Disclaimer: I do not own the copyrights to Gundam Wing, Endless Waltz, Sailor Moon, Trigun, Evangelion, Lupin the Third, Outlaw Star, Rurouni Kenshin, G-Gundam, any other Gundam Series, Stephen King's The Dark Tower series, any movies, books, or any songs that are used in this story. All copyrights belong to their respective owners.
Notice to Readers: To understand certain parts of this story, you'll have to read the other stories before this one. It is recommended by not required.
The DarkTower:
Anime's Unite
Chapter 3: The Eastern Group
Warrior's Call
It is the year, F.C. 87, just one more year until the 20th Gundam Fight; a worldwide Olympic-like fight that occurs every four years to determine who should rule Earth and Space. Among the fighters for this are the Shuffle Alliance, an elite group that was born out of kinship and of the 13th Gundam fight when the greatest threat humanity ever knew was born: The Devil Gundam. It has been nearly 27 years since that time, and all of the Shuffle Alliance has changed. It is in Neo-France, at the DeSand family mansion, a reunion has been called for all these fighters.
Firstly there was the fighter from Neo Japan, and holder of the King of Hearts crest, Domon Kasshu, his wife Rain Mikamura Kasshu with their son, Kyoji Kasshu. Domon had named the boy after his older brother, who had met his end in the year F.C. 60 when the Devil Gundam was roaming the Earth. It truly was a sad as well as a joyous time for Domon. In that same year he had lost so much of his family, his mother, his brother, as well as his old master…Master Asia. At the same time he also had gained so much…his love and his wife…Rain.
Kyoji Kasshu was a marvelous boy of the age of fifteen. He had looks like his father except his hair was shorter and much lighter thanks to the influence from his mother. He was like his father in that he loved to fight. So much that there were times when he was younger that both Domon and Rain were called to his school to answer for his behavior. Still, Kyoji kept saying that it was the other kid who threw the first punch and that he insulted the Kasshu name. Domon believed him, but Rain being somewhat of a strict mother kept saying to him that he shouldn't fight.
Then there was the fighter from Neo American, and holder of the Queen of Spades crest, Chibodee Crocket, his wife Shirley Crocket, and their son Christopher "Champ" Crocket. It was true that out of all the girls in Chibodee's crew (Shirley, Janet, Cathy, and Bunny) he could only choose Shirley. Probably because he loved that spirit that she had, that undaunted resolve and spunk…the real dominant type in other words. Their son, Christopher or Champ as his dad always calls him, was a very strapping lad at his age of fourteen. He loved his dad so much and was such a chip off the block that Champ had his hair much like his dad's despite what his mother said. The boy also loved to pick up as well as hit on girls. He was always like that from the time he was little. His dad loved to brag that he loved chasing girls so much that when he was an infant he was crawling to the other girls. This was so much that during junior high school on the Neo America colony liked to call Champ "The Pimp of Neo-America".
Next there was the fighter of Neo France, and holder of the King of Diamonds crest, George DeSand, his wife Marie-Louis DeSand, and their daughter Juliet Francoise DeSand. With the combination of both her mother and her father's sides, her blood was bluer than the Danube itself. Juliet was raised in all of the finest as well as most prestigious schools in all of Neo France. By the age she was at, thirteen, she had as much manners and high society types of protocol as her mother and father before her. Still, she retained certain characteristics that her mother and father had. Juliet herself had long since wished for a great romance of her own, much like her mother and fathers, or perhaps like the story of Romeo and Juliet (without the terrible end of course). Some would say that these were only ideas and notions of a silly little girl who had been sheltered too long from the slings and arrows of the world. Yet, Juliet would say that "It is hope for the good that keeps us going."
Then there was the fighter of Neo Russia, Argo Gulski, his wife Nastasha Gulski, and their daughter Natalia Gulski. It was true that there was some controversy in the past about Argo being a pirate as well as a fighter for Neo Russia. Though in the 13th Gundam Fight, he didn't exactly have a lot of choice about it, since he was fighting for the safety of his crew…his friends. After the fight with the Devil Gundam the Neo Japanese government (who had won the Gundam fight that year) spoke to Neo Russia about Argo and thus he was released and freed of charges. Argo had decided that fighting in the Gundam was really the best thing that he could do. After all, he had achieved so much in that one year of fighting. His daughter, Natalia on the other hand was really a tomboy, but a tomboy with looks that could kill; the real combination of both parents; her mothers' looks and her fathers' brawn.
