Chapter I: What Lies Ahead
Two months remain before the 14th Gundam Fight in Hong Kong. Four years have passed since the last event was held and the citizens of Earth and the orbital colonies eagerly await the start of the next Gundam Fight. Domon Kasshu is set to defend his title with his powerful Burning Gundam. But with two months still left plenty of challenges still await Domon and his friends. Some even they will not foresee...
India, Future Century 64, 67 days until start of 14th Gundam Fight.
The air was cold and dry. It was always like this in the mountains of northern India, no matter the season, it was always cold and dry. The ground was either gray with rocks or white with snow. Either one made the landscape less than glamorous. Anything that survived here would have had to have been either a fan of cold weather, or something that just couldn't go anywhere else. At least, that was how Domon Kasshu saw it.
The 25-year-old defending champion of the Gundam Fight wore his usual clothes, plus his red cape and bandana as he trudged grudgingly up the side of one of these jagged peaks. The stiff breeze of cold air blew his long black hair back behind his head as he moved. It stung his eyes and nose to just walk up this god forsaken mountain. But Domon endured. How could he not? Somewhere up here...somewhere...lurked his next challenge.
So entranced in the objective that lay before him, Domon didn't notice the rock give way beneath his feet until it was already soaring down the side of the mountain. Domon cried out just as his feet gave way and he suddenly found himself falling downwards towards the base of the mountain many thousands of feet below. His right arm managed to grab hold of the edge of the rock closest to him up the mountain and he held his position gingerly, his fingers digging into the hard surface, holding on for dear life. Cringing his eyes tightly shut, Domon attempted to pull himself back up, but his fingers continued to slip on the rock and he couldn't bring himself to get back to safety. Pain and rage crept into Domon's mind as he cursed himself for putting himself into this position in the first place.
But then Domon relaxed. Slowly, he chased the anger and pain from his mind, replacing it with calm and serenity. The drops of evil emotions slipped from his body and Domon took a deep breath, expelling the thoughts from him completely. This was what he had to do in this situation. In any situation, in fact. Thoughts of peace, tranquility, and other good thoughts emerged into his mind and Domon found that his fingers were finally able to grip the rocky surface of the cliff. With a swift heave, Domon catapulted upwards onto his hands, performing a hand-stand for about a second before shooting up into the air legs first, landing safely on another portion of rock a few feet away. As he felt the rocks continue to give way beneath him, Domon executed this maneuver several times more, somersaulting through the thin air higher and higher until he managed to get within sight of the summit of the mountain. After landing on his sturdy legs one last time, Domon was surprised to find that the rock he now stood on did not give way. Domon smiled to himself. Domon one, mountain nothing, he thought to himself.
Domon heaved himself up the final leg and found himself on the very top of the mountain, looking down onto the rocky landscape below that he had been looking up from just a few hours before. This was the kind of challenge Domon relished in. Using his own brute strength to accomplish his goals instead of taking the easy way. That was how he trained, albeit inadvertently. Anything that could be accomplished with his own mind and muscles, he would do just that. Now he glanced at the climax of his trek. The great horizon of northern India. Snow-capped mountains in the distance invaded his line of sight as the snow on his own mountain crunched beneath his shoes. Domon walked up to the one side of the peak and glanced across the horizon towards the north and west. From here, he could see the tallest mountains in the world, the Himalayas, of Nepal and China. Included among them was the tallest point in the world, Everest, the ultimate goal for every mountain climber who has ever walked the Earth.
Everest looked back at him in all its glory, its very top seeming so inviting. But Domon had other matters to worry about. For instance, the reason he was here in India in the first place. Just over a week ago, Domon had received a letter at his home in Japan, addressed from New Delhi, the Indian capital city. It was from India's Gundam Fighter, offering Domon a pre-tournament challenge. Domon had fought many of these before, including against his friends of the Shuffle Alliance four years previous. But this year had been different. As the reigning champion, Domon had been subjected to almost every challenge that came to his doorstep. Already he had fought and won ten fights, this would be his eleventh. His Burning Gundam had not let him down once. Every challenge had been the same. A young rebel seeking to achieve fame and sometimes fortune by becoming the first to knock off the defending champion before the tournament even started. That was who Domon had been four years previous, a naive little kid who didn't really understand the true nature of the Gundam Fight. But now he was wary, intelligent, and mindful of what it took to succeed as a Gundam Fighter. And Domon Kasshu was determined to triumph yet again.
