Update! Umm...the story shifts from the perspective of Shojin/Kiba to the view point of the protagonist, name mentioned in story vv
This story will be organized into two parts and multiple phases, FYI
Sorry, I didn't really explain much about the backstory in the prologue. But in this phase it explains what happened between the Second Bloody Valentine War and this story right off the bat...
Anyways, enjoy! And don't forget to R&R.
Part One: Doubt
Phase One: Recon
Cosmic Era, year 96. On March 10, 87 C.E., the signing of the Treaty of Junius VII's 15th anniversary, the Kingdom of Scandinavia and several small countries seceded from the Earth Alliance and joined with rebel forces in an effort to keep peace between the genetically enhanced Coordinators and the original, human Naturals. On the 27th of that same month, the rebels launched into space via the Kingdom of Scandinavia's mass driver and allied with ZAFT forces rebels. Therein, they dubbed themselves the Neutral Alliance of Reformed Nations (NARN) and disappeared.
In four years, September 3, 91 CE, photographs from a reconnaissance ZAFT mobile suit showed that the NARN transformed the abandoned space colony of Mendel into a space fortress, along with several colonies to go with it, all hidden with Mirage Colloid systems. In the years to follow, the NARN was recognized as a major power, and a threat to others.
On January 1st, 95 C.E., forces from the Shackleton Earth Alliance moon base declared war against them with a staged attack of civilian shuttles as the ante-bellum and launched an assault at their Kyogre', Lupin, and Melgrey bases. The battle was quickly over, with the NARN as the victor. Confused as to why they attacked them for no blatant reason, the NARN sent envoys to the Shackleton crater, trying to explain themselves. The envoys never returned.
Because of these incidents, the NARN investigated on this matter and declared that the PLANTs had orchestrated these events. The NARN declared war against them and sent a small fleet against them to test their battle strength and to experiment their new weapons. With this assault, the Triad War had begun.
15:34, March 2, 96 CE, Debris Belt
The blackness of space washed past Black Ops. Division Two operative Tsukasa in his RMS-1X1A Finn mobile suit. He was following a distress beacon that he had picked up from his routine reconnaissance run. He was keeping an eye on his power gauge; it was already halfway depleted and kept the other on his image displays; he was in the Debris Belt and didn't want to run into any loose junk. The Debris Belt also wasn't in NARN controlled space, and he was risking his ass to go in without calling in first. Oh well, he thought. Guess I'll start to head back.
He saw a spark in his peripheral vision, and he turned to it while raising his anti-beam shield. Just in time to, for a beam disrupted into separated particles against his shield. He saw that he was fired at by four of ZAFT's ZGMF-X86A "Cancer" mobile suits.
At this point, the Cancer had replaced the Zakus and Goufs that had previously made up the mainstay of ZAFT's forces. The Cancer is a very odd-looking mobile suit, most closely resembling ZAFT's amphibious UMF/SSO-3 "ASH". It was, in Tsukasa's opinion, closer to a mobile armor than a mobile suit. They have a pair of claws with beam cannons in them, an extendable torso that can crush mobile suits, and able to transform into a more compact, faster size on land.
"Damn it, not now." sighed Tsukasa. He raised his beam rifles and rolled to his left, firing once with each gun, both shots colliding with pinpoint accuracy into mobile suit cockpits.
The two remaining ones charged at him with their beam claws. He discarded his beam rifles and pulled out his "Vishnu" beam saber and met the charge. He collided into the nearest one with his shield, following it up to an upward slash to its cockpit. He spun around, blocked the last unit's claw with his forearm and backhand stabbed the charging mobile suit, erupting it into flame.
Satisfied, he checked his radar, disengaged his beam saber, and retrieved his beam rifles. He saw that he was right on top of the signal that led him out to this place. He looked around and saw a damaged Finn mobile suit. He guessed that the Cancer mobile suits had followed the beacon just as he had and ended up here.
Making sure that his helmet was secured, he got close to the damaged Finn and opened his cockpit. He had thrusters on his pilot suit, so there was no fear that he would get lost in space, though it never hurt to be cautious. He pushed himself over to the Finn, flying through the soundless void of space. He reached out and grabbed onto the cockpit's manual open lever and pulled it.
Inside the cockpit was a pilot with a black pilot suit and a helmet with a polarized visor worn only by the Division One Black Ops. team. Tsukasa quickly saluted, and then motioned back over to his mobile suit, for sound doesn't travel in space and Tsukasa didn't know what frequency he was on. The pilot nodded and gathered his personal items. The pilot grabbed onto Tsukasa's arm and gave the thumbs up sign, meaning that he was good to go. Tsukasa nodded and jumped over to his own mobile suit.
Once they were inside the cramped space, Tsukasa closed the door waited for it to decompress the cockpit and fill it with oxygen before he took off his helmet. He brushed a lock of his dark brown hair out of his way and saluted while the other pilot was taking off his while saying "Sir, I'm Black Ops. operative Tsu-." he quickly stopped, for after the pilot took off their helmet and the waterfall of black hair he realized that the pilot was a girl, whom was smiling. "Uh, uh, Ma'am, I'm sorry. I, uh, didn't expect you to be a girl." said an flustered Tsukasa.
