Author's Notes
Okay, so I broke both promises...
It's mid-August...
...and this is a super-long chapter. I am so sorry.
I ended up not cutting much of anything from that 6-page fight scene near the beginning like I planned to. Maybe if I had another day or two I could rewrite it, but I'm about to go on a family trip to a place with no wifi, so I want to get this up for you guys tonight. You all have waited long enough.
I was very determined to get up to the scene at the end (which I had planned to have happen at the end of Chapter 26 before I realized it was getting too long), and that's why this chapter is so darned long.
Lots of stuff is happening at once. I hope I've kept it all straight. Let me know how I did!
Also, many of you are probably wondering about the job-hunt and how things are going to go with this fic once the school year starts.
Well, in all honesty, I don't know, yet, because... I haven't gotten hired, yet. Been looking for teacher assistant positions because I need a bit more practical experience before I manage 20+ little guys every day on my own. I've applied online and handed in my resume in-person to over 30 public schools in three districts, and I've only had a total of 5 interviews the whole summer. None have called me back, though I've been calling them. And every county will have started school by September 8th. It's been rough, and between this job hunt mire and last spring's struggles I've been questioning a lot about myself.
The most pressing deadlines right now are my student loans that I have to start paying back in December and upcoming insurance loss. I'm lucky that my parents are able to house and feed me, but the loans and extra insurance would still be big costs for them, and my part-time tutoring money can't cover those. Any prayers, well-wishes, or handy tips for my situation would be appreciated.
I'll still try to keep a once-a-month or so update rate the best I can during my job hunt. Next one should be mid-September. Thank you so much for bearing with me and for continuing to read my stories. :) I know not many choose to comment, but I do see the view numbers here and in DA. It's really encouraging to know that even with all the things I screw up I can do something well that people enjoy.
And thank you, Titanic X, for reading over my super-long and super-late chapters :_
-Penelopi
(And why is this all before the chapter and not in Author's Notes after it? Because, on top of all of my other troubles, my desktop's monitor just decided to stop working tonight and the browser of my tablet crashes whenever I try to add to the length of this document in FanFiction . net's editor :/ Good times.)
Copyright Info
SD Gundam Force is produced by Sunrise and Bandai. My OCs in this chapter are Aleda, Titan, Miku, and Ace. (Oh, wow, we slimmed it down a bunch for this one, didn't we?)
Chapter 27: Ultimatum
Zero and Bakunetsumaru dropped first from the Gunperry. Or, rather, flew. Zero carried Baku closer to the gleaming portal in the distance, while their ride turned back. The other Gunperrys would soon discharge their own passengers. Below them, a road of wires led to a blocky building caged by electric towers. "They're attacking a power plant, this time," Zero mumbled.
"What's a power plant?" Baku asked.
"In Neotopia, power plants generate the energy needed for all of the citizens' machinery."
Titan, having leapt from another Gunperry, edged close to them with his flight boosters. "That is not a power plant but an electric substation," he said. "It alters the electricity before it enters the city so that it is compatible with electric devices. Its loss would still mean a loss of power. I've seen humans in panic during temporary 'outages.' If the Dark Axis destroys this facility, reliable power could be lost for weeks while they rebuild it. Neotopia would be chaos."
"We'll stop them before they can destroy it," Zero said.
"And we'll sneak on their ship! Ready to see your girlfriend?" Baku remarked to his Lacroan friend with a grin.
Before Zero could retort, a familiar jetpack-wearing Gundam zipped past them. "They're coming out of the Zakorello Gate!" Captain said at the point of their formation.
The Komusai snaked out the portal and descended on the substation. "Should we enter the portal now?" Zero asked, watching anxiously as the purple hole began to shrink.
"Negative," Captain said. "For now, we engage the enemy and defend Neotopian citizens. They'll reopen the portal eventually when they retreat, and then we will hide on the ship." He angled to follow the Dark Axis ship. "Besides, the portal will close in less than ten seconds. You can't make it."
Zero begrudgingly sighed, "Very well."
An enthusiastic yodel—and a terrified shriek—sounded as the final SDG passengers jumped from their aircraft. Gunbike, with a screaming Shute inside, sailed to the ground. "Hasn't he learned from last time?" Zero scoffed.
"Will Shute be okay?" Baku asked.
Captain said, "He'll be safe. Gunbike would never do something to endanger Shute."
"Are you sure?"
The Komusai squeezed into the grounds of the substation complex by wiggling under the cables, and it planted its tripedal landing gear on the concrete pavement. From the belly of the ship poured the three one-eyed Dark Axis squad leaders and their mob of Zakos.
"Alright, you tin cans!" Zapper began as he he sauntered onto the pavement. "Let's get started smashing—ah!" He was met by a faceful of violet laser shots. "Woah, woah, hang on!" Many protests of "zako!" rang as he and the others backpedaled from the beam rifle fire. "We haven't even fired, yet!"
"Past encounters strongly suggest that you will. We are merely taking proactive measures," Captain explained as he wheeled to a stop before them.
"We haven't even gotten everyone out of the ship, yet! Hold on!"
Behind Zapper's frame, Grappler waved at the Zakos. "Spread out!" Dozens of small feet scampered, and Dom raised a bazooka in each hand.
Zero dumped Baku on his feet and lifted a hand to the skies while Titan pulled three shields from the air. "Oh, Mana!"
Gunbike leapt over the station's chain link fence and pulled a tire-screeching brake. "Get ready, cheerleader!" he hollered to his passenger. "I'll help you dodge the pot-shots!" Shute nodded.
"Fire!" Zapper said, jabbing at the line of Gundams. "I don't care what you hit, as long as it isn't me! Make an explosion!"
"Dom destroy!" Dom launched a missle from each bazooka, laughing.
Titan set his hand-held shields forward and enclosed his company in a bright energy dome. The missile blasts bounced off into an adjacent raised power line. Sparks fritzed, and cables melted.
Shute leaned up and twisted in his seat to see a black blot in the city behind him. "Guys! The power's going out over there!"
