Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Create the Future
Chapter 7: Remnants
2299 A.D: Republic of Krugis
"He lived for God and he died for God. Now his spirit shall be led into the presence of God."
Ali-al Saachez's words still rang in Soran's mind as he headed up the stairway. Their leader had given each of their fallen comrades a eulogy. Those words were spoken for those who gave their lives for the mission in Ireland. Words meant to inspire devotion in those still living and to lead them to believe that the deaths were not for nothing. That God would be there for those who fought for him.
Soran stepped onto the roof. The sun was setting, casting the city in an orange glow. The air was dry and the heat still lingered, just as it always had since he could remember. The young boy scanned the area until he spotted the person he was looking for. Kamal Majirif was sitting on the edge of the roof and staring at the sun. Soran walked towards his friend.
Kamal had changed when Ali had picked him to carry out the mission. While he had always been devoted to the cause, he began to display a desperate need to prove his dedication to their cause. His outburst before he left certainly proved it. Soran was surprised to see him return after that mission, so sure that Kamal would have died for his mission. Seeing his comrade sparked a hope that others had been fortunate enough to return alive. That was not the case. Kamal did not take to returning well. To his comrade, returning from Ireland meant that he had failed his mission and God.
In front of the rest of the KPSA, Kamal had begged to their leader for another mission. He desperately wanted to atone for his failure. Ali al-Saachez didn't give him much attention. He told Kamal that if he wanted another chance to prove himself to God then he would wait until an opportunity presented itself. A suggestion that the child soldier had not taken well. He shut himself off from everyone else.
Standing behind his friend, Soran was at a loss for words. He tried to think of something to say, anything to his friend. To tell him that he did enough. To say that there would be other ways to prove himself to God. But nothing he thought of would console Kamal. Whatever words that came out would only anger his friend. Soran wondered why he even decided to talk to Kamal.
"I failed the mission. I was chosen and I failed to prove myself to God," Kamal murmured suddenly, without turning towards Soran.
"You completed your mission like the others. You just came back." Soran replied.
"You saw how Ali looked at me when I came back. I thought that I did enough. But he thinks I'm just a failure."
"You're alive, aren't you? Shouldn't you be glad?"
"You weren't there!" Kamal snapped, turning sharply to Soran, who took his friend's outburst unflinchingly. "I was so close, but I ran away. All because of some stupid guard. If he didn't run into me, I could have done it. I told you I'm not afraid to die if it means completing my duty in the name of God."
"There's nothing you can do about it now. That mission's over now, Kamal," Soran reasoned. "We've got other problems to worry about."
Ireland hadn't been all that had been reported. The Krugis military had been soundly defeated. Now the Azadistan forces were moving through the country, putting down any rebel activity. Ali estimated that they would arrive in this town within two weeks.
"You're...right," Kamal said grudgingly. The two stayed their in silence watching the sunset. After a while, Kamal rose.
"Are you going to fight, Soran? Because this time, I'm going to prove myself. I'll show just how much power I have," Kamal faced Soran, his eyes full of fierce determination. Soran turned to stare at the sunset. How long could they do this? Had they made the right choice? To join this war, they had sacrificed their parents and given up the lives they had lived. Ali Al-Saachez brought them together for one cause. He was the one who gave them their purpose. They were fighting for God. They were defending the holy land for Him. So much had been sacrificed for their goal. Was this the way He rewarded his soldiers?
"More of us might die," Soran whispered. Kamal placed his hand firmly on Soran's shoulder, surprising him. A stark contrast to their last meeting.
"Don't be afraid. Not now. All of us are fighting together," Kamal said. "I need you to have my back, Soran."
Soran nodded silently.
2307 A.D: Scotland
Setsuna stared out onto the river, a blank expression on his face. The La Edenra agent had managed to evade him. It didn't matter. The terrorist organization would not be able to hide themselves for long. They were fools to think that they could threaten Celestial Being into ending the armed interventions. Fools to challenge the Gundam. Celestial Being would track them and they would see the true power of a Gundam. Those who promoted conflict would be eliminated. Then war itself would be eradicated. That was the mission of Celestial Being.
He was spared having to deal with the Scottish police because of the Azadistan princess. The princess seemed to save him because she assumed that he was from Azadistan. Reluctantly, he accompanied her and listened to what she had to say. It was a petty and insignificant reason, though he kept that to himself. When he had revealed that he was from Krugis, she seemed to show a mixture of embarrassment and guilt.
While he had never met or seen the woman in person, he had done research on Azadistan after becoming a Gundam Meister. Although the princess was not responsible for the war, Setsuna still felt a sense of bitterness towards her. Because of Azadistan, Krugis had been destroyed. The war where they, the KPSA, lived and died together. That battle that had claimed the lives of his comrades. Malik, Rasheed, and even...
"I haven't introduced myself properly," the Azadistan princess said. "I'm Marina Ismail."
"Kamal Majirif," He hadn't meant to use his comrade's name. It just came out as he thought of the past. However, the guilt subsided just as quickly as the utterance of the name. Kamal was gone and there was no reason to feel remorse. La Edenra should be the focus of his attention. This would most likely be the last time he would even say that name aloud.
