Garret and Marcel flew towards the Tyranny as it approached. "Garret, I'll keep him occupied while you go in to take him out" Marcel spoke.
"Roger that, be careful" Garret said, veering off to the side slightly.
"So the Chaos will be the distraction while that new one circles around behind me" Xero said, watching the two Gundams. A cold smile passed his lips and the eyes beneath his visor seemed to smile too. "Very well, I'll play your game" he said, flying at the green Gundam. He fired his rifle several times and watched as the Chaos easily moved around the shots. "Not bad, I wonder which of three he is from last time. The GOUF pilot perhaps?" Xero asked as he got closer to the Chaos. Marcel deployed his gunbarrels and fired several shots but the Tyranny blocked them with its shield. "Let's see how you do at close range" Xero said, putting away his rifle and drawing one of his sabres.
"So we're going in close" Marcel said, mimicking the Tyranny's movements. The two Gundams clashed sabres and Xero smiled. "You're not going to beat me!" Marcel roared, entering seed mode. The two flew back and forth, repeatedly clashing their weapons before the first real hit was made. Marcel came forward again but Xero went low and severed the Chaos' right leg. "Oh crap!" Marcel called. His gunbarrels quickly went to the Tyranny's sides and fired off their missiles. The attack staggered the Tyranny and blew the Chaos back. Marcel drew his rifle and fired into the smoke cloud with both the rifle and his two gunbarrels. Two beams flew out from the cloud and destroyed the gunbarrels before the Tyranny flew out towards Marcel, it's beam rifle in one hand and a sabre in the other.
"You're mine" Xero said as he drew his sabre back for a thrust. Marcel moved to the side barely in time, the edge of the beam sabre melting through his suit's hip. "Good reactions" Xero commented, quickly readying for an overhead strike. The Tyranny was suddenly slammed forward as the Paladin rammed shield-first into its back. "I almost forgot about you" Xero said, spinning around with his rifle ready, but the Paladin was already gone. A yellow beam blast shot past him from the right as Garret fired from his Moralltach.
"Marcel, head back to the Ceres, I'll handle it from here" Garret spoke as he too entered seed mode.
"Are you sure?" Marcel asked, panting.
"Yes, get back now! You're in no condition to fight" Garret ordered, throwing away his shield and taking out his second sword. The Tyranny responded by drawing its second beam sabre and the two flew forward, blocking and countering each other's blows.
"Tell me something, you're the one who was piloting that Duel last time I attacked this ship, am I right?" Xero asked as the two Gundams retreated away from each other.
"That's right, and this time I won't lose" Garret called, firing his Valiants. Xero flew around the shots and closed in on the Paladin.
"I admire your determination. Tell me your name so that I may remember the one pilot who actually gave me a challenge even after you die" Xero said, swinging at the blue and black Gundam.
"It's Garret Kross" Garret replied. He quickly put his swords away and took out his SMGs. He held up the silver weapons and let loose a hail of beam bullets towards the Tyranny. Xero flew around them with a few grazing his Gundam as he headed towards Garret again.
"I'm sorry that you have to die Garret, you really are a strong opponent" Xero said, a cold smile on his lips. He swung his sabre in a horizontal arc but the Paladin flipped upwards. "What?" Xero asked surprised, looking up.
"Don't count me out yet" Garret said as the Paladin hung upside-down and fired its SMGs. Xero tried to move but he was hit by a majority of the attack. Bullets ripping through the Tyranny's arms, legs and wings.
"No! This is impossible!" Xero roared, losing his usual composure. Garret jumped back when beams from the Cherubim's Gottfrieds passed between himself and Xero.
"Xero, return to the Cherubim immediately! We cannot lose the Tyranny!" Alastair's voice called over the Tyranny's radio.
"Roger that, disengaging" Xero called as he turned and began his retreat, sparks coming from all over his suit. Garret let out a sigh and relaxed at the Paladin's controls.
"I got him by surprise thanks to having an unknown suit. I think if I can get him away from that ship I can beat him" he said as he saw the return flares come from the Ceres. Garret turned his Gundam and returned to the ship as it made its way to the PLANTs.
-Purity's dreadnought, Crucifix-
Alastair and Allen watched as the door to the meeting room opened and Xero stepped in. His blonde hair hung loose and he was dressed in a black coat that covered anything beneath it. Allen always hated the visor that the Tyranny pilot wore, he hated not being able to see Xero's eyes. Xero leant against the far wall, arms folded and his visor looking towards Alastair.
"So Allen, you say that Hilde has betrayed us and joined the Coordinators and their little allies of justice?" Alastair asked, looking at the Verde Buster's pilot.
"Y…yes sir. I saw her with my own eyes. She pilots the Saviour from that Minerva-class" Allen replied, looking at the floor.
"I see, I know it must pain you to fight someone you were so close to. But unfortunately Hilde Regent has betrayed us and we must shoot her down. Soon my plan shall come to fruition and I need the two people I can trust the most at my side. I've seen myself that we are losing many of our soldiers, both in combat and out of it. Many are starting to see our cause as terrorism and are leaving our ranks" Alastair explained. "The siege in London is almost at an end, we will lose that fight. All of our terrestrial bases have been abandoned and all that remains of our forces are those on the Crucifix, the Cherubim and our other ships in this fleet" he continued.
"What you're saying is that we're losing" Xero stated, looking out the window of the room.
"No, we have not lost this fight yet Xero. All of this is part of my plan" Alastair responded.
"I'm sorry Lord Alastair but for once I agree with Xero. It honestly looks like we're losing this. Even with the Crucifix, if things keep going like they have been then we won't last much longer" Allen said, trying to avoid the black haired man's eyes. Alastair smiled and looked between the two pilots.
"Both of you need not worry. We will soon come under a full-scale attack by ZAFT, the EAF and Orb hoping to eliminate the last of our forces. But I cannot have you two worrying, as long as you fight with me, my plan shall be revealed and we will win this war" Alastair spoke.
"I'm honestly tired of your preaching Alastair. Your words will not sway us like the common people. You say you have some master plan that will take us to victory even though we are far overpowered and outnumbered. You expect us to fight without even knowing what this plan is and what role we are meant to play in it. I think you are just scared, you know that we've lost" Xero spoke, turning to face Alastair. His hands went to his visor and he removed it. For the first time, Allen saw Xero's eyes. The right one almost gold and the left sapphire blue. Those eyes stared at Alastair now, void of emotion and unwavering.
"Xero…" Alastair said, taken aback by the man's words. "I did not expect to hear such words from you…" he continued, at a loss for what to say.
"Don't worry, I will continue to fight for your petty cause. I vowed that my blade was to be yours and I shall keep my word" Xero said as he replaced his visor and strode from the room.
"Lord Alastair…" Allen began but the Purity leader raised his hand, his eyes facing the floor.
"Leave" Alastair spoke, his voice cold and threatening. Allen hesitated and then left the room, quickly heading for his quarters. "You bastard Xero!" Alastair roared, slamming his fist into the table. His expression became twisted and deranged as he took the ceramic vase that sat on the table. He hurled it across the room, causing it to shatter as it hit the wall. "The Naturals… Coordinators… I'll kill every single one of them and make them pay" he growled, his voice becoming low and ragged. "They will all pay for what they did to me!" he roared, flipping the table into the air. His fists clenched and his lips curled in rage as he stared at the wall, his breathing deep and slow. "Even you Xero, will pay for your insolence, my little puppet" Alastair said as a cruel smile came onto his lips and he began to laugh like a madman.