The second to last was Sai-Saici, his wife Cecil, along with his Shoalin Masters Zuisen and Keuin, and their son Sai-Saici III, who was twelve years old at the time. Yet, despite Sai the Third's age, he did look a little younger than what he actually was. Almost like his father, how during the 13th Gundam Fight Sai-Saici was seventeen at the time yet he looked no more than thirteen. Plus Sai the Third was quite lighter and very agile; thanks to his very skinny body he could also fit himself into the tightest of places. There was even one time that Sai the Third had given his parents quite a scare when he was missing at an airport. As it turned out, Sai the Third was just hiding in one of the carry on bags. It was mind boggling to see him get himself out, but what really made his father scratch his head was wondering how he got himself in there at all.
Last, but certainly not least was Allenby Beardsley and her daughter Amaylee Beardsley. In the time since the 16th Gundam fight, Allenby could not find a husband with such restrictions imposed on her by the Neo-Sweden government. She had reached that point in her life where she felt something was missing in her life. Yet, she didn't have a feeling of it, Allenby knew what it was. She wanted the love of another man…a man just like Domon. Someone who could fight her, but no other man like that existed. At least none that was single. Along with the need for the love of another man, Allenby felt the desire to start a family. So, she decided to adopt (since the idea of being pregnant wasn't all that appealing to her) and it was with that that Allenby had picked her daughter. A baby girl that was just one day old. She looked at that little infant right away and fell in love with her right away. She then named the child Amaylee Beardsley and growing up Amaylee experienced life on the ring side. Yet, there were four years between each Gundam fight, so Allenby did spend quite a lot of time with her daughter. Though Amaylee didn't like to fight very much, she was more of a romantic, much in the same way as Juliet DeSand. Though Amaylee was a little more realistic about it, she felt that true love was possible, though most of the time it ends up in heartbreak, divorce, and someone getting hurt. At least that's what she saw when she looked to her mother who still had that special place in her heart for Domon. Though Amaylee didn't hate Domon for this, she just kept wondering why things like this happen. She did learn at a young age that in a competitive environment there is always a looser. Perhaps that's why she didn't like to fight very much.
It was a very warm summer's day in the city of Paris. At the DeSand family mansion, a taxi was pulling up to the driveway. The taxi was carrying the last of the reunion party for the Shuffle Alliance, the Kasshu Family. Inside the taxi, Rain was very jittery as they came to the mansion's gates. Domon had seen how nervous his wife was and he laid his hand down upon her leg.
"Calm down, Rain." He said in an always calm voice
"I know that we're late." Rain shook her head, "That's one thing I don't like to be is late."
"We're here." The driver said
Rain was the first to get out of the car, then their son Kyoji and then Domon who took care of the fee for the taxi. Then as the car drove away, the three of them came to the gigantic wooden doors of the DeSand mansion. Seeing the ringer nearby, Domon pressed it, and within a matter of moments the doors creaked open and there stood Raymond, the loyal servant to the DeSand family.
"Good afternoon, Mister and Misses Kasshu. Come in."
"Are we late?" Rain asked with apprehension hoping against all else that they were on time.
"Not very." Raymond had reported with a smile, "We are still waiting for Miss Allenby. Come wait in the Library."
Raymond had escorted Rain, Domon, and Kyoji to the library, which was just like the name had stated. Though this library was enormous, there were three levels to it with rows and rows of books of all kinds. God only knew what kinds of old literature the DeSand family had on its shelves, but it wasn't the library that they were interested in. It was the people that were sipping champagne in waiting for the others to arrive at the mansion. Domon had immediately connected eyes with those that were waiting. Chibodee, Argo, Sai-Saici, and George. They all greeted him with great smiles as well as vocal callings.
"Domon." George had called, "Welcome."
