"We wish you luck, Captain Bright." Jamil was saying from the bridge of the Freeden ship, as the La Kairam was heading towards the ocean. The Freeden will rendezvous on the ruins of Old Tokyo, and were still accepting supplies and orders from the base.
"You too, Captain Neate. Take care of everything here." Bright said, from the corner of his eye, he saw Quattro, Kazuya and Kenichi nearby.
"I will." And Bright was content with that; he knew that Jamil would indeed take care of it.
"…" Kazuya looked in his fist, recalling Domon's words regarding that the strength of his hands reflects from his heart. Though he was worried about Erika, he was convinced that she was alive; he knew it from his heart. That was why he volunteered to go with the La Kairam group, instead of staying behind on Earth. Space might perhaps give him the room for him to think it over.
Kenichi Gou was silent as well, as the eldest; he was the one who recalled the day their father left them more vividly than his brothers, when their father left towards space. Though no one realized it yet, Professor Gou went into a mission that only their mother Mitsuyo Gou and Professor Sankuji knew, but could not disclose to them the information since they were honoring the promise they made to him. And so the Gou brothers grew up without the knowledge of their father's fate. Though popular belief that he was dead.
His mother doesn't think so, although that was only based on her feminine instinct rather than logical fact, despite her profession. And Kenichi would like to think that he agreed with her regarding that. But still…
"All hands are ready for your orders, Captain," the La Kairam's bridge operator replied.
"Very well." Bright replied evenly, "Establish our coordinates to New Hong Kong."
----------
"Well, it seems that the jig is up." Prospector said when Megumi assured him for the fifth time that she could not reach their contact in Nergal. "Now, the JSSDF are probably investigating the company."
"And they would stall for us to get out of here." Yurika said. "Then I suppose it's safe to tell our objectives freely to our crew."
"Objective?" Minato asked her.
"I'm sorry I couldn't disclose to you sooner, but the less people who knew about this the less chances people from outside would figure out what we're actually doing." Yurika explained. "We are going to Mars."
Stunned silence by the weight of her admission, and the way she had said it so frankly. "But we already knew that." Minato said, as Ruri and Megumi nodded. "Prospector told us as soon as we accepted the job."
"Mou! You just ruined my dramatic moment!!!" Yurika pouted.
"Stupid." Ruri replied for the nth time ever since she entered this ship.
But apparently there was one who never heard of that statement before. And before they knew it Akito Tenkawa rushed into the bridge, clasped Yurika's shoulders and gave her a quick shake. "Is it true? You're serious?!" he shouted.
"HEY! Don't manhandle the Captain!" Jiro Yama--- er--- Gai Daigoji shouted in righteous fury, following closely behind, not paying attention that he was holding his crutch, and that he had left it behind on the floor. Obviously pain took over, and he was now sitting on the floor, which basically robs him of the strong impression of his words,
Seeing that Yurika was blushing, no doubt caught up in a fantasy regarding herself and Akito, the latter immediately released her, looking away in embarrassment. Prospector decided to intervene, "Yes. That's right, I never told you about this."
Akito immediately switched track. "What do you mean you are heading for Mars?"
"Well, since you're from there, surely you've heard news concerning the battle against the Jovians?"
For the first time, Akito finally had the heart to say it, "I didn't heard it. I saw the whole thing."
Yurika gasped, looking at him wide-eyed. If one drops a coin in the bridge of the Nadesico in that moment, everyone might have heard it. The rest of the bridge, including Gai, gaped at Akito realizing what he had just said..
"You're serious!?" Gai shouted, "You were there when Mars colony was attacked? Stop kidding!"
This brought some fire in Akito's heart, angry that Gai was accusing him a liar. "I was there! I wish I was only kidding about that!"
"That's impossible and you know that!" Gai said, "I never thought of you as a deceiving type since you fought so bravely last time, but this is making me regret that."
He couldn't explain how he came to Earth a few days after the Mars Colony was destroyed, as well as having no proof to back up his ludicrous claim. Suddenly, Akito became aware that if the rest of the bridge were sharing Gai's sentiments, Yurika might ask him to leave, childhood friend or not from the ship as soon as he could. In desperation, he looked at her. "Yurika…"
"…Don't worry, Akito." Yurika said smiling, "I'm at your side."