"Everyone, close in!" Captain cried.
Zero swooped at Zapper Zaku, who brought up his axe just in time to catch a sword swing. Captain Gundam zoomed his sights on Grappler Gouf. Titan locked eyes on an equally bulky opponent, who had turned to fish through an odd yellow trailer. "Oh, no, you don't!" The Knight Gundam charged in.
Bakunetsumaru, left with no other enemy, charged into the cluster of Zakos. "You think you can win with numbers? I'll show you, you cowards!"
"Get 'em, guys!" Shute shouted.
Zero pressed down on his foe, and Zapper's gears strained to keep his joints from giving way. His legs began to shake. Finally, Zero gave him one last shove to throw him on his back and zoomed next to Grappler.
The cobalt robot found himself under a barrage of both Zero's sword jabs and Captain's laser beams. "They've gone nuts!" he cried in bewilderment.
"Your ally Tallgeese has taken Aleda!" Zero growled. "I won't leave your actions unpunished!"
"Tallgeese?!" Grappler ducked a wooshing swing. "I had nothing to do with that! I don't even talk to the guy!"
But Zero only heard Aleda's voice, whispering, "Can we go home, now?"
"Guilty by association!" he growled as he relentlessly continued his jabs.
Meanwhile, Baku was slashing, twirling, and deflecting bullets from the Zakos. One green soldier latched on him from behind and began to beat his helmet with his gun. "Ow! Why, you little—!" Baku thrashed about to dislodge his attacker and lashed at others who rushed to dogpile him.
Captain, hearing his Musha friend's cries, turned from Grappler. "Hold still!" he ordered.
Baku froze, wide-eyed. A beam hit the piggybacking Zako's face and knocked him off. "I could have done that myself…" the embarrassed warrior grumbled.
"I saw that! Very ungraceful," chided Zero in the midst of his sword patty-cake with Grappler.
"You're one to talk, with how sloppy your attacks are!" countered Baku.
"I may be in a hurry, but my moves are as elegant as ever!" Zero said. He sent a Lacroan Crescent smashing through Grappler and Zakos like a bowling ball. "Behold!"
"Heh. Sure, if you mean elegant like a Zako!"
"Zero! Bakunetsumaru! You two gotta stop fighting and focus on the mission!" Shute called.
"We're not fighting!" the two Gundams snapped.
Captain, noticing Titan wrestling with Destroyer Dom next to a yet intact transformer—the Gallop by the Komusai had been left ajar, many missiles, blades, and guns spilled across the concrete—decided to slide in range. "Mind if I join in?" he said, with what Titan could have sworn was a smirk.
"Not—urk!—at all," the navy-blue Gundam said as he pressed, hand-to-hand, straining against the purple robot and reaching for a bazooka held at arms-length. "This one is a handful."
"Please retreat a safe distance," Captain said. "I wouldn't want to accidentally hit you."
Titan, grunting, willed two of his shields to buzz around the Dark Axis brute.
"Duh...?" Dom's eye shifted to follow them. After a revolution around, they clapped him from each side. "Uhhh!"
Titan shot backward on his flight boosters, and with a wave of his hand the shields released and flew to their master. Captain aimed at the swaying, dazed robot.
"Look out, Captain!"
Shute's voice yanked his attention to a missile flying in from another direction. Captain threw up his shield. But before it could connect, another barrier spun into the shot. Titan's tall navy shield flashed once and dropped with a deep bowl holding the missile in its center.
"You owe me for covering your frame, Dom!" Grappler said behind his smoking arm missile-launcher. His detached forearm slid down and sealed the hole with a click. "Used up my only missile!"
Captain said to Titan, "Thank you."
"I know from personal experience what those do." Titan snatched the third shield from his back to replace his lost one. "Let's finish this, quickly."
Behind them, close to the edge of the paved courtyard, Shute urged his ride, "Gunbike, can you get closer? I need to be able to cheer on Captain."
"Sure thing. Hold on ta yer seat, kid!"
Captain heard the motor and spared a glance over his shoulder at the approaching sentient motorbike. "Titan, you take care of Grappler Gouf."
"Yes, sir." Titan flew to the cobalt-blue robot.
"Haha. Ready or not, here I come~" Dom leveled his bazooka at Captain Gundam. The target sped his treads, and Dom's wide nozzle followed.
Shute cupped his hands and yelled to his friend, "Don't let him catch you!"
Captain wove erratically, first under an awning there, then turning on a concrete slab here, and winding around a pole across the yard. "Stay still!" Dom whined as he tried to aim his sights.
"I don't understand why you make this request when you know the chances of my compliance are 0%."
"Duh…That is good question," Dom said, lifting his trigger-finger.
Captain skid to a stop in front of him. "Technically, it was not a question, but a statement."
Steam blew out of Dom's helmet, and he stomped the ground in a fit. "Question, statement, same thing! Why you always have to make things complicated?!"
"Actually, there is a difference. A question is—"
"Gundam no answer!" Dom re-aimed his bazooka. "Gundam go boom!"
"Thank you for the perfect shot." Captain fired his beam rifle straight into the nozzle of the bazooka. BOOM! When the smoke cleared, Dom's head and right shoulder were soot-black. The bulky robot coughed up ashy puffs. "Is that 'boom' enough for you?" Captain asked smugly.
"*K-Hac-Hack!* Yes, Gundam boom good…" Dom wheezed. He collapsed on his back.
"Yes!" Shute cheered with a fist-pump.
Grappler leapt back from a swing of Titan's shield. "Dom's down!" he shouted to Zapper.
"You—gah!—You deal with it!" Zapper grunted as he attempted to fend off Zero's sword with his axe. "I'm trying to deal with pansy boy here!"
At that, Zero sneered, "I am a pansy, you say?" He shoved the axe and the squad leader so hard that Zapper stumbled. "I'll give you pansies!" With a wave of his sword, pansies sprouted from Zapper's helmet, his shoulders, his hands, his legs, his stomach. Pansies continued to pop up in every cranny as Zapper gave a horrified scream and threw himself to the ground.
