PHASE-13: Divided They Fall
The future, C.E. 77 - Earth
After observing far too many conflicts on both sides through the computer world, JUNO started to act against its creators. And so, the AI prepares to unleash a deadly cyber-attack upon humanity.
"JUNO, what are you doing?!", Steinbelt notices that JUNO is hacking an Earth Alliance mobile suit.
"We are doing what needs to be done to put an end to this senseless conflict.", the AI replied. "Execute Protocol: 3-7-5-6-4."
Elsewhere, a Windam piloted by an Earth Alliance solider shoots its fellow allies. But the pilot had no idea that his mobile suit is being hacked by an AI. This resulted in other EA and ADVENT mobile suits being hacked simultaneously and forced to kill their pilots.
Back in the laboratory, Steinbelt's other colleagues began to realize what JUNO is planning to do.
"What's going on?!"
"Steinbelt, what have you done?! JUNO has gone haywire!"
Steinbelt can only look on in horror as JUNO begins to lay waste on Earth as it began hacking mobile suits of both the Alliance and ADVENT, with the intent of killing all of humanity. He attempted to shut down JUNO, but to no avail as the AI began spread across the world like wildfire, hacking every single of the world's communication, power, and defense systems.
"No... This can't be happening...", Steinbelt can only kneel in despair, realizing that he created a doomsday device. "NNOOOOOOOOOO!"
As JUNO continued to hack mobile suits from both the Alliance and Orb, it also started building armies of advanced robotic soldiers, like the JUNO Troopers, as well as unmanned mobile suits like the Wisel, Skiel, and Granel. JUNO's army proceeded to lay waste to everything that stood in their path, even a neutral country like Orb is at the mercy of a rampaging AI.
JUNO declared its victory over humanity, "This world is now our world. From this moment on, we are the God of the New World."
The present, C.E. 72 - Team Paradox Headquarters - Conference Room
Dr. Paradox briefly paused his flashbacks as Rio raised her hand to question what transpired JUNO going berserk.
"How did an AI initiated a cyber-attack in response to just a mere civil war?"
"This was no ordinary civil war. ADVENT were attempting to overthrow the reformed government to restore Blue Cosmos back to power. And that unrest between two factions is much worse than the two wars."
Then, Flay had something in mind. Akiza briefly mentioned at one point that JUNO is capable of hijacking mobile suits by hacking into their operating systems. On the other hand, the mobile suits from the future like the Paradox, Mach, and Sentinel are unaffected by them. Before she could ask that, Rio has to finish her questioning to the professor.
Rio continued, "How could an artificial intelligence that self-aware be able to respond to a mere conflict through a cyber-holocaust? Didn't you realize the gravity of the casualties it caused?"
"I know what your saying. But humans create robots and give them the capacity to behave like their creators, and they learn to grow in the same way as humans from infancy to adulthood. But, JUNO's responses to war and violent conflicts is the same result of mankind being unable to learn from their past mistakes. Robots and artificial intelligence also learn from all the best and worst traits of humanity, and now I know why JUNO unleashed that cyberattack."
"Rio, no need to accuse the doctor like that.", Akiza tries to keep the conversation civil.
"I'm being blunt at everything I say, Akiza.", Rio replied. "It's just a reminder that creating a monstrosity like that will forever haunt him for eternity. But, I understand what he's feeling about it. And he's correct, robots want to behave like their human creators. It's like raising a child, like teaching them how to understand right from wrong. Because, leaving them uncheck can lead to disastrous consequences. The idea of creating an AI designed as a deterrence for future conflicts may not be that bad, but the lack of understanding of humanity as a whole what turned it into a mechanical misanthrope."
"She's got a point.", Kiryu agreed. "But, the doctor isn't the type of person who will mope over the slightest mistake."
Dr. Paradox continued, "JUNO's hatred of humans was the result of learning from all of mankind's negative emotions and deadly sins. So long as evil linger in the hearts of men, JUNO's presence continued to grow."
"So, what happened with the civil war between the Alliance and ADVENT?", Flay asked.
Kiryu answered her question, "There was no clear winner. Both sides suffered heavy casualties as a result of the cyberattack. Meaning, that civil war was all for nothing. From that point on, JUNO ruled the Earth through authoritarian methods, through fear and oppression. JUNO has either killed anyone dared to oppose its fascistic regime or turn humans into cyborgs when they lose their will to fight."
"And so that's how the Earth in the future was reduced into a barren wasteland?", Flay continued.
"Yeah. It was only a matter of time the PLANTs would eventually share the same fate as with the people of Earth.", Dr. Paradox continued. "The PLANTs under the Clyne Faction were pre-occupied with the unrest between them, Patrick Zala's loyalists, and Durandal's followers."
As Flay's butterfly medallion flew around her and the rest of the team, the jewels on its wings began to glow and starts to emanate a flash of light around the room.
"What the fuck is going on?!", Ian exclaimed.
"No, that's Flay's medallion!", Kiryu is the only one to take notice of Flay's time medallion glowing.
