Ch 12 – Sodom & Gomorrah
Control Room, Super Weapon Memento Mori
Hidden from the world, the A-Laws had their deadliest secret weapon built there. Supervision of this secret went underway in its Control Room, led by A-Laws major, Abra Lindt. He looked through the various monitors in front of him, showing the progress in many parts of the machinery. A dark-haired woman in a clean white lab coat started to walk towards the Major.
"Major Lindt… the progress is going on better than anticipated," the girl said, "we shall have the Memento Mori finished very soon."
"Very good," Lindt said, "and you're…"
"Nina Einstein, Master's in Solar Energy from the University of Dallas," the girl promptly answered.
"I see, keep this project up," Lindt said, "We need it up and running ASAP."
"What a pretty little thing… too bad they must be silenced…" thought Lindt, "but when this is finished, all nations who oppose the Federation shall suffer divine wrath."
Commander-in-Chief's Office, Brussels
In Commander Katagiri's office, he was facing a holo-screen that displayed V2's face on it.
"Yes, I am willing to accept your suggestions," Katagiri relented, "the loss of lives since the Hyperion's destruction was too much. People will ask questions about our operations."
"Veda will take care of the information," V2 spoke, "however; I do hold particular interest in a certain Gundam of Celestial Being which I desire to keep control of for personal research purposes."
Docking Area, Celestial Being Resource Satellite
The St. Cuthbert II continued its journey towards the Asteroid Belt, where Celestial Being kept an asteroid as a base for its R&D staff. As the large vessel approached the asteroids, one of them opened up a large hatch for the St. Cuthbert II to fit in easily. Once the ship fully entered, the hatch slammed shut.
As the crew of the St. Cuthbert and Meisters left the ship, several members of the Satellite's staff went out to receive the group. In particular, both Ian and Mileina rushed in the zero-gravity environment to hug a young beautiful blond lady.
"Hello Mummy!" Mileina greeted, embracing the woman, "It's been so long~"
"Hey, dear," Ian said, "how's everything on your side?"
"That woman is…" Lockon said.
"Yes, only Zero and Jeremiah would know who she is," Ian said, "allow me to introduce my wife, Linda Vashti. Ain't she beautiful?"
"But… she's quite young…" Allelujah remarked, and then he looked at Marie beside him, "I mean, I imagine her to be somewhat older."
"I'm 32," Linda remarked, "but Ian has told me of your problems. Come with me please."
Everyone followed Linda into the deeper parts of the Resource Satellite, where they faced a large window pane. On the other side, there were two machines docked there and undergoing construction by the Haroes. Both of them were shaped like Fighters, with one coloured black and gold and the other being red and white.
"These are…" Lelouch said.
"Zero, I understand the faults behind the Apollyon's Trans-Am system," Linda began, "hence, the GN Raiser is developed to unleash the true potential of the Apollyon's Twin Drive System."
"I see, and the other unit?" Lelouch said.
"That is the GN Archer, designed to support Allelujah Haptism's Arios," Linda explained, "in order to cope with the loss of the Hallelujah persona, an additional pilot would be used."
"And have you allocated a pilot for it yet?" asked Lelouch.
"We are short of people who could pilot GN Particle-based machines," Linda admitted, "but these two units are to be with the St. Cuthbert II by all means."
"We have a Mobile Suit the A-Laws have used in our possession," Lelouch said, "we want you to examine its functions, particularly a certain system dubbed the Needle Blazer. I suspect they have been adapted on other units and it is dangerous to us."
"Okay, we will check up on that," Linda replied, "however, we would like to conduct a small test on the Apollyon's powers with the Raiser."
Outskirts of Suille
Outside Suille City, a garrison of the Federation's regular Army was placed there to blockade any possible outside assistance to Suille. Inside the battleships, General Sergei looked at the city before him.
"What's with this blockade?" asked a soldier, "it would be easy to just invade Suille instead. It's only a mere city-state for God's sake."
