PHASE-06: Party Time


Flay narrates the events of the previous chapter:

"When we arrived at the mainland of Orb, we were confronted by the heiress of one of its noble families. It seems that her hatred of Blue Cosmos and the Alliance is like me looking at the mirror... And the truth about my father shook me to the core. It was thanks to Aki's intervention, I also found out that she was an outcast because of her Zala lineage. However, as the more I learn painful truths about people I trusted in the past, I realize how it hurts, but it gave me a sense of closure."


Only 8 days before the Chief Representative of Orb, Cagalli Yula Athha is set to turn 17. Akiza's party have spent the previous two days in the Tokino family residence, as Cagalli tasked Rio to keep them company while serving her suspension from duty due to her actions.

While Rio was writing anecdotes on her laptop and getting the registration data of both the Paradox and Mach, she notices that one of Akiza's friends, Ian just disappeared out of the blur. But, she realizes that the two mobile suits have such no records in her database due to being coming from the future.

Within moments, a knock is heard at her office door.

"It's open.", Rio said, only to see Flay entering the room. "Oh, it's you. I'm surprised you come here by yourself without her."

Flay replied, "I'm just giving Aki a time for herself. Do you have any time to kill, I just want to talk someone."

"Go ahead. Do you really think that you're scared of me, child?"

"No, that's no the point. But... The way you just beaten me that day, I think I really deserved it.", Flay continued. And she admits that the beating she took from Rio is much warranted, as everything she has said and done in the past has consequences and she has to pay the price. "I've lied, manipulated, and hurt people back in the war all because I hated Coordinators. Not helping by the fact that ZAFT destroyed my father's ship. And I've seen first hand how people like Azrael would go so far to kill the PLANTs using nuclear missiles made me realize what a weak and scared girl I have been."

Even now, Flay is still haunted by her past actions. Had she died the way it was supposed to (hard Akiza and the Paradox never arrived), she could have found peace. And now she has to live through that curse of living for the rest of her life. Meeting Akiza eventually changed her life and wanting to (continue to) make amends.

"I know what you mean... The fact that Lady Cagalli took pity on you and after I realized what I did to you, it feels like looking at the mirror.", Rio then puts the difference between Flay and herself. "However, the only main difference between you and me is that your hatred of Coordinators is born from ignorance. An entitled and petulant child like you should have not been sent into the battlefield. But, considering your firsthand experience, that's what it is. While I've seen firsthand how depraved Azrael and his goons are when they have the audacity to bring the war into Orb's doorstep. But, I could not forgive myself for what happened back then. But Lord Uzumi had to what's right, but at the cost of Orb falling at the hands of those Alliance scums.", she continued as she reveals herself as a Coordinator. "In fact, my entire family are proud Coordinators devoted protecting this nation. We are nothing like those charlatans from the PLANTs, especially Athrun Zala's imbecile excuse of a father!"

"And yet, why do you also sound like that of Patrick Zala and the people loyal to him?!", but Flay seems to know that Rio's behavior is almost like that of a Coordinator supremacist, and this behavior what terrifies her.

"I told you not to lump me with those worms! You-", Rio snaps, only to relent recalling what Flay mentioned that how hatred and revenge can destroy people, and the fact she [Rio] almost ended up like her in a way. "I supposed you're right. What was I thinking? This hostility between Coordinators and Naturals already spiralled out of control all because of one man's revelation that feeds on hatred and envy of those who needed to become better than them. It's a vicious cycle that never ends!"

Flay continued, "I know what you mean. And you are right, my hatred was born from ignorance. I didn't understand anything, I was just a scared and weak little girl. Because of it, I couldn't help but cower in fear not wanting to see any more death and destruction. But the fact that I survived the war and lived to tell the tale of it, I can't bring back my old life. Until that I ended up meeting new people that all have carried with them their own personal traumas, like Aki and Ian, the world they once knew is gone when an AI destroyed all life in that future. Your sense of justice is warped by your hatred of Blue Cosmos because you have lost your father. It's no wonder we've been pulled together by fate... Is it possible for people like us, who all have those emotional scars can connect together?"

"Perhaps so. Trusting no one is much dangerous than trusting anyone, let alone the wrong people.", the Iron Lady replied. "You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your own family; even if they're not related by blood. There's a reason why you and Akiza are close."

Ever since Rio realized the foolishness of her actions, she still remains cold and detached as always. But, hearing Flay's side of her story makes her understand that the war has an effect on the world's history. And learning from Akiza was ostracized because of her Zala lineage.

"So, what are you going to do from here on out despite I have told you everything about your father.", When asked by Rio that what Flay will do from that point on the fact that finding out the truth about her father being a sympathizer of Blue Cosmos.

Flay's answer, "I don't want to run away anymore. I may have been scared before, but I can't just stand by and do nothing. I know the truth hurts, but not learning everything is much worse. But now, I feel at peace with myself. I don't want my past mistakes determine my future. I want to atone for my sins so that no one must go down the same path that I've taken."

"Is that the path you've truly chosen?"

"Whatever it takes to make things right.", Flay then asked if Rio has her own future. "I still want to look forward into the future even if the world is against me. What about you, Rio?"

"I'm not very open about my own future, let alone honor my father's memory of protecting Orb like Lord Uzumi did. Protecting Orb and it's ideals is my purpose in life, even if I have to swallow my pride to do so. This is the only way I can atone for dishonoring my family's name."

Like what Akiza told Flay before, then the same can be said with Rio. You can't dwell too much in the past, but you have to live for the future. For Flay, having confronted by the horrible truth about her father, while it did shook her to the core she decided to move on from it. Does it really mean that Flay has found the needed closure and is she truly at peace with herself?

"Do you have anything else to ask? If not, you may leave."

Rio remains as icy and rigid as ever, as she still remains reluctant to trust Flay, let alone talk out her own problems and advice. But there is more to her than meets the eye.

However, Rio starts groping herself... For whatever reason, she was aroused not by Flay's mere looks. But, then again, there is more to that what turned Rio on.

Flay leaves the office room. On the way back to her room (shared with Akiza), she hears the sounds of breathing, panting, and moaning from the bathroom.

Inside the shower, a naked Akiza is kneeling at the floor and it was revealed that the sounds are coming from her. Her face was already red, he continued panting and breathing coupled with a rather suggestive smile. It seems that she spent an entire hour fantasizing a threesome between her, Flay, and Rio while masturbating in the shower. Her cries can be heard even from the outside, that even Flay herself can hear.

Before Akiza could continue touching herself, she stopped by the sound of the knock of the bathroom's door.

"Aki? Are you already done? You've been on the shower for almost an hour.", Flay's voice can be heard from the bathroom door. Akiza quickly stood up as she gets up and puts on her bath towel as she leaves the shower.

Flay notices Akiza's face in red.

"Aki, what's going on? I just heard breathing and moaning from outside the room, and your face is already red."

"You must be imagining things, Flay. I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You've been acting weird lately...", Flay seems to be concerned with Akiza's behavior lately. Whenever she's not brooding, she seems to be acting rather bizarre. "Is something wrong?"

Akiza answered dismissively, "Never mind. I need to take a nap."

Flay decides to go to the shower herself as the warm weather made her feel rather sweaty. The fact Akiza decided to take a nap is she could barely sleep every night.

A few minutes later, Flay finished taking a shower and managed to put on a new set of clothes. While she has nothing in mind to do, she likewise decided to lie down on the bed with Akiza. Although both are facing on the opposite side of the bed. She had so many questions to ask.

"Aki, why didn't you tell me firsthand that you were an outcast as a child? And you're a descendant of Athrun and Cagalli."

Akiza replied, "The fact that Rio accused you because of your father's association with Blue Cosmos was a reminder how I ended up being a pariah all because of Athrun's father, Patrick Zala attempted to commit genocide during the near end of the war."

