Gundam-Evangelion Crossover

by Keiichi Morisato

The Gundam in the title of this fic DOES NOT and WILL NOT pertain to Wing. I just don't see how and why Wing and Eva would be connected. Anyway, UC is much better than AC. Go figure.

1. Prologue The Black Gundam

Half a century ago, mankind began moving its over-swollen population out into space. Within the cylindrical walls of gigantic space colonies, man recreated the world he once knew. In the year 0079 of the Universal Century, hundreds of these new homelands float silently above the planet Earth. Here in these fragile vessels, human beings are born...live...and die.

Even the vast emptiness that is space, however, is not enough to allow
differing ambitions and aspirations to co-exist. The colonies of Side
3, furthest from the Earth, banded together and declared themselves the
Duchy of Zeon. First on their agenda was a war of independence from
the corrupt arm of the Federated Union of Earth.

It was a war without precedent, both in terms of casualties and
bitterness. The first month of fighting alone saw both sides lose half of
their respective populations. As stories of various atrocities were made
known, horror gripped mankind at what the conflict had brought in its
wake. Time passed, and still no solution to the conflict could be found,
neither side able to gain a decisive advantage over the other.

As our story opens, the stalemate has remained unbroken for eight weary
months...as a small regiment of the Duchy of Zeon (AKA the colonies
of Side 3) arrives in a Side 7 colony to stake its claim. It is a move
designed to break the ongoing stalemate between the Duchy and the Earth
Federation.

********************
A Mobile Suit Gundam / Neon Genesis Evangelion crossover
written by Lloyd Barrieses (kachiko00@yahoo.com)
Mobile Suit Gundam (c)1978 Yoshiyuki Tomino/Bandai/Sunrise.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (c)1996 Gainax/Project Eva./TV Tokyo/NAS.
All rights reserved.

This fanfiction owned and authored by Lloyd Barrieses. Any attempt to
steal this fic (i.e. putting your name in the credits) shall be met with
appropriate punishments such as watching "Annie" all day or have Akane
Tendo or Miaka Yuuki cook for the thief responsible for a WHOLE YEAR.
heh heh heh. I'm serious, folks.
********************

[Act 1]

Episode 1, "Prologue"
-------------------

[U.C. 0079 - Early that year]

The Zeons managed to seize an abandoned colony with the intention of
dropping it whole and entire, onto the Federation stronghold in Jabrow,
somewhere in South America. A concerted effort by the remnant of the
Federation's battle cruisers merely managed to push the colony off its
original trajectory; their meager firepower was not enough to destroy the
colony completely.

Anxious watchers tracked the colony's descent. Antarctica became
ground zero, and the explosion following impact decimated nearly a
third of the Earth's population. Ever after, it would referred to as the
"Second Impact", after a similar incident millions of years before, when
an immense meteor fell to Earth and exterminated all prehistoric life.

Miraculously, there were those who survived the consequences of the
Second Impact. Later, a treaty was signed in Adelaide, South Australia,
one of the few remaining Federation strongholds. A key provision in the
treaty outlawed military tactics involving the dumping of colonies and
nuclear warfare. It also offered a six-month cease-fire between the
Duchy of Zeon and the Federated Union of Earth.

The cease-fire proved advantageous for the Federation, which managed to
seize a still-intact robot - the MS-06 Zaku II -- commonly used by the Zeons.
It was referred to as a "mobile suit" because of its similarity to an
armored space suit.

Federation Lieutenant Gendo Ikari was originally assigned to study the
technology of this robot. Ikari, a prominent Japanese engineer, was
responsible for developing the blueprints of the Federation's battle
cruisers. At that point, however, the Lieutenant chose to tender his
resignation, sending shockwaves through Federation high command.

Admiral Revil rubbed his chin as he considered Ikari's announcement.
His senior officers could be heard murmuring in the background...

"Ikari-kun, I'm afraid I can't grant your request, much as I would like
to," said Revil with genuine regret. "These moments are crucial to our
survival. You are the most valued battleship engineer and sortie
officer we have, and we need your skills here!"

"Admiral, if it were only possible, I would stay and support our
campaign against Zeon. But. . . I don't have it in me anymore." Gendo's
voice dropped a notch. "Yui. . .my beloved wife. . .she passed away two
weeks ago."

Revil was stunned into silence. His *wife*?

Gendo's low voice continued, "Since she left us, all my thoughts are
with her. My children cry out for their mother, and there is no one to
wipe their tears. If a man's mind cannot be wholly upon his job, then
he has no right to put other lives in danger."

Revil's eyes widened imperceptibly at the mention of children. God, I
didn't know he had a family...the man must be totally devastated...
"Therefore, Admiral, I most humbly ask that you accept my resignation."

There was a long, endless moment of silence before Revil finally spoke.
"Very well, Ikari-kun. I appreciate your telling us the true reason
for leaving the service. You may submit your resignation papers to me
any time within the next 48 hours."

Revil sighed heavily and continued, "I hope you can appreciate what
losing you at this point in the stalemate means to the Federation."

"Admiral, Lieutenant First Class Tim Ray is perfectly capable of taking
my place," replied Ikari reassuringly. "After all, we are - were - in
the same division and class. You will have my resignation as soon as
possible, Admiral. Thank you. Perhaps we will meet again. Until then..."

Gendo rose smoothly from the conference table and stood to attention,
right hand extended to his brow in salute to his superiors. Revil
returned the salute, and not too long after Gendo left the room, even more
murmurs emanated from the commanding officers seated around Revil.

"How can we be sure he wasn't lying, Admiral?" asked Valentine.
"I trust him, that's reason enough," growled Revil. "He is a family
man after all. True, on occasion I have seen him act as cold-hearted as
anyone could. But when he said his wife had died. . .I could hear from
his voice that he really did feel terrible. It is for the best."

Spiegel said doubtfully, "But who knows, Admiral? Gendo Ikari is
mystery itself personified."

The murmurs soon faded away in the face of the inevitable and Revil's trust. But if anyone had chanced to see Gendo walking down the halls of the main stronghold of the Federation Forces, they might have wondered at the faint smirk that twisted his mouth upwards...of which the first would be his colleague in the Federal Forces in question, Lieutenant Tim Ray, also one of the Feds' prominent mechanical engineers.

"Ikari-kun."

"Ah, it's you, Tim," Gendo had answered him, looking at him as though his resignation was all part of some sort of a shrewd plan. "Everything is in place, my old friend."

"I have to let you know that I'm still uncomfortable with this. The appointed time of arrival of the Angels is still..."

"The Angels may come at any time. We--I--am not doing this just because this is the right thing to do. This I do because it's necessary, it's what will befall us if we do not take action now."

"I...will accept your excuse, Ikari-kun," sighed the Federal Forces lieutenant. "But still...it will be a long time before I can feel...should we say, 'clean' again."

As Gendo turned around and walked away from his colleague, he just let that very same smirk show on his face once again. "Nerv will do what it must."

"'Nerv will do what it must.' What does it all mean?" repeated Tim Ray in a faint whisper. He wondered if Nerv "doing what it must" would become more distasteful than it already was.

It was only but a few days later that it was rumored that former Federation Lieutenant Gendo Ikari ran off with copies of the blueprints for the captured Zeon mobile suit.

Lieutenant Tim Ray took his place as head of the so-called "V Project",
taking intensive studies of the mobile suit's capabilities. The idea
was to incorporate these capabilities into the Federation's prototype
war machine.

The Zeons, on the other hand, had exhausted their resources by the end
of the Adelaide Treaty and were in stasis for around the said six-month
ceasefire...or were they?

[U.C. 0079 - present]

The appearance of three MS-06 Zaku II's on a Side 7 Federation colony set into motion plans for immediate evacuation of the area. A number of innocent civilians were killed during the evacuation as the Zakus laid siege to
the colony.

In the midst of the chaos, Lieutenant Tim Ray's 15-year old son Amuro
managed to board a strange-looking white mobile suit, seemingly
abandoned in the sudden turn of events. Young Amuro, long considered something
of "geek" by his peers, managed to defeat two of the Zakus with ease,
working from the mobile suit's manual perched on his lap, and pure
instinct. Never having so much as piloted a paper plane in his life, the
results of his escapade came as something of a shock.

Federation troops assigned to fetch the white mobile suit back to
Earth had only one question on their bemused minds: "Who was the pilot?"

"Whether a trained pilot or someone else, we'll need someone like him,"
Ensign Bright Noah commented while evacuating what was left of the
colony's residents into the Pegasus White Base, a one-of-a-kind revolutionary
Federation battle cruiser.

The grim reality was that young people such as Amuro and Bright were
forced into the service in the war against the Zeons. With almost all the
adults of the various colonies becoming casualties of war, both sides
had taken to recruiting children.

Amuro, whose obvious ability had been noted during the evacuation
defense battle, reluctantly accepted his position as a member of the Earth
Federation defense forces. To no one's surprise, he became the pilot of
the white mobile suit. He, together with his Side 7 friends,
immediately took their places as the White Base's de facto crew. Bright Noah,
though ranked as Ensign, functioned as the assistant Captain of the ship.
His first mission was to transfer the people aboard the White Base back
to Earth now that the living conditions were now considered unsafe in
that Side 7 colony.

Zeon Lieutenant Commander Char Aznable learned of the Side 7 colony
incident from a Zaku pilot who had escaped the strange mobile suit's
rampage.

"I have to check this out," Char told himself. Which he did, by
launching an attack against the White Base in his own customized red
commander-type MS-06S Zaku II.

Federation and Zeon alike knew how Char's reputation had been made.
During the Ruum Campaign (the event leading to the colony drop on
Antarctica), he had taken out five Federation Salamis cruisers by himself.
Under normal circumstances, it would take five or more Zakus to eliminate
two, or at most three Salamis cruisers. For a single Zaku to destroy
five such vessels was little short of a miracle, and this daring,
near-suicidal feat earned Char the nickname of "The Red Comet".

The strange white mobile suit was now known among Federation ranks as
the "Gundam". Char was more than ready to face-off an inexperienced
Amuro; the latter was hard put to hold his own against the red Zaku.
However, Char had his own share of difficulties with the Gundam's superior
performance and mobility, armor, and its pilot's reflexes.

Back on the White Base, some evacuees were less than enthusiastic about
the idea of living on Earth, although it was the safest thing to do.
But Char's last attack had driven the White Base off-course and into Zeon
territory somewhere in North America. Garma Zabi -- youngest son of
the Zeon ruling family -- controlled the area, the commander of Zeon's
Earth Forces. Garma also happened to be a friend of Char Aznable.

The White Base survived a swarm of attacks by Garma's forces after its
arrival on Earth, then suddenly found itself with the upper hand in a
chance encounter with Garma's fleet. It was young Zabi's extreme
misfortune to have spotted the Federation carrier hidden near his base of
operations. The small fleet was destroyed, and Garma along with it.

"GLORY TO THE DUCHY OF ZEON!!!" was his final battle cry as he rammed his B52 bomber-like battlecruiser Gau into the Pegasus White Base. Young Garma
was hailed as a martyr for the Zeon cause, due in no small part to an
extremely charismatic funeral oration delivered by his eldest brother.
He was deeply mourned by those he left behind: his father, the Duke
Degin Sodo Zabi; elder brothers Giren and Dozul - the former a schemer and
the latter a "brute"; and his older sister Kishiria.

No one realized that Garma was merely a pawn sacrificed in a trap whose
purpose was to make increase the anger and hatred of the Zeons towards
a corrupt Earth Federation. A pawn sacrificed by his "friend" Char
Aznable.

But apparently Char had more in mind...

The White Base proceeded westward into the Asia-Pacific region. Zeon
ace pilot Ranba Ral kept pace with its course, harassing them with
innumerable sorties. Amuro Ray was now ranked as Chief Petty Officer, more
experienced in battle, but still unsure of his abilities. However, the
doubts did not stand in the way of his leading a successful attack to
exterminate Ral's forces.

Freed from Zeon attacks for the time being, the White Base set course
for Odessa, an Eastern European region rich in mineral production.
Objective: to recapture Odessa under the leadership of Federation Admiral
Revil.