October 16, 2314 A.D: Celestial Being Transport Ship
Lyle hurried towards Gundam Zabanya, Haro tucked under his arm. He, Allelujah, and Marie had moved out as soon as their transport had docked, having little time to spare. The two Gundams had been waiting for them in the same hangar. The one closest to them was orange, obviously meant for his two companions. His spotted the Gundam that he assumed to be his. Everything the meisters had were color coded after all. Up ahead of him was a familiar figure floating in front of his Gundam.
"Ian, is the Gundam ready?" Lyle called out.
"It's ready to sortie but your rifle bits haven't been installed. You'll have to make due with what you have," Ian said as Lyle headed into the cockpit. "One thing I need to mention is that the controls aren't like normal mobile suits."
Lyle took a look at the controls in front of him. Instead of the conventional control system, his new Gundam had pistol-grip controllers. Ian and his team had certainly been creative. "I can see that. Well, no time like the present to perform a little test drive."
"By the way, you'll be needing another Haro for the Zabanya," Ian tossed him a blue Haro. Lyle caught the mechanical sphere and closed the cockpit. He strapped himself in and prepped up the systems. Once everything was prepared, Lyle sat ready to be launched straight in to a battle he hadn't known would happen less than twenty minutes ago. Just like old times.
He looked down at his two robotic companions. "Ready, Haro?"
"We're ready, we're ready," the two Haros cried out in unison.
"All right then. Lockon Stratos, Zabanya, targeted and firing."
"What are you doing here?"
Kamal smirked and leaned back into his seat. "So you do remember me? I"m so honored, Gundam Meister."
"Kamal, listen to me. Tell me what's going on," Setsuna demanded as he expanded his quantum brainwaves and tried to sense what was going on with the other pilot. What he felt was a whirlwind of differing emotions that did little to help his confusion.
"Too late for that. Let me show you what I can do with a Gundam. My Gundam Gevura!" Kamal cried, charging at him with his buster sword. Setsuna flew back, trying to keep Kamal at a distance. Kamal's brainwaves were still an incomprehensible flux. He needed to reach through to him and get answers.
"How did you survive Krugis? Where have you been all this time?"
"Stop questioning the past and focus on the present," Kamal sneered as he closed the distance between them and swung his buster sword horizontally. Setsuna blocked it with his GN blade and locked Kamal in a clash. Even while he was focusing on the battle, Setsuna became aware of a strange presence in the combat zone. However, it wasn't something that had suddenly appeared. It was almost as if it had been in there since he had arrived. A strange feeling that pressed onto his mind.
Setsuna refocused on the task at hand. "Kamal, why are you fighting? What are you doing this for?"
"Is this the best you can do? You're disappointing me, Soran," Kamal said, ignoring Setsuna's questions. He pushed Setsuna's blade to the side and tackled the 00 Raiser, sending him flying. As Setsuna stabilized himself, Kamal charged with his sword pointing straight at the 00 Raiser.
Before Kamal could strike, Setsuna fired with the beam machine guns in the 00 Raiser's wings. Kamal reacted quickly and blocked the shots with his buster sword, GN particles emitting from it to generate a shield barrier. Setsuna headed towards Kamal and unfolded his blade and went in to strike. He knocked the buster sword to the side and thrusted his blade at the enemy Gundam. Kamal responded quickly, letting go of his weapon and lowering his shoulder to avoid the attack, letting the blade just barely graze his shoulder. He then grabbed onto the 00 Raiser's arm and threw him over his shoulder. Setsuna was sent flying through space until he stabilized himself. He looked back only to see Kamal gone.
"Soran!"
There was a flash in Setsuna's mind and an echoing whisper, a unintelligible mess of sound, that gnawed at the back of his head. He looked to his sides only to see nothing. The feeling disappeared as quickly as it came. Was his mind playing tricks with him? Setsuna gasped in shock as a thought occured to him. Could it have been Kamal? Could he be...
A flash flew through his mind. Setsuna looked above in time to see Kamal with his weapon ready to strike. He brought his blade overhead as Kamal swung his buster sword downward with enough force to push him back. He heard Kamal laugh over the channel. "All that power and you can't even put up a decent fight? I can't understand why he thinks he needs you alive."
"Who? Who's the one behind all this?" Setsuna asked as he blocked another of Kamal's attacks. Frustration was building up within him. "Answer me!"
"You're never going to beat me if all you do is ask questions. If you want the truth, you'll have to force it out of me. Now shut up and fight me, Soran!" Kamal shouted. He stopped his assault and flew off away from the ships. It was an obvious attempt to lure Setsuna away from the others. And it was working. Setsuna chased after him and tried to shoot him down, only for Kamal to weave around his attacks. But that didn't deter Setsuna at all. If Kamal wouldn't give him answers, Setsuna would have to disable his Gundam and capture his former comrade. He needed to find out what was going on and in front of him was someone who had answers.
The echoing whisper reappeared.
Allelujah searched for the source of what he had felt before. He wanted to believe that it was a mistake, but Marie feeling the exact same thing proved otherwise. Although they knew what it could be, they dreaded finding the truth. A sin that would not be forgotten.
"There!" Soma shouted. The pale green Gundam descended towards, aiming its handguns. They rolled out of the incoming attack, narrowly dodging the barrage of beams. The Harute switched to mobile suit mode and aimed its GN sword rifles at the Gundam. Before Allelujah could attack, he felt a sudden pressure in his head. A quick glance down at Soma told him she felt the same thing. It was just like before.
