Disclaimer: Now this is just getting redundant. Seriously though I kinda
made a mistake during the end of the last chapter when I said George would
be meeting two original enemies. Only one of the Fighters is an OC, but
both Gundams are of my creation. You might see what I'm talking about when
I get there, if not it'll be explained at the end of the chapter.
Thank you all for your wonderful encouragement and inspiration in writing reviews for the story. I'll do my best to make sure that you enjoy this chapter as much as the rest. Oh, and please forgive the EXTREME lateness of this update. I appreciate your patience and continued interest in the story.
In the last chapter we were introduced to Kane DeMarco, to whom Roland McGregor is subordinate. Who is this Fighter? Who were the "prisoners" he mentioned during his escape of the Houwanadai sulfur facility? Perhaps even more shocking is the appearance of Chico Rodriguez and Saette Gyuzelle. One reported dead in a Gundam Fight Match with Domon Kasshu, the other corrupted by DG cells and removed from the thirteenth tournament. To make matters worse, George de Sand finally arrives at his destination only to realize the magnitude of the area he must search and the possibility that Argo Gulskii may not even still be there. Add to that the despair of Prime Minister Karato who is truly getting a grasp on just how dangerous the whole situation is truly becoming.
So without further ado let's get things started. Gundam Fight All Set. Ready! Go!
A New History Forgotten. Chapter 4: Darkness' Duvet. The Fate of the Black Joker.
"Prime Minister Karato? I have the list of names you asked for. I don't think you're going to like this at all sir." Captain Yujikawa was a very slender man. However his five and a half foot one hundred and forty pound frame gave off an aura of power. This was a warrior, whose wiry limbs promised quick retribution to any adversary that would challenge him. He was Karato's designated immediate subordinate, and he currently was chairman of Neo-Japan's Gundam development committee, occupying the position that Karato vacated upon becoming Prime Minister. Both he and Karato were walking along a brightly lit corridor in the security wing of The House of Discussions. The facility was still under heavy guard after the last attack. Yujikawa's investigation into the affair had failed to produce a suspect, or even how the attacker of Dr. Kasshu managed to slip into and out of the building without attracting attention to himself.
Karato finally accepted the list that Yujikawa offered, already painfully aware of the situation and dreading the actual results. It had been nearly two weeks since the attack on Kasshu, and nearly two weeks since George de Sand set out for Jupiter, and a few days since the team he sent to Earth finally left. In that time Karato was desperate in his work to reconvene the Earth Sphere delegation, to form at least a quorum that could vote and decide upon the resolution still on the floor. He desperately wanted those changes made for the fourteenth tournament. He needed at least sixty percent of the delegation for the vote to happen. As he scanned the names, he saw what he already anticipated. Nearly all of the opposing delegations were in attendance, including the ersatz leader in Neo-Norway, while Karato's own supporters were mostly absent. They refused to show themselves without adequate proof that their safety could be guaranteed. With Kasshu lying dying in a hospital bed, and no one being held accountable, Karato would feel a fool to offer false assurances that would be regarded with the same seriousness as a discussion of Wong Yunfat's integrity.
"Sir? What do you plan to do?" Yujikawa's voice snapped Karato out of his reverie, and he realized that he had stopped his trek towards the meeting hall while regarding the names in front of him.
"I don't have too many options captain. The delegation is meeting with quorum, even if I don't show they'll be within their right and authority to vote on all resolutions. I might as well make a show of it." Karato rubbed his tired eyes. How long had it been since he last slept? He couldn't remember. At this point he couldn't bring himself to care. All his hard work over the last three years were unraveling beyond his control, and it was maddening. He was Prime Minister of the Earth Sphere, he should be able to do anything required to help the people. "All right. Yujikawa I want you to find the bastard that did this. I am authorizing you to use whatever means necessary. You have my explicit permission to utilize whatever resources you feel you require."
"Understood sir." Yujikawa snapped into a salute and turned to leave.
"Captain?" Karato called after him. Once the officer turned Karato continued. "I want updates from the teams in the field. Get them to me after the meeting is over." Without waiting for Yujikawa's response Karato turned and headed into the meeting hall, where delegates where already petitioning for time on the floor. Karato's eyes caught Neo-Norway's Viktor Schlieffen and the man grinned as he laid his resolutions upon the agenda, to be discussed after the vote on Karato's had taken place. A small drop of blood squeezed out of Karato's palm. His fingers were digging into his own flesh as it seemed his entire body clenched with anger. 'Whatever it takes. Whatever I have to do. That bastard and his cronies won't get their way.'
[Jupiter area "Thorn Bush" de Sand family private yacht]
George de Sand had finally arrived at his destination. After nearly two weeks of isolation in the cold depths of space he was ready to begin his mission. Discover the fate of Argo Gulskii. The only trouble was where to begin. Jupiter was truly massive. To circle it alone and scan effectively for Argo's ship would take George days. Then there was the prospect of the moons and the sheer volume of empty space that made up what was known as the Jupiter area. The task was simply daunting. If George wished to arrive back in time for the beginning of the Gundam Fight, he had to leave within three days, which did not lend itself to George's chances. Yet he stood resolute to fulfill his promise. Whatever the cost he would find Argo Gulskii. He activated his communications system and programmed it to send a repeating message in all directions on all possibly frequencies in hopes of receiving a response. Then he put his ship on auto-pilot and manned his sensors. It was time to go to work. With several keystrokes many small probes launched from the bow of his ship, flying in all directions and all of them emitting the same message that Thorn Bush was sending. After that, George had little else to do, but to wait and watch. Ironically, he did not have to wait long until he registered an odd sensor reading.
'Gundanium? Out in open space? I'm not detecting any power sources or support craft.' His curiosity peaked, he altered his ship's course and aimed straight for the alloy. As he got closer he could make out more details. 'It's certainly large enough to be a Gundam.' Suddenly the bridge was filled with the drone of static. Someone was trying to respond to George's hails.
"This is George de Sand hailing from the Thorn Bush. Do you require assistance? Please respond." After a moment of silence George's eyes narrowed and he began again, "I repeat this is__"
"George de Sand? What would the heir to a noble family be doing way out here in the middle of cold vacuum?" George frowned at his console, trying to remember if he had ever heard the woman's voice before.
"Are you in need of assistance mademoiselle?" By now George could see with his naked eye what was assuredly a Gundam. It was like none he had ever seen before. Its color scheme was separated in black and white, divided right down the middle. Feminine in Appearance, it was slender, its armor completely covered the joints at the knees and elbows rendering them invisible. At those points it was as if the Gundam had grown massive spikes to protect itself. The feet elongated into obviously sharp and vicious edges, and it's fingers were clawed. The cockpit was covered by a thick armored plate that bore an identical color scheme to the rest of the unit. The head was odd. The eyes emitted a soft blue light, but the face was otherwise featureless. The head's armor jutted out in random places with varying length, the effect reminded George of the ghost stories he had heard as the child. Faceless spirits whose hair billowed behind them wherever they went. The Chevron at the brow was colored in a black and white pattern opposite to the rest of the unit. Even as he scrutinized the machine he grew uneasy, it had begun to power up.
"Mademoiselle. Perhaps you could be of assistance. I am looking for a friend that is rumored to be in this area. You wouldn't have come across him?"
The moment he heard the sharp vicious laughter he knew he was in trouble.
