= = = = = = = = = = =
Kido Senshi Gundam: Char's Counter Attack
The Last Stand, Chapter 3
-Gredival
= = = = = = = = = = =
"That's the Re-GZ," the mechanic said, gesturing with his hand at the unit. He nodded to Bright and the young pilot before proceeding to the elevator to join his men on the repair platform.
The mechanics were still working on it, but it was once again standing on two legs. The scorched and riddled armor had been repaired and reinforce; the gunmetal gray had been painted over, hidden under the paint.
"You want me to pilot that?" Ryou asked incredulously.
"We're hoping that Anaheim can convert it to a redesigned structure," Bright hesitated, "the plan is to send you over there with the Re-GZ. According to the designers there it should take a few days of work."
"What's the part I don't know?" the perceptive younger man asked.
"We've heard word Anaheim is building a new mobile suit for the Zeon as well. We can't go in with the intent to attack the Neo Zeon, Anaheim's neutral. The same applies for the Neo Zeon. But after this battle, Anaheim won't matter to them – win or lose this is the Neo Zeon's last operation. So I don't want to send you with the Re-GZ to Anaheim alone. I'm going to send the Ra Kiev with a strike team to follow you."
"When do I leave?"
"One hundred hours," Bright replied. Ryou closed his eyes and digested the news. "Regardless of engagement with Neo Zeon you'll need to rendezvous with us en route to Side 3 as soon as you can."
"Side 3? Why there?"
"They're going to drop Sweetwater on Earth."
= = = = =
"Penny for your thoughts?" Chihiro asked as she approached. Her hands slid into the pockets of her blue jeans, pushing the sleeves of her thick gray sweater up a bit. Except for two bangs running down the sides of her face and curling at her chin, her normally deep amber colored hair was pulled back into a ponytail. The silvery moonlight bathed her peach skin in a radiant glow, and the sapphire gem the dangling on her neck glittered. Her lithe frame wasn't muscular, yet seemed to show her deep inner strength in her stride.
"You're wasting you're money," Ryou replied, raising his green eyes to look at the new company. Even in the darker lighting of the nighttime sky his hair was considerably darker. The new Londo Bell jacket was still stiff, retaining a firm shape instead of forming to the man's body. Underneath he still wore a regular tan Federation uniform. The outfit seemed out of place with his younger energetic appearance.
"You're supposed to drop the charges," Chihiro pointed out dryly.
"Gotta take what I can get," he responded with a wry grin. Chihiro rolled her eyes a bit at the lame excuse and took a seat on the swing next to the man.
She knew something wasn't right about that grin.
"So you're leaving tonight," she said silently.
"Yeah," he whispered. His black shoes dug into the band, cutting into the wet under layer that clumped up when children dug into it. "I'll be going to Anaheim with a team tomorrow while the rest of the fleet goes to Side 3. I'll probably meet up with them after the suits we bring are finished."
"Then let's make the most of tonight," Chihiro said, standing up. She extended her hand to Ryou, "It's been a while since we went to Charlie's hasn't it?"
Ryou nodded his agreement, and grasped her hand.
= = = = =
Nanai walked briskly along the metal floor of the hangar, her heels making a distinct clicking sound. She came to a stop as she walked along, noticing a soldier bent over talking to his child, forcing her company to halt. She asked them to wait a moment as she approached the figure slowly.
"You'll be coming back right Daddy?" the little girl asked. She wore a flower printed dress and a small bonnet on her head. Her curly blond hair accented her large innocent brown eyes as she asked her father the simple question.
"Of course I will sweetheart. Just listen to what the soldiers tell you to do okay? The people are Side 3 are good folks. They'll take care of you," the child's father reassured her along with a pat on the head. His toned muscles stretched his Zeon uniform as he bent down on his hams to speak to the girl. His hair and beard were salt and peppered despite a relatively young age. His military uniform in conjunction with his hair and his gray eyes gave him a distinguished look.
"Okay. I love you Daddy," the child cooed sweetly with a hug.
"I love you too Stephanie," the man replied, squeezing the small light of his life in his arms, maybe for the last time. He gripped her as he stood up, lifting her into the air. "Be a good girl okay?" he told her, trying hard to fight the tears as he passed her to the men on the shuttle.
"Bye Daddy!" the innocent child called back as the shuttle door closed with a whishing sound.
"How old is she?" the woman asked softly as she approached the soldier.
"She just turned five two months ago," the solider named Daniel Saunders replied.
Nanai paused for a moment, hesitating as her next question.
"Her mother died a long time ago," Saunders replied to the unasked question. "She stays with my neighbors when I'm away."
"You're all she has left?" Nanai asked incredulously.
"Yeah."
"Get on the next shuttle," the woman instructed.
"What?" he asked confused.
"I can't ask you to fight at the cost for that little girl. Go to Side 3 on the next shuttle," Nanai said, taking a slip of paper from her pocket to give to the man.
"Th-thank you ma'am!" the man uttered excitedly as she gave him the boarding pass.
As the man hurried off Lyle walked up to her, his stiff boots stamping on the floor. "You know if you do that we'll have no soldiers to fight the Federation with soon." His angular face showed no concern for the man or his daughter, and even a bit of contempt for Nanai's decision.
"Some things are more important."
"Says the woman who is leading a colony drop on the Earth?" the man asked.
Nanai closed her eyes and chuckled at the irony of it all. It was true, she just saved one man, but Char's dream would mean the death of everyone left on Earth. How could she justify such an act? "It's a lot easier to kill faceless demons then send a father off to die," she responded at last.
"Indeed."
