Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam
Little Christmas gift guys.
Gundam Seed Purpose Renew
Chapter 17: Stars falling in space
"Thank you for protecting us!"
"If I can make a difference, shouldn't I?"
"Don't be so arrogant, one person can't make a difference, there's more to this war than just you fighting!"
"Everyone is fighting, even though I was the first to say that I would stay, that's why I..."
"I can't fight by your side, but my feelings will protect you!"
Kira opened his eyes as the Archangel's hatch was opened. He gripped the controls tightly, taking a deep breath. Then he flew, the Strike Aile sliding across the catapult. The Aile's wings spread out and the Strike's white and blue phase shift armour blazed over its previous grey form. Kira then pushed the Strike forward, straight into the fight.
Back into the fight, for love? Nah, I don't think he's that shallow, or stupid for that matter. Who the hell gets into a fight for love for a single person? There are many reasons to fight I suppose, profit for one.
Zack swung his sabre at the Astray, gritting his teeth together in frustration. The Blue Frame swerved back, drawing both its beam sabres. It crossed the blades together, catching Zack's thrust. Ejecting his second beam sabre, Zack caught the handle and ignited it, swinging it at the Blue Frame's chest. But his opponent span to the left and swung its own sabre. Zack moved at just the right moment, the Wild Arm's shoulder taking a cut.
'His movements, I can see them, just barely but I can see them,' Zack thought, breathing heavily.
Inside the Blue Frame however, seasoned fighter Gai Murakamo was maintaining his cool. Despite the fact that his machine was low on power. He deactivated one of the Astray's beam sabres and prepared himself. A sound rang out through Zack's head, like the chime of a bell, drawing his attention away from the Blue Frame.
"The Strike, that guy," he muttered.
The Wild Arms spread its wings and flew away from the Blue Frame. Gai deactivated his weapons and began flying away from the battle, he'd only been paid to buy a little time after all.
Survival for a lot of soldiers, once they're in the fight.
"Focus fire on the Duel and the Buster, keep them off of us," Halberton commanded.
"We're running out of weapons, the Massacre's bombardments have damaged us," one of the CIC members said.
"Don't you dare give up Halberton," Canard said.
He fired his cannons at the Massacre, the Gundam swinging its tail around and circling the Hyperion. It crashed its beam sabre down on the Hyperion's wrist shield. Canard pushed Kyusai back and fired his machine gun, forcing the Gundam to use its own arm as a shield. Bits of the suit's armour scraped off of it and Kyusai brought up alternative weapons. He fired his Vulcans, hitting Hyperion's gun. It sparked and Canard cursed, a delay occurring in the weapon's firing time. Canard ignited his beam dagger again, but the Massacre kicked the Hyperion across the head.
"Damn it!" Canard cursed.
He engaged the Umbrella, surrounding himself with the barrier.
"You're still limited though to how many times you can use it," Kyusai said.
The Massacre fired its hip cannon, the Buster linked its guns together and fired alongside its missiles, and the Duel released a volley of missiles and rail gun fire. Canard grit his teeth together, watching his battery metre drain.
"Hyperion!" Halberton gasped.
"I won't die, not here, not until I've..." images of Kira flashed before his eyes.
Vincent was flying the Proto-Dagger at its top speed, the machine's armour shaking as it slammed its sword into the Aegis's sabres. The Blitz came around, sabre at the ready, Vincent dived at the last moment. Part of the mobile armour was hit though, and Vincent felt the suit shake. He swung the sword around, knocking the Aegis back. Athrun however quickly recovered and slashed through the tip of Vincent's sword. Vincent yelled, swinging the Proto-Dagger around, he slammed his left engine into the side of the Aegis's head. Athrun widened his eyes in shock, his damage indicator telling him that part of the Aegis's helmet had been scorched by the explosion. Vincent then imbedded the sword through the Aegis's damaged helmet.
"This man is desperate," Nichol muttered.
His alarm told him that more enemies were incoming. The Blitz and Aegis moved, dodging a hail of gunfire. The Sensou-Legionnaires, Keegan was at the front, his shoulder shield painted red.
"Phoenix squad move in, Reyes, take the Blitz and deploy the anti-stealth rounds, Forman, back her up, Kozuki, with me and Gareth on the Aegis," Keegan commanded.
"YES SIR!" his squad yelled.
