Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam
Here it is, the final chapter of the arc and Gekido's perspective
Gundam Seed Purpose Renew
Chapter 18: Berserker
Tachi and Kisagi stood amongst a crowd of refugees, focused only on their friends. The crowd from Heliopolis gathered to say goodbye. Kisagi hugged Miriallia like a sister and Tachi nodded his head at the boys.
"I wish we could stay with you guys, makes me feel ashamed even that we're going and even Flay is staying," Tachi said, shaking his head.
"Enlistment law is very clear, when you're underage, your parent or guardian has the final say. It's easy for us to stay when our parents aren't around to protest," Sai explained.
"Still, you won't be alone, Kira's definitely going to be going," Tolle said.
"Then we'll wait together at Orb, for you guys after the war is over, we'll all meet up, with big brother too," Kisagi explained.
The other four youths blinked in confusion, before remembering Gekido.
"You guys really do consider him your brother?" Kuzzey asked.
"He is and has been our brother," Tachi said.
"I know he can be difficult to get on with, quick to anger, and sometimes downright rude. But we can call him friend and brother because we've seen the best part of him," Kisagi explained.
They saw the affection in Kisagi's eyes and understood.
"You should read his stories," she muttered, intriguing the Heliopolis youths.
Orb, before we left for space
Gekido tapped his pen against his head, gritting his teeth together. He rolled the scrap of paper into a ball and threw it over his shoulder. His mathematics grading was competent enough, as was his science grades. 'Gekido would make an average engineer at best' was the general assessment. Then there was his language and literature grades. 'Gekido can understand and make himself understood in a multitude of languages, but lacks the finesse and grammar knowledge to affectively write in any language'. Huffing, he set his pen to paper and began to write.
Hesei climbed into the machine, the machine he felt linked to since first seeing it. His destiny was tied to this machine, to its power, and to war it had been created to fight in. The one eyed monsters whom attacked his colony would continue to decimate the federation, to decimate the Earth, unless someone like him stood up. A pilot of the future, of the legendary mobile suit. The suit hummed, the activation screen illuminating the blood on Hesei's face, his father's blood. The blood of a man whom had entrusted Hesei with not just revenge, but the key to peace for the Earth sphere.
"What are you writing?" Tachi asked.
"NOTHING!" Gekido yelled, causing both teens to stumble back.
"Sorry, sorry, we didn't realise you were so focused," Kisagi said.
"Just forget it okay," Gekido squashed the paper into a ball and threw it over his shoulder.
"Were you thinking of joining the literature school?" Tachi asked.
"No, there isn't even a literature group on Heliopolis," Gekido said.
"They should make one, that way we could go to college together," Tachi chuckled.
"It's a technical college, I already know enough about machines for a job with Sensou."
"Not everyone wants to work for a mercenary company," Kisagi said.
"For some people it's the only option they have," Gekido lifted up his bag and turned away.
"Where are you heading?" Tachi asked.
"The Sahaku compound, they requested Sensou's help for some security over there," Gekido said.
"Don't forget we'll be having a meal together before getting a shuttle tomorrow," Kisagi said.
"You don't need to tell me!"
"So can we read it?" Tachi asked.
"NO!"
Those guys, they...wanted to know me. Wanted to be near me.
Gekido sat in the shuttle, looking out of the window. He closed his eyes for a moment and pictured the scenes he was writing. There was a nudge behind him, kids kicking his seat. He curled his arm over the head rest, making sure they saw him snap his pen in half. They stopped after that, allowing him to take a pen out of his pocket and continue his writing.
"So can we read it?"
He rolled his eyes and looked towards Tachi and Kisagi. Yamato and his wife were on the opposite seats, the latter smiling at the exchange whilst Yamato slept. Kisagi and Tachi smiled brightly, eyes shining as they put their hands together.
"Please," they echoed.
Again he rolled his eyes, smirking as he rolled his notepad back to the front page.