"But Mr. Yamada," Minato pointed out, ignoring Gai's attempt to correct her, "is accurate to this situation. It's impossible for him to be here if he witnessed the battle."
"I don't really care." Yurika said, "As long as Akito says that he's been there. He's been there. And I don't anymore talks regarding that."
"Yurika."
"Hiding behind a woman. Typical."
Akito had enough, "Shut up! You're just a wannabe pilot like the rest of us!"
"That's true." Gai admitted, surprising everyone. "I never piloted a robot before, I didn't go to college and anything like that. I'm a total embarrassment to my parents. But…" here he looked fiercely at the young cook, "My heart is set into this entire venture. And even though it was a foolish mission, and it may cost us our lives, I'm doing this because I want to. Not to prove myself."
"And you're saying I don't have the heart for it?!"
"Are you?" Gai asked him, and Akito remembered in embarrassment that the first time he rode in the Aestivalis was to run away from the battle. And even though he was enlisted as a regular fighter pilot, he was still set on becoming a cook, reluctant to be in the battlefield. He had been running away from those things ever since, and frankly he was getting tired of it.
And it was those same words that Gai was saying right now. And for once, Akito couldn't find anymore excuses for himself. And wondered what he should do if the battle was closing in around him, and couldn't find his motivation. A rather dangerous dilemma.
"How can I learn to have heart?"
"I can't teach you that. You'll have to find it for yourself." Gai replied, thinking. "However…"
----------
New Hong Kong was just as Bright remembered it so long ago. The original city was once razed to the ground during the chaos of the Coordinator extermination many years ago, but somehow it had rebuilt itself, and managed to survive during the height of the One Year War, when threats of Colony drop were rampant, literally forcing people to flee other metropolis following the Australia incident.
This was the place where he and Mirai went for their honeymoon after getting married, a few years of peace that they managed to have. He always made a mental note to bring the family once he had the time. But he was very much a military man, whom he discovered early on as White Base's captain, and Mirai who had been with him since the war understood that as well. Still he felt guilty not being there as a father. Especially since his eldest child would be celebrating his birthday tomorrow, and obligation to his ship was keeping him from even sending a greeting card.
He remembered Amuro's words on the few hours before La Kairam's departure, sharing a quiet coffee break in the cafeteria. The coffee was starting to become a staple diet for him… and oddly enough, he found himself telling Amuro his own dilemma when not so long ago he used to slap him around for disobeying his orders and military protocol.
"Why don't you send someone to deliver your mail?"
Bright looked at surprise to Amuro Ray, wondering if he had just read his mind.
"Not really." Amuro said, smiling ruefully. "I don't think I can reach the level Tifa has, but your expression basically gave your thoughts away."
"My expression?"
"You have this glaze look in your face. I noticed you usually do that when we're talking about them when I was under the house arrest a few years ago (1). Which reminds me, how are they?"
"Mirai is worried about you. As usual." Bright smiled in memory. "And the kids should be entering middle high school after the summer."
"You must be very proud."
"Considering the circumstances, we're very lucky."
"Come to think of it, I never even finished junior high." Amuro shrugged, remembering in sadness that most recruits who were young, or perhaps younger, as he once was were most likely six feet under now. "You and Mirai are good parents."
"Don't praise me yet. I feel guilty letting her handle the kids all alone. I should have at least given her a maid before I left."
"I'm sure she's doing fine." Amuro assured his friend. Despite appearances, Bright was also a huge worrywart, and he was taking a huge effort to put on the mask of control for the sake of his crew and subordinates. The responsibilities of an officer and a family man had obviously weighed heavily on him, and Amuro silently felt pity for his friend. But he knew that Bright will not accept his pity, nor should he disclose his feelings on the matter, for their own sense of professional pride.
"Yeah…" Then he looked at Amuro, "A letter, huh?"
----------
"Simulation is over," Noin instructed as the pods holding her charges thrummed softly as the power was switched off. She then looked at her console to evaluate their performance. "Camille and Jed, excellent." She then frowned at Fa's score. "You took too much hits, you have to be more careful next time."
Fa nodded silently as Camille looked away. She had been acting strange for the past few days, and tried talking to her. But as usual, it had led into another argument in which he ended up storming off in anger, belatedly realizing that he was supposed to cheer her up. I guess I'm pretty lousy with that department.