The Gundam lowered its weapons and faced the Harute. Allelujah and Soma waited for the enemy to make a move, weapons ready.
A channel opened and a young voice spoke to them. "Super soldier Soma Peries and Gundam Meister Allelujah Haptism. It's an honor to finally meet you two."
"Who are you?" Allelujah was surprised at how young the person sounded. That youth only added to the dread he felt towards what he had suspected.
"You can sense it, can't you? You should know what I am, my predecessors." The person spoke in a calm and steady manner. The young man had been prepared for this moment. And his words confirmed their suspicions.
"So it's true," Soma murmured, her voice carrying a tone of disbelief.
"All this time, there was another and we didn't know," Allelujah said. The regret and guilt that had boiled in his stomach since he had sensed the other had hit him. The memories came rushing back, and with them came the old feelings of guilt. He and Hallelujah had made the decision to kill in order to prevent those children from living a life of war. Even with his efforts, there was a survivor who couldn't escape the twisted fate.
"That is correct. I am subject G-45. The name I have been given is Cypher Aleph, pilot of Gundam Melquth," the boy declared, attacking with its handguns. Allelujah and Soma reacted quickly, dodging the beams.
"Cypher Aleph, stop this. You don't have to live like a super soldier."
"You didn't want me to live at all, Mr. Haptism. Miss Peries, did you know what happened to the rest of us after you were deemed a success? Would you like to know how much farther they were willing to go to make more like you?" Cypher Aleph asked.
"Is that why you're fighting? For revenge?" Allelujah asked.
"Oh not at all, Mr. Haptism. I don't hold a grudge against you. I'm just following my orders. I'm sure the two of you can understand."
"Don't bother, Allelujah."
Allelujah's eyes widened. "Hallelujah?"
"It's our job to finish what we started."
"What are you doing?"
"Sorry, no time for idle chatter. I'm borrowing your body, partner." Allelujah's body tensed as he felt his other personality take over. Hallelujah looked at the Melquth with a burning eagerness, smiling madly at it.
"So you're one of the runts from the institution. Mind telling me how you've managed to survive all this time?" Hallelujah could see a small twitch from Soma in front. She must have been hoping that he wouldn't be making an appearance. After all, even he knew that Allelujah was the more sensible personality.
"I don't think that matters at this point, Mr. Haptism."
"Guess you have a point. All I'll need to do is finish what I started!" Hallelujah shouted. Dashing towards the Melquth, he raised his sword rifle and slashed at his opponent. The opposing Gundam effortlessly dodged to the side. Hallelujah recovered quickly. The Melquth dashed a short distance away, still facing them.
"Give me everything you've got. Fangs fly," Four Fangs flew from the armor skirts of the Melquth and headed straight for them. Hallelujah and Soma switched the Harute into fighter mode and dodged the incoming Fangs by sharply turning upwards. They danced through space, chasing after Harute. The Fangs surrounded them on all sides. Harute halted suddenly, letting the Fangs pass by just as all four moved in to skewer them. Hallelujah and Marie flipped the Harute over and accelerated in the Melquth's direction.
As they neared the enemy Gundam beam saber ignited from the Melquth's right handgun and it lunged forward. Transforming back into mobile suit mode, Harute blocked the attack with a GN sword rifle. While the two were locked in a clash, the Melquth stuck out its leg and brought it in for a kick. As it closed in, a beam saber ignited from its foot. Harute dodged by flipping over the opposing Gundam and grabbed an incoming Fang with the sword rifle's pincer. Cleaving the Fang in two, Harute kicked Melquth away before it could hit him with its sabers.
Recovering, Cypher Aleph activated activated two more beam sabers on its other limbs. With four sabers, he moved in to attack. He flipped and spun, each motion flowing into the next in a manner resembling more of a dance than an attack. Harute ducked, turned, dashed, and dodged. Not only did Cypher remain on the offensive, the Fangs also continued to attack, leaving Hallelujah and Soma few opportunities to counterattack. They shot down a Fang only to narrowly block a saber slash.
Melquth followed its attack with its left foot saber. They ducked under the beam. As Cypher swung his other leg at them, Hallelujah parried the saber and lashed out with his sword rifle. The blade hit nothing as Cypher Aleph instantly backed away. Harute backflipped just as the remaining Fangs came in from behind. The drone weapons returned to Cypher's Gundam, either to recharge them or preparing them for another maneuver. Melquth leaned forward with its sabers active, its right arm lowered to the front and its left raised at the rear.
"Not bad. You could make this interesting," Hallelujah remarked.
"Hallelujah, don't do anything reckless," Soma warned.
"To be honest, you disappoint me. I expected more from you," Cypher said.
Hallelujah let out a bark of laughter. "I'm just getting warmed up."
Scheris landed another hit onto the large pack on Raphael's back. With its cannons disabled, the Gundam hardly posed a threat. Whatever that thing on the the unit's back was had been damaged by her and Cypher's attack and was rendered useless. The Gundam Meister did put up a decent fight, but Scheris was gaining an advantage. A beam from Raphael's rifle skimmed the left leg of Nezach. Scheris dashed toward Raphael, grabbing a hold of its rifle and pointing it away from her. She aimed her rifle right on the Gundam's cockpit.
