G-Gundam: New Deals
Re-draw
Disclaimer: Let me check.... nope, still don't own Gundam. Bandai and Sunrise own the rights to Mobile Suit Gundam and all its myriad descendants, universal or otherwise century.
by Tremor3258
*************
"You know, I thought you'd be happier about this," Trenton commented, "I'm not up on everything with you martial artists, but this is THE tournament, and one of the highest honors a Colony Nation can offer."
Megan shifted in her seat next to him on the intracolony rail line. The old stamina recovery tricks were helping, but her injured side was starting to become a nuisance, but it wouldn't do to break down and whine at this point
After getting a little more comfortable, she explained, "Partly it's because I'm still annoyed with myself at getting tagged like that, even if it was from behind."
*And the rest of me is annoyed with myself for being annoyed,* she scolded herself. Still, there were plenty of old failures she had accounted for. *Might as well make the checklist complete,* she thought with a slight smile, mood improving as her energy continued to return.
She sighed as she said,"I'm going to need to be centered when I meet John, or I'm going to have no chance of softening his reaction. He hates it when I go out on the street like this, and I don't know why. John goes, picks me out, shows me a path that won't end with me dead or wishing I was by the age I'm at now, and claims he wants me to inherit his teachings," Megan clenched her fists for a moment, focusing on breathing. More calmly, she finished, "But it seems he'd rather I leave the fighting skills at the door and just stand by passively."
Trenton felt he'd hit a sore point, but didn't want to leave a bad impression just after meeting someone again, "Well, he's probably worried about you. How does he feel about the Gundam Fight? You said one of his friend's got you doing training work, right?"
"Well, I'm not sure if John ever was in a qualification trial, but he's always seemed really enthusiastic about the idea." she commented, "But then, the rules are designed to make it pretty close to a tournament, with not a lot of danger for the pilot. A lot more straightforward than a street fight." Megan grinned thinly, and continued, "Plus, Mr. Boll, the designer, was with the Department of Defense last Fight, and he really wanted to see if he could mimic the weaponry the other colonies unveiled last time around. So half the circuits are always melting down, he wasn't able to armor it right, so it can't survive combat for very long, but it did get Mr. Boll a grant for next time. He wants it in the qualification trials, but I haven't trained for a month while he tries to get it combat worthy." Megan shrugged.
Trenton nodded grimly, "I know about that. With Gundams being usually prototypes, there's always a case something weird happens. My unit's been busy learning how to deal with Minovsky radiation, fusion burns... neural feedback," Trenton winced. Gundam Fights were ugly, but then war was ALWAYS hell.
"To quote: Gundams and their pilots must both be strong," she recited. At Trenton's questioning gaze, she shrugged, "Don't ask me where it's from, I've heard John mention it once or twice. I would like to pilot one in battle, just once," her voice tinged with longing, "To see that opportunity for the perfect fight and reaching beyond yourself."
The train pulled into a stop, and Megan grabbed Trenton before he could stand up. "Five more to go," she warned, and looked at him curiously. "What's the military doing for training now days, anyway? Memory wipes?" Trenton gave her a disgruntled look. He had his own views on the military, but schooling issues wasn't one of them. She backed down immediately, holding up her hands. "Sorry, I'm sure you've had a long day, and it's not that I'm grateful that time's dimmed thing somewhat, but why did you get off five minutes early?"
"They've had to rebuild half the colony after the Dark Gundam, remember?" he said, stiffly, "I was in medical school the whole time, so all the changes were a bit of a shock." Trenton grabbed his gear and trotted off the train.
"Oh," she said softly, and then, started running after him. "Hey wait!" she said, sounding alarmed. Trenton turned, looking in irritation at the street fighter.
"You're going the wrong way. Block D is NORTH of here!" she explained. Grabbing Trenton's arm again, Megan started forcibly leading the medical student in the correct direction. Trenton sighed and rolled his eyes, but allowed himself to be pulled.
************
The ripples of Chibodee's accident spread quickly throughout the solar system. A half-million miles away, the carefully designed morning serenity was shattered by one of the usual supsects. Sai Sici, heir to Shao Lin, Club Ace, Neo-China Gundam Fighter, and still short, was finding what should have been a peaceful morning jog down to train with a slightly modified Dragon Gundam interrupted quite rudely by the presence of a half-dozen martial artists, wearing the colors of the Chicoline temple.
Sai sighed and crossed his arms behind his back, the very image of cocky indolence, though the pose was also helping him get his arm muscles nicely stretched. "I admire your persistence, guys, but six-on-one isn't going to convince the emperor to withdraw his favor from the Shaolin."