The Dark Axis 'bot rolled and thrashed about on the grass like a fish out of water. "Organic… organic! Organic things on my armor! GET IT OFF!"
"Woah," Shute said in awe. "That's worse than anything he's done to Baku."
Said samurai gulped from atop a pile of defeated Zako.
Captain stepped towards Grappler, his gun's sights locked onto the blue robot. "Your teammates have been incapacitated," he stated. "Will you surrender?"
"I think I'll go for…" Gouf suddenly lashed with his grappling hook. "...a tactical retreat!"
Captain brought up his shield to defend, and the claw bounced off harmlessly, but when he lowered it to see again, Gouf was already halfway to Zapper.
Zapper spotted his fellow Axis member in his field of vision. "Grappler, please! Get them off me-ee!" he sobbed.
"After we get back to the Komusai! Come on!" Gouf said impatiently, yanking him to his feet and dragging him along. He glanced back and saw the Gundam Force slinking towards them, sliding around the edges of the buildings within the complex as if to use them for cover. That was odd for them. But now was not the time to dwell on it. Grappler called to the Komusai and the remaining Zakos aboard, "Give us some cover-fire, will ya?!"
The ship rained bullets on the Gundams, and they broke their approach to dodge. Baku swung into the shadow of a one-story. "What do we do?!"
"We have to get closer…!" Zero began to peel away from his building to make a dash for it, but Captain latched onto his foot.
"Don't do anything hasty," Captain chided. "We have to come up with a plan."
"Captain, a lot of you guys have shields," Shute chimed in.
Titan smirked and edged forward. "He's right. We can form a shield wall."
"Good idea," Captain said.
As the Gundam Force plotted, the Dark Axis horde slipped into the lift. Zapper was still dancing and fidgeting from the itchy flowers as the lift rose into the ship. He flung himself down and rubbed against the floor in a desperate quest for relief right before the Komusai swallowed them.
"We gotta get to the Komusai now!" Baku shouted above the roar of gunfire; he, Shute, and Gunbike huddled behind the group's three shield-bearers. Their group was crawling toward the ship, much too slowly.
"Come on, Captain!" Shute yelled. "We have a deadline! Break through them!"
Captain's eyescreens flashed with a fiery glow, and his hand shone gold. Shute grinned as the Gundam wound up for a swing.
"Captain…PUNCH!"
His thrusters shot him to one mounted cannon, which crunched under Captain's bright fist. A jump and a second punch took out the second.
But the Komusai roughly shook, throwing Captain to the ground as it climbed.
"No!"
"Come on, we can jump!" Baku started running, and the rest darted after him.
Zero and Titan shot to the front of the pack, with Baku close behind, and Gunbike and Shute bringing the rear. Gunbike braked when the Komusai lifted above the power lines. "Too high! We don' have a good ramp 'round here!"
"Ah, rats!" Shute disappointedly gazed after his friends.
Captain, shaking off his fall, ignited his backpack thrusters. Baku jumped to the roof of the station. Zero and Titan ascended.
But before Captain had lifted far above the electric towers, his thrusters sputtered. "I can't go any higher…!" He dropped and clunked on the substation roof.
"Waaah!"
Baku plummeted to the ground from a failed leap of faith. Titan doggedly pursued the ship in the air, but Zero, already partway to the Komusai, paused in mid-flight to glance down worriedly at his friend. "Don't stop, Zero!" Captain called. "Only you and Titan can reach the Komusai, now!"
Baku, stumbling out of a powdery hole in the concrete, also yelled, "I'm fine! Go!"
With a nod, Zero turned and bulleted towards the ship, which was already passing through the portal.
"Come on…!" Shute breathed in suspense.
They waited with baited breath as the distant blue-and-white form with a splash of red neared the ship. The figure latched onto the bottom of the Komusai, next to a square of navy-blue, just before the entire vessel disappeared in a flash of purple.
"Did…did they make it?" Shute asked.
"I believe so," Captain said, scanning the skies. "They're not here."
"Yes!"
Sobs reached Shute's ears, and the boy dropped his fist-pump to turn to Baku, whose red back was shuddering. "What's wrong, Bakunetsumaru?"
"Z-Zero's grown so much!" Baku cried. "He's f-finally going after the love of his life…!"
"Ya' big crybaby," Gunbike scolded. "Yer teammates don' need no tears!"
As they bickered, Captain began suddenly, "Shute?"
"Yes, Captain?"
"Did you give Zero the voice changer before he left?"
"…Um…No... I didn't, did I?"
…
As Zero passed through the portal, clinging on to the Dark Axis ship for dear life, an unsettling thought occurred to him. I neglected to acquire Shute's voice changer…Now how will I pass through the Zakorello Gate to Lacroa?
The crackling purple ring gave way to dark, purple sky and two moons. Sola Diorama?
He and Titan shared a puzzled glance. "You would be the one to know," the other Knight Gundam whispered.
"I don't..." Zero paused as the Komusai angled to reveal a massive, twisted horned nest floating in the air. "It's the Dark Axis homeworld." He whipped out the invisibility spell card. "Quick, hold on to me."
"If I must," Titan grumbled and laid a hand on Zero's shoulder.
Poof! The two could no longer see their own frames. Only the feel of armor or ship hull beneath their digits convinced them of their continued presence. "Don't let go," Zero warned. "The card's magic only works by physical touch. If you are not connected to it through me, then you will become visible, again."
"I understand."
The Komusai twisted belly-up, and the Gundams dug their fingers in and held their breath. The formidable maroon Magna Musai loomed ahead. "They're going to dock," Zero hissed.
"What should we do?"
"Stay still."
"What if moving parts—?"
"Shh!"
The Komusai's edge began to pass the lip of the larger ship.
"Wait," boomed a loud voice.
The Gundams' ride jerked to a stop. "W-What is it, your maliciousness?" Zapper Zaku's voice stammered over the Komusai loudspeaker.
"I want to talk to you three before you dock."
