Author's Note #1:
- A quick introduction to one of the main characters, Ian. Ian is Yzak's descendant. Apparently, his personality is a far cry from Yzak's and leaning closer to Dearka's; being a practical joker. Except that he's very foul-mouthed. His relationship with Akiza seems rather complicated, as he seems trying to one-up her. Despite this, he's in good terms with Akiza, but not with Flay, just yet. My fan cast for his voice will be Kaito Ishikawa (in Japanese) and Michael Liscio Jr (in English). And keeping with the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's homages, he acts as a stand-in for Crow Hogan.
PHASE-04: The Blue Cosmos Hunter
Flay narrates the events of the previous chapter:
"After finding out the circumstances that I supposedly died, and the presence of the Paradox Gundam prevented it from happening, everything changed. And so is my life when I met this pilot from the future named Akiza Izinski. She was one of the surviving humans from an apocalyptic future where humanity and all living creatures are rendered extinct at the hands of a genocidal artificial intelligence called JUNO. And soon after, mobile suits from the future are targeting her. But, Aki managed to once again awaken the Paradox and defeat them singlehandedly. Six months have passed, everything seems peaceful. At least, for now.."
Six months later...
Everything on Earth seems to be peaceful after the Paradox reappeared since Jachin Due. The media started to go haywire of the sight of the Gundam, speculating if it's an Alliance or a ZAFT mobile suit. The question is the people keep asking if it is really a savior that seeks to protect the peace and freedom for all living things or a God of Destruction that invokes dread?
Both Orb and the Atlantic Federation were on high-alert at the presence of the Paradox Gundam, in light of the appearances of unidentified mobile suits that have appeared in wormholes. The Earth Alliance are speculating that the futuristic mobile suits were another of ZAFT's act to showboat the Alliance. However, these were all proven false. Even more surprising is that they saw the Paradox being able to manifest the Strike's weapons.
Akiza has since settled down in Flay's beach house, she mostly commandeered the house ever since deciding to live there with her. With the Core GT being the only active Gun Vehicle, the other three are sealed in their mobile suit cards when in hibernation. So, Akiza will have to activate the three Gun Vehicles if she wants to transform the Paradox.
Akiza and Flay spent their time talking about the latter's relationship with Kira, and the latter is still reeling from the guilt of manipulating him back in the war into killing his fellow Coordinators. And thanks to her miraculously surviving the ordeal, Kira (and Lacus) have since forgiven her. Lacus was rather approachable and down-to-Earth nicest person respected by all. And the fateful day she met Akiza was a life-changing experience, from a rocky start to slowly becoming closer to each other. It even helps that Akiza is more used to romantic relationships with women than men.
Also, Flay has never talked with Kira since then. As the latter is still mentally recovering from the aftermath of the war and decided to settle with Lacus looking after the orphaned children.
Also, Akiza recalls that Ian is also part of the resistance team where she is the leader fighting JUNO's forces on the moon. For some reason, he managed to get hands on the Mach Gundam and travel back into the past. Then again, their history with one another is probably a complicated one. Akiza hopes to confront Ian again to ask what is he after.
Even though trying to prevent JUNO from causing a cataclysm in the Cosmic Era is Akiza's top priority, Dr. Paradox already told her that she must not make haste. Because, any premature changes to the timeline can cause distortions that can affect the fabric of reality itself. Paradox suggests letting history run its course for the time being.
For now, in Akiza's words, she'll be stuck with Flay for a while until the time to take action comes in effect.
Later that night, Akiza and Flay are having sex. And not unlike the fateful day that started in a rather bizarre note because of Akiza gotten herself into a temporary downward spiral and nearly raping Flay, something that Akiza quickly regretted doing so. This time it's much more genuine. Seeing two women touching and kissing each other is a sight to behold, it also helps that Akiza has a more athletic and muscular build and is also well-endowed. Also, there's also a black rose tattoo on her back, found on her right shoulder blade.