"So that's why you went on the extra mile trying to protect me, is that it?"

"I don't want you to feel the same pain that I've been through in my early life, nor Rio going down on the dark path that you yourself walked on."

Akiza took the words right out of Flay's mouth right from the latter's conversation with Rio. Coming to the realization of her father being a member of Blue Cosmos, and at one point sympathized with their goal of "preserving their blue and pure world" (escalating to the point of extermination of Coordinators, like what Azrael did), Flay understood that she was a bigger fool than she was.

On the other hand, the truth about her father allowed Flay to let go of her past. But, it is another one regarding Rau Le Creuset, the person who rescued her in Alaska what concerned her the most.

Back in Jachin Due, when Akiza destroyed the Providence with the Paradox, she briefly looked into Le Creuset's memories moments before his death. Given that her psychic powers allows her to look into the memories of others, this even includes that are erased from history, like Flay's supposed death.


Akiza: I know what you're asking me about now doesn't have to do with your father. But, with Le Creuset. The man who saved you in Alaska before the Alliance activated the Cyclops System.
Flay: Aki, did you say that Le Creuset wished for the whole world to die along with him?
Akiza: That's true. Because he knows that humanity is beyond saving so long as they continue to envy and hate one another. It's just a reminder that there are some could not stand that merely existing as the world becomes bleak and ridden by war, they want to use that as an excuse to destroy it. Rau Le Creuset is by no means a complete monster nor a saint either. He's just like the rest of us, feeling that the world is against him merely for his own existence and he wants to end everything.
Flay: So that's why you erased my death from the time stream... And then you killed him?
Akiza: I did it out of mercy, I wanted to end his suffering. In the midst of fighting him and his mobile suit, it was hard to reason with him at first. But, I understand the world can be a cruel place to live, but that will not stop me looking at the bright side of it.


Flay does not seem surprised about the truth about Le Creuset even after that he wants all life on Earth be extinct so long as mankind continues to war and hate until nothing is left. Then, Akiza flashes back to her battle against the Providence. Akiza fought the Providence using the Paradox, the fight wasn't just a one-sided battle. Akiza managed to come contact with Rau telepathically during the battle.

Rau: Who are you?
Akiza: From the distant future where 98% of the Earth's population is condemed to extinction. Is this what you really want, Rau Le Creuset? To see all living creatures in the world to die in agony along with yourself?
Rau: This needs to be done! So long as there is evil exists in the hearts of men, they will continue to envy and hate each other until they can finally kill each other! It is mankind's destiny to be condemned to extinction! There is nothing you can do about it but watch!
Akiza: Is this because...of mere your existence being an anomaly?!

The charming and charismatic Le Creuset remains calm unless if push comes to shove, he loses it. But, he loses it even more by the fact someone showing sympathy for him, coming from a time traveler from the future who just witnessed the ensuing chaos at Jachin Due. Not helping by Akiza's telepathic abilities allowed her to look into Rau's memories, due to him being born as one of Al Da Flaga's clones.

Akiza goes SEED mode and activates the Paradox's Paradigm Shift System, causing time to stop even in the fabric of space. The Paradox pulls out its beam revolvers, as it destroys all of the DRAGOON's.

As soon as time returns back to normal, all of the Providence's DRAGOONs are destroyed. Meanwhile, the Freedom manages to recover the escape shuttle from the Dominion, saving Flay from death.

Akiza: We are not gods. No one has the right to decide who lives or who dies!
Rau: And neither are you, what you just did right now changed the future!
Akiza: Not that I don't mind. But, if that's the case... This is what the Paradox is meant to be used, to create a new future, even if it means reshaping history!
Rau: Just what are you trying to accomplish, child? There is no point for mankind to desire a future now!
Akiza: But first, I must put an end to your perpetual agony, Le Creuset. It is time to conclude your sad, pitiful journey.
Rau: SILENCE!

The Paradox continues its fight against the Providence, and it is unable to perform well as it is wide open for the Paradox's attacks. Within moments, Akiza pulls out the Destiny's mobile suit card, and by scanning it on her G-Phone, it summons the Destiny's "Arondight" Anti-ship Beam Sword, the Paradox grabs the sword and cleaves the Providence's arm and head before pulling out its beam rapier.

Akiza activates the Paradox's Paradigm Shift System, stopping time once again. As the Paradox prepares to impale the Providence's cockpit, both Akiza and Le Creuset find themselves in a void, where the latter drops down to his knees as Akiza walks through him.

Rau: Why?! Why did you reject the idea that humanity should be judged for their hubris? They all should deserve a slow and painful death! Why can't you understand that?!
(Akiza removes her helmet, revealing herself to Rau)
Akiza: Your getting this the wrong way, man. Humans are just that weird. They think order and chaos as opposites and try to control things that don't go their way. But, there are chances to see the good in them behind their failings.
Rau: You would put yourself through more anguish to place unwarranted hope in life that merely exist not knowing that will fade away?
Akiza: Yeah, so what? Nothing is perfect and nothing lasts forever. The world can be a cruel place to live, but people can still find any meaning in life regardless. Even if my actions causes a divergence, and history will move differently from here on out, there is still hope for humanity for a bright future! The Paradox was somehow entrusted to me to create a new future.
Rau: You're unbearably naive.
Akiza: That's because I've seen a lot of death and destruction more than you do. But, no matter how hopeless things turn out. There is always a way in breaking the cycle of hatred.
Rau: So long as evil lurks in the hearts of men, history will repeat itself!
Akiza: The next generation will find a way to rectify the mistakes of the past! Trust me, being alive is a blessing in disguise; even if the world is against me, I'll never stop looking forward to the future. Rest easy now, Rau Le Creuset...

"This is not possible. Time has been diverged!", Shocked and moved by Akiza's contradictory response to his nihilistic worldview, and given how much she thinks of the positive side of the world underneath the idea that life can be unfair, Rau decides to finally admit his loss, as he chuckled and smiled. "Interesting... I wonder what future you will create by your own hands. I'm looking forward to it."

The Providence explodes, killing Rau. Moments after, the Freedom returns back to battle, only to find out that the Providence is destroyed along with Rau. And like in the original timeline, Rau died smiling after he's defeated by Akiza, only that he wants to look forward to the future Akiza is going to create. The Paradox then disappeared without a trace, ending the flashback.


Back in the present, Akiza ends the full story of her fight against the Providence. Back in that telepathic exchange, the only thing Le Creuset seems to be interested in Akiza's goal over the future she's going to create.

"I know Le Creuset was like a father figure to you the moment you met him.", Akiza then brings up that Flay's time with ZAFT was the start of her coming to see Coordinators as people. "But, I did what I had to do to free him from his madness."

"He reminded me of my papa. But still, I feel sorry for him for everything he had been through.", said Flay. "The truth still hurts, but I feel like I'm at peace with myself."

"I'm glad that you're able to move on, Flay.", Akiza replied as she gets up.

Then, Flay followed after. "Aki... I know that the road ahead you're taking will be a long battle. I know I can't pilot a mobile suit like you or even Kira. But, I just want to learn how to fight to protect myself... I just can't stand idly and do nothing if the world is going to go at war again."

"I thought you'd never ask.", Akiza already figured out what Flay has in mind and the obvious answer was a "yes".

"Thank you so much, Aki!", Flay then proceeds to hug Akiza and playfully cuddle her. Seeing Flay finally smile made Akiza herself smile, despite being normally calm and serious at times.

While the two women spend time with each other, a knock somehow interrupted their moment. When Akiza opens the door, she is greeted by a battered and beaten Ian. It turns out that while Ian was busy sneaking around the Tokino residence's basement, he ends up getting caught redhanded by Rio.

"Oh my God, Ian! Those are some nasty-looking bruises you've got.", exclaimed Akiza. "Let me guess, you've snuck into the mansion's basement."