"V-very well, sir... Come on, you idiots, get these things off of me—" The mic clicked off before the rest of the Dark Axis could hear the rest of that internal conversation.
The Komusai righted, sending the inner gyroscopes of its unknown passengers spinning. "I think... I'm going to be ill..." Zero breathed.
"Not on me," Titan hissed back.
The buzz of the lift sounded. Zapper, Grappler, and Dom crept forward on the hull. "Yes, commander?" Grappler Gouf gulped.
"Since you failed again—you don't even need to tell me, I already know you failed—you're going to do an easier, boring job for me before I let you come crawling back." A hatch on the front of the Magna Musai opened to release a diminutive red form. "This is Zako Red, a competent—" Zapper and Grappler winced. "—soldier who answers directly to me. You are going to escort him to Lacroa and help him carry out a... let's call it a diplomatic mission." Chuckles echoed from the loudspeakers. "You will follow all of Zako Red's orders to the letter. Do I make myself clear?"
The trio of squad leaders immediately saluted. "Y-Yes, sir!"
"We are in luck," Titan whispered.
"Indeed," concurred Zero.
They held tight as the Komusai turned.
...
In the throne room, Tallgeese paced. "How can I get her to see that she should cooperate?" he murmured.
A few feet away, Miku set a tray of tea on a small side table. "I don't know, Lord Tallgeese."
The Lacroan warlord stopped and waved his hands exasperately. "You must know something, Miku! You're the only one she talks to, here! Don't think that I haven't noticed how long you spend in her room..."
The Gundamess's red shoulders tensed.
"You had better not be hiding anything from me, or I'll—" He cut short, his helm turning to follow a purple, finned shape in the sky through the narrow windows. Miku too spared a look, as Tallgeese uttered, "...What is this?"
"You didn't expect the Dark Axis today, sir?"
Tallgeese's eyescreens darkened. "Miku, take that tea to our guest. I won't be needing it. And stay there with her. If someone is coming, hide. Do not leave until I send for you. Do you understand?"
She trembled. "Yes, sir."
…
The Komusai landed in a world with a darkening reddish sky and two moons. A party of Pawn Leos encircled the descending ship, straight-backed and stiff, waiting to salute their visiting allies.
As the ship crunched onto the rocky terrain, one Pawn Leo noticed odd clanks, followed by what sounded like a muffled curse, but when he looked in the direction of the noise, there was no one there. Dismissing the sounds as tricks of his CPU, the Pawn Leo returned to watching the Komusai's hatch open from its belly.
Beyond his hearing range, mysterious bubblings traveled faintly past, and soon dissipated, dropping off the ledge that overlooked the lake of Lacroa City…
...
"What is the meaning of this?" Tallgeese demanded, glaring down from his throne by the Spirit Tree. "Who sent you?"
A Zako colored red and bearing a commander fin on his helmet stepped to the edge of the stairs. On either side of him stood Grappler Gouf and Zapper Zaku, while Destroyer Dom loomed behind him. Their Zako squad formed rows of green from Dom to the door of the throne room. "Commander Sazabi sent us, zako. We were told to bring back more Gundams, zako, since you reported that there are still some survivors in Lacroa, zako."
Tallgeese growled as he stood. "Then, you may search the surrounding land for those renegades."
"You have one here at Lacroa Castle, too, zako, that we would like to have in our custody."
"She currently is my hostage. Once I am done with her, then you may have her. Not before."
"I have orders to search the premises if you do not comply, zako," Zako Red stated.
Tallgeese raised a glowing red hand. "If you do, you will face the wrath of the Sacred Beast Griffin."
The single eye of the Zako narrowed.
"You should know it's power. I could destroy your entire ship before you even bat an eye. And you would lose your only ally in Lacroa."
"You can destroy the Komusai, but you can't get rid of the last Royal Knight of Lacroa, zako?" Red sneered.
"Do not tempt me to sink my claws into that eye of yours," Tallgeese rumbled.
Zako Red slowly stepped back a pace. "I will inform my superiors of your actions. You have made a bad decison, zako."
"Go ahead." Tallgeese sank into the throne again. "I won't let anyone stand in my way."
Zapper leaned into Zako Red's audio receptor. "So... what are we doing?"
"We will regroup at the Komusai and communicate Lord Tallgeese's intent to Commander Sazabi, zako."
"We're retreating?" Grappler gasped.
"Regrouping, zako. Or would you rather get skewered by one of Lacroa's most powerful Spirits, zako?" Red snapped.
"No, sir."
"Then let's go, zako." Zako Red about-faced and marched through the gathering of Zakos, which parted in front of him so he could reach the front. "We'll be back, Lord Tallgeese!"
Tallgeese glowered at the Zako. "I'll be waiting."
...
Miku set a steaming tray of scrambled eggs, bread, and tea on the petrified nightstand. "There you go," she said to Aleda, who stood beside her.
"Thank you," Aleda said. "I'm glad Tallgeese hasn't made me go eat with him, again, but I was worried I might get hungry."
"Tallgeese is busy, right now." Miku rubbed her metal wrist joints to ease their ache. "He has visitors."
Aleda's wingtips perked. "Visitors?"
"Not your friends the Gundam Force, unfortunately." The Arkian took a small metallic kettle from the tray and poured into a teacup. "It's his Dark Axis allies. Seems he might be in trouble with them." The pooling black tea rose. "Actually, he ordered me to stay here with you until he sent someone to come get me. Someone leaked something to—Oh!" She gasped when the tea spilled over.
Aleda immediately grabbed a napkin from the tray.
Miku pressed her face. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
"It's okay." She dabbed the dripped tea.
"...Tallgeese said for us to hide if we hear anyone coming close."
Aleda refolded the soiled napkin with a frown. "Why?"
"It's just a guess, but they may want to take us."
Aleda set the napkin on the tray, accidentally clacking her hand against the edge—she was shaking. "Sorry," she quickly apologized, before asking, "W...What do you mean, 'take us'? Why would they want to do that?"