Maybe she was having trouble as a fighter pilot. Noin was a demanding instructor, and their sessions weren't exactly a walk in the park, since she was drilling them in cases where a pilot has to sit in a cockpit for days during long field battles that their legs literally went numb. In Camille's opinion, Fa has great potential. Unfortunately, she gets easily distracted, which was the reason she never get as many kills as she should have virtually.
Still, Camille couldn't find the nerve to talk to her, he was getting tired of their arguments. And for once, he can't think of anything else to talk about. In a way, he felt sad with the fact, it felt like they were slowly drifting apart. The girl whom he considered as close as his sister.
Sister. Camille looked at Jed, and somehow wished Erin came along. But Erin enlisted in the Freeden's route, and would not see them until transported to the moon. Jed was a great guy, cheerful, thoughtful and optimistic, and Camille could see why Erin was very fond of him. But maybe it was the fact that he wasn't in battle with him, wasn't there when Camille's frustrations were threatening to crush him. He couldn't confide with Jed as easily as Erin did. Though the former would just as easily dismissed the troubles away given the chance.
Jed waved a hand in front of his face, snapping Camille back to reality. "Hey?"
"Uh, what…?"
"I've been looking for you awhile ago." Jed was saying. "You're going to deliver a letter."
"What?" Camille managed to blurt out as Jed gave him a thick white envelope. He looked it over and saw that it was addressed to Bright's wife.
"Why not?" Jed asked him. "Anyway, you could just drive it off in the post office and be here. Since the ship would be here until the afternoon."
"So why don't you do it?"
"I can't drive."
"Oh."
"Though technically, I never drove a giant robot before. And look, I'm a Gundam pilot like the rest of you."
"Didn't you trashed it?" the Zeta Gundam pilot asked, frowning.
Jed almost face faulted. "It wasn't my fault! It's not as if I sent it to the sun or something (2)…" he shouted, but he was grinning as Camille was. Fa noted that Camille was slowly getting cheerful these days. Not the surly angry man from Green Noa 2 whom she was with so long ago.
"Alright." Camille agreed, accepting the envelope. "I've always wanted to see what an Earth city is like."
"Can I go with you?"
"No." Camille said flatly.
"Just a thought." Jed smiled, giving him a pat on the shoulder before Camille left. The blue haired boy was so immersed with the banter that he never noticed that Fa looked away, tears felling from her eyes, caught up in her own regrets.
----------
Akito felt tears falling in his eyes by the implication of the message conveyed to him so eloquently by the medium. He never felt such regret by the implications of this tragedy.
Joe, the pilot of Ocean Gekigangar, has died, protecting his friends and his loved one at the cost of his life. Akito had never seen this episode, as it was pulled off from the Martian cable network, but even its crude animations did not hinder him to feel the pain Joe's friends convey during his last dying breath.
"That's it?!" Yurika shouted as Gai and Akito bawled shamelessly, "How does that… thing…teach Akito anything?" the three of them were sitting in Gai's quarters, literally littered with Gekigangar merchandise, in front of an old projector.
"Thank you!" Akito cried, clutching at Gai's hand. "Thank you! Now I understand!"
"I knew you could, Tenkawa!" Gai shouted back, as his shoulders shook in sadness as Ken , the leader of the Gekigangar team, screamed Joe's name to the open horizon in the last scene. "This is what the true heart is like!"
"Sheesh." Yurika said, clasping her head in her hands, giving up on this, "I'm much better than that."
----------
Though Nadesico's computer Omoikane were downloading information of the anime to its system, his fairy counterpart Ruri did not share the same fascination. As she watched the young adults in the room, and their reaction to the Gaikigangar series she could only calmly comment… "Stupid."
But despite her expressionless demeanor, a small smile was forming from the corners of her mouth, she had to admit that she was silently amused by her eccentric crewmates.
Perhaps she herself was becoming as dumb as they were. But for now, she did not loathe their company.
----------
Fa was still trying vainly to remove the tears from her eyes in the confinement of the small simulation chamber when she felt that someone was entering the other pod adjacent to hers.
"Hey." Jed said quietly. "You OK?"
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Fa managed to mutter.