"I was just testing that Astray she's piloting.", Ian explained, "Then, just as I was about to leave the basement. She got really pissed..."

Ian elaborated in his flashback that before he left the mansion's basement, Rio was waiting for him the whole time. While she remained pleasant during the ensuing confrontation, it was until she finally loses it and decides to "discipline" Ian by giving him a thorough beating that left him with bruises and swollen cheeks.

While Ian lies down on the floor barely conscious, Rio angrily exclaims, "Don't enter my basement without my permission! Do that again, and you will have to kiss your little manhood goodbye!"

Ian continued, "Like ssheriously, she's shcary as hell when she's angry!" His speech is somewhat slurred due to his swollen lips and cheeks.

"Seriously, Ian. You never learn. You always have a tendency to sneak behind everyone's backs like the clever little fox that you are.", Akiza chuckled. "And yeah, it would be an unwise decision to make Rio very angry. I have a feeling that you've been tampering at her mobile suit."

"Well, I did the same with the Mach. And remember, that was your mobile suit before switching to the Paradox.", Ian revealed that Akiza was the original owner of the Mach Gundam before Ian modified it that allowed him to travel into the current time period. And considering how Ian snuck into the basement and tampered with Rio's customized Gundam Astray, he's planning to give Rio's mobile suit the same gimmick as the Mach and Paradox.

"Rio is too scary when she really gets mad.", said Flay.

Only for Ian to roast Flay in turn, "Says who, bitch? That's the same person who also kicked your ass and then roasted you for being a Blue Cosmos sympathizer, bitch!"

"Whoa, whoa. Easy there.", Akiza asks the two not to start a fight. Flay seems to be okay letting Ian call her "bitch" merely because of her past behavior, but Ian takes joy nicknaming people just for the fun of it.

"Yeah, fuck it. I already got a boner getting my ass kicked by a chick with a more ice-cold and edgy personality, and with those huge milkers!", Ian also comments about Rio's curvaceous figure. "She's like Akiza's level, but even more domineering and I'd be happy to knock her up when the time is right!"

"Geez, Ian...", Akiza can only scratch her hair in a show of dismay. "Go get your wounds nursed up. And try not to make Rio mad again by trespassing on the basement."

"A'ight, sheesh!"

Ian takes his leave, returning to his room. Leaving Akiza to clear her thoughts. Since the trio are going to be stuck in the Tokino residence for the next 12 days, preparations for Cagalli's birthday party takes time, and they have to be provided the more elegant and stylish clothing.

"Hey, Aki... What are we supposed to do right now?", Flay asked, uncertain of the course of action.

"Let's just take time to unwind for now.", Akiza replied, as she decided to relax back on the bed. "There's an old saying goes, "haste makes waste." So, let's abide our time."

Akiza then opened her G-Phone, the same smartphone she carries with her. Flay then comes to lie down on the bed with Akiza. Akiza then opens the camera and decides to take a "selfie" with her partner, intending to share fond memories. Apparently, it seems that social media has become a new thing in the Cosmic Era, as Akiza has a Glitzer account ( aki_1345), posting her picture in her account.

"Something to preserve memories that's worth treasuring.", Akiza said after posting.

As Akiza takes her time to relax, Flay then clings to her with an embrace. To Akiza's surprise, she has never seen Flay this happy before.

"Seriously...", Akiza sighed.

"I'm truly indebted to you for everything you've done for me, Aki.", Flay replied, showing her gratitude for helping her find peace with her past. "From here on out, I will look forward to what the future holds. Even if the world is against me."

"I'm glad to hear you've finally put that behind you.", Akiza kisses Flay on the forehead as a gesture of affection, returning the favor from six months ago. "Say, since it's just the two of us here, let's spend the entire night together here."

While keeping balance with her usually calm and serious demeanor and being kind, sweet, and affectionate, part of it is that Akiza has a thing for a woman at her most (emotionally) vulnerable, like Flay in this case. This also turns out to be a blessing in disguise, as Flay slowly sheds her weaknesses, and finally putting the past behind her.

As the two partners exchange kisses on each others' faces as an affectionate gesture, things quickly even more intimate when they locked lips. The feelings between the two was a far cry from Flay's previous, yet complicated relationship with Kira. Ever since she her feelings to Kira became more clear, she realized what a fool she was for manipulating a traumatized boy's insecurities. And when Flay lived to tell the tale after surviving the war, letting go of Kira was for the best and for her to rediscover love, fate had something in store for her.

And meeting Akiza changed everything, regardless of their rocky start. Age gap and serious personality aside, Akiza has a caring and loving side underneath her battle-hardened exterior. At the same time, she is turned on by Flay's moments of weaknesses.

As night passed on, the two women continued kissing and touching each other while naked. Akiza is now sitting on top of Flay, as she is much more dominant between the two.

"Aki... I don't know why are you always calling the shots.", said Flay while she is being fondled by Akiza.

"To be honest, I'm a sucker for someone who is at their most vulnerable, like yourself.", Akiza lets out a naughty smile. "Look at you, your cry. It's almost like I'm forcibly violating you. Isn't it?"

"Almost? Like you've been doing this to me the whole time!", Flay answered back while being overwhelmed by the pain and pleasure given to her by Akiza, as if she is being dominated by her older partner.

Even though finding herself in the opposite end of her past relationship with Kira back then, Akiza is an entirely different story. And like the new kind people Flay has met recently, all have their own fair share of personal trauma and horrific experiences. Both Akiza and Ian are from a distant post-apocalyptic future, and Rio struggles to fulfill her duties as the head of the Tokino family while coming to grips with her father's death.

"Regardless, I'm okay with it, Aki. I know what it feels like to meet people who all have a great deal of pain in them just like myself.", Flay continued as Akiza continues to fondle her on the breasts. "Doing this with you is okay with me. But... it's just the way you are being so lewd is cute... No! Aki, don't go there!"

Akiza's hand reaching Flay's most sensitive part made the latter shudder, until she decided to have a taste of it.

Afterwards, Flay decides to turn things around as she kisses Akiza in return and fondled her, Akiza in turn felt the stimulation coursing into her body as her nipple being touched.

"I can't let you have all the fun, Aki!", Flay sits up and kisses Akiza's neck from behind and thoroughly gropes her breasts, they are much bigger than Flay's. And on the other hand, Rio's is twice well-endowed compared to the pair. "Seriously, you really enjoy flaunting those huge knockers at me, you pervert! In that case, allow me to return the favor..."

Like a butterfly clinging to a flower sucking the nectar from it, Flay makes no hesitation sucking on Akiza's breasts and simultaneously touching the other before reaching at the bottom. This made Akiza even more aroused as the further erotic stimulation made her eyes roll upwards and her tongue sticking out.

"I've never seen Flay so worked up like this, yet it's driving me nuts!", Akiza thought to herself as she felt the ecstasy coursing around her body and mind. Afterwards, Flay reaches towards Akiza as the two redheads exchange an intense, passionate kiss as the scene fades to black.

It was already midnight, the two partners slept peacefully. Akiza's hair got all too messy after she and Flay make out. And Flay finally slept in content and happiness without being haunted by nightmares. That intimate moment between two partners strengthened their bond and trust towards each other.


The following day...

Per Rio's advice, Akiza, Flay, and Ian need to buy proper clothing for the party. The three traveled across the city of Olofat. It's been nearly six months following the end of the Alliance-PLANT war, and Orb is slowly rebuilding itself. As for the two time travelers, Akiza especially, have a feeling that this peace isn't going to last long; a foreshadowing of a future conflict, the time paradox caused by undoing Flay's death don't seem to affect the likelihood of a second war happening at all.

"Man, the war must have reduced most of the cities around here into shit.", Ian said while exploring the city separate from Akiza and Flay.