"This is just too perfect." The voice seemed to have grown darker with a violent excitement. Even as the cold fist of fear clenched around his heart the Gundam's vernier boosters fired, propelling it at George's ship with great speed. George scrambled from his seat and ran as fast as his legs would carry him from the bridge. He had just barely reached the hangar when the first explosion wracked his ship violently off keel, throwing George viciously to the deck. He quickly recovered and slapped a control. Instantly the artificial gravity vanished and George launched himself toward his Gundam Rose, which was patiently kneeling in the center of the hold. More explosions rocked the ship and George knew that he had little time left. He sighed in relief as his cockpit sealed behind him and with a determined expression he activated Gundam Rose's mobile trace system. As his fight suit conformed around him George punched up a display and grimaced. Thorn Bush was doomed. No longer concerned with preserving his ship he drew his beam rapier and tore straight through the roof of the hangar's hold. With vernier's burning brilliantly Gundam Rose rocketed into the darkness of space even as George's eyes scanned for his attacker. It wasn't long before the other Gundam appeared from underneath Thorn Bush, and not a moment after that George's vessel exploded with the fury of a dying sun.
"Who are you!? Why have you done this?" George shouted.
"I think I'm offended. Do you truly mean to say that you don't remember me George de Sand, Jack of Diamonds? Well rest assured that I most certainly remember YOU." Her face had yet to appear on George's screens so he concentrated on the woman's voice. The accent was familiar but he could not put a face or a name to it. He was startled out of his revere when his opponent raced towards him at speeds he thought impossible. The Gundam was suddenly brandishing elongated claws that extended from it's fingertips. The weapons let off the same silver glow that George had seen in vibro- blades. He was quick to defend himself, and with the practiced ease of a swordsman parried and knocked aside every assault his foe launched. It wasn't long till he created an opening for an attack of his own. With a single deft thrust George penetrated the Gundam's shoulder, and it's fighters agonized wail filled his cockpit. Drifting back with a hand over the wound in its shoulder the Gundam fired its head vulcans driving George back.
"You are beaten, surrender." George called out.
"That same arrogant attitude, you sicken me!" Her voice was labored and coarse, but George could feel the resentment in it. It drove a chill up his spine. 'What have I done to make this woman hate me so?' He thought as he lowered his rapier to his side. "Even then I knew you didn't take me seriously. I knew you didn't respect me as a warrior. No matter how hard I fought in that blasted second-rate piece of junk I couldn't earn the respect that I deserve! I made it through ten months until you took everything away from me!"
Even as George listened with contempt to her self-pitying dribble his mind slowly put the pieces together. He finally remembered this woman and he was not surprised at all that she hadn't changed since he took her Gundam's head in the thirteenth tournament. "Chelsea Waresa of Neo-Poland. You were the fighter who piloted Gundam Magnat."
Finally she opened a vid screen and George got his first look at her. Her fight suit shared her Gundam's colors with the addition of a stylized gray P on her chest. She was slender and lithe, George suspected that her Gundam's frame was modeled after her body. Brown eyes, brown hair cut short to hang closely around her head and halfway down her neck. A pink scar trailed diagonally across her right check, and it was her most distinguishing feature.
As she caught her breath she began speaking, "That's right. I used that pitiful machine and I fought and fought with it for my nation. I even managed to take three heads when nobody, not even my own support crew believed that I would even make it to earth. I surprised them all, and I made them respect me. That is until you ripped my Gundam's head clean off!"
George was rapidly growing annoyed, "What do you expect from me? An apology? Don't be pathetic. You knew the rules of the Gundam Fight as well as any other Fighter. You have no one to blame but yourself for that defeat. Are you truly so petty as to travel out into the middle of nowhere in hopes of murdering me?"
"You don't know anything!" Chelsea snapped back. "Killing you is just an unexpected bonus."
"Perhaps you haven't been paying attention mademoiselle." George replied. "But you appear to be losing, just how is it you plan to kill me?"
"I'm more than happy to show you, you obnoxious brat! It's time you experienced the true power of my Phantom GUNDAM!" As George watched, Phantom Gundam's limbs drew close together, almost as if it were rocking itself. Suddenly it's arms and legs snapped back outwards, a bright light filled George's screens and he was forced to shield his eyes. When the light faded George gasped in shock for there were now two of them, identical right down to the color scheme. Without warning they both launched towards Gundam Rose, spiraling around one another like lit fireworks, both with claws ready.
"Rose BITS!" George called out as he pointed a finger at the approaching Phantoms. The cape that served as a shield for Gundam Rose opened and from it streamed dozens of familiar rose shaped remote laser cannons. George directed them to attack like a swarm of angry insects, quickly flitting back and forth while firing madly. Unfortunately it didn't even faze the Phantoms and they were suddenly on either side of Gundam Rose with their arms reared back ready to strike. With speed and power driven by blind rage the two Gundams attacked simultaneously and even as George deflected the blows of one, the claws of the other sheared across Gundam Rose's back. George screamed as his fight suit accurately relayed the damage Gundam Rose sustained as if the wounds were inflicted directly upon George's own skin. 'This isn't good. My Rose bits aren't doing enough damage to even slow them down and they're too fast for me to defend myself against simultaneously.'
George was quickly growing desperate and Chelsea's attacks hadn't abated in the slightest. She was driven by the scent of fresh blood, she knew her prey was tiring. It was only a matter of time until she had him cornered for the kill. "If you surrender I might consider ending you swiftly." Chelsea couldn't keep herself from laughing as she boasted.
"Knights don't surrender Chelsea. You mean to kill me? Then come and try. But I won't go quietly into the void. ROSE SCREAMER!" George parried one final blow before he interposed glowing Rose Bits between Gundam Rose and the Phantoms.
"Haven't learned your lesson yet de Sand? Throwing flowers around doesn't win battles." Chelsea laughed.
George's response was to activate the EMP fields of his Rose Bits and fire them mercilessly at the Phantoms. One escaped, the other was not so lucky. Once again George heard Chelsea's wails as her Gundam was being drained of power. Yet even as one Phantom suffered, so too did its twin. It was mirroring the other's pained spasms exactly and George did not waste the opportunity. He fired his verniers and drove his rapier completely through the head of the Phantom that escaped his Rose Bits. Yet instead of the violent detonation he expected the Phantom seemed to fizzle, and finally completely vanish from sight like the specter it was named for, only leaving behind the vibro-claws it used as weapons. George finally understood. Phantom Gundam was not nearly as powerful as Chelsea's boasts made it out to be. It simply generated an elaborate illusion of itself.
"You are beaten Chelsea. Surrender." George commanded icily. His rapier was steadily aimed between the eyes of his foe. Yet before Chelsea responded a streamlined bolt of energy lanced out and drove Gundam Rose's weapon out of its hand. George quickly turned in the direction of the attack but saw nothing. Without warning or preamble three more shoots struck Gundam Rose in the back, flipping it head over heels even as George clenched his jaw against the agony shooting through him.
He turned again and saw it. It was a black spot in space roughly human in shape. Slowly from head to toe color filled in. Many shades of green and gray filtered through in a camouflage pattern, revealing thick legs covered partially by an armored skirt. A torso defined by sharp angles and indentions that surrounded the cockpit hatch. The arms were thick from the hands right up to the circular joints that connected them to the main body. The head was uniquely colored in the same pattern as the rest of the machine and shaped like a military helmet. The chevron that decorated the brow was blood red and bore two prongs that lifted straight up from the middle of the diagonal slants. George was mesmerized by the sight, not willing to believe what his eyes told him. Another Gundam had just materialized in front of him, and it was aiming an energy rifle right at him.
[Neo-Japan. House of Discussions.]
"All those in favor?" Karato's voice was being held in careful check. No matter how much he wanted to scream his throat raw, he was determined to see it through with as much dignity as he could muster. Looking around the chamber he saw barely fifty hands rise in support of the amendments to the International Gundam Fight regulations that he and Dr. Kasshu had written. Even as Karato watched three years of hard work had just literally died on the floor of the very building from which the power of the Earth sphere currently rested. "And those opposed?" Over one hundred hands shot into the air. Karato needed two thirds of the delegation in attendance to vote with him to implement the changes. He didn't even have one third. He banged his gavel upon the podium with such force that the hammer separated from the pommel. "The motion fails." A cheer went up around the hall and Viktor Schlieffen was accepting handshakes from dozens of peers.
