Hilda Vidan was dismayed by the fact when she saw from her quarters the civilians from Heliopolis were crowding the hallway. It was bad enough that she'd witnessed the debris of Heliopolis from her window, reminding her painfully that disastrous day in Gripps and the events after. With the ton to add in her troubles, she had also lost sight of Camille, and having a difficult time finding him. She wanted to make sure her only son will leave this ship and this dangerous life behind them. She finally found a corridor that wasn't so occupied with people and took a moment to regain her breath and composure. She was surprised, though, of how loud the certain area was, and realized that she was in the Ahgama's hangar. She decided to give a little look around, thinking that Camille would hang around in this place, as she had somehow gotten word of him as a fighter pilot from Ahgama's people.

She was surprised, though, to find her estranged husband in the area, looking around curiously. He had changed somehow, acting very strangely in the past few days and not given in to his tendency of rage every time she made a snide comment on his fidelity. Perhaps this experience had given him a better light on his life; perhaps he did care for their son… if not her… and worried for him as much as she did.

She was about to call out his name when Franklin found his quarry, the experimental black robot from Mao Industry. "What fabulous piece of machinery!" Franklin was gushing as he looked at the Hyukebein with obvious interest.

Hilda gave a snort of anger, feeling the old fury and resentment over the years re-surfacing again. He had not been looking for Camille as she had thought. Without a glance she left the hangar as quickly as she could… away from his revolting presence. That man had never changed after all.

Enter the Devil

The Freeden was a landship, and though it never had the ability to fly like its other counterparts, it did not stand in the way of its mission to cross the Pacific Ocean towards its destination, for it has the ability to float as a ship, cutting through the ocean waves without much difficulty. But the Captain took precaution of getting extra supplies, such as food and water and weapons, as their next stopover would be…

"JABROW!" Kouji was saying enthusiastically, as he continued eating his breakfast in the Freeden's cafeteria when Witz answered his question on their destination. Seeing Sayaka and Kazuya's puzzled expressions he added, "Grandfather used to take me there as a kid." He explained, "Last time I looked, they're still working on the plans for the Voltes V machine."

"Voltes V?" Witz asked in curiosity.

"A giant robot that runs on ultra electric magnetic energy." Kouji said, getting more excited by the topic. "It also combines!"

"Yeah, my father used to be one of the collaborators of Professor Gou's project," Sayaka added in. "Though Voltes is assigned as a military mecha under the direct orders of General Oka.

"I haven't seen Erika for awhile. How is she?" Garrod asked. He could have sworn that young woman would always be at Kazuya side. The Daimos pilot looked bashful, though he tries to fight it off by putting up a more serious expression. "She seems to be comfortable with Dr. Franzenburg's clinic. She recalls she has memories of being a doctor."

"Who would have thought Erika was a nurse," Kouji mused. "She's too pretty to be a nurse."

"Oh yeah!" Sayaka said angrily, her jealousy getting the better of her "What else do you think she should have been, you…"

Witz nodded curtly, veering the conversation into safer territory, "Thanks to her, the Doctor eventually finds enough time to leave the clinic unsupervised and play pool."

Miracle of miracles Sayaka dropped her line of thought to Kouji and laughed appreciatively, "In which he always beats you and Roybea in a blink of an eye."

"As I said, I wished she didn't remember that," Witz said seriously.

Any other conversation had been halted when a siren was sounded; all fighter pilots quickly finished their meal and went to their respective mecha being prepped.

-----

Chidori was glad to hear that the siren had rung, because she didn't enjoy her stay in the Freeden as much as she'd hope for as soon as she was brought here Sagara had never left her side that it almost drove her crazy. Even Jed, his supposedly superior officer, couldn't get him to break his vigilance over her. The only places he never seemed to bother her when she was in a bathroom, or in her private quarters. She appreciate his over protectiveness sometimes but he was slowly destroying her patience for him with his constant presence, and he was way too dense to take her words seriously if she complained, so she had kept those dark thoughts to herself. By force of habit, Sagara immediately left her side without a glance or a word, so Chidori was a bit confused if she should be angry or relieved by this. While walking at the corridor thoughtfully a door opened and Garrod's green black head popped out. "Oh, Kaname." He immediately said, "Tifa said you'd be here."

Chidori nodded, she had befriended Tifa Adil and Amuro Ray when she was kidnapped by the Alternate Company from school. And she was most concerned when Tifa lost consciousness from the last fight. She looked at Garrod, and noticed he was carrying a tray of food, and suddenly realized something.

