So kind of a short chapter, but I have come to realize the next chapter means we are finally in orb if you follow the series, please if you want one more chapter before I drop the action and turn this into a romantic comedy for a couple chapters…well now your time to speak up.
Anyways, enjoy
Dive dive dive!
As everyone was relaxing Noah was in the hangar with a heavy leather jumpsuit on and a pair of goggles. Murdoch had managed to melt part of the tallgeese's shield and had managed to work with Noah and Nicol in order to find a way for Noah to apply it in its melted form the EX-caliber. Since it wasn't much Nicol was now wearing a similar get up while sanding down the cracked in the left arm he had just filled in with the makeshift welding filler. Murdoch was working on melting more down while Noah was using a variety of equipment to round out the jagged edge of his broken blade.
Since he couldn't reproduce the condensed GN particle materiel that once made his blade so deadly he was satisfied with coating his blades "tip" with the melted down metal and rounding it out and shaping it into a blade. While it wasn't perfect, turning it into a short sword was better than leaving it cracked and broken.
He was even happier when the alarms blared. "finally….it was about time." he said as he quickly dropped what he was doing and decided to forgo his flight suit, climbing right into EX-calibers cockpit. Within moments he had a line to the bridge. Murrue opened her mouth to tell him her plan of attack but he quickly beat her too it. "Yes yes, a pair of DINNs. Listen have Nicol and Kira launch and deal with the DINN's. My gundam can move just fine underwater and certainly better than the strike or blitz. And if there are DINNS this far out where do you think they launched from? "he asked as murrue's eyes went wide. She hadn't even gotten to tell him about the DINNs but he was right. This far out them were scouts for a sub…a sub containing aquatic MS.
"Fine, we`ll go with your plan. Just be careful. I assume we won't need any extra equipment to recover your suit?" she asked as Noah made sure Nicol was safely off his shoulder and moved EX-caliber to the catapult. "Yes I'll be fine. Just open the doors and I'll jump out." He said. Sure enough a moment later light filled the launch tunnel and he began to walk his way to the end. He looked down, watching as the water pass under the ship. This was the Indian Ocean…and if he wasn't careful it could be his grave.
"nothing ventured…nothing gained." he said before with a burst of GN particles the GN machine burst out of the tunnel and dived right into the ocean.
Noah looked around as his screen was covered in water. The combat with the DINNS had just begun, he had jumped the gun a bit but it was better to be waiting then…he grit his teeth as his gunpla shook as one of the Goon's rammed him like it had Kira in the show. He looked up and watched it pass overhead. He could just hear them making the same cocky comment as before of nothing beating their aquatic MS underwater.
"mental note, make a custom hy-gogg when I come back…mobile armor level…" he thought as the aquatic MS came around and raised its arms ready for a torpedo barrage. "There's just one thing…particle beams are different from thermal dumbasses." He stated as he raised his right arm and fired a single shot from his GN repeater. The surprised pilot didn't have a chance to move out of the way. The beam connected and he knew that above water the sonar operator would pick up that he had destroyed one of the water bound MS.
He turned to see the second GooHn seemingly trying to decide to attack him or the archangel. The fact he could fire his beams underwater would be a game changer when zaft found out. So to allow him to think that one shot was a fluke he raised his left arm, his rail gun system ready. He had the trap set…now…
The pilot took the bait like it was candy. He boosted forward after the two torpedoes hit EX-caliber, the air in the water from the explosions masking Noah's true intent. As the pilot got closer he tried to pull back. The air bubbles faded and he saw Noah's heat blade were warmed up. After all with no other conductor nearby the electrified blade would cause essentially an EMP for EX-caliber when he tried to charge them up. The torpedoes hitting him made it seem like just that had happened. Instead the aquatic MS soon found its main camera gone and its head impaled.
Like the cancer that caught death scythes head the GooHn fired a few shots at him hoping to take the legendary gundam down with him. But again as the air bubbles cleared the gundam floated there just fine. "Done yet? Good. My turn." stated Noah as he contacted the pilot. As sadistic as it was he wanted to hear this.