After a brief stop at Belfast, Ireland, the White Base docked at the
Federation's main base at Jabrow, South America. Admiral Revil met with
the White Base crew and, after commending them on a job well done,
presented them with a new assignment. The White Base was to head back into
space as a decoy while Jabrow prepared to strengthen their forces
against the Zeons.

Code-named "Operation Star One", Revil added that the White Base crew
were most probably Newtypes, a new generation of humans with advanced
powers of perception and intuition, much like espers in a way.

Once out in space, the White Base hovered in a temporary position over
the neutral colonies of Side 6. It was here that Amuro met with his
estranged father, Lieutenant Tim Ray, who had suffered brain damage during
the Side 7 attack. Here too, Amuro met a mysterious girl named Lalah
Sun, a dusky beauty whose features hinted strongly at her Indian origins.

Lalah was revealed as a powerful Newtype, forming an immediate bond
with Amuro, whose own hidden Newtype power was starting to emerge. The
only snag in this budding friendship was the presence of Char Aznable,
who presented himself at Side 6 in the apparent role of Lalah's
chaperone.

It was not long before the White Base engaged in battle with a small
Zeon fleet headed by Char. Millions watched the conflict as it was
broadcast over television networks. Amuro's Gundam wiped out nearly the
entire Zeon fleet within a matter of minutes; his Newtype potential had
manifested itself at last, and combined with his natural ability as a
mobile suit pilot, resulted in a virtually invincible Gundam fighter.

The battle launched Operation Star One and preparations were made to
launch the Federation's assault on the Zeon asteroid fortress Solomon.
Amuro quickly engaged in battle with Zeon High Commander Dozul Zabi --
the late Garma's elder brother. Dozul put up a valiant struggle in his
huge mobile armor, the Big Zam; but Amuro, armed only in the Gundam,
manages to destroy it. Solomon was captured, but not before Dozul managed
to evacuate his wife and baby daughter Minerva from the vicinity prior
to the start of hostilities.

During a White Base patrol run over the now-ravaged Texas Colony, Amuro
and Char clash once again. But somehow, both of their mobile suits are
immobilized. Sayla Mass, a White Base crew member, is sent to find the
downed Gundam, but encounters Char instead.

Their conversation over a communications link is heard by Lieutenant
Bright Noah, and what he hears boggles the mind. Char and Sayla greet
each other as brother and sister, offspring of the founder and rightful
leader of the Duchy of Zeon, Zeon Zum Daikun. It is revealed that Char
is planning revenge on the Zabi clan for murdering their father.

With the entire Federation fleet now gathered at Solomon, the time has
come to execute Phase II of Operation Star One. But Federation battle
cruisers are helpless against a new Zeon mobile armor - the Elmeth -
designed expressly for Newtypes, employing remote-controlled weapons
called "bits" in its arsenal. Elmeth pilot Lalah Sun engages Amuro's
Gundam in combat. . .and both pilots promptly recognize each other through
the realization that they are "Newtype soulmates".

Before either side can react to this startling discovery, Char enters
the fray, and Lalah sacrifices her life to protect him from Amuro. This
tragedy increases the two rivals' hatred for each other.

As the Federation fleet departs Solomon to attack the asteroid fortress
A Bao A Qu, Zeon's last line of defense, they are contacted by Duke
Degin Zabi himself. Tired of the war and demoralized by the death of
Garma, his favorite son, he has come to make peace with Federation General
Revil. But as Degin and Revil meet, Degin's scheming son Giren unleashes
Zeon's ultimate weapon. The Solar Ray - a colony converted into a giant
laser cannon - strikes out from Side 3 and vaporizes a third of the
Federation fleet, including Revil and Degin.

This leaves Giren Zabi as the supreme commander of Zeon and its forces.
He promptly goes into battle with the remaining Federal Forces at A Bao
A Qu. During the battle, Giren is confronted by his younger sister
Kishiria over what he has done to their father. Unconvinced by his excuses,
Kishiria shoots Giren and takes over, dispatching Char in the
still-unfinished Newtype mobile suit Zeong.

Char soon clashes with Amuro to the point where the Gundam is now
without its head and the Zeong, without its body...taking the fight to a
personal level. The two rivals blame each other for Lalah's death. Sayla
interferes to break off the fight after arriving with the White Base
and Federation reinforcements from Solomon. Kishiria's forces take
flight with Char in hot pursuit, and his vow of vengeance against the Zabi
clan is fulfilled when Kishiria dies at his hands.

The White Base crew is happily reunited with Amuro, and the battle
cruiser departs from A Bao A Qu with few regrets.

Thus ended the One-Year War. The Duchy of Zeon passed on to civilian
control, now calling itself the restored Republic of Zeon. The new
Republic signs a truce with the Earth Federation on January 1, U.C. 0080,
and a full cessation of hostilities follows shortly afterward.

What of the Red Comet? Char Aznable, exhausted but never wavering, was
rumored to be seen fleeing with the remaining Zeon troops, looking off
into space...vowing to liberate the colonies of the monster that is the
Earth Federation.

[U.C. 0079 - a few days before the truce is signed]

Somewhere in Germany...

"Herr Ikari, I still can't believe time has gone so fast for us."

Gendo Ikari slanted a look at Fuyutsuki and nodded. "Yes. The
predicted time of arrival will be any moment now. We should be prepared. . ."

In that dimly-lit room, Ikari rose from his seat. Hands in his
pockets, he thought about the events that transpired during the year of war
between the spacenoids and earthnoids. Not that they were of any
importance to him, really.

The Earth Federation and the Zeons can kill each other off, for all I
care, he thought.

Murmurs filled the room. An elderly man with weird-looking eyeglasses
shifted his seating position so he could be more or less "seen".

"Seven years, Herr Ikari," he said, "Seven more years till the Angels
come..."

"Until then, we will have to wait, Herr Kiel Lorenz," replied Ikari,
addressing the elderly man. "The end is at hand. We will shed no tears for
those who know not. May God save the Earth and her colonies..."

[U.C. 0083 - present]

For almost three years, the Earth Federation maintained a relative
peace between the colonies and the home planet. One had to take into
account that "minor" situation between the Delaz Fleet and the Federation,
after all.

The Delaz Fleet took its name from its regiment leader, Colonel
Aiguille Delaz, and was made up of the last remnants of the Zeon rebel forces.
The Fleet sought to regain the supremacy of the Duchy of Zeon; a
supremacy lost during the climactic last stand between Zeon ace pilot Char
Aznable and Federation Gundam pilot Amuro Ray.

To this end, the Fleet succeeded in kidnapping one of the Federation's
pet projects - the Gundam Unit-02, "Physalis". Its primary weapon was
a nuclear bazooka, an obvious violation of the Adelaide Treaty, which
expressly forbid (along with the tacting of dropping colonies to earth)
the use of nuclear weapons during the conduct of war.

While not as long as the One-Year War, hostilities between Federation
Forces and the Delaz Fleet were as intense, if not more so than during
that previous period. Eventually, the Federation quelled the Fleet's
shrewd plan of mass destruction: "Operation Stardust" - a plan that
involving the seizure of the dreaded Gundam Unit-02 *and* the dropping of an
abandoned colony on Federal Forces' headquarters in Jabrow, South
America.

Before long, shady conspirators from within the Federation would create
an elite military organization - who would eventually come to be known
as the notorious "Titans" -- to combat further terrorism and
anti-Federation rebellions.

Episode 2, "The Black Gundam"
-------------------

The year was 0087 of the Universal Century.

In a day and age when men live in the cylindrical behemoths known as
"colonies", some patterns of everyday life -- making a living, going to
school, shopping, meeting up with friends -- remain the same.

The peculiar human emotion called love continues to flourish in this
technology-driven era, and young couples in that condition are as easily
spotted as they have been for generations.

Take, for instance, the young couple coming down the street. The boy
appears more feminine than he really is. You know the type - one of
those "pretty boys" hated by other guys, while girls hang about him like
pendants on a necklace. He's carrying his girlfriend's shopping bags
and judging by the number, it seems she's been buying a little too much.
She doesn't seem to mind the expense, though, skipping along happily
without a care in the world.

"Hmmm!" giggled Fa, looking mischievously up into her companion's face.
"Let's go somewhere really nice, Camille!"

The young man sighed windily, his voice somewhere between weary and
impatient as he protested. "Aaaagh! Do we have to, Fa? I'm soooo tired.
. ."

Fa nodded firmly, turning to face Camille head-on.

"Mmm-hm!" Fa squinted up at him, "This is for standing me up the other
day, after all. Right now I can definitely say that revenge is sweet!
Besides, ever since you won that 'Build Your Own Mobile Suit' Junior
Competition thingy - I hardly get to see my little girly-boy darling any
more."

Camille facefaulted as Fa's pretty features settled into a pout.

"Fa, you sure know how to diss a guy. . ." he began, only to add
hastily as her expression darkened ominously, ". . .aaaah, n-n-not that I
think you diss *me*, or anything like that. . ."

Fa held the pout a while longer, enough to discomfit her friend
completely. When Camille thought he had really put himself in the hot seat,
Fa suddenly put on her happy face and skipped along, grabbing Camille by
the arm and dragging him off to wherever she wanted.

Little did they know that they were on a collision course with destiny.
Not far from them was a small group of off-duty Titans officers taking
a stroll around the colony. Members of the elite unit dedicated to
stamping out anti-Federation activities, the officers were full of
themselves, oozing what they thought passed for machismo and what everyone
else recognized was trouble waiting for an excuse to happen.

"Jerid, ya bastard - I'm calling in that bet you made earlier!" said
one of the officers.

"Yeah!" exclaimed another, while ogling the pretty young women passing
them by. "Double the money if you can pick up someone even remotely
like Li'l Miss Daisy!"

"Shut up, man!" Jerid snorted, then grinned. "I'm doing it - I'll be
some lucky girl's Mr. Casanova tonight, baaay-bee! Yeah!"

The officers accompanying Jerid cheered him on with catcalls and rowdy
comments on the fate of the hapless woman who would herself in Jerid's
clutches. It was then that the Titans crossed paths with Camille and
Fa, setting into motion a chain of events that would change all their
lives forever.

"Hm-mm! Looks like I'll be taking down two birds with one stone today,
boys," chuckled Jerid, eyeing Camille and Fa. "Just watch the master in
action and maybe you'll learn something."

Camille and Fa, engrossed in the pleasure of the day, found little to
be pleased about when Jerid's heavy arms landed across their shoulders
in a most familiar way. Camille felt all the hairs on the back of his
neck rise up in protest at the contact, and stiffened as Jerid spoke.

"Heyyy, ladies. Don't you lovelies want to have someone as tough and
rough as yours truly escort you back to your sweet little homes?
Hmmmm?"

Fa felt sweatdrops form on the side of her head, and could barely
stammer out an answer. Taking this for assent, Jerid called to his friends,
"Hear that, boys? They *love* me!"

Jerid's companions started laughing as their leader began caressing
Camille's face. "Hmmm, I like cute blue-haired girls too, you know.
They're the hottest in *this* galaxy. . ."

It was too much for Camille, whose hands had clenched into fists as he
slipped from beneath Jerid's arm.

"W-what *did* you call me?" spoken low and fiercely, fury barely
suppressed. Looking at Camille's red face, Fa knew it wouldn't be long before
mayhem would be unleashed on the unsuspecting Titan.

"Eh? Weren't you listening, cutie? I guess I must have. . ."

"DON'T EVER FUCKING CALL ME A GIRL AGAIN!!" roared Camille, not
sounding like a woman at all. His fist followed the words within
split-seconds, driving straight into Jerid's nose. Camille felt the satisfying
*crunch* of broken cartilage as Jerid reeled backwards a step, straight
into the arms of his comrades. His eyes burned fiercely at the group.
"You womanizing Titans jerks, get out of here!"

A meaningful silence surrounded the immediate vicinity. No one, but *no
one* got away with talking to the Titans like that, and Fa knew it as
well as the next person. For that reason, she clung to Camille's arm,
restraining him from launching a second punch, which would almost
certainly seal his doom.

Nervous murmurs rose from the knot of men surrounding Jerid: "Uhhh. .
." "He's. . .he's a *guy*, Jerid. . ."

Jerid touched his nose gingerly as he sat up on his own, his eyes
glaring back at the slim youth who had dared to lay a hand on him.

"Aaaargh...don't you think I know that already, fools? Get him!"

