Chapter two: Nise frame: Nicholas

The Knight of Winter Vs. Akatsuki!


Minutes before Akatsuki showed up


"Well okay you can go Akatsuki, the wings and boosters should be enough to move it around." Dangi said with a mischievous grin.

"Thanks you, Mr. Dangi." Akatsuki said as he bowed.

"No need with the formalities, the unit hasn't been properly tested so if it a failure it'll be a good test run- well if we live long enough to send the data back to headquarters."

Akatsuki quickly went to change into a pilot suit, he equipped the head gear and headphones. They weren't the most comfortable things to wear, but they would help his chance at survival. Dangi opened the hatch to Amatsu for Akatsuki before telling him a few things.

"Be careful, this is a brand new unit that hasn't been properly tested, but from what I hear your pretty skilled. With no lower half you'll have to rely purely on the wings on the back, fuel might burn out faster then normal." Dangi stated.

"Okay, any gimmicks I need to know before hand? It might trip me up if something randomly happens without my knowing." Akatsuki said while strapping himself in.

"Yeah there's this energy shield system in the unit, basically a shield gonna appear if the unit senses danger incoming. Pretty handy right? Meaning you won't need to carry a shield. But it ain't perfect as it was recently developed." Dangi said before taking a bite out of a donut. "Listen mmm, it's pretty fast mmm meaning you'll need to pay attention, the pistols got limited mmm ammo so be careful about that mmm to." Dangi finished as he chewed on the donut.

"It's fine, shouldn't be that different from a X-01."

"Mmm!Mmm! Mmmm!" Dangi was trying to say something but it was covered up by the donut in his mouth, but it sounded as if he offended by the comparison.

"Akatsuki Mixta Bernstein, Gundam type-X: Amatsu, going out!" Akatsuki stated as the hatch for the mobile suit closed. It took a second but the thrusters started up making Amatsu hover before it went into space to fight.


The blacks wings of Amatsu unfolded as it reached out to the left and right. The thrusters began charging up as Akatsuki put a lock-on the unit with the railgun. The two pistols in the units hands seemed to have fully locked on making it a guaranteed shot. Aiming systems in mobile suits have truly advanced in the past years, whether or not that's a good thing is debatable. It's good it's more accurate but it's bad because there's a better chance at you getting hit.

Akatsuki personally didn't care, if he got hit he could handle it. Dying on the other hand was a completely different, it's not like he was afraid of it but he was just worried about his mother and Kudelia.

*Swoosh*

In a blink on an eye, what seemed to be in an instant the gundam moved right infront of the railgun mobile suit.

"It's fast!" Emily thought as this unidentified mobile suit appeared infront of her.

*Boom*

Akatsuki quickly fired at the railgun mobile suit, a direct shot in the face of the mobile suit causing her to move backwards into the void of space.

"Ms. Wils-" The soldier was cut off from Akatsuki changing targets and attacking him.

"Looks like she won't be a 'Mrs' I'll tell you that." Akatsuki stated.

He then quickly made Amatsu use the blades on the barrel of each gun to attack the others. Swiftly and skillfully he took them all out with a single slash! He could've shot them, but that would just be a waste of ammo.

"Looks like Sho and Mr. Dangi weren't over exaggerating this thing... No, Amatsu is truly like no other suit I've piloted..." Akatsuki said aloud. "Well then Amatsu show me more of your power." He continued.

A single man can change the tide of war is just an exaggeration to most. But here in this moment it was not any 'exaggeration' but reality, Akatsuki skillfully dodged every attack and took multiple of the soldiers out.

"Dammit our men are getting slaughtered! And Ms. Wilson... is she truly- no, I can't think like that! Someone contact the ship and get the Knight of-"

*Bang*

A quick shot to the body from Amatsu and the soldier's yell to his colleagues was deafened.

"Shut up, I hate loud people... hey you." Akatsuki said while pointing with Amatsu at one of the few 10 surviving soldiers of Valorclaw.

"Y-yes?" He responded quickly, the fear in his voice was very much noticeable.

"I don't feel right about leaving anyone of you alive, you did kill many of comrades... so I won't, but if you tell me about this 'Knight' that loud guy was talking about, I'll give you ten seconds." Akatsuki knew getting information about the enemy was crucial so instead of just wasting everyone, it be best to get some info.

"Uh- well-" the soldier was cut off as one spoke in his stead.

"No! Don't speak, don't you dare leak information about one our one to the enemy; especially when it's one of the Knights! Doing so about 'them' is practically the same as betraying her majesty! And as for you, don't think for a second you've won this fight as-"

*Thwip*

All of five of Amatsu's fingers on his right hand detached only leaving a single thread on each finger to connect it to the main unit, the fingers were being purpled by a tiny booster on each one. The fingers were sharp and were able to pierce the outspoken soldier's unit like nothing and effectively dispatching him.