"Order! We shall have order in these chambers!!" Karato couldn't keep his voice down and his shouts quickly stopped all celebration. "This is not a disco ladies and gentlemen. You will conduct yourselves with dignity and restraint within these chambers or be removed from them. There are still matters on the agenda."
"Prime minister Karato, Captain Tanaka requests you join him sir. He says its urgent." The voice came from the speaker in the podium and Karato was instantly worried. Tanaka was his personal aide, and quiet to a fault. If he was interrupting a delegation meeting then there was a damn good reason for it. "I beg the delegations pardon but a matter of utmost importance has just been drawn to my attention."
"By all means Prime Minister, don't let us keep you. We'll continue the meeting without you." Viktor Schlieffen's tone was warm, as if he were speaking to an old friend. There was never a time when Karato wanted to murder the man more. Yet he bit his lip and strode from the room, entering a dead run the moment the doors closed behind him. He entered Tanaka's office without preamble and stood for a moment of somber reflection. The captain wasn't there. Karato turned and approached another office, the lieutenant inside sprung to attention the moment he saw Karato. "At ease son. Do you know where Captain Tanaka is?"
"I believe the captain went down to data storage sir." The lieutenant answered.
"Very good. Carry on." Karato didn't even wait to hear any response before he took off again, and he completely missed the smirk that crossed the young man's face. He arrived in data storage five minutes later once again without finding Tanaka. The clerk reported that Tanaka left an electronic message asking Karato to meet him in the computer center. Ten minutes later Karato arrived and thankfully saw his aide tapping away at one of the terminals.
"All right Tanaka what was so important that you called me away from the meeting?" Karato asked.
"Called you away sir? I received a message from captain Yujikawa that you wanted me to report here and meet you." Tanaka answered.
"Yujikawa said what? Then who just told me that you were looking for me?" Karato asked incredulously.
"One moment sir." Tanaka began typing furiously at his keys and in moments he had Karato's answer. "Yujikawa sent an electronic message to a courier from his office sir."
"What? But why would__" The answer hit him before he even finished asking the question. 'He wanted us both away from our posts. This is just a distraction for something else! What could he be planning?' "Tanaka, how many men can you gather quickly that you trust explicitly?"
"How explicitly do you mean sir?" Tanaka's tone betrayed his confusion.
"Men you would trust with our lives." Karato's serious tone burned any hesitation from Tanaka's mind and he easily slipped into the role of a soldier.
"Three sir."
"Get them to meet us in a safe place in the complex, do it now."
"Already on it sir." Tanaka once again began typing keys. "Sir. Yujikawa just issued a complex wide alert."
"What is it?" Karato asked.
"An arrest order sir." Tanaka's tone was one of disbelief. "An arrest order for us, for the murder of Dr. Kasshu." The words were barely out of his mouth before three doors in the room burst open and dozens of armed security guards came pouring into the room. Karato certainly didn't need any more prompting to lift his hands in the air than the sound of forty safeties being snapped off. Tanaka however was still typing furiously at his terminal seemingly oblivious to anything else but the screen in front of him.
"Back away from the computer and put your hands in the air!" A guard called out as he rapidly approached Tanaka. By the time the guard had reached the captain he hadn't stopped typing, the guard didn't repeat his request. He simply swung the butt of his rifle into the back of Tanaka's skull, dropping the man like dead weight. The guard quickly moved to secure Tanaka's hands and in that moment Karato saw one single line of data on the Terminal's screen.
[Enable Command? Y/N?]
Trusting that Tanaka was doing something worth risking his live for Karato surged forward and slapped the appropriate key. He was quickly grabbed and hauled away from the computer but not before he saw another message blinking.
[Command Enabled. Command Enabled. Command Enabled.]
Karato gave up trying to struggle with his captors and let himself be carried away. Tanaka and he were being led from the room when Captain Yujikawa entered. He went straight for the terminal and after quickly scanning it he approached his prisoners.
"What the hell do you think you're doing Yujikawa!?" Karato screamed without preamble.
"Exactly what you asked me to do Mr. Prime Minister. I've found the culprits behind the attack on Dr. Kasshu. I guess you thought by giving me emergency powers to conduct my investigation that you'd alleviate yourself of suspicion. You were wrong. I now have all the evidence I need to see you both put to death." By Yujikawa's tone alone Karato would've believed the man was serious as death, yet looking into his eyes and at the quirk of his lips Karato knew he was drawing a sick pleasure from his treason.
"This is treason Yujikawa, you'll never get away with this." Tanaka spat out between labored breaths.
Yujikawa actually had the nerve to roll his eyes and quickly snapped off a backhand that rocked Tanaka's head back into the wall violently, "Me, a traitor? I think you've got our roles a little mixed up Captain. Now why don't you show a little cooperation and tell me what that little trick you just pulled on that terminal was?"
"Go to hell you son of a bitch." Tanaka shot back.
Yujikawa sighed and made a motion with his left hand and drew his pistol with the right. Suddenly there was a bag over Karato's head and he was once again being led from the room. "I'll ask nicely one more time Tanaka. What did you just pull?"
"It was just a mass email about the corruption of morals and ideals in colony society. I think you'd find it educating." Was Tanaka's answer.
"You were never a comedian Tanaka, I find it a little ironic that your last words were a sad attempt at a joke." Yujikawa snarled and the last sound Karato heard as the doors slid shut was that of a gunshot. It was in that moment that Karato finally accepted that the worst case scenario was indeed at hand. He had just been ousted in a coup detat that would leave a traitor to his people the office of Prime Minister. He felt sick, weak, and worst of all. Helpless.
[Jupiter Area]
George grunted as another bolt bounced off his shield. So far his newest opponent had yet to reveal his identity. The only introduction George had received was a staccato of laser bolts that were becoming increasingly difficult to stay ahead of. 'I have to focus, if I don't concentrate the Rose Bits will stop working and Chelsea will be free. If that happens they'll surely kill me. I have to find a way to defeat him quickly.' George didn't dare risk another Rose Bits attack, lest he lose control of the ones restraining Chelsea and he couldn't close within striking distance of the camouflaged Gundam without being blasted into space debris. His heart was racing, sweat was running freely down his brow, and his limbs were beginning to grow numb. 'All right. It may be suicide, but I have to try and rush him before I completely tire out. It's my best chance of beating him. Here goes!' Just as he was going to fire his verniers his right fist began glowing with an awesome red light. 'My shuffle crest is shining! But that means___' George's opponent took advantage of his distraction and placed a well aimed bolt right into Gundam Rose's torso and George was forced to hold on for dear life as his Gundam tumbled mercilessly through space.
When he finally managed to right himself he was staring directly down the barrel of his enemies' weapon. He braced himself for the shot that would end his life but suddenly his shuffle crest shined even brighter. A laser bolt flashed on George's screens and he couldn't help but wince. After a moment he opened his eyes to see that his opponent's energy rifle was tumbling out into the void and the Gundam itself was burning booster's to avoid a firestorm of missiles and energy bolts that was raining down upon it. George let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and looked for the source of his salvation. With the sun's glare to it's back the Dosstoy flashed into view with Bolt Gundam rocketing out of its hold. George remembered the ship fondly as they one that carried the shuffle Alliance into battle against the Dark colony.
This time it carried the Black Joker into battle against George's attacker. Yet even as Bolt Gundam hastened to engage the anonymous Gundam a vid Screen opened and George was greeted with the ever-serious visage of Argo Gulskii. "Are you all right George?"
"I've been better." George answered as numerous injuries flashed with fresh pain all over his body. Argo nodded his understanding, "You stay back with the Dosstoy, I'll handle Gundam Longshot."
"You know that Gundam?" George asked incredulously.
"There will be time for explanations later, just keep Phantom Gundam out of my way." Argo's tone left no room for argument and his vid screen vanished just as quickly as it appeared. At the mention of Phantom Gundam George quickly spun to it, only to find that in his distraction, Chelsea had escaped his Rose Bits. With a fresh cry of frustration George settled into a battle stance and awaited his foe.