"My sister used to do that when she's depressed." Jed replied. "Usually talking it out was the best thing. That is, if you want to."
"It's really none of your business."
"That's true. But I'm a big meddler. That's one of my weaknesses I guess."
"…"
"Since you're here. Maybe you could give me a hand?"
"Huh?"
"Noin hasn't tried us sparring against each other. I'm just curious what we could do with that." Jed said, powering up the machine.
"Don't be silly. You score more in the simulated battles than I did. I'd definitely lose."
"Not necessarily true. Sometimes a computer can't replicate human instinct. I can't fight Camille because he'd been in a real battlefield before. He had more experience in outer space battles, so he had a huge advantage in this training." Seeing that Fa was still skeptical he added. "It's like playing a video game. It'd be fun."
Fa was still giving him an incredulous look, but at least she wasn't crying anymore, as she pushed the power on in her own console as well.
----------
Camille was glad that he went out in New Hong Kong. Though the air in the Colonies was much cleaner, there was something special and different from the wind coming in from the ocean, something a Colony can never replicate. It was exhilarating,
He had already finished the task assigned to him, and it would be a shame to just go back and not take advantage of the beach. He was standing on the sand, enjoying the breeze when he noticed a small airplane crashing awkwardly in the sand, its young owner crying a few distance away.
Before he could move away from his spot to take the small plane, another one beat him to it. He realized that the person was a girl, a few inches taller than him, with dark green hair and blue eyes, she was wearing a loose blue sweater that covered up her frame, but did nothing to hinder her graceful movements as she picked up the toy plane. She was the loveliest woman Camille ever saw, and he was stunned by that realization.
The girl looked at him, just realizing that he was staring, and gave him a slight smile. Before she hurried up to the young boy, the plane tucked under her arm. Must be her brother, Camille thought, refusing to think that it could be a possibility he could be her son. Suddenly depressed, he began to think it was a good idea to head back to the La Kairam. He walked back to the sidewalk where he parked his car.
"Excuse me!" A young female voice called him, and Camille turned back in surprise that the young woman whom he admired a few minutes ago was catching her breath, "I was wondering, if I could hitch a ride with you into the city."
"Sure!" Camille said, then blushed, realizing that he sounded too eager to be with her.
But the young woman smiled even radiantly as she held out her hand. "I'm pleased to meet you, I'm Four Murasame."
Camille clasped her hand, dimly aware of her unusual name. "Camille Vidan."
----------
"Why can't you just tell him?" Jed asked, they were now standing near the instructor's console. Checking on their final score.
"I can't." Fa lowered her head, depression taking control of her again.
"Well, you have to tell him sooner or later. You shouldn't hold your emotions like that. You'd end up hurting yourself."
"But, I don't want to change. I tried so hard to keep our friendship like that. But I know in my heart of hearts that Camille wouldn't accept that into anything more. And it frustrates me…"
"That's difficult." Jed agreed.
"Do you have someone? A special person?" Fa said, intrigued an touched by his consideration. She always sees Jed hanging around with Sousuke and Chidori. And that he was willing to spend time with her was a great help for her. She had been carrying that emotional baggage for so long… she can never admit this to Camille, and she had too much respect for Noin to disclose this that would seem for the older woman petty. (3)
"No." Jed shrugged, "So I guess I'm not really the right person to talk about it after all."
"It's hard to believe you don't have a girlfriend."
"Girls think I'm weird." From his tone of voice, Fa couldn't tell if he was honest or sarcastic.
"I think you're very nice."
Jed looked up, smiling at the compliment, "Why thank you. You're the second girl who said that."
"Really? Who's the first one?"
"My sister."
"Oh."
"Maybe in my heart of hearts I'm not really ready for a relationship. That if I go to that level, I need to grow up first. I don't want the girl to think she's raising a little kid, instead of having a boyfriend. I think one should undergo change."
"Grow up, huh?" Fa digested that insight, wondering if that was the one both of them lacked.
"Hey, you won!" Jed said, and Fa looked in pleasure when she saw that he was correct. She had hit him a couple of more shots than his own score. "You didn't do this on purpose, are you?" she asked him suspiciously.
"No. I never underestimate my enemies."
Fa looked up in surprise by the grim tone of voice from Jed, but he was already walking away to deactivate the simulator's power grid. And Fa looked into her score, her self-confidence growing by the fact that she wasn't so dwarfed in this as she thought.