Vincent moved the Proto-Dagger back, watching the suits engage the Gundams. From the Vesalius, Rau stroked his chin as he looked at the mobile suits.
"It looks like a variation of the Zimmad company's Zudah mobile suit, it never saw mass production though due to a technical glitch in its Jupiter engine," Le Creuscet explained.
He floated off of his chair, towards the elevator. As he went down to his mobile suit, the Legionnaire's engaged the Gundams in a fight. Keegan fired his machine gun, pelting the Aegis's armour. Athrun tried to move forward with his sabres, but a bazooka round struck his shoulder. Another Legionnaire came at him from behind, hitting him in the back with an axe. Nichol fired his beam rifle at the two Legionnaires flying around him. They were quick, but as they moved, Vincent noticed something about their thrusters.
"What is that...spark? Oh no," he muttered.
He adjusted his radio, trying to get to Keegan.
"Commander, commander don't push your suits, there's something wrong with its engine," he cursed as he was met by static.
Gunfire came at him from the side and Vincent braced himself. But just when the rounds were about to hit him, they clashed with a shield.
"I DON'T THINK SO!" Wes yelled.
He fired his machine guns at the incoming Ginns. They flew around him and the Proto-Dagger, adjusting their course. The Blitz was faster than the Legionnaires, but they had deployed mines and fragmentation rounds. It kept Nichol on the defensive, and he noticed the drain on his battery. Rounds flew at the Legionnaires, forcing them to pull away from the Blitz.
"Keep away from him," Miguel snarled.
His Ginn flew downwards, firing multiple shots at the Legionnaires. Folding out his bazooka, he fired a round that was destroyed by the Legionnaire's fragmentation grenades.
"Pretty impressive for a bunch of rookies when it comes to mobile suit fighting," Miguel said.
"Miguel, Nichol, Athrun, clear the way for a moment," Rau's voice echoed over their radios.
His Cgue moved towards the group, some parts of the high mobility Ginn had been added onto it. This High mobility Cgue swerved between the Legionnaires, cutting off ones shoulder shield.
"Commander," Athrun muttered.
Keegan narrowed his eyes at the white Cgue. Then cursed as the two Gundam prototypes flew away.
"Commander shouldn't I..."
"Continue the pursuit of the legged ship, the white devil will be drawn to it anyway," Rau smirked as Miguel frowned.
"That guy," he muttered, fists shaking.
He flew the Ginn past the Legionnaires, leaving them to engage the Cgue. Keegan fired his machine gun, flying after the Cgue.
"There's a bounty on Le Creuscet's head, I'd be a laughing stock if I didn't take this chance to collect it," Keegan said.
He drew his axe and slammed it into Rau's shield.
"Oh, Keegan Hagan, it is an honour to meet you," Rau said.
"Save your false COMPLIMENTS!" Keegan yelled.
His men flew around Rau, only to miss every shot. Rau's eyes darted from one enemy to another, predicting their movements and attacks. He moved just a few inches to avoid rounds, and didn't fire a shot back. The Legionnaires kept on firing, trying to hit the Cgue as it flew around them. All the machines were pushing their thrusters to keep up with one another. Rau though, didn't fire a shot back.
"The reason Zeonic company outmatched Zimmad company wasn't because of the performance data of their product, if anything the Zudah has a much better performance record. But it was still considered an unreliable machine, due to its fatal flaw," Rau explained.
As he flew, within the Legionnaire's, their Jupiter engines were glowing red hot. When one of the Legionnaires fired its bazooka, the machine blew apart. Another's thrusters exploded, leaving it vulnerable to Rau's sword. He impaled the Legionnaire, using it as a shield to block fragmentation rounds from the third Legionnaire. That Legionnaire's weapon blew up in its hand, before a flurry of bullets struck it. The Legionnaire exploded, and Keegan flew through the flames, yelling as he fired his rifle at Rau and raised his axe.
"DAMN YOU!" Keegan yelled.
"It seems there's a reason Sensou was able to afford the designs, such a machine would have a reduced price, and though it seems there are a couple of cosmetic changes, your company made no attempt to fix the flaw," Rau stated.
Keegan's engine gave out just as he reached Rau. Like a car stalling, the Legionnaire stopped, its axe floating out of its hand. Keegan jerked the controls, gritting his teeth together as Rau aimed his rifle.