"Take me on, will you?" taunted Camille, adrenaline surging as he
gently but firmly pushed Fa off to one side, out of harm's way. "Come on
then! I won't be holding back!"

Jerid's comrades attacked in full force, but Camille swiftly took the
upper hand; long hours spent in martial arts training paying off at
last. The Titans officers were trashed in a matter of seconds, leaving
Jerid and Camille facing each other one-on-one.

In a swift move, Jerid palmed a cleverly concealed .45 pistol and
shoved its barrel under Camille's chin. As his opponent froze, Jerid
chuckled in sadistic glee.

"Well, well, girly-boy. Looks like *I'm* the winner," sneered Jerid,
directly into Camille's helpless glare. "Boys, tie him up! We're dragging
his carcass back with us to headquarters! Let's show this quack how we
deal with bastards who go up against Titans officers..."

The Titans officers quickly obey. Bruised and battered, they cuffed the
now-helpless Camille's hands and throw him into their nearby transport
pod, riding off to the nearest Titans precinct in the colony.

Left behind was a weeping Fa, apparently helpless, but it was a mistake
they would regret. Already her mind was working in overdrive on a way
to get Camille out of this ruckus...

[A few hours after the incident.]

The section of the colony known as Green Noah 2 was where the Titans
had established a military base, code-named "Gryps". Under cover of
darkness, three mobile suits managed to infiltrate the base and took cover
behind some large mounds of dirt. The trio was led by a mobile suit in
flaming red, whose pilot, Quattro, went over the mission orders with
his men one final time.

"Apolli. Roberto. . ." Quattro's voice came clearly over the
communications system. "Are you absolutely clear about the purpose of this
mission?

"Yes, Commander. We are to obtain all the information we can on the
Titans' activities, with special attention to those concerning the
development of new mobile suit projects." Apolli's voice was calm.

"If complications arise," came Roberto's reply, holding a hint of
wishful thinking, "We are to use appropriate action to control or neutralize
the situation."

Quattro nodded from inside his mobile suit, a red "Rick Dias" and started to head for the Gryps Base alone. His two wingmen stayed just a distance near the colony and waited for further instructions from their Commander via a communications link.

As Quattro moved silently towards his destination, the
events of the last seven years flashed through his mind. The death of
his noble father. How the family responsible for his murder ruined the
Duchy that was Quattro's rightful inheritance. Quattro's successful
revenge. Mixed feelings of victory and defeat warred within him, and he
clutched at his chest, as if to still the conflict raging in his soul.

Victory and defeat. Some would call it a hollow victory. Yes, he had
won revenge for the death of his father. But never would he stand
united with his family, ever again. Quattro was alone now, and there would
never be anyone to help him.

The thoughts seethed through the young pilot's head as each step took him closer to his goal.

But not even the harrowing events of the past seven years would ever
compare to the atrocities that the Titans had committed; Quattro could
clearly remember the spy report delivered during a board meeting with
certain resistance groups against the corrupt Titans.

Two to three months before, the Titans claimed sighting anti-Earth
Federation demonstrations and Zeon mobile suits on the "30 Bunch" colony.
This colony was located on Side 3, in the heart of the Republic of
Zeon.

Reaction to the alleged anti-Federation activities was swift and
deadly. Three million innocent civilians were subjected to nerve gas pumped
throughout the colony. Genocide, pure and simple. Word of the massacre
was successfully hushed up among the colony system.

Little did the Titans know that counterintelligence spies from among
the resistance groups had gotten wind of the barbaric act. This led to
the creation of the Anti-Earth United Nations Government, or the AEUG.
This paramilitary force, composed of renegade Federal Forces officers
and soldiers and former Zeon troops, was formed solely to combat the
oppression of the Titans. It was no surprise that Quattro elected to join
with AEUG, and rapidly assumed a leading role in the resistance.

Leaving his red Rick Dias somewhere at the colony's entrance, Quattro pushed all thoughts of the past aside as he carefully entered a hangar of some sort after avoiding some quite loose security in the colony's airlock "gates". Making sure his "homoavis", a mini-rocket-powered jetpack-like gadget worn at the back that allows one in space to float towards or away from a destination, was working properly, he took out his mini-cam which was also visually linked to his two wingmen outside the colony and took shots at what seemed to be a new black-colored Gundam model.

was the thought
chasing through his head. He opened the comm link to his men, wanting to
get their reactions.

"What do you think?" he asked softly, and Apolli's voice was first to
return an answer.

"These look like new mobile suit models, Commander."

"Judging from looks alone," added Roberto, "These look more powerful
than the last model they came up with in '79."

"Indeed." Quattro thought a few moments, and then issued his orders, "Here's the plan. I will create a nice, loud diversion while one of you fires a flare. That will signal the Agama to fire at the colony's side so you two can get in without trouble. In the confusion, we will grab either three or four of these mobile suits and get them back to home base. . ."

[Elsewhere on the base]

Camille awoke in a solitary cell, aware of aches and bruises in places
he never realized existed in the human body.

Realization came as he sat up very, very slowly.

Camille winced as something began throbbing inside his head.

He rose from his cot and looked outside the barred window. Nothing to
see but the vast expanse of the base, bathed in moonlight.



The sound of someone knocking on the cell door made him turn, watching
warily as the door opened to reveal a kind looking young woman in
Titans uniform. A quick glance at her shoulders told Camille she was an
officer, and he shot her a look of distaste.

"What do *you* want?" he asked, making no effort to disguise the
hostility in his voice. "Your friends have had their fun with me. What more
could you possibly. . ."

The female officer shut the door swiftly behind her, making an urgent
gesture to hush Camille. When she spoke, her voice was low and musical
- and very urgent.

"Listen, I saw the whole thing. It's unfair for you to be locked up
here just because you hit those jerks. A pity I couldn't stop that fool
Jerid..." The young woman sniffed in disdain, then turned her glowing
eyes on Camille. "I'm going to get you out of here no matter what. All
you have to do is just be quiet for a sec..."

The sudden offer of freedom bewildered Camille, and suspicion tinged
his voice as he tried to grasp the situation. "Huh? *You* are going to
get *me* out? That's pretty strange, coming from a Titans officer - why
should I believe you?"

A tiny wry smile twisted the young officer's mouth. "Let's just say I
still believe in certain things that Jerid doesn't - like honor and
truth and justice. Besides, it'll be worth it to see the look on his face
when he finds out you're gone. So. Are you going to take this chance,
or not?"

Camille stared for a long moment at the officer, and saw in her lovely
eyes the truth of her words. Besides, what did he have to lose? At
least he'd have gone down trying, whatever happened.

"OK, I'm in," he said at last, and the young woman nodded. She opened
the door a crack, checking the hallway for potential interference or
discovery. Seeing the coast was clear, she pushed the door wide, and
gestured Camille to follow her through it.

Once in the hall, she took his hand - Camille, like any normal young
man, immediately became aware of the strength and warmth of her slender
fingers - and the pair dodged from hallway corner to hallway corner,
finally emerging from the compound, both of them panting and sweating.

"Haaaa. . ." came Camille's breathless voice from the darkness of the
shadows thrown by the wall where they were taking shelter. "Now that is
what I call some *tight* security! Thank you. . .geez, I don't even
know your name!"

The young officer's eyes were busy roving the area ahead for signs of
the outdoor patrols. At Camille's exclamation, she whispered
hurriedly, "I'm Emma. Lieutenant Fourth Class Emma Sheen."

"Emma. . .I'll remember the name."

"Whatever. No time for long goodbyes. Once they find you're gone the
whole base will be on emergency alert. You've got to go *now*, before
you're seen!"

With that, Emma pushed Camille out from the shadows, and slipped back
into the building, closing the door behind her. Camille ran as fast as
he could, not knowing where he was going, just as long as he could find
a way to get away.

he thought to himself,

He ducked into a nearby hangar, where he managed to conceal himself
from some Titans soldiers on the run.



The hanger shook to the core from the shockwaves of a blast somewhere
nearby. Braced against a wall, Camille rode it out with little damage,
only to have another blast send him back down to the floor as he took a
step forward.

Camille shook his head. No time to find
out, what mattered was to survive the firefight and get home, somehow. .
.

"Hey, YOU!"



Adrenaline took over from that point, sending Camille running as fast
as possible from the Titans. Something metallic gleamed in the darkness of the hangar - a black mobile suit, lying on a transport vehicle. Its bulk was reassuringly familiar, and Camille headed for it and the shelter it provided against the soldiers' bullets.

Without stopping to think, Camille clambered onto the ebony-colored Gundam, slamming himself into the cockpit, automatically locking the doors and sweeping
his eyes frantically across the control panel.



There was nothing for Camille to do but flip control switches on sheer
reflex and his bare-bones knowledge of how a mobile suit was
controlled. To his immense relief, the Gundam responded, rising from its resting place like some avenging angel, scattering the terrified Titans in all
directions. He even thought of terrorizing that Titans military police officer who beat him up earlier while he was being interrogated...he could still clearly remember that ugly freak's face...

...and just as he was thinking that, Camille found the MP officer and chased him all over the place, the boy laughing in sadistic glee as the said Titans officer scrambled in terror for cover.

Minutes before Emma pushed Camille towards freedom, the AEUG battlecruiser Agama, "parked" just a distance from Gryps, had seen one of the Rick Diases' flare signals. The crew onboard immediately remembered what they are to do once they see the flare: send particle cannon fire into the unsuspecting colony base to distract the main force of the Titans while the team of three Rick Diases break and enter into Gryps and seize three or four of the rumored new Gundam models.

The Agama obliged by firing its main beam cannon at the base perimeter, near the hangars, and within seconds Quattro had reached the colony's entrance to retrieve his own red Rick Dias. He and his men would later let all hell break loose with bomb blasts and direct assaults against the Titans' defense strategy.

The ensuing commotion was meant to cover their escape with a prize haul
of some of the strange new Gundam models. The extraction had to be
done swiftly, however, with the compound suddenly swarming with Titans
soldiers. Quattro, Apolli and Roberto, together with the escaping
Camille, easily destroyed a swarm of RGM-79 "GM"'s and a second small wave
of Titans-issue RMS-106 Zaku II's.

Jerid, in his own Zaku II, ran into the crimson-colored Rick Dias. Careful not to create further damage in the colony, the Zaku and the Rick Dias engaged, and eventually Quattro proved his worth as a seasoned mobile suit pilot by slashing off both arms of his opponent's mobile suit with a beam saber. The escape is complete, with Apolli and Roberto each dragging a Gundam and fending off any GM's that would come their way with beam rifle shots.

Withdrawing from the scene of conflict, Quattro, a Newtype, sensed
another "force" greater than his own.



Suddenly, his monitor reported a visual of *another* black Gundam making its
way through the colony. It was heading for the hole created by the
Agama's cannon blast. A swift question to his men was sufficient to
confirm that the third Gundam was *not* from the Agama.

Quattro opened a comm link to the third Gundam's frequency and hailed
the pilot. "Do not panic. We are not going to attack you. I repeat, we
are not going to attack you. Identify yourself!"

"Camille. . .Camille Vidan. . .sir."

The answer, coming in through static, shocked them all into momentary
silence, and then, Apolli's voice exclaimed, "Commander, it's just a
*boy* in that Gundam!"

Roberto's voice came in after another pause. "What do we do now, sir?"

Quattro weighed the situation swiftly, then said, "We go back to the
Agama, as planned, Roberto." Then, directing himself to the newcomer,
"Camille, was it? How would you like to come with us? You look like you
want to get off this colony in a hurry."

"Yes. . .I do." The younger man's voice turned suspicious. It was the
second offer of unconditional help in such a short span of time, and
once again, from a total stranger. "What's it to you, anyway? And why
should I come with you? For all I know you might just be one of those
Titans again..."

"You'll just have to trust us, won't you? We are definitely not
Titans, I'll tell you that. If you come with us, I'm sure we'll be able to
get you back where you came from."

Camille thought. I certainly don't have the force to
beat all the Titans mobile suits by myself...might as well give it a
shot...

"Yeah yeah, I'll go with you. Got nowhere else to go anyway..."

Quattro released the breath he didn't realize he had been holding until
that moment. "Good. Apolli, Roberto, Camille, help me carry our old
mobile suits into the Agama and let's get out of here. . ."

