Author's note: Others own the rights to the G-Gundam characters.  All other characters are my creations.  Please do not use them without my permission.

Shadow Life – Part 12

By:  Diane Maher

          Karla listened to what was happening to Schwarz back in the Guiana Highlands.  He was fighting against someone called Master Asia.  She didn't know who Master Asia was, but when she powered up the computer, she activated a remote gundam diagnostic program that was embedded in the eavesdropping device.  She found that Schwarz's Shadow Gundam was in bad shape.

          She reached over, pressed the button on the intercom and asked, "Niklas, where are we?"

          There was a brief moment of silence, and then Niklas replied, "We're approaching the western coast of South America now."

          "Land before we reach the ocean!" Karla ordered.

          "Why?" Niklas asked as he started the landing sequence.

          "I'm going back to help Schwarz! His gundam is seriously damaged," Karla replied.

          "Okay," Niklas said.

          The moment the transport touched down, Karla went into the hangar and entered Midnight Gundam's cockpit.  "Open the hangar doors, Niklas," Karla said.

          "Doors open, Karla.  Good luck," Niklas said.

          As Karla flew Midnight Gundam back to the Guiana Highlands, she activated the homing beacon of her device inside Shadow Gundam.  As she approached, Karla made Midnight Gundam invisible.  She was shocked by the devastation of the area as she came down close to where Shadow Gundam lay broken.  The black smoke activated the outer camouflage on her gundam and it would remain invisible even when she wasn't in the cockpit.

          "Mein Gott, Schwarz!" Karla whispered.  He lay on the surface of his Gundam.  She landed nearby and opened her gundam's cockpit.  A moment later, she had put Schwarz's body inside his gundam's cockpit and returned to her own.

          The smoke from the now dying Dark Gundam would enable her to get out of the Guiana Highlands without anyone knowing she had returned.  She leaned down and picked up Shadow Gundam from its resting place.  Karla made both gundams invisible, followed the river out of the Guiana Highlands before turning westward to the ocean where Niklas and their transport were waiting.

          When she saw her transport, she broke radio silence.  "I've got him, Niklas.  Can we transport two gundams in the ship?"

          "It's not really made for it, but with your gundam's key, it can be controlled remotely from here.  Load Shadow Gundam inside the ship and we'll set Midnight Gundam to fly on autopilot alongside," Niklas replied.

          "Okay," Karla said.  "I'm loading Shadow Gundam now."

          A few minutes later, Shadow Gundam was loaded in their transport and Niklas set the ship's computers for Neo-Hong Kong at top speed, activated the autopilot for both the ship and Midnight Gundam.  Karla was aboard and in the hangar getting Schwarz out of Shadow Gundam.  As Karla finished, Niklas' voice came over the intercom system.

          "Is Schwarz okay?" Niklas asked, concerned.

          "Niklas, you'd better come to sickbay.  I'm going to need your help," said Karla.  Once the intercom was off, she added, "Sorry Schwarz, I will have to remove what's left of your mask to check for any additional head wounds."

          Once in sickbay, Karla removed Schwarz's tattered mask, examined his head for additional wounds and found none.  Niklas entered the room, crossed to the bed and looked down.  He inhaled sharply.

          "What's wrong, Niklas?" Karla asked, confused as she still held what remained of Schwarz's tattered mask.

          "That's…not…my father," Niklas replied hoarsely.

          Karla stared at Niklas, and then she looked at Schwarz and back at Niklas.  "What do you mean?"

          "He means...that I'm not...his father," Schwarz whispered weakly as he opened his eyes.

          Karla looked at Schwarz.  "But…"

          "I'm sorry, Niklas.  I didn't want you to find out until after all this was over.  Now I think it would be unfair of me not to tell you of your father's fate," Schwarz said quietly.

          "I…" Niklas stammered.  His expression was one of shock as he continued, "Who are you?"

          Schwarz sat up despite Karla's efforts to keep him still.  "The face you see before you is that of Kyoji Kasshu, the older brother of Domon Kasshu."

          Both Karla and Niklas inhaled sharply.  Schwarz or rather, Kyoji, continued, "I am really not even Kyoji."  For a moment he stared into space.  Then, he exerted his will and the bloody gash on his forehead healed before their eyes.  "The body of the man who was Schwarz Bruder died after his fight with the Dark Gundam."

          Niklas and Karla stared numbly at Schwarz.  "You...healed yourself," Karla began.  "You must be infected with DG cells."