----------
"That's an interesting name. 'Four'."
"It's an ugly name." Four said, her nose wrinkled in distaste. "I feel like a production model." The car was moving in an easy pace, for Four to point out the place where she was supposed to drop up. But Four admitted to him that this was the first time she had been in New Hong Kong, and that they might not find the place so easily.
"I see." Camille was struck at how similar they were, he wasn't fond of his name either. "So where are you going?"
"Somewhere. Where I can find more of myself."
"…"
"It's strange." Four said, "I usually don't speak with strangers before, but I managed to share a few sentences to a person I just met."
"I understand what you meant. I felt the same way…"
"Camille… I…"
"…?"
"No, forget it." Four said. Looking forward, gripping her hands, "I'm just being unsure."
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll remember," Camille reassured her, thinking that she meant she wasn't certain where she should go in the city.
"…" For a moment Four thought he meant something else, but she caught herself before she could blurt anything. She was in strict orders not to divulge information to a civilian. "You can drop me off here." As Camille maneuvered his car to the sidewalk. Four asked him, "Will I see you again?"
Camille felt his heart sank, "I'm leaving tonight."
"Oh, what a shame." he sensed Four's brief disappointment before she gave him a brilliant smile, "But I sincerely hope that we will see each other soon."
"Me too."
"Well, bye." And in that moment Four disappeared into the crowd of people, before Camille realized that he should have asked where she lived. Cursing his own stupidity, he glumly returned to the base.
----------
"Based from the Preventer's information, and Nergal's navigational charts that we managed to collect, we may be able to reach the Nadesico if we leave tonight and cut her off from her route." Bright said in the briefing room, with the pilots, under Lt. Bajina's supervision, who were assigned to this mission.
"They wouldn't be prepared that we gave chase so soon." Quattro agreed. "We have the element of surprise in our side."
"But what about the Gravitational weapon that they have?" Kyoshiro asked. "I doubt they would just quietly give up if we asked them."
"True." Bright agreed, "But I would like to talk to them first. I'm sure from Admiral Misumaru's words that his daughter is a reasonable Captain."
"That is assuming that she will listen."
"The ship is a civilian vessel." Bright said, "I would not like to think you are suggesting to attack it, Mr. Yuzuki."
That shut Kyoshiro up as Bright continued the meeting. "We have studied the weapon they used from the Sasebo battle. And as long as you keep away from it's range of fire, we should be safe. There are no guarantees however, and I would like you to be alert and careful once we deal with them."
The rest of the pilots were quiet to digest this piece of information as Bright continued, "And do not engage the ship in combat unless I order it to. That is all."
"It sounds risky, Bright." Quattro confided to him as soon as everyone else left the briefing room.
"I agree." Bright said, "That's why I asked Miwa to give me the blueprints the Preventers confiscated from Nergal. If they try to attack, no matter what other course we chose, I would like you to shoot down the ship by disabling their engine with a bazooka. I heard that the ship has a defense mechanism that deflects lasers." (4)
"I see you came prepared." Quattro said approvingly. "I hope they will listen."
"Me too."
----------
Four Murasame personally disliked the man, but unfortunately, was also her superior officer as Captain Namikar gave her the outline of her mission, glaring at her as he went. He never really liked her ilk, and it was doubtful that he will.
"We would also like to test the Psycho Gundam, and since we received word that the Nadesico is a renegade ship, it wouldn't be a bad idea to do battle against it."
"I didn't come all this way just to amuse you with your 'toys'." Four said, frowning. "I am only here as a pilot reserve under the orders of Basque Ohm."
"Who is also ordering me to test the new Gundam's performance by the time he returns from Space." Namikar snapped, "If you want your memories returned to you, you will obey my instructions."
"For now." Four finished for him as she stalked away from the room, without bothering to give him a proper salute.
"Damn you." Namikar cursed. But knew he cannot retaliate against her. She was the prized work of the Murasame industries, and the Titans knew that her services would be greatly needed for their war effort. For now, he would let it go at that, but he will never forget this incident.
----------
Just as Bright predicted, they have managed to track down the ship by the next morning. And cautiousness was the reason why he decided to talk to Captain Misumaru, as well as giving ample time for his other units to fortify their positions.