A moment later his speakers filled with the screams of the pilot as he charged the rail gun and with it now being attached the the aquatic MS it had a new conductor. The electricity coursed through the amphibious war machine and began to electrocute the pilot in the cockpit. Finally Noah finished him with a shot from the charged railed and boosted up and away. To his surprise he had to admit as he burst from the water, his suit hunched slightly, and Noah could just picture how he looked as one of the DINN's seemed to turn to notice him. Oh what he would have given for sing zero custom or the strike freedoms backpacks. To just flex those wings as the water rose under him from the second GooHn exploding…even he would be terrified.
Just as he was about to move for the flying purple target it was swallowed by a hail of gunfire. As the skygraspers sailed past it though unlike in the anime, as it lost a wing it stayed, looking to Noah with clear intent for the pilot to go down swinging rather than run. After all either way the submarine carrier would know they had failed.
But at the last second it turned and began to fly away, apparently deciding going back with his tail between his legs would be better for him then suicide by Noah. But just as he turned around a green beam pierced the back of his mobile suit and it exploded.
Noah turned around to see the strike already moving inside but the blitz had its right arm raised, the barrel of its trikeros beam rifle smoking. He nodded to his subordinate's decision. "Those who lay eyes on a gundam shall not live to speak of it…maybe we should make that our motto…"he said to himself as he moved to the open launch tunnel and landed, following Nicol inside.
The battle had been quicker than the anime but then again it wasn't just Mu and Kira protecting the archangel anymore. Nicol said had stated they needed more MS to fight zaft…Noah knew his EX-caliber was on a time limit as he could feel it in the way it moved. What little repairs they had made were literally no better than the emergency repair parts he made from his small resin kits back during his original shot at the World Series. The metal was tightening due to the cold water on the still warm metal. He just hoped he could hold out till orb. Wouldn't be long now…
Dive dive dive!
Heine couldn't believe what he was hearing. He and Nina had been attached to the le creuset team in an effort to help them bring down EX-caliber and the legged ship as their suits were the only ones capable of sustained flight. Nina however was overseeing the repairs to her suit. He was still wracking his brain over how the enigmatic machine moved this las round. Not only did he maim both their suits to where he could have stabbed them in the back and ended it when they were running, but he did it so quickly. Then again the battle in general was only about 5 minutes long.
He looked up though when yzak got all pissy over hearing they weren't in charge of the operation.
"But this is our job!? We have unfinished business with them!" he shouted just as the doorbell rang and athrun announced his arrival. The veteran pilot could only smirk as athrun entered. Had EX-caliber not trounced and captured the stealth gat series machine Nicol would have been with him…then again they also would have one less machine to worry about as according to audio records during the combat in orbit Nicol was confirmed as the pilot of the blitz still and having turned traitor. He even tried turning yzak and Dearka! The nerve of the green haired teen.
The blonde commander raised his hand as athrun walked in. "I'm aware of this yzak but it's out of my hands." he stated as Dearka stood up. "No this is just bullshit is what it is!" he exclaimed, throwing his hand back to motion towards Heine. "What about them? I thought they were brought down to earth because their units are the only ones deemed capable of defeating EX-caliber!?" exclaimed Dearka.
At this point rau was beginning to lose his patients with the teens. Athrun and Nicol had always been the more level headed of the four. And with Nicol gone it seemed yzaks hot head was becoming contagious. "Fine…the best I can do is form you all into a team and assign you to a submarine carrier." He stated as he watched athrun seem concerned about his team mate's reactions to the situation. "The team will consist of athrun, yzak, Dearka and…"he had to bite his lip. If Nicol had been here it would be easy to form this team and just have Heine and Nina attached to them like they already were. Then he remembered the latest prototype machine had been brought to earth like Nina and Heine as an attempt to throw zafts best weapons at the mystery sword wielder. Plus yzak would enjoy this one.
