Ch 1 – Awakening
The Year is now 2169 Common Era, 23 October of that year as per the International Calendar. My name is Lelouch; my last name is unknown. I was told by some doctors that I was in a coma since young, and had come back into conscious at last. They told what went on within the years, and said my parents were killed in a bombing incident. Only relative I had left was my little brother, Rolo.
However, I am not sure of this life I am living out with Rolo. I feel as if I was living out a lie and the truth had been denied from me. What am I destined for?
"Big Brother, wake up!" Rolo called out.
And then, Lelouch woke up from his sleep. He drowsily looked around his room, and then at Rolo.
"Guess I oversleep again today," Lelouch said, "damn it, if I sleep some more, I may fall back to the hospital bed one day."
"Don't say that, it is hard being lonely," Rolo said, "and the doctors said you will be fine."
"It's only mere jest," Lelouch said, "come on now, we got another day ahead of us."
"But must you spend your days doing…" Rolo said.
"It's the only way we are going to pay the bills," Lelouch said.
Lelouch quickly got out of his bed, and looked out into the window. Outside, he saw space and the protective dome a space colony typically had. This was the space colony Proud, one of the first established by the ESF.
Orbital Ship St. Cuthbert II
However, out in space, a ship floated out there. It was likened to the St. Cuthbert that was destroyed around 5 years ago. Inside the main brig of the vessel, Setsuna gazed at the screen as it displayed the Proud colony. Kallen was beside him, and Feldt was at her usual seat. Taking the place of the deceased Christina, it was a younger girl with brownish hair in 2 ponytails and in a yellow suit.
"So this is it," Setsuna said, "the Proud Colony, first operational space colony."
"Good thing he actually migrated up to space," Kallen said, "glad that Liu Mei had checked that up."
"We know what we must do," Setsuna said, "secure Zero and attempt to restore his memory."
"That last part is the real problem," Kallen said.
Then, the door slid open and Ian came in. The brown-haired girl jumped off from her seat and hugged Ian.
"Hey there, Papa," the girl said.
"There there, Mileina," Ian said, as he put her down, "Get back to your work for now. We are having a big operation soon."
While Mileina returned back to her post, Ian turned towards Setsuna and Kallen.
"Are you sure of this?" Ian asked, "This is only a move a damned fool would make. We are not even certain if we could restore his memory… I mean, we don't even know how he lost them!"
"The first thing is that we must secure him," Setsuna said, "then we will worry later."
Meanwhile, another ship was coming in towards the Proud Colony too. It was of the Justice-class Space Battleship, a type solely used by the A-Laws. Inside there, an operation team was planning their latest mission… the very same team involved in the mission in the Asteroid Belt.
"Gentlemen, we have received word from Commander Homer Katagiri," the Major said, "The Proud Colony has several Schwarze Ritter members hidden up there. Our mission will include the use of the newest Automatons, so no one must live."
"But sir, what about the civilians in that colony," a soldier asked.
"I'm afraid they will be killed off too. We cannot afford to let these terrorists off," the Major said, "after all, in space; no one can hear you scream. May the Lord have mercy on their souls."
Furthermore, a lone Mobile Suit traversed towards the Proud Colon too. It was a type no one seen before. Mainly decked in pink armour with green highlights, it also had a set of visors on its head to obscure its real form. It held a shield, plated in a darker shade of pink, on its left hand, and a Beam Rifle on its right hand. The crimson trail of light proved it was powered by the Tau Drive.
Inside its cockpit, C2 was looking at a visual of the colony. However, her mind was somewhere else, with her eyes glowing in a golden ray-like style.
"The actors have arrived and set on stage," she said, "this time, we will truly end all opposition to the Plan."
She then paused for a while, and nodded her head.
"Yes, I understand my role," she said, "We must keep an audience watching, so Celestial Being will be unmolested. The A-Laws are not informed of my presence, I know. All other than Lelouch must not see my presence; they will be eliminated."
Babel Paradise Tower, Proud Colony
The Babel Paradise Tower was a main attraction for the Proud Colony, being a casino. Due to the high stakes and wins, they served to quell the colonists' anger for their relocation to space, for which some were not voluntary in nature.
Inside the casino, it offered an amenity of services and bets played. On the chess tables nearby, Lelouch was playing off against one of the big players of the casino; he was Lord Augustine, the deposed Duke of Mexico. The crowd of onlookers the two's game had attracted was astonished by the apparent final move.