= = = = =
It stood beside a dry cleaner's and a super market within the urban street of Londenion. There was one large glass windows framed in the wood that allowed you to peer into the restaurant. On the large glass the slightly faded name of the restaurant was embossed on the glossy surface: Vaughn Family Pizza. The words were bold, with black shadows painted behind them as if the letters were leaping out and commanding one to eat at the humble little place.
The woman leaned on the counter nonchalantly. She wore a white tee shirt with the restaurant's logo, same as the one in the window, printed on the back in black. The shirt clung tightly to her shapely feminine body. Her green apron, fastened around her at the neck and waist, covered her torso. An order pad was hanging out of the apron pouch, the corresponding pen was nestled between her ear and hair, a dark black mop that came down slightly past her chin but not much farther. Her bored golden eyes watched the cars pass by on the road as she chewed on her gum, the flavor long gone. "Business is slow tonight," Lynn called back to the man in the kitchen behind her.
Charlie came out, his arms dusted with white flour up to elbow. He was tossing a batch of pizza dough and catching it with his fists in the same way he had done for the five years since he inherited the restaurant. "Not much we can do about it," he responded as he caught the falling saucer- shaped disk. Just then a jingle at the door alerted them to customers.
"Hey there!" Ryou called.
"Well if it isn't our military couple?" Charlie announce aloud as the pair strolled in. "The usual?" he asked, referring to their traditional order – a medium sized house's special pizza, a family recipe handed down through generations. The best pizza in space, Charlie often called it.
"Why don't you surprise us this time Charlie?" Chihiro said, her arm wrapped Ryou's waist. "It's Ryou's good luck party."
"You going somewhere?" Lynn asked with a raised eyebrow. Charlie had gone into the kitchen to start preparing the crust already in his hands.
"Uhhh," the pilot trailed off, scratching the back of his head.
"The fool joined the Londo Bell," Chihiro explained for him as she leaned on the opposite side of the counter.
"Told you he was trouble. Eventually he'd get into some mess he'd be stuck in!" Charlie called. Everyone snickered a bit at the joke, but more at how mature their friend acted rather than Ryou's penchant for trouble.
"Hey it's also Chihiro's birthday party here," Ryou chimed in.
"Hey Charlie why don't you make two of whatever you're cooking back there and we'll have a nice group dinner!" Lynn called back. "On the house, for the hot shot pilot here and the birthday girl."
"Bah! I'm not complaining about the birthday girl, but let Ryou get a free pizza this time, and he'll be goin' on dangerous missions every week to wrangle a free meal from me! I'm poor enough as it is without that bum stealing pizza!" the pizza chef complained as he put the first pizza in the oven. Taking two fistfuls of dough he began work on the second crust.
"You think the Feds pay me good money?" Ryou called back to the working chef.
"They better with all the taxes I have to pay," Charlie responded without missing a beat. His fists stretched the beige colored dough out wide then kneaded it back.
"Come on, let's get a table," Lynn said walking out from behind the counter with a pitcher of beer and four mugs in her hands. She moved to the window to turn over the Open/Closed sign, and then proceeded to a booth along the wall with the dark yellow liquid and glasses.
"So you joined the Londo Bell eh?" the waitress asked as she poured the mugs of beer.
"You sure they didn't transfer him to get a moment's peace?" Charlie asked.
"We all know you love me Charlie," Ryou answered with a grin, though the sarcastic chef couldn't see.
"Only God knows why I got stuck with a friend like you," he exclaimed, exasperation thick in his voice. "And wipe that smirk off your face!"
= = = = =
Ryou's hands pounded on the machine buttons and jerked the joystick, the little figure of his fighter responding to the command by taking Charlie's character, hurling him up into the air and slammed him to the ground with an energy ray.
K.O. flashed on the screen.
"Aw you cheat!" Charlie muttered.
"It's your machine and you've been watching me the whole time, how did I cheat?" Ryou asked innocently.
"It's you! I don't even need to elaborate!"
The two women giggled in the booth watching the antics of the two.
"Been a long time since we've been together like this hasn't it?" Lynn remarked, turning back around from her twisted position to face Chihiro.
"Yeah, it's funny to think back when Charlie's father still ran the place when we were in high school," Chihiro agreed. "Everything's changed so much." She took a drink of her beer and set the mug back down, her eyes still watching the two as they decided on their rematch guidelines.
"And the more things change the more they remain the same," Lynn commented, taking a sip from her glass.
"What?"
"You still have that dreamer look on your face when you look at him," her friend explained. Chihiro's cheeks reddened at her friend's comment. Lynn snickered a little and took another sip of beer. She gestured at the necklace, "Your birthday gift?"
"Yeah..." the girl admitted, taking the necklace into her hands with a shy smile. Lynn leaned over and nudged her. "Hey what about you and Charlie?" the blue eyed girl said quickly to change the subject, as much to get the subject off her and Ryou as to embarrass her friend.
"Me? Charlie? You've got to be kidding me." Lynn used her hand to brush away the thought as if it hung in the air. "It's not like that between us, and you know it."
"What?" Chihiro asked, stressing her fake bewildered voice. "You don't think he's cute?" the young woman pressed.
Lynn eyes moved to Charlie. He was far from ugly, and while she had a thought or two of their relationship evolving she had never considered it too seriously. "If it's meant to happen it'll happen," Lynn replied coolly. Knowing that was probably as much as she'd get out of her friend, Chihiro turned her view back to the dueling duo. Ryou was still winning. As always when they played arcade games.