Domon closed his dark eyes slowly and breathed in clean, fresh air through his nostrils. Memories came flooding into his mind. Memories of those that had inspired him on his journey so far. Mother...Kyoji...Master Asia... Domon remembered them, their faces, their bodies, their voices. They had encouraged him onwards during his most trying times during the end of the last Gundam Fight in Future Century 60. From them he had learned more valuable lessons that he could ever have hoped to learn. From Kyoji he learned the art of a clear mind and what a difference it made to think clear and peaceful thoughts during a Gundam Fight. Master Asia taught him the true meaning of the Gundams, what they were blindly doing to the Earth due to the people's careless use of them. Not only had Domon learned from that, but it seemed that many nations had. In the four years since the last fight, many of the colonies had adopted environmentally sound devices that would work to preserve the beauty of the Earth during the fights. Gundam fighting was now more in tune with saving the Earth instead of destroying it. It was because of that that scenes like the one that played before Domon's eyes this moment would live on forever.
His eyes snapped open however, when he heard a patch of snow crunch behind him. Not from a step he had taken. Someone else had arrived on the top of this mountain. Domon had a good idea who. "I am surprised to see you here so soon...Domon Kasshu," came a quiet, bass toned voice.
"That's just one of the things you don't know about me," Domon said, his voice just above a whisper as he turned his body slowly around to face his adversary. It was a man of Domon's height, but several years older with a black mustache and short black hair. His arms were folded across his body which was clothed in a simple brown jump-suit. Domon assumed the man was from this area, which would explain why he wasn't dressed warmly. The man's lips displayed a quaint smile that seemed to bore right into Domon's soul. But Domon ignored it. Instead he added, "Another of my policies is never to refuse a challenge. You would be Inomu de Lahbi, I presume?"
"I am," the man nodded.
"Neo-India's Gundam Fighter?"
"You are correct," Inomu said smoothly. "I was the one who summoned you here, Domon Kasshu. I wished to see if you are worthy of holding the title of champion of the Gundam Fight."
Domon shook his head slowly. "You'd better get in line then, I've already dealt with many fighters like you."
The dark-skinned man looked hurt. "You misunderstand me, Domon Kasshu." Domon arched an eyebrow at the man. "The reason I summoned you here...was not to take your title...but to test myself. You see...I wish to see where I rank among the other nation's fighters before the Gundam Fight starts in two months. And what better way to find out...than fighting against the best."
This surprised Domon. But not in a bad way. Domon even managed a smile. "So you want to see if you're good enough to beat me, then?"
"You are wise, Domon Kasshu. And for that..." Inomu outstretched his arms above his head and called out, "I call forth Cyclone Gundam!" With a great swoosh, the air around the top of the mountain swirled around them as the machine began its quick descent from the skies. In a great flash, the Cyclone Gundam was suddenly behind Inomu, gleaming in bright maroon, brown, and white. Inomu glanced back at Domon and added, "You see Domon Kasshu...today...I plan on giving my best...against the best."
Domon's mouth rose in the corners and he smirked. "Very well, Inomu de Lahbi. You asked for the best...and the best is what you'll get! Burning Gundam! Rise!" From the bottom of the mountain, in a great swoop, the almighty Burning Gundam, the winner of the 13th Gundam fight, arose to face its counterpart on the opposite end of the mountain.
"You do me a great honor, Domon Kasshu," Inomu said kindly, clenching his fist in front of his face, smiling as he did so.
"As do you, Inomu de Lahbi," Domon answered, clenching his own fist. "But what do you say we skip the talking...and start the fighting!" With two great heaves, both fighters leaped into the thin air, high above the surface of the Earth, towards their respective Gundams. Both entered their control areas and endured the pain of having their combat suits come over their bodies. Domon and Inomu both opened their eyes inside their respective Gundams and glanced across at the other. "Now, shall we get started?" Domon asked competitively.