The room was already dark, the power went out, and rain persisted in the middle of the night. Even in the midst of it all, it didn't stop two women from letting their mutual feelings for each other known.
In the middle of their intimate moment, as Flay is feeling both pain and pleasure from Akiza, she reflects what the Gundam pilot from the future encouraged to her moving forward.
"Don't let the mistakes of your past determine your future, and let people judge you for what you've done wrong. Life can sometimes be cruel and unfair, but that shouldn't stop you from moving onward through the positive side of it. This is what it means to be human: flawed and imperfect living creatures. It is human nature to make mistakes, but we all have the capacity to learn from it and learn how to forgive people we have done wrong, no matter how difficult for people to accept it."
"That's right, forgiving people isn't easy, but it is the only way to let go of the hatred inside. I don't want to see anyone going down the same path as I did... I want to keep moving forward and set things right, no matter what people think of me, or how they will hate me for it."
"Tell me something, Flay... Do you have a future to dream for?"
"I don't know... Ever since I managed to survive the war, I could barely ask myself what am I suppose to do now... What about you, Aki?"
"I could say the same thing. Changing the future is the only thing I can think about to prevent JUNO's creation. But, I also don't know what future I have to live for. This is the same thing I wanted to ask Ian. For now, I will just let him be for a while."
"But, if neither of us don't have a future to think about... Then what about protecting everyone's future?"
After their respective flashbacks, Akiza locked her lips on Flay, the two break away for a brief moment.
"It feels so hot... Aki.", Flay panted. "Your body is so irresistible!"
"You're a very naughty girl...", Akiza smiled. "In that case, there's more where that came from!"
"No! Aki, not there!", Flay shuddered as Akiza touched her from the very bottom.
Akiza seems turned on by Flay's breathing and moaning, "We're not yet at the very fun part. The more I hear you cry makes me aroused..."
Flay then returns the favor, touching the very sensitive part of Akiza's body eventually causes her to shudder.
"Flay, you..."
"You've been toying with me too much, Aki. I'll repay you with twice both of pain and pleasure!"
"Good, good. This is where the real fun starts!"
The two women continue going at it, as their bodies sweat from touching and kissing each other as the screen fades to black.
It was already midnight, Akiza could hardly sleep. She and Flay are exhausted after playing with each other. But still, she couldn't get out of her head trying to ask Ian what he has been up to in the present, at the same time realizing that she's not the only surviving human from the dystopian future. Though, Flay sleeping on her chest made her feel at ease for now.
Akiza can only look at Flay clinging on to her while she sleeps, her head rubbing against her breast. During their passionate moment, Flay was overwhelmed by emotion, as shown with tears running down on her cheek, it was because of Akiza that she is still alive, and their fated meeting changed their lives, for better or for worse, no matter what lies ahead before them.
Akiza used her fingers to rub Flay's tears as a sign of affection.
"Flay...", whispered Akiza.
The pilot from the future gave Flay a much needed genuine affection and comfort, something that the latter that never, if anything, had with her rather complicated relationship with Kira. Akiza herself is pretty much a far cry from Kira, in addition to having been emotionally drained by the tragedies they faced, Akiza is pretty much used to seeing blood on the battlefield, and rarely shows emotion other than an aura of confidence. A mature and serious woman who never flinches, and at the same time knows how to see the positive side of life in the midst of a cruel world. As Flay was already emotionally scarred by the horrors of war, and the fact that Akiza prevented her death from occuring, it was by a fateful chance that Flay can find a second chance in life.
"Aki? Are you having trouble of sleeping?", Flay woke up.
"This always happens...", Akiza replied. "Sorry if I have to wake you up."
"Is it that friend of yours?", Flay quickly figured out in Akiza's mind.
"This is just a matter between me and him. You see, we had a falling out long before I came here. And it has something to do with the Paradox."
"What does that mean?"