Some of us fight for honour, or what we imagine to be honour. Most of its bull shit, glory, pride, all just an excuse for bloodshed. Because for fighters there's no better way to make yourself feel valued than when you're killing an enemy.
"STRIKE!" Yzak yelled.
He fired again and again at the Hyperion, forcing it back. The Duel fired its rail gun and drew its beam sabre. Canard grit his teeth together, knowing he'd be finished if something didn't happen soon.
"Kira Yamato," he growled.
What does he fight for? His friends is the most obvious thing, but that can be a flawed reason. In this world of bloodshed, of murder, it'll take a toll. That old saying, 'when you look into the abyss, the abyss looks back at you,' isn't just some badass saying. (Oh it's still incredibly badass when you follow it with another quote). It is true, going into darkness takes its toll and you'll find the worst aspects of humanity in war.
"Thank you for protecting us!"
He looked at the flower. A simple paper flowed designed by a child, given to him as a gift.
"If I can make a difference, shouldn't I?"
He looked at the Strike, for better or worse it had become his machine. Through Heliopolis, through the Umbrella of Artemis and Junius Seven. Never had he expected to actually be good at fighting, something he had hated.
"Don't be so arrogant, one person can't make a difference, there's more to this war than just you fighting!"
He remembered Halberton's words. When Kira stood in his presence, he actually felt as if the man was good. And when he spoke of a swift end to the war, Kira for a moment shared that ideal. For the war had already taken so much, his home, a place Athrun called home once. His mother's friend, then he remembered Gekido and the other mercenaries. They were people whom had been shaped by the war, whether they admitted it or not.
"Everyone is fighting, even though I was the first to say that I would stay, that's why I..."
He remembered the care free days his friends had. All of them in Professor Kato's lab, working on their projects, attending their classes. Now each of them donned a uniform, because they all came to believe that the war needed to end swiftly. That and they had already seen too much of the world. Even Flay, had lost everything because of it, to the point she was even willing to fight in a mobile suit.
"I can't fight by your side, but my feelings will protect you!"
He felt her lips on his, or the echo of them. It caught him by surprise, of course it did. She was Sai's girlfriend, it felt wrong. Yet, he felt good too, as if she was acknowledging he was alive. He noted the shock of Murdoch and Mu when he floated past them, the gasp from Miriallia when he contacted her through the Strike's radio. Murrue's utter shock, her inability to give him a command, requiring Natarle to step in. He understood why, he knew many of them wanted him to leave.
'But I'm doing this for you guys, because none of us should have to live through this war any longer,' Kira thought before he launched.
There's the thing about wading through darkness. Even if you have a light with you, sometimes, something happens that'll snuff it out. Something you can't control, or someone.
Flay ran her hand over her lips. She didn't fully understand why she did that. That wasn't the type of girl she was. Sai was good to her, but Kira was what she needed for now. She shook aside her shock and smirked, this war had made her do that. The coordinators had made her do that. But soon, those coordinators responsible for her father's death would die.
"Fight Kira, fight to end it all," she whispered.
Canard was able to deflect Yzak's blow and counter with his beam dagger. Both yelled as their weapons locked. But just when Kyusai was about to fire, an emerald beam split Canard and Yzak apart.
"Kira?" Canard widened his eyes.
"THE STRIKE!" Yzak yelled.
There it was, the Strike, rifle at the ready, the thrusters of its Aile pack blazing behind it. Kira's eyes were narrow in determination as he flew towards the three Gundams.
Keegan was ready to die, ready to meet his end. But as Rau began to fire his rifle, a pink beam flew into it.
"What was that?" Keegan asked.
"From the side," Rau muttered.
More shots came out of the darkness, destroying the Ginns attacking Wes and Vincent. They shielded their eyes from the explosions, before looking at three figures flying towards the battle.
(Gundam Seed Purpose Renew Opening 1-My First Story: Reviver)
The Purpose's eyes flared as its V fin slid back up. The mechanical arm on the Gundam's shield pulled the sniping barrel off of the rifle, then attached the magnum barrel. Inside the machine, Gekido's eyebrows twitched.
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"YES!" Gekido yelled.
"Hey Gekido, can I fight the Ginns?" Mujihi asked.
"If it gets you away from me for five minutes Mujihi then FINE!" Gekido yelled.