"You misunderstand, Lord Sici," reported the one in the middle. "They are only here to ensure we are not interrupted. I have the honor of your defeat today."
Sai sighed and rolled his eyes before dropping into a loose stance. "All right, your hospital bills."
With a loud battle cry, the enemy monk charged forward. Sai jumped up on a nearby light pole, and gave a cocky grin. After a moment, the monk leapt up to join him. "Hmm, not bad at all. You've been working out," he generously complimented before the two began to trade punches and kicks faster than the untrained eye could follow.
Sai's attention was drawn behind the lead monk as a morning newspaper truck rumbled into view at the next cross street. He couldn't quite make the characters out at this range, but there was an echo there, almost like the powers of the Shuffle Crest, but tinged with a sadness.
"An opening!" shouted Sai's opponent, driving his fist through a gap the lapse in Sai's cooperation had breeched through his defenses. More importantly, it quite rudely interrupted, in Sai's opinion, his thought process. Far faster than before, Sai's hand shifted and grabbed the Chicoline master's fist, catching it in mid-punch. Shocked, the master allowed them to settle to the ground, looking in fear at the sudden mastery displayed, for now, gleaming brightly, shined the crest of the Club Ace.
"Sorry, but there's something more important I have to do than spar with you right now," Sai said, voice filled with a deep eternal calm. The ensnared master looked into Sai's eyes, and whimpered at the fighting spirit glowing within. "Sleep on that, will you?" Sai said calmly, before twisting the Chicoline's arm behind his back, allowing Sai to deliver a quick blow to the back of the head, taking the master out.
"Yup, you're still exactly one hundred years too early to beat me," Sai said, laughter in his voice as his aura faded away. He started striding down the street towards the newspapers. The line of Chicoline students blocking his path melted away as they ran for the sidewalks, not meeting Sai's eyes. Their posture clearly showed they all had realized they had very important things to do, and were in a hurry to find out what those important things were.
Shaking his head in mock sadness at his enemies' flight, Sai trotted down the street, whistling slightly as he reached the newspaper stand, and could finally read the headline. "This can't be right!" Sai demanded of the fates. "Chibodee's WAY too stubborn to get knocked out by some accident!"
"Master Sici!" echoed a voice down the street, before Sai's two guardians skidded around the corner, not wasting time to decelerate. "Master Sici!" they said in unison again after stopping in front of the diminutive Shao Lin leader, panting a bit from the exertion. "Master Sici-" Keoi, the shorter of the two monks said for a third time, drawing a smirk from Sai, despite the situation. "We have just heard the news. Are you all right?" the elderly monk said, observing Sai's dirty lcothes.
Sai nodded. One of the nicer things about growing up was that old geezers started to assume you knew what was going on. "I'm fine right now. Usual Chicoline pestering this morning." Sai pointed at the headline and continued, "Still, I think we're safer than bro is with the Imperial Gundam stored on the temple grounds. It's a lot safer than in some factory warehouse."
"Indeed," said Zuisen, the taller of the pair. "Mister Crockett was unwise to rely so much upon his own strengths alnoe. You must remember, Master Sici, that the Gundam Fight is much different than the politics that surround it."
Sai sighed. Then there were the other sort of adults, who needed to impart a morale in everything. "Yes, I know about that. Neo-Japan doesn't have the credability to redraft the Gundam Fight regulations, so any solution to its problem will have to come from the Fighters," Sai intoned. After a moment, he grinned, and asked, "Any word yet on Domon's reaction? He's probably ready to tear in there right now and start knocking heads."
"That is... probably correct," Keoi admitted, "But we did not spend the time speaking with the Emperor's intelligence advisors. He invited you and your Gundam to the Winter Palace to continue your training before the Fight, as a sign of his respect to you."
Sai stiffened. Such invitations to the Emperor's private residence were practically nonexistent to anyone outside the royal family, thanks to the massive security around the Emperor's heirs Even after the last Gundam fight, Sai had only seen the public residence of His Majesty. "It's so bad they want me locked out of sight, huh?" he said quietly after a bit.
"Yes," Zuisen said grimly, "Everyone is in a panic, and His Excellency wishes to take some quiet steps while others investigate."
"Do not worry, Master Sici, we will maintain the temple in your absence," Keoi promised. Zuisen nodded his agreement.
"All right. Let's go gather the Gundam and my things. I suppose beating up the Imperial Royal Guard is better training than the Chicolines anyway," Sai said with forced optimism. His efforts were rewarded with a few polite chuckles and knowing grins, which did help dispel the dark atmosphere of the meeting. The trio headed off down the street at a quick walk, not noticing the quick flash of an optic sensor and shimmer as a cloaked mobile suit began trudging off for parts unknown.