Miku shrugged to mask her jitters. "All the Knight Gundams went somewhere. The Gundamess prisoners, too."
"You think the Dark Axis took them?"
"All I know is that the other captives of Tallgeese disappeared, bit by bit." She crossed her arms and stared at the floor. "Including my best friend. I woke up one day, and she wasn't there."
Aleda looked down. "I'm sorry..."
"Just be ready to hide."
"Mhm. And maybe..." Aleda lifted her gaze. "Maybe we should ask Vayeate to help us. I don't think he would want them to take you, either."
"Ha!" Miku scoffed. "Vayeate? You think he's going to help us?" She shook her head.
"But, he..." Aleda bit her lip.
"I know what he thinks of me," Miku said. "But, any affection he has stops when it comes to risking his own hide."
"This morning, though—"
"Aleda." Brown eyes hardened. Miku leaned in so the smaller Gundamess could get a good look at their intensity. "Listen to me. Vayeate won't risk his life for a Gundam. He won't help me escape. He wants to keep me here near him, where he's safe and sound."
"But, if he wants to keep you, then—"
"If it came down to choosing whether to hand me over to the Dark Axis and live, or to fight for me and die, he'd hand me over in a second. And then he'd have the gall to cry over me later. He's a coward. A selfish coward who says one thing and does another to keep himself alive," Miku spat. "So, don't trust him. I already made that mistake one too many times."
Aleda picked at her skirt. "...I'm sorry."
"I just don't want you to get hurt or get yourself killed." Miku unfolded her arms and handed the girl a cup and saucer. "Here, drink it."
Aleda took the china dishes in her hands and blew across the tea.
"We had just better hope the Dark Axis leaves before we make our escape tonight."
The Lacroan looked over the rising steam. "You're going to call it off if they don't?"
"No, because we really need this person's help. But, it'll make things more difficult."
Aleda nodded. "I'll be ready."
…
The last red ray of muffled sunlight slid down Tallgeese's armor. He stood at the window, peering up at the Komusai on a high ledge across the way. "They have the gall to try to stop me," he grumbled. "They will soon find that it is a mistake to get between me and my goals. I value my own pursuit of power over any allies. You understand, don't you, Mercurius and Vayeate?" He turned to his two henchmen in the shadows.
"Yes, milord. Power is the most important thing to have," Mercurius said.
"Your power will bring greatness to Lacroa, again," chimed in Vayeate.
"I'll become strong enough to eliminate the whole of Dark Axis," Tallgeese gloated. "Mercurius, bring me Lady Aleda and Miku."
"Yes, milord." Mercurius bowed. His brother gazed after him as he departed.
"Vayeate."
He sharply turned his helm. "Yes, milord."
"I want you to keep watch over the Dark Axis. Let me know of any new developments," his master ordered.
Vayeate bowed. "Yes, Lord Tallgeese."
...
The sun had gone, and the sky had darkened, except for the two moons. Only their pale silver light, and sparse torchlight, illuminated the castle now. In the room holding the grand staircase, a door opened and shut, seemingly by itself. Zero the Invisible Knight and Titan the Unseen took a moment to glance around as they tried to still their heavy breathing. The marble staircase had retained its glistening white color, and the railing its gold. A chandelier winked at the hidden warriors from above.
Finally, we are past those irritating Zakos and Pawn Leos, Zero thought to himself. Now where would we find her? He wracked his mechanical brain, attempting to draw out memories he had not accessed for over two years. Then he spotted a door at the lower level, whispered, "This way," and slowly descended and passed through it with Titan in tow. His teammate's hand still rested on his shoulder. So far, so good.
They crossed into a familiar space. The main hall, Zero noted, glancing around at the tall windows and the grey tapestries. He spotted a window was partially smashed, specifically on the face of a knight. He raised a digital eyebrow. One of Tallgeese's tantrums?
"Someone's coming," Titan murmured urgently into Zero's audio. A red-armored robot turned into the hall two feet away. Zero veered. Titan's hand slipped.
Mercurius jumped at the sudden appearance of a large, intimidating navy-blue Gundam. "What?!"
The hazel-eyed Lacroan, gaping at the robot in horror, scrambled to find purchase on his unseen friend.
Zero's sigh sounded, loud as a cicada's breath in the relative silence of the dead castle, and next his blue frame popped into view. "We've been noticed. No point in hiding, now." The invisibility card faded into magical storage.
"You!" Mercurius jabbed his finger. "You're the Winged Knight, Zero! How did you get here?!"
The Royal Knight chanced a grin. "With my charming good looks?"
"Intruders!" Mercurius called, and the Gundams winced while the shout echoed loudly down the hallway. "Intruders! Mana of Darkness, come to me!" Mercurius's thick shield appeared in his hand. "Draw your swords."
"Oh, Mana, by your pact with me, give to me my blade!" Zero grabbed his shield out of the air and tore his sword from its sheath.
A shield latched on Titan's back, and two formed in his hands.
"We shall see how well you two fight without your friends!" Mercurius goaded, raising his arms as sparks arched between his generators.
Zero and Titan braced themselves behind their shields.
…
Aleda was seated on Tallgeese's immediate right. No one was there but them, since Miku had been dismissed after setting out the food.
The two chewed in silence. I hope we'll just keep eating, Aleda secretly prayed. But I have a feeling it won't end well…
They ate and ate. An entire five-course meal had been set before them, but, as they were the only ones there to partake, consuming all of it was proving a long process. Curiosity and rising dread forced Aleda to finally break the quiet. "Where are Vayeate and Mercurius?"
"They are indisposed for the moment, monitoring activity around the castle."
Her energy processor twisted. "This is too much for us to eat by ourselves."
"We have time." Tallgeese leered at her as he took a sip of wine. "Plenty of time."
Aleda dropped her eyes to her food and popped another bite in her dry mouth.
"How does it taste?"
"Good," she lied. "It tastes good, Lord Tallgeese."
"Good."