"I dunno. It's complicated... Ian and I are like two sides of the same coin, except that he's clearly unsure of himself and he's been desperately seeking a purpose in life. But still, he's really a hothead and impatient at times."
Akiza briefly describe how Ian acts, in her words, as immature and childish while he is also a skilled pilot in his own right. While at the same time has a case of self-esteem issues, not because he was one of the youngest co-founders of her resistance team in the future. He also didn't like being second best to her. That inferiority complex ultimately formed a rift between the two comrades in arms.
"I'm sorry, Aki..."
"You don't have to, Flay. I told you, this is between me and Ian. And, I want to make things right with him."
Akiza has to also bear the burden of dealing with the rift between her and her comrade Ian. Wanting to make amends so they can prevent JUNO's path of destruction together. But, she has a feeling it would take than just an apology alone to convince him.
As much she wanted to make things right with her friend-turned-rival, Akiza has other things to take care first. But, this doesn't stop her from showing so much affection to Flay.
"I'm so happy, Aki. Thank you.", Flay embraces Akiza tightly. Then she asks her to make a promise through a pinky finger. "Aki, promise me that we will protect each other?"
"Yeah. I will never let you go either. These will be the ties that binds us together.", Akiza then locks her pinky finger with Flay's, swearing that the two will look after each other from here on out.
A week later, Akiza went on searching for Ian while Flay decided to visit Reverend Malchio's orphanage, where Kira and Lacus are taking care of children who lost their families during the war. Also, the beach house isn't that far from the orphanage, giving Flay a chance to talk with both Kira and Lacus. Ever since the aftermath of the war, Flay was able to reconcile with Kira, and eventually Lacus before moving on to live in a solitary life prior to meeting Akiza.
A knock from the door drew Lacus's attention, and by opening it, she is greeted by Flay.
"It's you...", said Lacus. "That's strange, it seems you've aged faster than usual."
"Umm, it's complicated.", Flay rather choose to keep quiet about her ordeal with Akiza and the Paradox Gundam. Considering that she had her firsthand exposure of the Accel Force, causing her to age three years fast forwards. "I know Kira might not want to talk to me right now-"
"Say no more, Ms. Flay. The last time we saw you, it's like you found yourself living in a cruel and lonely world, but now you have found hope."
"There was this woman from 79 years in the future and came here because of an artificial intelligence that destroyed her world and came here finding a way to stop it. One fateful day, I managed to find her drifting unconscious on the shore."
"I see... Come to think of it that a mysterious wormhole that was first seen during Jachin Due, emerging from it was a mobile suit.", Lacus continued. "Whoever piloted this mobile suit, she is trying to prevent an apocalyptic future that is yet to come to pass."
Of course, Lacus herself saw the Paradox's appearance in the climactic battle of Jachin Due. It was the Paradox that saved Flay from death instead of the Freedom, in that Akiza was actually buying Kira enough time to collect the lifeboat that the remnants of the Dominion were onboard. And it was this mobile suit's presence is where history starts to move in a different direction for some reason.
"Tell me something, Ms. Flay. Do you know the identity of this woman who piloted that mysterious mobile suit?"
"Her name is Akiza Izinski. She is the pilot of the Paradox Gundam."
Lacus quickly figured out what the word "paradox" meant and given the fact that Akiza traveled back in time to prevent JUNO's dominion over the Cosmic Era timeline. She at the same time had a vision of Flay's supposed death, which was done by Le Creuset and the Providence. And because Akiza prevented Flay's death from happening, this resulted in a "time paradox".
"I understand... What kind of a person is she?", asked Lacus.
"Aki has been talking so many weird things about the future. But, other than that, she's rough around the edges with a tomboyish streak, and overall a decent person.", Flay continued. "The moment I met her, it is where it changed my life forever. She is also more than just meets the eye... Especially with that black rose tattoo on her back. Why does that tattoo mean to her anyway?"