"The Year is After Cataclysm 79, Earth has moved its burgeoning population to space colonies known as the Side districts. Casval Rem Deikun, mobile suit pilot and revolutionary, had declared independence from the Republic of Munzo, and commenced what would be known as the one year war on the Federation of the Earth Sphere through a series of brutal colony drops. Amongst the floating cities of the South-East Asian ocean, Hesei Vormund would discover a weapon capable to facing the forces of Zeon."
They listened, they believed in my stories. In that talent I didn't share, even with those I called friend. Maybe that's why I called them brother and sister.
Tachi and Kisagi crowded around their shuttle window, seeing the Purpose in the distance.
"I knew it, I knew he would come back," Kisagi said.
The Merc and Ginn flew towards the Purpose, the former swerving to dodged the beam of the Gundam's sabre. Gekido's smile matched Bentos's, the older man had his suit spin its axes around and scrape them together. Xanatos fired his beam submachine gun, hitting the Purpose's shield. Gekido attached his shield to a mechanical arm on his flight pack and drew the gatling gun from his weapon's pack. Firing bursts of the barrel, he kept the Ginn moving. Then he swung his sabre around, locking it with Bentos's axes.
"Sorry Xanatos, but you aren't taking my bounty," Bentos laughed.
"Just try it, it may not make me money, but him and the angel will lead me to a nice rack of medals," Xanatos retorted.
Gekido stored his gun and used the Purpose's arm to block Xanatos's sword. Xanatos then thrust his bayonet at the Purpose's face, missing it when Gekido tilted the machine back. He deflected Bentos's following attacks and force the Ginn back with a kick.
"Incredible," Tachi said, watching Gekido fight the two opponents on equal footing.
Tachi, I don't know why he looked up to me. I don't know why he wanted an older brother so much.
"Let me fight!"
Yamato looked at his son. They were still on the Archangel, getting their things ready. Kisagi held onto the Blue Haro and watched the exchange between father and son.
"They have enough engineers on the ship, Murdoch will have no use for you," Yamato said.
"I don't want to be an engineer, I want to be a pilot," Tachi said.
"Brother," Kisagi whispered.
"That's a bold claim, the Earth Alliance would try to abuse you, much like they'll try to abuse Kira," Yamato said.
"Orb, I want to become a pilot for Orb, I know Simmons is working on a development project. We will not interfere in the affairs of other nations, we will not attack, or be attacked by other nations. Those are Orbs ideals, but to live by ideals you have to be willing to fight for your ideals too. I want to fight, so that what happened to Heliopolis won't happen again, but more than that I want to be strong," Tachi explained.
"Strong, you think there is strength in killing?" Yamato asked.
"We're not talking about murder, that's not what soldiers do, that's not what Gekido does," Tachi said.
"Even on Orb, the conditions of service are still very clear, before reaching eighteen you need to have the permission of a parent or guardian to enlist. And you do not have my permission," Yamato explained.
"Do you think the recruitment office would care if I didn't?" Tachi retorted.
"You are still my son Tachi," Yamato said, suddenly standing and narrowing his eyes at Tachi.
"What about Gekido, you let him join Sensou!"
"The simple truth is that he was adopted by us, he is not my son so I need not be concerned for his welfare. He already has all he needs to be a soldier and a man, you do not yet Tachi," Yamato explained.
"Well maybe I do, maybe I am ready, if I'm never given the chance then how am I supposed to prove myself?" Tachi asked.
"I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE OF THIS!" Yamato yelled, shocking both Tachi and Kisagi.
Tears welled in Yamato's eyes as he lowered his head.
I wouldn't want him to be anywhere near this place, this field of battle. This place that makes me feel alive, yet I dread it at the same time.