With that, the reunion began. All that they needed was for Allenby Beardsley to show up and sure enough within only 5 minutes after Domon had arrived, she did along with her daughter Amaylee Beardsley. So there was a great deal of mingling and laughing and reminiscing of old times. Back to both the 13th as well as the 16th Gundam fight. They were talking about how in the 16th Gundam fight they had taken the Preventers under their wing and taught them the ins and outs of the Gundam fight. There was even one part when they had faced the Devil Gundam again on a small island outside of Neo Hong Kong. Knowing that their leaders Trieze Kushrinada and Lady Une were both trapped inside the Devil Gundam, one of the pilots actually got out of his suit and went up to it.
"What was his name anyway?" Chibodee asked
"Johan." Domon answered, "Johan Rodriguez."
"Yeah, what a crazy kid he was. He dashes up to that Devil Gundam and one of us asks what the hell he's doing and he answers, 'My Job'."
Everyone laughed at this thinking back to how devoted to his work all of the Preventers were as well as what great fighters that they were. Especially Heero Yuy, the one that Domon had fought in the Battle Royal. At the time that Domon had fought Heero, he could sense something very different in the way that he fought. His style and approach to it was much like Sai-Saici, a do or die type of philosophy. Heero Yuy seemed to display that same thing to Domon, even though he said nothing. Though Domon could always tell this when he fought someone; for the same thing happen in the 13th Gundam Fight when Domon had fought Allenby. The first time was at a video arcade when it was just a game. Yet, when he fought her in the ring, she was over taken by the Neo Sweden berserker system. Her fists felt cold to him, when that happened he knew that there was no point in fighting her. This was one reason why Allenby had fallen head over heels for Domon, either that it was the first time that she had lost or that it was his way of thinking that was like hers that she loved.
Along with all that, some of their children had not heard some of these stories. Such as Juliet DeSand who had entered into the discussion and had asked in a very adult voice in a thirteen-year-olds voice, "What was this Devil Gundam?"
Neither George nor Marie Louis ever told their daughter about the horrors of the Devil Gundam. George as well as his wife felt that it wasn't proper to scare their daughter half to death over something that had happened years ago. Though his friends felt that she was old enough to know the truth about what happened in those days. So the conversation of the reunion turned dark when they began to tell the story of the Devil Gundam. How it had the three theoretical principles of Self-replication, self-regeneration, and self-evolution. All of these principles made the Devil Gundam one of the most formidable machines ever to be devised by man. It was also told about the painful memories of the trust and betrayals of the Kasshu and Mikamura families. They tried to stop there but the children wanted to know more. Some of them knew about the Devil Gundam but they never heard of it in such detail from their families or their families' friends. At last dinner was saved, quite literally, by the bell or the dinner gong.
Dinner at the DeSand mansion had gone over with great stories to tell of both their lives as well as the delightful mischief and escapades of their children. How Kyoji Kasshu had always gotten into fights at school and that his mother and father had to come by and desperately tried to excuse Kyoji's conduct.
Across the vastness of time and space, in the year A.C. 215, the Preventers were scattered throughout Space and across the Earth keeping the peace for the World Nation. This was the greatest job that any of them could have, at least that's what one of them thought as he piloted the one man ship between the colonies in his daily patrol. This officer was Johan Peacecraft Rodriguez, pilot of the Gundam Ryu, and Preventer Codename: Star Dragon.
Nothing much had happened in Preventer since the last visitors that the office had, which were a group of people from Japan in, what they had called, the 11th year of the Meiji Era. Johan did look that up and found out that the actual year was 1878 A.D. He looked out the window of his craft and had begun to make his report:
Preventer Report
Officer: Johan Peacecraft Rodriguez
Code-name: Star Dragon
Date: June 15, A.C. 216
Report: After a few days of patrol, there is nothing of any significant activity in my patrolling vicinity.
Johan sat back in the craft thinking back on a great deal of things that have happened in the past. He thought about his wife, Haruka Tenou Rodriguez who was patrolling her area between the moon and mars. He then thought about his children, Julia and Leto in how they were starting school at the Sank Kingdom Gabriella Institute along with the other children; William Maxwell, Hikaru Peacecraft Yuy, Paul Marquise, as well as the adopted son of Quatre, Kaoru Nagisa. All of them would be going to school there. Johan knew that it must be an enormous change for them to start a new school. Then he thought that they had each other and that they would be able to survive a new school.
In the near zero gravity of the ship he was piloting, Johan felt his pony tail, which had gotten longer over the years. Yet, it wasn't as long as his wife's, which came down to her buttocks. Johan's only came down to the middle of his back. It was true that he did cut it so that it only touched his neck. Then he decided to let it go.