"It represents her internal struggles. And it tells you what it is like to trying to survive in a cruel and lonely world without anyone to help you. She is the type of person who will fight to survive by any means necessary."
Back when Flay and Akiza were having sex, she noticed the black rose tattoo in her back. Lacus interprets that the black rose embody Akiza's suffering in her timeline, a somber reminder in that apocalyptic future, she has lost her family and friends and has nothing left to lose from that point on. But, there's another positive meaning in that in spite of it all, it shows Akiza being a confident and determined person wanting a better future for all of mankind.
"I see. I assume Kira is happy to be with you. And I thought at first that you, like all Coordinators, were scary... That is until that I met him.", Flay remembers that her fateful encounter with Le Creuset changed her worldview regarding Coordinators, then realizes that Lacus was a good person who has a strong dislike for conflicts. "You were a nice person after all. Aki is no different either, while she is rather rough and standoffish."
"Glad to hear that, I would like to meet this Akiza someday.", Lacus smiled, understandably happy that Flay had found someone who not only cared about her but managed to get her to the right path. "I pray that one day you can finally find true happiness. Even if the world is cruel to you, that should not stop you looking forward to a better future."
"Thanks. It was a pleasure talking to you, Ms. Lacus."
Before Flay is about to leave, Lacus then gives her two envelopes that contain an invitation to Cagalli's 17th birthday, which is intended for both Kira and Lacus herself. However, the couple are unable to get into party while they tend to the orphaned children, so it would be wise for Lacus to give the invitation to someone else.
"Ms. Flay. I want you to take someone to Cagalli's party."
"Wait, you mean that..."
"Yes, she is the daughter of Orb's leader. However, in case if you haven't heard. Cagalli and Kira are related by blood."
Flay is shocked upon hearing that Cagalli is actually Kira's twin sister, something that she had never heard from him even before her departure from the Archangel. Given the circumstances of the divergence caused by the Paradox Gundam, Flay learns firsthand of Kira's familial relationship with Cagalli.
"You're saying that Kira and Cagalli are siblings?! I haven't heard of that from him..."
"Neither were aware who their real family were. Perhaps it was fate that ultimately led them to the truth."
"In that case, I'll have to bring Aki with her."
Meanwhile, Akiza and Ian confront each other for the first time. However, only this time she finds her former comrade sitting alone, and decided to sit beside him facing front as if they were two strangers talking.
"I didn't know you'd be showing up here, Akiza.", said Ian. He seems rather upbeat and cheerful despite showing signs of animosity and resentment towards her.
"Tell me something, Ian. What are you exactly after the moment you arrived here?"
"Well, kicking some ass. That's what I do."
"I want a valid answer, Ian. There's a computer virus that destroyed our world and we're trying to prevent its existence from coming to pass! We've lost some of our friends back there in the Minami Lunar Base, Kiryu's gone... And now, we're the surviving humans of the future remained in the past."
"Look, I feel you. But, don't get your shit all too worked up.", Ian kept his tone, while trying to remind Akiza not to make haste. "Just because that you were chosen by the Paradox, you got some guts to do something convoluted by preventing Flay Allster's death!"
"If that's the Paradox you want, fine, I'll hand it to you!", Akiza lashes out. "It's like that I had to carry the burden of changing the future myself. I know you hated me so much because I had to pilot this mobile suit, and-"
"Geez, why you had to be so hysterical for? I'm already used with the Mach. It's just what I needed, and I want to be fast. But yeah, I hated the fact that you are always better than me. I wanted to surpass you and all... I wanna be the best pilot there is like no one ever was."
To Akiza's surprise, Ian's resentment was not out of envy or anything. He wants to prove himself better than Akiza and/or even his superior Kiryu. And despite his young age, he also turns out to be reckless and immature for his own good.
"I almost thought the Ian I knew would become a different person. Then I realized that you haven't changed at all...", Akiza sighed with an expression of relief and dismay altogether.