Gekido crossed the Purpose's arms together, blocking the volley of machine gun fire. Then tilted the Purpose's head and dodged Bentos's axe. He swung his leg around, kicking the mobile suit back. Reigniting his sabre, he closed in on Xanatos and cut through his sword. Xanatos threw his hilt aside and flew back, spinning to dodge the Purpose's Vulcans. Bentos aimed a kick for Gekido's back, but Gekido managed to cut through his suit's leg. Bentos brought his axe down, crashing it into the Purpose's chest, damaging some of its chest armour.
"That additional armour is tough, but you're running out of energy Gekido," Bentos said.
"You've got no idea how much I've got in the Purpose's reverses, or what the power of the Arc is," Gekido retorted.
"I see only a weapon, both the machine and what's within it," Xanatos chuckled.
He tackled the Purpose, throwing it off course. Gekido activated the thrusters in the Purpose's feet, as well as what he had attached to its knees. Using them and thrusts from his flight pack, he managed to correct the Purpose's course, positioning his shield in time to block Xanatos's gunshots. Pushing a few buttons on his console, he adjusted the heat settings, pulling off his helmet and opening the collar of his flight suit. Looking to his side, he caught sight of the now red form of the Strike, engaging Xanatos's henchmen.
"Kira, if you can hear me you need to make the following adjustments to the Strike's heat settings," he spoke into the radio.
Sweat ran down Kira's face as he tried to shoot down the Tri-Stars. Moving in perfect synch they flew around him, when one fired, another quickly followed. Part of the Strike's helmet was scraped off by a sword blow. And the Gundam took a shot to the knee, triggering a small explosion that knocked Kira off course.
"Kira," Miriallia called out.
Murrue grit her teeth together, she knew they could reach Kira. Yet still, Xanatos's ship seemed relentless. If they moved, they would be even more vulnerable. But Halberton had sacrificed the majority of the fleet for the sake of getting the remaining aspects of Project G to Alaska. The Strike was the crux of the project, as valuable as the Archangel was, Alliance brass would value a mobile suit more than a ship. It was mobile suits that would increase the survival of troops on the battlefield, it was mobile suits that would tip the balance in the war. But then there was Kira himself, once again he had risked his life to help them.
The young coordinator let out a yell as one of the Tri-Stars cut off the Aile's upper right wing. He swipe at them with his sabre, but the machines were too fast. And the heat was beginning to take its toll, with one hand he made the adjustments Gekido suggested. But being a better programmer than Gekido, he figured out a better algorithm to coordinate the Strike's heat. Out of the corner of his eye, Kira saw the escape shuttle, filled with the civilians he rescued from Heliopolis. He widened his eyes when he saw a shot get dangerously close to it.
"Watch it Xanatos," Gekido snarled.
He fired his Vulcans, making Xanatos back away. Kisagi pushed her hand against the window, looking at Gekido as he fought.
"Win, win, you can do this, brother," she said.
Kisagi, you're the first face I remember seeing, that didn't have such a pathetic look on it. So many people looked down in disgust or pity. But you, you saw me.
Gekido looked at the box in confusion. It had some kind of cloth wrapped around it, tied into a neat bow.
"What is this?" he asked.
"It's the lunch I made you, a Japanese lunch box," Kisagi explained.
Gekido stroke his chin, his eyebrow twitching as he looked at the cloth. It was pink, with pictures of yellow bears on them.
"I'll buy something when I'm out," he said.
"Come on try it," Kisagi picked up the box and offered it to Gekido.
"I said I'll get something when I'm out damn it!"
"But this will save you time and money, go on big brother," she said.
Gekido shook his head and took the box.
"Why the hell do you call me brother anyway? It isn't as if we're related," he said.
"Because that's what you are to me Gekido, my brother, you live with us, and sometimes you play with us. You accepted our help, and helped us in return, that's what it means to be family. I always know you'll be there to protect me big brother," Kisagi explained.
I will, protect!
Gekido let out a roar as the Purpose's armour shined black and blue. He fired his sniper rifle, hitting the shoulder of Deacon's Ginn. Kira snapped his controls forward, the Strike slammed its foot into Deacon's back. The Strike launched itself off of the Ginn.
