As he walked down the abandoned street, Keith Grayeb remembered growing up in this now deserted Oklahoma town. Keith could still remember when his father taught him to shoot. His father had been a great gundam pilot. He could still remember his father's gundam. Keith would never forget that grand black gundam with its red and white trim. His father piloted the noble Marshall Gundam with its trademark Silver Star on its chest.
His father had been the pilot for Neo-America during the twelfth Gundam Fight. He worked hard to get to the finals, but it was all for nothing. Master Asia took the Marshall Gundam's head on his way to the top, leaving Keith's father in sixth place. That had been the day Keith was born. His father had always said losing that fight was the best thing that ever happened to him. Otherwise, he would have missed the greatest moment in his life, the birth of his son.
It had been twenty years since that tournament, and his father was not destined to return to earth. But Keith was back as Neo-America's gundam fighter. He had returned to earth in order to succeed where his father had failed. Keith's Desperado Gundam would not meet the same sad fate as Marshall Gundam.
"Well Patrick, maybe the other fighters will go easy on yer sister. After all, she's just a lil lassie."
"Fuck you Shamus! You piece o' shit!" Reagan bolted towards Shamus, ready to start swinging.
"Reagan, he's not worth it," Patrick tried to calm his sister down, while holding her back away from her target.
Reagan Moran had just been announced as Neo-Ireland's fighter for the upcoming 17th Gundam Fight. She had just entered her favorite pub to have a drink before she left the colony for earth. She had only been to earth once before when she was a little girl. During the fourteenth Gundam Fight when her father served on the crew of Ryan McCevit, Shamus's father. McCevit was defeated within a week of the fight's start, and no other Irish fighter had done any better since. Shamus tried to enter the last Gundam Fight, but he was injured and unable to compete.
Reagan started to calm down, "Yeah, he's just bitter."
"Let's just have a drink, and sit down." He motioned to the bartender, "Hey, Josh a couple o' beers over here, and turn up that TV," he pointed to the television, which he had just noticed was showing Gundam Fight News.
"And four more gundam representatives have been announced today," The news anchor on the TV screen announced. "Neo-Ireland has selected Reagan Moran and her Shamrock Gundam. Neo-Russia has Daniil Osip with his Gundam Grozny. Neo-Sweden announced Latham Einar and Epsen Gundam as their representative. And of course Isamu Hotaka, student of the famous Domon Kasshu, is Neo-Japan's representative this year with Tokugawa Gundam."
"That's right," the second anchor chimed in, "and that leaves only one country. And we take you right now live to Rome, where the winner of the last Gundam Fight, Giuseppe Garibaldi, is defending his title as Neo-Italy's representative.
"Christ, who cares," Reagan had no interest in a fight that would obviously be a blowout. "Garibaldi'll beat down on whoever wants to fight him."
"I don't know Reagan; I hear Ignatius Argento is pretty good. And his brother Geraldo is nearly as good," John found this bout to be an interesting one.
"Argento?" Reagan was surprised to hear the name. "As in Victorio Argento?"
"That's right, grandsons of the winner of the sixth Gundam Fight." Patrick was as surprised as Reagan, when he had first heard about the two brothers from Neo-Italy. "Plus, Neo-Italy always decides their representative with a battle royal; every man for himself."
"So the Argento's get a distinct advantage." Reagan was beginning to see why this match wasn't so cut and dry.
"Well, there are two other men entered in the battle royal, and they both work for Giuseppe."
"So it's three on two, should be interesting."
"Welcome everyone!" the announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeaker in the coliseum. "It's time for the match you've all been waiting for. This is the battle royal that will decide Neo-Italy's representative in the 17th Gundam Fight." The fans in the stadium began to roar in excitement. "Now without further ado; let's bring out the fighters! First, in Icarus Gundam, everyone's favorite, last year's Gundam Fight Champion, Giuseppe Garibaldi!" The crowd exploded into an immense clamor of cheers. Up from the basement of the stadium, an elevator lifted a gundam to the battlefield. Icarus Gundam was a shining white, with red shoulder armor and black joints. The mobile fighter bore only light armor, to maintain speed. It had a pair of silver wings, with sharp blade like feathers and a red chevron on its forehead that resembled a blaze of fire.
"Hello my people!" Garibaldi began to flex and pose for the crowd. "Bring on the challengers!"
"All right people!" the announcer continued, "time for our first two challengers!" Everyone in the crowd was at the edge of their seats, as Giuseppe Garibaldi stood confidently in Icarus Gundam. "Introducing; Antonio Mussolini and Emilio Cavour, in their Red Shirt Gundams!"
The crowd showed no feelings towards the fighters, as their two identical gundams rose up to the battlefield. They were very plain, having a gray base paint, with red blotches that resembled bloodstains covering them. The two mobile suits had black armored plating on their arms, legs, and torsos. They stood at attention with rifles ready.
"And next," the announcer continued, "are Ignatius and Geraldo Argento with Centurion and Legionnaire Gundam!"
The crowd burst into a magnitude of boos as two more gundams arose on the elevator. These two gundams wore the look of ancient roman soldiers. Centurion Gundam on the left stood tall, tan colored with thick dark gray armor. The gundam's joints were black and further reinforced with armor. Strapped in an X-shape cross on its back were multiple sharp-pointed shining javelins, which were split vertically by an immense broad sword. It held on its left arm a shield, engraved with a golden eagle. At its side was Legionnaire Gundam, wearing the same armor, only black, with gray base paint. It had the same javelins, and the shield on his left arm contained the engraving of a bear. However, it lacked the large broad sword that its brother had strapped to its back. Both gundam heads resembled Roman helmets with three lines of spikes running across the top. At each gundam's side there was a beam sword.