"And shiiho hahnenfuss." He stated which obviously got a reaction from yzak "WHAT! HER!? WHEN DID…" he yelled and physically lifted his chair, throwing it against the wall purely due to his rage forcing him to take physical action. "WHEN DID SHE COME TO EARTH?" he yelled as he heard the name. As they spoke the brunette in question was looking over her prototype CGUE DEEP arms. While not designed in any way to specifically combat EX-caliber, the DEEP arms heavy beam cannons were believed to be a good way to keep the mystery machine back and she had originally been intended to be assigned to the base. She had no idea she would be being assigned to a team or let alone to a team…that her boyfriend was a part of.
While having to keep from cringing at the sudden outburst of rage rau kept his calm and collected demeanor. "She should be in the hangar now, ensuring her machine is properly stowed away. She was supposed to be assigned to the base as a counter measure for EX-caliber with a prototype CGUE named the CGUE DEEP arms. Most of its technology is based on what your team recovered from the gat series. But to keep her sequestered here at the base would be quite the same don't you agree?" he asked with a smirk as yzak blushed.
"Yes sir…she is quite the accomplished pilot after all." Stated the silver haired coordinator.
"Very well. Then the team is decided. And the leader shall be…athrun. Go get some rest and pack up, I'll see too it she is informed of this change in plans. "He stated before grabbing his things and leaving in silence.
"Great…now were the zala team. And we have her on our team…"complained Dearka. First Nina sees right through him back in Africa, now they had yzaks girlfriend to deal with. This would be fun.
Dive dive dive!
Meanwhile on the archangel Kira was tending to flay. Shortly after they had gotten over the water she had found herself feeling ill. While Noah had come to check on her and seemed almost amused, Kira was having a small panic attack every time he evaluated her symptoms. It was mostly just a fever and nausea…but it kept creeping up in his mind about how many times they had rolled around under his sheets. He had just finally begun to adjust to piloting the strike to protect his friends, thinking flay could be…well…he didn't wanna think about that. After all sai was likely pissed at him already after he got off with flays father…but to think he could have done that….
As he laid a fresh cold towel on flays forehead he looked down at her. She did look pretty sick but he had to admit part of this felt like it was pure acting. Ever since she found him and Nicol and cagalli talking she seemed to want him near her more and more often. Was she actually wanting him? Was she jealous of cagalli for some reason?
Why does it feel like the ship is rocking so much?" asked flay as her eyes slowly opened to the feel of the cold towel. Kira had to chuckle at that. "Considering we aren't actually riding on the water and this is original a space oriented battleship I doubt the ship is actually rocking." he said as she smiled up at him.
"Thank you Kira. I don't know why I'm so sick. But I guess it is my first time over the ocean…who knew sea sickness could make someone feel so horrible." she stated as she closed her eyes again. Right as Kira was about to finally voice his fears the alarms began to blare and miriallia came over the intercom instructing everyone to go to level two battle stations.
"Another attack already? Oh god that's really gonna make the ship rock. Go…go fight. I`m gonna stay here and try to keep my lunch down." Said flay as she covered herself with her blanket and waved Kira off.
He raised an eyebrow to that but didn't argue with it as he got up and ran towards the hangar.
Not known to him flay uncovered herself and sighed. She was still having those déjà vu moments, they were even in her dreams. While she hated this feeling in her gut of wanting Kira to fight till he died…she had to admit mirroring the tactics she used in that "universe" as Noah described it made her feel a bit better as with sai gone she didn't have someone hovering over her and making sure her every need was met anymore. Acting like this though she had Kira wrapped around her finger and so he made sure she was ok. And…while feeling guilty about this more than anything. She may have overplayed the nausea to where she could see Kira was, naturally as a teen boy, fretting over having potentially impregnated her. She herself had no such worries. While she did have some light nausea it was mostly due in fact to the fact she did have some sea sickness, still she did not know how but the moment she got a whiff of the salty air of the sea she had begun to feel sick.
Still though she sat up and closed her eyes, saying a small prayer for Kira and the other pilots rather than wishing Kira's potential demise while protecting them. She then uncovered herself and stood up, taking a moment to balance herself. She needed food…that was for sure and so she fought her urge to run to the restroom and lose what little she had eaten and made her way to the mess hall.
Dive dive dive!