As she was just about to pull the trigger, Raphael suddenly activated its Trans-Am and yanked its own rifle out of her grip. The Gundam disappeared in a flash as her beam fired. Scheris grabbed a grenade and enveloped her Nezach in a particle smokescreen. The smokescreen would at least protect her from Raphael's beam rifle. Scheris just needed to wait until the Trans-Am ended. After that, he would be any threat to her. While Raphael was kept at bay, Scheris took a moment to see how her comrades were faring.
Kamal was fooling around with Setsuna F. Seiei. Why had he ordered the Innovades to move on ahead of them and, more importantly, why did he stand by doing nothing? Had he hoped that the Ptolemaios would arrive? They should have finished the mission already. At least he was following their leader's other orders. Without being allowed to kill the Gundam Meister, her comrade settled for toying with him.
Cypher seemed to be handling himself well for the moment. This was his first battle against Celestial Being. He may be alright for now, but his inexperience could cost him his life. She needed to end this before that happened.
Nezach was suddenly blindsided from behind. Tieria Erde had resorted to physical combat, knocking the Nezach around. Scheris attempted to get away, but Raphael was still in Trans-Am. Raphael then grabbed onto her Gundam and pulled her out of the smokescreen. He then pointed his rifle at her. Quickly, Scheris pulled out a GN handgun and blasted Raphael's arm off and then his rifle. Now weaponless, the Gundam released her. The red glow faded from the Gundam, signaling an end to its Trans-Am. Placing the handgun back, Scheris prepared to finish off the Gundam. Just as she opened fire, Raphael generated a GN shield. A pointless action that would only drain the Gundam's remaining particles.
"Someone's coming, someone's coming," Haro reported.
Scheris saw the other suit approach her. It was the Gundam Zabanya and its pilot, Lyle Dylandy. The Katharon agent. Scheris' grip on tightened on her controls. Despite the desire for revenge, she forced down the boiling anger within her. This man was only one of many and there would be a better time. Right now she had a mission to carry out.
Zabanya fired at her, forcing her away from his comrade. Scheris dashed towards the green Gundam, weaving through the beams and returned with her own barrage. They danced around each other, firing beam after beam. Several times, his attacks had nearly come close to striking a vital area. Raphael remained behind her, harmless without its weapons. The battle was going nowhere and she was wasting time. She needed to get away from these two and get to those GN drives.
Scheris turned towards Raphael. She detached a submachine gun from Nezach's left leg and grabbed it, aiming it at Raphael. Zabanya deployed a few shield bits and sent them out to protect his comrade. attacking Zabanya with the beam rifle. While still facing Raphael, Scheris launched several missiles from Nezach's back. Zabanya's remaining shield bits moved out to block the missiles, but two managed to slip through and hit the Gundam.
Scheris broke away from the two Gundams and headed faced the transport ships. Locking onto the middle transport ship, she charged her mega launcher. Just as she fired, Raphael, weaponless, had tackled her and locked Nezach in a hold with its only arm. The blast missed the ships entirely. Scowling in frustration, Scheris pulled out the GN handgun from Nezach's back and shot the Gundam in the face. She broke free and kicked it away.
She began another charged shot with her mega launcher. As she aimed her next shot, Zabanya appeared above her with its own weapons poised to attack. Seeing the incoming danger, Scheris dashed away, but not quick enough. Several shots connected to her mega launcher. Taking a look at the weapon, Scheris saw that it had been too damaged to use again.
"Dammit!" Scheris cried, throwing the destroyed weapon in frustration. As things were, there was no way that the mission would be a success. They were outnumbered and she had missed the chance to destroy the GN drives. They should have given more time to prepare. Did their leader send them out with the intention of failing?
Scheris gritted her teeth before opening a channel to Melquth and Gevura. "Cypher, Kamal, we're retreating."
"You want to turn tail now?" Kamal retorted unsurprisingly. The man was too caught up in his personal interests.
"No arguments. We leave now and head for the rendezvous point. Gather and wait for my signal." Scheris shut off the channel. Zabanya continued its assault as Scheris did her best to keep her Gundam from sustaining critical damage. She dashed through the beams
Melquth and Gevura were following her, their opponents not far behind. Kamal had lost his sword blaster. Fortunately, there wasn't any noticeable damage on the Melquth. The three began their retreat as the four Gundams followed them.
Once the other two were close enough, Scheris made her move. Grabbing a grenade off Nezach's waist, she threw upwards and unleashed a blinding light. The Celestial Being Gundams stopped, stunned by the flash. Activating their Trans-Am, Scheris and her comrades sped away. She was angry with herself for the failure. They had left the battlefield empty handed.
Ptolemaios, Bridge
The battle had more or less been won. Sumeragi and the others would have to wait to hear if their had been any casualties. The Gundams had suffered damage but nothing that could be repaired. Still, it was a shock to see enemy Gundams. It only created more questions about their new enemy and their intentions.
Sumeragi and the rest of the crew waited until the Gundam Meisters arrived. Setsuna, Lyle, and Allelujah arrived first. Tieria was the last one to enter.
"Tieria, care to explain?" Allelujah asked, a small smile on his face. Like the rest of them, he was glad to see their old friend back in the flesh. However, it seemed that Tieria had too much on his mind to return their sentiments.
"As an Innovade, I can transfer my consciousness to a living terminal. But I'm afraid we don't have much time to reminisce. The enemy is still out there and we need to act quickly. Suffice to say, the situation has turned grim."