"Nothing would make me happier!" Inomu shouted, as the Cyclone Gundam lurched forward with great speed at the Burning Gundam, its right arm outstretched in a fist aimed at the Burning Gundam's head. Domon was quicker though, bringing up both of Burning Gundam's hands in order to halt the Cyclone's attempted attack. The force of the impact nonetheless forced Domon backwards, sending him towards the edge of the mountaintop. Domon jerked inside his suit and jumped into the air, aiming for another mountaintop a few meters away. He landed safely, going down onto one knee, but still managing to keep Burning Gundam under control. "Impressive, Domon Kasshu," Inomu said roughly. "You are indeed a well-trained fighter."
"No thanks are necessary, Inomu," Domon responded cockily. "That was just the beginning."
"You are correct once again, Domon Kasshu. This indeed is only the beginning!" The Cyclone Gundam suddenly jumped straight up into the air. Domon watched it fly up and then come back down onto the mountain, disappearing into a cloud of dust and debris as it impacted. Rocks shot up into the air, showering the Burning Gundam in dust and pebbles. Domon watched intently as the smoke began to clear and then there was the Cyclone, two massive boulders attached to its forearms. "Now, feel my power!" Inomu shouted. The boulders shot straight at the Burning Gundam at incredible speed.
Damn! Domon cursed to himself, forced to jump into the air to dodge the attack. But even before he landed on another mountain peak, the Cyclone had fired more boulders at him. And these weren't little ones, believe it or not, they were at least ton-sized boulders. Domon dodged the attacks vigorously, but a scattered few managed to get close and impact the Burning Gundam on the back and legs, sending it sprawling into ugly landings that jarred Domon's senses when he landed. Thinking quickly, Domon searched frantically for an answer to these constant attacks. Boulders continued to fly at him as he thought and thought some more. Where was the answer? What could...there! That's it!
Quickly, Domon leaped into the air and came towards the Cyclone. Inomu locked onto the Burning Gundam and fired another barrage of boulders from the Cyclone Gundam's forearms. The cannons had proved effective so far and it appeared as though he had Domon on the ropes. However, just before he reached the Cyclone, the Burning suddenly disappeared. Inomu stopped firing long enough to glance down to the area where the Neo-Japan Gundam had disappeared to. There was nothing below him.
Suddenly, Inomu felt something stir, and then he discovered much to his shock that the Burning was right behind him. Domon had gone down to the bottom of the mountain, crossed to the other side, and leapt back up into the air on the other side behind the Cyclone quick enough so that Inomu had no time to react. Inomu attempted to turn the Cyclone around and fire his next set of boulders, but Domon was quicker. He latched on to the Cyclone's right arm and twisted it back towards the opposite side. With no chance to stop his attack, Inomu watched helplessly as his boulder went straight for his left arm, sheering it completely off at close range, causing his machine to lose its footing and collapse onto the mountain side.
That was all the opportunity Domon needed. With a relaxed mind, Domon cleared his mind of all anger, passion, fear, rage, impulse. It all evaporated in one instant, replaced instead by peace and serenity. The time was now. Domon brought the Burning Gundam's left hand up to cup its right, prepping his machine for its ultimate weapon. "Now, Inomu de Lahbi! Prepare yourself!" The Burning Gundam's right index finger was suddenly bright red with energy coursing through it. "Erupting, Burning Finger!" Domon's cry preceded the shot as it streaked out in a massive surge of energy towards the Cyclone. Inomu could do nothing to stop it and in a matter of seconds, the fight was over, the Burning Finger having overcome his machine, crippling it.
With smoke still resonating from his defenseless machine, Inomu watched as the gleaming Burning Gundam came to stand before him. Inomu bowed his head in defeat and waited for the final blow that would finish him. He would die with honor. Surprisingly however, the Burning Gundam did not fire. Inomu opened his eyes to see instead the Burning Gundam drop down onto one knee and Domon say, "Nice fight, Inomu de Lahbi. You put up a great fight."
Inomu was confused. "Will you not finish me, Domon Kasshu? I have lost and according to the rules of the Gundam Fight-."
"According to the rules, it is not necessary to disqualify an opponent by destroying the head of his machine unless the victorious fighter chooses to," Domon finished. "You've honored yourself here today, Inomu. You put up a great fight and I respect that. It would not be in either of our best interests to destroy you."