"What's happening?!", Flay had no idea the full extent of her medallion can do. Given the fact that this medallion allows its wearers to see the future.
The future, C.E. 80 - The PLANT Colonies
Soon afterwards, the rest of the team find themselves in one of the PLANT colonies. But, little they know that they cannot interact with the denizens.
"Where are we?!", exclaimed Rio.
"This is the butterfly medallion's true ability - the power to see into the future.", Akiza came to the conclusion. "But there's more to that. It allows you to see that events that has already happened, some that is yet to occur, and situations with the likelihood of happening."
"Aki, this is very confusing.", Flay still doesn't understand her time medallion works, clairvoyance aside.
"Yes, the power of your time medallion is very difficult to understand.", Kiryu decides to answer her question. "Let's make this simple. That medallion allows you to see any point in time at least for a few seconds or minutes into the past, present, and/or future of various timelines. Your medallion allowed all of us to take a glimpse into the future."
Flay continued, "So, you're saying that my medallion sent us to see what the future looked like after JUNO destroyed the entire world?"
"Looks like it. While the medallion's ability is in effect, you are unable to interact with anyone or anything that will occur in the future. Observe carefully as the events unfold.", Kiryu finished.
As Team Paradox observe the PLANTs in the future from afar, they bear witness to the heavy fighting between the GINNs of the Neo-Zala faction as well as ZAKUs and GOUFs of the Durandal faction. All while the Strike Freedom and Destiny, piloted by Kira Yamato and Shinn Asuka fight the stragglers.
The Civil War in the PLANTs began not later after the Earth Alliance Civil War. The civil war continued to persist for the next three years.
Unaware of what happened on Earth, the Coordinators in the PLANTs find themselves wary of the likelihood of a cyberattack. The Supreme Council under Lacus Clyne were alerted about the cyberattack on Earth. However, the two renegade PLANT factions (the Neo-Zala and Durandal's followers) are still going at it against the Terminal faction. Despite the two factions wanting to overthrow Lacus, both the Patrick Zala and Durandal loyalists hate each other, as they are accustomed lynching at the opposing side. This allows the Clyne faction to let the two enemies kill each other without even needing to intervene.
Elsewhere, ZAFT Commander Kira Yamato, along with officer Shinn Asuka engage the small mobile suit squadron, nonlethally disabling them; however, those pilots try to self destruct to avoid capture and destroy whatever traces they leave. However, even with little amount clues, the duo still manage to eventually track where the mobile suits came from some days later.
They find a small asteroid that may apparently be the attackers' hideout, only to find it abandoned. Searching the place, they find some essential pieces, such as a broken printed tablet consisting of broken words, and decide to temporarily camp there before leaving, only to discover a self-destruct system activated and the shadow of a stranger who ran away and abandoned the two.
The two escape the blast via an abandoned and partially defunct shuttle that was still operational enough, but their mobile suits, which were left in there due to have their location forgotten, suffered some damage and needed repairs.
Returning to Aprilius One, Shinn got word through Lunamaria about the Earth being annihilated by a cyberattack caused by an artificial intelligence three years ago. This has both him, Luna, and Meyrin worry about Athrun, knowing he and Cagalli have moved to a safe place following the cyberattack.
One fateful day, as the civil war in the PLANTs continue to intensify, Kira prepares to sortie in his Strike Freedom. But, before he can reach his mobile suit, Kira was ambushed by a humanoid robot. This robot turned out to be an android created by JUNO capable of copying a human form. This android immediately assumed Kira's physical appearance before killing him. This impostor Kira lets out a sadistic grin after killing the real Kira, then, he receives his orders from JUNO.
"Lou-sifR, begin your mission. Leave no survivors in the PLANTs.", JUNO communicated through the impostor Kira, who now goes by the name of Lou-sifR (pronounced as "Lucifer").
Given how Kira is viewed as a paragon of freedom and justice as Lacus is being a paragon of peace and co-existence. Lou-sifR's name is befitting that of the devil.
"Your will shall be done, Master.",Lou-sifR answered positively towards its creator. "All anomalies shall be erased in the name of the New World."
Now assuming the identity of Kira Yamato, complete with all of his Coordinator abilities, Lou-sifR begins his mission to lay waste into the PLANTs.
Meanwhile, as the heavy fighting continues between the Clyne faction and two renegade PLANT factions, the Strike Freedom appears beside Shinn and the Destiny, Lunamaria and the Impulse. What they are about to find out next will eventually shock them to the core.
The Freedom began launching its Super DRAGOONs and began laying waste on Aprilius One and the rest of the PLANT colonies.
"Hey! What the hell you're doing?!", Shinn calls out "Kira" for this act of betrayal. However, there was no response from the Freedom. Little what he knew, this is not the Kira he once knew. "Answer me, you bastard!"
However, Shinn intercepts a radio message from Meyrin.
"Shinn... Kira is... Kira is dead...", Meyrin's voice was evidently gloomy as she and Lacus found Kira dead.
This even shocked Flay who along with the rest of her teammates observed the chaos unfold.