Argo's focus was on Gundam Longshot and nothing else. The other Gundam had completely turned tail and was making haste to escape and that simply infuriated Argo. 'You hunt and stalk me for weeks and you dare run from a fair fight!?' "Dulin you spineless coward! Face me!" Argo called out.
When Dulin's face appeared in Argo's cockpit he was not surprised to see the woman's face. Loose red hair that reached her shoulders, green eyes, fair skin, a normal build. Her face was lightly freckled under her eyes and her chin was slightly indented. Her fight suit was a deep green similar to Argo's, yet on her chest she sported a Logo of a Gundam head locked in a sniper's cross hairs. At her feet the fight suit contorted into the slight heels Argo had seen on Allenby Beardsley and Rain whenever they fought. "Sorry Gulskii." Her voice bore an Irish accent. "But blows to my ego don't suddenly make me stupid enough to fight without my rifle. Be seeing you Black Joker."
With a fresh burst of speed Anne Dulin seemed impossible to catch and Argo was ready to rip out parts of his console in frustration when he tried one last time, "Do you dare run away from an challenge for a Gundam Fight match?"
Anne's tone betrayed her surprise, "Are ye mad? Never mind the fact that the Gundam Fight hasn't even started but we aren't even on Earth, and you know as well as I do that Earth is the ring."
"Then you refuse? I'm sure that Neo-Ireland would be rather embarrassed to learn that their Gundam Fighter ran away from an official challenge." Argo displayed a talent he rarely used. He let an arrogant leer enter his usually cold voice that inspired rage in Dulin.
"I'll accept yer challenge, if ye let me get me rifle." Anne finally replied.
'Hardly ideal, but if it's the only way I'll get her to fight head on then so be it.' "Very well. Retrieve your weapon." Argo agreed. 'This Russian's a mad dog. I can't believe he's so stupid. Looks like I'll finally get to finish him after all.' Anne smiled as she reversed directions and collected her long slender rifle.
Meanwhile George was once again crossing blades with Chelsea and it was obvious that neither of them had the strength to defeat the other. "Damn you de Sand! I'll see you dead yet!" Chelsea withdrew slightly and assumed the same position George saw her use before when she activated her Phantom Double.
"Not this time Mademoiselle. I had planned to keep this technique of mine a secret till the start of the Gundam Fight, but you leave me little choice in the matter." George assumed a two handed grip on his rapier and drew it back on Gundam Rose's right side, almost as if he were firing a gun from his hip.
"Phantom Double!" Chelsea called out, and once again followed by a brief flash of light there were two Phantom Gundams. They wasted no time in pursuing George, but he made no move to dodge or evade he held his ground.
At George's mental command dozens of Rose Bits surrounded his rapier on all sides and became interconnected. Indeed it was as if George was wielding a blade made completely of deadly thorns. He wasn't done yet. He focused his mind and directed the Bits to gather their power. Instantly his weapon was surrounded by an awesome blue light that blinded Chelsea and made her cry out in alarm as she halted her advance and covered her eyes. The golden glow of Gundam Rose's hyper mode joined that azure light of the Rose Blade and when George focused his sight on the Phantom Gundams he thrusted his blade directly at them while shouting, " ROSE BLADE FIRE!!!" At George's bidding a torrential beam leapt from his rapier and in the blink of an eye smashed into his foes. The illusion vanished in an eye blink and George regretted that it bore the blunt of his attack. Yet even the glancing blow dealt to the real Phantom Gundam blew it's right arm and leg clean off and sent it spiraling out into space in an uncontrolled spin. With a sigh of relief George collapsed to the deck and Gundam Rose quietly slipped out of hyper mode.
"Well then. It looks like yer friend took care of dear Chelsea Black Joker." Anne was thoroughly displeased. She had hoped that Chelsea would save her the trouble of finishing off Gundam Rose and the Dosstoy. 'No matter. It just means I'll have to dedicate another five minutes of my life to this assignment. Finishing them off won't be too difficult once I've dealt with Gulskii.'
"I hope this doesn't mean you wish to back out." Argo stood ready for battle with his arms and legs spread.
Anne actually laughed. "Not at all. I don't need Waresa to help me finish you off." Argo actually had to bite off a chuckle at her arrogance. He'd rather let his actions demonstrate how wrong she was. "GUNDAM FIGHT!!!" Argo's deep voice echoed as he initiated the traditional challenge.
Anne snapped her rifle into firing position and warmed her verniers as she replied, "READY!!!"
"GO!!!" With Argo's cry the match had begun and he rocketed towards Gundam Longshot with every ounce of speed Bolt Gundam could produce. Argo could see the light gathering in Anne's barrel and he quickly threw his arms up to shield his Gundam's head but did not slow his advance at all.
"This match was over before it began!" Anne boasted gleefully as her cross hairs settled over Bolt Gundam. She fired several shots in quick succession and was astonished to see that they weren't even successfully singeing the Gundam's paint. Too late she recognized her folly and tried to fire her verniers to carry her out of the rampaging Bolt Gundam's path. Argo crashed into Gundam Longshot's torso with the force of a meteor, folding it upon itself completely. Anne's eyes bugged as all her air was violently forced from her lungs at the blow and she sank to her knees. She quickly forgot about the pain in her stomach when Argo launched an uppercut that snapped Gundam Longshot's head up and actually lifted Anne back to her feet. With a roar Argo reached out and grabbed onto Gundam Longshot's rifle arm and began squeezing it with the ferocity of an angered bear. Anne could not hold in her scream as her fight suit cut off the circulation of blood to her right arm and still continued squeezing. With a cry of anguish Anne lifted her other arm towards Bolt Gundam's head revealing a built in missile launcher. However Argo sensed the danger and pitched Gundam Longshot away before Anne could fire.
'My rifle is damaged, I've only got one chance to beat him now.' Anne quickly punched in the appropriate buttons and her Gundam lost all color, perfectly blending into the darkness of space.
'Blast not again.' Argo had seen this tactic many times over the past weeks. Dulin's Gundam had the ability to make itself invisible for short stretches of time. Time she would use to prepare her attack. 'I've no choice but to hope that I get really lucky.' "Vulcans." Argo's command prompted the four vulcan cannons he possessed to fire continuously as he raked back and forth hoping to catch Dulin and end the match swiftly. Argo's efforts were in vain. Gundam Longshot reappeared behind Bolt Gundam and Anne emptied her store of missiles right into the back of Argo's head.
Debris clouded Anne's view but she saw Bolt Gundams' hands go limp and breathed deeply in relief. "I got him." She murmured while holding a hand over her still aching stomach. "Graviton HAMMER!!!" Argo's cry took Anne by surprise and she was caught completely unprepared. Argo hefted his massive hammer with ease and swung with all his might, driving his weapon mercilessly into Gundam Longshot's side. The force of the blow nearly knocked Anne out cold but she held onto consciousness long enough to fire her verniers one last time and rocket back towards Earth with all the acceleration she could muster. Argo watched her escape wearing an impassive expression. 'For now. Its over.' He thought quietly.
"Argo. We have much to discuss." When the screen opened it showed that George was already on the Dosstoy heavily bandaged. "We need to get back to Earth as quickly as possible. Domon needs our help."
Argo was surprised at the news, "I was wondering what you were doing out here. Indeed we have much to talk about. I'm heading back now."
End
Wow. It took me so long to get past that stump I ran into when I was trying to write George's scenes. Finally I just gave up and dived right into the action and I think it worked out well. In the next chapter we'll go back to Chibodee, Allenby, and Sai's side and it'll pick up right where it left off essentially. At least time frame wise. We'll also see more about Karato's new predicament. Okay. Phantom Gundam and Gundam Longshot are my designs. However only Anne Dulin is an original character. I borrowed Chelsea's name from G-Gundam and just made up a description of her and a personality. Okay I hope you enjoyed. Please review, and thanks again for your patience.
