there for a while until a certain subject came up.
Bartender-"Hey kid, you happen to be a mobile suit pilot?"
Leo-"Why would a bartender like you care?"
Bartender-"Nothing at all.it's just that this city is the home to the 2nd best mobile suit pilot."
Leo-".You're saying that this is the home to Cloud, the no good, dirty, shit head, bastard?"
Bartender-"Well yeah, he's this city's number one pilot. And by the sounds of it you had a bad encounter with him."
Leo-"You can say more than that."
Bartender-"Well its just that its getting real boring with him and his perfect record. Almost no one challenges him anymore because they're too scared to fight him."
Leo-"Well consider me his only match."
Bartender-"Why would you say that."
Leo-"To put it in most ways, when I first battled him, it took five hours just to finish our battle. He's good yet he lacks one thing."
Bartender-"What's that?"
Leo-".Heart."
Bartender-".Well if you want to battle him, his garage is just around the bay. You'll know when you see it, it has a giant mural of a falcon and a dragon fighting."
Leo-".Figures."
Leo went out the door and headed for the bay front. He searched around, found the garage, and went towards it. When he arrived, he found that no one was home.
Leo-"Probably isn't home."
Kid1-"Hey check it out, newcomer is fighting Cloud out in the ocean."
Kid2-"This one looks close."
Kid1-"Bet you that this guy will barely make it alive with at least an arm or a leg."
Kid2-"I'll take that bet then."
Leo-".So Cloud is a real hot shot around here."
Kid1-"No kidding. No one has beaten him yet."
Kid2-"Heard that he was close to losing one to a guy in a suit with angel wings."
Kid1-"And this was with his Epyon suit."
Leo-"Well actually it wasn't a mobile suit but more like a gundam that almost beaten him."
Kid2-"A gundam, how would you know."
Leo-"I have my ways of knowing things especially since I fought this guy with Wing Zero."
The battle continued as Epyon used his triple heat rod on his opponent, which was an Aqua-sub suit. The Aqua-sub fired its heat seekers at Epyon, but it was too fast for the missiles to catch up with. Epyon then quickly performed its finishing move the Dragon Reaper. It transformed into its dragon mode and took flight all the way to the atmosphere. It then charged straight down at a speed rate of mach three aiming at the Aqua-sub. In no more than five seconds did Epyon reached the water surface and busted right through the Aqua-sub ripping it into shreds.
Kid1-"Well another one bites the dust."
Kid2-"And he performed the Dragon Reaper attack."
Kid1-"No suit could survive that type of attack let alone the pilot in the cockpit."
Leo-".So that's the true power of Epyon."
Moments later, the harbor patrol came over to aid the pilot after the attack. The victim barely made with all of his bones shattered. Epyon then went back into Cloud's docking bay. Cloud then exited the cockpit and whipped his forehead.
Leo-"Not bad, I seen you've improved since our last battle."
Cloud-"Huh.well look who it is, I though you went down with Zero after the explosion. You just never seize to amaze me gundam pilot."
Leo-"Well you know, what can I say, I die hard."
Cloud-"I can see that."
Leo-"So you're still working for KANZ?"
Cloud-"Actually I quit right after my encounter with you friends at the Trojan base at Rome."
Leo-"I see, I was hoping to find a ride to Mars yet instead I found you."
Cloud-".So you don't have a gundam anymore do you."
Leo-"Actually I got a replacement. After visiting Skull graveyard I kind of made a new friend."
Cloud-"Skull graveyard, how do you know about that place?"
Leo-"Kind of got some information from and old friend. There I found another Wing Zero along with the Zero Gunblade."
Cloud-".So you're the holder of the gunblade then. I'm impressed, for a human you managed to get the Zero Gunblade. A very rare piece of treasure yet you're not the only one who owns a piece of treasure."
Leo-"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Cloud-"You heard that I'm a master swordsman right?"
Leo-"No duh."
Cloud-"Well my sword is very special as well along with my piloting skills. Just like yours, the sword can become in tuned with its gundam. However mine can become in tuned with both the Epyon and the Wing Gundam."
Leo-"So what do I care?"
Cloud-"Well when two swords that are in tuned with the gundams battle against each other, the suits tend to act on their own fighting each other. So here's the deal, fight me in a duel but not with the gundams but with our swords. It may sound strange at first but you'll see in due time. Meet me at the desert plain 30 miles north from here, I will be waiting for you there. Oh, by the way, bring Wing Zero as well."
