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 21

By:  Diane Maher

          Claus watched in disbelief as Midnight Gundam fell in defeat.  The one thing that remained intact was his hold over Karla.  She had neither a nation nor an identity.  He left the platform following the fight and returned to the embassy.  He soon found that even seeing his secretary wasn't enough to soothe him after the major setback to his plans.

          Claus left the embassy a short while later with his security guards and told his driver go to the Neo-Austria hangar.  Karla, Niklas and the gundam would be there by now.

          The last time Claus spoke with Prime Minister Wong was the straw that broke the camel's back.

          "Well, President Stromberg, your fighter was defeated by Neo-Germany.  You are no longer in the running to become the new ruler of Earth and space.  What will you do now?" Wong asked.

          "You have allowed others into the Battle Royale who have not earned their place.  Can you not give my fighter the same courtesy?" Claus replied.

          "You will pay a high price, is that understood?" Wong asked.

          "What price?" Claus asked.

          "Your nation," Wong whispered in a hushed tone.

          "I don't understand.  What do you mean, my nation?" Claus asked.

          "If you want me to allow your fighter into the Battle Royale, you will surrender control of your nation to me," Wong replied.  He paused and thought for a moment.  "Or, you can just give your fighter to me.  She would become the new pilot of the Dark Gundam."

          Claus froze.  He unconsciously rubbed his thighs under his desk.  The thought of Karla as the pilot of the Dark Gundam was too terrible to contemplate.  She despised him and would kill him without a second thought.  Her fight against the Neo-Swiss fighter had confirmed this.

          Claus closed his eyes and replied, "No."

          Wong shrugged.  "Then I cannot grant your request."

          Claus turned off the monitor.  "Karla must die, so Wong can't use her in that abomination that he calls a gundam!"


          Niklas and Karla watched from the scaffolding inside the Neo-Austria hangar as Midnight Gundam was brought in and raised to a standing position.

          "I can't believe all the damage that was done," Niklas said.  "I'm just glad you survived the match, Karla."

          "I tried everything to beat Schwarz.  I just couldn't," Karla whispered.  She closed her eyes and looked at her feet.  "I don't believe there will be a second chance for me to fight him."

          "I know," Niklas said.  He put his arm over her shoulder.  "You wanted to win your fight against Schwarz.  Now you have a new goal to attain.  You must improve your skills beyond those of Schwarz so that you can defeat Domon Kasshu."

          Karla looked up and said, "You're right, Niklas.  Thanks."

          A car pulled into the hangar and parked.  Karla and Niklas looked down from the scaffolding and saw Claus and his security guards come out and look around the building.

          "What does that bastard want?" Niklas asked.

          "I don't know, nor do I want to find out," Karla said.


          Claus looked around, saw them and shouted, "Karla! Niklas!"  The platform came down as he approached.

          When it stopped moving, Karla and Niklas stepped off, to have the security guards stand behind them.

          "What is going on here?" Karla asked.

          "I'm seeing to it that you don't get any ideas about leaving Neo-Hong Kong without my permission," Claus replied.

          "What makes you think we will leave?" Karla asked.

          "Just a feeling I have," Claus replied.

          "I can imagine what feelings he's having right now," Niklas muttered.

          "I bought some special technology and as I understand it, if I press this button, you will be completely under my control, Karla," Claus said smoothly as he fingered a device with a button on it in his hand."

          "Go ahead, I don't care," Karla said, unconcerned.

          "What?! Fine!!" Claus shouted and pressed the button.

          Karla stared at Claus as nothing happened.  "Well?"

          Claus pressed the button several more times.  There wasn't anything happening to Karla and he didn't understand why.

          Niklas asked, "Why don't you leave us alone, Claus?"

          "How dare you!" Claus sputtered.

          "We're tired of your threats and your constant surveillance of us which winds up being used as entertainment for your sleazy security guards," Niklas said.

          "My security guards are not sleazy," Claus replied.

          "You mean that they just enjoy watching your footage of Karla and I making love?" Niklas asked.