"That's one way to put it," Lyle muttered.
"We'll continue to our resource satellite. Over the last two years, I made sure to have them supplied. It may not be much but it is better than nothing. There we can reorganize ourselves and repair our Gundams."
"What about the 00 Qan(T)? You said that it was destroyed in your report. Can you rebuild it?" Miss Sumeragi asked.
"Its unlikely for us to be able to rebuild the Qan(T) as we are now, especially with a new enemy out there. I've toyed with the idea of enlisting a new financier. Although given the current situation, now may not be the right time."
Miss Sumeragi nodded. "You and I can go over our options. There is also the matter of the missing crew members after the attack."
"There are several members who are missing. I thought that it may have been due to the attack, but Linda said she thought she saw the enemy capturing people. At the moment, it is unclear what took place."
"Any more bad news?" Lasse asked.
Allelujah stepped forward. "I spoke to one of those pilots. He was a super soldier from the institute. A survivor from the armed intervention."
"A super soldier? Are you sure?" Sumeragi asked. She remembered the mission Allelujah had taken years ago. It had been an especially difficult one for him. When he had returned afterwards, she could tell that he had been shaken by the experience. The alcohol didn't do anything to hide it. Hearing that there was another super soldier could lead to problems in the future. She did not doubt that Allelujah could fight and even kill the super soldier but that would not be easy for him. Killing had never been something the Gundam Meister enjoyed.
Marie nodded. "Yes, we're positive. The boy contacted us during the battle."
"Boy?" Sumeragi asked.
"That's right. He was young. And he called his Gundam the Melquth." Allelujah replied.
"Gevura." Setsuna said suddenly. The others turned to him with confused looks. "That was what the red Gundam was called."
"You spoke with the pilot?" Sumeragi asked.
Setsuna turned his gaze downwards. "He was just taunting me."
"Now that I think about it, those Gundams were a lot like the Throne models," Feldt added. "Their equipment was similar at least."
"That's got to be a coincidence," Lasse noted.
Tieria's faced hardened. "That is irrelevant. What we need to find out is who they are and what their objective is. How could they have been able to know about our locations and about the Qan(T) and GN drives?"
"We won't get anywhere by asking ourselves questions. There will be time to investigate later. Before that, Setsuna had something important that he wanted to discuss with you," Sumeragi said, gesturing to Setsuna.
Tieria gave his fellow meister his attention. "What did you want to discuss, Setsuna?"
Setsuna hesitated. They watched as he tried to put whatever it was on his mind into words.
"Tieria, are you sure that Ribbons Almark is dead?" Setsuna asked.
"What would make you ask such a question?" Tieria inquired. Such a question had not been what they had expected.
"I saw him on Earth," Setsuna stated. A stunned silence enveloped the room. The others gave Setsuna looks of confusion. Ribbons Almark, the man who had orchestrated countless atrocities, alive? The same man who Setsuna fought and killed. Sumeragi could now understand his actions on Earth.
"That's impossible, Setsuna," Tieria replied.
"Is that why you ran back on Earth, Setsuna?" Feldt asked.
Setsuna nodded. "Let's say that the enemy had access to Veda, that would explain how they knew about the Qan(T) and the GN drives. The enemy made sure to attack when we were on Earth. Who else besides Ribbons Almark would be capable of that?"
"Setsuna, Ribbons is dead. His link with Veda was terminated and his body was destroyed. I personally removed him from Veda and you killed him. No one could survive that. What you saw was most likely a Ribbons type Innovade, nothing more."
"I know what I saw. It wasn't just another Innovade. He was watching me, waiting for me," Setsuna's responded. "It was him...it had to be."
"You must have imagined it," Tieria countered.
"I didn't," Setsuna retorted, his gaze intensifying.
The two glared at each other. The rest of the crew waited in the uncomfortable silence, unsure of what exactly to do. Eventually, Tieria sighed. "Very well. I'll look into the matter. Feldt, Mileina, I'd like for you two to assist me. Is that satisfactory?"
The two girls nodded. Setsuna turned to leave. Before he headed out into the hallway, Tieria called out for him.
"Before you leave, Setsuna. Is there anything else you want to tell us?"
Setsuna paused and looked over his shoulder. Tieria carried an expectant look in his eyes. The meister looked straight into his as he answered. "No."
The door closed as Setsuna exited the room. The rest of the crew exchanged looks with each other. No one seemed to have any words to say, though the tension was lessened considerably.
It was Lyle who broke the silence "Anyone else think that Setsuna's finally lost it?"
Miss Sumeragi turned her attention to Tieria. "Is there any possibility about what Setsuna says?"
"There shouldn't be, but as much as I hate to admit, it would explain quite a bit. Regardless, if Ribbons Almark has returned, then we will deal with him like before. I'm more concerned is Setsuna's actions in battle. I feel that he's disturbed by something else."
"I realized that," the tactical forecaster stated.
"What are you two talking about?" Lyle asked.
"Setsuna had a chance to eliminate the red Gundam, but he hesitated. What's more, he followed the Gundam when it was moving away from the combat zone. I think he lied to us. Something is bothering him." Tieria explained.
"Do you think it has to do with him being an Innovator?"
Tieria shrugged. "At this point, its anyone's guess."
"Now that we've finished reviewing other matters, I believe now is the time to discuss the Innovators. I assume you all bore witness to the Federation's broadcast."