"So, our grandfather won the sixth Gundam Fight," Geraldo was annoyed by the crowd's reaction, "but they still boo us."
Ignatius was not surprised, "Who cares what they think."
"It's really annoying."
"We'll just have to shut them up then."
"All right folks," the announcer continued, "It's time to get this battle royal underway. This battle will be fought until there is only one gundam left with an intact head. The winner shall claim the right to be Neo-Italy's gundam fight representative!" The crowd began to cheer, becoming anxious as they waited for the battle to commence. "All right, GUNDAM FIGHT SET!"
"You boys take care of these two," Giuseppe whispered to his lackeys piloting the Red Shirt Gundams. "I wouldn't want to over exert myself."
"You got it boss," the two replied in unison.
"READY!"
Ignatius set up the brothers' battle plan, "The two goofs are yours. I want Garibaldi."
"Of course," Geraldo took up a fighting stance.
"GO!"
The Red Shirts and Legionnaire Gundam rocketed towards each other at full speed, while Icarus and Centurion Gundam made no moves at all. The Red Shirts began to unload their rifles at Geraldo, who lifted his shield and continued towards them.
"You're gonna have to do better than that," Geraldo continued to approach the two gundams unabated. The two Red Shirts quickly broke apart, and began to fire at Legionnaire Gundam from two sides.
"Ha-ha! Good enough for ya?" Antonio Mussolini mocked as Legionnaire Gundam couldn't completely defend itself.
"Not quite," Geraldo grabbed one of his javelins, and threw it directly at Mussolini's unprepared gundam. The javelin passed directly through, and blew up his gundam's head, causing him to fall to the ground in a heap. Geraldo now placed his attention on his now lone opponent.
Emilio Cavour immediately charged towards Geraldo, unloading his ammo clip on Legionnaire Gundam. Geraldo started his charge towards Emilio with his shield in front of him. "BEAR SHIELD STRIKE!" As Legionnaire Gundam sped towards Red Shirt Gundam, a bear-shaped energy blast emanated from his shield.
"Ahhhh!" Cavour was completely unable to dodge the blast, and his gundam was knocked back to the coliseum wall with a thud.
"Surrender." Geraldo unsheathed his sword and lifted it to the wounded gundam's throat.
"Ok," Emilio panted, "I give up." Emilio Cavour exited his gundam and walked unceremoniously off the battlefield.
"Your turn," Geraldo walked back to his brother's side unscathed.
"You wasted the Bear Shield Strike," Ignatius analyzed his younger brother's performance.
"They were getting annoying," Geraldo defended himself.
"Whatever." Ignatius stepped forward into the center of the coliseum.
Mussolini stepped forward so they stood face to face, "You ready to go down Argento?"
"You don't actually believe that do you?" Ignatius smirked at Giuseppe's comment.
"I'm the returning Gundam Fight Champion. You have no chance."
"You cheated for that title."
"There's no proof of that."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Garibaldi."
"Shut up. I'm tired of you. My people," Giuseppe motioned to the roaring crowd, "are tired of you."
"They're not your people, and they never were."
"Oh yeah?" Garibaldi was getting annoyed with this pest. He jumped back and pointed his fists at Centurion Gundam, revealing Icarus Gundam's wrist flame-throwers, "Take this!"
Centurion Gundam jumped forward through the fire. He drew his short sword and swiftly cut the flame-throwers off Icarus Gundam's wrists.
"What…no, how did you do that?" Garibaldi was taken aback by Ignatius's ease at overcoming his weapon, as he looked down at his broken hands.
"You can't win on your own Garibaldi. Now it's time to show the world."
"No! I'm the greatest!" Mussolini stretched his arms out and Icarus Gundam's wings spread outward behind his broken appendages. "ICARUS METEOR CRASH!" Icarus Gundam's rockets fired up, carrying the gundam high into the air. Mussolini then flipped and fired his boosters, and went into a rapid nosedive.
Ignatius grabbed two javelins and stood ready to counter Garibaldi's attack, as Icarus Gundam screamed down to the battlefield with its gleaming razor-sharp feathers extended towards Centurion Gundam.
Just before Mussolini's attack hit, Ignatius jumped into the air. As Icarus Gundam flew below his feet, Ignatius spun around in midair and drove a javelin through each of his opponent's wings. The projectiles pinned Icarus Gundam to the ground.
Ignatius then walked to the head of Icarus Gundam, "Do you give up?"
"Not for you, you worthless piece of trash!" Garibaldi strained to get up, but was unable to get free.
"As you wish," Centurion Gundam then lifted its right foot and placed it on Icarus Gundam's head. "Good riddance," Ignatius then drove his foot down and crushed the gundam's head.
The entire stadium was completely silent until the announcer chimed in; "Well it seems last years champ has been defeated. Um… uh well, there are two gundams left."
"So, we gonna waste time," Ignatius turned to his younger brother, "or are we gonna do this the easy way."
"Second place is good enough for me."
"Good, I didn't feel like working today." As Geraldo got out of his gundam, Ignatius stood victorious in the center of the battlefield.
"Wow," He leaned back away from his laptop. "Icarus Gundam third in the Neo-Italy Battle Royal. Well, there goes worrying about the defending champ. This years gonna be a real free-for-all. This leaves an opening for me and Maple Gundam to take it all. Yeah...Kel Marchand, Gundam Fight Champion."