Anxiously, Aleda glanced at the window. The moon had risen to the top edge of its arching frame. How long had they been there, already, and how long did Tallgeese plan to keep her?
"Is there something the matter, Lady Aleda?" Tallgeese pointedly asked.
Her attention snapped to the dinner table. "N-No, sir—Lord Tallgeese. It's just a lot for me to eat, and it's getting late."
Tallgeese shrugged. "The Dark Axis is encamped close by, and I believe they intend to sabotage my domain. I have no intention of sleeping until I know what they plan."
"O-Oh..."
"I know you wish to be elsewhere, Phoenix, but believe me, at this moment it is best for you to stay near me."
Aleda sawed at another slice of meat. It took a minute with her shaky hands, but she managed another bite.
Some time passed, an agonizing march of minutes during which the moon had vanished above the window, before the taller robot spoke again. "So, Lady Aleda…You seem to have gotten close with Miku."
Aleda swallowed. What test was this? "We've… been getting to know each other."
"Only natural. But, I keep a sharp eye on those in my castle." Tallgeese poured a bottle of wine into his glass. "Couldn't have anyone getting ideas, could I?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Miku and I aren't strong enough to fight you."
"You certainly are not." The drink swigged down his throat before he added, "And I hope you remember that. You have no choice but to do as I say." He thunked the glass down. "That means you must bring the Feather Dragon to me, and you must begin by searching for it tonight."
Aleda released her fork to silence the clattering it made in her trembling fingers. "Tonight?"
"Yes, tonight. The Dark Axis's interference has, let's say, pushed my plans forward."
"...Why do you want the Feather Dragon?"
"I already told you. I want to restore the Spirit Tree."
"But, why? Why does it have to be revived? You're fine without it."
The tall robot wiped his mouth, staring long at her. His wide lips stretched into a chilling smirk. "You're right, little lady. There's more to it than that. Commander Sazabi ordered me to revive the tree." He added, "They requested I send Gundams to them, and they know that Knight Gundams can only be born when the Spirit Tree gives them their souls. I don't know why they want Gundams, but I have my suspicions. Perhaps they are repurposing them to grow their army, or, maybe, there is a power source they are feeding with their victims."
Aleda grimaced, then asked, "Why only Gundams?"
"How should I know? All I know is they demand Gundam tributes and never bother with non-Gundams."
"Is that where all the other Gundamesses went?"
Tallgeese gave a short laugh. "I see Miku has been giving you history lessons—Don't worry, I won't punish her," he said, seeing the trepidation in Aleda's eyes. "To answer your question: yes. I withheld them as long as possible, but eventually the male Gundam prisoners were depleted." He continued, as Aleda gaped, "They were necessary sacrifices to maintain my standing within Dark Axis. But do not be anxious, Phoenix. I won't allow them to take you."
"But Miku…?" Fear crawled up her stomach. If we fail to escape tonight, or if Tallgeese finds us, Miku could…
Tallgeese sighed. "I have kept Miku as long as I could. I quite like her. I even tried to keep her a secret, but inevitably the foot soldiers will discover her and report to the Commander. It's only a matter of time until Miku joins the rest."
"No..." Aleda shook her head.
"There is a way to save her," Tallgeese said. "Find me the Feather Dragon. If you do, and I revive the Spirit Tree, then more Gundams will arise—"
"For you to sacrifice to the Dark Axis in Miku's place? She would never be able to live with herself."
"Does that matter?" Tallgeese leaned his chin on his hand. "If we don't revive the Spirit Tree, then she won't live at all."
Aleda bit her lip. "I can't. You're asking me to betray both Fenn and Zero."
Tallgeese scowled and slammed his fist on the table. "Why must I tell you this again?! The Winged Knight already betrayed you!" The startled Gundamess pressed her back against her chair, watching him with wide, fearful eyes. "He led you to believe he would save your homeworld of Lacroa, didn't he? But he cannot even revive the Spirit Tree, much less all of Lacroa! He has no clue how to do it! His promises are an empty dream! He has lost the Feather Dragon!"
Aleda grit her teeth behind her mouthguard, but she kept her contrary thoughts in her head, for fear of Tallgeese's brimming rage.
"You'll go out, tonight, with me, to lure in the Feather Dragon. You have no other choice!"
She closed her watering eyescreens and shook her head. "No…"
"What did you say to me?"
She scrunched her eyescreens shut even tighter. "I can't."
"Oh, you can, and you will."
The snap of a whipping cape, a clatter of plates and forks, the clunk of a falling chair, and a scream sounded all at once as Tallgeese lunged across the table. Aleda's flight boosters throttled, but he already had her arm. "Let go! Let go!" she shrieked.
A sharp yank pulled her into him, and her arm twisted painfully. She squirmed, and her hands heated. Tallgeese squeezed her arm, bringing another cry. "Don't try it, little lady," he hissed, "or I'll break your hands. Let's see you work your Spirit magic then."
Aleda panted, glancing around the room, searching her memory banks for options, calculating desperately in her CPU. But, nothing was coming to mind, and the grip on her arm was tightening.
"Now, stay still." A tint of black licked her captor's hand, a shadow that rose from his fingertips like the smoke of a dying flame. His hand reached down for her gem. Her soul. "Stay still, and I won't hurt you."
"Stop!" Aleda strained, but winced at sharp pain in her shoulder.
"I said stay still!" Tallgeese growled.
"Please!" The tears began to fall. "Please, don't! Stop!" He's going to try to control me like Griffin!
"Stop struggling. This is all there is for you," he rumbled into her audio receptor. "Give in to your despair, and embrace your destiny."
"I can't!" Her faceplate shone wet under the chandeleir. "I can't, this w-won't..." she blubbed.
"We shall soon see, Phoenix." His cold fingers touched her GunSoul. "We'll see what you can do when you're mine."
"I'm-m not th-the Phoenix...!"
"Nonsense." The smoke lapped at her soul hungrily.
"D-Deathscythe said I was-sn't!"
The smoke stilled. "What?"