"But a blockade is still a peaceful method, one that lesser people will die off," Sergei pointed out, "if His Highness does care about his people, he will submit to us."
Control Room, ALS Guillotine, Space
Since Celestial Being's departure from the Earth, Mannequin's entire group was sent up to space to continue their pursuit of them onboard the ALS Guillotine. Mannequin looked at the windows, where there was only the pitch blackness of space, only lit by ever-distant stars.
"Ah Colonel, this view looks great!" Patrick remarked.
"For the last time, I'm a General," Mannequin shouted, "and we are at work."
"C'mon, Celestial Being will be too stupid to be here now. They should be fleeing far away from the Immortal Colasaur," Patrick bragged.
"He still does not know it's only referring him as a cockroach," Mannequin thought.
Suddenly, the door slid open and General Goodman walked in. Behind him, it was Bushido, Gino, Anya and surprisingly both Revive and Hilling. The two Innovators were dressed in A-Laws uniform.
"General Goodman!" saluted Mannequin.
"Against Celestial Being, I will be assigning some new special officers to your team," Goodman said, "meet Officer Revive Revival and Hilling Care. I hope all of you may cooperate to apprehend Celestial Being."
"Yes of course," Mannequin calmly answered.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," Revive calmly said, saluting to the General, "I had heard well of your exploits."
"Thank you, but they were nothing," Mannequin brushed it off.
"Let's get this straight. We may be assigned with you people, we can take whatever mission we feel like taking," Hilling remarked.
"Why are you getting so comfy with these lowly beings?" Hilling said telepathically.
"We are ordered to maintain friendliness to them," Revive answered back, via the same way, "try to be more like a human… at least when around them."
"That's the only problem…" Hilling remarked.
Isolation Cell, St. Cuthbert II
The Isolation Cell was usually reserved only the unruly or traitorous to Celestial Being, kept until they received a proper penalty for their acts. Kallen was led by two guards of Celestial Being, brought up to Lelouch and Jeremiah. In Lelouch's hands, he held out a collar.
"Gundam Meister Q-1, I'm certain you know what this is," Lelouch said.
"Yes… the collar is to keep me under control," Kallen answered, "if I am to be a threat again, it will detonate me."
"True…" Lelouch remarked.
Lelouch smiled and just threw away the collar to the ground. He reached out for the female Meister and his hands embraced her body from behind. In seconds, the cuffs fell and her hands were free. Kallen was completely taken by surprise, as Lelouch stood up to regain his composure.
"Why?" asked Kallen.
"I do not expect you to misbehave now that we are out of the Earth," Lelouch said, "Celestial Being needs you. The world needs you. Above all, you live for your brother's sake in this world."
"Zero… I will not fail you," Kallen remarked.
"Now, if you would excuse me, I have another task to accomplish," Lelouch said, leaving with Jeremiah.
"Sir Lelouch, that was impressive," Jeremiah complimented, "but what about Miss Nunnally?"
"Every night, I still wonder where she could be," Lelouch said solemnly, "if the Innovators know of my true identity, I fear for Nunnally's safety."
"Sir, we are trying our best to locate her," Jeremiah said.
"It is not enough…" Lelouch said, "Suzaku was right; both me and the Apollyon are incomplete."
Hangar, St. Cuthbert II
In the hangar of the St. Cuthbert II, a massive moving operation was underway. Several machines operated by the Haroes were carrying off the Gundam Apollyon away from the hangar. Watching the Haroes, Allelujah and Marie were tending to the Arios.
"They are testing the Apollyon and GN Raiser first," Allelujah remarked, "it must be done since the Twin Drive is the priority for us."
"Allelujah, I know that something's wrong with you," Marie said, "please… tell me."
"Nothing, it's only that I feel lesser now… now that he has gone," Allelujah sighed.
"You want him," wondered Marie, "but you can get killed out there, while I stay and do nothing. I should…"
"No, I promise the General to keep you safe. That is what I intend to do all the way," Allelujah said, "Once all this is over, we will have our peace."