"It's got to be tough on you," Lynn said quietly. Her hair danced around her face as she leaned over the table. The leftovers of the two pizzas lay on the metal trays on the table. Crumpled dirty napkins rested in disheveled piles on plates, makeshift mountains of waste.
Chihiro nodded, running a hand through her hair. "It is."
"How do you deal with it?"
"I have to believe he'll come back."
= = = = =
His hands brushed through her long honey brown hair. Some fell in front of her closed blue eyes, a sparkling blue that entranced him whenever he looked into them. Chihiro's delicate features were accentuated by the golden light of the flickering fireplace. Her rosy pink lips were curled into a slumbering smile. She was undeniably beautiful.
He checked his watch. It was 11:30. Ryou's hand glided over her skin gently as he stared at her sleeping face. He leaned down and kissed her. His lips slowly let go, and he exhaled deeply. He reached for the blanket and pulled it up to her shoulders.
He rose to his feet and walked over to the fireplace. He shut the chain mesh guard and picked up his jacket from the desk. He tiptoed quietly to the door and turned the knob.
"Mm, you always were bad at goodbyes weren't you?" she called. She pivoted her hips putting her bare feet on the ground. She stood up and let the blanket fall to the hard wood floor.
He turned his wistful gaze to the approaching woman. "It's not goodbye." He could see a teardrop fall from Chihiro's downcast into the pool of darkness at her feet.
She wanted to say what they were both thinking. She inhaled deeply, stifling her fears and tongue. "Take care," she said. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she leaned into the kiss. "And don't go running off with any Londo Bell hussy."
"Too scared of what'll happen when I come back," he replied. They shared a shallow smile.
"All right," Chihiro said wiping her eyes, "get going hot shot."
He kissed her on the forehead and walked down her porch.
She was about to call out goodbye when she decided against it. "See you later!" she called out instead.
= = = = =
There was a quick rapping on the cedar door. The impatience of the visitor meant one thing to Nanai – it was Lyle. She wrapped the towel on her head and tied the terry bathrobe around her waist. Her skin was slightly rosy from the water vapor in the air. She opened the door letting the room breath fresh air. As she answered the door she continued drying her hair.
"Yes?"
"We've received word from Anaheim Nanai," he reported with a slight bow, trying to keep his eyes from wandering too much in the sight of the woman.
"And?" Nanai prompted.
"The Psyco-Doga is ready."
"That's good. Prepare a ship for me within the hour; I shall go pick it up. And prepare the Jagd-Doga too just in case," she instructed.
= = = = =
Ryou unfastened the clasp on the helmet, taking the dome shaped head gear off. He tossed it to the back of the cockpit, the globe of metal floating aimlessly in the zero gravity of space. He stared out at the dark colorless background of space displayed on his screen and the twinkling dots interspaced haphazardly. The man rubbed his face, particularly his eyes, with his gloved hand. The day had been long and trying – physically and emotionally.
He glanced at the glowing navigator screen that plotted his course to the moon in a dotted red line. Satisfied when his eyes drooped the next time, he let them shut.
An hour later a rapid beeping woke the man from his brief rest. The helmet had floated back to the front as he grabbed it and put it under his arm.
"Yes?" he asked groggily, answering the comm.
"Unidentified ship at Anaheim, Lieutenant."
"Damn just our luck," he cursed, suddenly seeming more awake. "Look alive people, Zeon's here." He put on the helmet and fastened its clasps.
= = = = =
"Commander Miguel!" the young soldier Sarah called out as she soared through the zero gravity of the testing launch site to the new acting Neo Zeon leader.
"Give me a moment," Nanai excused herself from the Anaheim mechanic and his report. "This better be good," she told the young woman.
"Londo Bell ma'am!" she reported as her feet touched down gently, despite the one hundred foot jump. Nanai's eyes widened at the alert. She turned fiercely to the mechanic.
"We build for both of you, you know that. This isn't our business; just don't blow the place up." The mechanic flipped a few pages on his clipboard, reviewing the Psyco-Doga's maintenance.
"Damn it. We can't field test it now," Nanai growled. "Get the thing packed into a transport cage and load it into my ship," she told the man. He nodded and jumped through the air to the cresting torso of the beige Neo Zeon unit barking orders at his men. Nanai turned to Sarah. "Get the Geara-Doga pilots ready for battle and tell the bridge to lift off as soon as possible."
The soldier nodded and jump swam through the air back to the ship to relay the orders. Nanai took a deep breath, crouched, and was soon following.
= = = = =
Fire from the Musaka told the Federation Clop and the Jegan Force that any hopes for a peaceful settlement to this situation were a lost cause.
Explosions erupted all around as the Jegans surged forward engaged the Geara-Dogas. The Wave Rider swerved around the flashes of energy soaring all around, retaliating by firing its large beam cannon and dual beam cannons. The red Jagd-Doga approached the obvious leader of the small force. It fired its mega gattling gun at the transformed Re-GZ.
Ryou jerked the suit into a dropping roll, safe from the shot. Ryou couldn't help but marvel at the unit he now piloted. It was so much more responsive than the Jegan. He depressed the triggers on his controls sending two side beam cannon blasts at the belligerent Nanai.
Nanai strafed hard to the left; the energy soared away. "Funnels eliminate it!" The six cylinders obeyed and detached from the suit.
Ryou cursed his miss and fired four missiles at the suit while junking hard to the right. Again the Re-GZ's maneuverability and speed allowed it to escape harm. The missiles soared at Nanai, promising certain death.
"Destroy them!" Nanai ordered her funnels quickly. Her face was twisted in the fury of battle.
