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 22

By: Diane Maher

The next morning, Karla woke early. She got out of her sleeping bag and looked over at Niklas who slept on peacefully in his. She smoothed her clothes and then went into Midnight Gundam's cockpit to change into a clean, black outfit and move her weapons from one outfit to the other. Soon, Karla finished and just as she was about ready to leave the cockpit, her communication system activated and George de Sand's face filled her screen.

"Good morning, George," Karla said.

"Good morning, Karla," George replied. "How are you doing after that incredible match you had with Schwarz?"

"I'm fine, but my side is still a little sore," Karla replied. "What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if you were able to spar with me in preparation for the Battle Royale," George replied. "Is your gundam repaired?"

"Sure, I'll spar with you, and yes, my gundam is repaired," Karla replied.

"That was quick," George commented.

"Ninjas move in mysterious ways," Karla said in a hushed tone. She added, "I guess your butler isn't an appropriate sparring partner anymore?"

George shrugged. "I owe a lot to Raymond. However, I feel I need to spar with a higher caliber of fighter to improve myself."

Karla examined the status screens of Midnight Gundam's systems and then replied, "I'll come to your hangar after breakfast."

"Good, I'll see you later," George said and ended the call.

Karla picked up a bag containing food before she climbed out of the gundam and found Niklas awake and a fire started.

"Good morning, Karla," Niklas greeted.

She smiled warmly and replied, "Good morning, Niklas. I'll fix us some breakfast."

"Okay. I'm going to bathe in the stream nearby and change clothes. I'll be back in a little bit," Niklas said.

Karla prepared some omelets and when Niklas returned, they consumed their breakfast.

"I'm going to the Neo-France hangar. George contacted me and wants me to spar with him," Karla said.

"Okay, I'll help you clean up and we can go," Niklas said.

Shortly, Karla and Niklas climbed into Midnight Gundam's cockpit and headed for the Neo-France hangar. When they arrived, Karla opened the cockpit door. She and Niklas made their way to the ground. They were met by George and Raymond.

"Karla, Niklas, this is my butler, Raymond," George said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Raymond said.

"Karla, would you like to get to our sparring?" George asked.

"Of course," Karla replied.


The two fighters got into their machines and moved away from the Neo-France hangar building to a field with plenty of space which would allow them to practice without destroying any buildings or putting any people in danger. A few minutes after Karla and George started sparring, Niklas' cell phone rang.

"Hello?" Niklas answered.

"I see that you escaped the explosion at the Neo-Austrian hangar. Did Karla set you up to take the fall for her setting up the hangar to explode?" Claus asked.

Niklas wasn't going to take Claus' bait. He shrugged and replied, "I know Karla better than that, Claus. She wouldn't do anything like that. I see no reason to continue this conversation."

Niklas hung up on Claus and turned his attention back to Karla as she sparred with George. She was giving the Frenchman a run for his money, even though they were only practicing. Niklas smiled with pride as he knew how much Karla had improved since he had met her.

Soon, another gundam arrived. It charged toward where Karla and George were sparring. Niklas swiftly checked the gundam database on his wireless laptop and found that it was the original Neo-Switzerland gundam.

Niklas turned on the communicator and exclaimed, "Karla, watch out! There's a gundam that is charging from behind you!"

"What?" Karla asked. Something hit her from behind and she stumbled forward. Turning, she saw the newly arrived gundam as it faced her. "I'll be right back, George."

Claus' face appeared on her screen. She gasped as she saw the DG cells on his neck.

"What do you see?" George asked.

"Claus is infected by DG cells!" Karla replied.

"How?" Niklas asked. He gasped as the realization struck him. "That's what Claus meant to do to us over at the hangar."

"Let me take care of him," George insisted.

"I...must fight him," Karla whispered.

"Karla, I must destroy you," Claus muttered. "I can't allow Wong to use you for his evil plans."

"I won't allow you to destroy me," Karla replied. "What do you mean, Wong has some evil plan?"

Claus growled as he charged her. His voice barely sounded human and Karla couldn't understand his reply. He moved swiftly, jumped and kicked towards her.

George looked behind Karla and shouted, "You can't dodge his blow; there are people behind you on the ground!"

Karla jumped toward Claus to prevent him from harming the innocent bystanders behind her.

"George, please protect the people on the ground, I'll deal with Claus," Karla said.

The gundam that Claus was piloting slammed into Karla once more. She pushed him away, activated her midnight swords and took a defensive stance.

"What is this? Are you afraid to fight me, Karla?" Claus demanded.

"No. What made you do all these horrible things, Claus?" Karla asked.

"I had it planned out long before I met you, Karla. Don't take it personally," Claus replied.

Karla scowled and shouted, "Don't take it personally?!? You made my life hell and you tell me not to take it personally? How dare you!"