Mujihi's Legionnaire disconnected from its rocket booster. Pulling off a two handed axe, the Legionnaire spread out its shoulder shields and charged the green Ginns. They fired their rifles, only for the Legionnaire to spin and swerve, dodging the shots. Mujihi cleaved through two Ginns at once, astonishing the Earth Alliance Mobile armour pilots. He crashed it through one enemy after another. A Yellow Cgue drew its sword and attempted to attack the Legionnaire. But Mujihi was quicker, slashing off the Cgue's arm. As two more Ginn's with yellow shoulder armour moved in, the Cgue fired its gatling gun. Mujihi folded his shoulder shield onto his front, blocking the shots. The Ginns came towards him, one firing a bazooka round.
"Not good enough," Mujihi said, batting the round aside.
Spikes slid out of his shields and he impaled two of the Ginns in their cockpits. Then he used them as battering rams, flying into the third Ginn. He flew straight into the side of one of ZAFT ships, crushing the third Ginn.
"I only use one type of long range weapon, and that's only because there's a bonus for me if I kill with it," Mujihi said. "Ladies and gentlemen I present, the Panzer Faust!"
The Legionnaire launched four miniaturised warheads from its shields, hitting the Ginns and the sides of the ship. Collectively, the explosions of the warheads triggered the total obliteration of the ship, its shards floating lifelessly in front of the Legionnaire, its single eye glowing almost sinisterly. Inside Mujihi though scratched his head.
"What's the capacity of a Laurasia class, or was that a Nazca, Gekido, which ones were the green ones again...Gekido!"
The Legionnaire was scratching its own head.
"Maybe he can't hear me, oh well, good luck Geki," Gekido frowned in frustration, because he did hear Mujihi.
The Purpose carried on, firing shots from its rifle and hitting multiple Ginns. He switched the barrel for a shotgun, blowing out the thrusters of a Laurasia class. Their CIWS fired, pelting the Gundam's armour.
"What the, does that thing have phase shift armour?" one of the crew members asked.
The ship suddenly shook, multiple missiles slammed into it. As the subtle glow of ARCa.d.i.a faded from the Purpose, it replaced the rifle barrel with a bazooka, loading the rounds in a magazine attached to its side. Gekido fired two shots as Kettei fired another salvo of missiles.
"Reinforcements, WE NEED REINFORCEMENTS!" the ship's captain yelled.
Gekido slid the Purpose's V Fin over its eyes, activated his targeting camera. He aimed at the bridge, firing two bazooka rounds that struck underneath the target, and a little bit to the side of it. The glass shattered, exposing the crew.
"You know, I don't get the whole not wearing a normal suit in space, it's a little arrogant of those guys to think that they'll never face exposure isn't it Geki? Geki?" Kettei looked to Gekido in confusion at his silence.
"Damn it," he snarled. "I was aiming to blow the damn thing up, Biggs start up plans for the next version of the Arc Magnum," he commanded.
"Of course sir."
The Purpose and the Delta-Mac flew alongside one another, the Purpose opening the binders on its flight pack to increase its speed. Kettei looked at the Purpose move, astonished that it was moving faster than her support craft. She targeted the Ginns in front of her and fired her beam cannons, cutting two in half before hitting another in the head. The Delta-Mac performed a dive, distracting the Ginns so that the Purpose could destroy two with its bazooka. Switching the ammo pack out, Gekido reloaded. The mechanical arm attached the rifle to the shield, which popped out a beam sabre handle. Igniting the yellow blade, Gekido cut through three Ginns before attaching the sabre to his shield. Still with the blade ignited, he impaled a Ginn, then ejected the bazooka into the Purpose's other hand. He fired the bazooka, hitting part of the Laurasia class vessel he was targeting.
"Take that thing down, take it down already," the captain said frantically.
Gekido activated the Arc shield on his shoulder, deflecting some of the Ginns beam cannon shots. He redirected one towards the ship, hitting it and opening part of it. The Purpose deactivated its shield as the bodies of ZAFT crewmen bounced off of its body. Gekido slid the Purpose's arm shield onto its shoulder and drew from the Gundam's back a sword. He swung the sword, extending the blade. With a yell he dragged the sword across the side of the ship, triggering a line of explosions through it. Then he flew higher, dodging the flurry of beams and missiles fired at him. He raised the sword over his head and then crashed it into the bridge, even coating the blade with the blood of a few crew members.