The responsive weapons spread out and fired at the missiles turning them into imploding orange balls before they got close. But the Re-GZ had used the time to come in at another pass. The funnels redirected themselves to the Wave Rider, but Ryou could tell from the movement of the weapons the Zeon pilot was having a hard time controlling all six at once.
Praying that he was right, he charged the Jagd-Doga. The Jagd-Doga raised its shield and fired its Mega Particle Guns. Ryou had predicted Nanai's reaction correctly; she had forgotten the funnels that were chasing him. Dropping below the line of fire with a quick dive the mega particle blasts collided with two of the Jagd Doga's own funnels.
Ryou's celebration was short though when the Re-GZ shook from the impact of a funnel blast blowing off the right wing of the Back Weapons System. He realized in an open battlefield he didn't have a chance vs. the Jagd Doga as it was, even if not all the funnels were in constant play and motion.
The Wave Rider dropped into a tail dive in order to avoid the next spurts of fire from the funnels and the mega gattling gun. Another vibration jolted the suit as the funnels scored a glancing blow. Ryou broke the dive and shot straight upward, unleashing three blasts of energy that incinerated one funnel. He forced Nanai backwards with a second blast of his main cannon. The remaining three funnels came to the woman's aid.
The Wave Rider rolled away from the funnels in a corkscrew, but an assault riffle attack blew out the main cannon. Ryou cursed aloud and fired his dual cannons at the Jagd-Doga. Leaning forward on his controls, he charged into the fire of the funnels.
"What?" Nanai asked as she saw the unit take a dead run at the cylinders. Forcing the surprise away she commanded them to fire a second later. But the BWS detached from the Re-GZ and flew straight into the funnels, taking two out.
The Re-GZ's humanoid form drifted backwards for the slightest of moments, then exploded into action. It flew around the rapid blasts of the funnels firing back with his riffle. One shot knocked the cylinder off balance. The next one pierced it through.
The two suits were already engaged as the last funnel was destroyed however. The distinctive Zeon mono-eye glowed red within the hawk like shell of the Jagd-Doga's head as it tried to focus on the weaving Londo Bell unit. Nanai fired her last few shots at the Gundam prototype and strafed backwards. Seeing the opportunity in the reloading timeframe Ryou charged forward firing his own riffle. He quickly had to give up the ground he had just gained as he saw the red Jagd-Doga release its missiles. He knocked three out while moving backwards and firing. He pivoted and turned hard to the left, the other three barely passing him as they zoomed past. They began to arc back as Vulcan Cannon fire swept over them quickly piercing the metal plating and triggering the explosion.
Ryou paid for taking his eyes off Nanai with a grievous blow however. He reacted as if he had felt the danger, but he was still hit by one of the mega particle blasts on his leg as he ascended. The leg as blasted at half shin; circuitry hung out in open space, lost electricity and sparks the equivalent of a wounded soldier's lifeblood.
In response to the attack, the Re-GZ's free left hand threw a hand grenade at the red Zeek unit. Slamming the e-cap in, Nanai shot the grenade down as it exploded in a flash of light. But Ryou took a page out of the AI's book. Four propelled grenades were soon visible after the flash subsided. Nanai did the only thing she could – brace herself. The explosive cylinders tore her shield asunder and left her left arm completely worthless, in addition to charring a large amount of the Jagd-Doga's armor. Grabbing the saber on her right hip, Nanai charged the Re-GZ.
Ryou switched his riffle from his right to left hand, and drew his own saber. The crosspiece flipped open activating the large beam blade. He wiped the sweat of his brow and felt his heart racing. If he wasn't fighting for his life, Ryou might have enjoyed the challenge of this fight.
The suits met in a collision of sparks as the sabers clashed. The overhead slash of the Jagd-Doga's saber was deflected by the Re-GZ, but the saber was back to deflect the defender's counter riposte. They disengaged for a short moment, the green eyes of the prototype mass production Gundam seemingly staring into the scarlet mono-eye of the similarly colored red Jagd-Doga. The moment was broken when Ryou leaned forward on his controls thrusting towards his opponent.
He swung his saber in a quick left to right horizontal cut, which was parried by a downward sweeping arc of the Jagd-Doga. Nanai worked the inside of the circle viciously forcing Ryou's saber up high, along with hers. Only hers was poised for a downward stab, whereas his was pointing upwards. He reacted instinctively though, and used his remaining leg to kick the Jagd-Doga in the side. The saber grazed the Re-GZ's armor as it passed, but the Jagd-Doga fell aside instead of driving the saber into the Re-GZ's torso. The Re-GZ had swerved into position behind it and opened Vulcan fire at the back of the Zeon Unit's head.
Nanai muttered obscenities as her screen began to static up, before the suit automatically switched vision to the backup camera. This pilot was certainly better caliber than a normal Feddie. She should have never let him take out the funnels so fast. She repositioned herself to face her opponent.
"The Psyco-Doga is loaded Commander Miguel; we're approaching your position!"
"All units retreat to the ship," she commanded. She quickly boosted backwards from her opponent. "I have a feeling we'll meet again. Stay alive till then, I want the pleasure of taking you out for myself."
"The feeling's mutual," he retorted. Ryou thought about ordering the squad to give chase but decided against it. Preserving numbers were far more important to the Londo Bell than Neo Zeon. And with Nana gone, he suddenly began to realize how tired he was; the tips of his fingers had a stiff numb feeling and he had trouble keeping his gaze straight without the heat of battle
"Tell Anaheim that we're going to require repairs in addition to that upgrading," he told the Ra Kiev's Bridge as he pulled up his diagnostic screen. He leaned his head back into the stiff seat of the Re-GZ. "And ask them if they can hook this thing up with some leather upholstery."