"Hey, did you just step on me?" Deacon asked.
Kira drew his beam sabre, stabbing it through M'Kabo's chest.
"JACOB! DEACON!" Fareed yelled before his Ginn blew up.
The Strike and the Purpose's eyes glowed, both machines facing their remaining opponents. The crew of the Archangel braced themselves for another shot, when a shower of missiles struck Xanatos's ship. The Delta swooped down on the ZAFT ship, Kettei released another volley of missiles. She swerved, dodging the ship's defensive fire.
"What is that?" Murrue asked.
"One of Gekido's allies," Kuzzey said.
"Small mobile armour, no, more of a light jet craft," Sai shook his head, uncertain. "And a second signal!"
"SURPRISE!" Mujihi yelled.
His Legionnaire slammed its axe into the ZAFT ship. Then he dragged the axe across the hull, leaving it imbedded there as he flew upwards. He raised his hand, grabbing the Delta as its front expanded.
"HEY WATCH IT MUJIHI!" Kettei screamed as the Legionnaire swung her craft around.
"Sorry, I was trying to make it look like those epic anime shots," Mujihi said.
"Oh, in that case then we'll need an epic attack name," Kettei hummed, scratching her chin.
She then clicked her fingers together, and Mujihi smirked over the radio. As the Delta fired a pink beam at the ZAFT ship's bridge, both mercenary pilots yelled out.
"DELTA SPARK BEAM!"
"GYARIKKU HO!"
"What the fuck Mujihi, I was going for something original, and wrong franchise anyway," Kettei said.
"Sorry Kettei," Mujihi said.
Murrue and the Archangel crew looked at the picture of the two mercenary suits, sweat drops running down their heads.
"All right, you guys are safe now, give our regards to Geki would you," Kettei said before she and Mujihi flew upwards.
"Now, move the Archangel underneath Kira's position," Murrue commanded.
Kira knocked back Jacob's Ginn with a kick, his grip on his controls losing its strength. Likewise Gekido and his own opponent's began to suffer from the re-entry heat.
"There's still time, still time enough to kill you," Xanatos said.
"Come on kid, do us a favour and die!" Bentos laughed as he swung his axes towards the Purpose.
"Do everyone a favour..." a voice spoke over the radio.
The Legionnaire and Purpose turned, looking towards the Massacre. Kyusai raised a beam rifle towards them, the Massacre's eyes glowing red.
"Both of you...do everyone a favour...and die, you WAR MONGERS!" he yelled.
The Massacre fired a crimson beam towards the Purpose.
"I don't think so, this is my target," Bentos said as he shoved the Purpose back.
"HAGAN NO!" Gekido yelled.
The beam flew past the Purpose's head, burning the armour. Gekido and Kira widened their eyes in horror. Miguel looked up in shock and Kyusai and Bentos both gasped, realising what they had both done. The beam struck the shuttle, Gekido saw Tachi and Kisagi's faces through one of the window, before the flames consumed them.
(Gundam Seed Purpose Renew Ending 1- Aimer AM02:00 (La Nuit remix).)
Kira screamed, tears coming out of his eyes. Miriallia's hands trembled as she brought them to her mouth. Tolle shook his head in denial and Sai closed his eyes in regret. Kuzzey looked at the image of the shuttle exploding with a mixture of fear and grief. The adult bridge crew looked away from it, focusing on the Strike and its opponents. On the observation deck, Flay saw the destruction and stepped back in horror. The kind and generous smiles of Tachi and Kisagi appeared in her mind's eye. She remembered the people she had once been huddled together with in that escape pod. Their relieved faces, the little girl who made paper figures. Kira remembered that girl giving him a flower, it was still on the Strike's display board. He remembered Tachi and Kisagi laughing with him in the Heliopolis gardens, the pair working in the Archangel's hanger, wearing overalls as if they were meant to.