"They certainly moved sooner than we expected. Now all we can do is see how the public reacts to the news of Innovators."
"Captain Shaman is the first of many. For all we know there may be many Innovators out in the world already."
"The President is a fool to think that there can be a peaceful integration."
"I wouldn't say that for certain. A bit of optimism may go a long way."
"Or lead to catastrophe."
"We must keep in mind that we ourselves and those who cooperate with us may become Innovators in the future. Innovation is no crime."
"To give the Federation government credit, they have taken precautions regarding emerging Innovators. What information does Veda contain about the Innovators."
"Veda has allowed the Federation a way to identify Innovators. It has been quite useful in the new Federation's development."
"There are a few in the government and military who believe that the emergence of the Innovators was foreseen by Aeolia Schenburg."
"The military is no doubt looking forward to see Captain Shaman in actual combat. The data we have on his mobile armor and the mission he had is frightening. The military may try to enlist as many Innovators as they can."
"Let's be honest with ourselves. It could be years before any sort of danger emerges because of Innovators. We must also remember that there can be good done with their abilities."
"If any sort of international incident were to occur, Celestial Being would surely intervene."
"That itself is a problem. I don't care what the Federation's propaganda says, Celestial Being cannot be trusted."
"I agree. Their organization answers to no one. We cannot turn to them whenever the world goes through a crisis."
"We could always take the road of the A-Laws and usurp the administration for control of the world."
"If that was a joke, it certainly wasn't a well thought out one."
"I'm sorry. That was thoughtless of me."
"It does make you wonder if we will be any better. What we are preparing for makes us hardly different from the A-laws or Celestial Being."
"Putting aside the moral implications of our cause. Where's the one responsible for bringing us together?"
"It seems that he or she has yet to make an appearance."
"Can we trust someone like that?"
"The point still stands. Can Innovators be trusted? There is still much we don't know about them. They could very well become a threat to the world, especially if the military gets too greedy. Or if the Innovators abuse their abilities."
"That is what I've been trying to tell all of you."
"We will keep an eye on the Federation and the world. If all goes well, then we will remain in the shadows. However, should the Innovators prove to be a threat and the Federation incapable of handling the situation, we will be the ones to take action. To ensure peace."
"This we all can agree on."
"I believe that is all for us to discuss today. Farewell, everyone."
Kingdom of Suille, Royal Palace
The meeting came to a close as everyone closed off their channels. The room was occupied by one sole person. The royal king of Suille, Selim Iman. The last remaining member of the royal family.
Selim rose from his seat. Black hair flowed onto his shoulders on his left while swept back on his right. His face that gave him a youthful appearance and eyes that carried a wisdom that belied his age. Selim attempted to replicate the dignity that the former king carried himself with.
While not a direct member of the royal family, Selim was related to them by blood. His mother was a part of the royal line. He had lost both his parents and had been taken in by the king himself. Living in the palace, Selim had been granted a good life. He had been given an education and the chance to form bonds with the royal family. His majesty had been a man who had his utmost respect. He had become close to the prince, a friend who he would have given his life for. Once he was old enough, he had hoped to become an advisor to the king. He would have gladly spent the remainder of his life serving the royal family.
Then the A-laws eradicated them along with the capital city with their Memento Mori.
The autonomous peace keeping force, A-laws. Created to unify nations, in reality they acted as a force of oppression. Nations outside of the Earthsphere Federation were give a choice. Submit or perish. They destroyed the economies of the Middle East, Suille being one of, if not the only, countries with a stable economy due to their exports of metals instead of relying on oil. Needless to say that tensions rose when Suille had chosen not to join the Federation. The final straw was when Suille agreed to work together with Katharon to expose the A-laws' crimes. As punishment, Suille was chosen as the first target for the Memento Mori.
While the Katharon representatives had gone to meet the royal family at the palace, Selim had gone to one of their bases to secure their alliance. After the capital had been wiped out from the Memento Mori, he had gone into hiding and provided whatever support he could to Katharon. He wanted to see the A-laws pay for taking away the people closest to him. After the Federation had been reconstructed, Selim returned to his homeland.
Even after the the A-laws disbanded, Suille had been left as a shadow of its former state. After the destruction of the capital, the country was left in turmoil. Left in ruin, the people had no one to follow and several factions rose to claim the empty seat of power. Some sought that came with ruling. Others sought to join the Federation. And there had been those who wanted Suille to return to its former standing. None of them had the competence or the charisma to lead the people. Everything that the royal family had built had been reduced to nothing.
It was then that Selim stepped forward and became the king of Suille, choosing to carry his father's name instead of the royal family's. While he had loved and respected them, he believed that it would have been wrong to use their name to rise to power. Despite that, Selim Iman had gained support. It was his duty to guide the kingdom to prosperity, a duty he had neglected while working with Katharon. If a kingdom such as Azadistan was willing to rebuild, then Suille could do the same.
By inducting the Innovators into society, the Federation had the opportunity to repeat the mistakes of the past. Years ago, they believed that the A-laws needed to be established for peace, only to lose control of the world and become nothing but a puppet government. If they were not careful, the same could happen with the Innovators. For now it was only one identified Innovator, but soon there would be many. That is, if there weren't already others. If they banded together, the Innovators could use their abilities against normal human beings. Or the military began to take advantage of the Innovators and use them against the rest of the world.