Kido Senshi Gundam: Char's Counter Attack
The Last Stand, Chapter 3
-Gredival
= = = = = = = = = = =
"That's the Re-GZ," the mechanic said, gesturing with his hand at the unit. He nodded to Bright and the young pilot before proceeding to the elevator to join his men on the repair platform.
The mechanics were still working on it, but it was once again standing on two legs. The scorched and riddled armor had been repaired and reinforce; the gunmetal gray had been painted over, hidden under the paint.
"You want me to pilot that?" Ryou asked incredulously.
"We're hoping that Anaheim can convert it to a redesigned structure," Bright hesitated, "the plan is to send you over there with the Re-GZ. According to the designers there it should take a few days of work."
"What's the part I don't know?" the perceptive younger man asked.
"We've heard word Anaheim is building a new mobile suit for the Zeon as well. We can't go in with the intent to attack the Neo Zeon, Anaheim's neutral. The same applies for the Neo Zeon. But after this battle, Anaheim won't matter to them – win or lose this is the Neo Zeon's last operation. So I don't want to send you with the Re-GZ to Anaheim alone. I'm going to send the Ra Kiev with a strike team to follow you."
"When do I leave?"
"One hundred hours," Bright replied. Ryou closed his eyes and digested the news. "Regardless of engagement with Neo Zeon you'll need to rendezvous with us en route to Side 3 as soon as you can."
"Side 3? Why there?"
"They're going to drop Sweetwater on Earth."
= = = = =
"Penny for your thoughts?" Chihiro asked as she approached. Her hands slid into the pockets of her blue jeans, pushing the sleeves of her thick gray sweater up a bit. Except for two bangs running down the sides of her face and curling at her chin, her normally deep amber colored hair was pulled back into a ponytail. The silvery moonlight bathed her peach skin in a radiant glow, and the sapphire gem the dangling on her neck glittered. Her lithe frame wasn't muscular, yet seemed to show her deep inner strength in her stride.
"You're wasting you're money," Ryou replied, raising his green eyes to look at the new company. Even in the darker lighting of the nighttime sky his hair was considerably darker. The new Londo Bell jacket was still stiff, retaining a firm shape instead of forming to the man's body. Underneath he still wore a regular tan Federation uniform. The outfit seemed out of place with his younger energetic appearance.
"You're supposed to drop the charges," Chihiro pointed out dryly.
"Gotta take what I can get," he responded with a wry grin. Chihiro rolled her eyes a bit at the lame excuse and took a seat on the swing next to the man.
She knew something wasn't right about that grin.
"So you're leaving tonight," she said silently.
"Yeah," he whispered. His black shoes dug into the band, cutting into the wet under layer that clumped up when children dug into it. "I'll be going to Anaheim with a team tomorrow while the rest of the fleet goes to Side 3. I'll probably meet up with them after the suits we bring are finished."
"Then let's make the most of tonight," Chihiro said, standing up. She extended her hand to Ryou, "It's been a while since we went to Charlie's hasn't it?"
Ryou nodded his agreement, and grasped her hand.
= = = = =
Nanai walked briskly along the metal floor of the hangar, her heels making a distinct clicking sound. She came to a stop as she walked along, noticing a soldier bent over talking to his child, forcing her company to halt. She asked them to wait a moment as she approached the figure slowly.
"You'll be coming back right Daddy?" the little girl asked. She wore a flower printed dress and a small bonnet on her head. Her curly blond hair accented her large innocent brown eyes as she asked her father the simple question.
"Of course I will sweetheart. Just listen to what the soldiers tell you to do okay? The people are Side 3 are good folks. They'll take care of you," the child's father reassured her along with a pat on the head. His toned muscles stretched his Zeon uniform as he bent down on his hams to speak to the girl. His hair and beard were salt and peppered despite a relatively young age. His military uniform in conjunction with his hair and his gray eyes gave him a distinguished look.
"Okay. I love you Daddy," the child cooed sweetly with a hug.
"I love you too Stephanie," the man replied, squeezing the small light of his life in his arms, maybe for the last time. He gripped her as he stood up, lifting her into the air. "Be a good girl okay?" he told her, trying hard to fight the tears as he passed her to the men on the shuttle.
"Bye Daddy!" the innocent child called back as the shuttle door closed with a whishing sound.
"How old is she?" the woman asked softly as she approached the soldier.
"She just turned five two months ago," the solider named Daniel Saunders replied.
Nanai paused for a moment, hesitating as her next question.
"Her mother died a long time ago," Saunders replied to the unasked question. "She stays with my neighbors when I'm away."
"You're all she has left?" Nanai asked incredulously.
"Yeah."
"Get on the next shuttle," the woman instructed.
"What?" he asked confused.
"I can't ask you to fight at the cost for that little girl. Go to Side 3 on the next shuttle," Nanai said, taking a slip of paper from her pocket to give to the man.
"Th-thank you ma'am!" the man uttered excitedly as she gave him the boarding pass.
As the man hurried off Lyle walked up to her, his stiff boots stamping on the floor. "You know if you do that we'll have no soldiers to fight the Federation with soon." His angular face showed no concern for the man or his daughter, and even a bit of contempt for Nanai's decision.
"Some things are more important."
"Says the woman who is leading a colony drop on the Earth?" the man asked.
Nanai closed her eyes and chuckled at the irony of it all. It was true, she just saved one man, but Char's dream would mean the death of everyone left on Earth. How could she justify such an act? "It's a lot easier to kill faceless demons then send a father off to die," she responded at last.
"Indeed."