[Back at the base]

Titans Colonel Bosque Ohm, residing commanding officer in Gryps, was
*furious*. His face was beet-red as he berated his men: "You FOOLS!!! How
could you let them GO?! I can *not* believe you let those AEUG rebels
steal four of our mobile suits so easily! AAAAGH!! This is totally
unacceptable! LIEUTENANT FRANKLIN VIDAN! What have you to say about this?!"

The Lieutenant stared straight ahead as he had been taught in boot camp,
stone-faced as his superior officer ranted and raved in near-hysterical
wrath. His voice was equally stony as he replied.

"Sir. We were caught unprepared. There was no indication at all that
the AEUG would launch an internal attack." The Lieutenant paused, then
continued, "I have a hunch that the Red Comet. . ."

Ohm glared fiercely at the hapless junior officer. "Surely you're not
going to tell me that the Red Comet Char Aznable was behind all of
this?"

Silence.

"I will have no more excuses from you, *Lieutenant*," breathed the
Colonel, putting an ominous emphasis on the junior officer's rank. "We
must recapture those Gundam Mark-IIs. As. Soon. As. Possible."

"Yes, sir. With your permission..."

"DISMISSED!"

It was a bad night for junior officers. Even as Lieutenant Vidan was
enduring the storm of Colonel Ohm's fury, Jerid and his squadron were
receiving a dressing-down of their own, from the hands of the legendary
Colonel First Class Bright Noah. Coincidence had brought the Colonel to
Gryps moments before the firefight erupted, and he was *not* happy with
the turn of events. Not at all.

"Careless. Reckless," said Noah grimly. "How could you let them get so
far into the base? *Mister* Jerid Mesa? We've just lost any number of
Gundams, and three of the new Gundam Mark-IIs!! Do you have anything to
say?"

Jerid stood with his eyes front and center, a mirror pose, had he but
known, of Lieutenant Vidan's before Bosque. His voice was cold as he
replied, "It won't happen again. Colonel."

Noah's keen eyes took the measure of the young Titan, and a flare of
strong emotion was quickly extinguished before anyone could see. His
eyes swept the rest of Jerid's group, and his jaw tightened.

"Damn right it won't happen again," growled Noah fiercely. "You have
*got* to make more effective sorties against the AEUG. Never forget you
have a duty to the Federation - to defend the Earth from those who
would oppose it, using all means necessary. DIS-MISSED!!"

Jerid and his fellow Titans could be heard murmuring various sarcastic,
dismissive remarks as they fell out of rank and shuffled off to their
quarters for what was left of the night. Noah sighed, and closed his
eyes wearily, thus missing the emergence of Lieutenant Emma Sheen from
the shadows.

She had been watching the entire thing from a short distance away, and
her heart had sighed at the tired expression on Noah's face - the look
of a man who had seen too many battles, and lost far more than the
young rowdies who had left could ever imagine.

So lost in thought was Noah that he never heard Emma's soft footsteps.
Only when she was a few feet from his side did he open his eyes with a
start, nodding recognition of her presence at last.

"Oh...it's you, Emma."

"Colonel." Emma's voice was soothing in the quiet of the night. "Do you
really think we're doing the right thing? Is it true, our duty to
defend the Earth, and all that stuff we were taught in the Academy?"

Noah sighed. "Now that you mention it. . .I'm not sure if there's any
truth to it anymore."

"It's been seven years. You're being asked to do upstairs duty again."

"If that was *really* the Red Comet attacking us earlier," murmured
Noah, ignoring Emma's comment, "How could we refuse to fight? But those
Gundams are an irresistible target. . ."

Emma stood silently, watching Noah follow his train of thought to an
unpleasant conclusion.

"Why would Colonel Ohm test his mobile suits here in Gryps at all?"
Noah's eyes flashed into Emma's. "This is a *civilian* colony, for God's
sake. Innocent people could get hurt!"

Emma paused a moment before replying. "You're right. Why would he
indeed? Do you think we should go see him and ask him about it?"

"Yes, I think we ought to pay the good Colonel a visit," nodded Noah.
The air of weariness had dropped from his shoulders; he was a man who
had made a decision - a command decision - and intended to see it
through. "Putting the lives of millions of innocent people in danger, just to
score over the AEUG. It's unforgivable.

"Let's go, Emma."

A soft chuckle hung in the air between them, as Emma tilted her head
consideringly at Noah.

"And who put *you* in command. . .sir?" she teased gently, rewarded by
the faint smile that crossed Noah's face. "Aren't you on leave from
Federation duties until further notice?"

"In battle, protocol always takes second place to the task at hand,
Lieutenant."

"Fine words for the captain of a luxury intercolonial cruiser. . .what's her name again? The 'Temptation'?"

"Correct. But Emma. . ." Noah's eyes gleamed in a way that brought
heat into the Lieutenant's face, "I think you know me well enough by now
to know that it doesn't matter. Cruiser captain or Federation Colonel -
if the situation calls for it - I'm taking command."

"Aye, aye, SIR!"

Noah and Emma wasted no time in storming Colonel Ohm's office. They
paused outside the door long enough for Noah to tell Emma to keep watch
outside in the hall. The young Lieutenant opened her mouth as if to
protest, then snapped it shut, recognizing the voice of real authority.

That settled, Bright then pushed into Ohm's office, slamming the door
behind him in barely-suppressed rage. The other members of Ohm's staff
stepped back at a nod from their superior officer, allowing Bright to
confront the Colonel.

"Colonel Ohm." Noah's voice was as hard and cold as space diamonds.
"It has occurred to me that this *civilian* colony never received
official orders from the Federation to allow itself to be used as a training
ground for your mobile suit force.

"That being the case, the presence of your group needlessly exposed the
colony -- to the danger of an attack such as tonight's escapade. An
act completely out of line with Federation regulations, sir."

Ohm took his time answering, and when he did, it was in a sly, devious
voice, meant to provoke. "If it isn't Lieutenant Junior-grade Bright
Noah, of the infamous Trojan Horse. How long has it been? Six, seven
years? Enough time to go from Lieutenant to Colonel to *Captain*. . ."

Noah's eyes glinted dangerously, and his hands clenched as he fought
for control. "I require an answer, sir! In case you have forgotten, the
chain of command places *all* Titans activities under the jurisdiction
of Federation Forces. You are required to answer to *me*, as
representing the Federation's authority on this base. . ."

"What *are* you talking about, my dear Lieutenant - oh, pardon me --
*Captain*?" Ohm's tone dismissed Noah's request as if it were a fly on
his sleeve. "In case *you* have forgotten, the Titans were employed by
your precious Federation in order to exterminate the Zeons. It was
Admiral Heimann's stated aim, and no doubt would be Admiral Revil's as
well, if he were alive."

"Admiral Revil would never seek the extermination of the Zeons...!"
Noah's voice was shocked, defensive of the commander he had been honored
to serve. Ohm snorted in disdain.

"Whatever. If you don't like what we're doing, then I suggest you get
out of my face and tell your Feddie superiors to stay out of our
business." Noah bristled with anger, and a cruel smile broke over Ohm's face.
"Just to make the point clear, we're sending you to them with your tail
between your legs!"

Ohm then hit Noah squarely in the face, dropping him to the floor. The
other officers followed suit against the stunned man, and beat the
hapless Noah into a pulp.

When at last they had done with Noah, he was barely recognizable as a
human being, so intense was the beating. Ohm stood over him and sneered,
"Don't you know how to *respect* your elders, *Captain* Bright Noah?
Looks like your momma didn't teach you that when you were a kid...Take
him away, boys!

Bosque's officers mocked Bright as they picked him up and threw him out
of Ohm's office, battered and bruised. Emma started at the heap on the
floor, barely stifling a cry of shocked fright at what had happened.

As the door clicked shut, leaving them alone in the hall, Emma dropped
down to her knees beside Noah's prone form, helping him up as gently as
she could, considering there was hardly an unmarked place for her to
put her hands. Eventually, she managed to get him to his feet, and
braced herself as he leaned heavily against her for support.

"We need the infirmary," she murmured, her anxious eyes sweeping over
the damage sustained by Noah. It looked worse than before, now that he
was standing up. "Colonel Ohm was responsible for this?"

Noah nodded, the movement sending nausea sweeping through him, and only
the feel of slender Emma bracing his arm over her shoulders kept him
from sinking back down to the floor.

"Colonel. . ." a hacking cough shook him as they took slow, painful
steps forward. "His officers, too. Felt they needed. . .boxing practice.
. ."

"Oh, Colonel!" Emma's voice broke at the lame attempt at humor.

"You know, Emma, I'm beginning to have second thoughts. . .about all of
this."

"Not now. First we need to get you fixed up. Talk comes later."

As Emma dragged Bright off to the nearest clinic, questions went
through her mind, planting the seeds of doubt regarding the genuine
objective of the Titans' mission.

Closer to the situation at hand - why would Colonel Ohm instigate
Noah's beating? What was it that he had done wrong?

What was it that they were *really* fighting for, anyway?

---

Quattro and his squad - plus one -- made it safely back to the Agama,
that proud flagship of the AEUG fleet. Her technology was
awe-inspiring. Not since the days of the Pegasus White Base had such an advanced battle cruiser put out to space.

Quattro managed to keep a straight face while observing Camille's eyes
drinking in every detail of the ship. It proved slightly more
difficult than Quattro thought to maintain the stern expression; for he tended
to think of the Agama as *his* ship, every sleek and lovely line of her
as delightful as any woman's, and to watch this newcomer ogling his
"lady" sent a thrill of possessive pride down his back.

Over the next uneventful days, Quattro and Camille discussed a lot of
things. General topics, gradually centering around the AEUG cause, and
the Titans' oppression of the colonies - so flagrant as to be
practically flaunted in everyone's faces.

The more Camille learned about the AEUG, however, the more he realized
the difficulty of his position. His up close and extremely personal
experience of the Titans' cruelty was one side of the coin. But his
parents were Titans engineers, tasked with maintaining the machines of
oppression. To join with Quattro would mean cutting himself off from his
family - but to *not* fight this oppression went against every sense of
fair play within the lad.

It was during the tail end of one such discussion, when Camille had
tried to haltingly explain the turmoil within him, that Quattro held up
his hand. His eyes were kind as they watched the conflicting emotions
playing over Camille's face.

"It's your decision, Camille," he said at last. "Once you've made it,
I can be reached anywhere on the ship."

Camille sighed and turned towards the window beside him, out at the
vast expanse of stars and space. "Yeah. Commander?"

"Hm?"

"Where are we headed?"

"We're on course for La Vie En Rose. The Agama needs to put in for
supplies. Maybe we'll have a chance for some shore leave, if we're
lucky."

Camille turned his head slowly towards Quattro. "La Vie En Rose? *The*
La Vie En Rose?"

Few indeed were those in the galaxy who had not heard of the famous
cruiser docking bay. It derived its name from its shape, which resembled
that of a rose in bloom. It was also the home base for the Anaheim
Electronics mobile suit engineering group.

Quattro nodded, "The very same."

A grin split Camille's face from ear to ear. "Whoa! This is one heck
of a treat, Commander! I've always wanted to go see the most famous
docking bay in four galaxies. . ."

"This isn't a high school field trip, Camille. We're on the edge of
what could be the most historic battle fought between spacenoids and
Earthnoids."

"I know." A soft sigh, then silence, as Camille looked out into space
once again. "Commander?"

"Hm."

"What does Anaheim Electronics have to do with the AEUG? I thought. .
.aren't they aligned with the Earth Federation?"

"Officially, yes. But we managed to convince them - and a number of
like-minded business firms across the colony system - that helping the
AEUG would be more beneficial to their continued well-being." Quattro
pushed his sunglasses upwards along the bridge of his nose. "We've been
extremely lucky. Their cooperation ensures that we have no problems
with our own mobile suit production and research."

A discreet bleep interrupted their conversation; Quattro was wanted on
the bridge. With a nod of his head towards the elevators, he silently
gave Camille permission to accompany him. As he stepped onto the
bridge, he was met by the Agama's First Mate, AEUG Chief Petty Officer
Henken Heckner.