"Old habits die hard, Akiza.", Ian snickered. "What's the point of changing when what will become of the real you?"
"Then, why did you came here anyway?"
"Seriously? I'd rather keep that shit to myself. I'll let you know when the time is right."
Ian then takes his leave, as Akiza knew it isn't the right time to convince him to reform the Black Eagles. But, not before leaving a promise with one another.
"Hey, Akiza. Promise me one thing... If you go overboard in your mission, I might show up and kick your ass some senses out of you."
"Count on it. I could also say the same thing if you do go overboard as well."
The two friends/rivals leave their separate ways.
The following day...
Flay wakes up with doodles around her face. This is probably one of Akiza's pranks, as she drew her face with doodles. Meanwhile, Akiza herself was busy cooking at the kitchen, and she also turned out to be an expert cook, while at the same time, as she watched from her smartphone about recent news about remnants of the Blue Cosmos terrorist group taking refuge in Orb.
"What did you do to my face, Aki?!", Flay shouted.
"One of my pranks. Drawing doodles on someone's face.", Akiza replied, while barely trying to contain her laughter. "We usually pull that trick with some of my friends in the future... Considering that I ran into him yesterday."
"You better get yourself ready tomorrow morning. I'd be returning the favor when I wake up.", Flay doesn't lash out, while she washes the ink out of her face. While this is a prank after all, Flay might keep her word about putting doodles on Akiza's face.
Akiza then picks up her smartphone as she shows Flay of a news of a member of Blue Cosmos being killed in Orb. And the perpetrator happens to call himself as the "Blue Cosmos Hunter".
"Look at this... Even after the war just ended, it seems Blue Cosmos just went dark.", Akiza explains the recent news. "That ass-clown Azrael is already dead. But, Blue Cosmos' radical influence still lingers here on Earth."
Flay is shocked by this, not knowing how Akiza gotten a firsthand knowledge.
Akiza continued, "Tell me something, Flay. Just how horrifying it was seeing Azrael unleashing a plethora of nukes on the PLANTs?"
"Are you a mind reader or something?!", she exclaimed.
"I have psychic powers. I'm an ESPer.", Akiza reveals that being a New-Gen Coordinator herself, she has psychic powers. "I was able to look into your memories of your time with the Dominion, and you witnessed just how horrifying it was just how people like Azrael can stoop to such lows. However, my psychometric abilities also allowed me to also see events that are now erased from history, such as your supposed death."
However, bringing up Flay's time with the Dominion, and having witnessed firsthand Azrael's genocidal act is a bad idea. In fact, even with Flay having narrowly survived the war, she still suffers signs of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
"Aki... I don't want to hear all of that!", Flay pleads not to bring up her unpleasant experiences during the war. "Every time I recall those unpleasant memories, it still tears me up inside."
"I'm sorry...", upon hearing Flay's PTSD just kicked in, Akiza apologizes. "I assume you are still reeling from posttraumatic stress disorder. This happens with people who have witnessed one bloodshed after another... It seems that everything that you said... your hatred of Coordinators... do have unforseen consequences."
"I know that! I understand why hatred is such a corrosive poison that kills everything it touches. I still hated myself for everything I did to Kira..."
Akiza continued, trying to remind Flay about why people deserve a second chance, no matter what they've done wrong, "Look, you're lucky that you are still alive it's not just because of me. It's because that everyone needs a second chance in life. Even if the world is cruel to you, you can still find happiness and redemption as you move forward if you keep trying."
"Aki..."
"I know I have been spewing all this complicated stuff about the future and anything. As much you want to atone for your sins, don't dwell too much in the past. To live for the present is to press on towards all uncertainties of this world. Flay, if you're up to it... Once you follow me on my mission to change the future, there's no turning back."
"I already made up my mind, Aki.", Flay replied. "I will go with you, even follow you to the end of time, I will stay by your side and remember we made a promise? We will look after each other from here on out."
