Author's Note—Thanks for the kind and humbling reviews—yes I do stick as close to canon as I can when I write so your comments are appreciated.
ADVANCING DARKNESS
At the Neo Japan government hangar where the gundams were housed and maintained, Domon Kasshu strode toward the large high tech creation known as the Burning Gundam. Not in the best of moods, he leapt onto the platform that rose to the cockpit and ran into Aquino, the young lady who had been assigned by Commander Karato as his partner when Rain had resigned during the final fight of the tournament. She was formal and businesslike as usual as she exited the cockpit.
"Good morning, Domon-san. I was just doing a routine check on the gundam's circuitry."
Domon grunted, "Morning, any problems with them?"
"Not that I could see but you are the pilot so if you come across anything malfunctioning please let me know." The young woman smiled blandly and then made her exit, stepping on the platform to descend when a loud voice bellowed from below.
"Hey Japan, you still tryin' to keep this bucket of bolts running?" Chibodee Crocket scoffed good-naturedly, as the Neo American fighter with the Queen of Spades crest stood with arms akimbo smirking.
Domon growled a retort, "Yeah, well I sure kicked your butt with it during the tournament. Been waiting for ya, Chibodee."
"Uh-huh," Chibodee responded distractedly as his green eyes were riveted to the shapely form of Aquino as she daintily alit from the platform when it got to ground level. He watched her intently as she made her way to the opposite side of the hangar.
Domon cleared his throat to get his friend's attention. "You never change, Chibodee. Still got an eye for the ladies," he said with a smirk of his own.
"Yeah," Chibodee answered as he dragged his eyes away from the pert gundam mechanic's retreating form. "How can we settle with just one when there's so many to choose from?"
Domon leapt down to join him. "Humph! I didn't ask you to meet me here to hit on the Neo Japan gundam mechanic. I have to talk to you about something."
"Okay." The tall lanky fighter from New York sat on the platform, his eyes on the King of Hearts. "I'm all ears."
Domon sat beside him and began. "Chibodee, do you know of any further existence of DG cells now that the Dark Gundam is gone?"
Chibodee frowned thoughtfully as he contemplated the question. He sighed and replied, "I haven't heard of any but then again I've kind of isolated myself a bit since the tournament. The media at home hassled me when I got back right afterward so since then I've kept a pretty low profile. I haven't even gone into Gundam Maxter for about a month."
Domon grunted in response. "So what have you been doing? Getting drunk and or laid?"
Chibodee glared at the Neo Japanese fighter. "I could ask you the same. By the way, how is Rain? Have you decided to make an honest woman of her?"
At that question Domon's umber eyes became hooded. "Rain's fine, but let's just get down to why I called you. Yesterday I got a strange transmission on the gundam sensors, like we did in the Guyana Highlands. That's why I asked if you had gotten the same."
Chibodee studied his Shuffle Alliance comrade closely. "I thought we destroyed the Dark Gundam completely."
"So did I but apparently some of the cells are still around. It makes me wonder if the Dark Gundam is trying to self-recover. C'mon into the cockpit and I'll show you." Both men got on the platform and rose up to the cockpit of Burning Gundam to enter. Once inside, Domon strode to the data sensor computer and hit the enter button.
The monitor showed a schematic cross section of a Dark Army gundam soldier and the location perimeters placing it somewhere offshore of Neo Japan. It then showed remnants of Dark Gundam tentacles that had been in fragments at the ocean bottom miraculously re-generating.
"What the hell?" Chibodee expostulated. "So the monster's not dead."
Domon nodded woodenly. He opened his mouth to speak but the crest on his right hand began glowing as did Chibodee's. "Well, I guess that proves it. The Dark Gundam is self-recovering."
Chibodee made a long, low whistle. "I guess we'd better contact the rest of the Alliance," he said with resignation.
Domon stared at the screen, his heart plummeting as he contemplated what was in the wings for him and the Shuffle Alliance. "Yeah," he said with a note of trepidation.