That was not to say that he believed that all Innovators were inherently dangerous. However, Selim had paid attention to Descartes Shaman. That man carried himself with a look that Selim had seen in many of the ones who sought to take command of Suille. He had the look of ambition, of a caged animal waiting to lash out.
In order to ensure that such a future does not come to fruition, Selim joined others who understood the potential danger of Innovators. Gathered together by an unknown person, they had enough influence and resources to prepare themselves. Their actions were hidden from the Federation for obvious reasons. Even if they did not live long enough to see the threat appear, their efforts would leave the world without defense. There would be later generations who would take up their cause.
Of course, Selim wasn't the most influential among the members. While Suille could provide raw materials for their operations, they still did not have any particularly strong political power. His allies may have seen him as a competent ally, though not one they necessarily needed. That may have been for the best. Selim did not seek to become the leader of their group nor did he want any unwanted attention. All he did, he did for the Kingdom of Suille.
Selim would not allow the world to fall. Those with power needed to be watched. He would never allow his kingdom, his people to fall under anyone's oppression. He needed to strengthen his resolve. He could allow no weakness. God may choose the victors but, He would not grant victory to those who stood idle. Preparation, leadership, strategy, and determination all played a role.
When he had reached his room, Setsuna immediately collapsed onto his bed. The battle had not been the most grueling one he had experienced, far from it. But the realization that a comrade, that Kamal had also survived Krugis had shaken him to his core. The last twenty-four hours had proven to be mentally strenuous for him. The impact of what had happened had left him exhausted.
He hadn't been able to allow himself a chance to rest. Even after returning from the capital, Setsuna wasn't able to sleep with all that had happened on Earth. Too much had happened for his mind to rest. The contact with Descartes Shaman had unsettled him. Seeing Ribbons Almark had disturbed him. Hearing of the assault on one of their satellites had made him more suspicious. Tieria may have had his doubts, but Setsuna knew what he saw.
Hearing his old name had brought forth memories that were better forgotten. He had thrown away that name when he became a Gundam Meister. The name Setsuna F. Seiei meant many things to him. It was a chance to atone for his sins. It was a proof of strength, something that Soran Ibrahim had lacked. Most importantly, it had been a symbol of rebirth.
Setsuna had chosen not to tell the others about Kamal. He told himself that revealing that sort of information would not do any good for them. They may have even tried to interfere with him. This was a matter that he had to deal with and the others had enough to worry about. There was no reason for them to know about the former KPSA member. Thinking over the past, Setsuna had an idea of what Kamal was after.
Kamal had piloted an enemy Gundam and had tried to kill him. Those emotions that Kamal projected during the battle resonated with him. And beneath those strong emotions, Setsuna had thought that he might have felt something else. His shock may have distracted him from whatever it was, but he now knew what it was. A connection that could have been the result of one thing. Could Kamal have undergone Innovation?
"What the hell is going on?" Setsuna asked himself.
The one behind all of this had to be Ribbons Almark. No matter how certain Tieria was, there was little doubt in Setsuna's mind. Ribbons had complete access to Veda for several years. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that he may have made a contingency plan to survive. But if he had survived, why wait now to reappear? Could it be because of Descartes Shaman? Ribbons had been an egotistical maniac who considered himself a god. He believed that only he could be the Innovator that Aeolia had predicted and be the one to rule over humanity. Wouldn't it make sense for him to see true Innovators as a threat?
Setsuna closed his eyes and let himself be drifted into a deep sleep. There may have been many questions on his mind, but he was tired. For now, he needed to rest.
Space Colony Eclipse, Hangar
Kamal's body shook as he breathed erratically. This battle had been the first time he used his new abilities in real combat. A container of pills floated in front of him as he waited for the medicine to take effect. The throbbing in his head had yet to cease. Their benefactor had warned him of these symptoms before the procedure. Kamal hadn't paid him much thought. The benefits outweighed the costs in this case. He could endure this pain as long as it meant gaining more power and especially if it meant surpassing Soran.
As the pain subsided, his body began to relax. He had to wonder how strong Soran's Innovator abilities were. Kamal had made such an effort to draw Soran's attention with his powers but, his former comrade had chased after Cypher instead. It was quite an insult, even if Cypher had more experience with his. Soran had better not make that mistake the next time.
Kamal opened the Gevura's cockpit. He stepped onto the railway and headed towards the exit.
"Kamal!" The man in question stopped at the call of his name. Turning, he saw Scheris headed towards him. The unofficial leader of their little team.
"What the hell were you doing out there?"
"Nothing you need to worry about," Kamal muttered, turning his face away from her. The last thing he needed was to listen to her complaining.
Scheris leaned closer, her eyes studying him. "Your face. You overdid it, didn't you? Damn, I should have known you would do that. Are you really that obsessed over a single person?"
"Don't lecture me. I'm just putting my gifts to good use."
"Am I suppose to wait until you get yourself killed?"
"Please. I've walked away from worse since before I even hit puberty."
"Your luck won't last forever. Worst of all, we failed the mission. If you had actually tried to help instead of waiting for the other Gundams, we could have gotten those GN drives," Scheris snapped.
Kamal raised an eyebrow. "If the rest of you couldn't take out one Gundam without me, then I think you've got bigger problems to worry about."