Despite of the uncertain dangers awaiting them, Akiza is moved by Flay's intention to atone for her mistakes and join with her quest to save the future. Akiza herself has pretty much no options as of now, other than Flay, and to an extent, Ian. Akiza has yet to convince Ian to join her, even though he's been working alone ever since coming into the present.
As for Flay, as much she wants to avoid being stuck in the past for her actions, she made the right choice of moving forward and doing whatever she can to make up for everything she has done.
Later, Akiza and Flay went out for a drive using the Core GT as they search for any locations where news of the deaths of Blue Cosmos members that were reported to have taken asylum within Orb. Even after Lord Uzumi's passing, it seems that there are corrupt leaders within Orb are willing to shelter members of the Anti-Coordinator extremist group.
"I'm glad that you and Ian aren't fighting, Akiza.", Dr. Paradox spoke.
Akiza replied, "He's still the same Ian Joule. Hotheaded and reckless as always."
As Flay scanned the recent news on Akiza's smartphone, she asks about why Blue Cosmos remained active even with Azrael dead.
"How did you know Blue Cosmos is still at large even though the war is over."
Akiza continued, "Someone else is at the helm now that Azrael is dead."
"Who's that?"
"I think that guy's name would be Lord Djibril. However, Blue Cosmos was just a subdivision to a more powerful organization: Logos.", Akiza brought up the existence of Logos to Flay. "Logos is a secret society made up of war profiteers and manipulate events around the world to profit from the misery it creates."
"No way...", Flay is shocked by the information from Akiza.
"Exactly.", Dr. Paradox added. "However, half of the Earth Alliance do not trust Logos. To them, while do not want to co-exist with Coordinators, they draw the line at those who want a war all in the name of greed."
Akiza continued, "What's even more terrifying is that people like Djibril got all the connections and resources to finish what Azrael started. People that have the money and power to hold the whole world in the palm of their hands is much scarier in and on itself."
Everything about Blue Cosmos and Logos seems clear now, given that the latter is a far greater evil, while nevertheless remaining as an anti-Coordinator extremist group.
Being a Coordinator from the future, Akiza seems to be very wary of the history of the Cosmic Era. And this is just merely a foreshadowing of what's to come...
Akiza and Flay track down a recent incident in an abandoned military base, where there are reported deaths of members of Blue Cosmos. As evident by the debris of destroyed mobile suits, vehicles and scattered corpses.
"Unbelievable... It's like a sea of blood all over the place.", Akiza scouted at the surroundings. "Are you alright over there, Flay? I know seeing a bloodbath of this magnitude kinda makes you sick to the stomach."
"Don't worry about me, Aki. This is nothing new to me."
The pair stopped the car as Akiza and Flay examine the debris and remains of the dead pilots. When Akiza uses her psychometric abilities to see into the dead pilot's memories, she sees the vision of the Mach Gundam about to kill this Blue Cosmos pilot.
"This is... This is Ian's handiwork.", Akiza concluded. "Wait a second... These Blue Cosmos guys are using this abandoned base as their hideout! So that's why he raided the base in the first place."
"If he's your friend, how can he do such a thing?", Flay is rather appalled in response.
"Ian is the type of person who enjoys fighting, it doesn't matter how stronger the opponent, he'll happily take them on.", Akiza apparently knows the depth of Ian's desire for fighting. "He's no stranger to bloodshed like myself. The only thing he can think about is a good fight to keep himself amused, other than breaking the fourth wall."
Akiza's worry of Ian just raised concerns for him. Even though with her time with the Black Eagles, Akiza is the big sister type who knows all to well to keep someone young and reckless like Ian in line. The fact that Ian was the first to come into the past before Akiza did shows that Ian can be a danger to himself or to everyone around him if there is no one to keep him in check.
But, Akiza also remembered the promise she shared with Ian. She will have to confront and defeat him in the event he goes too far. The same thing if Akiza goes overboard, Ian will have to take matters into his own hands as well.
