Author's Notes
Hey, readers! It took longer than I expected (I get to fussing with my writing until I finally have to say enough's enough), but this is a longer chapter than the last one, so I hope that made up for it. We find out what happened to Zero and Aleda's shopping trip, get another hint about Aleda's backstory, see more bromance banter between Zero and Baku, and more! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: All of the characters in this chapter belong to Bandai except for my original character Aleda. I'm not selling this, so I'm not making illegal or unlicensed profit from the Gundam or SD Gundam Force series. I'm not claiming Bandai's characters as my own, so I'm not violating copyright, either.
Chapter 4: Healing Touch
Kao Lyn danced around Guneagle, who was powered down on his work table, inspecting his cracked wings at various angles. "Hoo, they landed a good shot on you!" he whistled. "Don't worry, I'll get you patched up in a jiffy." He reached for a welding helmet from a rack against the wall.
The door to his work room slid open, and a certain masked chief entered. Kao Lyn bounced up and saluted. "Chief Haro, sir! What are you here for?"
"I just wanted to talk."
"Is it urgent enough to interrupt Guneagle's repairs?" Kao Lyn twirled a welding torch in his hand.
"I'd rather start the discussion before it slips my mind again: what should we do with the Gundamess?"
Kao Lyn's kooky yin-yang glasses swirled behind the welding mask. "What does she want to do?"
"She doesn't want to tell her parents about this. She wants to stay here at SDG until she can visit her homeland."
"She doesn't recognize us, does she?"
"No. I'm wearing the Haro mask, and she hasn't seen you, yet."
"Her folks would be upset if she stayed here without permission."
"Agreed. But, they have no legal guardianship over her, because she's not a human, so the dilemma is moral, not legal."
Kao Lyn twirled. "Woo! Well, you're the family man. You decide."
Chief Haro sighed behind his mask. "That's the one answer I didn't want to hear."
...
"We formed a perimeter around the building. No one's coming in or going out."
"You're taking all of the civilians hostage?" Zero gaped.
"Well, yeah, why wouldn't we?" Gouf shrugged.
Images of frozen eyes, lips stuck forever in screams, and shattered robot shells flashed through Zero's data processor. The Winged Knight trembled. "I won't let you, you savage monster." He leapt for the Control Horn on the Preston machine's head, but both arms came up and swatted him into the wall, which cracked under the force of his dense, high-velocity body. Gundam and rubble fell on the other side of the wall and crushed the shelves of frozen meat.
With a displeased grunt, Zero picked himself up out of the rubble. "I'll take that device, somehow," he growled at the hole where the packing machine's face glowered.
Heavy crunches and alarmed screams sounded behind him. Zero turned to see, past the storefront's large windows, a rank of Zakos closing in on all of the escaping citizens, spraying Bagu-Bagu. "No!" He abandoned his opponents to fly to the front and protect the innocents.
...
Another loud crash distracted Aleda from the horrifying sight out the window. When she wheeled, she saw Zero shaking off rubble and rising out of a crushed meat display. She almost flew to him, urged by a mixture of concern and fear for her own life, but a buzz and new cries stopped her. Outside, clouds of Bagu-Bagu sprayed from the Zakos' devices.
Desperately, Aleda zoomed out the open doors and threw herself in front of the citizens. Bagu-Bagu pinged against her hide ineffectually. She swatted at them frantically. Some broke and fell, cracked, against the pavement. But, the cloud started to swim around her. They need to disappear, like...! Aleda reached out her hands, and Bagu-Bagu around her poofed out of existence. She wheeled and faced the Bagu-Bagu behind her, which had come within a foot of humans. In the rows leading to the tip of the formation, the bugs vanished with little pops.
The Zakos stopped the spray and blinked in surprise. "Zako?"
"Why did you stop?" screeched a rough voice. Zapper Zaku hopped furiously behind the Zakos. "Keep going until there are so many, she can't get rid of them!"