Thank you all for your wonderful encouragement and inspiration in writing reviews for the story. I'll do my best to make sure that you enjoy this chapter as much as the rest. Oh, and please forgive the EXTREME lateness of this update. I appreciate your patience and continued interest in the story.
In the last chapter we were introduced to Kane DeMarco, to whom Roland McGregor is subordinate. Who is this Fighter? Who were the "prisoners" he mentioned during his escape of the Houwanadai sulfur facility? Perhaps even more shocking is the appearance of Chico Rodriguez and Saette Gyuzelle. One reported dead in a Gundam Fight Match with Domon Kasshu, the other corrupted by DG cells and removed from the thirteenth tournament. To make matters worse, George de Sand finally arrives at his destination only to realize the magnitude of the area he must search and the possibility that Argo Gulskii may not even still be there. Add to that the despair of Prime Minister Karato who is truly getting a grasp on just how dangerous the whole situation is truly becoming.
So without further ado let's get things started. Gundam Fight All Set. Ready! Go!
A New History Forgotten. Chapter 4: Darkness' Duvet. The Fate of the Black Joker.
"Prime Minister Karato? I have the list of names you asked for. I don't think you're going to like this at all sir." Captain Yujikawa was a very slender man. However his five and a half foot one hundred and forty pound frame gave off an aura of power. This was a warrior, whose wiry limbs promised quick retribution to any adversary that would challenge him. He was Karato's designated immediate subordinate, and he currently was chairman of Neo-Japan's Gundam development committee, occupying the position that Karato vacated upon becoming Prime Minister. Both he and Karato were walking along a brightly lit corridor in the security wing of The House of Discussions. The facility was still under heavy guard after the last attack. Yujikawa's investigation into the affair had failed to produce a suspect, or even how the attacker of Dr. Kasshu managed to slip into and out of the building without attracting attention to himself.
Karato finally accepted the list that Yujikawa offered, already painfully aware of the situation and dreading the actual results. It had been nearly two weeks since the attack on Kasshu, and nearly two weeks since George de Sand set out for Jupiter, and a few days since the team he sent to Earth finally left. In that time Karato was desperate in his work to reconvene the Earth Sphere delegation, to form at least a quorum that could vote and decide upon the resolution still on the floor. He desperately wanted those changes made for the fourteenth tournament. He needed at least sixty percent of the delegation for the vote to happen. As he scanned the names, he saw what he already anticipated. Nearly all of the opposing delegations were in attendance, including the ersatz leader in Neo-Norway, while Karato's own supporters were mostly absent. They refused to show themselves without adequate proof that their safety could be guaranteed. With Kasshu lying dying in a hospital bed, and no one being held accountable, Karato would feel a fool to offer false assurances that would be regarded with the same seriousness as a discussion of Wong Yunfat's integrity.
"Sir? What do you plan to do?" Yujikawa's voice snapped Karato out of his reverie, and he realized that he had stopped his trek towards the meeting hall while regarding the names in front of him.
"I don't have too many options captain. The delegation is meeting with quorum, even if I don't show they'll be within their right and authority to vote on all resolutions. I might as well make a show of it." Karato rubbed his tired eyes. How long had it been since he last slept? He couldn't remember. At this point he couldn't bring himself to care. All his hard work over the last three years were unraveling beyond his control, and it was maddening. He was Prime Minister of the Earth Sphere, he should be able to do anything required to help the people. "All right. Yujikawa I want you to find the bastard that did this. I am authorizing you to use whatever means necessary. You have my explicit permission to utilize whatever resources you feel you require."
"Understood sir." Yujikawa snapped into a salute and turned to leave.
"Captain?" Karato called after him. Once the officer turned Karato continued. "I want updates from the teams in the field. Get them to me after the meeting is over." Without waiting for Yujikawa's response Karato turned and headed into the meeting hall, where delegates where already petitioning for time on the floor. Karato's eyes caught Neo-Norway's Viktor Schlieffen and the man grinned as he laid his resolutions upon the agenda, to be discussed after the vote on Karato's had taken place. A small drop of blood squeezed out of Karato's palm. His fingers were digging into his own flesh as it seemed his entire body clenched with anger. 'Whatever it takes. Whatever I have to do. That bastard and his cronies won't get their way.'
[Jupiter area "Thorn Bush" de Sand family private yacht]
George de Sand had finally arrived at his destination. After nearly two weeks of isolation in the cold depths of space he was ready to begin his mission. Discover the fate of Argo Gulskii. The only trouble was where to begin. Jupiter was truly massive. To circle it alone and scan effectively for Argo's ship would take George days. Then there was the prospect of the moons and the sheer volume of empty space that made up what was known as the Jupiter area. The task was simply daunting. If George wished to arrive back in time for the beginning of the Gundam Fight, he had to leave within three days, which did not lend itself to George's chances. Yet he stood resolute to fulfill his promise. Whatever the cost he would find Argo Gulskii. He activated his communications system and programmed it to send a repeating message in all directions on all possibly frequencies in hopes of receiving a response. Then he put his ship on auto-pilot and manned his sensors. It was time to go to work. With several keystrokes many small probes launched from the bow of his ship, flying in all directions and all of them emitting the same message that Thorn Bush was sending. After that, George had little else to do, but to wait and watch. Ironically, he did not have to wait long until he registered an odd sensor reading.
'Gundanium? Out in open space? I'm not detecting any power sources or support craft.' His curiosity peaked, he altered his ship's course and aimed straight for the alloy. As he got closer he could make out more details. 'It's certainly large enough to be a Gundam.' Suddenly the bridge was filled with the drone of static. Someone was trying to respond to George's hails.
"This is George de Sand hailing from the Thorn Bush. Do you require assistance? Please respond." After a moment of silence George's eyes narrowed and he began again, "I repeat this is__"
"George de Sand? What would the heir to a noble family be doing way out here in the middle of cold vacuum?" George frowned at his console, trying to remember if he had ever heard the woman's voice before.
"Are you in need of assistance mademoiselle?" By now George could see with his naked eye what was assuredly a Gundam. It was like none he had ever seen before. Its color scheme was separated in black and white, divided right down the middle. Feminine in Appearance, it was slender, its armor completely covered the joints at the knees and elbows rendering them invisible. At those points it was as if the Gundam had grown massive spikes to protect itself. The feet elongated into obviously sharp and vicious edges, and it's fingers were clawed. The cockpit was covered by a thick armored plate that bore an identical color scheme to the rest of the unit. The head was odd. The eyes emitted a soft blue light, but the face was otherwise featureless. The head's armor jutted out in random places with varying length, the effect reminded George of the ghost stories he had heard as the child. Faceless spirits whose hair billowed behind them wherever they went. The Chevron at the brow was colored in a black and white pattern opposite to the rest of the unit. Even as he scrutinized the machine he grew uneasy, it had begun to power up.
"Mademoiselle. Perhaps you could be of assistance. I am looking for a friend that is rumored to be in this area. You wouldn't have come across him?"
The moment he heard the sharp vicious laughter he knew he was in trouble.
"This is just too perfect." The voice seemed to have grown darker with a violent excitement. Even as the cold fist of fear clenched around his heart the Gundam's vernier boosters fired, propelling it at George's ship with great speed. George scrambled from his seat and ran as fast as his legs would carry him from the bridge. He had just barely reached the hangar when the first explosion wracked his ship violently off keel, throwing George viciously to the deck. He quickly recovered and slapped a control. Instantly the artificial gravity vanished and George launched himself toward his Gundam Rose, which was patiently kneeling in the center of the hold. More explosions rocked the ship and George knew that he had little time left. He sighed in relief as his cockpit sealed behind him and with a determined expression he activated Gundam Rose's mobile trace system. As his fight suit conformed around him George punched up a display and grimaced. Thorn Bush was doomed. No longer concerned with preserving his ship he drew his beam rapier and tore straight through the roof of the hangar's hold. With vernier's burning brilliantly Gundam Rose rocketed into the darkness of space even as George's eyes scanned for his attacker. It wasn't long before the other Gundam appeared from underneath Thorn Bush, and not a moment after that George's vessel exploded with the fury of a dying sun.