Claus laughed and Karla pressed some buttons on her console. She then attacked and sliced his arms off with her swords. Claus' laughter was demented now as the green tentacles swiftly reattached his arms.

George exclaimed, "Everyone, get away from here! Karla, let me help you defeat Claus."

"Thanks, George!" Karla replied as she blocked Claus' attack.

"You're afraid to fight me alone, Karla?" Claus asked. "Or is it that you fear you'll have to kill me?"

"No, Claus. I won't kill you. That would let you off too easily. With George's help, I will see to it that you answer for your crimes."

Claus laughed maniacally. "I won't be tried! You have no proof against me!"

Karla spun and extended her leg out to trip Claus. She then quickly jumped, pointed her blades downward, and pinned Claus' gundam to the ground by its shoulders. George punched through the cockpit and pulled out Claus.

"You're wrong, Claus. We do have proof against you," Karla replied, a hint of pity in her voice.

A look of shock came over Claus' face when Karla's words penetrated his mind. "No!" he gasped. "It's not possible!" He grasped his head in both hands and cried out in pain before falling unconscious.

Gundam Rose's hand glowed around Claus. "Raymond, please call the Neo-Austrian authorities and have them bring an ambulance to take away Claus."

"Yes, Master George," Raymond replied.

Karla stood next to George and opened her cockpit door. When she came out and looked at Claus, he seemed so vulnerable. She couldn't help but feel pity for him. She wondered what the Neo-Austrian authorities would do with him.

Below, Niklas called to her. Karla said, "Just a minute, I'll be right down!" Karla made her way down to where Niklas stood.

"I just received word from Wolfgang. A copy of the information that I recorded is in the hands of the Neo-Austrian authorities," Niklas replied.


After the Neo-Austrian authorities came and took away Claus, Niklas and Karla followed George inside the Neo-France building to a living room sized area. George picked up a remote and pressed the power button.

A newscast came over the screen in French. George listened for a moment. "This is about Claus!"

"What are they saying?" Karla asked.

"In light of some anonymously submitted information, the Vice President of Neo-Austria has been asked to take charge of the country while an investigation into President Stromberg's recent actions is undertaken," George said. "Stromberg is said to be ill at the moment and unavailable for comment."

"I thought you cured him of the DG cells?" Karla asked.

"I did," George replied. "I guess this is their way of keeping things relatively quiet while they investigate Claus."

"I hope this development helps to convince your father that your identity should be restored," Niklas said.

"I would like to think so, but we'll see," Karla said. "Until the Battle Royale is finished, I won't contact my father. Speaking of which, Niklas and I want to see the Battle Royale, but have no way to get there."

"You can ride on our boat," George said.

"Danke, George," Niklas said. "If you can tell me when and where we need to meet, I'll see to it that we're there promptly."

"Raymond, please give Niklas the information he and Karla need to meet up with you at the boat," George said.

"Yes, Master George," Raymond replied as he motioned for Niklas to follow him.

"How do you feel about the Battle Royale, George?" Karla asked.

"I am confident that I will win," George replied with a grin.

"Humph! I should have known I'd get a response like that. Schwarz was right," Karla commented.

George asked, "What do you mean, Schwarz was right? When did you talk to him?"

"Niklas and I rode in the ambulance to the hospital with him," Karla replied.

"I'm confused. Why were you there?" George asked.

"Niklas is Schwarz's son," Karla replied.

"Are you certain?" George asked.

Karla folded her arms across her chest and replied, "Yes. Niklas wouldn't lie about something like this."

"I suspected that he was related to Schwarz. I saw the intense emotions on Niklas' face during your fight against Schwarz. Now I understand where they came from and why," George said.

"Niklas is a good man. That I fought against his father was inevitable. He supported me throughout that match. I didn't lose the match on purpose or because Schwarz is Niklas' father."

"I never said you did," George said.

"It was a difficult fight for Niklas and me," Karla said. "As you know, my body is still recovering from it."

"I understand. Aren't you going to fight in the Battle Royale?" George asked.

"No," Karla replied. "For some reason, the powers that be decided that I'm not being allowed to fight, but it's just as well. Thank you for allowing Niklas and me to ride on your boat."

"You're welcome," George replied.

"I promised Schwarz that I'd help the Shuffle Alliance in his place if they needed assistance. I need to be as close as I can to the battleground," Karla said. "I can call my gundam there in an instant, if need be."

"We'll accept your help, Karla. You may not have a Shuffle crest, but you are a very skilled fighter," George said.

"Thank you, George," Karla said.

Niklas came over and said, "We must leave, so we can return in time to board your boat."

As Karla turned to leave, she paused and quietly said to George, "You must beware of Lantau Island. There, the Shuffle Alliance will meet its greatest challenge yet."