"Milady!" Zero swooped in with a Lacroan Crescent and a flurry of tiny magic shining swords. The continuing onslaught of Bagu-Bagu evaporated like moths flying into fire. He dove on the line of Zakos and bowled them over.
"Hey!" Zapper raised his machine gun and fired, but a whip of Zero's shield bounced the bullets away. Zero passed close to Aleda and the customers, and a blue force field expanded from him to cover the front.
Behind them, the door-frame smashed and the Preston packing machine rumbled out with Grappler Gouf riding on a platform on its front.
"This is a predicament," Zero huffed. His force field reached only the front half of the crowd.
Aleda beside him said, "Preston's on their side, too?"
"No, it's being controlled by that ugly thing on its head." Zero nodded up at the Control Horn. Robots and humans scattered in front of Preston, only to be corralled by the shrinking loop of Zakos. "Lady Aleda, fly to request reinforcements. I'll cover your escape." Preston started to speed ahead.
"But they're—"
Zero darted in front of the treads' path and rammed the machine with his shield to stop it. "Go!"
The mini-sword spell was still in effect and shielding exposed citizens from Bagu-Bagu. The I-Shield soaked Zapper Zaku's bullets. Zero pushed his magic flight thrusters to keep Preston at bay, but he breathed heavily, and condensation built around his vents. He was tiring and overheating.
The slap of a giant hand flung Zero to the pavement. Coughing, he gathered his feet beneath him and raised his head just in time to see a white-and-gold blur zip at Preston's Control Horn. "Don't!" he cried.
Aleda pulled at the horn and then, when it didn't come off, kicked it furiously until it started to spark. One of Preston's hands slapped her, sending her flying. The force also broke the Control Horn; a broken piece of it was in Aleda's hands. The Gundamess crumpled against the side of the grocery store building. "Aleda!"
...
Chief Haro sat at his desk, pressing his bulbous mask in his hands. He reached for his phone. Suddenly, an alarm sounded, and a screen on the wall came to life. "What is it?" Chief Haro asked Juli's face as he stood.
"Dark Axis has attacked the grocery store in Neotopia Centre Mall! Based on the reports, Zero is engaging about 50 enemies and defending about 70 civilians. Enemies are armed with Bagu-Bagu."
"Drat." Chief Haro pounded the table. "We need to reinforce him and evacuate the civilians, pronto! Prepare Gunperrys 5 through 8. Captain and Bakunetsumaru will board Gunperry 7."
"What about Shute, sir?"
Chief Haro tensed. "I don't want to risk exposing him to Bagu-Bagu. Captain can manage. Over and out."
"Roger. Over and out."
...
Preston's red eyes returned to a white glow, his glowering face changed to neutral, and his rolling ceased. "Agh! Really?" Grappler complained. "I liked that one!" In the next second, Preston smacked him off his platform. "Ack!"
The Zakos charged at the force field in front of their would-be victims. The first group slammed against it ineffectually, but the next wave crawled over them, and the next over them, creating a climbing mass that threatened to cross the dome. On the other side, a few Zakos peeked over the edge of the roof.
Zero stared hopelessly at the Lady Gundamess lying on the concrete. No, I've...! He remembered broken Gundamesses, crushed, lasered, and blown apart as Dark Axis had broken into the inner streets of Lacroa's capital. He remembered one who'd come close enough to the escaping princess's escort for him to see her terrified face, only for a Doga to dive and crush her right before he could reach her. Even as the supposed Chosen One of Lacroa, his helplessness had not changed.
Then, Aleda winced and moved her arms to lift herself. Zero let out his held breath and immediately glided to her. "Milady, are you alright?" he asked as he pulled her to her feet.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, dusting the armor around her leg. "Are you?" she continued, noting how his hand was shaking.
"Yes, but you gave me a fright! Stay close to me," Zero said insistently. "They're still dangerous."
"Okay."
In the next second, Zero intercepted Grappler's claw. The two pushed against each other, their claw and sword locked together, while Aleda floated backwards towards Preston. Grappler's one eye traveled to Zero's cheek. "I see you haven't lost the mark of our last fight," he taunted. "I'll give you a deeper one, this time."