At the research library, Rain was continuing her task, relentlessly poring over document after document of notes and case studies of DG cell infestations. She was also reading the autopsy report on Gentle Chapman as it pertained to her work and came across some rather disturbing facts:
Autopsy—Gentle Chapman
Findings are as follows:
Subject was a 35 y/o male approx. 6'2" 195 lbs who was generally of good health at the time of death. Cause of death has been primarily due to injuries sustained in gundam fight which were severe injuries causing internal hemorrhaging and subsequent cardiac arrest.
For the most part, subject's heart cavity was clear of obstructions, lungs clear and bronchial tubes healthy. However, there was an excessive number of infected brain cells with DG cell invasion, effecting both hemispheres. The brain surface was completely covered with DG cells giving it a metallic consistency. . .
Rain sighed as she skimmed through the document, making notes and mentally reliving the time she and Domon first met up with Chapman . . .
Flashback:
They had been invited for tea to the Chapman estate, and as they sat down Domon, in his usual belligerent manner had no use for the social amenities and challenged Gentle right away to a gundam fight, George De Sand's defeat at Chapman's hands prompting him. But Rain had noticed the man's constant consumption of mental stimulants and she faked a headache to do her own investigating. She came across the subterranean storage area of Chapman's gundam as well as a fog producing machine and was knocked out. When she came to, she was in the control room where Manon was directing her gravely ill husband in his gundam fight with Domon. She told Rain of her devotion to her husband, to support him in his quest, no matter what. Domon used Shining Finger to defeat him and it was too much, he perished in his wife's loving arms. Her words echoed . . .
"Don't feel sorry for me. I knew that this day would come when I married him. The destiny of a warrior," Manon mused as she cradled Gentle in her arms. She addressed the three young adults, George, Domon, and Rain. "Look carefully all of you, for this could be your futures." She then turned back to her love.
End Flashback
Rain sighed as the memory brought a pang to her heart. Manon was so devoted to her husband that she would do anything to ensure his success. She wondered how the lovely, courageous widow was now and she really wondered if she had known of her husband's resurrection by the Dark Gundam. It was then Rain decided that she would go to Neo England to speak to Manon to gather information on the Dark Gundam as well as other countries to talk to other victims' friends and families.
She began to make a list of the victims of DG cells and beside them made a list of destinations for her journey. Her task was interrupted by another knock on the library door.
"Come in."
The door opened and the caped figure of the Neo Japan gundam fighter stepped in. He regarded his beloved from the doorway with a rare but warm smile.
"My father told me I'd find you here. How's it going?" Domon asked.
Rain returned the smile. "Okay. I've got some background that will help my research." She swung around and got up to walk over. "So what brings you here, I thought you were at the gundam hangar working."
"I was but I got a visitor." At those words, Domon was shoved aside and Chibodee came forward.
He took Rain in an energetic embrace and swung her around, in spite of her surprised reaction and Domon's dark scowl. "Hiya, Rain. And how's the most beautiful lady doctor in all Neo Japan?"
"Goodness, Chibodee put me down! I'm fine and how are you?" Rain said breathlessly.
"Careful, Chibodee. She's not a toy, damn it!" Domon snapped.
"Okay, okay! Chill out willya?" He put Rain down and Domon encircled her in his arms protectively.
Rain took a deep breath. "I'm okay, Domon." She flashed him a reassuring smile and extricated herself from his arms. "So what's up, boys?"
Domon replied, "We came here to take you to lunch. You haven't eaten yet today, have you?"
Rain shook her head sheepishly. "No, I haven't."
"Well then it's settled. Come on." Domon took her arm and shepherded her to the door with Chibodee blocking her from turning back.
"B-but I have work to do! And I'm not really hungry," Rain protested but it fell on deaf ears, both muscular gundam fighters had each taken an arm and they were guiding her to the exit. The men ignored Rain's protests as they walked her out into the bright sunshine.
They stopped at a sidewalk café about a mile from the government building. They sat Rain down and then flanked her as a waitress came and took orders.