"What's this emergency situation?" asked Quattro, as Camille hung back
at a respectful distance, keeping himself out of the way. Especially
when he recognized the rounded figure of Brex Forra, former Federal
Forces General and now supreme leader of the AEUG.

Amazing, thought Camille idly, how a man that resembled a
short-bearded, mustache-less Santa Claus was responsible for running the Resistance. . .Heckner's voice interrupted his musings.

"Well sir," the First Mate was saying, "It appears there's someone out
there who doesn't like the AEUG roaming around the outskirts of Side 7.
A really fiery wench, I might say, sir."

Quattro raised a questioning eyebrow. "A woman?"

Henken's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Yup. Lyla Mira Lyla. A Federal Forces
ace. Heard of her in the old days. Almost as good as Gato in the old Zeon camp. Looks like she's going to hit the Agama any minute now with her black Gundam Mark-II - it's up on the Minovsky radar."

As eyes swung towards the screen, absorbing the sight, Henken wondered
aloud, "Think she's got PMS today? Could make things pretty lively."

Quattro chuckled, sound rarely heard on the bridge, and those within
hearing range held back surprised gasps and widened eyes that remained
studiously fixed on workstation screens.

"I don't think so, Henken," said the young Commander. "Get my Rick
Dias ready for battle. I'm going to take the lady out to dinner."

Camille gagged in surprise, as Henken chuckled, appreciating the joke.

"Aye, aye, sir," he said, then opened a comm link to the mobile suit
hangar. "All hands on deck! Prepare Commander Quattro's mobile suit for
battle, on the double!"

Commander Forra smiled at Quattro, a smile that included Camille
standing just a few paces behind.

"I see you haven't lost your sense of humor, Commander. Here I've
been, thinking you were always so serious about our job in the AEUG. . ."

"Oh, but I am, sir. I am." The eyes of both men met in a look of
perfect understanding. Quattro saluted the Commander, and after it had
been returned, said to Camille, "Later, Camille. You'll be all right up
here."

Forra sighed as they watched Quattro head for the lift that would take
him to the Gundam hangar.

"Jolly sort of chap, eh? It just doesn't show. . .he always looks like
he has something on his mind. I wonder what it could be."

The old man seemed to be talking to himself, and Camille, not sure
whether he was being addressed directly, replied as politely as he could.

"Uhhhh. Yes. Yes, sir."

The young voice roused Forra from his seeming reverie. "Hmmmm? Oh.
Yes. You're that young man Quattro brought in after the Gryps incident.
What is your name, again?"

Camille drew himself up stiffly and saluted the older man, in a fair
imitation of Quattro's own stance just moments before. "Vidan, sir.
Camille Vidan of Green Noah 1, Side 7, sir! It is an honor to have made
your acquaintance, sir!"

Forra laughed, but it was a kind laugh, for the old man saw in Camille
the young man he once used to be, right down to the obvious
embarrassment and flushed face at meeting people normally spoken of in hushed
tones of respect.

"There, there, lad, no need for ceremony! At ease!"

"Uhhh. . .yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"Better." Forra studied Camille with keen eyes. "It says in Quattro's
reports that he's asked you to serve with us."

"Yes, sir."

Forra sighed. So young, he thought. So damn young to be asked to take
up arms, but there's precious little choice.

"Boy, do you believe in Newtypes?" Forra watched Camille's face mirror
the consideration he was giving to formulating his answer to the sudden
question. "Do you believe that they truly exist, and that they are the
final stage in mankind's evolution?"

"I. . .I can't say that I don't believe in their existence, sir. Or
the rest of it."

"How about our mission - our noble cause, if you will - to free the
colonies and the Earth from the oppression of the Titans? Have you heard
of the 30 Bunch Colony incident some time back, on Side 3?"

Camille nodded, his face sober. "Commander Quattro told me all about
it. Personally, I have to say I'm outraged about what happened. It's
sick."

"Indeed. But that's not even the half of it." Forra's eyes grew lost
in memories. "A long time ago, when I was still with the Federal
Forces, I had serious doubts about the Titans. Mostly about their methods of
suppressing anti-Earth sentiments within the colony system.

"I was right. They were just a bunch of jackbooted thugs in uniform.
That's how the AEUG came to be - I, along with a number of my
colleagues, Zeon soldiers and officers, resigned our services from the Earth
Federation. We called our renegade bunch the Anti-Earth United Nations
Group."

The blue-haired boy stood silent as he tried to make sense out of the
situation. If anything, he was more confused than ever before. He had
tasted the "disciplinary measures" imposed by the Titans; how could he
allow such things to be perpetrated against other innocent people?

But. . .his parents. Titans engineers, good at what they did, and
proud of their work. Sincerely believing that what they were doing was the
right thing; just as Forra, Quattro, and the rest of the AEUG believed
*they* were right. How would they feel, to find out their son had
betrayed them, changed sides in a war not of their own making?

"You come from good stock, Vidan," Forra said quietly, reading the
boy's face accurately. "Your father Franklin was once under my command in
the Federal Forces. Times change. Circumstances have a funny way of
arranging themselves. And now we are. . .where we are."

"It would mean going against all I was ever taught to believe in. All
that *they* believe in."

"I know. Betrayal is a bitter pill to swallow. When it involves those
you love. . ." Forra's voice faded at the anguish in Camille's eyes.
"Just think about it. That's all I'm saying."

After a moment of silence, Camille looked away from the Commander's
perceptive gaze.

"Sir, *you* believe in Newtypes, don't you?"

Forra accepted the sudden change of topic with good grace. "I do. As
do quite a number of people in the Federation. Chief Petty Officer
First Class Amuro Ray, our hero of the One-Year War, is living proof that
Newtypes do exist. Why do you ask?"

"The thought occurred to me. . .is my importance to the AEUG simply
because I'm a Newtype? I need to know, sir."

"We're not saying for certain that you are a Newtype, Camille. We only
suspect that you have the ability. If so, we might need more of your.
. .expertise, if you will, in our struggle against the Titans. Please
understand. . ."

"I see." Camille drew himself to attention once more. "I have yet to
formally accept your offer or Commander Quattro's to join with your
cause."

"I know."

"But I *am* giving it a lot of thought, I assure you. Now, with your
permission. . .sir."

The old general returned Camille's smart salute with a token lift of
his outstretched hand. He watched Camille walk down the same dark
hallway that Quattro had used to leave the bridge, and sighed heavily.

Newtypes. Are they really our salvation, or just some far-fetched hope
for a new tomorrow? Or some ill effect of mankind moving into the
great unknown called outer space?

In his reverie, Forra barely noticed Navigator Torres' frantic updates
on the status of the battle between Quattro and Lyla Mira Lyla.
Vaguely Forra's mind registered something about the AEUG ace being caught in
a real tight situation with the female Titans ace not far from the
flagship.

"SIR! This is an emergency! Commander Quattro's being whipped
*really* bad out there. We've *got* to send backup. . .!"

"Torres, calm down and stop worrying. Commander Quattro can hold his
own out there, and then some."

After all, thought Forra, Lieutenant Commander 1st Class Quattro Bajina
*did* take out five Federation battleships with just *one* MS-06S Zaku
II in the old days, didn't he?

Those who had eyes to spare, kept watch on the giant monitor as Gundam
and Zaku clashed with one another. The battle was in the balance - both
mobile suits were giving no quarter, and it would obviously be a close
fight.

Who would be the victor? Who would win in this - so far - little
skirmish? Would this be the start of a series of similar skirmishes leading
to a full-fledged war between Titans and the AEUG?

While pondering these questions, Forra's attention was called by Bridge
Communications Specialist Ahura.

"Commander Forra, sir."

"Yes?"

"We've been hailed by an unarmed Titans' mini-dropship. It's hovering
outside the docking bay and reuqesting permission to enter. The pilot
claims to be unarmed, and apparently has a message from Titans Colonel
Bosque Ohm for you. Your orders?"

"If the pilot is unarmed, I don't see any reason why we should deny
permission to board. We may as hear what it is the Titans want to say
now, as at any other time."

In a few moments, the mini-dropship's pilot presented herself for
Forra's inspection. Had her arrival coincided with Camille's discussion of
his future with Commander Forra, it is doubtful that he would have
failed to recognize the pretty young brunette that appeared at the entrance
to the Agama's bridge.

"Lieutenant Fourth Class, Junior Grade, Emma Sheen, of the Lemieux
Fleet, 26th Corps, sir." The voice was polite, her manners excellent,
noted Forra, as he returned her salute. Altogether an excellent example of
what an officer should be. Emma continued, "I was instructed to
deliver this special dispatch into your hands alone, sir."

"Do you know what the dispatch contains, Lieutenant?" asked Forra,
taking hold of the small white envelope Emma extended to him.

"I believe it pertains to your passage into this particular quadrant of
space, sir."

"Please have a seat, Lieutenant. Over there will do nicely."

Emma murmured her thanks and settled herself at the empty console
indicated by the Commander. She kept her eyes trained on his expression as
he opened the envelope and scanned the papers contained inside. Forra
snorted, and glanced up at Emma with a grimly amused expression.

"Quite a high-handed document, this," he said. "It asks for nothing
less than the complete surrender of the AEUG to the Titans. Would you
care to elaborate?"

Emma blinked at the question. It was unusual for anyone senior to her
in Titans command to ask for her opinions or evaluations. Now here was
the commander of the enemy forces asking her to explain Colonel Ohm's
letter.

"I. . ." Emma hesitated, then, looking straight into Forra's eyes,
replied with carefully chosen words. "Regarding the contents of the
envelope - Colonel Ohm did not take me into his confidence. It's hard to say
what he has in mind, or what he meant."

"But. . ." prompted Forra, seeing the worry in Emma's eyes. He was not
to know she was remembering the sight of Colonel Bright Noah after his
beating at the hands of Ohm and his men. If a man was so single-minded
in the pursuit of his objective that he could ruthlessly beat an
officer on his *own* side; how far would he go in dealing with the enemy?

"His actions worry me, sir," said Emma at last, knowing it to be the
truth. "They worry me a great deal."

Forra grunted and returned to his scrutiny of the papers. "Perhaps if
you heard some of what's in here, you might be able to form a better
evaluation. Let's see. . ."

Emma listened attentively as Forra read aloud from the dispatch, almost
able to hear the words in Ohm's belligerent tones: ". . .demand an
immediate surrender of the said four RX-178 Gundam Mark-II's illegally
seized during a clandestine operation against the Gryps base on Green Noah
2. We also demand the immediate and complete surrender of your
insurgent group AEUG, to the high command of the Titans Forces. . ."

"Your commander seems to think he's dealing with a bunch of amateurs,"
growled Forra, shaking his head as he scanned the papers further. Then
suddenly his brows crashed together as he read the next lines, his
voice growing troubled. ". . .If you refuse to comply with these demands,
be advised that you will be signing the death warrant of one Hilda
Vidan, the mother of one of your crewmembers. . .WHAT!"

The blood drained from Emma's face as Forra's roar of shocked outrage
echoed throughout the bridge, sending everyone into uneasy silence.
Vidan! The memory of the blue-haired lad with the soft, almost-girlish
features, flashed clear and bright in her mind's eye. He was here! And
his mother was. . .Oh, God!

"By the time you read this, direct your radar to these coordinates. .
." Forra barked the figures to the radar workstations and they soon
brought up on screen a horrifying picture verify the words Forra continued
to read, almost in spite of himself. ". . .and you will see that we
have Mrs. Vidan locked in a capsule about a thousand or so meters from
your flagship."

"He's insane!" cried Forra, his angry eyes blasting into Emma's
horrified face, now the color of alabaster against the red of her uniform.
"How could your commander *do* such a thing?"

"No, please, no. . ." whispered Emma, trying to deny what the radar
screen clearly showed - the slender metal capsule with its human cargo
suspended in space above the Titans battle cruiser "Alexandria". Moments
ago she had wondered how far Bosque Ohm would go in dealing with the
enemy. Here was the answer.

In her entire career as a Titans officer, Emma had believed in the
rightness of the cause she fought for. To defend the Earth, "and all the
rest of it", as she told Colonel Noah. Watching Jerid and his men
implementing their orders, even the very nature of their orders, had made
her wonder. The sight of Colonel Noah's battered form had shaken her
faith even more.