"Who are you!? Why have you done this?" George shouted.
"I think I'm offended. Do you truly mean to say that you don't remember me George de Sand, Jack of Diamonds? Well rest assured that I most certainly remember YOU." Her face had yet to appear on George's screens so he concentrated on the woman's voice. The accent was familiar but he could not put a face or a name to it. He was startled out of his revere when his opponent raced towards him at speeds he thought impossible. The Gundam was suddenly brandishing elongated claws that extended from it's fingertips. The weapons let off the same silver glow that George had seen in vibro- blades. He was quick to defend himself, and with the practiced ease of a swordsman parried and knocked aside every assault his foe launched. It wasn't long till he created an opening for an attack of his own. With a single deft thrust George penetrated the Gundam's shoulder, and it's fighters agonized wail filled his cockpit. Drifting back with a hand over the wound in its shoulder the Gundam fired its head vulcans driving George back.
"You are beaten, surrender." George called out.
"That same arrogant attitude, you sicken me!" Her voice was labored and coarse, but George could feel the resentment in it. It drove a chill up his spine. 'What have I done to make this woman hate me so?' He thought as he lowered his rapier to his side. "Even then I knew you didn't take me seriously. I knew you didn't respect me as a warrior. No matter how hard I fought in that blasted second-rate piece of junk I couldn't earn the respect that I deserve! I made it through ten months until you took everything away from me!"
Even as George listened with contempt to her self-pitying dribble his mind slowly put the pieces together. He finally remembered this woman and he was not surprised at all that she hadn't changed since he took her Gundam's head in the thirteenth tournament. "Chelsea Waresa of Neo-Poland. You were the fighter who piloted Gundam Magnat."
Finally she opened a vid screen and George got his first look at her. Her fight suit shared her Gundam's colors with the addition of a stylized gray P on her chest. She was slender and lithe, George suspected that her Gundam's frame was modeled after her body. Brown eyes, brown hair cut short to hang closely around her head and halfway down her neck. A pink scar trailed diagonally across her right check, and it was her most distinguishing feature.
As she caught her breath she began speaking, "That's right. I used that pitiful machine and I fought and fought with it for my nation. I even managed to take three heads when nobody, not even my own support crew believed that I would even make it to earth. I surprised them all, and I made them respect me. That is until you ripped my Gundam's head clean off!"
George was rapidly growing annoyed, "What do you expect from me? An apology? Don't be pathetic. You knew the rules of the Gundam Fight as well as any other Fighter. You have no one to blame but yourself for that defeat. Are you truly so petty as to travel out into the middle of nowhere in hopes of murdering me?"
"You don't know anything!" Chelsea snapped back. "Killing you is just an unexpected bonus."
"Perhaps you haven't been paying attention mademoiselle." George replied. "But you appear to be losing, just how is it you plan to kill me?"
"I'm more than happy to show you, you obnoxious brat! It's time you experienced the true power of my Phantom GUNDAM!" As George watched, Phantom Gundam's limbs drew close together, almost as if it were rocking itself. Suddenly it's arms and legs snapped back outwards, a bright light filled George's screens and he was forced to shield his eyes. When the light faded George gasped in shock for there were now two of them, identical right down to the color scheme. Without warning they both launched towards Gundam Rose, spiraling around one another like lit fireworks, both with claws ready.
"Rose BITS!" George called out as he pointed a finger at the approaching Phantoms. The cape that served as a shield for Gundam Rose opened and from it streamed dozens of familiar rose shaped remote laser cannons. George directed them to attack like a swarm of angry insects, quickly flitting back and forth while firing madly. Unfortunately it didn't even faze the Phantoms and they were suddenly on either side of Gundam Rose with their arms reared back ready to strike. With speed and power driven by blind rage the two Gundams attacked simultaneously and even as George deflected the blows of one, the claws of the other sheared across Gundam Rose's back. George screamed as his fight suit accurately relayed the damage Gundam Rose sustained as if the wounds were inflicted directly upon George's own skin. 'This isn't good. My Rose bits aren't doing enough damage to even slow them down and they're too fast for me to defend myself against simultaneously.'
George was quickly growing desperate and Chelsea's attacks hadn't abated in the slightest. She was driven by the scent of fresh blood, she knew her prey was tiring. It was only a matter of time until she had him cornered for the kill. "If you surrender I might consider ending you swiftly." Chelsea couldn't keep herself from laughing as she boasted.
"Knights don't surrender Chelsea. You mean to kill me? Then come and try. But I won't go quietly into the void. ROSE SCREAMER!" George parried one final blow before he interposed glowing Rose Bits between Gundam Rose and the Phantoms.
"Haven't learned your lesson yet de Sand? Throwing flowers around doesn't win battles." Chelsea laughed.
George's response was to activate the EMP fields of his Rose Bits and fire them mercilessly at the Phantoms. One escaped, the other was not so lucky. Once again George heard Chelsea's wails as her Gundam was being drained of power. Yet even as one Phantom suffered, so too did its twin. It was mirroring the other's pained spasms exactly and George did not waste the opportunity. He fired his verniers and drove his rapier completely through the head of the Phantom that escaped his Rose Bits. Yet instead of the violent detonation he expected the Phantom seemed to fizzle, and finally completely vanish from sight like the specter it was named for, only leaving behind the vibro-claws it used as weapons. George finally understood. Phantom Gundam was not nearly as powerful as Chelsea's boasts made it out to be. It simply generated an elaborate illusion of itself.
"You are beaten Chelsea. Surrender." George commanded icily. His rapier was steadily aimed between the eyes of his foe. Yet before Chelsea responded a streamlined bolt of energy lanced out and drove Gundam Rose's weapon out of its hand. George quickly turned in the direction of the attack but saw nothing. Without warning or preamble three more shoots struck Gundam Rose in the back, flipping it head over heels even as George clenched his jaw against the agony shooting through him.
He turned again and saw it. It was a black spot in space roughly human in shape. Slowly from head to toe color filled in. Many shades of green and gray filtered through in a camouflage pattern, revealing thick legs covered partially by an armored skirt. A torso defined by sharp angles and indentions that surrounded the cockpit hatch. The arms were thick from the hands right up to the circular joints that connected them to the main body. The head was uniquely colored in the same pattern as the rest of the machine and shaped like a military helmet. The chevron that decorated the brow was blood red and bore two prongs that lifted straight up from the middle of the diagonal slants. George was mesmerized by the sight, not willing to believe what his eyes told him. Another Gundam had just materialized in front of him, and it was aiming an energy rifle right at him.
[Neo-Japan. House of Discussions.]
"All those in favor?" Karato's voice was being held in careful check. No matter how much he wanted to scream his throat raw, he was determined to see it through with as much dignity as he could muster. Looking around the chamber he saw barely fifty hands rise in support of the amendments to the International Gundam Fight regulations that he and Dr. Kasshu had written. Even as Karato watched three years of hard work had just literally died on the floor of the very building from which the power of the Earth sphere currently rested. "And those opposed?" Over one hundred hands shot into the air. Karato needed two thirds of the delegation in attendance to vote with him to implement the changes. He didn't even have one third. He banged his gavel upon the podium with such force that the hammer separated from the pommel. "The motion fails." A cheer went up around the hall and Viktor Schlieffen was accepting handshakes from dozens of peers.
"Order! We shall have order in these chambers!!" Karato couldn't keep his voice down and his shouts quickly stopped all celebration. "This is not a disco ladies and gentlemen. You will conduct yourselves with dignity and restraint within these chambers or be removed from them. There are still matters on the agenda."