"It's alright." said the pilot, eyes twinkling in amusement. "Go on. Introduce yourself."
"Ma'am, I'm Black Ops. Section Two operative Tsukasa. I picked up your distress beacon on a recon check."
"It's nice to meet you Tsukasa. I'd like to thank you, but I haven't introduced myself yet." Saluting, she said, "I'm Black Ops. Section One operative Ano Katsuragi. I also was on a recon run. I saw an enemy Cancer unit and followed it here, where I neutralized it, but it hit me with an ion beam, so I'm stuck here."
"That would explain the four Cancer units that were out here." explained Tsukasa.
Ano raised her eyebrows. "Four Cancer units?" questioned Ano. "Just to get one mobile suit? That seems kind of farfetched."
"Yes ma'am. I luckily destroyed them before they got anywhere near your mobile suit."
"You destroyed them all by yourself?" exclaimed Ano.
"Yes ma'am. I destroyed them without expending much power, as we're fairly far away from home." said Tsukasa
"Well, that's Black Ops. for you." sighed Ano. "Anyways, I need to ride with you. My armor's in no condition to journey back. I'll just leave it here for now."
"Yes ma'am." said Tsukasa
"Thanks. But you don't have to call me ma'am. I may be your superior, but not by much."
"All right, Katsuragi-san. So, welcome aboard. Might want to strap in. It's not going to be a cruise."
Ano smiled. "'Kay."
Thirty-five minutes later, they were in N.A.R.N. controlled space. Three streaks of pale blue confirmed that a trio of Freya mobile armors were there to greet them. "Tsukasa-taichou!" exclaimed the obvious leader of the three. "Where have you been?"
"I followed a distress beacon to the debris belt. I'm sorry for not reporting it; I didn't have much time to. I retrieved Black Ops. Section One operative Ano Katsuragi from her damaged mobile suit after destroying a squad of hostile ZAFT units." explained Tsukasa.
"Katsuragi-sama! Your father has been very worried." said the squad leader."
"Can you tell him I'm safe, please?" asked Ano.
"Yes ma'am!" replied the squad leader. The mobile armors turn tailed and headed back to Melgrey Gate Base.
Ano turned to face"Tsukasa-kun, will you accompany me to my house?" asked Ano. "I'd like my father to meet you."
"Uh, sure, Katsuragi-san." uneasily replied Tsukasa. That'll be kind of awkward.
After landing on Melgrey Gate Base and writing his report, Tsukasa and Ano took a private shuttle to Reverben colony, the political central of N.A.R.N. It was eerily and awkwardly quiet on the shuttle.
"You live on Reverben?" asked Tsukasa, breaking the silence.
"Yeah." said Ano. "Um… So where do you live Tsukasa?" trying to get a conversation going.
"I live on Reverben also." replied Tsukasa
"Got any siblings?" asked Ano.
"Actually, I don't really know." At Ano's look of confusion Tsukasa elaborated. "You see, I don't, er, have a family. I was found as refugee by the Kingdom of Scandanavia, when I was really young. The NARN took me in and I was brought up by the military, heavily trained. I don't know if they're even alive anymore."
A tone of sadness ran through her voice as Ano said, "I'm so sorry. It must be tough."
Tsukasa looked up and smiled at her. "Thanks. But you're not the one who did it."
Ano returned the smile. "It's still okay to feel pity, though. Right?"
When they arrived at Ano's house, Tsukasa gawked at it. It was huge! Not surprising whose house it was. Tsukasa looked at Ano and said, "Ano Katsuragi! I see now. As in Vice Minister Katsuragi's daughter."
"Yup." said Ano. "Come on. Let's go inside."
When they were inside, Vice Minister Katsuragi's face lit up as he saw her daughter. "Ano!" he exclaimed happily as he rushed to embrace her.
"It's nice to see you again, Father." said Ano.
"What happened?" the higher-up asked his daughter.
"I was on a recon run when I saw a ZAFT Cancer unit. I rushed to attack it and got hit in the thruster by its armor penatrators, disabling my mobile suit." responded Ano shamefully.
The Vice Minister turned and faced Tsukasa. "Are you the young man who brought home my daughter?" he asked.
Tsukasa stood in a salute and said, "Yes, sir, Katsuragi-sama."
Unexpectedly, the Vice Minister held out his hand. Tsukasa tentatively shook it.
"What's your name, son?" asked the Vice Minister.
"Sir! I am from Black Ops. Division Two. My name is Tsukasa."
The Vice Minister's face lit with understanding. "Oh. I've heard about you. Section Two you say? I don't know why you're not in Section One, with Ano here. I'll tell you what; I'll pull some strings and have you promoted to Section One Black Ops."