          "That footage was necessary to ensure our national security," Claus protested.

          "National security? What a load of bull!" Niklas exclaimed.

          "I'm glad the Gundam fight is over for me," Karla said, changing the subject.

          Claus' lips turned upwards into a predatory smile.  "Oh, it's far from being over, believe me."

          "What do you mean?" Karla demanded.

          "As long as you have no true identity or country, and since you currently belong to Neo-Austria, I can have you do any thing I want you to do," Claus replied.

          "No Claus.  You can't.  I don't belong to you or anyone else," Karla replied icily.

          "Unless your father is going to forgive you for sleeping with me, I don't see you getting your identity back," Claus said.

          "I'm not concerned," Karla said.

          "You had better be," Claus said quietly.


          Niklas watched as the security guards behind them pulled out their weapons and pointed them at him and Karla.  He whispered, "Karla, we have a problem."

          "If Claus orders them to fire, fall to the floor immediately," Karla whispered.

          Claus ordered, "Shoot them."

          Niklas and Karla fell to the floor and then they heard Claus howl as the darts meant for them hit him.  Before the guards could reload, Karla got up on her knees, pulled out several silver balls from her pockets, and threw them down, where they broke and the area around them was suddenly filled with thick, white smoke.

          Karla pulled Niklas to his feet.  In the confusion, they escaped to the gundam's cockpit.

          "What now?" Niklas asked.

          Karla said nothing as she turned on the barely functional external monitors.

          "We have to get the recordings I've made!" Niklas whispered, anxious.

          "Why?" Karla asked.

          Niklas replied, "I've been making recordings of Claus from that bug you planted in his office and the recordings are back there in our room!"

          "Are they hidden?" Karla asked.

          "Yes, but..." Niklas replied.  "I don't want to lose them because they may be your only hope to clear your name without your father's help."

          Karla's expression softened.  "Niklas...you did that...for me?"

          Niklas sat on the floor to avoid the dangling wires that needed repair.  "I don't like how you've been treated by Claus or your father.  If I can help you clear your name, then that's what I'll do."

          Karla grinned and then turned her attention back to Claus.  His security guards stood ready for an attack, but then as the smoke cleared, she watched as Claus climbed into his car, they followed along with several other people who had been elsewhere in the hangar.  The driver started the motor, put it into gear and the car left the hangar.

          "I'll have to check the security cameras I installed and see what Claus was up to," Niklas said.

          "I'm going to make a call.  I'll be down in a minute," Karla said.

          "Okay," Niklas said.  When the cockpit door opened, the platform automatically came up to the door.  He rode the platform down from the cockpit.

          When Niklas walked into their bedroom, he saw that Claus' goons had ransacked it as they searched for something.  He found the picture of his parents on the floor, with the glass broken.

          Angry, Niklas paused to scan the room for any additional surveillance devices.  When he found none, he shrugged and decided to tidy up the mess that Claus' men had left.

          Niklas crossed the room, picked up the picture of his parents, and opened the frame.  He found his disk in its place between the back of the picture and the backing of the frame, just as he left it.  He went over to a computer in the corner, turned on the power and inserted the disk.  He listened to the contents of the disk and found it hadn't been tampered with, so he ejected the disk, and put it back into its place in the picture frame.

          Niklas began packing both his and Karla's things.  Something told him that they better not remain here for long.  The hairs on the back of his neck were standing on end.  He wrapped the picture frame in some shirts and put it into the bag with his clothes and other things.

          A single footstep in the hallway behind him caused Niklas to jump.  He turned his head toward the source of the sound and saw nothing.

          Niklas zipped up the bags, picked them up and headed back to the hangar.  He placed the bags on the platform and activated the lift.  As it rose, Niklas noticed that Midnight Gundam's arms were repaired.  When Niklas arrived at the cockpit and saw whom else besides Karla was inside, he understood.

          "Karla, isn't it dangerous to have the gundam repaired using DG cells?" Niklas asked.

          Schwarz looked up and met Niklas' gaze.  "It's important to get you both out of here and to have Midnight Gundam fully repaired."