= = = = =
It stood beside a dry cleaner's and a super market within the urban street of Londenion. There was one large glass windows framed in the wood that allowed you to peer into the restaurant. On the large glass the slightly faded name of the restaurant was embossed on the glossy surface: Vaughn Family Pizza. The words were bold, with black shadows painted behind them as if the letters were leaping out and commanding one to eat at the humble little place.
The woman leaned on the counter nonchalantly. She wore a white tee shirt with the restaurant's logo, same as the one in the window, printed on the back in black. The shirt clung tightly to her shapely feminine body. Her green apron, fastened around her at the neck and waist, covered her torso. An order pad was hanging out of the apron pouch, the corresponding pen was nestled between her ear and hair, a dark black mop that came down slightly past her chin but not much farther. Her bored golden eyes watched the cars pass by on the road as she chewed on her gum, the flavor long gone. "Business is slow tonight," Lynn called back to the man in the kitchen behind her.
Charlie came out, his arms dusted with white flour up to elbow. He was tossing a batch of pizza dough and catching it with his fists in the same way he had done for the five years since he inherited the restaurant. "Not much we can do about it," he responded as he caught the falling saucer- shaped disk. Just then a jingle at the door alerted them to customers.
"Hey there!" Ryou called.
"Well if it isn't our military couple?" Charlie announce aloud as the pair strolled in. "The usual?" he asked, referring to their traditional order – a medium sized house's special pizza, a family recipe handed down through generations. The best pizza in space, Charlie often called it.
"Why don't you surprise us this time Charlie?" Chihiro said, her arm wrapped Ryou's waist. "It's Ryou's good luck party."
"You going somewhere?" Lynn asked with a raised eyebrow. Charlie had gone into the kitchen to start preparing the crust already in his hands.
"Uhhh," the pilot trailed off, scratching the back of his head.
"The fool joined the Londo Bell," Chihiro explained for him as she leaned on the opposite side of the counter.
"Told you he was trouble. Eventually he'd get into some mess he'd be stuck in!" Charlie called. Everyone snickered a bit at the joke, but more at how mature their friend acted rather than Ryou's penchant for trouble.
"Hey it's also Chihiro's birthday party here," Ryou chimed in.
"Hey Charlie why don't you make two of whatever you're cooking back there and we'll have a nice group dinner!" Lynn called back. "On the house, for the hot shot pilot here and the birthday girl."
"Bah! I'm not complaining about the birthday girl, but let Ryou get a free pizza this time, and he'll be goin' on dangerous missions every week to wrangle a free meal from me! I'm poor enough as it is without that bum stealing pizza!" the pizza chef complained as he put the first pizza in the oven. Taking two fistfuls of dough he began work on the second crust.
"You think the Feds pay me good money?" Ryou called back to the working chef.
"They better with all the taxes I have to pay," Charlie responded without missing a beat. His fists stretched the beige colored dough out wide then kneaded it back.
"Come on, let's get a table," Lynn said walking out from behind the counter with a pitcher of beer and four mugs in her hands. She moved to the window to turn over the Open/Closed sign, and then proceeded to a booth along the wall with the dark yellow liquid and glasses.
"So you joined the Londo Bell eh?" the waitress asked as she poured the mugs of beer.
"You sure they didn't transfer him to get a moment's peace?" Charlie asked.
"We all know you love me Charlie," Ryou answered with a grin, though the sarcastic chef couldn't see.
"Only God knows why I got stuck with a friend like you," he exclaimed, exasperation thick in his voice. "And wipe that smirk off your face!"
= = = = =
Ryou's hands pounded on the machine buttons and jerked the joystick, the little figure of his fighter responding to the command by taking Charlie's character, hurling him up into the air and slammed him to the ground with an energy ray.
K.O. flashed on the screen.
"Aw you cheat!" Charlie muttered.
"It's your machine and you've been watching me the whole time, how did I cheat?" Ryou asked innocently.
"It's you! I don't even need to elaborate!"
The two women giggled in the booth watching the antics of the two.
"Been a long time since we've been together like this hasn't it?" Lynn remarked, turning back around from her twisted position to face Chihiro.
"Yeah, it's funny to think back when Charlie's father still ran the place when we were in high school," Chihiro agreed. "Everything's changed so much." She took a drink of her beer and set the mug back down, her eyes still watching the two as they decided on their rematch guidelines.
"And the more things change the more they remain the same," Lynn commented, taking a sip from her glass.
"What?"
"You still have that dreamer look on your face when you look at him," her friend explained. Chihiro's cheeks reddened at her friend's comment. Lynn snickered a little and took another sip of beer. She gestured at the necklace, "Your birthday gift?"
"Yeah..." the girl admitted, taking the necklace into her hands with a shy smile. Lynn leaned over and nudged her. "Hey what about you and Charlie?" the blue eyed girl said quickly to change the subject, as much to get the subject off her and Ryou as to embarrass her friend.
"Me? Charlie? You've got to be kidding me." Lynn used her hand to brush away the thought as if it hung in the air. "It's not like that between us, and you know it."
"What?" Chihiro asked, stressing her fake bewildered voice. "You don't think he's cute?" the young woman pressed.
Lynn eyes moved to Charlie. He was far from ugly, and while she had a thought or two of their relationship evolving she had never considered it too seriously. "If it's meant to happen it'll happen," Lynn replied coolly. Knowing that was probably as much as she'd get out of her friend, Chihiro turned her view back to the dueling duo. Ryou was still winning. As always when they played arcade games.
"It's got to be tough on you," Lynn said quietly. Her hair danced around her face as she leaned over the table. The leftovers of the two pizzas lay on the metal trays on the table. Crumpled dirty napkins rested in disheveled piles on plates, makeshift mountains of waste.