But this. . .!! To use an innocent civilian - one of their own
engineers, for crying out loud! - as a pawn in a deadly game to retrieve
*machines*!! Never mind that these were top-of-the-line mobile suits meant
to give the Titans an advantage in these never-ending hostilities, they
were still machines, nothing in comparison to the value of a human
life.

Emma had been taught reverence for life at an early age, beginning with
the love for the special child who was her baby brother. It would have
been so easy for Zarina Sheen to have aborted the fetus diagnosed with
a genetic neurological defect - but she had not, and the Sheen family
would not have traded their blessings during six short years of
Gainard's life for anything in the universe. As a result, Emma valued the
preservation of human life above all else - above mobile suits, or war
against the Zeons, or even stamping out the AEUG.

Now, human lives and emotions were being held hostage to machines.
Emma closed her eyes in shame at being a party to the actions of a
low-life like Colonel Ohm. How had they come this far?

What the people on the bridge did not realize was that, in the sudden
scramble to get a better look at the monstrous hostage situation played
out in deep space, one of the communications officers had tripped the
switch to the ship-wide public address system. Forra's quote from Ohm's
dispatch regarding the capsule had thus been broadcast with fatal
clarity to everyone - including Camille, who had been walking aimlessly down
the passageways in an effort to sort himself out.



Camille's blood froze in his veins, then anger, white-hot, shot through
him, pushing him into a sprint for the lifts leading to the Agama's
mobile suit dock. The ship's engineers, themselves stunned by the swift
turn of events, were caught flat-footed by Camille's sudden eruption
into the hangar. Not that they could have stopped him, even if they
wanted to: the young man was possessed of the strength that comes with the
hysterical need to rescue one who is loved more dearly than life itself.

Tears were streaming down Camille's face as he commandeered a Gundam
Mark-II, slamming himself into the cockpit and running through the
start-up routine with a swiftness that was just barely within the borderlines
of reason.

"Let's go, let's GO!" he screamed at the engineers, who simply looked
at each other with heavy hearts, even as they set up the launch
parameters for the boy. Many of them were married, and Camille had become a
'pet' of theirs from all the hours he had spent hovering around them.

"Easy, easy, boy. . ." drawled the deck officer, double-checking the
parameters Camille had sent into the engineering mainframe, and making
small but vital corrections to the figures. "You'll be no good to your
mama if you can't even get out of the ship! Breathe, boy, BREATHE. .
.and let us help you!"

The deck officer's calm words put a mild damper on Camille's temper,
but just barely. One thought kept keening through his mind in an urgent
refrain. "Mom. . .please, hang on, Mom. . .I'm coming to get you. .
.I'll save you. . ."


Finally, the Agama's engineers opened the docking bay doors and watched
as Camille launched his Gundam into the darkness. By unspoken
agreement, they waited for him to get well on his way before finally contacting
the bridge.

"Commander Forra, Engineering here. One of the Gundams is loose."

"WHAT!!!" Forra's roar deepened the silence that already shrouded the
bridge. "Explain!"

"It was the Vidan boy, sir. He's taken one of the Mark-II's."

"Did I not specifically declare those Gundams off-limits for the
duration of this voyage? Why didn't you stop him?"

"As if we could, sir." The deck officer's voice was calm - he had
faced down many a senior officer in his day, including Forra, and both men
knew it. "It was either let him go or watch him blast a hole through
the side of the Agama."

"Damn!"

Overcome by shock and disbelief, Emma could no longer find it in
herself to remain still, and began moving towards the bridge exit. There was
a mobile suit in the mini-dropship. Maybe she could help Camille. .
.or something. . .

"Hey! You're not going anywhere!" cried the burly security officer who
suddenly blocked her way, grabbing her upper arm in a painful grip.
Emma cried out, and Forra glared at the man until he released her.

"State your intentions, Lieutenant. Remember that you are, for all
intents and purposes, an enemy officer on board my ship. Where did you
think you were going?"

"Sir. . ." Emma blinked back tears of frustration and rage as she
rubbed at her arm. "My mini-dropship has a mobile suit. I thought I could.
. .I want to help Ca-, I mean, young Vidan. Sir."

"Do you expect us to believe that?"

Emma hung her head for a moment, then lifted it to meet Forra's
furious, wary gaze head-on.

"I know it's too much to ask, sir," she said, her voice low and urgent,
the same voice that had won over a suspicious Camille in his cell on
Gryps not long before. "I thought I was fighting for a just and
honorable cause. I was wrong. What I've heard - what I've seen - those
monsters out there don't stand for what I believe in any more. That my own
commander would stoop so low as to hold a civilian hostage for the sake
of victory. . ."

"Are you sure you want to do this? It would be easier for you to just
remain as a hostage on this ship. Better than being branded a traitor
by your people."

"I'm sure, sir. Quite sure," said Emma, glancing back at the on-screen
display. "There's more to Colonel Ohm than dangling a hostage in plain
sight. My instincts tell me there's a trap in there somewhere. If I
can spring it, all the better for your men."

The old Commander and the young Lieutenant stared at each other for a
long moment. Then Forra nodded, allowing Emma to take off at a run,
then sighed as he turned his gaze back to the situation at hand.

Different sides, but thinking much alike, he mused. There was
something about Emma that invited trust, and indeed it was worth her very life
if she came out on the wrong side of the conflict. So he had trusted
her.

But doubt continued to niggle at the back of his mind. . .

[Deep space, within the radius of the Alexandria]

Camille fired the boosters to maximum, shooting towards the Alexandria
in the Gundam Mark-II, ignoring the ongoing conflict between Quattro's
Rick Dias and the enemy Zaku piloted by Lyla Mira Lyla.

"Mom. . .I'm coming. . ."

Had it been anyone else, perhaps Camille would have taken the time to
scan the area before charging recklessly through the enemy perimeter.
Had it been anyone else, it might have occurred to the blue-haired lad
that getting to the capsule was just too easy.

For all his independence, Camille adored his brilliant, gentle mother.
He had seen how she had suffered when news of his father's mistress
Marguerite had become public knowledge; yet she refused to add to the
scandal by asking for a divorce, though it was perfectly within her right
to do so. She had raised Camille to respect his father, without making
excuses for his behavior. Now, she was a captive of the technology she
helped to create, and Camille *had* to get her away.

Thus, he failed to see the betraying sparkle of a Titans-issue RMS-06
Zaku II, lurking in the shadows cast by the Alexandria. It hovered into
the perfect sniper's position, preparing to strike at the approaching
Gundam by sending a killer shot into the cockpit.

"Come on. . ." muttered Jerid Mesa, the Zaku's pilot. "Come home to
mama. . .that's it. Just a little more. . ."

Camille hurriedly unfixed the restraints binding the capsule to the
Alexandria's crane, desperate to bring his precious cargo safely back to
the Agama. Holding the capsule between his hands, he put the Gundam into
a turn away from the battle cruiser - just as Jerid pulled the trigger
of his Zaku's beam rifle.

The beam of concentrated energy flashed over the Alexandria,
registering in Camille's peripheral vision, making him hesitate a mere
millisecond. Just a millisecond, and then suddenly the capsule in Camille's
hands exploded in the vacuum of space, gone in a white-hot flash of light.

Stunned, Camille looked down uncomprehendingly at the empty space
between his hands where the capsule had been. Gradually, the events replayed
themselves in his mind: the flash of light on the edge of his vision.
The capsule exploding. Then, nothing. NOTHING. . .

screamed Camille's mind to his frozen body,

But she *was* gone, realized Camille at last, beginning to accept the
mute testimony of the emptiness surrounding him. Nothing to show that
Hilda Vidan, engineer, wife, and loving mother, had ever existed.
Nothing left her at all, but the memories in a son's broken heart.

The Gundam's head slowly reared upwards and caught sight of the Zaku
hiding in the shadows. For a long moment, the two mobile suits stared at
each other. Camille felt his breathing quicken, the cold sweat that
broke out all over at the sight of the enemy. His hands shook as denial.
. .grief. . .and above all, a killer fury, raced through his blood.

The cry of a wounded beast echoed throughout all open communications
frequencies as Camille charged at Jerid's Zaku. The sound was enough to
strike terror into the hearts of battle-scarred veterans, recognizing
it as death on the wing; it caused console operators on the Agama and
the Alexandria to blanch in panic and Jerid to sneer in recognition.

"Ohoho, girly-boy! We meet again! You're not going to get away with
humiliating me this time, you fricking faggot!"

Half-blinded by tears of rage and sorrow, stirred to near-madness by
Jerid's taunt, Camille went straight for the Zaku's weakest points. A
wild blow to the Zaku's head knocked out Jerid's visual systems - and
most of the other pilot's self-confidence along with it. Unprepared for
the ferocity of the Gundam Mark-II, it was all Jerid could do to
maintain control of his Zaku.

Camille, however, was beyond caring. His Gundam rained punches down on
the hapless Zaku as though the two mobile suits were in a streetfight
on one of the colonies. Jerid Mesa was *definitely* in need of
assistance, which he received as Lyla Mira Lyla broke off her fight with
Quattro, firing at the Gundam in an effort to distract Camille from his
single-minded pursuit.

By this time, Emma's own Gundam Mark-II had reached the scene, and the
young Titans officer felt her blood turn to ice at the blind fury
displayed by the gentle young man she first met in a prison cell. Together
with Quattro's Rick Dias, she tried to pull the berserk Gundam from its
prey while trying to dodge Lyla's fire at the same time.

Somehow, they managed to pull the two mobile suits apart for a moment -
and it was all the time Jerid needed to flee from battle back into the
Alexandria. Such was Camille's rage, however, that he managed to slip
from the grip of both Quattro and Emma, charging head-on into the
covering fire provided by Lyla for Jerid's escape.

Emma followed mere seconds behind Camille, and was reaching out to pull
him back and haul him towards Quattro, when Lyla's arm shot out and
clamped over the Gundam in a hold that meant business. Lyla held off the
red Rick Dias with several well-placed bursts of covering fire as she
backed into the Alexandria.

"Sheen!" Lyla's voice crackled over Emma's comm link. "Get your butt
over here and place this idiot under arrest! The charges are assaulting
a Titans officer and conspiracy with rebel forces against the Earth
Federation!"

Emma hesistated the merest fraction, then realized if she was to help
Camille, there was no choice but to obey the orders of a superior
officer. Quickly she pushed to the back of her mind the memory of the
trusting look on Commander Forra's face, and the promise she had made him
before leaving the Agama.

I want to help. . .

As Emma restrained Camille from wreaking further damage, her heart
cried out in protest at the way this must all look to Quattro and those
watching the Agama's viewing screens. . .dragging an innocent boy to
goodness-knows-what fate.

she thought, sorrow washing
over her.

Quattro cursed under his breath as he watched Emma and Camille
disappear into the Alexandria. Damn. Recaptured, and a Gundam along with him.

"Let's move out," he barked into his comm link, and withdrew to the
Agama, which speedily left the area to the possession of the Alexandria
and its sorely-depleted force. Quattro noted with grim satisfaction that
even shooting wildly, Camille had managed to target a number the
Alexandria's escort ships. It would be a while before the task force would
be fit for duty again.

[The Alexandria - Docking Bay]

The Titans crew manning the Alexandria's mobile suit docking bay had
their hands full extracting Camille from the Gundam's cockpit. In spite
of all he had gone through in the past few minutes, there was still a
lot of fire in the young man.

At some point in the tussle, however, reason began to assert itself.
Camille soon realized that he had no choice but to surrender to superior
numbers, and allowed himself to be cuffed and hauled at gunpoint
towards the ship's brig.

Of course, with their prisoner cuffed and unable to defend himself, it
was a foregone conclusion that the Titans escorting Camille would not
be content to merely walk him to his cell. Oh, no.

---

"You AEUG creep. Going after Lieutenant Mesa a second time!" exclaimed
one officer, kicking Camille's butt and sending him sprawling face-down
as a horrified Emma watched from the end of the hall.

"Just after we took care of you at Green Noah 2," taunted another,
kicking Camille in the ribs, galvanizing Emma into action. She began to
run towards the trio, even as the second officer aimed his boot into
Camille's ribs. "You never learn, do you? But we'll be paying you another
visit while you're in the brig, and. . ."

"STOP IT!"