          Schwarz continued, "Actually, there's much more to it than that.  I am an android clone of Kyoji which was created using DG cells and Schwarz's body as a template, so to speak."

          "I don't understand," Niklas said quietly.

          "The body of the man that is known as Kyoji Kasshu is trapped inside the cockpit of the Dark Gundam," Schwarz said.

          "What?" Karla asked, incredulous.

          Schwarz nodded.  He looked at Niklas and continued, "When Schwarz Bruder fought against the Dark Gundam, he fought until the very end.  However, when the fight was over, the Dark Gundam brought me – the real Kyoji, I mean – Schwarz's almost dead body."

          Niklas listened with morbid fascination.  "What happened next?"

          "Kyoji realized that the only way for him to help destroy the Dark Gundam was to do it from the outside.  Using the regenerative power of the Dark Gundam, Kyoji created this body.  Afterwards, Kyoji was weakening rapidly.  He focused everything he was, in essence, his soul and transferred it to this body.  What he didn't realize is that Schwarz's own soul was still within the mind of this body.  Only after Kyoji woke up inside of Shadow Gundam sometime later, did he realize this.  So, since Schwarz always wore a mask, I took up the mantle of Schwarz Bruder.  I never dreamed I'd ever meet you, Niklas."

          "But you recognized my name and that I was Schwarz's son!" Niklas protested.

          Schwarz shrugged.  "When your father's body was made into an android by the DG cells, the brain was not touched.  All of Schwarz's mind and knowledge, his very essence is still inside.  On the Neo-Japan colony, Kyoji was a scientist.  He knew nothing about fighting.  Schwarz was a fighter and without his valuable knowledge and abilities, I wouldn't be where I am today.  I am truly sorry, Niklas.  I know your mother died giving birth to you and now your father – at least his physical form – is gone as well."

          Tears rolled down Niklas' cheeks as he struggled to comprehend what had happened to his father and why.  He looked at Schwarz through tear-streaked eyes.  He felt a hand on his right arm and when he looked, he found Karla standing there.  She took him in her arms and he wept.  As she held him, she murmured, "I'm so sorry Niklas."

          When they separated, Niklas nodded, sniffled, tried to compose himself, failed and closed his eyes briefly before falling to the floor on his knees.

          Karla turned to face Schwarz and took off her mask.  Her dark hair fell over her shoulders.  Schwarz looked at her and said, "I recognize you! You're the Neo-German Chancellor's daughter!"

          "Yes," Karla acknowledged.  "My name is Karla von Geist."

          "But how can this be?" Schwarz asked.

          "I already told you how this came to be," Karla replied.

          "So, despite all that's happened since then, are you still fighting for Neo-Austria?" Schwarz asked.

          "I have no choice in the matter.  I must or else Claus will see to it that I go to prison.  I have no doubts about that whatsoever.  Now you understand why my father acted as he did," Karla replied.

          "He should have listened to your side of the story," Schwarz said quietly.

          Karla shrugged and folded her arms across her chest. "He did.  I suppose he felt that fighting in the gundam fight was my just punishment for seeing Claus even after he forbade me to do so.  My father believed that I was Claus' accomplice and guilty of his crime."

          When Schwarz didn't comment, Karla continued, "I had no idea why I'd been framed until shortly after I met you and Niklas.  When I found out that Claus was the new President of Neo-Austria, I realized that I was a pawn for him, nothing more.  For those who might have opposed him, he used me as an example of what might happen to them."

          "What about the mask?" Schwarz asked.

          "I must continue wearing a mask until I feel I have earned the right to remove it outside of this transport.  Since I met both of you, I haven't worn the flag mask of Neo-Austria very often, as I feel that I am not being true to myself.  Claus hasn't noticed; I've worn this black mask when communicating with him."

          Schwarz considered her words.  "I must ask the two of you not to reveal anything about my true identity, especially to Domon."

          "Wouldn't he want to know?" Karla asked.

          "He cannot know until there's no way to keep him from knowing.  The only way that will happen is if I am injured in a gundam fight match.  I will not let that happen to me again," Schwarz said.

          Niklas was finally able to compose himself.  "I'm sorry," he whispered.  "I..."

          "Don't worry about it, Niklas.  If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me," Karla said.

          Niklas nodded and then excused himself.  Turning to Schwarz, Karla asked, "Do you need help with repairing your gundam?"

          Schwarz shook his head.  "Thank you, no.  Actually, I should thank you for saving me back there."