"Try it, you dog!" Zero spat.
More screams came as the Zakos started to vault over the force field. But, a long arm reached over and smacked the first one, and he hit the ground with his face instead of his feet. Preston smiled, pleased with the result of his help, and took another swat. The oncoming Zakos tried to backpedal, but their fellows behind them were in the way. The crowd of customers evacuated the space between Preston and the force field dome. The packing machine rolled close and swatted the foes some more, clearing them off the force field like snow from a windshield.
"What are you doing?! Get out of its way!" Zapper Zaku spluttered.
The Zakos on the roof leapt down behind Preston. Civilians ducked and screamed.
Helicopter rotors pattered into hearing range. The crowd of Zakos started cowering under four Gunperrys. Zapper stopped raving at his subordinates and aimed his guns at the closest one.
Grappler looked up at the approaching reinforcements. "Great—ack!" Grappler dodged a jab from the Vatra Sword. "Watch it!" he said. Zero continued his swings relentlessly, and Grappler batted them away with his claws.
Zapper fired, and the targeted Gunperry veered to evade. Beams fired from the open doors of another Gunperry and knocked Zapper Zaku off-balance. The Dark Axis captain fell on his butt. Captain Gundam lowered his beam rifle. "I have been granted special dispensation to use weapons in Neotopia. So have my friends. Lower your weapons and surrender, now!"
"Zero! Aleda! Hold on!" shouted Bakunetsumaru beside him.
"We've failed to secure hostages!" Grappler called to his comrades as he defended himself from Zero's blade. "Everyone, retreat! Abandon the base!"
The scrambling Zakos picked up their fallen and rushed the other way, into a closed-down restaurant. The civilians still huddled together in fear. Grappler dodged a sword swing and dove for Zero's right side. Zero slipped away, but not before getting punctures, and he brought his shield around to bash Grappler's head in retaliation. A loud ring echoed like a gong. Grappler, a dent in his helmet, almost fell, though he managed to stumble out of Zero's reach and shake the ringing out of his head. A fleeing Zako tripped and accidentally knocked into Zero, which allowed Grappler time to turn and run.
Aleda rushed to Zero's side as he shoved off the terrified Zako—who fled, screaming—and lifted himself from the pavement. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, eyeing the four slits under his arm.
"This is nothing, milady," Zero panted, forcing himself to stand straight and smile. "The wounds are shallow. I'll recover in no time."
Another loud crash, and the Komusai reared its glowing eye above the top of the closed restaurant. "Look out!" Zero dragged Aleda to the ground and cast another force field dome to cover them and the other half of the civilians. The Komusai flew low overhead but grated against the force field and bounced toward the Gunperrys. Number 7 dipped wildly to evade.
"Aaaah!" Baku screamed, throwing himself flat against his platform so he wouldn't fall off, as Captain gripped a handle on the side of the Gunperry and fired with his other hand.
But, the Komusai sped past. A purple vortex edged by a golden, horned frame opened in front of it, and after a last "We'll be back!" the Dark Axis team disappeared into the Zakorello Gate.
Destruction was left in their wake. Civilians trembled, some of them softly crying. The Gunperrys landed around the terrorized customers. "Stay where you are!" came a voice over a loudspeaker. "This location is still hazardous! Stay where you are until the premises are secured!" Captain and Baku jumped off, and the Gunperrys' doors swung open to release several armed GMs that enclosed the area. Preston was immediately surrounded. "We must scan this system for any residual effects of enemy tampering. Please follow us," the GMs instructed.
Zero uncovered the Lady Gundamess, and his sword and shield flashed into nothing. The force fields surrounding them evaporated. "Lady Aleda, are you unharmed?"
"Ye-yeah." Aleda's knees shook as she took Zero's hand. But, it was Zero's knees that buckled when he tried to pull her up. "Ah! Zero!" The knight held his injured side. "I'm sorry!"