*************
"So, what style does your father teach, anyway?" Trenton asked to make conversation with the two stuck at a crossing two blocks from their respective homes. Megan had let go of Trenton's arm, feeling he probably wouldn't wander off on his own.
"Hmm?" Megan said, taking her eyes off the light. After a moment's thought, she explained, "Mainly Tae Kwon Do to the students, though he likes to throw in a lot of the defensive stuff like aikido. The advanced stuff, for people like me," she flashed a quick grin, "is pretty philosophical, as usual. Finding and directly the flow of energy through battle.." she trailed off, and finished more quietly, "That's harder to explain without a couple years training. I guess, basically, it's a lot on countering. I mean, the stuff I do, with the wind maneuvers and the super-jumps, takes a few years of training to get the fundamentals. After that, you can start developing the really cool moves with projection."
Trenton looked at her, curious. Megan shrugged and closed her eyes. Trenton got a feeling of presence radiating from her for a moment before she flicked her finger, making a slight breeze. "That wasn't too impressive," she said critically as she opened her eyes, "But I gotta save my strength. John's probably going to have a quick 'lesson' for me when I get back." Megan leaned down, touching her toes as she began limbering up.
The light changed shortly thereafter, and the two began walking, Megan rotating her arms in circles as the two walked. Trenton sighed. "I don't think I am ever going to understand serious martial artists. It seems such a waste to use your talents to just try and bash each other's brains in."
"Hey, I'm not planning for this to be my whole life," Megan said irritably, mouth clicking shut. After a moment, she spoke again, her voice slightly cracked as she strove for calm, "But I can tell you it's not something that can really be explained with words. I'm good, but there's a quality... I've seen it when John's training now and then. Just something powerful and greater than yourself that can touch you when you're eyes are truly on victory," she finished wistfully. Trenton rolled his eyes again.
"Mock it if you must... but right now I'm at a plateau. I can feel it," she said despondently, "I don't want to battle my whole life, but I'm not planning on stopping for now. I can do better than this, and if I can touch that true fight, then I'll be satisfied." Megan sighed.
"That was rather deep," said Trenton slowly, before picking up speed and teasing, "I can't believe this is the same girl who tried to beat me silly with a shinai when my parents made me babysit!" Trenton stopped, "Of course, sometimes you would just try to escape."
Megan groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I'm so embarrassed. I was such a young punk back then!"
"So now you thrash criminals, huh?" Trenton said lightly.
"Watch it, buddy. You're forgetting I usually DID manage to sneak out to the dojo, and I could take you down," Megan growled jokingly, before stiffening. A moment later, the wind picked up, carrying a voice, seemingly from nowhere.
"HAH! Those who would use the arts of fighting upon their own country's military are not deserving of their talents!" roared a voice. Out from a tree farther down the block jumped a tall, heavily built man who landed lightly in a fighting stance. His eyes gleamed, despite the sun being behind him. "Prepare your-" The figure broke off, and resumed more calmly, "Oh, Megan. I didn't know you were going into the city with a friend. Glad to see you're discovering romance though."
Megan groaned and stared up at the sky, and pleaded, "Please, God, just kill me now!"
Trenton shook his head and stepped forward. "Mr... Garrison, yes? I'm Trenton Wage. My parents live two doors down?" Trenton gasped as John rushed forward with a cry of delight, sweeping him into a bear hug, and spinning him around once in the air before setting him down.
Trenton, once he got his breath back, got a chance to examine his parent's old friend. He was much as he remembered. John was still a VERY tall and muscular man, though there was some salt-and-pepper showing in the red hair and beard as aging began to catch up with him. Still, his green eyes still shone with the old irrepressible energy.
John boomed again, "Trenton, dear boy! Look at you! You've grown so much! Your parents won't recognize you either!" John turned a withering glare Megan, who had watched Trenton suffer one of her adoptive father's bear hugs with amusement. "Sorry your first introduction was this troublemaker." Megan had the presence to look affronted. "Don't try it, kiddo," John said with amusement, "Mr. Drake blabbed." Megan grimaced.
Trenton felt the need to get involved. "Mr. Garrison, she wasn't involved in just beating people up. She was trying to help out some kids in the city!"
"Yes," said John, with real anger in his voice, "She was. I also know she got sliced up under that jacket of hers." Megan pulled it a bit tighter around her shoulders defensively. "Megan I've spent years working to try and install some logic into you and you rush off like some vigilante? What makes you think you have the skills to take on mob goons? You know your reserves aren't that great!"