Akiza spoke via video call from her G-Phone: "That's because after Jachin Due, both factions agreed to a cease fire, resulting in the Treaty of Junius. And it makes sense for Orb to rebuild itself and return to being a neutral country."

"I can't imagine how did those Alliance a-holes, or more precisely Blue Cosmos sticking their nose with Orb in the first place?"

"They were after one of their [Orb's] Mass Drivers."

"But, the Lion of Orb had the balls to tell Azrael to fuck off! And he died like a badass!"

"This is why the people have worked hard protecting this nation vowed not to be roped into another war again.", Akiza added. "Rio said that a strong leadership, the kind of quality possessed by Lord Uzumi, is needed to bring Orb back to its feet, and Lady Cagalli had to fill that role."

"Do you think that this Cagalli girl is up to the job? Considering that you're her future descendant after all.", Ian then asks Akiza of her opinion about Cagalli.

"Let time play that one out, Ian. She knows what she's doing, and I'm sure of it that she can face tougher obstacles in her responsibilities as Orb's Chief Representative."

Afterwards, both of them end their video call as Akiza and Flay enter at a clothing store. As the two begin buying dresses needed for the upcoming party. Surprisingly, Akiza chose a bit more provocative as opposed to Flay taking a much more simpler style. Then, after the two ladies bought their respective attires, Flay went onto a tattoo parlor as she had a butterfly tattoo engraved on the entirety of her back.

Through Flay's perspective, this butterfly tattoo conveys two meanings: one referring to the term, "butterfly effect"; referring to how one's actions can dramatically change one's future. Given how her death was erased by Akiza, in the process changing the future. Likewise, her past actions do also apply as such, considering how she once manipulated Kira into fighting against his will along with the grave consequences of her actions. Another interpretation of that is Flay significantly changing herself for the better, after meeting people with similar backgrounds who she is willing to reach out to.

Even Akiza seems to understand the context of Flay's butterfly tattoo, given that she herself caused that butterfly effect that undone Flay's death. And for some reason, it was a blessing in disguise, despite bearing fully responsibility over it, Flay is the first person in the present day to ever fully trust Akiza.

"Does it hurt?", Akiza asked once Flay finished having the tattoo inscribed on her back.

"Just a bit.", she answered.

Akiza then quickly explains the context of that butterfly tattoo, "Do you understand the context of that butterfly tattoo on your back?"

Flay continued, "I do. Especially that "butterfly effect" part that you mentioned before. The smallest action can dramatically affect anyone, for better or worse. But, there's more to that... This is a reminder that I have become a changed person. I've put the past behind me and want to keep on going."

"Just be careful when we sit down inside the car. That's really going to hurt."

Meanwhile, the pair would go into a gun store. Akiza would then buy ammunition for her sidearm, bulletproof vests and armor padding to be delivered at the Tokino residence. She would then make use of a credit card to purchase them.

When asked by Flay why she bought so many ammo and vests, Akiza responded by whenever an emergency situation demands, she has to come prepared. Preparedness is one of her greatest strengths, and she has enough resources to accomdate them.

The two get inside in one of Rio's loaned luxury cars, a Pagani Huayra. As they travel around the city, the two ladies discuss regarding Orb rebuilding itself.

"I can't believe the people in this city are living normal than usual even after the war.", said Flay. "People are rebuilding what they lost, but it's never the same considering the countless lives lost."

"I know what you mean, Flay. This is just the calm before an oncoming storm.", Akiza replied, at the same time foreseeing a future conflict that might once again throw Orb into chaos. It makes sense for someone from the future to have an ability to foreshadow events that will likely still happen in the present.

"An oncoming storm? Are you saying the Alliance and the PLANTs are going to be at war again?", Flay raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe. Or, maybe not.", Akiza continued. "Either way. So long as the cycle of hostilities between Coordinators and Naturals don't end, so the likelihood of another war is inevitable."

"I don't know what's scares me, Aki... But the fact that you predicted that another war is coming, if that's not terrifying, then I don't know what is."

"You have every right to be scared. But, that doesn't mean we can only stand idly and do nothing. If necessary, I'll be more willing to help Orb's people defend their homeland."

Then, Flay decides to ask about the AI JUNO.

"What about this JUNO thing, Aki? You and Ian came here to prevent it from causing a bad future. Why can't you just go into the time before it was created?"

Akiza replied, "I can do that. But, considering the butterfly effect that I caused by erasing your death from the time stream, I decided not to. I'd rather let history run its course until the time JUNO is created. I can't risk tampering too much with the space-time continuum, Flay. Doing so can dramatically affect reality as we know it."

"I understand now, Aki."

Then, Akiza proceeds to explain to Flay about JUNO.

"Now, about JUNO. It stands for Joint Unification Network Order. It was created three years after Orb and ZAFT agreed to a ceasefire. Per that agreement, both Orb and the PLANTs joined forces to create a deterrence to prevent future wars. And they choose to create an artificial intelligence that acts as a peacekeeper for humanity. Over time, JUNO became more self-aware and its dislike for war are becoming more apparent because it started to grow beyond its programming. One day, the Earth Alliance, gradually weakened after falling out with Logos would be embroiled into a civil war that spiralled out of control. And being an AI, JUNO started to learn all of humanity's seven deadly sins: pride, lust, wrath, envy, greed, gluttony, and sloth, corrupting it from a peacekeeping force to prevent wars into a doomsday device that would lead to 77 years of onslaught that would slowly resulting in humanity's extinction. Not even ZAFT and Orb's best pilots and mobile suits stood a chance against JUNO, as it is able to hack any mobile suit and use it against them. From that point on, the world has reduced into a barren wasteland, and almost 98% of the Earth's population is wiped out, while most who gave up fighting submitted themselves to JUNO, they ended up stripped away of their humanity and were turned into soulless robots only programmed to do what their master says."

Akiza ends the story. Flay appears to be terrified by the context of it, at first. However, she quickly grasped the picture of why Akiza came here in the present. Even if the world would be once again embroiled into another war, Flay promised to herself that she's not going to run away anymore.

If wiping out almost 98% of the Earth's population wasn't enough, but the idea of people that tried in vain resisting JUNO's oppressive control over humanity lost all hope, submitting themselves to the malevolent AI to be converted into cyborgs, at the cost of their very being, effectively turning them into mindless killer robots, is a fate worse than death.

"That's insane. I don't know what to say why mankind wanted to create an AI meant to maintain peace and order, but they instead created a monster.", Flay commented.

Akiza continued, "AI's, like humans, can also learn from their creators' best and worst traits. The latter is much more alarming, coupled with being able to grow beyond their programming. But, when JUNO gets drawn to human violence from wars, this is the worst case scenario. Because it believes that so long as humans have the capacity to do evil things, its best solution is to wipe out the entire human race in the face of the planet. And since then, it also developed a god complex and an authoritarian mindset. As such, it doesn't tolerate failure or anything that criticizes its oppressive rule over humanity, or what's left of it."

"And considering it sent some its robot army into the present... It's trying to keep time travelers from threatening its existence, right?"

"Exactly. It sends its forces sometimes at the wrong place at the wrong time. That's why we need to be more vigilant."

Akiza is the only person to be on alert of JUNO's attempts to send its robotic army to stop her and Ian. While the latter could care less so long as he is free to do whatever he wants. What really made her even more concerned if ever an army of robots and autonomous mobile suits attempting to crash the party.

Flay is the first one to ever hear how terrifying the JUNO army really are. Knowing that it is an artificial intelligence that wiped out all human life and replaced them with cyborgs loyal to it is the worst thing she has ever heard. Akiza also implied that both humans and robots in the future do not get along, much worse than the animosity between Coordinators and Naturals. And so, JUNO's robots ended up killing all of humanity and ruled the Earth through fear and oppression.