"Incredible," Vincent muttered.
"What a monster," Wes said. "But why am I not surprised?" he wondered. "Yet my body..." he looked at his shaking hand and felt the beads of sweat floating between his eyes and visor.
The Purpose was illuminated for all on the battlefield to see. Kira and the Duel clashed with their sabres, yet even those fighting were drawn to the sight of the Gundam's glowing eyes.
"The Purpose," Kira whispered.
"Gekido," Miriallia gasped.
"He came back but, his contract," Kuzzey said.
"He got a new contract kid," Chandra said.
"Still, I didn't think we'd see him again," Murrue muttered.
Rau floated away from Keegan, looking curiously at the Purpose.
"So, the White Devil has taken on shades of grey, how appropriate," the masked man mused.
Dagger Thanos floated onto his bridge, looking at the zoomed in image of the Gundam. A smirk crossed his face, whilst outside the other pilots of the True Storm took their measure of the intimidating Purpose. Canard looked towards the Gundam smiled.
"Go for it buddy," he said.
The Purpose looked across the expanse of space, towards an orange Ginn.
(TM Revolution-Zips)
Miguel and Gekido's eyes seemed to meet, both glaring at the other. The Ginn had stopped its pursuit of the Strike and the Archangel to stare at its opposite. His hands shook as he stared the mercenary down, and his heart beat rapidly.
'Why do I fight?' some uncertain people ask themselves. Sometimes I feel like one of those people. But not today, not today, because today I have a clear...purpose.
"Miguel Aiman," Gekido whispered.
"Gekido Jaeger," the ZAFT pilot said back.
The eyes of their mobile suits flared, before their thrusters lit up, fire blazing behind them. Gekido's wing binders released a burst of energy, making the subtle silhouette of a pair of wings. Likewise, Miguel's suit became an orange blur across the battlefield with its sudden increase in speed. The Ginn drew its improved sword, its blades slid away from the main part of the sword, the two blades were surrounded by beam coatings, as the main stabbing blade was heated until it became as orange as the Ginn's armour. Gekido raised his sword over his shoulder and brought it downwards, just as Miguel swung his sword. Their blades slammed together and the two machines were illuminated by the sparks. They flew high, darting around the ZAFT and Earth Alliance ships as one. Both machines span, flying past the Menelaus. Halberton stood up, drawn to the sight of the two duelling mobile suits.
"I had no idea, no idea," he muttered. "That a battle between two mobile suits could be this intense, is this what my G-Project will do to war?" Halberton wondered.
Halberton's hands shook with fear, the image of the mobile suits slamming their blades together was reflected in the admiral's eyes. Their movement speed increased, rapidly slashing and parrying one another's vicious attacks. Miguel knocked the Purpose back, sending it crashing through one of the Menelaus's turrets. The Purpose swung its sword upwards, stopping the thrust of Miguel's sword. Gekido then pushed the Ginn, sending it flying backwards. Miguel quickly span the Ginn around and swung his sword. Gekido had been charging towards Miguel, and adjusted the course of his sword just in time to block and overhead slash.
"Amazing," Mu muttered, seeing the battle on one of the Archangel's monitors.
Zack floated in Earth's orbit, gripping his head for a moment.
"Such pressure, these pilots, even though they aren't...Newtypes, their will and desire to fight resonates," he said.
Athrun and Nichol watched their comrade duel the mercenary he had been preparing to fight for weeks. And their battle was as spectacular to them, two people whom despised war, as it was to those whom lived it and loved it. Mujihi and Kettei had giant grins plastered across their faces. Inside the Massacre, though Kyusai scowled, the corner of his mouth twitched, and for a moment curved upwards.
Fighting with clear purpose, it isn't an exact science, but often those whose minds are clear of distractions and doubts, those whose minds are of absolute focus are the better fighters.
Kira yelled flying over the Buster as it fired its cannons. He fired his Vulcans, damaging one of the Buster's missile ports. Yzak fired his rifle, hitting Kira's shield. The Strike fired back, hitting the Duel's leg before blocking a kick. Kira pushed back, drawing his beam sabre and parrying the Duel's attempt to stab him. Swinging his leg around, Kira kicked the Duel in the chest, rocking Yzak backwards in his seat. He then swiped with his sabre, drawing Dearka back.
