Chapter 4: Shining Wings and Justice
C.E. 75, Indian Ocean, somewhere near India. (a few minutes before contacting Dearka and Sven.)
"Ok, Area-19 is clear. Let's head to Area-20," Yzak Joule commanded.
"Roger!!" Every soldier replied.
At that, Yzak and his team dashed off to Area-20, the Indian Ocean.
An image popped-out on top of the screen of the silver-head captain's mobile suit. Shiho Hahnenfuss sent a video contact. "Be careful Yzak, an entire fleet was wiped out there yesterday by a few unknown mobile suits. Even Randy, an Ace pilot couldn't survive," Her voice showed care towards him.
"Don't worry, if we encounter with any of them, we'll just fight with them till the end," He answered clearly, full of confidence.
"What if we're losing?" Shiho asked him again.
"Then… we'll just send in the reinforcements. Now, focus, Major Hahnenfuss!" Yzak then cut off the transmission.
The brown-haired girl just let out a sigh of worry. Yeah, everything will be fine as long as they don't…
Suddenly, the radar beeped. Shiho looked and spotted some variations of Mobile Suits. They consists of GAT-04, Windam, GAT-01A2R, Slaughter Dagger, of EAF, ZGMF-1000, Zaku Warrior, AMA-953, Babi of ZAFT and MVF-M11C, Murasame, MBF-M1, M1 Astrays of ORB. Are they enemies? Or are they from another fleet? The radar here indicates 'FRIEND'. So they must be…
Shiho tried to contact Yzak but couldn't, as the communications system had been jammed. She tried and tried but unsuccessfully contact her silver-head captain. Electromagnetic interference!! Damn!! She cursed inwardly.
Shiho tried to do hand signals with her Zaku DEEP ARMS to inform Yzak but it was too late. The shooting had already started and one Zaku and Murasame were already shot down and three M1 Astrays were crippled as their legs and hands were shot. Not to mention their beam rifles too.
"Whole troop, return fire!!" Yzak shouted as he avoided another line of beam and shot down a few Windams.
Seeing their captain firing his weapon, they fired their beam rifles too even though they couldn't hear what the silver-head said. However, as they fight on and on, Yzak and his team were totally outnumbered and it doesn't help out much that he couldn't recognize whether which MS is enemy or companion. One by one, Yzak's survey team fell and exploded into balls of flame.
He then signaled his team to stay close to each other. Shiho and the team followed Yzak's instructions and stayed close, forming a ball-like shape of mobile suits and fired together towards the enemies.
An enemy gunner Zaku warrior shot its long-range beam cannon and managed to disperse the team's formation. It tried to make another shot but was sliced into half by Yzak's GOUF's tentacle-like heat rod. He turned around and shoots his beam gun towards an incoming Windam, blowing it into pieces. A M1-Astray caught him off guard as it suddenly appeared behind Yzak and attempted to slice him with its beam saber. Another line of beam shot through the Astray.
Shiho manage to save him with her CGUE DEEP ARMS' beam cannon. "Yzak, I don't think we can hold on much longer. It is time now, time to call for reinforcements," Shiho recommended. It looks like the situation really demands it as their team was being cornered by every angle.
"I would like to but… Damn, those electromagnetic interference!! Where did they learn how to build one anyway?" Yzak clenched his fist and slammed on top of the radar.
Frustrated and angry with the current condition, Yzak let out a wild battle cry. He tooked out his double-edged beam sword and dashed towards the enemy. One by one, the enemies were being sliced, cut through, and stabbed by the raging silver-head.
At that, everyone including the enemies grabbed their beam sabers and engaged into a close-range combat. The whole sky was filled with sparkles of the sabers. Within a minute, half of the enemy group was wiped out. Yzak's group suffered a great loss too as only two murasames, and two Zaku warriors remained.
Yzak swung his GOUF's heat rod and sliced off two enemy Murasames into half. A Slaughter Dagger appeared behind him and swung its beam saber downwards. Yzak side-stepped and slash off both hands of the Slaughter Dagger. He then, fire his beam gun to finish the Dagger off.