"Aki, we better get ready in case the next war might happen sooner or later. The same can be said if any of JUNO's robots attempting to stop you.", said Flay. Knowing that her first step to her path to redemption is to fight with Akiza's side.

Akiza replied, "And we will, Flay. Besides, we have Ian watching our backs. And we have to also earn Rio's trust, and in turn put our trust in her as well. An old friend told me that in this cruel and lonely world, trusting no one is just as dangerous than trusting anyone, let alone the wrong people."

"Ever since the end of the war, I have no one in my life to turn to after parting ways with Kira. But now, I found you. Aki, if anything, no matter where you go, I will always stay by your side. I want to become your partner..."

"Flay... Is this the new path you've chosen? Like what I said before, once you've made your decision, there's no turning back."

Flay nodded and continued, "I, too, have nothing left to lose. I don't want anyone to experience the same pain that I've gone through. It doesn't matter if the world is against me, but it's the only way I can atone for my sins. I can't do this alone... But I finally know I how to trust new people. Starting with you, Aki..."

"Very well."

Later, Akiza and Ian returned into the Tokino residence, as the cars used by the two are loaned by Rio. These luxury cars are her most prized possession and she asked the two to keep them spotless upon returning home. The Pagani Huayra and Aston Martin Vantage (the one used by Ian) are all owned by Rio, as they were all part of the car collections belonging to the Tokino family, as her father was known to be a car collector, having owned vintage luxury cars to high-end ones.


A few hours later, Rio takes the three into the Tokino family dojo. The Tokinos have a martial arts dojo that also has a gym on the other room. On the gym, Ian takes his time lifting weights and running on the treadmill, and on the dojo section, Akiza began teaching Flay in hand-to-hand combat. This marks the first step in Flay's journey to a proper training, something that she lacked back in her stint with the Archangel Corps, due to the EA rushing in with their assignments with military personnel.

Akiza was already skilled in martial arts, having taught various fighting styles by her father figure back in the future. She decided to put it to good use by teaching Flay how to fight. And by the time the two spar, Flay is unable to best her partner. In her first round, she was too wide open, giving Akiza the chance to strike, knocking her down.

"Oww..."

"You're too wide open, Flay."

"Are you getting a bit too rough, Aki?"

"Look, this is just the first lesson of fighting. But, keep in mind, without a good defense, your opponent may get the chance to strike when you won't see it coming. However, if this is too much for you, you can back out. I won't stop you."

"No! I can do this. It doesn't matter how many times I get knocked down on the mat, I need to learn how to do whatever I can to fight!"

"If you insist, then."

Even if she is up against a Coordinator, let alone one from the future, Flay is pulling out all the stops. Akiza encourages Flay to follow her own instincts while fighting. No matter how she gets knocked out many times over, Flay understands the process of learning how to fight. If she can't pilot a mobile suit like Kira or even Akiza do, she has to compensate in making use of hand-to-hand combat and firearm training.

Flay starts to get better and better over time thanks to Akiza's coaching. While Rio is working out at the gym along with Ian, she somehow grasp the picture between Flay and Akiza's relationship, as they are more than just a couple. It's from the time they first met is where they look out for each other.

"You don't see this kind of bonding everyday!", Ian surprises Rio moments after finishing his treadmill session.

"You.", Rio freaked out for a moment.

"Akiza is the type of person who's willing to give people a much needed second chance. This also includes teaching them how to fight. That's what our top guy in our team taught her."

"Who are you talking about "top guy"?"

"Yeah, about him... He's our father figure, who we have been fighting alongside against JUNO's robotic bitches. His name is Kiryu Fudo Nagare. Akiza seems rather depressed ever since having thought Kiryu is presumed dead."

"I see. She's passing down what she learned from your mentor. He must be quite a role model."

Contrary to Akiza's assumption about Kiryu's whereabouts, Ian refuses to believe that Kiryu died. He's positive that he's barely escaped with his life intact and promises to find him, even though Akiza isn't aware of this at all.

As the sparring goes on, Flay begins to show a tenacious side of herself not because of Akiza's influence, but her newfound motivation to atone for her mistakes gave her that kind of drive to keep going. It was only a matter of time she manages to put Akiza down with a leg sweep and pin her down.

"Whoops! Let's call it a break. You've fought quite well.", said Akiza as Flay manages to pull her back to her feet.

"Thanks, Aki. It feels clear to me now."

As the two partners take a water break, Rio and Ian then call them out for being lovebirds.

"I see. So this is how a master and pupil bond together.", Rio chuckled.

"Kiryu would be proud. But hey, it's like the good old days back then, Akiza.", Ian added. "But you and Flay don't seem embarrassed by the fact that you're being too affectionate?"

Ian can already see through the relationship between Akiza and Flay. Even though the former, even in the most daunting situations, comes off as cold, pragmatic, and rigid, it only hides her warm and caring nature. Rio is the second to follow suit.

Only for Akiza to pierce back a similar question on Ian and at Rio's expense. "So, what? Why are you two standing too close to each other?"

Hearing that, Ian and Rio stared awkwardly each other and when they exchanged glances and the fact that they are standing too close to each other, they immediately stepped away in each other blushing.

Flay couldn't contain her laughter and decided to chuckle anyway.

"What's so funny, bitch?!", Ian then yells at Flay, who doesn't seem to be fazed with Ian's profanity-laden tirades as she starts to get used to it. "Ah, what the heck. Akiza might be a better coach, but how about we amp up the training regimen?"

Rio added, "Perhaps the three of us should be training her. And besides, there's a reason why we are all gathered here..."

"You guys took the words right out of my mouth.", Akiza figured out as Ian and Rio decided to help her coach Flay. "In that case, we're going to go an extra mile on this training session."

That being said, Akiza, Ian, and Rio began working together to coach Flay in a very intense, yet exhausting training for the next few days. Aside from the hand-to-hand combat sparring, Flay began lifting weights not exceeding than 100 tons. She then took a 30 km sprint with the three the following morning. Rio then had to teach Flay ways of swordfighting, and her methods were very strict compared to Akiza's. But, Flay is by no means afraid or giving up in any way as she is more willing to learn.

And then, Flay then goes into mitts practice with Ian to improve her punching and kicking. Things go hilariously wrong when Flay accidentally kicks Ian in the groin, causing him to drop to his knees and lie down on the mat.

"Oh great. I'm not going to be able to have kids if I lose another testicle!", Ian bantered while lying on the mat holding onto his groin.

Akiza and Rio then exchanged awkward glances, complete with weirded out facial expressions. As Rio then likewise bantered, "That's gonna leave a mark."

Akiza deadpanned, adding more insult to injury on Ian's end, "This happens to him all the time.", as Ian is no stranger getting his testicles kicked on.

"Really, Akiza?! Shit!", Ian whines back at the other two ladies.

Despite being a Natural, Flay is an immediate fast-learner, as she had took Akiza and Rio's teachings to both her heart and mind. To compensate for the lack of enhanced reflexes of most Coordinators possess, the only key factors Flay needed to rely on are instinct and adaptability.

In the next few days, Flay now has a more toned physique, visible abdominals, and athletic build thanks to an entire week of physical training. She felt like she has finally evolved even further, and is thankful for the effort Akiza, Rio, and Ian exerted.

Ian lets out a wolf-whistle and said, "Lookin' good!"

"Well?", Akiza asks Flay.

"I feel great. You guys really put a lot of effort on this. Thank you."

Ian continued, "Well, the people who really care about you and look after your ass whenever you're down are your real friends. That's an honor. I hope that an old friend who taught us that would be proud."

"To become a new you is the best thing in life. The proof that you can truly change.", Rio smiled, showing that she herself is slowly thawing out and opening herself to new people.

Flay smiled at her new friends with gratitude, feeling that she truly has someone to turn to, even if they all carried their own personal pain and trauma with them. But, this shows that the people that really care about you are your real friends.