The times in Preventer have been good at Preventer. Such as the marriage between Id "the Lion" Kushrinada and his love the officer for the Red Sky Police Department on Mars, Birdy Cepheron. Then under a year later they had a beautiful baby girl that they named Mary Cepheron Kushrinada. After that, Treize and Lady Une had become grandparents while their daughter Mariemea Kushrinada became her aunt.
Despite all the good things, there was there was still something that was bothering Johan in the back of his mind. It had bothered him ever since that time when the Lupin crew had come through the tear. It wasn't all that long ago, when they came to this universe by means of the Wizard's Glass. A pink jewel that when Johan had held it, he was pulled into its depths, pulled down, down, into it. Yet, it was what the jewel had shown him that stuck with him. He remembered traveling or flying as if he was in a dream, across a land that seemed so alien to him. Growths of trees that were as expansive as cities, mountains that seemed untouched by human hands, and there at the center of it all was the tower. A Dark Tower that was a black as obsidian and coal that rose like a sky scraper with turrets like a castle connected to it. Johan was drawn to that place as if he were a needle in a compass being drawn to the north. It was there somewhere in the tower where he heard a voice that called out
"Help me."
Johan couldn't explain it then or at any other time since then that he felt as if he was being prepared.
"We all are." He thought, "We're being prepared for something."
He had that realization from that time that he mulled over what he saw within the pink depths of the Wizard's Glass. Since then, he always seemed distracted. He had to bring himself back to reality when he finished his report.
He suddenly missed a lot of things; his wife Haruka, even though he only saw her a few hours ago on the moon when they were departing for their patrol duties. He thought about how much longer he would have to stay out there before he could go back to the moon to see his wife again...when something happened.
He looked in front of him and saw four lights in the same pattern as a compass. Yet that was only one instant, the next instant was when the lights began to spin round and round, like a cyclone. Then he saw it...the tear. It had opened right before his eyes. It opened up just like it did all those times before. That same diamond like opening in the middle of nowhere and within its blurred edges, Johan saw it. He saw a land that was much like the place that he saw within the depths of the Wizard's Glass; a land that was old and untamed, untouched mountains, thick growths of trees, and an unbelievably blue sky.
Johan reached out and flipped the COM switch, "This is Preventer Star Dragon calling Preventer Office. Star Dragon calling Preventer Office, come in please."
The nearest Preventer office was on Colony L-1, and the one stationed there was Lucrezia Noin who answered.
"This is Preventer Office, Colony L-1. Go ahead Johan."
"Noin, call all Gundam pilots. Tell them to get their mobile suits ready. Prep the Preventer ship Relativity, the tear has opened."
Of course there were many other great stories about the other children. Such as how Sai-Saici once found a stack of very explicit magazines underneath his son's bed. Of course he never said anything to his son, but his mother certainly gave him an earful. Christopher (Champ) had a very similar experience with his mother. Though he was grounded for a week for even having them, but Chibodee had actually fished them out of the trash and gave them back to his son. Of course that was never said out loud at dinner, but Champ and Chibodee knew it. After all, Chibodee was not only a subscriber, but he was a frequent guest to the Playboy mansion on the Neo-America colony, a recreation of the old mansion all the way down to the infamous "Gratto". Of course, Chibodee's wife was a little peeved about him going, but Chibodee was never one to turn down an invitation to a party.
Though Juliet Françoise DeSand was always a bit of a "goody-two-shoes". Then again, that is what made her, her. Always the most respected out of all the students at her private school, a model student in a phrase. As the night progressed on and on suddenly Raymond entered he dinning hall and tapped Domon on the shoulder.
"Mr. Kasshu." He asked, "It seems you have a call from a Dr. Kasshu from the Neo Japan colony."
"My father?" Domon asked, "What did he say?"
"He simply said that it was of enormous importance."
Domon got up and left the table while his friends and family continued to discuss life in general as well as some of the mildly interesting stories that they had. As for Domon, he wondered what his dad would be calling for. He then thought to himself that it was nearly 2 a.m. on the Neo Japan colony. Then suspicion set in when he thought about that because what could have awakened him at such a late hour? He reached the phone and pressed the receive button. On the screen, Domon saw the old face of his father.