"Lord Simon, you have played well," Lelouch said.
He moved his black Pawn ahead and managed to capture the former Duke's King.
"I believe this is what they call a checkmate," he continued, "now for the bet, all your possessions and remaining estates as you had promised."
"Why should I?" Lord Augustine exclaimed, "You are only a mere boy, and shouldn't even be here! I will have the security put you out…"
"Big Brother, I think you have made him mad," Rolo warned.
"Trying to back off from your agreement, are you?" Lelouch said, "That's why you were deposed from your domain in the first place. Everyone, it is clearly seen that I have defeated the Lord Augustine de Mexica, the former Duke of Mexico, in a fair contest and yet he choose not to abide by the very terms he had set forth in his challenge to me."
At that, the crowd listened to Lelouch's words and thought of it. Then, whispers began.
"Okay okay, I give in!" Lord Augustine cried.
The former Duke slammed his wallet on the chess table, and then he stomped off. The crowd also went along and scattered off to the other players in their own gruelling games. Lelouch picked up the wallet and skimmed through its contents.
"5 million terras, some credit cards…" he said, "he must have smuggled some assets out and sold them before coming here."
"Eh Big Brother, is it alright to take them things from that guy?" Rolo asked, "I mean… he is a Duke after all."
"Who has oppressed his own people, thus engineering his own downfall, in which the USSM (United Socialist States of Mexico) had risen from," Lelouch said, "trust me, this is his just desserts."
Just outside the Proud Colony, the standard grouping of two GN-XIIIs and one leading Ahead came out for their latest mission plan. The GN-XIIIs plunged their GN Lances into a door for incoming ships, and pried open a clearing.
"Major, the clearing is done," an officer declared, "Automatons are ready to take-off."
"Roger that," the Major announced, "releasing Automaton Pack."
The Ahead turned backwards and faced the opening made by his comrades. The Ahead had a backpack-like structure carried on, and it was unloaded into the colony itself. The pack then opened up and exposed the Automatons to the colony. They were the same Automatons used by the Imperium long ago, which were confiscated by ESF forces and shut down due to ethnical reasons.
The Automatons then scurried deep into the colony's hallways. A security guard was inspecting the area there by chance, and heard the Automatons.
"What was that?" he wondered, "must be some rat…"
Then, the Automatons approached the unaware guard from behind and his last words were a cry in pain as he laid dead.
"Cass, what is it?" called out from a walkie from the dead guard.
Meanwhile, at the Babel Casino, Lelouch was preying on another fool in his chess games. The crowds were gathering there to watch the game.
"Can the kid pull this one off?" wondered one of the spectators.
"I doubt it; that guy he's dealing with is a chess master from Kalmykia," another had said, "The kid will be pounded for good."
"Watch what you're saying," Rolo snapped.
"Care not for their words, Rolo," Lelouch calmly spoke, "these gentlemen may take me on all at once for all I care, so long as I gain from it."
However, their game was interrupted by an alarm resounding the whole casino and the lights all shut down.
"Attention all colonists, this is the Colonial Administration Block speaking. We currently have difficulty in the Underground Sector. Electrical systems will be down for the moment. We apologise for the inconvenience caused."
"Not again!" several other people of the casino exclaimed.
Suddenly, a wall of the room burst open in an explosion. Several Automatons swept in the casino and gunned down on the people there.
"It's the Schwarz Ritters! They must have reactivated those infernal contraptions!" an old man yelled, before he was gunned down as well.
Based on common sense, one would logically flee from the attacking machines. Lelouch got off his chair and dragged Rolo along with him as they tried to escape.
"This world is such a madhouse; fighting exists everywhere… all the time," Lelouch described, "from unnecessary battling, the masses suffer. Down on the desolated Earth and even up in space, it's all the same."
"Big bro, let's hurry! Those things are getting on us," Rolo mentioned.
"Of course, I am getting to that," Lelouch said.
While the hordes of people generally went out via the main door, Lelouch was guiding Rolo and himself to a pool table and kicked the table. Suddenly, a secret hatch opened up.
"How did you…" Rolo asked.
"The hidden entrance for the fat cats, and the high stakes games await," Lelouch said, "While the Automatons pursue those people, we can leave and get help."
"But…" Rolo protested.
"While I sincerely have regrets to do so, we must secure our lives before we can secure those of others," Lelouch said, "this will lead us outside, so let's hope it's all clear out there."