Aleda, with shuddered, wet breaths, wheezed, "H-He came to me this morning. Said I—said I was-sn't Phoenix, that he st-still senses her somewhere else." Her eyes scrunched. "I'm not Pheonix, I'm not it, I can't b-be useful to you, so p-please, let me g-go..."
"You're lying to me. How could Deathscythe know? Why would he not tell me right away?"
"He says that h-he wants you to b-be distra-acted by me, so h-he can do what he wants-s..."
The shadows withdrew into Tallgeese, and his face, instead, seemed as darkness. "What?" His frame shook, and his hand clenched her arm so tightly her armor popped.
"Ack!"
"Deathscythe has betrayed me? All of this is wasted effort?! I went through the trouble to personally retrieve you, and you aren't even—!" Suddenly, he froze, tilting his head.
An echo permeated the room, carrying in a sound of clashing blades. Tallgeese turned his helm. "What?"
The double-doors burst open, nearly cracking. "Lord Tallgeese, sir!" yelled two running Pawn Leos.
The closer of the minions tripped over Aleda's fallen chair just before reaching his master. Poof! Clink! A giant black-and-yellow die clattered where the unfortunate Pawn had once been. The second slowed.
"Well?!" Tallgeese bellowed irritably. "What is it? I'm busy!"
The Pawn Leo's faceless helm tilted to glance passingly at Aleda. "Of course! Apologies, sir! We have intruders in the castle, sir!"
"WHAT?!" His red eyescreens turned scarlet.
"Zero the Winged Knight and another Knight Gundam have engaged Sir Mercurius and Sir Vayeate in battle!"
Tallgeese let out a roar. "The Gundam Force won't make a fool out of me, again!" Aleda cringed at another twist of her arm. "If I can't use you as a Summon Spirit, I'll just use you for your other purpose!"
He shot for the door, reaching out a hand to grasp his materializing shield. The Griffin immediately sprouted, bid by his master's fury, and raced ahead. With a screech of the magnificent beast, he smashed the stone doors with his massive claws to open the way.
The Sacred Beast barrelled through on golden wings, and Tallgeese followed, allowing it to carve his path. Griffin clipped walls, cracked windows, and smashed bust statues in its wake.
"Where are you taking me?!" Aleda demanded.
"Silence!" Tallgeese barked.
The halls became taller. Clangs of battle grew louder. "Let go!" Aleda screeched again, hoping to attract the attention of the combatants.
They rounded a corner and swept past a cluster of warring robots, including a familiar Knight Gundam.
Zero's eyescreens shot to the captive Gundamess. "Aleda!" He lunged.
But the next moment they had gone, bursting into another passage, flying to the grand staircase and up, into the central tower of Lacroa Castle.
...
By candlelight, Miku stuffed bread, dried meats, and bags of beans into large brown sacks on a petrified table in the castle's kitchen. Her excitement climbed with the two moons of Lacroa. Soon, she would be free. But, uneasiness rose with it. Where is Aleda? Part of her wanted to go search for her friend, but fear also urged her stay. In the end, her logic sided with the latter. If no one's here when the Gundam arrives, he may leave before we make it back here. I'll wait, and if she hasn't come back when the Gundam comes, hopefully he'll want to help search for her.
Miku leaned over and blew out the candle, leaving herself in pitch blackness, aside from the torchlight leaking in from the door. She waited, breathing softly so she could listen for her expected visitor.
Her eyes followed the moons. Almost as soon as the two white circles lined up together perfectly, appearing to merge, a shadowed form rose in the window.
Miku jumped but held silent. The form put a finger to its mouth, its light green eyes smiling reassuringly, and wordlessly pointed to the window latch. Miku nodded, stepped forward, lifted the petrified bolt, and pulled the shutters open. Gracefully, the shadow glided in and landed silently on the floor.
Now that the form was bathed in moonlight instead of blocking it, Miku could see that it was indeed a Gundam face that graced his features, and also that he appeared so shadowed because his armor was black, as the letter had said. A cape on his back fluttered with every movement. Yes, definitely a Knight Gundam of the Lacroan kingdom.
The Gundam bowed slightly. "Sir Ace, at your service, milady," he said. A hushed, but deep voice.
"I am Miku, a Gundamess of Ark," she returned. "Thank you for helping us."
"Save your thanks 'til we are safely beyond the castle walls. Isn't there another one with you?"
"Yes. A Lacroan Gundamess named Aleda. Tallgeese summoned her, and she hasn't come back. I'm worried that something happened to her."
"You are certain she would not betray you?"
Miku, her face contorting in anger, spat, "No, she would never do that!"
"I'm sorry. I thought I should ask," Ace conceded, and her scowl relaxed. But, he sighed, "This complicates matters… Do you have a weapon?"
"Yes." From the underside of the table, Miku produced a tiny pistol with a short, thin silver blade attached to it.
"Impressive, milady," Ace admitted. "I would be interested to see its design later. Is there food?"
"It's here," Miku said, gesturing to the sacks on the table. "We planned for her to use her magic to carry it."
"No matter. We'll find her. Where were she and Tallgeese?"
"In the dining room."
"Then let us go there," Ace began to walk to the door leading out into the hall.
Does he know the castle? Miku wondered, as she crept after him.
"Quietly, milady," Ace urged, holding the door open for her.
Miku complied, moving with practiced, silent steps into the open. The black knight observed this with surprise. He had not expected a non-flying Gundamess to be so quiet. She was like a cat—no, a tiger, due to her fiery color scheme. A tigress on the prowl.
Before they could reach the side door to the dining room, clangs and crashes echoed through the hall.
"The sounds of battle," Ace concluded. "I will investigate. Milady, stay here."
"No," she said before he even began to move. "I come from a family of warriors. I can fight."
Ace hesitated. "I suppose there's no guarantee you'll be safe here alone. So be it. But stay close, and take no unnecessary risks."
"Sure."
The Gundams ran toward the noise until they came to an intersection, where Ace paused and turned in confusion. They could hear an echo from all four directions. "It's that way," Miku said, pointing to the right. "I know from the way the castle echoes. You only hear it this way when it's from the split right after the grand staircase."