Within moments, Akiza sensed an impending danger.
"Akiza, be advised. We got enemy Strike Daggers approaching your position.", Dr. Paradox voice spoke through Akiza's smartphone. "All enemy MS are equipped with Striker Packs."
"Not good...", Akiza grinded her teeth.
"Aki, we need to get going!", said Flay as she immediately go into the Core GT.
"In that case, we'll give these clowns a welcome from the future!", Akiza returns back into the wheel as she proceeds to call out the other three Gun Vehicles and combine into the Paradox Gundam.
Once combined, the Paradox appears before every Blue Cosmos mobile suit with its arms folded. The Gundam from the future manage to make short work of them using its beam rapier. Akiza proceeds to pull out a mobile suit card that bears the likeness of the OZ-00MS2B Tallgeese III, a mobile suit from another universe. And by scanning the card, the Paradox is equipped with the Tallgeese III's shield and heat rod along with its Mega Beam Cannon.
[Equip: Tallgeese III]
"Those weapons are not from here?", asked Flay.
"The mobile suit cards also contain data of various mobile suits from other universes.", Akiza replied. "The Paradox is also capable of replicating equipment of these mobile suits using these cards, to make up for its limited arsenal."
The Paradox proceeds to cleave every Strike Dagger with the Tallgeese III's heat rod, before obliterating the first wave of enemies with the Mega Beam Cannon.
A second wave of enemies approaches. Before the Paradox can engage, the Mach Gundam appears out of nowhere.
"Ian!"
"Hey, this is supposed to be my time to practice some ass-kicking Akiza!", Ian replied. "Those Blue Cosmos nutcases are looking for me!"
"I'm going to kick your ass after we're done with these idiots!"
Normally, Akiza is often serious and level-headed even when piloting a mobile suit. But, she is shown have a tendency to get annoyed and provoked into get dragged into Ian's antics.
[Change: Aegis Gundam!]
The Mach Gundam possesses similar abilities with the Paradox. However, the only main difference is that the Mach can actually transform into the mobile suit based on the MS card that the pilot uses. Ian pulls out mobile suit card containing the data of the GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam. After scanning, the Mach transforms into the Aegis.
"It transformed into the Aegis?!", Flay exclaimed.
"The Mach has the ability to transform into a mobile suit based on the corresponding MS card.", Akiza elaborated the Gundam's ability.
"In other words, Kamen Rider Decade in a Gundam series. Hell, this fanfic copy-pasted Decade's powers into our mobile suits!", Ian breaks the fourth wall, referencing a certain a certain dimension-hopping individual who transforms into different preceeding heroes before him as the basis of the Paradox and Mach's combat abilities.
That said, while assuming the form of the Aegis, the Mach Gundam proceeded to effortlessly make short work of the second wave of Strike Daggers, beating the Paradox while still at it.
After that, Ian draws another card, this time the 00 Raiser's card. By scanning the card, the Mach transforms into the 00 Raiser, equipped with the GN Sword III.
"What a showoff...", Akiza sighs as she has seen enough Ian's showboating, as she draws another MS card. "Time to wrap this up!"
[Equip: GP02A]
The card in Akiza's hand happens to be the RX-78GP02A Gundam "Physalis". By using the GP02A's card, the Paradox is equipped with the said mobile suit's AE/ZIM.G-BAZ-0186-A Atomic Bazooka.
The Mach in 00 Raiser form activates Trans-Am, causing it to assume Trans-Am Raiser form. The Paradox prepares to take aim using the GP02A's Atomic Bazooka.
"Akiza, you f**king psycho! Are you trying to turn this place into a smoking crater?!", having saw the intense power of the GP02A's weapon before, Ian is shocked to see Akiza taking her finishing touch a more over-the-top.