Chihiro nodded, running a hand through her hair. "It is."
"How do you deal with it?"
"I have to believe he'll come back."
= = = = =
His hands brushed through her long honey brown hair. Some fell in front of her closed blue eyes, a sparkling blue that entranced him whenever he looked into them. Chihiro's delicate features were accentuated by the golden light of the flickering fireplace. Her rosy pink lips were curled into a slumbering smile. She was undeniably beautiful.
He checked his watch. It was 11:30. Ryou's hand glided over her skin gently as he stared at her sleeping face. He leaned down and kissed her. His lips slowly let go, and he exhaled deeply. He reached for the blanket and pulled it up to her shoulders.
He rose to his feet and walked over to the fireplace. He shut the chain mesh guard and picked up his jacket from the desk. He tiptoed quietly to the door and turned the knob.
"Mm, you always were bad at goodbyes weren't you?" she called. She pivoted her hips putting her bare feet on the ground. She stood up and let the blanket fall to the hard wood floor.
He turned his wistful gaze to the approaching woman. "It's not goodbye." He could see a teardrop fall from Chihiro's downcast into the pool of darkness at her feet.
She wanted to say what they were both thinking. She inhaled deeply, stifling her fears and tongue. "Take care," she said. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she leaned into the kiss. "And don't go running off with any Londo Bell hussy."
"Too scared of what'll happen when I come back," he replied. They shared a shallow smile.
"All right," Chihiro said wiping her eyes, "get going hot shot."
He kissed her on the forehead and walked down her porch.
She was about to call out goodbye when she decided against it. "See you later!" she called out instead.
= = = = =
There was a quick rapping on the cedar door. The impatience of the visitor meant one thing to Nanai – it was Lyle. She wrapped the towel on her head and tied the terry bathrobe around her waist. Her skin was slightly rosy from the water vapor in the air. She opened the door letting the room breath fresh air. As she answered the door she continued drying her hair.
"Yes?"
"We've received word from Anaheim Nanai," he reported with a slight bow, trying to keep his eyes from wandering too much in the sight of the woman.
"And?" Nanai prompted.
"The Psyco-Doga is ready."
"That's good. Prepare a ship for me within the hour; I shall go pick it up. And prepare the Jagd-Doga too just in case," she instructed.
= = = = =
Ryou unfastened the clasp on the helmet, taking the dome shaped head gear off. He tossed it to the back of the cockpit, the globe of metal floating aimlessly in the zero gravity of space. He stared out at the dark colorless background of space displayed on his screen and the twinkling dots interspaced haphazardly. The man rubbed his face, particularly his eyes, with his gloved hand. The day had been long and trying – physically and emotionally.
He glanced at the glowing navigator screen that plotted his course to the moon in a dotted red line. Satisfied when his eyes drooped the next time, he let them shut.
An hour later a rapid beeping woke the man from his brief rest. The helmet had floated back to the front as he grabbed it and put it under his arm.
"Yes?" he asked groggily, answering the comm.
"Unidentified ship at Anaheim, Lieutenant."
"Damn just our luck," he cursed, suddenly seeming more awake. "Look alive people, Zeon's here." He put on the helmet and fastened its clasps.
= = = = =
"Commander Miguel!" the young soldier Sarah called out as she soared through the zero gravity of the testing launch site to the new acting Neo Zeon leader.
"Give me a moment," Nanai excused herself from the Anaheim mechanic and his report. "This better be good," she told the young woman.
"Londo Bell ma'am!" she reported as her feet touched down gently, despite the one hundred foot jump. Nanai's eyes widened at the alert. She turned fiercely to the mechanic.
"We build for both of you, you know that. This isn't our business; just don't blow the place up." The mechanic flipped a few pages on his clipboard, reviewing the Psyco-Doga's maintenance.
"Damn it. We can't field test it now," Nanai growled. "Get the thing packed into a transport cage and load it into my ship," she told the man. He nodded and jumped through the air to the cresting torso of the beige Neo Zeon unit barking orders at his men. Nanai turned to Sarah. "Get the Geara-Doga pilots ready for battle and tell the bridge to lift off as soon as possible."
The soldier nodded and jump swam through the air back to the ship to relay the orders. Nanai took a deep breath, crouched, and was soon following.
= = = = =
Fire from the Musaka told the Federation Clop and the Jegan Force that any hopes for a peaceful settlement to this situation were a lost cause.
Explosions erupted all around as the Jegans surged forward engaged the Geara-Dogas. The Wave Rider swerved around the flashes of energy soaring all around, retaliating by firing its large beam cannon and dual beam cannons. The red Jagd-Doga approached the obvious leader of the small force. It fired its mega gattling gun at the transformed Re-GZ.
Ryou jerked the suit into a dropping roll, safe from the shot. Ryou couldn't help but marvel at the unit he now piloted. It was so much more responsive than the Jegan. He depressed the triggers on his controls sending two side beam cannon blasts at the belligerent Nanai.
Nanai strafed hard to the left; the energy soared away. "Funnels eliminate it!" The six cylinders obeyed and detached from the suit.
Ryou cursed his miss and fired four missiles at the suit while junking hard to the right. Again the Re-GZ's maneuverability and speed allowed it to escape harm. The missiles soared at Nanai, promising certain death.
"Destroy them!" Nanai ordered her funnels quickly. Her face was twisted in the fury of battle.
