Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY
The New Coordinate
Story:
AU of GSD. Xander Darklighter, a ZAFT ace pilot was thrown into a string of events that will test his skills, resolve, courage and determination. Which side will he choose to fight with? How will he deal with the events unfolding before him?
Notes:
Shinigami Keitaro: It's okay, man. I know the sentence could cause some misunderstanding.
NukeDawg: Eh, sorry about that, man. The story will be even more AU should Meer lives and I don't intend on doing that.
GodNo127: Xan's going soft, you say? No comment. :D About the weapon Crystal used. It's just a normal katana. Nothing more. Just called both weapons as ancients bacuse both are ancient type of weapons. Well, other than clubs, that is.
Centurious: Keep on reading till the very end.
RVD: Thanx for your input once again, friend.
Whoa, whoa! 90 reviews? I never thought this story could gather so much of 'em. I was expecting a lot less, actually. Anyways, keep the reviews bump up to 100, eh?
I don't own GSD, their characters or anything else aside from Xander Darklighter, Claire Whitestar, Yvonne Norman and Crystal Blue.
Model number: ZGMF-X56S-R
Code name: Impulse Gundam X-Custom
Unit type: prototype multi-mode mobile suit
Manufacturer: Unknown
Operator(s): ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance and Freedom Treaty), United Emirates of Orb
Pilot: Lunamaria Hawke
First deployment: C.E. 73
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 17.76 meters
Weight: max gross weight 63.4 metric tons (basic configuration)
Construction: unknown
Powerplant: ultracompact energy battery, power output rating unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; Phase Shift (PS) Armor; black while using Lightning Striker Pack, metallic red when using Intergrated Weapons Striker Pack (IWSP)
Fixed armaments:
2 x MMI-GAU25A 20mm CIWS, fire-linked, mounted in chest
2 x M71-AAK "Folding Razor" anti-armor knife, stored in hip armor, hand-carried in use
MMI-RG59V mobile shield, mounted on left arm
Optional fixed armaments:
AQM/E-X01 Aile Striker Pack
AQM/E-X02 Sword Striker Pack
AQM/E-X03 Launcher Striker Pack
P202QX Intergrated Weapons Striker Pack (IWSP)
P204QX Lightning Striker Pack
Optional hand armaments: MA-BAR72 high-energy beam rifle, power rating unknown
Technical notes and history:
ZGMF-X56S-R Impulse Gundam X-Custom was a customized version of the original ZGMF-X56S Impulse Gundam. The 'R' stands for Remodeled while 'X' stands for Xander. Upon Lunamaria's defection from ZAFT, her lover Xander Darklighter made a few quick enhancements to it. He improved Impulse's overall combat ability to match with Lunamaria's mobile suit skills.
He also tweaked its construction modular. This means that the core fighter Core Splendor had been phased out which Xander deemed it as a 'complete waste of time'. Xander also customized it so that it could use all the old Striker Packs originally belonged to Strike Gundam.
Chapter 31: Affirmation
Back at the Archangel, Athrun was carrying Meer's body towards the mortuary, watched silently by the crew.
"She took the bullet meant for Miss Lacus?" Murrue asked Neo who was standing beside her.
He nods. "Yeah. It all happened on the palm of my unit. I'm sorry for not being able to do anything..."
Kira, Lacus and Meyrin closed their eyes and recited a silent prayer for Meer's soul.
Xander was at the outside deck, thinking about the battle against Crystal. The way they handled their weapons were almost the same. Most shocking, she reminds him of himself.
(I will get the answers from her soon...)
"Xan?"
"Huh?" He turned around to see Lunamaria with a worried look on her face.
"Something is bothering you? You're having that look ever since we got back."
Xander stared at her while trying to find the answer. He smiled and pulled her close.
"Maria, I want to do so many things with you. I just hope that we'll be able to get through this."
Smiling, Lunamaria hugged him tight. "Of course we'll get through this. You don't have to worry about it."
Xander kissed her on the head. "Thanks, Maria..."
On the newly constructed mobile fortress Messiah, Crystal was having a meeting with Gilbert in the control centre.