"Tifa shouldn't be left alone," Garrod was saying, self-consciously, "but I'm needed at the front."

Chidori nodded in understanding and with underlying pity. She was just getting used with the idea that Sousuke was a military officer who was raised up in an unconventional manner and in a different environment from herself and the rest of their schoolmates. But seeing the other boy who was only a year younger in a huge robot made her realize that time like these, children were sent in the fighting in a world which she was completely ignorant of.

"Can you please stay with Tifa, until I come back?"

"Of course. You can count on me." Chidori said in forced cheer as she almost pried the tray from Garrod, "Don't worry about her. Just take care of yourself, alright?"

Garrod looked like he wasn't certain, but managed a brief nod instead of bothering to contradicting her. Giving over his tray, Garrod ran to suit up.

Meanwhile in the safety of her room, Tifa was looking out of the window, after forcing herself up to a sitting position against the pillows of her bed, her brows drawn together in concentration. Looking up at the sky through her mind's eye, she saw a falling star heading towards their direction…

-----

Jamil Neate and his bridge gang did saw that same falling object, but upon closer inspection from their cameras to check on it they had to summon Amuro, who was the pilot of the original Gundam, to verify this odd entity.

"It definitely has Gundarium alloy… but I've never seen anything like it," Amuro Ray murmured, and then he quickly looked at Jamil apologetically, "I was out from the fighting for seven years, so I may simply haven't heard anything about it. But from my memory, Bright told me that the Federation has been creating more Gundams after the RX-78, and adding more weapons and features for them."

Jamil nodded silently, still looking at the picture. "But nothing like this." he agreed. "It may be for our benefit if we looked into it."

For in that picture was an oddly designed mecha that looked suspiciously like a Gundam, which seemed to be five times in height and weight. Jamil, too, had lost count on how many Gundams the world has created, but seeing this one had not only raised his alarm, but also a suspicion too muddle for him to identify. He hoped that it wasn't the case, as the human race had too many troubles as it were already.

"Captain, ETA in 5 minutes," Sara relayed him as the Freeden approached the small deserted island where the huge Gundam was going to land on.

In the safety of his cockpit, Jed can't help thinking about a certain ancient reality show he and his sister would take pleasure laughing over upon seeing the forest infested island, but quickly focused himself to a more serious situation. He felt the tremors from that huge… thing… whatever it was as it landed where the Freeden was stationed ten feet away. But Jamil's orders had been specific, that they should not a first move against it.

It would seem that would not be the case, for as soon as the huge Gundam landed on the ground, another Gundam… one that was not among their number, emerged from its hiding place from the thick foliage. The Freeden bridge gang could only gape as the smaller Gundam attacked the larger one in whole abandon.

"Kyouji!" Domon Kasshu screamed in hatred, his eyes locked on the loathsome machine. He didn't bother on listening to Rain Mikamura's advice to contact the ship nearby. Hunting down this Devil was, for him, his mission, his goal, and his right. Ignoring to answer the radio from the Freeden, he willed his Shining Gundam to charge.

"Who the hell is that crazy…" Toniya was saying when the larger Gundam creature instantly activated, determining that they were a threat to it, by aiming its lasers from its eyes. Fortunately Shingo was a competent helmsman, and managed to inch the Freeden away a few feet away from their former position before the laser did.

Toniya looked at Sara, "Definitely not friendly." She said seriously, while Sara tried not to groan out loud.

The Gundam reminded Jamil of the Hydra monster in Greek mythology, as it wasn't exactly one should call this Gundam. From the waist up, it had the physical resemblance of the robot, but supporting it as its base is a larger Gundam head, and protruding from its sides were metal tentacles on which its head has a Gundam head as well. "It's very ugly," Boss would later said to Kouji Kobuto in which the latter "sshhdd" him.

"Just how many Gundams were they?" Garrod asked in confusion.

Roybea shrugged his shoulders, "Dunno. Ask Anaheim."

From experience, Kouji knew that no matter how strangely designed a robot was, it doesn't necessarily mean it was weak. He was honestly anticipating this fight, though.

-----

Shining Gundam had not been doing so well, perhaps Domon has been too tired from engaging the enemy to soon upon re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. Or maybe the annoying fact that his enemy has the ability to regenerate also added to the overall difficulty.

Still he couldn't help but glaring with annoyance at the incoming robots, as he didn't like strangers butting in his fight, so without even bothering to give his name he rudely interrupted Kouji's greeting. "Don't interfere! Stay away from the Devil Gundam!"

Kouji replied in surprise, "Devil Gundam?"