"WHAAAAATTTT?!?!" Yurika shouted, "Please say it again!
"They say that it's Lond Bell," Megumi reported, feeling her ears ringing. "Under the command of Captain Bright Noah."
"I never knew Miwa was fast enough to pry enough information to reach us," Prospector said. "Not to mention having such an important person sent here to capture us."
"Capture?!" Akito said, clearly upset. "If that happens, we'll never get to Mars! We have to get away from them, Yurika! Er… Yurika…?"
"Wow! The White Base Captain, chasing us!" Yurika said in awe, her hands clasped as she literally skipped around in the bridge in excitement. "He's the one who inspired me to become a ship captain in the first place! To think I'll meet him soon in person! Oh what should I wear?! Maybe I should get his autograph while I'm at it…!"
"YURIKA!!!" Akito shouted.
"Of course you are the man I will always love, no one ever will have my heart." Yurika assured him, "But Mr. Bright is somewhat a living legend for me. I can't miss this opportunity!"
Akito face-faulted, "THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"
"So, uh, if you don't mind." The La Kairam's communication officer put in, taken aback by this little scene. "If you shut down the engine, and come with us…"
"We'll never do that!" Akito shouted.
"OK!" Yurika said at the same time, holding out the Nadesico's engine key, beaming.
"YURIKA!!!"
"There it goes." Minato sighed as the engine shut down.
"Without power, the ship is defenseless." Ruri said.
"Hey, the Captain knows what she's doing, right, Ruri?" Megumi asked her nervously.
Ruri shrugged. "Dunno."
Prospector looked at Yurika, "As second in command, I guess I should come along."
Yurika nodded her consent, "Thanks." She looked at her crew. "I'll see you."
But Akito was still gaping even after she left.
----------
Bright met Admiral Misumaru before, and he had to admit back then that he was completely taken aback by his unconventional attitude. This seems to apply to Misumaru's daughter as well, who seemed to take a delight with all his stuff that was on the table in the briefing room. "Er, if I may have your attention?"
"Of course!" Yurika said, instantly looking at him in rapt attention as if she was a student in the Academy again.
"I'm sure you know why we are here." Bright said carefully, "And I am under direct orders to bring you back in Japan and face trial with the JSSDF."
"I understand what you are trying to say, sir. And I will not shrink away from the responsibility. However," Yurika said looking evenly at him in the eye. "I'm sorry to say that I will not surrender my ship to Chief Miwa. I consider Nadesico's mission a higher priority than to face court martial."
"You are heading to space. May we ask why?"
"I'm also sorry to say that that information is classified." Prospector put in when Yurika glanced in his direction. "We will give the information once we returned to Earth."
"I'm afraid that explanation is not sufficient enough." Bright said. "I can't just let you go. If you refuse to give information I would have to put you and your crew..."
"Captain Bright." Yurika said, interrupting him as she stand up, looking grim. "If I may be given a chance to speak on behalf of my crew?"
"Yes."
"Can I have your autograph, PLEEEEAAAASSEEE?" Yurika said, her eyes fawning as she gave Bright a piece of paper.
"Uh… alright…"
Prospector sweat dropped. "Captain."
----------
"Sir, what are you doing?" Sousuke and Chidori were surprised to see Jed staring intently at the window. Chidori gave a glance in that direction and saw nothing spectacular, other than the sky and green foliage.
"Oh, hi! Chidori. Sousuke. Well, they kept saying I'm a Newtype candidate, so I tried to see if it is. Camille and Tifa picked up danger very well, I was thinking I could do the same." Jed said, looking at them.
"I don't think staring at the window would be considered mental exercise." Sousuke replied seriously.
"Don't be so impudent." Jed said, disgruntled. It was rather embarassing, but other than the danger he sensed when his city was attacked, there were no other incidents concerning his mental capabilities. From what Camille told him, the mental powers go downhill after being awakened. But he wasn't successful with that department…. He wondered why.
"But it is kinda silly." Chidori said. "Would I be a Newtype if I say this ship is going to get hit?" As soon as she said that, the three of them landed awkwardly on the floor, looking around at what happened, while the siren blared overhead.
"Am I?!" Chidori asked them, looking terrified.