          "I owed you, remember? I think we're even now," Karla replied.

          With a chuckle, Schwarz slowly stood.  "Yes, I think we are.  Did you achieve your training objectives?"

          "Yes, thanks to you," Karla replied.

          "You were a good student," Schwarz replied with a smile.

          "After the whole incident with the Dark Gundam and Niklas' infection with DG cells, I suspect that things will get nasty, especially with Claus," Karla said.

          Schwarz closed his eyes and responded, "I agree.  I know you'll do what is necessary.  How is Niklas? I didn't see any DG cells on him."

          "George de Sand used the power of his Shuffle crest to heal Niklas.  Rain was able to treat Niklas to some extent, but once I watched George heal his sworn enemy, I asked him to help Niklas."

          "Hmmm.  Then you've overcome your fear of George?" Schwarz inquired.

          Karla replied, "Yes, I have, once and for all."

          "Do you love Niklas?" Schwarz asked.

          "Yes, I love him very much," Karla whispered.  "He has helped me so much since we first met.  I will not deny that I love him."

          "I see.  You understand what I told you before you left to persuade George and Argo to come the Guiana Highlands," Schwarz said.

          Karla nodded.  "The night before my second fight with George, I finally realized how I felt about Niklas."

          "Does he love you?" Schwarz asked.

          Karla replied, "Yes.  Our relationship has intensified since then.  In fact, if you don't need me, I'm going to turn in for a while.  According to Niklas, if we fly at full speed, we should be in Neo-Hong Kong in time for the final round of the gundam fight."

          Schwarz was about to say something else, but Karla yawned.  He followed as Karla left and went to her quarters.  When she stood in the open door, she found Niklas asleep in the bed.  She was about to turn away and go to the cockpit until Schwarz touched her shoulder.

          "I'll check our speed and watch over the controls of the ship.  You need to rest, Karla.  Go on," Schwarz said.

          Karla entered the room, removed her boots and pulled off her black cloak.  She then removed her shirt and pants as she crossed to the bed, leaving a trail of clothes behind her on the floor.  Her attention was focused wholly on the bed.  She was exhausted.  Obviously, that she had used her gundam's power of invisibility to the extent that she had back in the Guiana Highlands really sapped her strength.

          As Karla stripped and climbed into bed with Niklas, she gazed at his sleeping face and recalled the first time they'd slept together.  It was shortly before their departure from the Guiana Highlands.  Closing her eyes, she remembered their lustful encounter.

          "I find it interesting that we seem to gravitate towards each other," Karla whispered as she walked into her bedroom and dropped her mask on a table.

          Niklas followed, she turned towards him and he put his arm around her waist and pulled her close.  He reached up, brushed a lock of dark hair back from her face, cupped her cheek and then their lips met in a tender kiss.  "Do you mind if I do this?" he asked as they separated.

          "No," Karla whispered in reply.  "I don't mind at all.  In fact, I like it very much."

          Their kisses were soft at first and then became more passionate.  The next thing Karla knew was that she had opened Niklas' shirt and was lightly stroking his chest.  He didn't move to stop her.  His hand slid down and gently stroked her butt.

          Niklas' hands slowly explored Karla's body and by that time, his shirt was off and so was hers.  He unhooked her bra and slid it off her shoulders.  His hands gently caressed her breasts; she moaned softly into his mouth but didn't stop him from touching her.  A few minutes later, they had shed their remaining clothes, and were on the bed making love.

          Karla opened her eyes and blinked as she woke from her brief nap.  She heard Niklas' rhythmic breathing next to her.  He was sound asleep.  However, she noticed his hand now rested on her belly and this comforted her.  She closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

          Schwarz turned away as Karla stripped and climbed into bed with Niklas.  In the back of his mind, he felt a longing for Karla that he knew he couldn't satisfy.  He then silently closed the door on the couple.  Shaking his head, he thought, Besides, my son has fallen in love with her! Niklas reminded him of himself in many ways.  Schwarz went to the cockpit.  The ship's autopilot was set for Neo-Hong Kong and their speed was at full, so they would make it there in time for the finals.  He sat in the pilot's chair and made himself comfortable.

          As they drew ever closer to their destination, Schwarz used this time to focus his energy to fully repairing Shadow Gundam with the self-recovery abilities of the Dark Gundam.  He hated these DG cells, but in this instance, they were very useful.  Once they arrived in Neo-Hong Kong in a couple of hours, there would be little time for such extensive repairs.