"Hello, dad." Domon answered
"Domon, I need you to come to the colony. I've discovered something incredible."
"What is it, Dad?"
"I'm not sure what it is. It seems like a hole in the middle of space. All sensors trying to detect whatever is in it come back inconclusive. As far as what I can gather, its a tear in space."
That did it for Domon, as soon as the word was dropped, he uttered only one phrase, "We'll be there."
He said 'we' meaning that he was going to bring along the rest of the Shuffle Alliance. The word Tear was something that the Shuffle Alliance had not heard in a very long time. As they thought of it, it was probably before their children were born. It was because of the tear and the Devil Gundam that had brought them another set of Gundam pilots, a set of pilots that had called themselves the Preventers. It seemed ominous to most of them in how they were talking about them and then the doorway that had brought them suddenly opened.
The Shuffle Alliance had arrived at the Neo Japan colony and had spoken with Dr. Kasshu on its location. Yet, before going to it, Domon spoke with the others about how to approach it.
"I think we should bring out Gundams." He told them
"How do you figure, Domon?" George asked
"I can't explain it now, but I think that we'll need them for something that lies on the other side."
"I have to agree with Domon." Chibodee concurred, "There's no telling of what we may find on the other side."
"Who said that we're going through it?" Sai-Saici asked in protest.
"I think that we all should." Domon had explained, "When the Preventers came through they said that their leaders were taken by the Devil Gundam."
"Are you saying that the Devil Gundam has come back again?" Argo asked
"I'm not saying that it had, this situation feels very different. That's why I feel that all of us should go through it." He then brought up his fist and showed one reason why he was feeling this. The Shuffle Crest of the King of Hearts was burning brightly upon Domon's right hand.
As soon as Domon had shown his shuffle crest, the others began to look at theirs and saw how that they were all blazing brightly upon their hands. With that unifying experience, all of them felt compelled to follow Domon and so hey did. All of them had made calls to their respective countries and had their Gundams brought to the location of the tear. Of course they had to speak with their families about staying behind. Though there was some protest. Such as from Rain, she said that she wanted to go with Domon, because she was a doctor and that she was his crew. How could Domon argue with that? And so Rain was brought along to the tears location. Though the same thing happened with many of the Shuffle Alliance members. Argo Gulski brought along Nastasha, Sai-Saici brought Zuisen and Keuin, George had brought his faithful butler Raymond, and Chibodee brought his team. All of them had brought their Gundam pods to the tear and without even a second thought they all had gone through.
The Preventers had gathered at the tear. All of the Gundams had been brought, including the ones that were made for the Preventers Children, the Gundams Fox (Leto Rodriguez), Falcon (Julia Rodriguez), Shade (William Maxwell), Storm (Paul Marquise), Phoenix (Hikaru Yuy), and Angel (Kaworu Nagisa). They brought these particular models mostly as back-ups just in case that they would be needed. All of them were housed inside the Preventer ship Relativity a new model that was constructed for very specific missions, mainly for Mars and Deep Space Missions in which the Fortress Satellite wouldn't be enough to send the Gundams.
The only ones that were left behind were the mobile suits that belonged to Id the Lion and the Desbats. For when Lady Une heard the news she was explained to by Johan that a few Preventer officers may have to stay behind and her choices were Id and the Desbats.
On the bridge of the ship, the captain, Lady Une looked out at it and look upon its vast contrast against space. It was a bright blue hue much like the day time sky against infinite nothingness.
"What will come through?" Lady Une had asked herself, "Or what will we find on the other side?"
"Lady Une?" A Preventer Officer asked
Lady Une turned and saw how young the boy was. Looking at him, she was in pain in the back of her mind thinking about the death of Id Kushrinada. She kept thinking that she had missed out on his whole life and had only 15 years to make it up to him. What was 15 years compared to an entire lifetime? Even worse was the loss of her daughter in law, Birdy. She seemed so promising to Id.
"Yes?" Lady Une asked the young officer
"All Preventer Gundams are aboard and we are ready to enter."
"Good." Lady Une nodded, "Set course for the tear, all ahead slow."
"Aye." The Officer said as the task was done and the Preventer ship Relativity had passed through the tear.
To be continued…