"Well now that you've kidnapped me are you planning to force feed me as well?" the cinnamon haired doctor demanded crossly, annoyed by the manhandling she experienced.
Domon threw his head back and chuckled. "Sorry koishii, but you didn't eat last night and I wasn't going to let you go without food any longer."
Chibodee nodded in agreement. "Domon's right, Rain. He told me that you're not eating or sleeping." His green gaze was full of concern.
"Domon! What else did you tell him?" Rain wanted to know.
Domon opened his mouth but Chibodee replied, "He told me that you're chasing after any left over DG cells." He glanced at Domon and asked uncertainly, "Have you told her about the data on the gundam computer?"
Domon scowled at Chibodee but the blue haired gundam fighter was saved by his wrath when the waitress appeared with their lunch orders.
"Whew, saved by the belle," he remarked as he flashed an engaging smile at the pretty waitress.
Domon's scowl turned into a smirk as Rain rolled her eyes and the conversation was forgotten as they dug in, hunger overtaking them.
After lunch, the trio walked back to the government research building and the three young adults were giggling like children in a carefree manner. Domon opened the door for Rain to let her pass when a short, harried young man in a lab coat rushed to the portal, out of breath.
"Dr. Mikamura! We've been looking everywhere for you! Please come!" he said agitatedly as all three regarded him curiously.
"What is it, Soujiro?" Rain inquired.
"Just please come, Doctor," the lab assistant urged. Rain turned to Domon and Chibodee and shrugged her slim shoulders as she followed. The two men tailed her as they all entered the research lab.
They came upon a tank bearing several species of underwater creatures prevalent off the shore of Neo Japan. But the one feature that all had in common and made them extraordinary was that they were all infected with DG cells
"Huh?" the three said as they peered into the tank. Inside a usually peaceful mako shark with a covering of DG cells on its top and dorsal fin was swimming about attacking some flounder and then a few eels with cells covering their entire length like a mail were attacking the side of the tank.
Chibodee's eyes widened in verdant amazement. "That's absolutely unbelievable! They're attacking anything in reach, like rabid dogs."
Domon grunted as in morbid fascination he watched the carnage in the tank. Rain shuddered delicately as she went to the young man who addressed her at the door. "Soujiro, when were these creatures brought in and from where?"
Soujiro sighed and answered, "They were captured this morning about twenty miles from the shore."
Both Domon and Chibodee's heads whirled to the lab assistant, eyes boring into him. Domon stepped before him and grasped the man's lapels. "What did you say?" he said abruptly.
The diminutive lab assistant became frightened at the Neo Japanese gundam fighter's fierce countenance. "I-I," he stammered, words at a loss.
"Domon, let go of him," Rain admonished. She smiled apologetically at the flustered assistant was released and heaved a sigh of relief. He then answered the question.
"They were found offshore about twenty miles out," he said eyeing Domon with caution.
"Ummm," Domon expostulated, his customary sound of acknowledgement or frustration. "You catch that, Chibodee?" he addressed the Neo American.
"Yep, I sure did," Chibodee replied with a scowl.
Rain looked from one gundam fighter to the other, utterly in the dark. "What are you guys talking about?" she demanded.
Domon took her elbow and said, "Not here. Let's go to your office, I'll tell you there." He guided her to her office with Chibodee right behind.
Once inside with the door closed, he directed her to sit while he and Chibodee straddled chairs before her. She became alarmed by the seriousness of their expressions.
"What is going on?"
Domon sighed and began, "Yesterday, on Burning Gundam's sensors, the computer brought up some data that shows self-recovery activity on some remnants of the Dark Gundam, some tentacles that had been at the bottom of the ocean just offshore. And not only that, but a Dark Army gundam image flashed on the monitor."
Rain was aghast. "Are you sure?" she asked in shock.
Chibodee nodded, "And our Shuffle crests have been glowing since this morning." He and Domon held up their right hands to support the statement. The crests were illuminated brightly.
Rain grasped her shoulders in dread as Domon got up from his chair. He pulled it next to hers and wrapped his arm around her, squeezing her tight, words unnecessary.