"His skill increased again," Yzak cursed.
"Kira, we're about to go into re-entry, you need to get back to the Archangel," Miriallia said.
Kira grit his teeth together, firing at the Duel again. Yzak blocked the shot and followed through with his sabre, slamming it against Kira's shield. They grinded their weapons together, Kira firing his rifle and taking off a piece of the Duel's V-fin. Dearka meanwhile grit his teeth together, he couldn't hit the Strike without risking hitting Yzak. He looked up, seeing Miguel's Ginn and the Purpose chasing one another. Miguel fired his bazooka, narrowly missing the Purpose. Gekido switched to his beam rifle configuration and fired a few shots, hitting the Ginn's shield. The Buster fired at the Purpose, only for a beam to intercept his. Dearka looked up again, seeing Kettei and Mujihi. Her mobile armour was being held by the Legionnaire like a gun placement. Mujihi raised the mobile armour up, then aimed at the Gundam prototypes, splitting Kira and Yzak apart.
"KIRA!" Miriallia yelled.
"He can't get back to us, and he's getting dangerously close to the gravity well," Sai noted.
"Help him Gekido," Murrue whispered.
The mercenary pilot looked to the Strike, and likewise Kira's eyes seemed to meet his.
"I knew you couldn't stay away," Gekido said.
"Gekido, you came back to help us, why?" Kira asked.
"You idiot," Gekido scoffed. "The EA put out a retrieval bounty on the Strike and the Archangel, likewise ZAFT put out a seek and destroy request, having seen you guys at Heliopolis, at the Umbrella, at Junius Seven, what did you think I was going to do? It's easier to take a seek and destroy contract when you don't know the person," he explained.
"Gekido," Kira gasped, his eyes watering slightly.
(End OST)
The Purpose raised its fist, pumping it at the Strike and nodding its head. Both Gundams drew their beam sabres as the Duel and Ginn approached. Gekido cut off Miguel's horn, whilst the Duel's rail gun was cut away by Kira. Kira brought his leg around, catching the Duel's head and throwing Yzak back. Gekido activated his ARC armour, taking a flurry of missiles and beams. Through the explosions, the four battling pilots looked up at the Massacre.
"Kyusai," Gekido whispered.
Inside the Gundam, Kyusai looked down at his former ally and narrowed his eyes. He grit his teeth together, squeezing the controls in anger. The chest area of the Massacre pulsed red as the armour grew darker, nearly pitch black. Red marks began to glow across Gundam's joints, including the markings that made up his 'face'. Its wings spread out, releasing sparks of red dust.
"It appears it is increasing its performance with the Arc System, just as you did when you fought Thanos and Le Creuscet," Biggs said.
"But it's different," Gekido said.
"The Massacre is the brother unit of the Purpose, but ultimately an incomplete machine, due to the fact that its generator was made only with a fraction of pure Arcanium," the AI explained.
The Purpose flexed the fingers of its right arm and passed the Arc energy into its shoulder shield. Kyusai targeted both the Strike and the Purpose and raised its gatling guns. Gekido diverted power from the Purpose's left arm and foot thrusters, controlling the flow and application of energy across his suit. So he could exchange the power used for other parts of the Purpose's body to increase the power of his arc shield. The Massacre levelled its hip cannon and charged it with the same arc energy that had spread across its body. Kyusai yelled as he fired the cannon, sending an incredible red and black blast flying towards the Purpose. It slammed into the Purpose's shield, the two arcs colliding. Miguel and Yzak were thrown back by the power, Kira was thrown away from Gekido, the Strike lost its rifle and tried reaching out for the Purpose.
"YZAK!" Dearka yelled out, flying to support his team mate.
Kyusai flew at the Purpose continuing to fire his cannon. He drew his beam sabre and swung it down towards the Purpose.
"BIGGS! CHANGE THE POWER SETTINGS BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE!" Gekido yelled.
"Affirmative!"
The Purpose suddenly ignited a beam sabre on its left arm.
"It has a beam sabre built into the shield," Kyusai gasped.
He had realised it too late, as Gekido cut off the barrel of the cannon, and took out the Massacre's hand.
"Damn it Kyusai, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!" Gekido yelled.