Avoiding yet another beam, Shiho counter-attacked by firing the beam cannon mounted on the shoulders of her CGUE DEEP ARMS. She took out the physical beam sword and slash at any incoming enemy MS. Not even one MS that attempts to destroy Shiho's unit manage to come close to her.
Soon, out of nowhere, three flashes were shot to the sky and exploded into balls of light. It was a retreat signal. Every remaining enemy MS dashed away from the battlefield.
"They're retreating already?" Yzak scoffed. "They aren't so tough," He took out a map and drew a circle at the area he and his team are at, to signify that there are suspicious activities going around in the Indian Ocean.
Shiho drove her YFX-200 beside the ZGMF-2000. She opened her cockpit and signaled Yzak to do the same.
He opened the cockpit of his GOUF "What's wrong, Major?"
"Yzak, I think there is something wrong. As we fight moment ago, I didn't spot any strange mo-.." Shiho got interrupted when two lines of high-energy beam cannon flew pass them and hit the remaining 2 Murasames and Zaku Warriors, they immediately exploded.
Shiho and Yzak quickly get back into their mobile suits and turned around. They couldn't see anything but the radar indicates that there are two mobile suits heading to their area.
"Unknown?" Yzak said as he looked into the radar. "ZGMF-X56S/0, ZGMF-X3000Q… Wait, aren't those our prototypes…?" He paused as he swallowed hardly. "Destiny Impulse and Providence Zaku,"
"What…what are we going to do?" Shiho asked. Her voice was unclear, her body trembling.
Yzak's blue-eyes became dark. "We fight!!" With that, he dashed towards the purple mobile suit, Destiny Impulse.
Yzak swung his GOUF's heat rod to the purple Impulse. However, it easily deflects his attacks with its beam shield. Without sparring a second, it returned fire with its beam rifle, but it was easily dodged by Yzak. After all, he is a veteran and survived both first and second bloody valentine war.
The Destiny Impulse fired its beam rifle again. The silver-haired blocked the beam with its shield and fired back. They repeated the same actions again and again and neither the two of them was winning nor losing, thus showing that both side are equally matched.
Shiho engaged in combat with the Providence Zaku. The Zaku aimed all 6 of its DRAGOONs and shoot. Shiho drove and gracefully avoided all the beams. Counter-attacking, she shot her beam cannons. Expertly, the Grey Zaku dashed aside and lifted its beam saber while dashing towards her. Shiho intercepted the attack with her beam sword. The two beams collided with each other and sparks flew out from them.
The Providence Zaku and the CGUE DEEP ARMs pushed each other away. The grey Zaku immediately equipped its rifle and shoot. Shiho dashed away to the right, attempting to avoid the beam but it was too late, the beam manage to come contact with her machine gun mounted on her CGUE's hip. It caused an explosion and severely damaged her mobile suit. The left leg was half blown off.
"Shiho!!" Yzak shouted as he looked at her crippled CGUE DEEP ARMS, smokes were still coming out from its leg and some exposed cables dangling. He dashed towards Shiho to check on her, flying away from his battle.
The Destiny Impulse flew in between Yzak and Shiho. It is as if it doesn't want Yzak to go near her. "OK, so that's how you want it, fine by me," At that, he took out the double-edged beam sword and dashed forward. The Impulse took out one of its Excalibur Anti-Ship beam sword and positioned itself for its incoming attack from the silver-head.
Furiously, Yzak smashed his beam sword several times. The Destiny Impulse blocked the forceful blow with its beam shield and swung its sword inwardly. With Yzak's quick reflexes, he back-flipped away from contact with the sword and made another smash with his beam sword.
The Impulse intercepted the attack with its sword. The GOUF then smashed a fist onto the purple mobile suit and sent it off flying backwards.
While recoiling from the blow, Yzak took this advantage to himself as he dashed to Shiho.
The grey Zaku lifted its beam saber and made a dash for Shiho's crippled CGUE DEEP ARMS, attempting to finish her off for good.
The Providence Zaku backed off when a heat rod came in between it and Shiho. A white mobile suit flew beside her.