"I told you guys didn't I? I don't particularly like loud people and interruptions are just rude." Akatsuki said, he lied to himself at that moment. He interrupted many people in this fight alone by killing them before they could finish talking, I mean he just did it.

"So, are you gonna tell me or are you gonna die faster?" Akatsuki said in a cold tone.

He might not show it often but he cares a lot about his comrades, he's not really close to any of them and Leon is friends with everyone so he never thought it really counted. But still he fought with these men and women, there blood shed meant something to him.

"No, if your gonna kill me anyway... I'd rather die with some pride! I won't sell out my comrades!" The soldier yelled.

The answer shocked Akatsuki as originally he thought the soldier was a cowardly fool who would do it in a heartbeat. But nevertheless he aimed his right hand at the soldier's mobile suit reading to fire the claws like he did the other.

"Fine." Akatsuki said simply before pressing the button that fired the claws.

*Crash*

Akatsuki's eyes widen a bit.

A mobile suit that looked like no other he had seen before appeared and had caught the detached claws before they had hit his target.

It was a sharp-edged mobile suit with round parts almost being nonexistent except for joints. A primarily white mobile suit with blue accents and red eyes. On the shoulders and thighs were the symbol of Valorclaw, a blue dragon with four claws showing. The gundam had a white shield on left arm and white wings glowing blue with a giant axe on the back.

"Even when faced with death you still chose to stay quiet, you've earned my respect. Are you alright? What's your name?" The white mobile suit said to the soldier behind him.

"I'm fine sir! And I-it's Issac sir!" The soldier now Issac said quickly.

"No surname?"

"N-no, I'm from the rural area-" Issac was cut off by Akatsuki.

"Shut up, this is a battle field not show and tell." Akatsuki stated before retracting Amatsu's claws back to his hand.

"Didn't you say you hated people who interrupted? Quite hypocritical if you ask-" The white mobile suit was interrupted by Akatsuki when he suddenly appeared in front of it attacking with the blade on the pistol.

*Ssh*

*Clank*

The white mobile suit defended using its shield, but even still Akatsuki push onward keeping up the pressure. But the two were on a standstill.

"Again with the hypocrisy? You are a rude one! I am the Knight of Winter of Valorclaw! One of the chosen four of the knight of the four seasons!" The Knight of winter proclaimed.

"Like I said this isn't show and tell, I could care less who you are." Akatsuki grunted.

"Crushing you is going to be the easy part! Alright, Nicholas let's bring down this hypocritical Gjallarhorn fool!"

"You sure like talking, you should be a motivational speaker or dead!"

The two of them backed off from eachother before immediately readying there mobile suits for another clash.

"Alright men! Retreat back to the ship and stay there till further orders, but one of you go down and get Emily's mobile suit. Its faint but her heart beat is still there!" The Knight of Winter said on a private network.

"Leon, tell everyone to head back. I can handle this, or atleast stall until you all leave. I don't think he'll let you get close enough to fire the mini-dainsleif." Akatsuki said on a private network.

"But you said the legs aren't working? I'll back you up and-" Leon was cut off by Akatsuki.

"I'll be fine, you saw me right? Even without the legs, the wings should be enough to move around it's not like we're on solid ground..."

"That Knight of Winter was right, your rude and a hypocrite... All right men fall back! Leave this to Akatsuki! There's no need for more bloodshed!"

Akatsuki focused his attention back at his opponent. He knew at first glance it was gonna be tough, catching his claw attack at the speed it was going couldn't have been done by a normal person.

"Looks like this 'Knight' isn't all talk... I should still be good with ammo. But, I don't think the rounds in this gun can penetrate that armor. I guess I gotta keep up the pressure and attack!" Akatsuki thought as he put the pistols back on the waist and switched them for the giant sword on his back.

It was grey single edged sword with a single red power logo on the blade. From the size alone he knew it could do some damage.

Amatsu moves foward on the assault doing a downward slash on Nicholas. Nicholas quickly grabs the giant axe from it back to defend with, yet again a standstill is met between the two!

"Seems like are mobile suits performance are about the same" The Knight of Winter thought.

A back and forth between the two goes on for a minute, with neither giving up.

"Gjallarhorn scum, I'll admit your good maybe as good as 'him'." The Knight of Winter thought as both mobile suit's fist clash with each others face, causing both to be on their backs, being lifted by their wings and boosters.

"Damnit! The energy shield should've turned on. That metal fist literally punched Amatsu right in the face. I guess I can't complain, he did warn me it wasn't perfect." Akatsuki scowled as blood trickled down his face.