Either way, the Trans-Am Raiser raised up its GN Sword III as it gathers GN Particles to its maximum for the Raiser Sword. A warhead is fired from the GP02A's atomic bazooka and the Mach 00 Raiser form unleashes the Raiser Sword, obliterating the last wave of attackers.
The battle ends, and the Mach Gundam reverts back to its original form. Akiza and Ian come face to face with each other in the aftermath, with Flay and Dr. Paradox looking on.
At first glance, it looks more a tense confrontation between two rivals as both Akiza and Ian exchange glances. However, in the heat of the moment, the scene eventually shifts from tense to comedy when Akiza furiously puts Ian in a headlock.
"Why you little...!"
Flay and Dr. Paradox can only look on cringing as the confrontation instead turns into a slapstick comedy as Ian breaks free and Akiza chases him.
"Geez, Akiza. What got you so worked out about?!"
"For old times' sake, Ian. After you caused me so much trouble with Blue Cosmos, I'm going to kick your ass here and now!"
"Hey, you just went overboard with the Physalis's bazooka, you jerk!"
As the cat and mouse chase ensues between the two friends/rivals, Dr. Paradox explains to Flay the relationship between Akiza and Ian.
"Ian and Akiza are the founding members of the resistance team known as the Black Eagles, and they were the co-founders. Akiza is the second oldest member, while Ian is the youngest.", Dr. Paradox's voice spoke. "As you can see, because of Ian's age, he's reckless and headstrong, and Akiza has to keep him in check. Simply put, Akiza has been like the foster older sister to him."
"It's like they're a family, but unrelated by blood...", Flay replied. "Normally, Aki is always cool and serious, yet oftentimes scary. But the way she gets angry is... cute."
Hearing it, Akiza stops and blushes, embarrassed by the fact that someone telling her that she is "cute" when angry.
"Shit, Akiza. What did you do to her?", Ian teases Akiza. "She just called you cute, Jesus!"
Akiza simply scoffs him, "Don't ask... Maybe that's because I pay the price of undoing Flay's death, I'm used to getting stuck with her."
Ian laughs, then Dr. Paradox and Flay joined with him, much to Akiza's dismay.
"What's so funny?! And why are you also laughing Flay?"
Meanwhile, inside a bedroom, a white-haired woman wakes up from her sleep by the sound of her phone's beep. The woman, whose hair covers her left eye, stood up from her bed naked with her curvaceous figure in full display. And by picking up the phone and looked into a footage by a drone, the footage shows the Paradox Gundam once again in action, along with another unidentified mobile suit, revealed to be the Mach Gundam.
"Ms. Rio, we have now the physical identity and appearance of the pilot of that mysterious mobile suit.", the woman receives a phone call from one of her aides.
"Maintain observation. If possible, I will take care of the pilot when the opportunity arises."
The mysterious woman also received images of Akiza and Flay taken from a drone footage. Apparently, she is aware of the Allster name, but in a way that makes her seethe in rage.
"Hmm... This young girl is the daughter of the Atlantic Federation's vice minister, George Allster. How pathetic.", the woman, who goes by the name of Rio Nagi Tokino an elite officer from Orb, apparently saw Flay before, but she knows Flay's father. On the other hand, Rio's attention were on Akiza. "That mobile suit's pilot is a woman, interesting. This just turns me on so bad... I want that mobile suit for myself, while the mere sight of this pilot's face makes me so hot."
Rio apparently is aroused at the sight of Akiza's face from the image, taking an interest on her, as she starts touching her own breasts while looking at Akiza's face and lecherously licking her fingers after touching herself.
Author's Note #2:
- If the Paradox Gundam has the ability to summon replicas of other mobile suit weapons, the Mach Gundam, on the other hand can transform into other Mobile Suits of other Gundam series. Think of it as the Gundam take of Kamen Rider Decade.
- Because Flay's death is erased from the timeline, this is the first time she learns of (1) Kira and Cagalli being biological siblings and (2) the existence of Logos.