"Doubt it. But next time, knock wood." Jed suggested as he and Sousuke raced for the hangar, knowing that they have to deploy soon.
----------
"What happened out there?!" Bright shouted as he took the Captain's seat, the bridge was almost a wreck, taken completely by surprise in the attack. But with the appearance of the Captain, they quickly did their best to recover and become a united force.
"We're being fired upon by an unidentifiable Mobile Suit!" the communication officer replied. "We also lost 40% of our engines. The Zaku IIs are coming closely behind."
"Tell Quattro and his people to defend La Kairam and the Nadesico." As if an afterthought he added, "And contact Nadesico's bridge. Tell them send a pilot to escort their Captain back. Voltes V, try to support them."
"You're sending Misumaru back?" Kenichi Gou asked him.
"If she doesn't, Nadesico would be destroyed. She has the key of the engine."
"I understand." Kenichi replied as he signed off. Yurika and the Prospector were on the helicopter where La Kairam's mechanics provided. Bright hoped it would be fast enough. As he watched it leave from the hangar.
Four's headache receded a bit. Being in the Psycho Gundam's cockpit was taking toil in her mental abilities. She silently cursed when she realized that she fired on the wrong ship, making it an unnecessary enemy. She switched her attention to the Waverider, the Taurus, the Methass and Sentinel, all in Mobile Armor mode, as they raced to attack her.
"What is that thing?" Fa asked, "It looked like a flying fortress."
"I've never seen anything like it." Noin gasped.
"Be careful." Camille told them as he fired his beam rifles that were absorbed by the Psycho Gundam's body. "Beam coat, we're in trouble."
"Camille…"
"Don't worry, Fa. I'm right behind you."
"Just don't get killed." Noin said grimly, as the four planes went into different directions when the huge Mobile Armor retaliated with its huge laser.
---------
Yurika was glad to see Akito's red Aestivalis in its Wing Frame, midway to receive them. Despite the relief of having a Super Robot with them, she'd prefer to be with familiar people. Prospector looked at her oddly as they entered the Nadesico's hangar, and Akito and Gai's units were also deployed to support Lond Bell's forces. "I didn't know you have such perspective when it comes to judging people, Captain. But I begin to understand why you went to the La Kairam in the first place. You must have realized that they will help you in the end."
"Really?" Yurika asked him wide-eyed. "I only wanted Mr. Bright's autograph."
"…oh…"
----------
Somehow, Camille and Fa managed to stay together when they were separated from Noin's unit. The Methass and the Waverider was suddenly the enemy MA's favorite target as it tried to blow them into smithereens. Camille managed to avoid them unscathed, but Fa got a hit, forcing the Methass to move slower, and as Four was about to deliver a deathblow. Camille willed his Zeta Gundam's hyper beam cannon screaming, "Leave her alone!!!" the fear and anger Camille felt in that moment, seemed to drive into his Newtype manifestation, like a spear embedded into Four's thoughts. She felt cold all over, by the sheer mental pressure from her enemy.
"This… power…!" Four gasped, as the Psycho Gundam barely evaded Zeta's weapon. And to Camille's shock, instead of retaliating as he expected, it began to retreat, leaving it's team behind. The unfortunate Zakus only looked around in confusion, losing their contact with their leader, before the Lond Bell soldiers finished them off.
"Fa!" Camille shouted as he called anxiously in her radio, "Can you go back?"
"Yes, I think I can. Camille… thank you…" As the Zeta Gundam transported the Methass anyway, with the Noin and Jed protecting their rear.
"Fa, I want to say…"
"Camille, let's not fight anymore."
"…" Camille was thrown off by that remark,
"Let's just grow up a bit, and see what comes next. But for now on, I'm not going to sulk anymore. So please don't worry about me."
"Fa." Camille was glad to see her all right.
"I'm sorry for making you feel bad."
"It's nothing. Really…"
But, Camille wondered, finally allowing his thoughts to think about the huge enemy they've faced, now that they were no longer in danger. The aura from the machine…
…is familiar…
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Four knew those thoughts. She recognized them enough. Despite their brief meeting, it had created such a distinct impression in her mind that she knew it will haunt her for the rest of her life.
Camille… why?