The party...

Akiza, Flay, and Ian arrived at the venue.

Ian begins contemplating...

"Well, ain't this a definition of classy? Looks like the party is a full of rich socialites, elitist aristocrats, or other assholes who can only afford a lot of money for this kind of gathering. Akiza and Flay look pretty hot on their dresses, and I'm better with this Tony Montana-inspired suit. Man, I feel like a million bucks!"

...only to be interrupted by the sudden glow of his emerald ring. The obsidian gem in Akiza's cross-shaped pendant began to emit a faint glow as well. This somehow had them the attention of the presence of an artifact they are familiar of.

"The fuck did just happened?", Ian said while he covers the glow from his ring.

"It can't be. Could it be there's a time medallion here? If so, there's a chance it might fall into the wrong hands.", Akiza whispered.

"Time what, Aki?", Flay somehow overheard Akiza's murmuring about the time medalion.

"Shit! Sorry, I-"

"Don't bother, Akiza. You already said the quiet part out loud while Flay is around.", Ian said.

"It's complicated. I'll explain this later after the party. It's because both Ian's ring and my pendant began glowing all of the sudden. I wonder what is it telling us."

"Okay... Seriously, Aki. Could you at least tell me sooner. The way you act tells me that you are terrible at keeping secrets."

"No need for a cause of alarm. For now, we should just have a good time. We have to wait for Rio to arrive."

Then Ian points his fingers, as the Iron Lady manages to arrive in time. "There she is!"

"Looking for me?", Rio sneers, while looking much more glamorous and fashionable compared to Akiza and Flay, as their attires are much simple, yet elegant in their own right.

"Unless if she wants to be fashionably late.", Flay jests, Rio takes this deadpan remark in stride.

"Fashionable is right, nothing beats a beautifully tailored dress!", Rio flaunted her peacock dress.

"And for a second there you'd be leaving us here standing around and doing nothing.", Akiza makes another deadpan remark on Rio's expense.

"Idiot! Why would I want to do that? I was assigned to look after you until the end of this occassion. If I do that, I'd be discharged of my military position.", Rio reiterates that she was given an assignment while serving her suspension. As this was given approval by Cagalli herself. "Whatever, for now, I'll be pointing to you the guests in this party. If one of you try to weasel out in my presence, there will be grave consequences!"

Despite having friends on her side, but given that Rio is technically the daughter of a powerful family in Orb, she has her ruthlessness and influence to keep anyone in line, friends or enemies aren't safe. Akiza and Flay already know not how to get on Rio's bad side, while Ian already found out the hard way when he trespassed on the Tokino residence's basement.

"Just don't piss her off, please.", Akiza then interprets Rio's strictness. "Let's just let it play out and everything will be fine."

As Rio begins escort the three guests around the party, she runs into a fellow noblewoman, who happens to be the head of the Sahaku family.

"I didn't expect a disgraced heiress to be the tour guide for three misfits.", the woman with long, black hair greets the four. Rio, however, seeing this familiar person, seethes at the sight of her.

"Rondo Mina Sahaku. Of all people, you got some nerve trying to make a mockery of me?!", a contemptuous Rio confronts Mina. "I have not forgotten the fact that you and your imbecile of a brother conspired with Blue Cosmos during the war!"

"Hmph. They were nothing but disposable pawns to begin with. Once Azrael is out of the picture, I have no more use for them. And now Gina is gone, and the war is over, things have become different now.", Mina continued. "And you, remember what I taught you before that revenge is nothing more but a fool's game. The fact that you had to take your anger on a mere child all because she was the daughter of a Blue Cosmos sympathizer is all the more humiliating to your family's name!"

Just as Rio is about to lose her cool, Akiza taps her by the shoulder, telling her not to let Mina's words go into her head.

"I shouldn't be wasting my time with you. If you excuse me, I must take my leave. Adieu!"

Mina just simply walks away, leaving Rio angry and confused. The fact that Mina and her twin brother Gina are two people that Rio looked up to before the war. However, when the Sahaku twins have been conspiring with the Alliance behind the scenes, Rio bore an intense animosity for the Sahakus for most of her life, made even worse with her father perished along with Uzumi when the Mass Driver is detonated.

"What the fuck was that all about?", Ian asked.

"This is none of your concern.", Rio replied in tranquil fury.

"It is our concern. But, for the love of Haumea, Rio... Don't let her words go into your head.", Akiza insists to Rio not letting her anger get the better of her. "You know well how your anger over your father's death did more damage to yourself and to your own lineage."

"What am I thinking... And why am I here?", Rio thought to herself, hating herself because of the one mistake that got her into this mess in the first place.

Flay joined in, "Look, Rio. We're right behind you. You could at least tell us what's been on your mind lately and about that woman. We are the reason why you did not go down the same dark path as me. And like that woman just said, revenge is just nothing more but a fool's game; in the end, you can't just find the closure that you needed."

Even though Rio dishonored her own family name, Akiza reassures that it is not yet too late for her to redeem herself and restore her family's honor. Putting trust in her newfound friends ultimately motivated her to keep pushing onward, and by looking at them, Rio remembered why she ended up with them in the first place.

"I'll only explain to you when the time is right. Now, where were we?"

Rio continued pointing the guests to her new friends, and one of them is a young woman with a purple, boyish short hair with a young man with platinum, curly hair standing beside her.

"These two are part of the International Disaster Relieft Team Under the Jurisdiction of the International Cooperation Agency and Auxiliary of Orb Ministry of Foreign Affairs.", Rio points to two members of the Orb Disaster Relief Team, "Their commander is Miyabi Oto Kiou and the other is one of the team's pilot Ken Norland Suse. Miyabi is also the heiress to the Kiou family, another of Orb's noble families."

"Shit, that's an overly long name.", Ian is dumbfounded by the long name of the group.

"In short, they're called the Orb Disaster Relief team, or ODR. Pronounced in the word, "order".", Rio continued.

"If I remember correctly, there are six noble families in Orb are the following: the Athhas, the Sahakus, the Kious, the Mashimas, the Seirans, and the Tokinos.", Akiza briefly discusses the nobility of the Union with Flay. "That woman that we ran into earlier is the head of the Sahaku family, going by the name of Rondo Mina Sahaku."

"You seem to know well about Orb's noble families, Aki. Considering that you're Cagalli's descendant.", Flay replied while leaning closer to her partner.

They proceed on until Rio points at the Seiran family. Surprisingly, Rio looks down on the Seirans with scorn, especially at the prime minister's son, Yuna.

"Who is the slimeball in the tacky suit?", asked Ian when he points at Yuna.

"Yuna Roma Seiran. He's the prime minister's son. And you're probably right to call him a slimeball. I have two words to perfectly describe that man: a spoiled brat."

Rio's hatred of the Alliance and Blue Cosmos even extends to the Seirans, as they are sympathizers of the Atlantic Federation. Meaning, she is very suspicious about them conspiring with Blue Cosmos than the Sahakus (the Sahakus are much more competent in the political game than the Seirans and have more influence next to the Athhas. Once Azrael is dead, it's assumed that if taking Mina's dialogue with Rio earlier into account, that the Sahakus have no need for them). Given that Rio herself is a Coordinator, her hatred of the Seirans is much more justified (and on a more personal level), as they are born Naturals.

Yuna glances at Rio, only to be given a middle finger by the latter as Rio and her posse passed by, justifying her hatred towards him.

"You better not show your face before me, you pompous buffon.", Rio spoke after passing through the Seirans.

"Suck on that, bitch!", Ian giggles.

"Colorful is an understatement.", Akiza added.

"What a good way to put a creep like him in his place.", Flay followed after.