Noah braced himself as his machine once again jumped into the water. 3 hours…that was how long he had had to make more repid repairs, most of which was re-repairing the damage the GooHns had re-opened.
Preparing his GN sword three he began to try and find his targets. It was only underwater suits this time. Smart. He looked to his left and saw Kira's sword strike land near him. While risky to bring the suit underwater, Kira was not carrying the anti-ship sword this time. It was still stowed on his back. Instead a moment later he ignited the GN beam saber in his hands. Noah had to admit the beam saber certainly didn't look bad in the strikes hands.
Finally Noah's new sonar program he wrote up found their targets. Three aquatic MS. Two GooHns…and the ZnO. The weird fish and the gogg wanna-be. He really wished he had a HY-GOGG right now. The look of that machine…it was meant to be menacing. Instead it made him want to smack it out of the water then shoot it.
As he and Kira readied themselves for the trio Noah had to blink as something crashed down onto of a GooHn. It seemed even the other two suits were surprised until the blitz faded into view with its new retractable lancer dart in hand. It pierced the fish like MS before boosting off it. Now it was 3 on two. Why had Noah not thought of bringing Nicol down here? Oh right…he kept forgetting it had the only weapon amongst the gat series that could truly work underwater.
The other two aquatic MS picked their targets and moved on. The ZnO rushed after Noah but he was ready. He wanted to show this pilot that his machine was entirely outclassed…again he just wished he had the silly arms to do it with.
He ejected his shield and GN sword three and held up both arms as the machine rushed him. The pilot seemed to think Noah was asking for his own death as it picked up its speed. Finally it his Noah…well sort of. Catching it with his hands Noah was pushed back slightly but as he pushed his GN drive he forced the aquatic MS to the side and boosted up before kicking it in the gut.
The machine transformed into its MS mode and took a swipe at him with its claws but Noah easily maneuvered out of the way, once again as the giant claws swung at him again. He boosted back as the machine seemed irritated that it couldn't catch him. He smirked as the MS fired torpedoes at him. He was quick to dodge them. At this point he was toying with the pilot. His gunpla was 10 times more agile, even in water then the "menacing" ZnO. It came with using a GN drive.
Finally the pilot transformed the machine back into its cruise mode and tried ramming him again. Once more Noah moved to catch him. This time though the ZnO transformed right in front of him though and immediately fired everything it had, all its remaining torpedoes and the two cannons in its hands. Noah was quick to dodge each one, the trails behind them making it easy for his gundam to give him a path to follow. Once all danger had passed Noah could see the pilot was ready to blow a gasket. It was time to end things. He boosted forward before his opponent could react and activated the beam saber portion of his wrist mounted beam emitters.
He brought his arms up in an X formation and swiftly brought them back down, cutting the ZnO into four pieces. He quickly boosted back and watched it explode with satisfaction. "Serves zaft right…Zeon came first bitches…"he said. He wasn't a hug ZEON fan but he had to admit until seed destiny when they blatantly copied the original gundam series designs, zafts attempts at making their own machines were a joking comparison to Zeon mobile suits. With the GINN and its line of follow up machines being their most original.
"Now then…that GooHn…"he said as he spun around to see that the strike and blitz were surfacing. He figured their fight wouldn't take too long. After all two on one…even underwater the GooHn didn't stand too much of a chance.
It was then the fateful call came out. "Noah we have a problem…"stated mu as he called Noah. "What's wrong? "Asked Noah. He knew the answer. Cagalli had been shot down/gone missing and Noah's machine was the only one capable of sustained flight aside from skygraspers one.
"That girl has gone missing. We took out the sub but not before it launched a DINN. I already handled it but it took out her navigation. I`ve tried radioing her but I can't get ahold of her. I`m sending you the location where I shot down the DINN. Might be a good starting point." Said MU and sure enough a moment later Noah got the coordinates. His big dilemma now was how important was athrun and the aegis to the story…or should he just rescue cagalli.
Either way he needed to decide, and fast. "I'll go look for them. But the closer it gets to night the bigger a beacon my GN particles will be even in the water. Also I can't submerge my drive like this for too long so I'll start by searching nearby islands while my GN drive dries out." he said as his machine landed where he left his shield and GN sword 3. He bent down on one knee and lifted his shield up, quickly securing it on his left arm before checking it was back in his arsenal. Oddly enough a few flexes of his gunplas hand and everything came back online.