A purple seed shattered before his eyes. The Strike rushed towards the remaining Ginns, ignoring machine gun rounds that slammed against its armour. One of the Aile's thrusters was blown apart, but Kira kept on going. He slashed apart Deacon's machine gun and stabbed through its cockpit. Jacob fired both his machine gun and bazooka, hitting the lifeless Ginn. His eyes widened as the Strike flew through the fire. Kira swung his sabre, cutting through the Ginn's arms and midsection. Jacob though survived, looking at his surroundings in fear as the Ginn drifted away from the Strike. His Ginn bounced off of the surface of the Archangel, and he screamed as he was consumed by the flames of re-entry. Kira landed on the Archangel, crying as he passed out. The last thing he saw was a red light coming from the Purpose.
Gekido grit his teeth together, his eyes narrowing into slits before he roared. The Purpose's fingers twitched as its armour turned black and red, light glowing from its chest, shining through its damaged armour. He backhanded the Legionnaire, and flew for the Massacre. Grabbing Kyusai's arm, he punched the Gundam repeatedly, taking its counter blows. Kyusai had tears in his eyes as he pulled away from the Purpose, not caring that the Gundam had ripped the Massacre's arm off. Tossing the appendage aside, Gekido turned to Xanatos and flew towards him. Xanatos fired his machine gun, yelling in desperate fury. The Purpose flew through the hail of gunfire, pulled back its fist and then tore through the Ginn's cockpit.
(MightU)
Tachi!
He saw his little brother pout as he lost a round of video games.
Kisagi
He saw his little sister smile as she offered him a lunch box.
My brother and sister.
He awoke, looking in the mirror and seeing his hair was pink. Tachi and Kisagi stood around the corner, holding the dye, both laughing before he appeared over them.
My friends.
They ran through the house, Tachi and Kisagi's terror turning into laughs, whilst Gekido's glare shifted slightly into a smirk.
My family.
He read to them, and they listened, smiling in wonder.
What is the point of this?
The Purpose dived at Bentos's mobile suit, grabbing it by its arms.
Why am I here?
The Purpose punched the mobile suit across the face, Bentos's camera flickered as he watched the Purpose rip chunks out of his armour.
What is my Purpose?
Miguel grit his teeth together, vision blurring as the effects of re-entry took its toll.
Why do I survive?
He roared like an animal, roared in despair, roared in fury. The Purpose ripped off its opponents arms and ripped through a chunk of the suit's chest.
"Gekido," Murrue whispered, the crew hearing his berserker roars through the radio.
Why do I exist?
Bentos looked up at the Purpose, seeing its glowing red eyes, hearing Gekido's snarls.
"Gekido, don't...become...like us," he whispered.
The Purpose punched the suit one last time, sending it burning into the atmosphere. Bentos closed his eyes and smiled, letting the flames take him. He saw Junius Seven, saw his squadron flying towards it. Then he saw the Purpose in its original state.
'You Gekido...you wouldn't have let it happen...would you?' he thought until the end.
Am I crying? Am I sad? This anger? This rage? This blood lust? Why me and not them? Karma? Destiny? I am alive! I am here! Because they...
He was frail again, being carried by Yamato. He was dumb again, being taught to read by Kisagi. He was hungry again, being given food by Yisaka. He was bored again, being given a game by Tachi.
I do exist, I am alive! Because they...
He looked back and saw the Kuzunagi family smiling.
THEY TAUGHT ME HOW!
(Gundam Purpose Awakening theme- Hiroyuki Sawano-Belong)
His eyes snapped open, and through his blurred vision he saw Aiman's Ginn. The Purpose rose, the crew of the Archangel watching in awe as a gold light briefly came from its chest. Gold particles leaked out of its chest as it flew to the Ginn's side. In a desert on Earth, a crowd of people gathered to look up at the sky. Amongst them was a blonde haired girl, who saw the gold particles and gasped in awe. Miles away, a ZAFT officer, drinking coffee lowered his cup and looked at the gold stars. A customised Ginn Ocher stood on the sand, its pilot at its feet, looking through a rifle scope at the lights in the sky, a cold coffee cup by his feet. In space, Canard and Vincent floated side by side, their eyes drawn to the light. Thanos stood on the bridge of his ship, his elites beside him, all of them watching the light. Rau scratched his head, feeling a pressure in his mind.