          Karla replied, "Schwarz has assured me that I will not be exposing myself to DG cells.  He has offered to help with the cockpit systems too.  I've seen to rearming Midnight Gundam."

          "We'll have to worry about that later," Niklas said.  "I thought I heard a footstep behind me, but when I looked, there was no one there."

          "Hmmm.  I wonder what you heard, Niklas," Schwarz said.  "I never went near the living quarters."

          "Can Midnight Gundam move under its own power?" Niklas asked as he entered the cockpit.

          "I hope so, because I'm getting a feeling of being watched," Karla said.

          "If necessary, I'll carry you with Shadow Gundam," Schwarz said as he walked out onto the platform.  He then vanished as Midnight Gundam's cockpit door closed.

          "Why did you call him?" Niklas asked.

          "I don't trust Claus.  He thinks he still has a hold over me with that footage.  He's wrong," Karla replied.  She put on the gloves and boots that allowed her to control the gundam without activating the mobile trace system.  "There's something else that bothers me.  Where is he getting the DG cells?"

          "I don't know.  Where should I stand?" Niklas asked.

          "Perhaps you should sit," Karla replied.

          Schwarz's face appeared on the screen then.  "Are you coming?"

          "Yes," Karla replied as she maneuvered Midnight Gundam out of the hangar.

          As they cleared the hangar, several explosions rocked the building.  Karla followed Schwarz to a wooded area outside the city.  After they landed, Karla opened the cockpit door.

          "What happened to the hangar?" Niklas asked as he climbed out of the cockpit.

          "I guess that Claus is angry that I survived the match and that his nanobot controller didn't work," Karla said.

          "I found out from your brother Wolfgang that your father sold the nanobots to Claus.  The fool snatched it up, in the chance that he could use it to control you," Schwarz commented.

          "You spoke to Wolfgang?" Karla asked.

          "He has helped me keep an eye on your father's plans," Schwarz replied.  "Wolfgang cares about you, Karla."

          "Who is Wolfgang?" Niklas asked, mystified.

          "He is my younger brother," Karla replied.

          Schwarz turned suddenly and looked into the sky.  Karla noticed this and asked, "What is it, Schwarz?"

          Schwarz stared at the darkening night sky for several more minutes before turning back to Karla and Niklas.  Schwarz said, "The Dark Gundam is here in Neo-Hong Kong."

          "What does that mean?" Niklas asked.

          "It means that Wong's plans will soon bear fruit," Schwarz replied.

          "The Neo-Swiss fighter who I fought against was injected with DG cells," Karla said.

          "You mean he was infected on purpose?" Niklas asked.

          "Yes," Karla replied.

          "It sounds like Claus was trying to gain power with Wong's help," Schwarz said.

          "Now that I'm out of the gundam fight, Claus can't get any more power than he already has," Karla said.  "Is there any way of stopping Claus and Wong?"

          Schwarz stared at the sky for a minute before replying, "Yes, but unless you have evidence of wrongdoing on Claus or Wong's part, it won't mean a thing."

          "I have recordings of Claus making his dirty deals with someone, it may be Wong," Niklas said.

          Schwarz said, "Good.  If the Dark Gundam is revived in the near future, the two of you must convince the gundam fighters from the other nations to unite against it.  Domon and the Shuffle Alliance cannot fight it alone."

          "I'm sure that they would try," Karla commented.

          Schwarz chuckled.  "Domon is stubborn enough to think that he can defeat it himself."

          "What about you, Schwarz?" Karla asked.

          Schwarz looked at her.  "I'll be fine Karla.  See you tomorrow."  He then disappeared and shortly, Shadow Gundam left the area.

          Karla watched as Shadow Gundam was lost to the night sky.


          The next morning, Niklas and Karla secured the gundam and headed for the harbor ring where the final round of the gundam fight was to take place.  They spotted the Shuffle Alliance members and headed towards them.

          George saw them approaching.  "Mademoiselle Geist and Monsieur Bruder, it's good to see you."

          "Hello George," Karla said.