"The next time I run into him, I'd happily squash that arrogant manchild and his charlatan father if they try to pull anything funny with Orb's government like the pathetic little insects that they are!", Rio lets out a smirk.

With Rio finally finishing guiding her friends around the ball, it is finally time to start this beautiful occasion. The celebrant, Cagalli now gives a speech for the guests to hear.

"Thank you for coming into this momentous occasion. I know it has been an honor seeing you all, after the six months following the war. In spite of it all, Orb is slowly rebuilding itself to its former glory. And now, with our great Lord Uzumi, my father, the Lion of Orb bravely made the ultimate sacrifice, reminded me that in my coming of age, it is time for me to succeed and continue where we left off before our very nation was embroiled by war. My wish as I turn 17 on this day, is to never repeat the mistakes of the past, that I solemnly promise to this country, to my father, and to everyone here to uphold the ideals of Orb and its people. May the guidance of Haumea be with us all. Thank you."

After Cagalli finished her speech, everyone gave her a round of applause. As all the guests prepare for dinner, Akiza's pendant began to give out a faint glow, knowing that there could be a time medallion nearby.

"Aki, what's wrong?", Flay asked, as she also noticed the gem embedded in Akiza's cross-shaped necklace emitting a faint glow. "So this is why your necklace is glowing."

"It's not just a necklace, Flay. It's a time medallion!", said Akiza. "These are artifacts that gives its wearers to manipulate time. They can be even harnessed on the Paradox and Mach to augment their time manipulation powers. The fact that my pendant is glowing that there's another medallion nearby."

"Can't we just find where the medallion is?", Flay insists finding the source of the medallion's glow.

Akiza declines, "Not now. Besides, we're under Rio's custody while she is serving her suspension. If we go AWOL, she could kiss her nobility status and military career goodbye. Perhaps we should take advantage of any situation that can draw out the medallion."

"After the party, you better explain how those medallions work, Aki.", Flay insists to know about the medallions.

"Fine.", Akiza agreed without hesitation as she, Ian, and Flay proceed to line up for the banquet along with a number of guests.

"No point keeping a secret when she's already one of us now, Akiza.", Ian inserts himself in the conversation. "We all fucked up big time."

"I'm worried about that those robots might attack while we are in the middle of a party, for Pete's sake!", Akiza replied with a tone of resignation.

After the three managed to be served with their meals and return to the table, they immediately proceed to eat their meals. But, Ian, of all people, has a rather insatiable appetite as he voraciously indulged on his meal like a hungry young boy. Akiza and Flay can only look on in dismay, and the former can only facepalm in disappointment, as if she forgot to teach him proper table manners.

"Seriously, Ian...", Akiza mumbled.

Rio, on the other hand, while Ian's outlandish eating habit might be unacceptable even by Orb's nobility standards, it can't be helped, even for someone from the future.

"Just let him be, Akiza. Not that I don't mind, especially when he has an appetite so insatiable, he'll stuff himself until his stomach becomes inflated like a balloon!"

As the party goes on, within moments, robotic soldiers began popping out of the ceiling! Those are JUNO Troopers, JUNO's robotic foot soldiers. The JUNO Troopers began terrorizing the party, forcing the guests to flee for their lives. Orb soldiers began facilitating the evacuation.

[*BGM: "Razor's Edge" from GRID Legends*]

"Shit! I should have not said about the part of robotic soldiers crashing the party!", Akiza regrets saying her earlier remark, only a little too late.

"You just had to open your fucking mouth.", Ian sneers.

"What are we going to do?!", Flay stood up, her fear seems less visible as if she wants to do something.

"They might be after the time medallion nearby.", Akiza deduced. "If those robots have their hands on that medallion, it could the entire world in jeopardy at a cosmic scale!"

"They're after what?!", a flabbergasted Rio had no idea regarding the time medallions that Akiza mentioned.

"I'll explain later. But for now, we have to deal with these robotic soldiers first."

That said, Akiza and the others decide to take matters into their own hands, Rio joins with the three and prepare to hold off the robotic soldiers.

While Cagalli is being escorted out, she witnesses Akiza, Rio, Flay, and Ian confront a platoon of JUNO Troopers.

"You assholes have the nerve to crash the party, huh?", Ian taunted the robots, as he pulls out a pair of Desert Eagles. "In that case, this is where we turn up the fucking heat!"

Akiza pressed her smartwatch and by touching the weapon app, it managed to summon her chain whip/sword weapon from a circle of apps surrounding her.

"Flay, are you up for this?", Akiza asks Flay if she's ready.

"I'm not holding back.", she answered and assumed a fighting stance, thanks to the training she underwent days earlier.

"Anyone who dares to bring sorrow to the people of Orb shall be given no mercy! I, Rio Nagi Tokino, the Iron Lady of Orb! The judge, jury, and executioner! Solemnly vow to protect Orb, its people, and its ideals!", Rio followed as she pulls out her revolver.

"It's open season! Now bring it!", Ian shouts with defiance and guts, as the four unlikely heroes take the fight to JUNO's robotic soldiers.

Chaos erupts as while civilians are being evacuated, Akiza, Flay, Ian, and Rio hold off a wave of attackers whatever they can. Akiza and Ian are soldiers in their own right, having fought against the tyrannical rule of a malevolent AI, Flay has been trained with hand-to-hand combat and recently being taught to properly hold a gun, as she managed to snag a FN Five-SeveN from one of the guards being killed by the attack. Rio is no slouch either, but she prefers to fight with grace and elegance over brute force.

In the middle of the melee, a tremor is felt in the auditorium, signaling the presence of enemy mobile suits.

"Not good!", Akiza grinded her teeth.

"Don't worry, I'll be back in a jiffy.", said Ian as he snapped his fingers. And by doing so, he just suddenly disappeared out of the blur.

"Wait, he's gone!", exclaimed Flay.

"That's from Ian's time ring.", Akiza replied while fighting one of the troopers, and that ability doesn't seem to surprise Akiza at all as she has already seen Ian use his ring's power.

Little what Flay and Rio didn't know, when Ian snapped his finger, his emerald ring let out a faint glow and disappeared. But, from Ian's point of view, he's able to move and leave the auditorium like it was absolutely nothing. Ian's time ring gives him the ability to erase a given frame of time; it starts from the instant it is activated and can be made to last up to 30 seconds. During this period of erased time, only Ian remains fully conscious and aware of his surroundings; with that he is the only one who can re-adjust his course of action, while other people will move that they would have otherwise but are unable to experience anything in the erased time frame and can't remember any of it, while Ian will still remember everything that happened during that erased period.

As it turns out, this is how Ian "disappeared" during the time Akiza, Flay, and Cagalli calmed and comforted Rio, he used his time ring's power to sneak into the Tokino family mansion.

Ian is already outside of the auditorium as soon as his time erasure reached its limit. He breaks the fourth wall by explaining the ability, "Hey you JoJo geeks out there, this emerald ring works similar to Diavolo's King Crimson. Or that Kamen Rider who uses his trident/sword thingy. Either way, it just works."

While inside the auditorium, both Flay and Rio are shocked of the nature of both Ian's time ring, and Akiza's obsidian pendant, both being time medallions that gives its wearers to control time.

"Wait, did he just erased a time frame while we have no idea what he's doing?!", Flay exclaimed.

"What a makeshift method.", Rio added.

Akiza then proceeds to rip off her dress and suddenly changed back to her casual clothing.

"It's not just Ian's ring, but my Obsidian Pendant can stop time.", Akiza answered. "But, I won't be using my pendant's powers for the time being. I'd be okay using my psychic powers instead."

"Where's that other time medallion you've been talking about lately, Aki?", Flay then asked. "You said it would be nearby."

"A time medallion can be drawn to another medallion's gem nearby.", Akiza continued while holding off another wave of JUNO Troopers. She then gives Flay her Obsidian Medal, "Here, use my pendant as a conduit. It will lead you to the medallion! Go!"