"I see." He said. "I assume that Meer had died because of her wounds?"
"It seems to be the most likely outcome." she replied.
"And you failed to get rid of the source, am I correct?"
Crystal nods grudgingly. "Yes. But I will kill him the next time we meet."
"I trust you will. After all, you are superior than him in many ways."
She winced on the word 'superior'. She's been told many times that she is the most powerful Coordinator far surpassed her original, Xander and this so-called Ultimate Coordinator. But why she failed in getting rid of the one who was supposed to be inferior to her? She surpressed her emotions and saluted.
"I'll be doing what it is needed then."
Gilbert nods as Crystal turned around and left.
Later that day, the crew of Archangel watched Gilbert's proposal of implementing his Destiny Plan to prevent the cycle of tragedy from happening.
"To prevent tragedy? Riiiiight..." Xander sarcastically said.
"Humanity will have no future if that plan was to be implemented." Kira added.
"We'll do what we can to prevent that from happening." Athrun vowed.
Yvonne nods. "We will. To think what will happen to future generations should he succeeded..."
"Is unbearable." Lunamaria continued.
Neo nods. "Indeed." he added short.
"For the sake of our future generation, we will fight!" Lacus affirmed her stance. Everyone on the bridge nods.
"Prepare to launch! We will rendezvous with Eternal at the appointed coordinates!" Murrue oredered.
Xander, Kira, Lacus and Athrun were talking about the upcoming battle.
"Looks like the four of us will go to Eternal, huh?" Xander said, referring to himself, Kira, Athrun and Lacus.
Athrun shrugged. "More or less. Since our mobile suits aren't suited for this ship's hangar." he said.
"Don't forget the DOM pilots." Kira added.
"That will make...seven of us, then." Xander remarked.
"I would like to include Meyrin in that list." Lacus said.
Athrun turned to her in surprise. "Meyrin?"
Lacus nods. "She came to me and wanted to lend some help. Since there is a vacancy at the communications terminal..."
"I...I see...I never want to have her involve in this..." Athrun muttered.
Xander patted his back. "It's alright, man. It was her choice, right?"
On the observation deck, Yvonne, Lunamaria and Meyrin were having their own meeting at the observation deck. Yvonne stared at the stars longingly and sighed.
"The final battle is coming soon. No way of turning back now..."
"You want to turn back?" Meyrin asked, curiously.
Yvonne chuckled. "Of course not. I have a promise to fulfill."
"A promise?" Lunamaria asked.
"Xander and I made a promise to a little girl we called 'sister' back at Berlin. It was her...dying wish..."
Shining tears fell from her eyes before she could finish. The sisters tried to comfort her.
"It's okay if you don't want to continue..." Lunamaria said. Yvonne nods.
"Now I know how it feels like to lose someone that is precious to you. After all these years, I never knew what Xander had gone through and how he deal with the deaths of his dearests. I wish I can be strong like him..."
"It's alright, Miss Yvonne. You're a strong person. We know that and I'm sure Xander and the others noticed it too..." Meyrin said in an assuring tone.
Yvonne smiled and by surprise, she pulled the sisters close. "Thank you for hearing me out, you two. Thank you..."
Both Archangel and Eternal had rendezvoused at the appointed coordinates and began transferring staff and resources between them. Earlier, Kira had launched Strike Freedom with Lacus while Athrun had went off with Meyrin. The DOM troopers also had launched out. Xander and Lunamaria stood in front of Atonement.
"Maria, I have to go now. Please take care of Archangel. And yourself."
"I will and you take care too, okay?"
Xander winked. "Will do, cutie. If you're in trouble, say my name and I'll be there. I promise."
Then, the two kissed before Xander made his way inside his unit. Turning on the system, he put a small disc in its slot. It contained all the necessary data to optimize the PX system further.
"Good. With this, I don't have to worry much about the time limit. But god knows what will happen if I actually used it."
"X17A Atonement. You are clear for takeoff!"
After seeing the status changed from Abort to Clear, Xander pushed forward.
"Xander Darklighter, Atonement. Heading out!"
To Be Continued...