          "George," Niklas said.

          "I see you're here to cheer for Schwarz," George said.

          "Yes George.  Karla and I are cheering for Schwarz.  After all, Neo-Germany is our homeland," Niklas replied as his hand slid over Karla's hip.

          "Is that true Karla?" George asked.

          "Yes," Karla replied.  "My father is the Chancellor of Neo-Germany.  My name is really Karla von Geist."

          "What?!" George asked, incredulous.  "I thought it was against the rules for a fighter to fight for a nation other than their own."

          "It isn't that simple," Karla said.  "I changed my name very slightly because I neither have a nation nor an identity right now.  I found myself in a position where I had no choice but to fight for Neo-Austria."

          "What will happen to you now that you've been defeated?" George asked.

          Karla turned towards him and replied softly, "I truly don't know.  Unless my father gives me my identity back, I may never again set foot on the Neo-German colony."

          "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry," George said.

          Karla shrugged.  "You didn't, really.  I'm not sure that he will reconsider his position after my fight with Neo-Switzerland."

          "You did well to survive that match.  Schwarz made a comment to Domon after the match that made me understand why you defended yourself the way that you did."

          "I am not like you; I don't have a Shuffle crest that would remove the taint of the Dark Gundam from someone.  That fighter tried to infect me with DG cells and would have succeeded if I hadn't killed him," Karla said.

          "You don't sound happy that you won the match," George said.  "You didn't want to kill that man, did you?"

          Karla shook her head.  "He was one of the police officers who arrested me in Neo-Austria.  Despite the horrible things he did to me at the time, I didn't want to kill him.  During the fight, I realized that I had no choice but to kill him if I wanted to survive.  I wasn't going to allow myself to be killed or infected with DG cells."

          George looked down for a moment.  "You did what you had to do, Karla.  In your position, I hope I would have the courage to do the same."

          "Thanks, George," Karla said.

          The emcee's voice was heard over the PA system announcing the final battle between Neo-Germany's Shadow Gundam and Neo-Japan's Burning Gundam.  Karla, Niklas, George and the others turned their attention to the ring.

          The emcee explained how this match was different from all that preceded it.  The fighters had a time limit of ten minutes and the cage that surrounded the ring was electrified and lined with explosives.  If the match wasn't settled within the allotted time, the bombs would explode.

          "Oh no!" Karla whispered.

          Niklas was looking at the team platforms with some binoculars.  The Neo-German platform was empty except for one person, a young woman with brown hair sticking out from the bottom and around her eyes who was wearing a mask.

          Niklas gasped in recognition.  "I think that's Rain up on the Neo-Germany platform!"

          "What?!" Karla asked, surprised.

          Niklas handed her the binoculars and she looked.  "I think you're right, Niklas," Karla said.

          The fight between Schwarz and Domon began and Karla returned the binoculars to Niklas.  Karla stared in awe at Schwarz's gundam and how easily it was able to gain the advantage over Domon.  It troubled her that Schwarz didn't finish off Domon.  Then she remembered what she and Niklas had learned about Schwarz on the way here from the Guiana Highlands.

          "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 gasped.  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."

          With a grim look on her face, Karla realized that Schwarz might not win this battle.  However, he wasn't just going to allow Domon to win easily.  This fight between them was the same for Domon as it had been for her.  She had realized her true potential in her fight against Schwarz even though it had ended in her defeat.  Would Domon be able to do the same and claim victory?

          Karla glanced at the clock.  It said there was one minute left in the match! She watched as Schwarz stopped spinning and Burning Gundam struggled to move.  There was a sudden shout from Rain after she removed the mask and tossed it away, but Karla couldn't hear what was said.  Schwarz began spinning.  The next instant, Domon Kasshu activated his super mode, the Erupting burning finger attack, and another attack that she didn't recognize.  The clock hit the thirty-second mark.

          This will be Schwarz's final attack! Karla thought.

          Karla watched in horror as the lights on the bombs started flashing at the five second mark and hoarsely whispered, "No!"