The day had passed as Leo pondered through his mind what Cloud had instored for him this time. His last encounter with Cloud was intense and could barely concentrate.
Leo-"What will he prove only fighting with swords instead of the gundams? He did say that when these swords clashed head to head the gundams would act on their own will.Nah that's crazy. The gundams couldn't act on their own without someone piloting it or can they?"
The night had passed as Leo prepared himself as well as Wing Zero tuning it up to its best. The next day had come and Leo headed for the desert plains where Cloud waited for him. He had Epyon along with him standing with its evil eyes filled with the hatred that was engulfed by every soul Cloud had faced. Leo walked right toward Cloud knowing what he might expect.
Leo-"I see you brought your favorite little toy, Cloud."
Cloud-"Humph, I see you still have your sense of humor from our last battle. I hope that this battle will unleash the true warrior within you. This battle will determine if you are worthy of piloting the gundam you hold, along with the sword you hold."
Leo-"Don't worry, this time I'll show a real good fight."
Cloud-"I was hoping you would say that. Now let's begin."
Dark clouds covered the plain; drizzle began coming down on the two warriors. Looking at each other straight through each other's eyes. In a single lighting bolt, both charged against each other but as the two swords clashed, the two gundams activated and drew out their beam sabers and went head to head mimicking their pilot's moves. Leo jumped and made a dive at Cloud but barely missed. Wing Zero did the same and had the same result.
Cloud-"Not bad but you still have a lot to learn."
Cloud dashed right toward Leo and slashed his forehead drawing first blood. Leo wiped his head and fought back. The two suits had done the same, clashing against each, going at each others neck. Leo then dodged to the right and slashed Cloud on his upper back almost cutting his neck.
Cloud-"You have improved yet it won't save you!"
Cloud charged then jumped over Leo and slashed him the same. Epyon did the same; both were filled with hatred and anger, as they fought not caring for anything else. This was their battle and this was their time where it would all come to this. This is where each of their fates would be decided.
Cloud-"You will never defeat me, I am the supreme warrior of this battle."
Leo-"I don't give a damn if you're the king of the entire universe, you're still just another opponent to me."
Leo charged right toward Cloud slashing him across his right eye. His eyeball fell right out sliced in half. Cloud's eyehole was gushing with blood, but as Leo stood there, Cloud's eyehole healed itself by regenerating another eyeball.
Cloud-"You're the second person who's ever done that."
Leo-"Damn!"
Cloud-"But you shall be the last to do so!"
Cloud took of his jacket and charged at ramming speed showing no mercy. He then attempt to make a blow to Leo's chest but he dodged the attack. Zero and Epyon were also in combat still going after each other destroying the plain around them. Leo then jumped in the air making a rough dive at Cloud. The attack left Cloud with a deep cut on the left arm.
Cloud-"Impressive, your skills have improved much."
Leo-"After my run in with Leilong I had practice."
Cloud-"I see but you know, I can't let you win. Your days of glory are coming to an end."
Cloud then jumped high into the air; his gunblade had then begun to glow as bright as the sun. Epyon was doing the same charging its beam saber looking straight down on Zero.
Cloud-"YOU DIE NOW!"
The sword then made and energy beam cutting right through the ground. Cloud slashed right at Leo. He barely escaped with only a single cut to his leg. Cloud then made another attempt to hit Leo, as so did Epyon.
Leo-"There has to be a way to beat him yet he keeps on countering or withstanding my attacks. Wait a second, didn't he say that whatever move we made the gundams will take on their own will mimicking our moves? .Maybe it's worth a try."
Leo dodged the second attack and pointed his gunblade directly at Cloud. The gunblade soon began to glow brightly. Zero then drew out the twin buster rifles pointing them straight directly at Epyon.
Leo-"If the gundams get damaged from our injuries then it should be the same the other way around."
Cloud-"What do you you're doing?"
Leo-".Eliminating you!"
The twin buster rifles fired straight directly at Epyon making a direct hit. Leo's theory was correct, what ever damaged was done to the two pilots then the gundams would endure it as well and it was the same way around. Epyon was blown out of the sky leaving both it and Cloud lying on the ground helpless. Cloud could no longer fight due to his critical condition. Leo then walked towards him with his gunblade in his right hand.