"Wait a minute, that mobile suits legs... they aren't working! He would've recovered at the same time as me if they did. But also just look at them their flailing around." The Knight of Winter smiled as he noticed the fact, as an idea came to his mind.

"Oh, Noel what would mother think? To do such a conniving move? But in war it really doesn't matter." The Knight of Winter or Noel thought.

Nicholas rushed towards Amatsu and ducked down when the latter tried to swing at him. It immediately grabbed the right leg and began swinging it around.

"You can't kick me and the legs boosters definitely don't work." Nicholas raised his left arm(the arm not holding onto and swinging Amatsu) and aimed at the black and white mobile suit, he immediately started firing at the machine.

"Arm guns? I'm running low on fuel, if I try to escape with my wings I'll be left for dead. What do I do-" Akatsuki train of thought was cut off as Mr. Dangi's voice suddenly spoke from his headset.

"Hey, so I can't help but notice that your losing... that machine is pretty expensive so I can't have you trash it on day one." Mr. Dangi said.

"I'm not trying to lose, but I'm running low on fuel-" once again he was cut off.

"Well that's your fault for doing flash step that many times."

"What's flash st-"

Akatsuki was getting annoyed about how many times he had gotten cut off.

"Y'know that move when you go like 'swoosh' and 'zoom' and suddenly appear in front of the enemy? That's basically it, named it after a move in an anime I watch-"

"I don't fucking care! If this is what our conversation is about you can discon-"

"Teens these days are so rude! Anyhow that's not what I wanted to talk about, anyway it's the shield system that I wanted to discuss. From what I'm seeing it only worked once. Machines can be so unreliable, right?"

"It's your job to make them reliable!" Akatsuki thought.

"But you see if it's not working you can use it manually too, just push the red button on the right side. A keyboard should appear and then you do the rest. Bye now." The comm was quickly cut off.

Akatsuki did as instructed, but suddenly realized how complicated it was going to be to manually use the shield.

"Why is there so many buttons! I don't have time to figure it out, time for my original plan!" Akatsuki said pissed off because how that whole conversation was basically a waste of time.

He quickly pointed the left manipulator at Nicholas preparing for a Claw attack.

The claws of Amatsu disconnected and pierced the left shoulder of Nicholas stopping the onslaught. He then pulled back his own arm severing the connection the claws had with shoulder, showing how deep the wound was.

Bits of oil was leaking from the machine and with how deep it appeared to be, Akatsuki smiled knowing the knight would be unable to use that arm.

"Damn the left arm, It's my own fault, I was getting cocky, well that won't happen again!" Noel thought, he clenched his teeth together in frustration. The fight was dragging on and needed to be finished soon.

"He won't let go... this guy is way to persistent!" Akatsuki thought.

With the claws still being disconnected from Amatsu, Akatsuki used them to stab into the right arm of Nicholas. Stabbing the machine forearm forced the Knight of winter to let go.

He quickly reeled in the claws by the thread back into the hand.

"I gotta finish this... but I'm running dangerously low on fuel, if only I... was like him... it'd probably be over by now" Akatsuki thought.

He had seen footage of his father in action many times via gjallarhorn. A merciless fighter on the battle field who used minimal movement to dodge attacks, he was like an animal, like a wolf. His reflex's were like none he had ever scene and his spacial awareness and overall ability was only increased by the Alaya-Vijnana system.

He understood why people called him the 'devil of tekkadan'.

"This suit is based off 'his' unit and a couple others... so why? Why can't I beat this guy?!" Akatsuki growled, he was frustrated and angry at how long this fight was going on for.

Akatsuki began saying a few profanities under his breath, mainly 'damnit' and 'fuck'.

His eyes wandered around the cockpit for no apparent reason before they landed onto his left arm.

His anger soon dissipated as he saw his most prized possession, the three bracelets on his left arm. One was black while the other two were red and white. They had belonged to his mother and Kudelia, with the black one being a replica of his fathers.

It always made him feel calm when he angry or sad, it made feel like his mother and Kudelia were by his side just by the sight of it.

"Sigh, I'm almost out of fuel when that's happens I'll probably be dead... I can't lose hope, not in this situation. Even if I don't have fuel, I need to keep fighting... somehow."

"My Nise frame: Nicholas, should be equivalent or better than a Gundam frame... even if it were equal the Ahab reactor-P should give me the edge." Noel was breathing heavily, Noel was getting tired and with the state his mobile suit was in, he couldn't do much.

Suddenly a voice speaks on Noel's comms.

"Sir, maybe we should retreat back to the main ship, the queen is waiting for us as the meeting is a week away." Noel's subordinate had a worried tone most likely worried about the state his superior was in.