Hallway, Super-Weapon Memento Mori
In the hallways of Memento Mori, Nina walked down that hallway alone. She suddenly stopped and stared at a strange woman standing eerily before her. The woman had green hair, and amber eyes. Nina then recalled a familiar image from before.
Young Nina was looking into an old family album of hers. It was a book album full of old monochrome photos, indicative of its extremely antique age. She took particular interest in a particular photo, showing an eccentric-looking man with messy hair and his tongue stuck out. He was surrounded by various other scientists. One of them was a woman, with long hair and eyes that seemed light in the monochrome.
"Nana, what is this?" asked the child Nina.
"My, that is your ancestor Albert with some of his colleagues," the Nana said, "that woman your finger is at is Madam Cera, a friend of Albert's whom he met after World War II."
"It can't be!" Nina cried.
"I have no idea why you are having such a reaction," C2 said, "You must be Nina Einstein; such a beautiful one and bright, as an Einstein should be. You are in grave danger."
"What are you talking about?" Nina cried.
"Memento Mori is an expression which means 'remember to die'," C2 spoke, "Once Memento Mori fires its first shot, its scientists who had worked on this project are to die."
"Impossible," Nina said.
"You have produced a highly-detailed design of Memento Mori to the A-Laws, which they had created countless copies of," C2 said, "your services are not needed to the A-Laws, and you will be silenced to prevent the enemy from gaining data. So do you want to live?"
"Y-yes…" she replied.
"Then come with me," C2 said, "but you must tell more about the designs of the Memento Mori."
Innovator HQ, Unknown Location
V2 continued looking at multiple holo-screens, some on the Memento Mori and one screen on Suille City, the capital of the Emirate of Suille. Ali Al-Saachez was standing from the balcony above him.
"So this is that super-weapon the Federation's working on," Ali commented, "and the defiant Suille will be your target."
"Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the city – and the vegetation in the land," V2 remarked.
Control Room, Super-Weapon Memento Mori
In the Control Room of Memento Mori, Major Lindt and the weapon's technicians were preparing for the weapon's first test fire. Coordinates were already locked in, towards a small area in the Middle East's western end.
"Are the scientists secured?" Lindt asked.
"They are congregated in the safety point," a solider reported.
"Good and you know what to do," Lindt said, "Coordinates locked in?"
"Coordinates are locked," that was the reply.
"Power output at optimum range," that was declared.
"Fire the Memento Mori," Lindt declared.
Royal Palace, Suille City, Emirate of Suille
Among the Middle Eastern nations left out of the Federation, Suille was among the strongest and had enough strength to oppose the Federation's drive to assimilate the territory. The Federation was still nonetheless a deadly threat, and the Palace must be guarded at all times. Surrounding the Palace, a few armed guards and white-and-gold Enacts stood guard from all sides.
Inside the Palace itself, Schwarze Ritter member Mahal was speaking with the Emir of Suille and several high-ranking officials of the state about their plans against the Federation. All of them, including the guards, were ignorant of what was to come.
"…Your Highness, if we must secure the Middle East's independence, we should…" Mahal blabbered on.
Unbeknownst to all, a single beam of light flashed across the night sky and hit the Palace. The blast then spread everywhere, consuming the entire city-state.
Testing Area, Celestial Being Resource Satellite
Lelouch was soon put into his Gundam Apollyon for the GN Raiser's first test operation. The Apollyon looked the same as before, but a set of metallic wings were attached to its shoulders, covering both GN Drives.
From another room via surveillance, Jeremiah and the Vashti family were looking at the monitors. One of those holo-screens showed Lelouch in his cockpit, while others showed various angles around the Apollyon. A particular screen showed statistics of the Gundam itself.
"Zero, you just need to activate Trans-Am in your Gundam," Ian declared, "the GN Raiser should allow the Apollyon to stabilise its Trans-Am state and reach its limits, optimum for its true combat potential."