After a few minutes, both fighters emerged from their machines and stepped gingerly onto the rocky surface of the mountain below. Domon's red cape blew in the wind behind him as he stalked towards his opponent, walking now with a slight limp from the impact the Burning Finger must have given him. "Why did you not kill me, Domon Kasshu?" Inomu asked quietly, stepping before him. "You had every right to."
Domon smiled. "It's not very honorable to kill a defenseless enemy, am I wrong?" Inomu shook his head, no. "Why would I want to dishonor my nation and yours by killing you now? Plus, it wouldn't do my conscience any good going into the fight in the first place. That's not how I do thing, Inomu."
"I see," Inomu said quietly. Then he smiled too. "I am honored to have fought you, Domon Kasshu," he said, bowing slightly.
Before Domon could return it, another sound overcome the quiet mountain air. The whirring of helicopter blades echoed the arrival of the craft as it headed upwards towards the two individuals and their Gundams. With a soft, sifting sound, the chopper set down on the snow-covered surface just about a meter from the two fights. Domon and Inomu watched intently as the door of the helicopter was raised and an individual stepped slowly out onto the snow. Domon managed a slight smirk, after seeing who it was.
"How'd you know about this place?" he asked carefully as the individual began to walk towards them. Her short brown hair was tossled in the breeze as her arms held her long red coat tightly around her slim figure. Her blue eyes twinkled in the afternoon sunlight, which made Domon's heart flutter every time he saw them.
"Oh, the explosions, the shaking, the shouting, just to name a few," Rain Kasshu's kind and gentle voice responded. She glanced over at the wreckage of the Cyclone Gundam and shook her head. "Looks like you two had a nice scuffle."
"You know me. Besides, it's nothing that can't be fixed," Domon reassured his wife with a smile.
Rain started to return his smile, but glanced down when she felt something brush against the back of her leg. She smiled. "You can come out," she said quietly. "It's okay, nobody's here but mommy, daddy, and daddy's friend." Slowly, a small figure emerged from behind Rain. That of a child, no more than two years old. Domon smiled down at the little boy, draped in many layers of clothes to protect him from the cold air of the mountains. He squatted down on his haunches and beckoned the little boy forward. Slowly at first, the boy finally leapt into Domon's strong arms as his father lifted him gently off the ground.
"Man, Kyoji you're getting heavy," Domon grimaced as he lifted his son in his arms. Domon glanced into the boy's dark eyes that matched his own as did his black hair and smiled. He reminded him so much of his own brother Kyoji, the person his son was named for. Glancing back at the patiently waiting Inomu, Domon said, "Please excuse me, Inomu. My wait Rain Kasshu and my son Kyoji."
Inomu bowed his head in greetings to them both. "I am honored to meet you," he said kindly.
"The honor is mine," Rain responded, inclining her head in a bow. "Well, shall we be off then Domon. Kyoji needs his nap as it is."
"Alright," Domon answered quickly. He turned back to Inomu and said, "Goodbye Inomu. I look forward to meeting you again."
"I shall be waiting in Hong Kong, Domon Kasshu," Inomu said as they started for the helicopter. Minutes later, Inomu watched as the helicopter lifted into the air, taking Domon, Rain, and Kyoji with it. The Burning Gundam rose into the air minutes later and disappeared over the horizon soon after.
Slowly, Inomu de Lahbi turned back to his wrecked Cyclone Gundam. He had fought the best today, he admitted to himself. Now he just had to think about how he would get better before the fight began.
"Inomu de Lahbi," came a voice from behind him. Inomu recognized the voice. But how could it be? He'd just seen Domon Kasshu fly off with his family minutes before. As he turned around to face the individual who had called his name, Inomu was suddenly overcome with shock and pain. The sharp crack sent him back into the snow, landing hard on his back. Inomu's face cringed as his fingers felt for his stomach, reaching the hole the bullet had made when it had struck him just to the left of his navel. He felt the red blood trickle onto his fingers and at that moment he knew he was dead. Just before the darkness took him, Inomu saw the figure come to stand above him. He saw the face, the eyes, the bandana, the cape, the hair. "Sweet dreams, Inomu," the figure whispered before silencing Inomu with a bullet right between the eyes.