However, things were not so well outside either. Among the inhabitants of the colony, some had escaped to the streets. There, several black Hellions were engaged in combat against the A-Laws' GN-XIII and Ahead.
"Major, we have identified civilians in Sector B-97," a GN-X pilot declared.
"Eliminate them along with the Hellions," the Major said, "they may be collaborators, harbouring wanted fugitives."
As the A-Laws units shot down the remainder of the Schwarz Ritter Hellions, they turned towards the crowd below and fired on a building near them. The debris fell and collapsed on the civilians, crushing them to death.
"Yup, that's right," the Major said, "our orders are to destroy all traces of this colony. No one will miss them."
Meanwhile, the flight hatches of St. Cuthbert II were opening up to the vacuum of space. Two Mobile Suits were being docked onto the linear catapults for launching.
"Linear catapults charged and ready," Feldt said.
"All procedures handled, and both are ready for take-off," Mileina announced.
"Setsuna, are you sure?" Kallen asked again, "Zero must be under surveillance from the A-Laws. If we take him with us, we may reveal the location of the St. Cuth…"
"Then let it be so," Setsuna coldly replied, "we will make it loud and clear to the A-Laws that we shall fight on, as Celestial Being!"
"Alright then, it's our funeral…" Kallen said, "but that funeral has already begun… from the day we came here, to Celestial Being. Gundam Akagi, priority to Q-1. Taking off!"
"Gabriel Gundam, priority to Setsuna F. Seiei," Setsuna declared, "taking off too."
At that, the linear catapults moved out and the two Gundams were shot into space. The Gundam Akagi was a machine in red armour with yellow highlights. Its right arm was fitted with a claw design with 3 fingers, while a Beam Gun was mounted on its other arm.
The Gabriel Gundam was the successor to the Exia, being mainly white with deep blue highlights. This model was dubbed the Gundam of Seven Swords, bearing a total of seven massive blades as part of its arsenal. Two GN Katars were mounted on its knees; while another set of twin GN Swords were kept by its waist along with a pair of Beam Sabres. Its final equipment was the long GN Sword docked on the right shoulder like a shield.
"Okay, to Proud," Setsuna declared.
Babel Paradise Tower, Proud Colony
Inside the secret passage of the Babel Tower, Lelouch and Rolo continued walking down into the darkness below. Tremors from the attacks could be felt along the way.
"We should be getting down there soon enough…" Lelouch said, "And from there, there is another exit leading to the outside."
The tremors grew more violent and the stairway they were on broke apart. Lelouch, who was leading the way, slipped and fell into the abyss below.
"Big bro!" Rolo cried, reaching out for Lelouch.
However, his grip only missed by a margin and let Lelouch fall into the darkness beneath him. Despite the apparent loss of his "brother", Rolo's face showed no concern, only cold emotionless.
"I must confirm his status, dead or alive," Rolo said, walking back up to the Casino itself.
Outside, the GN-X units of the A-Laws continued their assault on the Colony itself while the Automatons fired on all remaining civilians. The Ahead quickly fired down on a Sepoys of the Schwarze Ritter faction, and relaxed at the apparent victory.
"Those pathetic machines are of no match to us," he commented, "huh? What's this?"
Over the distance, two streams of light were passing towards the Colony. They were coming from the two Gundams heading towards the Colony.
"Are those reinforcements for the enemy?" he wondered, "Men, destroy those incoming units."
As the A-Laws units proceeded to intercept the incoming objects, they soon realised what they really were. The first contact between old foes began anew.
"Those are…" a GN-XIII pilot exclaimed.
"Gundams! This could mean only one thing…" the Major said, "Celestial Being has returned."
At that, the A-Laws units quickly charged at the two Gundams for their attack and so did the two Gundams. The Gundams split off immediately against the beam fire from the GN-XIIIs and Ahead. While the Ahead continued attacking, the Gabriel Gundam countered with a Beam Rifle stored within the shoulder-mounted GN Sword.
"Alright Gundam, times have changed," the Major said, "and we can and will defeat you now. For all our comrades-at-arms who perished under your terror…"
The Ahead withdrew its Beam Rifle and drew out two Beam Sabres, charging at the Gundam. The Gabriel Gundam took out its twin GN Swords and countered the strike. It forced the Ahead back, and slashed off its right arm and then its head. A final blow through its chest wiped out the pilot in an explosion that took the Ahead away.