"Shut up! I'll defeat him myself!"

"Domon!" Rain, Domon's companion and Shining Gundam's engineer, said angrily, "You can't possibly think you defeat it by your lonesome?"

"Stay out of this, Rain!"

Jed gaped at Domon's furious expression and said, "Uh, in case you didn't notice, we're here to help you."

"I don't need it!"

Daimos inched closer, Kazuya was getting angry at this pilot's arrogance and letting his temper the better of him, "What are going to do, kick it out? Because whatever you're doing right it sure as hell is ineffective." he asked Domon sarcastically.

"Ryuzaki." Amuro Ray warned him.

"Do you want to fight?" Domon, as the Shining Gundam shifted into a defensive stance, while Daimos was doing the same, facing each other.

"Why not? You and me," Kazuya fired back, "Here! Right now!" Which brought out an "Are you nuts!" from Garrod.

Jed felt like groaning out loud, this was getting worse by the minute. But Kyoshiro was actually chuckling, Domon reminded him of Kazuya a lot than what either men realized.

"You will do no such thing," Amuro said angrily. "Break it off you two."

Domon reluctantly stepped back, admitting that Devil Gundam gets priority, but made a mental note to know that man who challenged him so boldly, before they looked over the Devil Gundam. It was quite immobile, and it seemed that some of its wind had been taken during its journey.

"What is that?" Sagara asked, as he looked on in morbid fascination, the Devil Gundam seemed more like a living being than a robot.

"A weapon that shouldn't have been." Domon said grimly, as the Shining Gundam stepped forward, its right hand glowing an eerie red light. "My hand is burning…!" but before he had finished his intonation, a missile was heading for his direction. To his surprise, Daimos deflected the projectile with its huge metal shod fists, Kazuya yelling at everyone to be alert.

-----

Dr. Hell was pleased to finally found the Ultimate Gundam, and felt his smile disappearing when he saw the quite familiar entourage near his intended target. It appears a fight would be imminent. He quickly order a dispatch of his mecha dinosaur army towards them, while at the same time giving a transmission to the Devil Gundam, seeing it too weak to defend itself properly. And some of them landed where Shining Gundam was standing.

"Damn you!" Domon shouted, "I say don't interfere!" As if to prove his point, the Shining Gundam right arm snaked out and gripped the Daburas' head, it stood their paralyzed, as Domon shouting "Shining Finger!"

The Daburas' head literally exploded into pieces.

"That move!" Jed gasped, recognizing it. He had seen it before!

"Sir?" Sagara asked him.

"Domon Kasshu. The champion of the Gundam fight tournament!" Jed said excitedly, "I saw him in TV last year!"

Sayaka rolled her eyes at him, "Is that all you've been doing for the last 18 years of your life?"

"HEY!" Jed retorted, stung by that particular accusation.

-----

The Devil Gundam moved, sensing that none of its enemies were heading towards it, and for now safe. With it's last of its strength, it concentrated on the ground, beginning to burrow. Meanwhile Dr. Hell was letting his armies be destroyed, but that was the reason, he could not let those people capture it now, as he ordered his troops to retreat, leaving the rest of its ground army behind.

Domon realized the Devil Gundam's intention and attempted to attack it, but was foiled by the other enemy robots, keeping him at bay. He saw it disappearing before his eyes, as it attempted to escape underground. "KYOOUJIII!" he called, as if he could goad that strange robot into attacking him. There was no such luck the robot continued its deed and soon, the Devil Gundam has escaped. Angered that his quarry had slipped past his fingers, he then switched his fury towards the dinosaur robots, blaming them for the screwup.

Amuro Ray remembered on more than one occasion when people had praised him for his smooth handling as the RX-78's pilot. If they had seen Shining Gundam's performance right now, they would have easily retracted their statement. Shining moved with grace and skill as a human martial artist, striking down its enemies with its bare fists alone that even Kazuya reluctantly agreed that Domon is a very powerful fighter. It was amazing to watch as Shining almost single handedly destroyed its enemies, and Jed knew that he would definitely want that pilot's bad graces.

-----

Thirty minutes later, Rain Mikamura, as Domon refused to go to the bridge with her but sent her as his representative, was thanking them for the aid for helping them.

"Given the circumstances, we should thank you." Kouji Kobuto wryly said, "I didn't even put down a Daburas after my second kill. We had to watch the rest of the fight instead."

Rain looked even more embarrassed by those words, "I'm sorry that my friend was so rude."

"No need, Ms. Rain." Amuro assured her, "But why are you chasing that… um… thing?"