"Could that be, the merc?" Athrun asked and Nichol's jaw dropped in awe.
"A shining star on the battlefield," he whispered.
Kyusai stared at the Purpose, gritting his teeth together as he slammed his fist into his side screen.
"Why? Why did someone like you get that power?"
I am alive because they showed me how. They're not here, I am, I am. But I won't stop, I'll keep going even when it hurts, even when it feels like I should cry. And I will cry, because I'm alive and because they showed me how to love.
The Purpose flew underneath the Ginn and flexed its arms, releasing a burst of gold light from its chest. Then, its arms and legs began to fold, wings expanding as it began to change. A window came up on Gekido's main screen, showing a blue print titled 'Purpose-Jet mode'. The cockpit of the Purpose began to change, Gekido's controls slid aside and a control stick came up between his legs. The Purpose jet slowly hovered until it caught the Ginn, much like the Archangel had caught the Strike.
My name is Gekido Jaeger, I'm going to keep fighting. Not just to keep living, but because there are others I want to live too.
Gekido looked at the Archangel, huffing before he tilted his head back and let Biggs take control. Miriallia raised her eyebrows in confusion as a message came up on her screen.
See you idiots in North Africa, locals might not be as friendly as me!
She didn't know why, but Miriallia smiled at the promise in Gekido's words.
And someday, I'll find a purpose worth fighting for.
Next Chapter 19: Respective solitudes
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, next time we're back on track with the Seed arc. Some scenes from the anime with the Archangel crew, with the addition of a confrontation between Miguel and Gekido in the desert.
With the first arc of the story over, I thought I'd do a fun little summary and breakdown of my Renew opening and Ending.
Gundam Seed Purpose Renew (if it was an anime) opening one
My First Story-Reviver
Opens with Via Hibiki holding two children (you guys know who they are). Then shifts to Sakon Date looking up at the sky. In a flash we go to Kira in Heliopolis, and Gekido climbing into a mobile armour cockpit. Then the series logo comes up in space as first the Strike raises its rifle, followed by the Purpose.
Sequences of ZAFT Ginns fighting Earth Alliance Mobile armours are shown, with the addition of mercenary suits. The Four stolen Heliopolis suits are shown with the images of their pilots by the side. Red eyes then glow, revealing the Massacre. Images of Thanos's elite are shown with their pilots, then Thanos appears in a mobile suit obscured by shadows. Rau engages Mu in a fight between Cgue and Zero, the ghostly heads of both pilots shown glaring at another. A collage of the mercenary suits and pilots introduced this season is shown, before Canard is shown in the Hyperion. Images of the main characters of the Archangel are shown, alongside Yamato and his children.
Birdy flies through space before the Purpose in its renew mode flies forward. Aiman's customised Ginn draws its axe, both pilots roaring as their machines clashed. Opening ends with the Purpose in its Renew parts, standing alongside the Strike in its perfect pack.
Ending 1, Aimer-AM02:00 (La Nuit remix reserved for middle of chapter 18)
Ending begins with blue prints of the Purpose being shown, with the images of crouching and seemingly crying Gekido and Kira. As the ending continues, blue prints of the Heliopolis suits are shown alongside ZAFT, Earth Alliance and custom mercenary units that appeared this 'season'. As the ending comes to a close, Gekido looks up and sees Yamato and his family standing over him. Kira then looks up, seeing Gekido in his flight suit, offering him his hand with Mu and Canard beside him. Kira takes Gekido's hand and the four pilots walked to their machines. The Purpose and Strike are shown side by side, their eyes both shining as the sequence ends.