The Purpose pulled back its fist, throwing it at the Massacre. It slammed its head against the punch, red eyes flaring as the brother units span around. Miguel looked up at the Gundams as he fell, seeing the demonic Massacre and the dull Purpose.
'Not angelic,' he thought.
He raised his hand, the Ginn repeating this action.
"Yet still," he whispered. "He's so far from me!"
Some of us fight for the recognition of those we call friend.
"Yzak," Dearka grabbed the Duel, settling it into a stable flight path.
"Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!" Yzak yelled.
"We'll get them next time, right now we have to live," Dearka said.
The inside of the cockpits had gone red, the heat increasing. The Buster and Duel were the first to hit the atmosphere and go into re-entry. Gekido and Kyusai had deactivated their ARCs, yet the eyes of their Gundams still glowed as they fought. Both machines turned red in the heat of re-entry. A rocket suddenly hit Gekido from behind and he turned with a growl. Bentos's Sensou-Merc was floating above them, equipped with two bazookas and two axes on its back. Its helmet design had been changed, a beak like flap that opened to reveal its main camera.
"Sorry kid, but there's too much money to be made in destroying you and the Archangel, that you in there too Kyusai? Nothing personal but there's a bounty on your machine too," he explained.
"You're kidding me, you aren't taking a side in either battle?" Gekido asked.
"Nope!" Bentos grinned before shooting the Massacre in the chest, throwing it off course.
"KYUSAI!" Gekido yelled.
Bentos fired both bazookas again. Shots suddenly came from the right, destroying the rounds. Bentos looked towards the shooter, gritting his teeth together.
"Sorry, but that's my contract to collect on," Zack put his rifle back on his hip and dived. "You want to kick this guys ass be my guest grey devil, I'll take care of your demon brother!"
The Wild Arms flew towards the Massacre, grabbing it by the hips. It helped the Gundam turn around, stabilising its course. Bentos opened fire on the Purpose, only for the Gundam to blow apart the rounds with its Vulcans. Through the explosions, two cables hit Bentos's bazookas. Gekido yelled as he pulled the cables attached to the Purpose's shield and left hand. Activating his thrusters, he pulled the Merc into re-entry.
"Oh crap!" Bentos growled.
"Now it's my turn," Gekido drew his beam sabre.
But before he could ignite it, a round struck the back of the Purpose. Gekido turned and saw a Ginn variant. It had black and red armour and lacked the traditional horn. Instead of the due rocket boosters, it had a wing pack similar to a Dinn.
"Like it?" a voice asked over the radio. "Ginn Tactical Air reconnaissance type, though this variant is referred to as the Ginn Tactical Re-entry combat type," there was a chuckle in the pilot's tone.
Xanatos's face appeared on Gekido's screen, the man was wearing the white and black commander's flight suit. His Ginn held an experimental close combat beam assault rifle, with a bayonet attachment. He also produced from his hip a sabre typically used by ceremonial type Ginns.
"I wasn't about to part with the weapon I'm most comfortable with, if your intention was to burn us all up, we've modified the armour of our machines for re-entry, all according to my plan, to destroy you devil, the angel and the Strike," Xanatos declared with a grin as he flew at the Purpose.
Glory, there it is again, that reason for fighting.
Kira yelled as the Strike was hit by a bazooka round, blowing off the Aile pack's left wing. He looked towards the three black and purple High Manoeuvre type Ginn's.
"Dark stars, beginning operation," Jacob said.
"The commander's daring tactics are paying off again," M'Kabo laughed.
"I've got first dibs," Deacon aimed at the Strike and fired.
Kira took the shot head on and looked towards the Archangel. A beam suddenly slammed into the side of it. A short distance away, tittering just on the edge of the gravity well, was Xanatos's Nazca class. It fired both its main guns, hitting the Archangel again.
"NO!" Kira yelled.
The crazier the plan, the more glory your get, for every person who calls you an idiot, ten more call you a hero. It's like a game to soldiers climbing the ranks. But that isn't what I fight for. No, it isn't!
The Purpose ignited its beam sabre and faced off against the Merc and Ginn.
"You've got a death wish, fine, make your pick, me or the heat, let's see who burns out first idiots!" Gekido snarled, his teeth forming an excited grin.
Next Chapter 18: Berserker
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter.
If Renew was an anime, it would get new opening music, I've been getting into My First Story lately.
Merry Christmas everyone