Megan's eyes narrowed. "I think I had the situation in hand. The only way I'm going to learn how to focus energy is in a real fight situation. If you let me carry the school's banner into some tournaments than maybe I'd have the stamina to pull off more than one Hurricane Slice!"
John's eyes widened in shock, "You mean you pulled it off?" he whispered.
Megan nodded firmly, "Of course, I train on my own, too! You think I just try and learn how to surprise you from you?" she scolded, " I think I've almost got all the bugs worked out of it. And even if Trenton hadn't been there, I've got this illusion technique that works for a couple of sec-" Megan winced, "Hadn't meant to tell you about that yet."
Trenton was quite pleased to see the matters turn from private family squabbles and was willing to reenter the conversation to keep it that way. "I thought you said you only had one technique of the school figured out?"
"That's right!" Megan sing-songed smugly. "Girl's gotta have secrets! This is an Asters original, buddy!" She deflated a little and admitted, "Well, how I got it working is. It's not exactly the first of its kind out there, naturally."
John interrupted, demanding and sounding harassed, "You're figuring out the energy techniques already?"
"Yeah," Megan said, a little confused, "I mean, we've been working on the basics for a while, and you showed me the Hurricane Cut move, so I've been working on it. It's been hard to get the energy to come the way you showed me, but I can do some damage with it." Megan pointed casually at Trenton. "Mr. Wage here will provide written testimony if you like," she finished sardonically.
"Hmm," said John appraisingly, before spinning on his heel. "Come along, then. Let's get you settled down. You may heal fast, but that wound could get nasty if you stay on your feet much longer."
Megan blinked. "Um... it's not that I mind, but you're not even going to throw a punch?" asked with concern, "Are you feeling all right? I got Trenton all charged up on the idea, and everything! I'm sure you're not going to give up with me getting the old raging flames of anger in my heart under control," Megan finished with a crooked grin.
John blinked, then sighed, "I don't mind your heart, but I sometimes worry about your brain. I think you've managed to punish yourself at this point. You go lie down, Megan. I'll handle your class at the school tonight."
"What!" Megan demanded, shocked, "But... I promised I'd be there, I need to see them!"
John shook his head, smiling, "Trust me, you have a reason for preemption. The information packet arrived from Vance, er, Mr. Boll," he explained to Trenton, remembering the company present who needed to be clued in, "He's got the upgrades with the new factory stuff finished, and wants to start the training cycle." John smiled, and asked, "In fact, he'll be here tonight. How about I come over with you to catch up with your parents and everyone can come over with them for dinner? It's the least I can do for lending some aid to my daughter, and there probably won't be much time left to catch up with the Trials right around the corner."
Megan nodded, "It's what... three weeks until the qualification? About time," she said, forcing a chuckle through gritted teeth. The trio were now at the walkway up to the Garrison residence, which had the envious position of being built on a rise, the hill leading up to it giving a commanding view of the surrounding colony.
Trenton and John waved as they continued when Megan started climbing up the hill. AS the men passed out of sight behind the trees she tried sitting down, though the sitting turned into more of a controlled collapse. She almost whimpered, but bit it off. "Come on, Megan, be adult! You're doing so well," she encouraged herself, prodding her side tentatively. She had enough experience to tell the wound hadn't reopened, but it must have been deeper than she thought; the quick heal techniques didn't usually take this much out of her.
After another few seconds of rest, Megan began the rest of the climb into the house, focused on her goal of the couch in the living room. Shambling at this point, she ignored the newspaper blaring out the tragic news, the blinking light on the answering machine, and the manilla folder marked, "Eagle Gundam: Reevaluation post rebuild." As soon as she settled down onto the battered sofa, sleep seized her away from a day that was already long despite the clock only reading ten in the morning.
To be continued....
Author's Notes: Wow, this took a while to come out. Sorry. College was busier than expected this semester. Now, this chapter was more talky than I liked, which came about a bit from effectively doing it in three phases. There was going to be a match with Megan's father at the end, but evidently Megan using some of the higher attacks got her a bye until the injuries healed. She'll be back up shortly.
Well, that or Megan has a slightly unfair view of her father, who's good enough to clearly read her weaknesses through the brave front she was putting up. You'll have to read more to see, along with what was watching Sai.
Oh yes, and two Gundams to show up later have been mentioned. The current plan next time is to actually show Megan's in preparation to actually starting the Gundam Fights thereafter. And then, more action... we still have two more Shuffles to check up on before we can really start, after all.