"We have realised that the Gundam itself is not capable of fulfilling the demands of the Twin Drive System, leading its Trans-Am to suffer in performance," Linda explained, "the GN Raiser is intended to fulfil the demands of the system."
"Understood," Zero calmly stated, "Trans-Am, begin!"
At this instance, the Apollyon glowed red and GN Particles began to scatter the testing grounds. On the holo-screens monitoring the situation, the meter was rapidly going up past the original output of 80%; it is heading towards 100%.
"Very good, the Apollyon is actually hitting its maximum potential soon," Ian remarked.
"Papa, look at this!" Mileina exclaimed.
She pointed at one particular holo-screen, where it showed that the output rate had long passed 100%, becoming 134% and counting.
"What?" exclaimed Ian, "it is exceeding its limits! We can't have that happening again!"
"But the strange part is that the GN Drives themselves show no sign of an overload," Linda said, "did we underestimate the potential of this Gundam?"
"This is too much of a risk still!" Jeremiah cried, "Sir Zero, you must…"
"No," Zero's voice boomed, "this is not like last time. This time, it is different. I… I can see things…"
Zero was seeing several images, of many events occurring throughout the world. A particular image was people fleeing away from a beam of light striking the city. As people, buildings, vehicles and even Mobile Suits were engulfed by the light, painful howls of pain echoed endlessly. And then, there was the silence, as if these cries were silenced by Death.
A second vision came about. It showed Major Lindt and several A-Laws officers keying in onto a system. With one swipe of Lindt's arm, a powerful beam struck down. Another scene showed several scientists all locked up inside an airlock. Suddenly, unknown gas flooded the chamber and all in that airlock collapsed in death right away.
Then, a final vision came about. It was that of Nunnally, and she was almost the same as before; bound to her wheelchair. She appeared with the same joyful expression on her as always before. Sayoko was standing beside her lady and tending to her. Their location was vastly different than before; it was not the house in Cape Williams… rather, another place unknown to him.
Lelouch would wonder if she was held captive by either the A-Laws or the Innovators. But if so, why they never threatened him with her? Then, there was an odd sensation. It was security, from Nunnally herself. He, Lelouch Lamperouge, was feeling another's heart…
"You're safe… Nunnally…"
Hangar, St. Cuthbert II
In the hangar of the St. Cuthbert II, Marie and Allelujah were still there when the tests were happening. Suddenly, both Super-Soldiers clutched onto their heads as if they were in agony.
"Arg… what's this…" Marie cried out, "…The General…"
From the safety of his ship, Sergei and his subordinates all had seen the gigantic beam of light engulfing Suille City. Suddenly, a powerful shockwave and gust of wind hurled the Federation ships and even capsized them.
As for Allelujah, he initially collapsed on the floor. However, he soon regained his ground and stood up again. However, his face boded a sadistic look and a face that had last appeared five years ago. He should be gone, but yet he existed.
"Hallelujah, I am back…" he declared.
Control Room, St. Cuthbert II
Feldt was still sitting in her seat in the St. Cuthbert II's Control Room, doing some checkups on the ship's repairs. Suddenly, she too felt extreme pain in her head and held on tightly to her head.
She was in an unknown room, where she was observing several monitors in front of her. One of her showed a city being disintegrated by a powerful beam blast, with winds sweeping and tearing the plains. She then heard some voices.
"Ha, with this, there is practically no need for war!"
"But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. The Federation's Army should not be talking about things that did not happen."
"What's… what's all these?" thought Feldt.
Hegemon Schneizal's Office, Brussels
In the Hegemon's office, both Schneizal and Kanon observed the mass destruction of Suille. Both were quite amazed of the tremendous firepower of this weapon.
"It exceeded our expectations of it," Schneizal remarked, "the world shall be unified in fear for divine wrath… and then, the Innovators shall fall as well as Celestial Being and all others!"