"Yzak, I think this is the suitable time to call for reinforcements. Those two are not ordinary pilots," Shiho slide opened her visor and wiped her sweats away.
Without saying anything, the silver-head did what Shiho had asked, proving that she is right. " Anyone, do you copy? This is Yzak Joule from the Joule team. We're heavily under attacked during conducting a survey program. We need backup. Meet at Area-20. Be careful, the enemies had strong mobile suit with them,"
"Yzak, watch out!!" Shiho shouted, snapping the silver-head of the incoming beam. With that, she pushed him away and took hit the beam instead. The beam hit her left beam cannon and caused another explosion. "Errghh," She grunted.
"Shiho!!" Yzak shouted her first name for the first time in the battlefield, showing that he cared for her. He looked and saw the Providence Zaku floating in front of him in a distant, wielding the beam rifle in it. "Why you!!!" Yzak let out a fierce battle cry and dashed forward.
C.E. 75, ORB Hospital, Room 105.
"Cagalli-sama, please sit and rest," A man wearing an ORB Chief Petty Officer uniform said.
"Don't worry, I'm fine, Kisaka" Cagalli gave out a grin, while placing a foot onto the floor. She stood still and stretched her arms. Ledonir Kisaka stood in a corner.
The sound of the door slide open turned the blonde's attention. "You know, you should really listen to him if you want to get better," A pair of emerald-eyes met with hers'.
The blonde blushed a little upon seeing the presence of a raven-blue haired man, "A...Ath...Athrun. Oh shut up, you!" Cagalli's face was crimson-blushed.
There stood Admiral Zala, Athrun Zala, survivor of first and second bloody valentine war. Another female figure followed in. She has an auburn-brown hair and brown eyes with a motherly looks on her face.
"Cagalli, how are you doing?" Captain Murrue Ramius asked, concerned about Cagalli.
"I'm much better now, Murrue-san. But the doctor still wants me to stay here, for some…check-ups," She replied.
Cagalli overlooked the room and was confused somehow. Shouldn't Mwu La Flaga be with Murrue Ramius as he always does? As much as she doesn't want to ask about that, curiosity got the best of her.
"Ummm, Murrue-san, where's Mwu-san?"
"Oh, he's conducting a survey programme at Panama Port and Carpentalia Base,"
Silence covered the room. Cagalli and Athrun looked at the floor, the tension between them is stiffing, Murrue, upon seeing the both gave a soft motherly-smile as usual.
Athrun, barely opening his mouth. "Ca…Cagalli… Yesterday, wh-…," The sound of the door slide interrupted him. Then, came in two figures, one had a raven-black hair and the other had a magenta-red hair.
"Shinn?" Athrun was surprised, seeing that even SHINN himself decided to visit the one person that caused the death of his family. Well, the ideal that caused it anyway.
"Yo, Athrun, Cagalli-sama," The red-head said cheerfully.
"Hi, Lunamaria," Cagalli grinned.
Shinn, holding a bouquet of flowers, placed it in a vase, much to everyone's surprise except for Luna. "Oi, baka-Athha. You dead yet?" Shin gave out an evil smirk even though it was just a joke. Well, that's Shinn's way of saying 'Are you alright?'
"Well, I was fine at first, until a red-eyed brat showed up along with his a-year-older-than-him girlfriend," Cagalli replied him and returned him with another evil smirk. Shinn looked away in defeat. Everyone giggled. (See note)
Murrue looked at the flowers that Shinn just placed. She spotted another bouquet of flowers just right beside Shinn's. "Did Kira visit you just now?" She asked.
"Eh? Nope," The blonde turned to Murrue.
Murrue pointed to the flowers. "Who gave you those?"
"Oh, a boy named Steven Volfield," She replied.
Athrun and Murrue exchanged several looks. "Who's Steven?" Athrun asked.
For a few minutes, the Representive explained everything, Sven, School-Trip, Stimulator, the attack, the Strike Rouge, Joule team and the Survey program. Shinn scoffed in amuse when Cagalli said she was unconscious during the attack.