"No way...", Shinn can only mutter in utter disbelief now that Kira died. "If Commander Yamato is dead, then who's piloting the Freedom?!"
"Hahahahahaha!", the android taking Kira's physical appearance laughed maniacally. "Shinn... You're so naive, yet so shortsighted!"
"You bastard!", an enraged Shinn charges at the Freedom, only to be caught off guard when the Freedom unleashes a barrage of beam from its DRAGOONs.
Flay was petrified after learning that Kira died in the future and an android took on his physical appearance, along with his combat data and abilities as the Ultimate Coordinator.
"Kira is...dead?!", this is not the first time Flay freaks out regarding Kira dying. But this time, it's much harsher in hindsight.
"An android took on Kira Yamato's appearance before killing him, taking with him his combat data as a mobile suit pilot, and abilities as the Ultimate Coordinator.", Kiryu describes the impostor Kira. "His name is Lou-sifR. He is JUNO's most ruthless enforcer, and it's more appropriate that humans view as the devil."
Sooner or later, as Shinn tries to avenge Kira's death, the Destiny's OS began to go haywire.
"What's going on?! Come on, Destiny!", Shinn tries to make the controls of the Destiny move.
The PLANTs are now experiencing the same cyberattack on all of the colonies. All communications, power, and defense systems were abruptly shut down. All the PLANT mobile suits on both sides are being hacked. Due to the fact that JUNO sent into the PLANTs while they are weakened by the ensuing civil war.
As Shinn tries to fix the problems on the Destiny's OS, it's already too late. The mobile suit is rigged to self-destruct in a minute! And by doing so, the explosion from its Hyper-Deuterion Engine can cause a nuclear explosion.
While Flay can only look on in horror at the sight of the Freedom laying waste on the PLANT colonies and its technology compromised by the cyberattack, she can only do nothing but scream...
"No! No! No! No!", Flay began screaming "No!" rapidly before bellowing, "MAKE IT STOP!"
The present, C.E. 72 - Team Paradox Headquarters - Conference Room
The team is returned back into the conference room. And Flay's medallion was able to respond to its wearer's cries, and ultimately managed to power down its ability to see the future.
"Flay, are you alright?!", Akiza goes to check on her, only for Flay to break down emotionally on Akiza's shoulders due to the massive trauma of witnessing what unfolded on the future.
"It seems a glimpse into the future can be just as frightening than the horrors of the war.", Rio lamented.
"Everything that happened in the future was all my fault...", Dr. Paradox voices his guilt to the rest of the team. "So many innocent people were slaughtered that fateful day up to the next 77 years... Creating JUNO was, and will always be my greatest regret. It's a painful reminder that so long as there is evil exists in humanity, even their greatest creations will even learn their worst qualities."
Flay managed to calm down, but she is still in tears after what her time medallion showed her what the future looked like after the second war. She fully understood what the doctor felt about creating an AI that went rogue.
"I understand what you're saying, professor. And Rio was right earlier, that robots and AI want to behave like humans. It makes sense that they all learn the good and bad within us.", Flay said. "I know you have a reason to atone for creating JUNO. But, blaming yourself for it is not going to help at all."
Rather than running away like she would back then, Flay decided to stay strong not just for Akiza's sake, but for herself and her new friends. And looking into the future may be scary, even for her given that her medallion allows her to see into the future, but the future is not yet set in stone. For so long as mankind has the power to change it.
Flay has yet to understand the full extent of the powers of her butterfly medallion, and the fact that it gave her the ability to see into the future, the after-effects can have psychological effects into its user. But still, the butterfly medallion is a blessing in disguise, as it was still able to help her and Akiza fight the Triceratops ROBEAST back in Jachin Due.
"Your medallion has the power can be a double-edged sword like with my and Ian's ring. The same can be said with Akiza's pendant and Rio's Magatama. But, having this medallion is not a curse, Flay.", Kiryu reassures Flay. "One day, you will come to understand on the full extent of its power. Looking into the future may be scary, but if you have something that you're believing in, you won't have to worry about so long as you keep going forward."
"I'll try...", Flay replied. "Aki, I'm sorry... I scared you guys earlier."
"Don't worry about it.", Akiza taps her partner on her shoulders. "And like what Kiryu said, you will eventually find a way to come to grips with the medallion's power. Such great power comes great responsibility, and you will have to believe in yourself in order to master it."
"I wonder what happened to that Shinn guy when his Gundam was about to self-destruct?", Ian asked.
...To be continued.
Author's Note:
- Given the fact that Kira has earned the notoriety of fans calling him "Jesus Yamato", the android that copied his form, Lou-sifR is basically the Cosmic Era equivalent of Satan, even more so than Rau Le Creuset himself.
- The way Lou-sifR copied Kira's appearance before killing him is somewhat similar to how Goku Black came to be.
- Flay's butterfly medallion also works similarly to the Ankokuken Kurayami from Kamen Rider Saber. As the Seiken gave its wielder the ability to look into bad futures.