He then scooped his right arm into the forearm grip and grabbed the pistol handle within. Again he moved the arm a bit and it seemed to reconnect. He stood EX-caliber up and again pondered how to go about this. With his knowledge of the show he'd find her easily and before zaft could find athrun and the aegis. But with just him how was he supposed to keep athrun from hopping into the aegis and attempting to fight him?
Could he kill athrun? He was pretty important to the show…but could they repair the aegis? If he dismembered it could they repair it? And what would come of their stop in orb? They were still a few days out and even then he still had to fight Kira so they could get the justice and freedom…which meant someone had to die to send athrun into a frenzy…then Tolle had to die to send Kira into a frenzy and convince Dearka to go after miriallia…
This rescue mission held a lot of the main plot of gundam seed in the balance…he would have to tread lightly here lest he break the show too much and certain events not occur.
Dive dive dive!
It had been a few hours since his can apparently this blonde natural's crash landing on the small island. After a rather adventurous first encounter he had to admit there was something about the girl that amused he...intrigued him even. And after discussing with her the events that really brought the war to a full boil he wanted nothing more than to get to know her. But when she had started talking about the fact she was untied and could go for his gun he felt guilty.
"Please don't go for my gun…if you do…I'll have to kill you." he stated as he looked down into his lap. The N-jammers were causing too much interference so neither of them could reach anyone on the radio.
Finally he stood back up, feeling himself start to get tired and doze off. Grabbing his mug of instant brew coffee he took a sip of it and stepped out to look up at the aegis. Ever since he had stolen it from Heliopolis he had had quite the ride in it. First he found Kira and was saddened to learn he was now the pilot of the last gat series machine they failed to steal. Then EX-calibers amazing entrance to the war…and its capture of Nicol and the blitz. And now he had two friends using gat series prototypes as enemies. Though any time he spoke with Nicol on the battlefield he kept trying to get them to join him…it made him wonder how he sounded to Kira. the green haired coordinator claimed he had joined celestial being, not the earth alliance, and he had done so because they saw both zaft and the earth alliance as their enemies and were trying to end this war and not only that but end war in general.
It was a noble ideal for sure but…
Right as he went to take another swig from his coffee he noticed a green glow in the distance and his eyes went wide. He had never thought that the girl's plane may have come from the archangel.
He dropped his mug and ran back into the cave. "Hey girl…you wouldn't happen to have launched from the legged ship would you? "He asked but then he realized she may not know zaft called it that. "The earth alliances new prototype battleship. "He clarified. He hoped to god she said no and he was just seeing things, missing the flashing of another fighter or something.
"Yeah…and what if I did?" she asked. She then saw the look on his face and shot to her feet. "No way…is Noah here?" she said with a smile.
Athrun groaned. "please, I don't want to have to take you hostage…if I move my machine before he can show up can you please not say anything about me being here?" he asked as he grabbed his emergency pack. The last thing he needed was for EX-caliber to show up with him here alone.
The girl raised her eyebrow and finally extended her hand. "Tell me your name first. "She said and athrun blinked. He was confused. Did she want a hand shake? "Um…fine…my names athrun. "He said, taking her hand in his and she slowly shook it.
"Cagalli…now go…it's the least I can do to repay you for your good treatment of Me." she stated as she walked out of the cave. The ground slowly shook though as it was too late. EX-caliber was standing not too far from them.
Athrun ran out and groaned. Take the girl hostage…or take his chances in the aegis? He couldn't perform sustained flight in it and he couldn't take on the gundam alone.
Surrender then? That was an option…maybe he could talk Nicol into coming back with him.
His choice was made for him when the gundam knelt down on one knee and set its hand on the ground. "Athrun zala!" called out Noah from within the cockpit.