Athrun folded his arms. Feeling a sense of deja vu upon what Cagalli had gone through during the attack. Sitting in the cockpit unconscious while someone pilots a mobile suit, suffered a head injury… Wait, didn't this happen before? The same thing Athrun and Cagalli had gone through during the Armory One incident?
"Well, this Sven guy is really good," Murrue added in.
Cagalli sat on the bed. "Yeah, he told me that he is a Coordinator," Athrun put on his usual kind smile when she looked at him, causing her to blush a little. Shinn almost started to mock them but then Luna elbowed his arm, warning him not to ruin that moment.
Suddenly, a beep snapped everyone. An image visual popped out at the wall in front of Cagalli's bed. "Kisaka-sama, I think there's something you might want to know," The image of an ORB officer said.
Kisaka went towards the screen. "What's the matter?"
"We had just received a SOS voice contact by the Joule Team. It seems that they were heavily under-attacked," Everyone in the room turned their attentions towards the screen.
Kisaka's face turned serious. "Where are they now?"
"In Area-20, Indian Ocean," The officer replied.
Kisaka stared into the space, thinking about something. He snapped out of his thoughts. "Well, send the Nevile squad there for reinforcements,"
"No, we'll go. Kisaka-kun, please allow us to help," Murrue selflessly volunteered.
"What? Hmm… What do you think, Cagalli?" Kisaka turned to the blonde.
"Ok, I approve your request," She looked at Murrue and smiled.
"I'll help too," Athrun Zala said all of the sudden. "Besides, Mwu-san's on another survey program, no?"
"I'll come together too!!" Lunamaria Hawke raised her hand.
Everyone starred at Shinn, much to his annoyance. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
"Shinn!!" Luna placed both her hands on her hips, giving him 'The Hawke eye'. Somehow, she knew that Shinn won't be able to resist that.
And it worked! "Fine, I'll go too," Shinn's voice was a bit shaky.
"Alright, let's head to the hangar. We'll be launching with the Archangel," Murrue said as she head out of the room, followed by Shinn and Luna. "Bye, Cagalli-sama. See you later," She waved her hand and Cagalli did the same.
Athrun was the last to leave the room. Before he could, Cagalli stopped him. "Athrun," She starred deeply into his eyes. "Good luck," She looked away to hide her blushing face.
He returned her with kiss at her cheek. "Take care," With that, he left the room, leaving a blushing blonde in her room.
C.E. 75, Indian Ocean, somewhere near India.
Yzak furiously smashed his heat rod onto the Destiny Impulse. However, it was futile, the Destiny Impulse blocked every single smash with its beam shield.
"Damn it!" He cursed angrily.
The Providence Zaku continue to shoot its beam rifle. Shiho couldn't do anything but to just avoid contact with the beam.
"I'm not going to let you kill me!!" She shouted and took out both beam and physical sword and dashed towards the grey Zaku.
The Providence Zaku took out two beam sabers and formed it into a baton-beam saber and dashed towards Shiho. Shiho smashed both swords onto the Zaku. Quickly, the Zaku intercepted the attack with its beam saber. Sparkles flew out of them furiously.
Without sparring a second, the Providence Zaku shoot all its 6 DRAGOONS and shot at point-blank range.
Even with Shiho's quick coordinator reflexes, she wasn't able to avoid all the beams. Some of the beams manage to make contact with her CGUE DEEP ARMS' right beam cannon, her right arm and her shield. It caused yet another explosion. Shiho's unit stumbled back.
She grunted and unsuccessfully tried to contact Yzak, all thanks to the electromagnetic interference.
It seems that Yzak has the 'Sixth sense' as he could sense Shiho in danger. He tried to head to Shiho but the battle between him and the Destiny Impulse is still at rage.
The Destiny Impulse spreads open its wings. A magnificent light shined out of its wings, just like its identical unit, Destiny.
Sweat covered Yzak's forehead. "Voiture Lumiere?" His GOUF dashed forward and swung its heat rod.
With deadly and amazing speed, the Destiny Impulse created a trail of visible after-images while side-stepping and grabbed the heat rod with its shining palm. An explosion occurred after that, destroying the heat rod.