These were her thoughts as she returned to the base, no longer caring for being punished. The knowledge of Camille being her enemy was more than she could handle. But despite her feelings, she was certain for one thing.
Camille, for all his powers, cannot bring her memories back.
And so she can never leave, and that fact made her sick in the stomach, as she fled from the memory of the one person she cherished.
"The Nadesico's beyond our reach now, it's gone." Kenichi said from the screen.
"The mechanics are working double shifts to fix the engine as soon as possible." Quattro reported, studying Bright intently. "I have the rest of the pilots on standby duty in case our huge friend wants a re-match."
"Good. Is something the matter, Lieutenant?"
"You've purposely let them go." Quattro said quietly, "Risking court-martial in the process. Why?"
"The Captain… is quite persistent on leaving…" Bright said, looking up from his reports. "And there's something about her that made me realize that they have no intention against us."
When Quattro looked skeptical, Bright produced a piece of paper that was tucked away neatly in his pocket, written under Yurika's elegant hand was the word "Mars". And immediately, the blonde pilot understood the final piece of the puzzle.
"On their own? They're quite brave."
"We'll still give chase." Bright said aloud, turning away. "Hopefully we can catch them in Luna."
And indirectly help them in the process, Quattro thought as he smiled wryly at the Captain who once commandeered the White Base that he failed to destroy so many years ago.
He never appreciated the sharp wit of Bright Noah, but under these circumstances, he was glad he was on Lond Bell's side.
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Next Chapter: Lost In Another Lost World, Erin, Kouji and Masaki ended up in the small boundaries of Tokyo Jupiter. Surprised to see a place displaced in both time and space, they were now on the mission to find certain pilots that will aid them to return to the others. Unfortunately, it seemed that danger was everywhere, whether from the inside or the outside world.
1: In the ending of Gundam (called "First" by Japanese fans), Amuro Ray was put into house arrest by the Federation forces, despite the fact that he was the winning factor of the One Year War, because they were afraid by the manifestation of his powers. Amuro didn't mind at the least, having an excuse to leave fighting for awhile. It took a lot of people to convince him to go back out there and fight against the Titan tyranny. And he eventually joins the Earth forces in Kabala in Zeta Gundam.
2: The Send the Gundams to the Sun Operation is the dumbest plan Quatre, Duo, Heero and Trowa ever conceived (Wufei, Noin and Lady were apparently smarter). Sorry in advance to the fans, but it makes no sense whatsoever, since it'd be easier if they just self-destruct their Gundams to smithereens (which they did) in the first place and save themselves the trouble of getting rid of them. But then they wouldn't fight those Serpents. Which led to another question: Why did they blow them up? Be assured though that this little plot will be removed in Omega, because of the reasons mentioned before.
3: Not true, though. Noin waited for her man in quite some time. And made her wishes known she would never leave his side. She had her share of heartaches. I think that Noin instructor wise enforces the Teacher-Student thing, and that includes not emotionally friendly to pilots who may end up dead in their first battle. It was the same aloofness that didn't make her close to Fa, in this story, despite that her desire to help her.
4: Based it from SRW A and Impact in their interpretation of the Distortion Field. I know that they take less damage against melee and missiles too, but for the sake of the story, its real strength is not being harmed by lasers, which 80% of the mechas and ships use anyway…
Gekigangar 3 is a famous super robot anime that was aired around the time when Akito was very young (it was hinted that it was older), and was unable to finish the series properly (at least when Joe was killed up to the ending) due to the fact the Earth government were fighting against the Jovian Lizards. The series tells the story of Ken, Joe and the third pilot I forgot his name protecting their base, complete with a misguided alien prince that wants to conquer them, a female second in command who's in love with him, and a big guy who's loyal to him. A tribute/spoof to the old Super Robots. Gekigangar 3 has an OAV series from the creators of Nadesico, in a side note, when the Gekigangar team are watching TV it shows scenes from the actual Nadesico as a TV series (weird huh?)…
Notes: Am hearing "Victory" (theme song of SRW MX) and it's awesome XD. Darn, so close yet so far…
Supposedly, I would have the Nadesico and La Kairam fight each other, but I decided that Yurika and Bright meeting face-to-face is much better than my last draft. The title stays, though, because I would like to misguide my readers . FFNet don't accept to break my story, so I'm using ---- instead. This is so annoying...