Tsukasa's eyes widened, then returned to their normal state. He bowed deeply. "Thank you very much, Katsuragi-sama."
The Vice Minister laughed and said, "No, thank you. It's the least I can give you for saving my daughter. Did you go to great lengths to save her, or damage your mobile suit?"
Ano spoke up and exclaimed, "Father, he had to destroy four of ZAFT's Cancer units."
This time the Vice Minister's eyes widened. "Four Cancer units?" he whispered. "Just with your Finn mobile suit? Would you still have a recording from your display?" he asked.
"Yes sir." replied Tsukasa, reaching into his bag. "I even have a copy with me, which I was going to deliver to my Captain."
"May I see it?" asked an eager Vice Minister.
"Yes sir." replied Tsukasa as he handed him a disk. The Vice Minister took the data-disk and inserted it into a nearby console. A screen from the ceiling dropped down and flashed on. On it showed Tsukasa's previous fight. Fifteen seconds later the display turned black once more.
The Vice Minister and his daughter stood there slack-jawed. "That… You… I…" the Vice Minister stammered. He slowly regained his composure and said to Tsukasa, "You don't need to deliver this to your Captain. I'll do it for you. I need to talk to him about something. I need to go now Tsukasa. Take care." And with that he grabbed his coat and left.
Tsukasa and Ano were left standing there alone; again the awkward silence. Finally, Ano spoke up and asked, "So… do you want something to eat, or…"
Tsukasa smiled. "Thank you, but I've got some leftover tonkatsu at my house."
Rushing, Ano said, "No, please, I insist! Besides, I'm always alone and could use the company."
Tsukasa raised his eyebrows and inquired, "Alone? A girl like you? That seems unlikely. Don't you have like a boyfriend, or something?"
Ano blushed at this statement and mumbled, "No, my dad wont let me really be with anyone, cause I'm like, you know, a daughter of a politician. He wont even really let me have any friends." She began to frown.
Tsukasa took a chance and said, "Starting right now for dinner, I'll be your friend."
Ano looked at him for a second with a bright face then started to laugh. "That sounded pretty childish Tsukasa-kun. But anyways, thanks."
Now Tsukasa was blushing and mumbled, "No problem."
Ano was smiling now, and said, "Come on, I know a really great diner a tran-stop away." as she walked through the door.
Tsukasa caught up with her and closed the door behind them. "Café Kwan?" asked Tsukasa.
"Yeah. Have you been there before?" Ano asked.
"Well, a couple times, but-" He was cut off by the sound of the boarding signal for the trans. "Come on!" he said as he started to sprint. Ano sighed and also ran for the tran.
When they arrived at the café, they were greeted by a teenage overly enthusiastic waiter, who virtually threw them into their seats, shoved a menu into each of their faces, and lit a candle; all in five seconds flat. "Hello! Welcome to the Café Kwan! Our specials today are…" He then said a long continuous stream of incomprehensible words so fast that it almost made Tsukasa want to duck for cover from enemy fire. "So, what can I get for you lovely couple?" He stood there with a very enthusiastic expression on his face, alternating his gaze from Tsukasa's to Ano's faces.
Ano was at a loss for words for a couple of seconds, then said, "Um… this isn't a date."
Slowly the waiter's expression broke down. All of a sudden, the waiter burst into tears, which somehow put out the candle that he had lit. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to offend you! Oh, I'm a total failure." A little freaked out, Tsukasa was about to reach out to comfort him, but he immediately put on a smile and said, "Sorry for breaking down like that. Dinner's now complimentary! Please, take your time!"
And with that he trounced over to the next unlucky group to meet him. (It was apparently his first day. He was fired and arrested for "assaulting" the Prime Minister a few hours later).
Tsukasa and Ano stared at each other, then broke out into laughter. After they almost suffocated from lack of oxygen, they talked most of the time and had a great meal. After the meal, they walked back to her house instead of taking the tran. The entire way they didn't speak at all, though they both wanted to talk some more, but neither one knew that the other wanted to talk with them. Tsukasa dropped her off and said he'd see her tomorrow for duty at Melgrey Gate. They both said good night, and Tsukasa took the tran back over to his house in the Laurentia District.
Back inside her house, Ano was happily humming to herself while typing on her computer the events of the past few days. She heard a knock on her door and her father's voice, "Ano, dear, can I come in?"
"Yes Father." she replied. Her dad walked in and asked her, "So how was it?"
"Oh, it was great Father! Me and Tsukasa just had dinner over at Kwan's."
"Oh, yes, Tsukasa." said the Vice Minister. "Ano, there's something you should know about that boy."
"What's that, Father?" asked Ano confused.
"I'll tell you Ano, but only if you promise not to tell him."
"All right Father, I promise. So what is it?"
She didn't fall asleep that night.
...End Phase.
Okay, first phase done :D
Okay! Next phase is when Tsukasa will receive his super-special-awesome promotion...and other stuff...
Anyways, hope you enjoyed it and I really need more reviews.....
R&R please!
Next phase will be out sometime next week!