"That's not the point. Like it or not, you're part of this unit," Scheris hissed.
"So what? I have something more important than your interest," Kamal stated. "I thought you would understand. After all, you took on the Gundam with a Katharon pilot."
The woman backed away slightly and narrowed her eyes. "What of it?"
Kamal scoffed. "You can't honestly say that you couldn't pass up the chance to kill that Gundam Meister. He was Katharon and I know how much you hate them. I'm sure Cypher wanted the same thing with the super soldiers he fought. It's our reason for becoming Gundam Meisters. By the way, how was your first battle, Cypher?"
The boy didn't answer and remained a passive observer.
"Enough of that nonsense. We're here for a mission. Your personal matters come second." Scheris retorted.
"Let's not kid ourselves. It's not about the mission. This is personal for all of us. None of us would be here just for the mission. Or did you forget what you lost?" Kamal asked. The look in Scheris's eyes became more intense.
"Mr. Majirif, your treading dangerous ground," Cypher chimed in. Kamal gave no attention to the boy. He wanted to see how Scheris would react. He wanted to how far he could push her.
Kamal leaned towards her, his face a breath away from hers. "I know why you're here. I know what they did to you. And I know that wounds like that don't heal that easily."
He could see Scheris' hands trembling with anger. It was something that he had wanted to see. Since they had gathered together, the woman had been composed and professional. With all that rage she kept bottled up, it was only a matter of time before it would fly out. Sooner sounded better than later
"They took everything from you. And you're telling me that that's not important? I'm not buying it. I've lost everything before too. You can't tell me that you're just going to let it go."
Scheris' hand shot out and grabbed the front of his suit, lifting him off his feet. Not exactly an impressive feat given the lack of gravity, but he did give her points for having the guts to do it. The woman glared at him, her eyes teeming with rage.
"Don't try to play mind games with me. If all you want to do is go after Seiei, fine. But I won't let you jeopardize us just to toy with your obsession."
"Theres no need to quarrel amongst yourselves." the Haro blurted out.
Scheris released Kamal from her grip and shot a glare at the Haro floating next to her. "I really hate it when you do that. Have you been listening to us this entire time?"
"I was waiting for the opportune moment to interrupt. Now back to business. I hope you found your new mobile suits satisfactory."
"We made it out fine with the Gundams but still suffered damage," Scheris shot a look at Kamal. "What's worse, we failed to get the GN drives. We couldn't destroy them either. Some track record we've got."
"Such an outcome was not unexpected. While not an impressive maiden battle, there will be opportunities for you to redeem yourselves."
The woman gave the Haro a fierce look. "You sent us out there expecting us to fail? What the hell kind of plan is that?"
"Tell me, Kamal Majirif. Did you come into contact with Setsuna F. Seiei?" the purple Haro asked, ignoring Scheris.
"Of course I did. It's the reason you brought me here," Kamal said.
"Are you satisfied now?"
"Can you blame me for being skeptical?" Kamal asked. "Hope Descartes isn't expecting much from Soran. I could have taken him out if that's the level he's at."
"Mr. Shaman does have a point though. Having the first purebred Innovator on our side would be a great advantage. You want us to have more Innovators on our side after all." Cypher added.
"An unlikely scenario. Descartes Shaman will see the truth in due time. But for now, Setsuna F. Seiei has a role to play and for that we need him alive for the time being."
Kamal sneered. "Fine then, I'll play along. Might as well play with Soran for a while. But don't expect me to hold back forever. Don't forget what you promised me and what you've given me. No matter what you or anyone else wants, Soran is mine."
"Of course. Once the time comes, what you do to him is none of our concern," the Haro replied. "As for you, Scheris Talion. There are guest who I believe you should greet. Former soldiers of A-laws."
Scheris gave the Haro a surpised look. "You've gathered them here already? That was fast."
"They are only the first of many. I thought it best if we prepared ourselves as soon as possible. We've waited long enough. With the existence of Innovators becoming public knowledge, reformation is approaching."
"Good. I was getting bored doing nothing," Kamal said, his grin widening.
"Cypher, go get some rest. As for you," Scheris directed her attention back to Kamal. The anger she had in her eyes had died down. "Just go get yourself checked up. We don't need you dead before the real mission starts."
"And if all is well, I would like you to interrogate the prisoners. They hold the information we need," the Haro said.
He didn't say anything in response. Giving the others a wave of farewell, Kamal continued his way toward the exit. Once again, Kamal was allowed to mull in his thoughts.
It had been over ten years since they had last seen each other, since they had lost their homeland. Kamal Majirif and Soran Ibrahim were all that remained of their ragtag group. Those years in the KPSA had cost them much. But those times did serve a purpose. Ali-al Saachez, for all the injustice he had brought, had taught him how to fight and survive.
Entering the hallway, Kamal calmed his breathing. The pain had almost completely subsided. The small throbbing in his head was strong enough to deter him. Nothing could quell the excitement that he was feeling now.
"You better be ready, Soran. You've got a lot to answer for."
Author's Note: This took a lot longer than I had expected. That's life for you. I apologize for the anticlimactic end to the battle but, I had to end it. There have been more OCs showing than I had initially planned and despite saying that I would try to avoid using them if possible. If you have a distaste for OCs, then I apologize again. As always, reviews and feedback are appreciated. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Author's Note 2: Chapter has been revised.