The responsive weapons spread out and fired at the missiles turning them into imploding orange balls before they got close. But the Re-GZ had used the time to come in at another pass. The funnels redirected themselves to the Wave Rider, but Ryou could tell from the movement of the weapons the Zeon pilot was having a hard time controlling all six at once.
Praying that he was right, he charged the Jagd-Doga. The Jagd-Doga raised its shield and fired its Mega Particle Guns. Ryou had predicted Nanai's reaction correctly; she had forgotten the funnels that were chasing him. Dropping below the line of fire with a quick dive the mega particle blasts collided with two of the Jagd Doga's own funnels.
Ryou's celebration was short though when the Re-GZ shook from the impact of a funnel blast blowing off the right wing of the Back Weapons System. He realized in an open battlefield he didn't have a chance vs. the Jagd Doga as it was, even if not all the funnels were in constant play and motion.
The Wave Rider dropped into a tail dive in order to avoid the next spurts of fire from the funnels and the mega gattling gun. Another vibration jolted the suit as the funnels scored a glancing blow. Ryou broke the dive and shot straight upward, unleashing three blasts of energy that incinerated one funnel. He forced Nanai backwards with a second blast of his main cannon. The remaining three funnels came to the woman's aid.
The Wave Rider rolled away from the funnels in a corkscrew, but an assault riffle attack blew out the main cannon. Ryou cursed aloud and fired his dual cannons at the Jagd-Doga. Leaning forward on his controls, he charged into the fire of the funnels.
"What?" Nanai asked as she saw the unit take a dead run at the cylinders. Forcing the surprise away she commanded them to fire a second later. But the BWS detached from the Re-GZ and flew straight into the funnels, taking two out.
The Re-GZ's humanoid form drifted backwards for the slightest of moments, then exploded into action. It flew around the rapid blasts of the funnels firing back with his riffle. One shot knocked the cylinder off balance. The next one pierced it through.
The two suits were already engaged as the last funnel was destroyed however. The distinctive Zeon mono-eye glowed red within the hawk like shell of the Jagd-Doga's head as it tried to focus on the weaving Londo Bell unit. Nanai fired her last few shots at the Gundam prototype and strafed backwards. Seeing the opportunity in the reloading timeframe Ryou charged forward firing his own riffle. He quickly had to give up the ground he had just gained as he saw the red Jagd-Doga release its missiles. He knocked three out while moving backwards and firing. He pivoted and turned hard to the left, the other three barely passing him as they zoomed past. They began to arc back as Vulcan Cannon fire swept over them quickly piercing the metal plating and triggering the explosion.
Ryou paid for taking his eyes off Nanai with a grievous blow however. He reacted as if he had felt the danger, but he was still hit by one of the mega particle blasts on his leg as he ascended. The leg as blasted at half shin; circuitry hung out in open space, lost electricity and sparks the equivalent of a wounded soldier's lifeblood.
In response to the attack, the Re-GZ's free left hand threw a hand grenade at the red Zeek unit. Slamming the e-cap in, Nanai shot the grenade down as it exploded in a flash of light. But Ryou took a page out of the AI's book. Four propelled grenades were soon visible after the flash subsided. Nanai did the only thing she could – brace herself. The explosive cylinders tore her shield asunder and left her left arm completely worthless, in addition to charring a large amount of the Jagd-Doga's armor. Grabbing the saber on her right hip, Nanai charged the Re-GZ.
Ryou switched his riffle from his right to left hand, and drew his own saber. The crosspiece flipped open activating the large beam blade. He wiped the sweat of his brow and felt his heart racing. If he wasn't fighting for his life, Ryou might have enjoyed the challenge of this fight.
The suits met in a collision of sparks as the sabers clashed. The overhead slash of the Jagd-Doga's saber was deflected by the Re-GZ, but the saber was back to deflect the defender's counter riposte. They disengaged for a short moment, the green eyes of the prototype mass production Gundam seemingly staring into the scarlet mono-eye of the similarly colored red Jagd-Doga. The moment was broken when Ryou leaned forward on his controls thrusting towards his opponent.
He swung his saber in a quick left to right horizontal cut, which was parried by a downward sweeping arc of the Jagd-Doga. Nanai worked the inside of the circle viciously forcing Ryou's saber up high, along with hers. Only hers was poised for a downward stab, whereas his was pointing upwards. He reacted instinctively though, and used his remaining leg to kick the Jagd-Doga in the side. The saber grazed the Re-GZ's armor as it passed, but the Jagd-Doga fell aside instead of driving the saber into the Re-GZ's torso. The Re-GZ had swerved into position behind it and opened Vulcan fire at the back of the Zeon Unit's head.
Nanai muttered obscenities as her screen began to static up, before the suit automatically switched vision to the backup camera. This pilot was certainly better caliber than a normal Feddie. She should have never let him take out the funnels so fast. She repositioned herself to face her opponent.
"The Psyco-Doga is loaded Commander Miguel; we're approaching your position!"
"All units retreat to the ship," she commanded. She quickly boosted backwards from her opponent. "I have a feeling we'll meet again. Stay alive till then, I want the pleasure of taking you out for myself."
"The feeling's mutual," he retorted. Ryou thought about ordering the squad to give chase but decided against it. Preserving numbers were far more important to the Londo Bell than Neo Zeon. And with Nana gone, he suddenly began to realize how tired he was; the tips of his fingers had a stiff numb feeling and he had trouble keeping his gaze straight without the heat of battle
"Tell Anaheim that we're going to require repairs in addition to that upgrading," he told the Ra Kiev's Bridge as he pulled up his diagnostic screen. He leaned his head back into the stiff seat of the Re-GZ. "And ask them if they can hook this thing up with some leather upholstery."