The officers turned at the fury in Emma's voice, and found themselves
facing an avenging angel, breathing hard from her sudden sprint.

"That will be *enough*," she ground out fiercely, and there was no
questioning the authority in her voice. "Get back to your positions, this
instant!"

The officers gulped visibly. "Uhhh. Yes, ma'am!"

Emma watched to make sure the pair were well down the corridor before
she turned her attention to Camille, curled up at her feet. Immense
sadness filled her eyes as she bent down towards him, and he could hear
the sigh in her voice as helped him into a sitting position.

"So, we meet again."

"Emma." It was a ragged whisper, and something that was almost a smile
passed over his features as he repeated her name. "Emma Sheen. I
didn't forget."

"No, you didn't, Camille." Emma's voice lowered a notch with her next
words. "I'm so sorry. For - your mother. For all this."

Camille shot a keen look at her as she helped him to his feet and
offered no resistance as they walked towards the brig. Emma continued, as
if thinking to herself, her voice now a whisper of sound in the quiet
hallways.

"I never thought. . .I was taught in the Academy that being part of the
Titans was something to be proud of. We are the right arm of the Earth
Federation. Our duty is to protect the Federation from all forms of
rebellion or uprising. Zeon or AEUG, it doesn't matter. That's our job.

"But after today. . .such dirty tactics. Why?" Emma shook her head
against the memories of what she had seen. "I don't know if it's worth it
any more. I just don't know."

The pair paused for a moment so that Camille could lean against a wall
to catch his breath. The adrenaline rush was fading quickly now, and
the day's events were crashing down on the young man's spirit.

"You're not thinking of joining us, Lieutenant Sheen?"

Emma gasped as the question struck her to the core. True, she had
declared her disaffection with the Titans. But to actually turn her back on
them, openly join the rebels? She had never considered that - till
now.

"I know how you feel, Emma," said Camille, watching the doubts play
over Emma's face. "I had the same thoughts once, before Mom -"

Camille's voice broke, then became harsh and cold with his next words.
They had begun moving down the hallway again, and Emma mourned silently
for the bitterness sown in the young man beside her.

"I wondered how I could turn my back on everything I had ever known.
Then your beloved Titans took my mother and shot her out of my arms.
Just like that. Before that, it was the G-3 gas into 30 Bunch, Side 3.
Just like that. Innocent people, dead. For what? So that the Titans
could lord it over everyone else?"

Emma kept silent at the questions she had asked herself but never dared
to voice aloud, spoken with such conviction.

"Already you doubt. What will it take before you decide to turn
against the evil?"

Whatever Emma would have said was cut off by the appearance of Jerid in
the hallway. Somehow Emma managed to keep her face from reflecting the
deep sense of disgust at the sight of her fellow officer's sneering
countenance. Then both of them became aware that Jerid was accompanied by
another man, a high-ranking officer.

Camille's breath hissed as he sucked it inwards upon recognizing the
familiar handsome features.

"Dad!"

Franklin Vidan looked at his son as if the boy was no more than a
distasteful example of the insect world.

"You can stand there without a trace of remorse over what you've done?
I always thought you would stand for what was right. . .since you were
a little boy, I made sure you knew your duty. . ."

Camille tried to search his father's face for a trace of grief at the
loss of his wife. "Dad! Mom. . .she's gone. . ."

Franklin made a small impatient sound, waving away this fact as a
matter of little importance. "I know *that*. But it's none of my concern.
What I'm worried about is your seeming to have gone over to the enemy.
. ."

Fury surged white-hot through Camille at this callous dismissal of the
role Hilda had played in Franklin's life - the way she had made their
home a quiet place for his work, the lonely hours waiting for a husband
who never gave her the least token of appreciation - it was just too
much, and he boiled over once again.

"None of your concern - what do you mean NONE OF YOUR CONCERN? Mom
made YOU her CONCERN all the days of her life, you - you BASTARD! You
probably wouldn't care if I died in battle, would you? Just as long as
the death reflected favorably on your precious reputation. Well, fuck
you, Dad! Fuck you AND the Titans *AND* your fucking whore Marguerita!!"

Despite himself, Franklin flinched, and seeing it, Camille sneered,
bitter contempt in his eyes. "Did you think it was such a big secret, Dad?
Mom knew from the start. . .there were any number of people willing to
tell her about that bitch. But she never said a word, did she? Oh,
no. She LOVED you, and she was too CONCERNED about the scandal, damn you
to hell!"

The slap echoed like a gunshot through the hallway. In the silence that
followed, it took all of Emma's self-control to keep to attention and
not reach out to examine the reddening welt rising on Camille's white
face. A trickle of blood dripped from where the impact had forced his
teeth to cut into his lip.

Camille slowly raised his head to meet his father's stare with defiance
burning in his eyes. The older man blinked, once, and his voice was
frosty as he addressed Emma.

"Lieutenant Sheen. I would appreciate it if you would escort the
prisoner into his cell immediately. Jerid - make certain all precautions
are taken to secure him. We don't want a repeat of the Gryps incident.
Do we?"

Emma felt a chill run icy fingers down her back, remembering her role
in Camille's first escape. She nodded silently to Franklin, not
trusting her voice, and taking Camille's upper arm, began moving him in the
direction of the brig.

"Let's go, girly-boy," snickered Jerid, following behind a sickened
Emma until they finally arrived at the Alexandria's brig. In silence,
Emma opened one of the detention cells, and gently urged Camille inside.
Understanding the sympathy in her touch, he obeyed, and stood quiet as
she moved swiftly to close the barred door between them.

At her silent gesture, he held out his hands and she released them from
the restraining cuffs. Her eyes met his for a long moment, full of
misery and shame. Camille's sudden soft words broke the silence,
startling her badly.

"Don't worry about me, Miss Emma. I'll be just fine, you'll see. So
will you. You'd better be getting back to your post, though."

Emma's heart thudded at Camille's suddenly gentle expression, even as
the uncomfortable thought dawned on her that he *knew*. Knew *exactly*
what she had been thinking, and how she felt. Which meant. . .

Camille watched Emma draw in her lower lip between her teeth, as she
processed the realization that the young man standing before her was,
quite possibly, a Newtype. Emma had vaguely heard of Newtypes, and how,
like espers, their clairvoyant abilities and physical reflexes were
heightened beyond normal. But to actually experience first-hand being the
subject of such abilities - it was unnerving.

Jerid's loud cough jarred the moment, and his pointed look at Emma had
her beating a retreat in good order. But not without one last look at
Jerid gloating over the prisoner, all but laughing out loud at
Camille's predicament.

Murderous hate gleamed out from Camille's eyes. "What the hell are
*you* laughing at, fool?"

"To put it bluntly? You are one pathetic sight, boy. Though if it had
been me, I wouldn't have held back from whipping my ass back there."
Jerid relaxed a little; safe on the other side of the door, he could
afford to be generous. "But really. I swear on my own mother's grave, I
didn't know it was your mother in that life support capsule. Honestly,
I had no idea."

"I know that much."

"You probably do. Newtypes. Tch, I guess your kind is really rare
among all you spacenoids. Never believed in them, anyway, no matter if you
kicked my ass back there." Jerid leered at Camille, needling him
mercilessly. "In any case, you shouldn't be such a mama's boy, you know. I
saw your record back at Headquarters--winner of the local build-your-own mobile suit competition, fancy that! Son of Colonel Franklin Vidan, you should be working alongside your daddy, with the credentials you got."

Camille bit his tongue against the curses he longed to hurl at Jerid's
smug face, and contented himself with merely staring at the mocking
eyes that faced him across the bars of the door. Jerid chuckled, and
turned away.

"Catch you around, mama's little girly-boy. . ."

The echo of Jerid's footsteps and the complacent mindset of the Junior
Lieutenant effectively camoflauged the low, passionate whisper that
vibrated from behind him, as Camille watched Jerid depart at last.

"I swear I'll kill you, you dirty scumbag. . ."

Some hours later, Camille was roused from a fitful slumber by the sound
of the brig's door opening. The lights had been dimmed for the late
watch on the Alexandria, and on instinct, Camille forced himself to lie
perfectly still as the unknown presence moved stealthily into brig -
towards his cell.

The seconds ticked by as if in slow-motion as Camille heard the soft
footsteps unlock the door to his cell. . .swing it open just a fraction.
. .and then approach him where he lay on the spartan bed beneath the
cell's porthole.

When Camille felt a hand brush lightly over his shoulder, he sprung
into action like a coiled spring. He grabbed the wrists of the stranger
and twisted himself off the cot so that the other person was pinned
beneath his weight.

A soft "OOOF!!" came on the heels of the realization that Camille's
captive was female. And as his eyes adjusted to the dim light, his face
flamed as he realized he was straddling the slender body of Lieutenant
Emma Sheen.

"EMMA!" The exclamation was a strangled whisper - never had Camille
been so grateful for dim lighting as he hastily removed himself from above
her. "Dammit to hell, you *scared* me!"

"Oh, you hush!" came the equally strangled whisper as Emma sat up,
heart pounding and face equally warm. "My fault entirely for sneaking up on
you like that. . ."

"What are you doing here?"

"Surely it doesn't take Newtype abilities to figure this out?" Emma's
voice was tart in a way that both Colonel Bright Noah and Commander
Quattro would have enjoyed hearing. "We're getting off the Alexandria and
returning to your ship!"

"Yeah, like maybe we can just walk out in plain sight of everyone. . ."

"Which is why I brought these," retorted Emma, reaching for a bundle
that had been tossed aside when Camille had tumbled her to the floor. She
handed it to Camille, who opened it to discover a fresh Titans uniform,
down to the boots. He glanced from the clothes to Emma, then a teasing
glint flashed in his eyes.

"Well. That certainly solves the problem. You sure these will fit
me?"

"I'll help you to get out of here, but assistance with those clothes is
something altogether different," hissed Emma, moving swiftly to the
door of Camille's cell. "I'll keep an eye on the brig door while you
figure out how to look like a proper officer, MISTER Vidan!"

A low chuckle followed her as she took her place at the brig's entrance, listening for stray footsteps. Behind her, Emma could hear the sound
of rustling clothes and forced herself to think of the task ahead
rather than risk a glance behind her.

"How'd you get past security?"

Camille's voice made Emma jump a little, then she replied softly, "It's
my shift for this section of the Alexandria tonight. Which means, I
*am* security. Not that there's anything to safeguard in this section,
really. . ."

"OK, will I do?"

Emma looked back and ran appraising eyes over Camille, standing in the
light shining from the porthole. The uniform fit him perfectly, she
thought, allowing herself a moment to admire the fine figure he made in
the scarlet material.

"You look just fine," she said at last, beckoning him forward. "Now,
come on. It's time to get this show on the road!"

They slipped out of the brig and through the silent hallways of Emma's
watch with little difficulty. As they approached other corridors, they
slowed their steps and pressed up against the shadows, Camille's cap
drawn firmly over his fine features to shield them from careless eyes.

They made it to the Alexandria's mobile suit docking bay without
incident, and breathed a joint sigh of relief to see that the area was clear
of interference. Taking the lead, Emma gestured for Camille to take an
available black Gundam Mark-II. After what she had seen him do to
Jerid, there was no question but that Camille knew how to pilot a mobile
suit.

As they each went through the start-up checklist, Emma glanced over at
the mobile suit Camille had chosen, and stifled a small sigh. Like
Jerid, she had taken the time to review Camille's credentials. But where
Jerid saw a nerd, Emma saw someone gifted beyond imagining.

All that inherited talent, and a Newtype, as well, thought Emma, as she
completed the start-up checklist. One could almost be jealous of such a
combination, until one remembered the utter loss in Camille's eyes as
he gazed on Franklin Vidan's heartless disregard of his wife's death.

[Aboard the Agama's bridge, as the escape attempt gets underway]

"It sounded like a good idea at the time, but now I'm not so sure. Do
you think she'll come back with Camille?" Commander Brex Forra sighed
heavily, his brow creased with worry. Across from him, Commander
Quattro nodded reassuringly.

"I'm pretty sure this Titans officer - you said her name was Emma
Sheen? - yes, I'm sure she will defect, and bring Camille with her," he said
in his quiet way. "From your description, her disgust at Ohm's actions
regarding Mrs. Vidan sounds real enough. I, myself, sensed her
hesitation to participate in Camille's arrest. Give her a chance, Forra, and
she'll prove to be one of the AEUG's best assets."