The white GOUF stumbled backwards, retrieving back its destroyed heat rod.
The Destiny Impulse took out another anti-ship sword and joined the end of both swords together, forming a double-sided sword.
At that, it dashed towards Yzak and sliced through his GOUF's left arm along with his shield. Not sparring a chance for the silver-head to recoil from the previous attack, the Impulse made another slash and slashed off the right arm with ease, like a hot knife slicing butter.
"Damn it!!" Yzak grunted and cursed loudly. His unit rocked violently that it made him dizzy. However, Yzak still managed to see the Destiny Impulse, dashing forward with an incredible speed, positioning its double-sided Anti-ship sword and ready to deliver a killer blow to the cockpit. His eyes widen upon seeing how close his enemy unit is from his unit.
Just minutes before the sword make contact with the GOUF's cockpit, a beam-axe Tomahawk came flying towards the Destiny Impulse like a boomerang.
Realizing this, the Destiny Impulse dashed backwards. Just like a boomerang, the Tomahawk flew back around to its thrower.
Yzak turned over to the source of the Tomahawk and was relieved to see a black Zaku Phantom, Dearka. "Yzak, you alright?" An image popped-out at the screen above Yzak.
Dearka flew beside Yzak's GOUF. "GUNDAM?" The blonde said while looking at the ZGMF-X56S/0, Destiny Impulse.
"Captain Yzak, are you alright?" A crimson mobile suit flew beside Yzak and placed a hand onto his unit's shoulder.
"Yes, I'm fine," Yzak's grumpy voice confirmed his condition. Realizing something, he looked around and spotted Shiho's CGUE DEEP ARMS. "Dearka, go protect Major Hahnenfuss. Her unit suffered heavy damage," He commanded.
"Right," At that, Dearka dashed towards Shiho.
The Destiny Impulse re-equipped its beam rifle and took an aim at the crimson mobile suit, the Strike Rouge. Before it could take a shot, a rain of missiles came from above.
Two murasame's switched to mobile suit form and shot their beam rifles continuously.
The Violet mobile suit dodged gracefully and made two shots that accurately hit the cockpit of the two murasames, killing them instantly.
Under the fiery surroundings, the Destiny Impulse's glowing green lights can be seen behind the cloud of smokes.
A peculiar feeling seeped through Sven's head when he saw the Violet mobile suit. What's this? What's this weird feeling? Clenching his grasp against the controls, he dashed towards the Destiny Impulse and fired several beams.
While backing away, the Destiny Impulse blocked every beam with its beam shield.
"Shiho, you OK?" Dearka said while flying beside Shiho's unit. The Providence Zaku is engaged with combat with Dearka's team's Zaku and M1-Astrays.
However, the Providence Zaku was proven too strong for just a mere Zaku warriors and M1-Astrays as it destroyed every single Zakus and Astrays easily.
"This is not good… Two Zakus, cover Major Hahnenfuss. I'm joining the battle!!" Dearka barked and received a 'Roger that, sir!' response from two Zakus before dashing towards the fighting scene.
Dearka let out a wild battle cry and released a rain of missiles from its Blaze Wizard pack towards the Providence Zaku.
Expertly, the grey Zaku aimed all 6 DRAGOONS and shoot. All beams hit the missiles and went directly towards Dearka.
The blonde grunted while maneuvering his mobile suit. Back-flipping, he returned fire with its beam rifle.
The Providence Zaku dashed aside and re-equipped its beam rifle and returned fire. Their professionalism was shown as both of them are able to avoid every single beam thrown at them.
Soon, they were engaged in a fly-in-a-circle-beam-shooting scene.
Dearka took out its Tomahawk and dashed towards the Providence Zaku.
With an amazing speed, Dearka was able to slice off the Providence Zaku's beam rifle into half and performed a forceful back-kick, sending the grey Zaku flying backwards.
His adrenaline still pumping, he threw his Tomahawk like a boomerang while the Providence Zaku was still recoiling from the attack.