The three young adults sat in silence, the weight of the words hanging heavily on them all. Memories of battles from the past year ran through their collective minds and each was filled with the sinking feeling of new battles waiting.
Chibodee sighed and got to his feet. "Well, I'd better get the rest of the Shuffles here so we can plan our strategy. Talk to you both later." He let himself out as Domon turned his head to the girl in his arms.
He spoke, "You're awful quiet, koibito. What's on your mind?"
Rain sighed as she replied heavily, "I'm just letting this all sink in. I had a feeling all along that we hadn't heard the last from the Dark Gundam."
"Hmmph! Yeah I hate to admit it, deep down so did I," Domon admitted.
Rain's heart fell as the news became more real. The Dark Gundam was indeed making a comeback and beginning to self-recover and the thought brought a cold chill in her stomach. The sea creatures being infested with DG cells was just its way to seek out a new life force. She shuddered involuntarily.
Later that night, Rain was tossing and turning restlessly as she sought the escape of slumber from the upsetting events of the day. Finally, she fell into a fitful sleep and she began to dream . . .
The shiny silver metal encased her on every inch of her body. Although she was fully aware of everything that was taking place, she felt like a machine; a chrome covered anomaly that was at the mercy of a creation of flawed man, at the control of the evil forces of the cosmic realm. Inwardly, she recoiled when Ulube wrapped his arm around her and caressed her cheek to goad an infuriated Domon who had arrived to rescue her.
Then the dream switched to when Domon confronted her, in her metallic prison, a vicious version of the proverbial gilded cage as he spoke to her with more gentleness than she knew he could possess. He reached to cup her cheek then encircled her with his strong arms, his warm breath tickling her and breaking down her desire to keep him from being another of her father's victims, consumed by the Dark Gundam. His declaration of love freed her into the security of his arms but then the dream changed, the Dark Gundam sent out its insidious tentacles to reclaim her. Domon vanished as the gundam swallowed her again the silvery veneer creeping back over her, totally engulfing her as she screamed endlessly . . .
"NO! NO! DOMON, HELP ME! DON'T LEAVE ME!" Rain shrieked as she shot bolt upright in her bed. The door to her bedroom flew open with a bang and Domon rushed in and seized her shoulders to gently shake her awake.
"Rain! Rain! Shhhh, it's okay, I'm here. Wake up, koishii, you're dreaming, I'm right here," he crooned soothingly, stroking her hair back as he cradled her in his arms.
Her cerulean orbs flew open as she pulled back to look into the angular and rugged visage of the King of Hearts, his features flooded with tender concern. "Oh Domon, it had me again. That, that thing had me inside it and you were gone." She buried her head in his broad and bare shoulder.
"Hush uruwashii, It was just a dream. You're safe and I'm not going anywhere," Domon reassured her but she pulled away and shook her head.
"You saw what I saw today at the lab. The Dark Gundam is self-recovering, and it is already seeking out a life force. The computer sensor at Burning Gundam picked up a Dark Army gundam, which is proof that it is self-regenerating," Rain insisted, shaking her head vehemently.
"It may just be remnants of the Dark Gundam after its destruction," Domon tried to reason half-heartedly but if truth be known he was as disturbed about the discovery today as Rain was. And his crest was still glowing, as it had been since first this morning. But he was focused on calming his beloved down after her nightmare.
"Look, Rain. It's okay. Whatever's happening or about to happen, the Shuffle Alliance will see to it that the Dark Gundam is completely destroyed." Domon spoke with the King of Heart's authority, grim determination lighting his umber eyes.
Rain eyed him with uncertainty. "That's a noble cause, itoshii, but unless there is a way the DG cells can be eradicated I'm afraid that the Dark Gundam will just keep self-recovering." She clasped her shoulders as she shivered, the thought sending a chill down her spine.
Domon gathered her in his arms and held her close as her words hung in the air, ominous and foreboding.
NEXT----THE SEARCH BEGINS