The AEUG leader merely nodded his agreement. His eyes were fixed on
the view from the Agama's bridge - a panorama of the vastness of outer
space. Would there ever be a time, he wondered, when Earth and its
colonies would be liberated from the oppression posed by the Titans, to
shine independently like the stars surrounding the Agama? It was a thought
much on Forra's mind of late.

First Mate Henken's voice drew the attention of the men at the top
level of the bridge. "Sir, we seem to have a situation developing here.
We've picked up two Gundam Mark-II's on the Minovsky radar, heading this
way."

"Status?" snapped Forra, and Henken shook his head in puzzlement.

"They don't appear to be hostile, sir. In fact, it appears that they
are trying to avoid pursuit from a third party."

Quattro frowned as he picked up on one. . .no, make that two voices,
breathing heavily and tense with the effort of evading their pursuer.
Camille's voice, and a woman's.

"Henken, get the Rick Dias ready, will you?" Quattro pushed his
sunglasses up the bridge of his nose in a familiar gesture. "It seems that
young Vidan and Lieutenant Sheen are in need of a rescue. Commander
Forra?"

"Do what you must, Quattro." Forra nodded, no longer surprised that
Quattro's prediction had come to pass. "We need those Gundams - but not
half as much as we need their pilots."

"Understood, sir. Henken, are you sure there's only one mobile suit in
pursuit?"

"Aye, Commander. The Minovsky rader has a definite fix - just one
mobile suit in pursuit."

"Very well. I'm going in."

The sight of the Agama floating serenely in space was a blessed relief
to the two fugitives from the Alexandria. They were about 800 meters
away from safety - too long a distance when trying to dodge pursuit from
Federal Forces ace pilot, Lieutenant Fourth Class, Junior Grade, Lyla Mira
Lyla.

Lyla was piloting her RMS-117 Galbaldy-beta, and easily dodging the bursts of
beam rifle fire from the younger pilots. Her accurate fire forced the
fleeing pair to stop and take a stand, with the Agama and the help it
offered so tantalizingly close, but still too far to provide assistance.

"Lieutenant Sheen," came Lyla's voice over the comm link, almost
regretful. "What on earth did you eat today to set you off like this?
Assisting in the escape of a prisoner. . .running off with two of our
Gundams. I'm *so* disappointed in you, we could have been good together,
fighting against the AEUG."

"Lyla. . ." Emma spoke breathlessly into her comm link while at the
same time dodging enemy fire, "This is a matter of conscience. I have to
do what I have to do - and following the Titans' agenda isn't it. I
always thought human life was more important than defeating
anti-Federation groups. . ."

"But of course it is, dear girl! But some sacrifices must be made in
order to protect human life, yes? This is for the glory of the Earth
Federation - or have you completely forgotten what you're supposed to be
fighting for, Emma?"

"It's precisely because I haven't forgotten that I'm doing this, Lyla.
The moment I left the Alexandria, I considered myself finished with the
evil that now exists in the Titans, an evil that I will fight to ensure
it will never exist again."

Emma aimed her beam rifle carefully at Lyla's mobile suit and swallowed
hard. Only one shot left in this thing. Have to make it count. . .

A white arrow of light traced itself over the dark sky, to pass
harmlessly past the Galbaldy-beta. Lyla's voice came over the comm link once
again, and this time it was cold and hard, without any trace of emotion.

"You are truly a fool, Emma Sheen. Finished with us, you said? That
you certainly are going to be, once I teach you what it means to go
against the will of the Titans. . ."

Camille saw the flash of light heralding the launch of a beam rifle
shot, and swooped down on Emma's Gundam, pushing her out of the trajectory
of the missile. His Newtype-heightened reflexes were fully in play
now, allowing him to remove himself from the point of impact in
split-seconds.

A swift turn to face the enemy, and Camille reached behind him, feeling
for the handle of the beam saber and activating the weapon. He charged
at Lyla's mobile suit, only to find his attack blocked by her own beam
saber. An experienced pilot, Lyla found it easy to read Camille's
moves, agile though he was, and easily blocked every stroke of his beam
saber.

As the fight pushed through to a stalemate, Camille barked to Emma over
the comm link: "Now's your chance, Emma! Make a break for the Agama!
I'll. . .handle. . .this!"

"But. . .!"

"Just GO, Emma! NOW!"

Reluctantly, Emma turned her Gundam away from the battle and raced for
the Agama at top speed. Fear and worry clutched at her heart - Camille
was still a boy, untutored in battle, never mind that he could pilot a
mobile suit and was a Newtype into the bargain. He was up against Lyla
Mira Lyla, a Federal Forces ace with an impressive record of kills. The idea
that Camille might soon be another statistic on Lyla's record sent a
chill through Emma's soul.

As she neared the Agama, Emma gasped audibly at the amazing sight of a
familiar bright red AEUG mobile suit emerging from the ship's docking
bay. She recognized it as Lyla's previous opponent and held her breath
as it sped by her on its way to. . .yes, it was actually going to help
Camille!

Hovering in space, Emma watched as the Rick Dias slashed away at the
Galbaldy-beta, giving Camille breathing room and a chance to recover. She
lifted up a silent prayer as she saw the black Gundam, twin of her
own, join with the Rick Dias in driving Lyla's Galbady-beta backwards.

Lyla was furious, and put up a desperate fight against the two Gundams,
but soon realized that the odds were truly against her favor.

"Fuck you," thought Lyla furiously, as she was driven father and
farther backwards from the Agama with every beam saber thrust. "You may win
this battle, but the war is far from over. When I see you AEUG assholes
again, you're dead meat."

With that thought, Lyla dropped down several hundred feet, then
launched herself back in the direction of the Alexandria, out of the field of
battle. She would not see the way the Rick Dias nodded to the black
Gundam, acknowledging Camille's presence within the mobile suit, then
gesture for it to precede it towards the Agama. Neither would she see the
happy tears of relief as Emma watched the men speeding towards her, or
hear her let out her breath on a half-sob of relief. Everything would
be all right, now...

"I'll take them down, if it's the last thing I do," seethed Lyla, then
a sudden thought splashed over her like ice. "A red mobile suit...with all the ferocity of the 'Red Comet', Char Aznable himself. Could it possibly be...?"

On the bridge of the Agama some time later, there were no such
questions as those plaguing Lyla Mira Lyla. A battle had been won, and with
it, a respite from the unceasing conflict that made up the lives of the
Agama's crew. For now, they were alone in clear space, and a general
sigh of relief swept through the ship as Commander Forra ordered a
stand-down from the previous "Red Alert" status.

Forra swung his chair towards the lift as its doors hissed open,
revealing Commander Quattro, Camille Vidan, and Emma Sheen. All of them had
managed to wash and change into fresh clothes - which in Emma's case
meant civilian clothing until such time as the ship's stores could find
something to fit her lithe figure. Camille, too, had changed out of the
borrowed Titans uniform into regulation AEUG clothing, and stood
solemnly beside Quattro.

Forra's eyes sought out and found Emma, who had hung back hesitantly.
Despite everything, she felt miserable over her part in the chain of
events that had led to such tragedy for Camille and to his arrest.

"Lieutenant Sheen," rumbled Forra gently, and with high color in her
face, Emma stepped forward from behind Quattro's reassuring bulk. "I see
you made good on your promise to help us, after all. Thank you for
helping return Camille to us."

"I. . ." stammered Emma, suddenly becoming aware that the stares
directed to her from all corners of the bridge were friendly and not
suspicious, accepting of the choices she had had to make, and not condemning
her for them. "It was the right thing to do, Commander. The least I
could do."

"You've done more than we could ever hope to repay, Lieutenant. But
what happens to you now? You're a traitor to the Titans cause now. Did
you leave family behind. . .?"

Emma smiled, a half-sad smile, and shook her head. "Not much family,
Commander. And what little there are, are safe from the Titans, so long
as I don't try to contact them."

Quattro's eyes met Emma's, and their expression was kind. "We'll find a
way to let them know you're all right, Emma. That much, at least, we
can do for you."

Emma nodded gratefully, then turned once again to the commander.
Squaring her shoulders, she drew herself to attention and said in a clear and
confident voice, "Commander Forra, Emma Sheen, late of the Titans
Force, respectfully requests permission to report for duty."

Forra's eyes twinkled merrily, although his voice was crisp as he stood
and saluted Emma, who returned it as if she were still in uniform.
Indeed, a perfect example of what an officer should be, thought Forra.

"Permission to report for duty, granted, Lieutenant Commander Emma
Sheen," he said, and a gasp ran across the bridge crew at Emma's rise in
the ranks. As a Commander, she would be allowed to fly on equal footing
with Quattro himself - truly a great honor.

No one was more aware of this than Emma herself, who stared wonderingly
from Forra to Quattro, who smiled faintly and nodded. Forra continued,
"I have it on good authority, my dear girl, that you will be a valuable
asset to the AEUG. Welcome aboard the Agama."

From there, the bridge erupted into a long-needed celebration, as Emma
was warmly embraced by both AEUG Supreme Commander Brex Forra *and* ace
pilot Lieutenant Commander Quattro Bajina. She was literally passed
from crewmember to crewmember for hugs and handshakes - and even the
security officer who had bruised her arm with his crushing grip welcomed
her with enthusiasm, slapping her on the back.

Yet in the midst of all the happiness surrounding Emma's welcome, she
spared a glance towards Camille, staring silently off into the view of
space on the main screen. Poor lad, she thought, before she was caught
up and ushered off the bridge to meet the rest of her new "family".

The merrymaking faded around Camille, lost in thought about how his
whole life had turned around in a matter of a few days. For better or
worse, he didn't know for sure. The only thing he was sure of was that
these troubles were only the beginning of a far different life than he had
ever known.

As he sat staring at the stars, he thought of his lively girlfriend Fa
Yuiri and wondered what happened to her after that Green Noah 1
incident...

"Fa..." he thought, "Please wait for me..."



To be continued
---

Hi kids! Okay, okay, so the Evangelion part still isn't being written.
Please be patient, I'll get to it *in time* as the story progresses.

It's a gloomy Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 21, 2001 actually) as I finish
writing this and honestly I feel kinda burned out. I think I'll get to
type Chapters 3 and 4 as soon as I kinda regain my energy and actually
start being *creative* for the first time. ^^;

Z Gundam fans may notice also that the events portrayed here are VERY
different from those in the original Z Gundam TV series. Well, I've only
watched up to Episode 2 so far and the rest, I left up to a Z Gundam
synopsis page (I forget the URL, I'll put it here as soon as possible) so
it's kind of my fault too.

Till next episode, "you'll see the tears of time."....

P.S. I would just like to take this time to thank the few humble people
who were responsible in the help of making this fic in its most presentable
form:

- Mrs. Cindy Genato (cindygenato@cheerful.com) for volunteering to beta-read
this piece of trash for me. Thanks be to you, old friend! Regards to your
husband, by the way! :p

- Jean Pierre Domingo (kaiser_reinhardt@yahoo.com), my college schoolmate and
the bestest friend anyone could ever have. He's the one responsible for
getting me into Gundam in the first place (and learning that Gundam Wing
ISN'T the only Gundam series out there worth watching...if ever Gundam Wing
*is* worth watching at all...UH-UH, no flames, please!

- Rachel Grey (elfbard@iprimus.com.au), my one and only sweet and loving
(and lovely!) girlfriend, who's also an Evangelion otaku like I am and
who has been more than an inspiration for me to make this fic. She's
also helped in some parts of the fic. Honey, I love you more than you
will ever know and I just hope someday that we'll finally meet. :)

- Those people from the Gundam Mailing List (gundam@aeug.org) who helped me
through their wonderful suggestions to me. More power to all of you in your
dealings with mankind and such. I bid thee and thine good tidings.

- Gainax and Bandai for producing such spectacular anime mecha series such
as Neon Genesis Evangelion and Mobile Suit Gundam. Thanks be to you, folks.

And last, but not the least:

- I would like to thank you, dear reader, for taking the time to read my
work. I really appreciate it and hope by your reading of this, it will give
me more inspiration to write some more.

C&C's are welcome, flames aren't.