Cloud-".*Cough*.go ahead *cough* .kill me if you want."
Leo-".No."
Cloud-".Why?"
Leo-"Killing you would never the anger that I have in within my soul. It would only cause more suffering. I will leave at peace.but learn this. Life is not all about fighting; it's all about living it in peace in order to make it worth it instead of wasting like you would. Life is too precious to waste, even for a heartless soul like yours."
Cloud-"."
Leo-"I bid you farewell and I hope you learn this lesson well."
Leo then climbed right into Wing Zero but right before he took of, Cloud called for him.
Cloud-"Leo! I understand you need a ride to Mars. I was planning to go there myself and settle a little score with Leilong myself. I have a ticket here you could use to get there.oh, and by the way, if you meet up with Leilong. Don't finish him off, I plan to finish him off myself."
Leo-".Sure thing."
Leo took off back towards the city. As he looked at the ticket, he saw that the flight would be at six in the mourning the next day.
Leo-".Thanks.for the battle.Cloud."
The day after he caught his flight. Zero was stored in the cargo bay of the carrier. They had an in flight movie but as Leo watched, a commercial showed had suddenly come up.
Leo-"Hey! What the hell was going on, I wanted to see if that guy in the movie was going to get his head bitten off from the lion or not."
The commercial soon caught Leo's attention. It was another announcement from KANZ.
Soldier-"We of the KANZ cooperation are fed up with the retaliation especially with the gundams. A bounty has been put out for each gundam pilot dead or alive. The reward will be $50,000 for anyone who turns them in dead or alive."
Leo-"Now I'm a wanted man with a cheap price on my head. $50,000 isn't that much. They should've at least made $100,000."
Leo then looked out the window and saw how small the Earth looked from his view. He knew what he would expect on Mars and was prepared for the worse.
A month had passed since Leo had his encounter with Leilong and the White Knight. He had just arrived at Sydney, Australia looking for a ride into space.
Leo-"Damn, how hard could it be to find a flight out to Mars?"
He looked all over town trying to get a ticket out to Mars yet all flights were booked.
Leo-"It's like I had enough trouble looking for the others. Shit! Oh well, they might as well go ahead without me knowing them they're planning to go out to space right away and I always wanted to visited Mars."
The day passed while Leo hung out at the local bar. He had a few drinks and sat there for a while until a certain subject came up.
Bartender-"Hey kid, you happen to be a mobile suit pilot?"
Leo-"Why would a bartender like you care?"
Bartender-"Nothing at all.it's just that this city is the home to the 2nd best mobile suit pilot."
Leo-".You're saying that this is the home to Cloud, the no good, dirty, shit head, bastard?"
Bartender-"Well yeah, he's this city's number one pilot. And by the sounds of it you had a bad encounter with him."
Leo-"You can say more than that."
Bartender-"Well its just that its getting real boring with him and his perfect record. Almost no one challenges him anymore because they're too scared to fight him."
Leo-"Well consider me his only match."
Bartender-"Why would you say that."
Leo-"To put it in most ways, when I first battled him, it took five hours just to finish our battle. He's good yet he lacks one thing."
Bartender-"What's that?"
Leo-".Heart."
Bartender-".Well if you want to battle him, his garage is just around the bay. You'll know when you see it, it has a giant mural of a falcon and a dragon fighting."
Leo-".Figures."
Leo went out the door and headed for the bay front. He searched around, found the garage, and went towards it. When he arrived, he found that no one was home.
Leo-"Probably isn't home."
Kid1-"Hey check it out, newcomer is fighting Cloud out in the ocean."
Kid2-"This one looks close."
Kid1-"Bet you that this guy will barely make it alive with at least an arm or a leg."
Kid2-"I'll take that bet then."
Leo-".So Cloud is a real hot shot around here."
Kid1-"No kidding. No one has beaten him yet."
Kid2-"Heard that he was close to losing one to a guy in a suit with angel wings."
Kid1-"And this was with his Epyon suit."
Leo-"Well actually it wasn't a mobile suit but more like a gundam that almost beaten him."
Kid2-"A gundam, how would you know."
Leo-"I have my ways of knowing things especially since I fought this guy with Wing Zero."