However, just in the nick of time, the Providence Zaku was able to deflect the Tomahawk with its beam saber.
Completely recoiled from the previous attack, it lifted its beam saber and dashed towards Dearka.
Being disadvantaged with close-range weapons, Dearka could only use the Blaze Zaku Phantom's shield for close-range combat. However, a mere shield is not enough for a beam saber as it easily cut through it.
Dearka took out its beam rifle and fired in point-blank range. Even though the grey Zaku was able to avoid the beam from impacting directly into the cockpit, its left arm was blown off by the beam.
With a deadly speed, the Providence Zaku made another inward slash and sliced off the Zaku Phantom's right leg. "Man, they're not paying me good enough for this job," He grunted while chuckling.
The Providence Zaku attempted to deliver another killer blow but was intercepted by a remaining Zaku warrior and three M1-Astrays from Dearka's team.
Sven yelled wildly as he made several shots towards the Destiny Impulse. All those beams were blocked off by the Destiny Impulse's beam shield.
The violet Impulse aimed its high-energy beam cannon and took a shot. The Strike Rouge blocked the beam with its shield.
Joining both the end of its Excalibur Anti-ship sword, the Destiny Impulse opened its wings of lights and dashed towards the brunette.
"This speed…," At that, the Strike Rouge lifted its beam saber and dashed forward.
Their beams collided with each other, causing massive of blind-sparks that hit them furiously.
With the Destiny Impulse's overwhelming thruster power, it pushed the red Strike and sent it flying backwards. "What's this? Why does that mobile suit possesses so much power?" Sven grunted as his unit rocked violently.
While recoiling from the forceful push, the violet Impulse charged towards the brunette's unit and sliced off his shield into half.
The Destiny Impulse then took out a beam boomerang from its elbow and swung it towards the Strike Rouge.
Sven's coordinator reflexes kicked in. Side-dashing, he was able to avoid it but the beam boomerang cut through the Strike Rouge's left arm. Not sparring a second for the red Strike to recoil, the Destiny Impulse took out another beam boomerang and swung it towards Sven in a different angle and cut through his right arm easily. "Damn!!" He cursed loudly.
The Destiny Impulse charged forward, attempting to deliver a killer blow towards the Strike Rouge.
Sven closed his eyes shut. This time, he'll really die. I'm sorry Cagalli-sama, Yzak-sama, Dearka-san and Shiho-san. I'm sorry… Kaoru-chan.
Thousands of thoughts seeped in his mind. What will he feel when the beam slice him into two? Pain? Cold? Lava-like-heat? Whatever it is, he is ready to meet the worst.
But nothing happened, instead there was sound of beam colliding into each other.
Sven opened his eyes slowly and saw another butterfly-like mobile suit in front of him, defending him with its Arondight Anti-ship beam sword.
With a forceful push, the butterfly-like mobile suit sent the Destiny Impulse flying backwards.
The Providence Zaku had Dearka cornered. It dashed towards the Blaze Zaku Phantom with its beam saber aimed at Dearka's unit's cockpit.
Up above the sky, three lines of beams struck down and split the grey Zaku and the black Zaku Phantom apart. Then, a red mobile suit dashed in between the Providence Zaku and the Blaze Zaku Phantom. Dearka was shocked to see the presence of a red-and-silver mobile suit. Immediately, it could recognize it. "Justice, Athrun?"
Sven looked at the radar and it indicates that the butterfly-like mobile suit is actually… "Destiny…" He was indeed very surprised.
"Why is this happening? Are you trying to start another one? Another war?!" A pair of red-eyes glared sharply on the Destiny Impulse.
To be continued…
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End of Chapter 4
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Note : The line 'Baka-athha and Shinn the brat' is something i got from a fic from Athyra. Thanks Athrya, i've been looking for a line like that for quite a long time XD
Woot!! Whoa... it took my two weeks to think up the story line. For the next chapter, I'm out of ideas...I NEED IDEAS!!(falls onto knees)
Oh yeah... once again... Read and review please...
A reader's review, an inspiration for me.
P/S : I suck at writting things regarding about couples... (coughasucagacough)