Meanwhile, the two GN-XIIIs fired from the emitters on their GN Lances on the Akagi. However, it formed a barrier of GN Particles in front of the frame to block out the attacks. One of the GN-XIII charged in with its GN Lance at the barrier, but the Akagi still held it off.
"You guys… are just not worth our time!" Q-1 cried.
The GN Barrier dissipated and the claw-arm grabbed hold of the Lance. Within moments, the Lance began to burst and it spread into the GN-XIII itself. Soon, the whole Suit was blown up from within.
From the smoke, the Akagi rushed out and fired from its Beam Gun on the last GN-XIII. It blasted off one of its legs, but it dodged the rest of the attacks. The Akagi raised out its claw-arm and it shot out of the Suit. The claw-arm gripped onto the GN-XIII and it too suffered the same fate as his comrades.
"Okay, let's locate the target before reinforcements show up," Setsuna said.
Babel Paradise Tower, Proud Colony
The Automatons had struck many places of the colony, including the Babel Tower. Before attacking the actual casino, it had attacked the underground casino first and wiped it void of life. Lelouch just had his conscious returning to him, immediately realising he had been lying on the bloodied corpse of Duke Augustine.
"So they had attacked here first," Lelouch said, "that means they won't be returning anytime soon."
However, two Automatons came in through a door and prowled the perimeter of the room. At that, Lelouch quickly hid behind the cover of a table. Suddenly, something crashed into the wall and entered in.
As Lelouch saw, it was nothing he had seen before and yet seemed familiar. It was a pink humanoid Mobile Suit with standard Beam Rifle and shield, but nothing of the Federation, Schwarze Ritter or A-Laws design. It lifted the visors blocking its eyes and green particles flowed from the back.
"What is that?" Lelouch wondered.
The Automatons attacked at the mysterious Mobiel Suit at once, but their simple machine guns couldn't even dent the armour of the Suit. With two simple blasts of its Rifle, both Automatons were destroyed at once.
All this while, a series of images processed through Lelouch's mind. He saw short images of another Mobile Suit with a similar head as the one before him. The next showed a stern-looking man with long brown hair, with a beautiful black-haired woman in an Imperium military uniform next to him.
Suddenly, the Mobile Suit opened up and its pilot went outside to greet Lelouch.
"Hello, Lelouch…" C2 greeted, "it has been quite a while, about five years I presume."
"Who are you… or rather, who are you with?" Lelouch said, standing up to confront the mysterious woman, "are you with the A-Laws, Federal Army or the Schwarze Ritter?"
"Pathetic humans warring over the most easily overlooked of differences, I have no part of any of them," C2 replied, "but you play an important role in another faction. Can you hear it calling for you?"
"Calling for me?" Lelouch wondered.
C2 only chuckled a bit, and she slowly approached towards Lelouch and held up his chin.
"It will be made clear to you soon," she said.
She placed Lelouch and herself closer to each other, till their lips made contact. Lelouch was shocked at the sudden move, but his mind was bombarded by eve more perplexing images.
The strange Mobile Suits with the head, he noticed there were five such units. The black bulky one of those units flew out and its backpack purged to become a Mobile Suit on its own. He also saw the burning city of Old Tokyo, and also the couple he saw being gunned down in the attack. The images became stranger and stranger, with a massive spaceship cruising around the atmosphere. Other images were that of hundreds of Tierens marching into the mountains, a Hellion squadron bombing a city, Gloucesters attacking some Anfs in a desert and other conflicts. Then, he saw a brown-haired Nipponese male piloting a GN-X and attacking one of those unknown Mobile Suit. Lastly, he saw the image of a blind brunette girl bound to her wheelchair.
"Nunnally!" Lelouch exclaimed, as he pushed C2 away, "Now I remember…"
"Sure you do," C2 said.
"And you… you're supposed to be a hologram," Lelouch said, "so how did you…"
"That is not to be revealed, you should wait here a while longer," C2 said, "at which, your entourage will be waiting for you."
She boarded the Gundam, and flew off through the same hole it forced inside the first place. Lelouch was left alone to his devices, but soon two more Gundams entered through another wall.
"I see that Celestial Being has survived," Lelouch smiled.
"Zero, you have recovered your memory," Setsuna said, "surprising, but it does not matter."
"What that matters is the continuation of our struggle against conflict," Lelouch said, "take me away from this rotting junk in space."