The battle continued as Epyon used his triple heat rod on his opponent, which was an Aqua-sub suit. The Aqua-sub fired its heat seekers at Epyon, but it was too fast for the missiles to catch up with. Epyon then quickly performed its finishing move the Dragon Reaper. It transformed into its dragon mode and took flight all the way to the atmosphere. It then charged straight down at a speed rate of mach three aiming at the Aqua-sub. In no more than five seconds did Epyon reached the water surface and busted right through the Aqua-sub ripping it into shreds.
Kid1-"Well another one bites the dust."
Kid2-"And he performed the Dragon Reaper attack."
Kid1-"No suit could survive that type of attack let alone the pilot in the cockpit."
Leo-".So that's the true power of Epyon."
Moments later, the harbor patrol came over to aid the pilot after the attack. The victim barely made with all of his bones shattered. Epyon then went back into Cloud's docking bay. Cloud then exited the cockpit and whipped his forehead.
Leo-"Not bad, I seen you've improved since our last battle."
Cloud-"Huh.well look who it is, I though you went down with Zero after the explosion. You just never seize to amaze me gundam pilot."
Leo-"Well you know, what can I say, I die hard."
Cloud-"I can see that."
Leo-"So you're still working for KANZ?"
Cloud-"Actually I quit right after my encounter with you friends at the Trojan base at Rome."
Leo-"I see, I was hoping to find a ride to Mars yet instead I found you."
Cloud-".So you don't have a gundam anymore do you."
Leo-"Actually I got a replacement. After visiting Skull graveyard I kind of made a new friend."
Cloud-"Skull graveyard, how do you know about that place?"
Leo-"Kind of got some information from and old friend. There I found another Wing Zero along with the Zero Gunblade."
Cloud-".So you're the holder of the gunblade then. I'm impressed, for a human you managed to get the Zero Gunblade. A very rare piece of treasure yet you're not the only one who owns a piece of treasure."
Leo-"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Cloud-"You heard that I'm a master swordsman right?"
Leo-"No duh."
Cloud-"Well my sword is very special as well along with my piloting skills. Just like yours, the sword can become in tuned with its gundam. However mine can become in tuned with both the Epyon and the Wing Gundam."
Leo-"So what do I care?"
Cloud-"Well when two swords that are in tuned with the gundams battle against each other, the suits tend to act on their own fighting each other. So here's the deal, fight me in a duel but not with the gundams but with our swords. It may sound strange at first but you'll see in due time. Meet me at the desert plain 30 miles north from here, I will be waiting for you there. Oh, by the way, bring Wing Zero as well."
The day had passed as Leo pondered through his mind what Cloud had instored for him this time. His last encounter with Cloud was intense and could barely concentrate.
Leo-"What will he prove only fighting with swords instead of the gundams? He did say that when these swords clashed head to head the gundams would act on their own will.Nah that's crazy. The gundams couldn't act on their own without someone piloting it or can they?"
The night had passed as Leo prepared himself as well as Wing Zero tuning it up to its best. The next day had come and Leo headed for the desert plains where Cloud waited for him. He had Epyon along with him standing with its evil eyes filled with the hatred that was engulfed by every soul Cloud had faced. Leo walked right toward Cloud knowing what he might expect.
Leo-"I see you brought your favorite little toy, Cloud."
Cloud-"Humph, I see you still have your sense of humor from our last battle. I hope that this battle will unleash the true warrior within you. This battle will determine if you are worthy of piloting the gundam you hold, along with the sword you hold."
Leo-"Don't worry, this time I'll show a real good fight."
Cloud-"I was hoping you would say that. Now let's begin."
Dark clouds covered the plain; drizzle began coming down on the two warriors. Looking at each other straight through each other's eyes. In a single lighting bolt, both charged against each other but as the two swords clashed, the two gundams activated and drew out their beam sabers and went head to head mimicking their pilot's moves. Leo jumped and made a dive at Cloud but barely missed. Wing Zero did the same and had the same result.
Cloud-"Not bad but you still have a lot to learn."
Cloud dashed right toward Leo and slashed his forehead drawing first blood. Leo wiped his head and fought back. The two suits had done the same, clashing against each, going at each others neck. Leo then dodged to the right and slashed Cloud on his upper back almost cutting his neck.
Cloud-"You have improved yet it won't save you!"