Zero opened his mouth to say that he was fine, that it had only stung a moment, but Aleda knelt and touched his side, and a familiar cool sensation soothed his pain, emanating from a blue glow that seeped from her hands. He watched the Gundamess's face in surprise. Her green eyes flashed with a similarly startled expression, which then settled into focus. The few exposed wires sealed shut and hid under a thin new layer of encasement.
"Milady, I didn't know you could use healing magic, too," Zero said.
Aleda jolted. "O-oh! Is that what I'm doing? I just wanted to help, and when I touched it, my hands just—" The light blue glow died, and the soothing sensation with it. "Oh! It went away!" She withdrew her hands to stare at them in awe.
"You didn't know how to use it?" Zero asked.
Aleda dropped her hands and looked at him. "No, I was trying to see your injury, and I really wished I could help you, and then my body started doing something weird."
"I'm touched, milady," Zero said. He stood more easily, bearing only a couple of pinholes where the cuts once were, and offered her a hand. "And, I'm very impressed. It took me many tries to learn that spell."
"Thank you."
The peal of a laser pierced their conversation. "Zero, there are still Bagu-Bagu scattered on the premises!" Captain called.
Zero sighed. "Even after they're gone, we have to clean up their filth," he complained.
"Are you going to be okay? You seem tired," Aleda said.
"No matter how tired I may be, I must protect the innocent."
"I can help you."
"By making them disappear?" Zero said, remembering how he'd seen the Gundamess pop so many out of their reality.
"Yeah." She smiled.
"I couldn't ask you to do such a troublesome task, milady."
"I don't mind." Aleda flew toward Captain before Zero could make another objection.
"Milady is full of surprises," Zero commented to himself with a smile. Setting aside all of his questions, he rose to join her.
...
An hour later, Aleda, Zero, Baku, Captain, and Shute walked the halls of White Base again. "I am surprised that you defended against so many enemies before we reached you, Zero," Captain said.
"Ha! 50 Zakos is nothing compared to what I've faced in Lacroa," Zero bragged. "I once protected the princess from a dragon. This was no trouble."
"Oh, really? You seemed in pretty big trouble at the end," Baku jabbed.
Zero turned and jabbed him with his eyes. "50 Zakos is fine! 70 people to protect was the problem! And I handled it!" He then quickly amended, "With Lady Aleda's help." The Lady Gundamess lowered her eyes shyly, smiling. "Thank you again, milady."
"You're welcome," she said.
"I can't believe you all had an adventure without me," Shute moaned.
"I was surprised that Chief didn't let you go," Baku said. "You've survived the Bagu-Bagu before. I wonder what got him scared?"
"Chief Haro was very reluctant at first to allow Shute to stay in contact with me and the SDG. Perhaps this sentiment is resurfacing," Captain said soberly.
"I don't think it is as bad as that," Zero said. "Perhaps we can ask him about it later when he's not busy."
"Speaking of busy, what's on our schedule for the rest of the day? After taking on a squad of villains first thing in the morning, our schedule probably changed," Baku said.
"Chief Haro described the day's routine to us in the debrief," Captain reminded him. "We are to report to Kao Lyn for a checkup, check in with Juli for any new developments, and then, barring any additional combat, there will be lunch, training, patrol, and leisure." Looking at the female among their company, he added, "Aleda will report to Kao Lyn for a checkup, and then she will be free to spend leisure time in the designated areas where she is allowed access."
"Okay." Aleda nodded.
The Gundams all went to the lab, and Shute went to the lounge to wait for them. Kao Lyn admitted Zero first. Guneagle waved to him as he passed on his way out. "Have fun." Zero rolled his eyes in response. The door slid shut behind him.
"Aleda!" called Bell Wood from the next doorway. "I can take ya over here!"
The Gundamess floated to him. "Hi, Bell Wood," she chirped.
"I'm not as specialized in Gundams as Kao Lyn, but ya don't look too hurt, and I can do a quick check so ya don't hafta wait for him."
"That's fine."