"Your right, they are near Jupiter, right? It'll take us about a week... I thought this was gonna be a pit stop, just a quick decimation on Gjallarhorn then we could go right back to the main ship... how foolish of me." Noel proceeded to laugh a bit before coughing.

"Are you alright sir? Someone go out there and ge-" Tge subordinate was cut off by Noel.

"It's fine I should be able to pilot my way back, just fire a retreat flair to notify the enemy... If this boy has any respect, he'll listen... but also something tell me he's in the same position as me."

"Valorclaw's first ever defeat? I truly am weak, or maybe your just strong... it doesn't matter, I'll... make sure he pays for this affront on her majesty!" Noel thought as he clenched his teeth together, giving a death stare to Amatsu.

In a minute or do a green puff is smoke appeared infront of the Valorclaw ships. Just before Noel was about to leave for the ship he decided he wanted to know the name of the person who would caused the first defeat of Valorclaw.

"You, what is your name?" Noel asked.

Akatsuki was taken back by the question, but also the single for retreat. He knew he couldn't let them go, but with little fuel he had left it would be a wasted effort.

"I don't owe you a answer." Akatsuki answered simply, in a somewhat mocking tone.

"Then at the least, tell me the name of your mobile suit... I wish to know the name of one who def-"

"I didn't defeat you, your retreating because your too damaged to fight."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"No it isn't, it isn't a victory... victory would be completely annihilating you and all your comrades, otherwise you would just get in the way later."

"Heh, your right, but if you believe that, why don't you finish me off? I'm not attacking you and I'm leaving myself wide open."

"I'm basically out of fuel to propel myself, and I don't think a shot with this gun would finish you off."

"Your a pretty honest guy."

"Not really, there is just no point in lying right now."

"Hmm, your right there is no point in lying..."

Noel thinking he wouldn't get an answer turned around and proceeded to head towards the ship.

"Amatsu." Akatsuki muttered simply before using what little fuel he had left to get closer to his ship.

Noel assumed the thing he had muttered was the name of the machine as it was the last question he had uttered. He didn't respond back to Akatsuki, he simply smiled and went on his merry way.

"Hmph, it seems like I found one... what's it called, oh yes a 'rival'." Noel thought.

In truth that's what he's been looking for a 'rival'. Someone who could push him to his limit so he could obtain a power stronger than before. This battle was proof of this, both weren't satisfied with the results and knew they had to be stronger next time.


The Gjallarhorn crew on board the ship was currently having a party in celebration of their 'victory'. They said was also to congratulate Akatsuki for saving them, but he knew better. They just wanted a excuse to drink, he remembered Kudelia talking about a dark skinned man who did this a few times.

It really didn't matter to him, he was more distracted with his sulking about his 'victory'.

He stared into the vastness of space, he could see the silhouette of earth, it would take about three days before they'd get there. It would be Akatsuki's first time on earth, he'd was a bit excited seeing a new place.

But in his heart he missed Mars, he missed his mom, Kudelia, Cooke and Cracker, the farm he grew up on, heck even his mothers colleagues or rather the former members of Tekkadan.

Akatsuki wasn't exceptionally close to them, he knew their names and that they were friends with his dad, but that's about it. He never really tried to force a relationship into reality he just went with flow. Honestly maybe that's why he didn't have any friends his age or a girlfriend.

His mom teased him about the latter more often than not. Kudelia wouldn't butt in and stop her she just smiled as they bickered.

"Not my fault there isn't any girls who are my type around here." He thought.

"Hey, Akatsuki! What the man of the hour doing all by himself? Cmon let's go back!" Leon said as he walked towards him.

"You guys are celebrating when their is nothing to celebrate about, we didn't win... they just retreated."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"No it isn't and never will be, they'll just get in the way again and it'll be my fault if someone... dies."

"Sigh, your probably right... but we need high moral, we need to make sure everyone believes in themselves enough to keep fighting. I know this was just an excuse to get drunk, but as long as everyone's happy we can keep going!"

"'Everyone's happy'? More than half of us died out there. There is no point in looking at positives, it just blinds us from reality... see ya." Akatsuki stated bluntly as he walked away from Leon.

Leon frowned, he hasn't known Akatsuki for particularly that long but he considered him a friend. He knew he gets like this; depressive and self deprecating. But Leon knew well that change wouldn't just happen with Akatsuki, he was a tough nut to crack.

Leon sighed once before going back to the party, he'll need to have a talk with Akatsuki, but with how things are now he knew nothing would get to him. It was best to leave him alone for now until the right moment.


End of Chapter 2


Next time; Chapter 3: it was you?