Cloud charged then jumped over Leo and slashed him the same. Epyon did the same; both were filled with hatred and anger, as they fought not caring for anything else. This was their battle and this was their time where it would all come to this. This is where each of their fates would be decided.
Cloud-"You will never defeat me, I am the supreme warrior of this battle."
Leo-"I don't give a damn if you're the king of the entire universe, you're still just another opponent to me."
Leo charged right toward Cloud slashing him across his right eye. His eyeball fell right out sliced in half. Cloud's eyehole was gushing with blood, but as Leo stood there, Cloud's eyehole healed itself by regenerating another eyeball.
Cloud-"You're the second person who's ever done that."
Leo-"Damn!"
Cloud-"But you shall be the last to do so!"
Cloud took of his jacket and charged at ramming speed showing no mercy. He then attempt to make a blow to Leo's chest but he dodged the attack. Zero and Epyon were also in combat still going after each other destroying the plain around them. Leo then jumped in the air making a rough dive at Cloud. The attack left Cloud with a deep cut on the left arm.
Cloud-"Impressive, your skills have improved much."
Leo-"After my run in with Leilong I had practice."
Cloud-"I see but you know, I can't let you win. Your days of glory are coming to an end."
Cloud then jumped high into the air; his gunblade had then begun to glow as bright as the sun. Epyon was doing the same charging its beam saber looking straight down on Zero.
Cloud-"YOU DIE NOW!"
The sword then made and energy beam cutting right through the ground. Cloud slashed right at Leo. He barely escaped with only a single cut to his leg. Cloud then made another attempt to hit Leo, as so did Epyon.
Leo-"There has to be a way to beat him yet he keeps on countering or withstanding my attacks. Wait a second, didn't he say that whatever move we made the gundams will take on their own will mimicking our moves? .Maybe it's worth a try."
Leo dodged the second attack and pointed his gunblade directly at Cloud. The gunblade soon began to glow brightly. Zero then drew out the twin buster rifles pointing them straight directly at Epyon.
Leo-"If the gundams get damaged from our injuries then it should be the same the other way around."
Cloud-"What do you you're doing?"
Leo-".Eliminating you!"
The twin buster rifles fired straight directly at Epyon making a direct hit. Leo's theory was correct, what ever damaged was done to the two pilots then the gundams would endure it as well and it was the same way around. Epyon was blown out of the sky leaving both it and Cloud lying on the ground helpless. Cloud could no longer fight due to his critical condition. Leo then walked towards him with his gunblade in his right hand.
Cloud-".*Cough*.go ahead *cough* .kill me if you want."
Leo-".No."
Cloud-".Why?"
Leo-"Killing you would never the anger that I have in within my soul. It would only cause more suffering. I will leave at peace.but learn this. Life is not all about fighting; it's all about living it in peace in order to make it worth it instead of wasting like you would. Life is too precious to waste, even for a heartless soul like yours."
Cloud-"."
Leo-"I bid you farewell and I hope you learn this lesson well."
Leo then climbed right into Wing Zero but right before he took of, Cloud called for him.
Cloud-"Leo! I understand you need a ride to Mars. I was planning to go there myself and settle a little score with Leilong myself. I have a ticket here you could use to get there.oh, and by the way, if you meet up with Leilong. Don't finish him off, I plan to finish him off myself."
Leo-".Sure thing."
Leo took off back towards the city. As he looked at the ticket, he saw that the flight would be at six in the mourning the next day.
Leo-".Thanks.for the battle.Cloud."
The day after he caught his flight. Zero was stored in the cargo bay of the carrier. They had an in flight movie but as Leo watched, a commercial showed had suddenly come up.
Leo-"Hey! What the hell was going on, I wanted to see if that guy in the movie was going to get his head bitten off from the lion or not."
The commercial soon caught Leo's attention. It was another announcement from KANZ.
Soldier-"We of the KANZ cooperation are fed up with the retaliation especially with the gundams. A bounty has been put out for each gundam pilot dead or alive. The reward will be $50,000 for anyone who turns them in dead or alive."
Leo-"Now I'm a wanted man with a cheap price on my head. $50,000 isn't that much. They should've at least made $100,000."
Leo then looked out the window and saw how small the Earth looked from his view. He knew what he would expect on Mars and was prepared for the worse.