Once the door slid shut, Bell Wood asked, "So, didja have any pain ya wanted me to fix?"
"My back and head hurt after I got thrown against a wall," Aleda confessed.
"Okay, got it. Lay down and I'll get ya scanned."
Aleda laid her back on the work table and looked around at the room, with its numerous monitors and recessed shelves filled with gadgetry. A bar lifted on one end of the table and passed over her. "We're no experts on Sola Diorama Gundams, but I'd say those little energy pools on your head and shoulder look like bruises."
"I think it's kind of like that."
"Other'n that and some signs of stress in the joints, you're okay. I can give ya somethin' to drink up excess energy discharge and prevent side effects from the leaks, and I can put braces on some of your joints, but the rest is up to ya gettin' some rest."
Aleda nodded. "I'd like that." I've already got a big headache, so maybe the energy thing will help.
"Sure thing. And don't do anythin' to stress your joints the next week; they look ready to pop if ya lift 500 kilograms or more."
"That's fine. I don't usually lift that much," Aleda said with a smile.
So, she was discharged with a couple of little black patches taped to her sore spots and two metal braces, one over her knee and one on her right elbow. Baku stood in the white hall outside, arms crossed, leaning against the wall, his eyescreens displaying shut digital lids. He slid slightly to the left and jolted awake. "Ah!" He looked wildly around, and, seeing Aleda, tried to recompose himself. "H-Hey." Baku looked off to the side. "So, you finished up already, huh?"
"Yeah." Aleda nodded.
"You have a lot of bandages."
"It's not as bad as it looks." Aleda waved it off.
"Oh. Okay." Baku shook off the rest of his lethargy. He noticed Aleda idly glancing at the door to Kao Lyn's lab. "What are you going to do, now?"
Aleda averted her green eyes shyly and mumbled, "Well, I'm a bit worried about Zero, so I thought I'd wait a bit." Then, looking at the Musha Gundam directly again, she asked, "What about you? Are you waiting?"
Baku flushed with embarrassment. "Me, concerned for that pansy? No way! Captain went to Shute's house, and I need a decent sparring partner. So, even though he's not nearly skilled enough, Zero will have to—"
"Excuse me? You don't even have half of my skill." Kao Lyn's lab door hissed shut behind Zero, who had a rubbery black patch stuck to his damaged side.
"What did you say?" Baku cried.
"You heard me. I'm more than twice the fighter as you!"
"Oh, yeah? Training room, now. Let's spar and see who's best!"
"I'll show you my prowess—!" Zero made a dramatic sweep of his right arm, until it caught mid-swing. "Urk!" The Winged Knight gingerly lowered his arm. "—that is, after I've taken a day to heal, according to Kao Lyn's recommendations."
Baku sighed. "Fine. Pansy."
Zero huffed. "Hmph. Simpleton."
Sensing the exchange had ended, Aleda turned to the Knight Gundam and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, milady," Zero said. "The wound was shallow, and your healing magic fixed the worst of the damage. Kao Lyn was impressed with your work."
The Gundamess blushed. "Thanks."
"Thank you, milady," Zero insisted. "It's a great favor since the scientists of Neotopia don't know how to effectively heal a Sola Diorama Gundam."
A proud smile crept into her eyes. "You're welcome."
"What should I do to repay you, Lady Aleda?" Zero asked.
"Uh..." Aleda looked away to hide her growing blush.
The Knight Gundam snapped his fingers, and another purple rose appeared. "I could begin with this," he volunteered. "What else should I give you, milady?"
"I don't need anything," Aleda said. She accepted the rose and held it to her face, just barely under her eyescreens, as if to hide herself. "I just wanted to help. I'd like to still make lunch..." Where did that come from? she immediately scolded herself.
"Oh, that's right!" Baku exclaimed. "All the groceries are gone, now, aren't they? That means we don't get any good food."
"Don't cry in front of the lady, Bakunetsumaru," Zero said with a mock consoling tone as he reached over and pat the Musha on the shoulder.