Ace nodded, and they rushed down the path. The sounds grew louder, and they could distinguish electric zaps, roaring wind, the crash of shields, and the whoosh of a sword swinging through the air.
Mercurius and Vayeate, and…someone…Miku thought in puzzlement.
Finally, they rounded a corner to see Mercurius zapping lightning bolts and Vayeate shooting gusts of wind at a pair of Knight Gundams, who blocked with floating shields. The Gundam with winged decals on his helmet raised his sword, bringing a large magic circle above. "Super Magical Violet Tornado!" A whirlwind of purple rose petals tossed Mercurius and Vayeate into the wall. "Tell me where she is!" the caster demanded.
But, before the twins could answer, the Gundam warriors caught sight of the approaching newcomers and turned sharply towards them. Ace moved in front of Miku protectively. After a second's appraisal, the pair's shields and sword lowered. "You're a Knight Gundam," said the smaller one.
"Yes. I am Sir Ace," the black-armored knight said. "Who are you?"
"I am Zero, the Winged Knight, a Royal Knight of Lacroa, and this is Titan."
Miku gasped, drawing both Gundam's eyes to herself. "Zero? Aleda is—!"
A loud whoosh and an unearthly screech interrupted her. Instinctively, Miku dove for the floor. Bright light swooped in, whitening the robots' vision. The next second, after their optical receptors adjusted, they saw the Griffin's tail flicking through the archway into the next hall. And tailing behind was a red-crested, caped robot gripping a winged Gundamess.
Zero gasped, "Aleda!" He immediately lunged, but Mercurius swung at him with a fistful of crackling electricity. His metal knuckles smashed into Zero's shield, and the lightning crackled, arching up the handle to jolt the Knight Gundam.
A long, pointed shape sailed over Zero's shoulder, forcing Mercurius to jerk away. The black lance cracked the marble floor.
Mercurius stood over Zero, who was panting on his knees, and sized up his new foes. He glared in particular at the Arkian Gundamess. "Miku. I should have known."
"Yes, you should have," Miku returned coolly.
Ace reached out his hand, and the lance flew to him as Zero levitated backward to escape Mercurius's range. Vayeate, rising, joined his brother.
"We must go after Tallgeese," Titan urged Zero.
"Yes, but how? They'll stop us!"
Miku looked to her armed companion. "Let's help them."
He leveled his lance. "Of course. I'm not leaving anyone here."
Mercurius's discs crackled, and the fans of his twin whirled. The air started to spin.
Zero and Titan abandoned their debate. On seeing the gathering storm, Zero flung a Lacroan Crescent into Vayeate. "Not so fast!"
Vayeate stumbled and clutched his staff to right himself, and the winds stilled.
"What?!" Mercurius cried.
Ace charged and thrust. A retaliatory bolt struck him, though, and he reeled. Titan jumped in to catch other electric flashes whipping at them, and they lashed ineffectively against shields and magical barriers. "Just be destroyed, already!" Mercurius roared.
Zero closed on Vayeate, who swung his staff only to be barred by the Vatras Sword. And to both knights' surprise, a small knife—attached to a pistol—joined the deadlock. "Miku…!" Vayeate gasped.
The Arkian looked Zero in the visor. "Go find her. I can handle this."
"But, milady, it's—!"
"I'm a warrior of Ark," Miku cut him off. "Go!"
Zero nodded. "Very well." He broke from Vayeate and flew.
"I need to—" Titan began to Ace.
"Go on." The Gundam leveled his spear at the enemy twins. "We'll meet you in the garden once we're finished."
"Much obliged." Titan and his floating shields wove around and out of the battle.
"Miku, why?" Vayeate demanded, still straining against the Gundamess, staff against mini-bayonet.
"Because you can't keep me prisoner forever." She suddenly dropped and rolled. Vayeate's staff swung and missed. The crack of the marble floor under his weapon was echoed by the crack of Miku's bayonet jabbing into a wind turbine.
CrcrcrCRICK! The blades jammed and tore. Vayeate jerked away, his damaged turbine sputtering and sparking from the rip across its rotor. "Miku, I don't want to fight you!"
Miku clenched her metal jaw. "Then don't. Join us."
"You ask me to side with those who persecute my kind. That would mean the end of me. I cannot betray Lord Tallgeese!"
"Then, you have to kill me. I'm not staying here, any longer."
Vayeate's trembling hands aimed his staff for her. "How, Miku? How could you? I didn't see you as a Gundam."
"Too late for that, Vayeate," Miku said, aiming her pistol.
...
The stairs turned from petrified wood to level, smooth steps, winding up and up to the top of a circular shaft. Spirit and robot ascended through the center.
Zero. Zero's here. Aleda's processor, almost disbelieving, replayed the sighting of her knight: his desperate leap for her, and the foes that stopped him. I have to help him! He's still hurt, isn't he?!
She kicked her captor's shin and enflamed her hands, but Tallgeese, with only a discomforted grunt, locked his arm around her neck segments. The Gundamess croaked, and the fire snuffed. "I've warned you enough, lady," Tallgeese growled.
They followed the spill of moonlight out an open arch at the top of the tower, and Tallgeese released his death grip. Griffin circled above Lacroa Castle, as his master alighted to the peak of the tower's roof. "Feather Dragon! I know you hear me! Griffin knows you're near!"
Aleda wriggled, prompting him to twist her wrist. "Ack!" she hissed.
"I have an old friend of yours, here," Tallgeese boomed. "That's right, it's Aleda! That Gundamess you were so fond of when you were a wittle baby Spirit. Mommy's back~!" A puff of red cloud around his hand formed into a red, thick sword. Tallgeese leveled the edge with Aleda's chin. The Gundamess's air coolant system hitched.
The blade edged closer, sliding its cold shape along the Gundamess's shoulder. "Come here to Lacroa Castle!" Tallgeese shouted. "Come to me, Feather Dragon, and surrender!
"Or she dies!"