"Prime minister Karato, Captain Tanaka requests you join him sir. He says its urgent." The voice came from the speaker in the podium and Karato was instantly worried. Tanaka was his personal aide, and quiet to a fault. If he was interrupting a delegation meeting then there was a damn good reason for it. "I beg the delegations pardon but a matter of utmost importance has just been drawn to my attention."
"By all means Prime Minister, don't let us keep you. We'll continue the meeting without you." Viktor Schlieffen's tone was warm, as if he were speaking to an old friend. There was never a time when Karato wanted to murder the man more. Yet he bit his lip and strode from the room, entering a dead run the moment the doors closed behind him. He entered Tanaka's office without preamble and stood for a moment of somber reflection. The captain wasn't there. Karato turned and approached another office, the lieutenant inside sprung to attention the moment he saw Karato. "At ease son. Do you know where Captain Tanaka is?"
"I believe the captain went down to data storage sir." The lieutenant answered.
"Very good. Carry on." Karato didn't even wait to hear any response before he took off again, and he completely missed the smirk that crossed the young man's face. He arrived in data storage five minutes later once again without finding Tanaka. The clerk reported that Tanaka left an electronic message asking Karato to meet him in the computer center. Ten minutes later Karato arrived and thankfully saw his aide tapping away at one of the terminals.
"All right Tanaka what was so important that you called me away from the meeting?" Karato asked.
"Called you away sir? I received a message from captain Yujikawa that you wanted me to report here and meet you." Tanaka answered.
"Yujikawa said what? Then who just told me that you were looking for me?" Karato asked incredulously.
"One moment sir." Tanaka began typing furiously at his keys and in moments he had Karato's answer. "Yujikawa sent an electronic message to a courier from his office sir."
"What? But why would__" The answer hit him before he even finished asking the question. 'He wanted us both away from our posts. This is just a distraction for something else! What could he be planning?' "Tanaka, how many men can you gather quickly that you trust explicitly?"
"How explicitly do you mean sir?" Tanaka's tone betrayed his confusion.
"Men you would trust with our lives." Karato's serious tone burned any hesitation from Tanaka's mind and he easily slipped into the role of a soldier.
"Three sir."
"Get them to meet us in a safe place in the complex, do it now."
"Already on it sir." Tanaka once again began typing keys. "Sir. Yujikawa just issued a complex wide alert."
"What is it?" Karato asked.
"An arrest order sir." Tanaka's tone was one of disbelief. "An arrest order for us, for the murder of Dr. Kasshu." The words were barely out of his mouth before three doors in the room burst open and dozens of armed security guards came pouring into the room. Karato certainly didn't need any more prompting to lift his hands in the air than the sound of forty safeties being snapped off. Tanaka however was still typing furiously at his terminal seemingly oblivious to anything else but the screen in front of him.
"Back away from the computer and put your hands in the air!" A guard called out as he rapidly approached Tanaka. By the time the guard had reached the captain he hadn't stopped typing, the guard didn't repeat his request. He simply swung the butt of his rifle into the back of Tanaka's skull, dropping the man like dead weight. The guard quickly moved to secure Tanaka's hands and in that moment Karato saw one single line of data on the Terminal's screen.
[Enable Command? Y/N?]
Trusting that Tanaka was doing something worth risking his live for Karato surged forward and slapped the appropriate key. He was quickly grabbed and hauled away from the computer but not before he saw another message blinking.
[Command Enabled. Command Enabled. Command Enabled.]
Karato gave up trying to struggle with his captors and let himself be carried away. Tanaka and he were being led from the room when Captain Yujikawa entered. He went straight for the terminal and after quickly scanning it he approached his prisoners.
"What the hell do you think you're doing Yujikawa!?" Karato screamed without preamble.
"Exactly what you asked me to do Mr. Prime Minister. I've found the culprits behind the attack on Dr. Kasshu. I guess you thought by giving me emergency powers to conduct my investigation that you'd alleviate yourself of suspicion. You were wrong. I now have all the evidence I need to see you both put to death." By Yujikawa's tone alone Karato would've believed the man was serious as death, yet looking into his eyes and at the quirk of his lips Karato knew he was drawing a sick pleasure from his treason.
"This is treason Yujikawa, you'll never get away with this." Tanaka spat out between labored breaths.
Yujikawa actually had the nerve to roll his eyes and quickly snapped off a backhand that rocked Tanaka's head back into the wall violently, "Me, a traitor? I think you've got our roles a little mixed up Captain. Now why don't you show a little cooperation and tell me what that little trick you just pulled on that terminal was?"
"Go to hell you son of a bitch." Tanaka shot back.
Yujikawa sighed and made a motion with his left hand and drew his pistol with the right. Suddenly there was a bag over Karato's head and he was once again being led from the room. "I'll ask nicely one more time Tanaka. What did you just pull?"
"It was just a mass email about the corruption of morals and ideals in colony society. I think you'd find it educating." Was Tanaka's answer.
"You were never a comedian Tanaka, I find it a little ironic that your last words were a sad attempt at a joke." Yujikawa snarled and the last sound Karato heard as the doors slid shut was that of a gunshot. It was in that moment that Karato finally accepted that the worst case scenario was indeed at hand. He had just been ousted in a coup detat that would leave a traitor to his people the office of Prime Minister. He felt sick, weak, and worst of all. Helpless.
[Jupiter Area]
George grunted as another bolt bounced off his shield. So far his newest opponent had yet to reveal his identity. The only introduction George had received was a staccato of laser bolts that were becoming increasingly difficult to stay ahead of. 'I have to focus, if I don't concentrate the Rose Bits will stop working and Chelsea will be free. If that happens they'll surely kill me. I have to find a way to defeat him quickly.' George didn't dare risk another Rose Bits attack, lest he lose control of the ones restraining Chelsea and he couldn't close within striking distance of the camouflaged Gundam without being blasted into space debris. His heart was racing, sweat was running freely down his brow, and his limbs were beginning to grow numb. 'All right. It may be suicide, but I have to try and rush him before I completely tire out. It's my best chance of beating him. Here goes!' Just as he was going to fire his verniers his right fist began glowing with an awesome red light. 'My shuffle crest is shining! But that means___' George's opponent took advantage of his distraction and placed a well aimed bolt right into Gundam Rose's torso and George was forced to hold on for dear life as his Gundam tumbled mercilessly through space.
When he finally managed to right himself he was staring directly down the barrel of his enemies' weapon. He braced himself for the shot that would end his life but suddenly his shuffle crest shined even brighter. A laser bolt flashed on George's screens and he couldn't help but wince. After a moment he opened his eyes to see that his opponent's energy rifle was tumbling out into the void and the Gundam itself was burning booster's to avoid a firestorm of missiles and energy bolts that was raining down upon it. George let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and looked for the source of his salvation. With the sun's glare to it's back the Dosstoy flashed into view with Bolt Gundam rocketing out of its hold. George remembered the ship fondly as they one that carried the shuffle Alliance into battle against the Dark colony.
This time it carried the Black Joker into battle against George's attacker. Yet even as Bolt Gundam hastened to engage the anonymous Gundam a vid Screen opened and George was greeted with the ever-serious visage of Argo Gulskii. "Are you all right George?"
"I've been better." George answered as numerous injuries flashed with fresh pain all over his body. Argo nodded his understanding, "You stay back with the Dosstoy, I'll handle Gundam Longshot."
"You know that Gundam?" George asked incredulously.
"There will be time for explanations later, just keep Phantom Gundam out of my way." Argo's tone left no room for argument and his vid screen vanished just as quickly as it appeared. At the mention of Phantom Gundam George quickly spun to it, only to find that in his distraction, Chelsea had escaped his Rose Bits. With a fresh cry of frustration George settled into a battle stance and awaited his foe.