"Who said I was—!"
"—We must wait for the lady's scrumptious meals another day, but I know of another source of delicious meals—pastries in particular!"
"Ah, you mean...!" Baku started bouncing with delight.
"Princess Sayla's cakes!" Zero declared.
"Cake for lunch?" Aleda said uncertainly.
"Yes! For lunch!" both male Gundams said to her excitedly.
"O...kay..." Then, "Don't you have to report to someone first?"
"I already did," Baku said.
"After I report to Juli, we can go," Zero said, still grinning at the prospect of sugary food. "Onward! To lunch!"
...
"Damages to her body were minor," Chief Haro read from a tablet screen. "Hmm." He leaned back in his plush roller chair, putting a hand to his mask's "chin" to ponder the next piece of information in the report: "Zero reported that she treated his wounds before Kao Lyn's check by using Lacroan magic. Kao Lyn also reported that the wounds appeared to have begun healing before Kao Lyn began treatment." "That could be a very critical tool for Zero and Bakunetsumaru," Haro muttered. He eyed the phone, contemplating.
Author's Notes
Again, sorry for the long wait. I fiddle with things, and life can get busy, too. I hope it was worth your wait :) I hope there were a few laughs.
Let me know if Zero is still in-character. You'd think he'd be an easy one to do, being the chivalrous-with-a-dose-of-snob stereotype, but his background and poor circumstances tempt me to emphasize his tragic side. Let's be real here: out of the entire team, Zero got the worst deal in the end. *Spoiler Alert* (Just in case people haven't watched all of this decade-old series, yet.) His friends are all dead, and one of them Zero had to kill because he was a traitor, so Zero's definitely the only Knight Gundam left alive. Apparently, there are more that come after the Spirit Tree is revived, but I imagine they'd be very young and inexperienced. That's gotta suck not having peers your own age. Not to mention the emotional turmoil from a close friend's betrayal. That makes trust issues, man! *End Spoiler Alert* Not to mention that during the series, he's got hints of survivor's guilt because his friends and his royal charge sacrificed themselves to send him to safety. I'm surprised a guy carrying that around alone for 2 years could stay sane. So, yeah, I tend to want to use that dark backstory, because it makes things interesting and adds a bit more depth to Zero's character—if nothing else, it shows freakish resilience. Just let me know if his survivor's guilt/pressure/PTSD/brooding gets out-of-character.
If I didn't communicate it well enough, Aleda has a history with at least those two SDG members that she isn't yet aware of. Let me know if that was confusing. I want to make it mysterious, not confusing XD
Btw, in case this hasn't been inferred by now, I base the dialogue on SDGF's English dub version, not the Japanese. I generally prefer subs, myself, but this one I watched completely in dub before seeing it in Japanese, so when I think of the voices, that's what I think of. Plus, that gives me something solid to work with instead of deciding how to judge the various sub translations. This comes with the side effect of stereotyped voices. I have no idea if Bell Wood uses slang in the Japanese version (I don't have the ear and know-how for that), but he does in the English dub, so that's what I went with. I'm not intending at all to offend African-Americans or people of African/colored descent, I'm just trying to keep him in-character as the genius kid who's so smart that no one cares if he doesn't use Oxford language. But, if his lingo offends you, let me know, and I'll try my best to alter it.
Next chapter, we'll see if Chief Haro decides to contact Aleda's foster family, what the Gundam Force has for lunch, and some more bonding time for Zero and Aleda. I'm guessing that the next one will take a bit longer to put out because 1. I'm starting a summer semester next week 2. I'll have to write a few more new scenes before the story can reconnect with the pieces I've already written.
I want to say, I've been really excited writing all this, because I'd thought originally that I was just going to edit things I already wrote. Turns out that this revisit is getting more in-depth, and the characters are already showing new sides of themselves to me. I love it when that happens! I hope you all are enjoying this as much as I am!
Again, please give a review. Guest or logged-in, whichever. It can be just 3 words, if you're in a rush.
-Penelopi