The purple haired boy audibly gulped. The pilot knew his name…no doubt from Nicol. "are you going to offer terms of surrender or are you as blood thirsty as the rumor claim you`ve become?" called out athrun, putting his hands up as he had no chance to run at this point. It was plain and simple, either he surrender or he die. He wasn't ready to die just yet.
"Put your hands down moron!" yelled Noah as the cockpit opened and he stepped out onto the platform. "I'm only here for the girl. As much as Nicol wants me to authorize the capture of you and your teammates this is no way to do that. As far as I'm concerned…you were never here. But remember that! I spared your sorry ass understood!?" called out Noah as cagalli grabbed her clothing and ran towards the black and red machine.
Athrun slowly put his hands down. Was this pilot for real? He had a perfect chance to capture himself and the aegis…and he'd throw it away for the girl. Or…was it…it sounded like he was a man of honor and felt to capture him like this was…unsporting? Was that what this was? He sweat dropped. He was being given mercy on the grounds it was unsporting to capture him like this.
He watched as cagalli…that was her name…cagalli climbed onto the hand of EX-caliber and Noah get back into his cockpit. The hand bringing her up to the cockpit and letting her in. a moment later the gundam lifted off, athrun listening to the hum of the drive on its back as it spun up, providing more power to allow the machine to fly away.
He had to admit being in its presence…even as beaten as it was…it was like being in the presence of a god. To call their organization celestial being…it was very fitting. But now with no one else to worry about he headed back into the cave, deciding to extinguish his fire and pack up his things completely. Sleeping by the fireside was nice…but the aegis's cockpit was better than sleeping on the ground.
Dive dive dive!
Ok so a shorter chapter but I hope you enjoyed it none the less. I realize I'm doing more and more scenes from Noah's point of view or if I do someone else I skip typing a lot of dialogue…i`ve found if I type all that dialogue I end up shot gunning that episode at you. I also realize I'm turning EX-caliber into a bit of a Mary-sue beats everyone even to the point of ditching his weapons for some-what of a challenge but you have to understand where we are…WE HAVE FINALLY REACHED ORB! Yes folks finally…3-4 chapters from now you will finally get to see…well read the beautiful battle I have planned that will end kira,noah,and athrun…well as far as the archangels crew knows it ends them….except Tolle…I'm gonna wrap all that up in one fight.
Also for those of you that don't know who shiho is look her up, she's often used as a love interest for yzak as she is proven to have feeling for him…though it is never shown if he feels the same way…yeah….imma spoil this now…Nicol isn't gonna die guys, the blitz will still be damaged but also athruns seed mode will be activated by a different persons death which triggers another-persons supposed demise. Anyways just trust me, you`ll all love it...or you won't…anyways I'm just happy.
The next 2-3 chapters will all be in orb and be closer to a romantic comedy then they will be gundam. But I will be devoting two chapters to romance purely between two different couples aboard the archangel. I will not be writing the fight that brings the archangel to orb, I will have them reflect on it though.
Therefore they will be shorter than normal but I also want to say this one more time, because I've had a couple people insist, INSIST that I'm shipping flay and Kira….or flay and Noah….
FUCK THAT SHIT! I hate flay, I hate how she toys with Kira then finally in the end she tries to redeem herself by helping natarle with azreal, which I also have a plan to rescue her you guys will love. But she will survive this fic. Sadly I'm taking a lot from operationmeteor's story "gundam wing: journey to a new battlefield" I have not asked their permission but I'm also not outright copying like I did chapter one from nemesis astrea.
Btw gundamexia247 if you are still reading this you just about hit the nail on the head. I`ll reveal more after I bring Noah back, but the zero system is evolving and Noah doesn't realize it but part of the reason the paladin gundam is the only custom suit to make its appearance is the zero system tapped into his GP-base and has made its own connections to the gunpla battle arena system, which in turn with EX-caliber finally taking damage, the model now does as well.
Anyways so with that being said you have won that little contest…feel free to message me if you are still reading the fic with your custom gunpla idea, otherwise a friend on Facebook actually made a cool tallgeese sinanju stein cross I intend to bring in. but I figure I'll give you a fair shot first.
Lol ok long enough authors note, read and review, please…review…seriously…I feel like this story is a ghost town.