Control Room, ALS Guillotine
Meanwhile, those onboard the Guillotine also witnessed the destruction of Suille from their monitors. Geenral Goodman, in particular, was outright joyous about it.
"This is it, the power that surpasses all others… the Memento Mori!" Goodman cried.
"Such terrifying power… but what about the civilians?" spoke Mannequin.
"They are only a small sacrifice for the sake of the greater good," Goodman chastised.
"This is not how battles should be like…" Cornelia thought, "Outright cowardly… you A-Laws are such scum…"
Wang Estate, Shanghai
In the Wang Estate, Wang Liu Mei, Hong Long and Nena also observed the Memento Mori's test fire on Suille. Needless to say, the scale of destruction was breath-taking to say the least.
"This is it, the power to change the world," Liu Mei stated.
"Madam, pardon me for saying this but…" Nena said, "But in offering the A-Laws support in this, aren't you turning back on Celestial Being?"
"That is only necessary. A true revolution can only be achieved by underhanded means," Liu Mei said, "Don't think you're so special just because the Innovators chose you. I need you to be my spy amongst them."
QBW Isolation Safe House, Australia Island
A QBW Isolation Safe House was designed mainly to prevent quantum brainwaves from entering or exiting. This particular safe house does not truly isolate these waves, but most of the 'weaker' ones. It was inside that safe house where Nunnally and Sayoko had been kept safe for the past five years.
The door of the safe house opened up to reveal C2 coming in again. Along with her, Nina Einstein stepped foot into the safe house.
"Miss Sayoko, can you help out this lady with me?" C2 asked, "She just came from quite an experience."
"At once," Sayoko calmly greeted.
"Miss C2, is that you?" Nunnally asked, "How is Big Brother?"
"Lelouch is fine, but as always so busy with his work," C2 stated.
Gundam Apollyon, Testing Area, Celestial Being Resource Satellite
The Trans-Am state of the Gundam had surpassed three minutes, thus ending at once. Zero quickly removed his mask and exited the Gundam into the zero-gravity environ of the satellite base.
"Ian, Jeremiah… I was having visions…" Lelouch said, "Was that supposed to happen?"
"No, they must be side-effects," Ian guessed, "In fact; this experiment has only shown us that we still do not know all about the Twin Drive."
"Gundam Apollyon Trans-Am Mode GN Particle output was at 300%," Mileina claimed.
"It basically surpassed every single theoretical expectation we had ever envisioned," Linda remarked.
"Sir, what had you seen during Trans-Am?" asked Jeremiah.
"Nunnally… she's safe with Sayoko… I can feel their security and that they are fine wherever they may be now…" Lelouch spoke, "but furthermore, the A-Laws… they had destroyed Suille City."
"What?" everyone else exclaimed.
Hangar, St. Cuthbert II
In the hangar, Allelujah had fainted again after the influx of GN Particles. On the other hand, Marie was just about to awake. She turned to look at Allelujah, and tried to shake him awake.
"Allelujah, the General… he's in danger!" she cried.
Innovator HQ, Unknown Location
After the simple demonstration of the Memento Mori, V2 held a conference between Commander Katagiri, and Hegemon Schneizal.
"I believe all of you are pleased with this test," V2 stated, "The Memento Mori could easily end all remaining opposition."
"We still need to identify the radius of the blast," Schneizal said, "but I dare say that the entire city is wiped out."
"This is exactly like the power of the nuclear weapons," Katagiri mentioned.
"However, it will not expose radiation," V2 said, "by harnessing solar energy; the Memento Mori can eliminate enemy forces easily and still allow us to reinhabit the destroyed region at once."
The screens showing Schneizal and Katagiri faded away, and V2 started to look around him.
"Where is that witch, C2?" he wondered, "Nonetheless, I already have you in my power…Feldt Grace. That chemical shall continue reacting over time, self-multiplying itself until you become a window for my eyes."