Argo's focus was on Gundam Longshot and nothing else. The other Gundam had completely turned tail and was making haste to escape and that simply infuriated Argo. 'You hunt and stalk me for weeks and you dare run from a fair fight!?' "Dulin you spineless coward! Face me!" Argo called out.
When Dulin's face appeared in Argo's cockpit he was not surprised to see the woman's face. Loose red hair that reached her shoulders, green eyes, fair skin, a normal build. Her face was lightly freckled under her eyes and her chin was slightly indented. Her fight suit was a deep green similar to Argo's, yet on her chest she sported a Logo of a Gundam head locked in a sniper's cross hairs. At her feet the fight suit contorted into the slight heels Argo had seen on Allenby Beardsley and Rain whenever they fought. "Sorry Gulskii." Her voice bore an Irish accent. "But blows to my ego don't suddenly make me stupid enough to fight without my rifle. Be seeing you Black Joker."
With a fresh burst of speed Anne Dulin seemed impossible to catch and Argo was ready to rip out parts of his console in frustration when he tried one last time, "Do you dare run away from an challenge for a Gundam Fight match?"
Anne's tone betrayed her surprise, "Are ye mad? Never mind the fact that the Gundam Fight hasn't even started but we aren't even on Earth, and you know as well as I do that Earth is the ring."
"Then you refuse? I'm sure that Neo-Ireland would be rather embarrassed to learn that their Gundam Fighter ran away from an official challenge." Argo displayed a talent he rarely used. He let an arrogant leer enter his usually cold voice that inspired rage in Dulin.
"I'll accept yer challenge, if ye let me get me rifle." Anne finally replied.
'Hardly ideal, but if it's the only way I'll get her to fight head on then so be it.' "Very well. Retrieve your weapon." Argo agreed. 'This Russian's a mad dog. I can't believe he's so stupid. Looks like I'll finally get to finish him after all.' Anne smiled as she reversed directions and collected her long slender rifle.
Meanwhile George was once again crossing blades with Chelsea and it was obvious that neither of them had the strength to defeat the other. "Damn you de Sand! I'll see you dead yet!" Chelsea withdrew slightly and assumed the same position George saw her use before when she activated her Phantom Double.
"Not this time Mademoiselle. I had planned to keep this technique of mine a secret till the start of the Gundam Fight, but you leave me little choice in the matter." George assumed a two handed grip on his rapier and drew it back on Gundam Rose's right side, almost as if he were firing a gun from his hip.
"Phantom Double!" Chelsea called out, and once again followed by a brief flash of light there were two Phantom Gundams. They wasted no time in pursuing George, but he made no move to dodge or evade he held his ground.
At George's mental command dozens of Rose Bits surrounded his rapier on all sides and became interconnected. Indeed it was as if George was wielding a blade made completely of deadly thorns. He wasn't done yet. He focused his mind and directed the Bits to gather their power. Instantly his weapon was surrounded by an awesome blue light that blinded Chelsea and made her cry out in alarm as she halted her advance and covered her eyes. The golden glow of Gundam Rose's hyper mode joined that azure light of the Rose Blade and when George focused his sight on the Phantom Gundams he thrusted his blade directly at them while shouting, " ROSE BLADE FIRE!!!" At George's bidding a torrential beam leapt from his rapier and in the blink of an eye smashed into his foes. The illusion vanished in an eye blink and George regretted that it bore the blunt of his attack. Yet even the glancing blow dealt to the real Phantom Gundam blew it's right arm and leg clean off and sent it spiraling out into space in an uncontrolled spin. With a sigh of relief George collapsed to the deck and Gundam Rose quietly slipped out of hyper mode.
"Well then. It looks like yer friend took care of dear Chelsea Black Joker." Anne was thoroughly displeased. She had hoped that Chelsea would save her the trouble of finishing off Gundam Rose and the Dosstoy. 'No matter. It just means I'll have to dedicate another five minutes of my life to this assignment. Finishing them off won't be too difficult once I've dealt with Gulskii.'
"I hope this doesn't mean you wish to back out." Argo stood ready for battle with his arms and legs spread.
Anne actually laughed. "Not at all. I don't need Waresa to help me finish you off." Argo actually had to bite off a chuckle at her arrogance. He'd rather let his actions demonstrate how wrong she was. "GUNDAM FIGHT!!!" Argo's deep voice echoed as he initiated the traditional challenge.
Anne snapped her rifle into firing position and warmed her verniers as she replied, "READY!!!"
"GO!!!" With Argo's cry the match had begun and he rocketed towards Gundam Longshot with every ounce of speed Bolt Gundam could produce. Argo could see the light gathering in Anne's barrel and he quickly threw his arms up to shield his Gundam's head but did not slow his advance at all.
"This match was over before it began!" Anne boasted gleefully as her cross hairs settled over Bolt Gundam. She fired several shots in quick succession and was astonished to see that they weren't even successfully singeing the Gundam's paint. Too late she recognized her folly and tried to fire her verniers to carry her out of the rampaging Bolt Gundam's path. Argo crashed into Gundam Longshot's torso with the force of a meteor, folding it upon itself completely. Anne's eyes bugged as all her air was violently forced from her lungs at the blow and she sank to her knees. She quickly forgot about the pain in her stomach when Argo launched an uppercut that snapped Gundam Longshot's head up and actually lifted Anne back to her feet. With a roar Argo reached out and grabbed onto Gundam Longshot's rifle arm and began squeezing it with the ferocity of an angered bear. Anne could not hold in her scream as her fight suit cut off the circulation of blood to her right arm and still continued squeezing. With a cry of anguish Anne lifted her other arm towards Bolt Gundam's head revealing a built in missile launcher. However Argo sensed the danger and pitched Gundam Longshot away before Anne could fire.
'My rifle is damaged, I've only got one chance to beat him now.' Anne quickly punched in the appropriate buttons and her Gundam lost all color, perfectly blending into the darkness of space.
'Blast not again.' Argo had seen this tactic many times over the past weeks. Dulin's Gundam had the ability to make itself invisible for short stretches of time. Time she would use to prepare her attack. 'I've no choice but to hope that I get really lucky.' "Vulcans." Argo's command prompted the four vulcan cannons he possessed to fire continuously as he raked back and forth hoping to catch Dulin and end the match swiftly. Argo's efforts were in vain. Gundam Longshot reappeared behind Bolt Gundam and Anne emptied her store of missiles right into the back of Argo's head.
Debris clouded Anne's view but she saw Bolt Gundams' hands go limp and breathed deeply in relief. "I got him." She murmured while holding a hand over her still aching stomach. "Graviton HAMMER!!!" Argo's cry took Anne by surprise and she was caught completely unprepared. Argo hefted his massive hammer with ease and swung with all his might, driving his weapon mercilessly into Gundam Longshot's side. The force of the blow nearly knocked Anne out cold but she held onto consciousness long enough to fire her verniers one last time and rocket back towards Earth with all the acceleration she could muster. Argo watched her escape wearing an impassive expression. 'For now. Its over.' He thought quietly.
"Argo. We have much to discuss." When the screen opened it showed that George was already on the Dosstoy heavily bandaged. "We need to get back to Earth as quickly as possible. Domon needs our help."
Argo was surprised at the news, "I was wondering what you were doing out here. Indeed we have much to talk about. I'm heading back now."
End
Wow. It took me so long to get past that stump I ran into when I was trying to write George's scenes. Finally I just gave up and dived right into the action and I think it worked out well. In the next chapter we'll go back to Chibodee, Allenby, and Sai's side and it'll pick up right where it left off essentially. At least time frame wise. We'll also see more about Karato's new predicament. Okay. Phantom Gundam and Gundam Longshot are my designs. However only Anne Dulin is an original character. I borrowed Chelsea's name from G-Gundam and just made up a description of her and a personality. Okay I hope you enjoyed. Please review, and thanks again for your patience.