          Schwarz spun towards Domon who charged him.  Shadow Gundam and Burning Gundam met and the sparks flew as the two colossal powers collided.  Then the clock hit zero and the bombs exploded, obscuring both fighters from the spectators.  A minute later, Burning Gundam flew up out of the ring.

          "Schwarz! NO!!" Karla screamed.  She turned and buried her face into Niklas' shoulder.

          Niklas held Karla close as she cried.  He stared at the ring as the smoke cleared and watched as Shadow Gundam fell in defeat.  He closed his eyes and bowed his head.

          "George, is there a way to get us over to the ring?" Niklas asked quietly.

          George looked around and led them over to the edge of the ring.  Niklas and Karla arrived just in time to climb into the ambulance that was to take Schwarz to a hospital.  His mask had just been removed and Domon was stunned to see his older brother's face looking back at him.

          As the ambulance attendant closed the door, he turned and saw them.  "Who are you?" he asked.

          "We are this man's family," Niklas replied.

          The attendant nodded and the ambulance lifted off for the hospital.  Schwarz opened his eyes.  Niklas spoke to Schwarz in German.  Karla listened as Schwarz weakly replied.  She took his hand in hers and smiled warmly at him.  He looked at her, weakly returned her smile and fell unconscious once more.

          "What do we do now?" Karla asked.

          "He told us what to expect from Lantau Island, right? I think we better see about getting over there for the Battle Royale," Niklas replied.

          "I agree," Karla said.  "Perhaps we can get a ride from one of the other Shuffle Alliance teams."

          The ambulance slowed as it approached the hospital.  When it landed, they followed the gurney until it disappeared into the emergency room.  Shortly, the gurney was taken to an elevator and to a private room.  The doctors wouldn't allow them to remain in the room.  As they left, the Neo-German chancellor approached from the other direction.

          Von Geist paused, saw them and asked, "What are you doing here? This area is off-limits until Schwarz is secured in that room."

          "I..." Niklas began.  Karla touched his shoulder and shook her head.

          "We were just leaving," Karla said, disgusted at her father's attitude.

          Karla and Niklas took an elevator to the ground floor, left the building and started back to the hangar.

          "Why did we leave so fast? Don't you want to know what Schwarz's condition is?" Niklas asked.

          "Yes.  I asked the nurse to let us know about Schwarz's condition, as you're his son.  I gave her your cell phone number.  There is also the tracker that I put into Schwarz's coat pocket.  I made sure that the attendants now have his coat.  As long as they put it in his room, I can find it," Karla replied.

          "What if they don't put it in his room?" Niklas asked.

          "The way my father is overdoing security, it shouldn't be too difficult to find a heavily guarded room," Karla said.

          "Oh, okay.  Let's go," Niklas said.

          As they left the building, Niklas paused, turned and looked back.  A man hailed them as he approached.  Karla turned toward the sound of his voice.  She saw Domon and Rain approaching.

          "Karla! Niklas!" Domon called.

          Karla waved to acknowledge that she heard him calling.  When the couple from Neo-Japan arrived where they stood, Domon asked, "How is Schwarz?"

          "All we know is that he is being treated," Karla replied.

          "Aren't you going to stay?" Rain asked.

          "No.  We spoke to my father in the ambulance," Niklas replied.

          "Schwarz is your father?" Domon asked, surprised.  "But that can't be, I saw my brother's face when Schwarz's mask was removed!"

          "Yes, you did," Niklas said.  "If you recall, my last name is Bruder.  Other than that, I can't explain in detail now why I say that Schwarz is my father.  Please believe me when I say that he is.  I wouldn't make up something like that."

          "Will you return to see Schwarz?" Rain asked.

          "Possibly.  My father may not allow us into Schwarz's room," Karla replied.

          "What do you mean, your father?" Rain asked.

          "The Neo-German Chancellor is my father," Karla replied.  "It's a long story.  However, Niklas and I are going to leave.  We need to be alone for a while."  Karla and Niklas turned and walked away then.  Karla used her gundam's key to bring the core lander to them and they left.