Rain shook her short cropped brown hair, "I suppose Neo Japan colony would have to forgive me for giving away military secrets, but I have orders from my father and the Major Ishikawa that I should be cooperating with you people to retrieve that Gundam as soon as possible. What you have just seen… why we have to get it back… is a long story."

------

After Rain had told her tale, the Freeden's bridge was quiet.

"The Ultimate Gundam." Jamil said thoughtfully, "Yes, I have heard of that. But I had thought that the Federation had that project aborted during the war."

"Neo Japan thought it would be wise to continue the research." Rain said, "It was really an attempt to enable the Earth to regenerate itself even after the war left the world barren from nuclear attacks. It makes reconstruction easier for everyone."

"Regeneration, can a Gundam really do that?" Amuro asked her.

"Yes. Datas from the Excellion's travels regarding various energy sources, nanotechnology we adapted for the Mars Terraforming project, we were even given aid by NERV itself regarding biotechnology. Everything we need that would allow the Gundam to become what it is today. There are also three specific abilities of that Gundam that Domon's father perfected: self regeneration, self reproduction and self evolution. It's basically allowing a machine a life of its own."

"So in a nutshell, that Ultimate Gundam is invulnerable." Sara speculated.

"Not really," Rain corrected her, "If you destroy its core, it halts the regeneration process. But trying to defeat it in order to do that, will be the most difficult part."

"So what went wrong? Why did it come here?" Jamil asked.

"Domon's brother… Kyouji Kasshu… stole that machine and did something to it. The Ultimate became berserk, and transformed into the Devil Gundam."

"Why?"

"I don't know. And neither does Domon." Rain said, looking pained by the subject. "Our government sent us to capture, or destroy, the suit and its pilot for high treason."

"I see," Amuro rubbed his neck tiredly, "this is complicated."

Jamil was about to tell her that they would have to report to the Federation about this when Toniya looked at the captain and said, "Kid wants to talk to you."

Jamil switched the radio on the armrest of his chair, wondering why Kid would call him during such an important meeting when the mechanic was shouting, barely above the noise that sounded like a brawl, "Is there a Rain-san in the bridge?" he asked desperately.

"Yes, why?" Rain asked in surprise before Jamil could reply.

"Well that Domon person is causing havoc in my hangar!"

"WHAT!"

-----

Kazuya had enough. He was still reeling from the punch that Domon guy had just inflicted on him, "What the hell's the matter with you?" He demanded, "All I'm asking is that you should help us." This time he was prepared and managed to deflect another punch that was aimed at him.

"Shut up, because of you, Devil Gundam escaped!" Domon accused him.

"Bull! We were just standing there while you raved your fool head off!" Kazuya almost screamed back. "That's what you were doing basically: talking too much." Domon felt something snap, and the two were now literally trading punches at each other.

Meanwhile the rest of the innocent bystanders were helpless to lift off the steam despite their best of efforts. "Ummm… shouldn't anyone do something?" Jed asked in annoyance when he saw Witz and Roybea busy putting up bets for the fight. Kid ran off to call Rain, and Erika, in hopes they would cool down those two men.

"Are you crazy?" Roybea replied, surprised that Jed even suggested that, "Have you seen how those two trade blows? If you get involve with that you'll only get yourself hurt."

"And if we don't do something soon we will lose a pilot!" Jed retorted.

Sayaka was already shouting for the two fighters to stop, but was blithely ignored. In desperation, Nana looked at her annoying partner who seemed more amused than worried about this development. "Please stop them!"

Kyoshiro was about to chuckle when he saw Nana's fierce expression, and shrugged. "Alright," he said reluctantly agreed, it would have been educational. With a speed that made the others blink, Kyoshiro deflected both Domon and Kazuya's punches with the flat of his katana. The fighters staggered back, glaring at the swordsman. Instead of being intimidated by their scowls, Kyoshiro looked at Kazuya with a bored expression and said, "We're in someone else's ship, Kazuya. Not a dojo." Kazuya reddened angrily by that embarrassing remark, but at least he was composed enough to stop. Domon on the other hand gave those two a look of contempt then walked slowly away, deciding it simply wasn't worth the effort anymore. By the time Rain came in the hangar, the fight had been over. Technically, that is.

Still she was quite angry, as she stormed towards Domon's direction.

"Well, so much for that." Roybea said, disappointed the fight didn't pull through, as well as obtaining easier cash from it.

"Remind me," Jed said ruefully at the older man instead, "Never made those two guys mad at me."