Flay then proceeds to scout around the auditorium for the medallion, while at the same time having to fight off JUNO Troopers chasing her. However, she finds herself surrounded. And nearly in the verge of being outnumbered, the Obsidian Medallion glows, and time suddenly came to a sudden halt. Everything around Flay seemed to be immobile and motionless.

Suddenly, Akiza's voice began speaking to Flay, unaware of the fact that her psychic powers allowed her to telepathically communicate even while time is stopped.

"Flay, you need to move quickly while time is still stopped for 20 seconds!"

"What the hell, Aki?! This thing can stop time?", Flay is flabbergasted by the mystical powers imbued by the time medallion in her hand.

"Get going, Flay! Before time returns back to normal!"

Only five seconds remaining during the time freeze, Flay manages to find the source of the medallion's glow among the gifts, in a small black box. When she opened it, it is a red, comma-shaped pendant called a "magatama".

"This thing is a medallion?!", Flay raised her brow.

Once time returns to normal, Flay immediately returns to Akiza and Rio.

"Did you find it?", Akiza asked. Flay then reveals the small black box, and by opening it, Rio is shocked that this magatama pendant belonged to the Sahaku's.

"Inconceivable! This is an heirloom belonging to the Sahaku family!", Rio is familiar by the item. "Why are those robots after those things?!"

"JUNO is planning to use those time medallions to destroy reality as we know it and remake it in their own image.", Akiza then insinuates that JUNO's threat extends at a cosmic scale should it harness the power of the time medallions.

"What insanity!", Rio grinded her teeth. "In that case, we will not allow these robots to do whatever they please on this world!"

As soon as Rio touches the magatama, she also felt strange power coursing into her body. Within moments, Rio proceeds to take out all the last wave of JUNO Troopers in one fell swoop. However, what she didn't know that this magatama accelerates the flow of time around the user, giving the impression of superhuman speed. Rio uses this speed to effortlessly take out the last wave of enemies.

"Incredible... I felt faster than the speed of light.", Rio said after feeling the magatama's power.

Outside, enemy mobile suits are deployed from a JUNO battleship, a Placido-class.

"Oh, great. Can this get any worse?!", Flay said with annoyance and chagrin altogether.

Within moments, the Mach Gundam in its Mobile Cycle Mode arrived with Rio's custom Astray.

"I assume you managed to get under the mansion's basement again, boy.", said Rio.

"No time to argue with that, princess.", Ian radioed from his Gundam. "And Akiza right here has a surprise for you."

Akiza then gives Rio a deck of Mobile Suit cards, including an "Evolution: Izayoi" card.

"Ian and Dr. Paradox have modified your mobile suit that can fight on par with the Paradox and Mach.", said Akiza. "I will let you and Ian take out that ship. I mean it this time."

"Akiza...", Rio is moved by Akiza's trust, coming to trust her in return. "In that case, let this battle be my time of redemption. Once this is all over, I will repay you with something in return."

That being said, Rio moves into her Gundam Astray. Akiza, on the other hand, suddenly dropped to her knees, as a result of exhausting herself from using her psychic powers from the earlier battle, which explains she allows Rio and Ian to fight the Placido- class warship and the attacking JUNO mobile suits.

"Are you alright, Aki?", Flay helps her partner stand up, Akiza could barely move in her own power, after exhausting herself from the use of her ESPer abilities. Her ESPer abilities seems to be different from "Newtypes" like Mu La Flaga or even Rau Le Creuset, but she was able to telepathically interact with the latter back in Jachin Due.

Akiza replied, "Flay, I'm fine. But, my psychic powers do take a lot out of me. The hairpin that I used above my head and my earrings keep me from exhausting myself."

Despite being a "new generation" Coordinator bearing supernatural powers, Akiza's ESPer powers do put a strain on her body even though her body functions normally well like with all of the genetic improvements as with most Coordinators.

Once inside of her mobile suit's cockpit, Rio scans the "Evolution: Izayoi" with the provided G-Phone in the dashboard.

"Access Granted", the Gundam Astray's OS declared its activation. "Evolution: Izayoi"

And so, Rio's Gundam Astray underwent a drastic transformation, as it took on a deep red, intimidating form even for a Gundam. Rio's Astray evolves into the fearsome MBF-V5341 Izayoi Gundam.

The Izayoi's activation screen is displayed from the mobile suit's cockpit:

MOBILE SUIT OPERATION SYSTEM

-IZAYOI-

-MBF-V5341-

G-Force
Universal
Neutrinoic
Downforce
Acceleration
Metasystem

Orb Union

Now piloting this evolved Astray, the Izayoi Gundam has a deeper connection to Rio, being born in the sixteenth night of November. The Gundam's model number is a wordplay of the word "Izayoi" (5 = I, 3 = Za, 4 = Yo, 1 = I).

The Mach Gundam transforms into its MS mode, armed with its Street Saber and Wheel Shield. And after transforming, its OS activation screen is displayed:

MOBILE SUIT FUTURE OPERATION SYSTEM

Ver: 1000.1

G-Force
Universal
Neutrinoic
Downforce
Acceleration
Metasystem

VGMT-ST911 MACH Ver. 1.0

The Izayoi Gundam's weapons are all about close-quarters, primarily wielding its "Kamaitachi" Heat Rod in its shield and a long-barreled beam shotgun.

"En garde!", Rio delivers the first strike.

The Izayoi spreads its magnificent peacock wings as it pulls out a pair of beam kunai and throws it at the attacking Wisels. Followed by the Mach using its Wheel Shield's vulcans.

From where Akiza and Flay stand and watch the ensuing battle, they are found by Athrun and Cagalli.

"It's you guys!", said Cagalli. "Isn't that Rio's mobile suit?!", having saw the Izayoi evolved from Rio's Gundam Astray, she somehow recognized the suit as it is fighting alongside with Ian.

"Time to wrap this up!", Ian pulls out the Freedom Gundam's MS card.

Rio then draws a card from her deck, this time having the MS card of the Justice. "This is...", apparently, Rio herself has saw the Justice's battles before. Both Ian and Rio scan their cards on their G-Phones.

[Change: Freedom Gundam!] / [Change: Justice Gundam!]

The Mach transforms into the Freedom and the Izayoi into the Justice, which surprises Athrun, since he originally piloted the Justice.

"No way...", Cagalli suddenly freaked out at the sight of Rio's Gundam transforming into that of Athrun's own.

"It transformed into the Justice.", Athrun said.

"Oh, yes way!", Akiza smiles as she watches the battle run its course.

Within moments, the transformed Izayoi, in the form of the Justice combines its two beam sabers into an ambidextrous halberd and slashes through a second wave of Granels before hurling its two beam boomerangs at another.

The Mach, as the Freedom Gundam unleashes all of its guns in full burst, sweeping through the last remaining wave of attackers.

Meanwhile, Akiza then pulls a card, revealing a new different kind of Gun Vehicle.

[Summon: Sex Pistols!]

After scanning the Sex Pistols card from her G-Phone, a police car-type Gun Vehicle just arrived on the scene, the SSFR-02 Sex Pistols. This police car Gun Vehicle has two functions: Gun Vehicle and a long-barreled twin beam rifle mode.

"What kind of an idiot who gives a weapon name "Sex Pistols"?!,", a flabbergasted Flay is shocked about the name of the Gun Vehicle.

Once the Mach and Izayoi revert back to their base forms, Sex Pistols transforms into its beam rifle form. The Izayoi grabs the rifles, combining it into a double rifle, and takes aim at the Placido-class ship. Akiza then uses her G-Phone in gun mode to lase at the enemy warship for the Izayoi to focus.

"Strike out!", both Akiza and Rio exclaim as the latter pulls the trigger, firing a massive beam from the double-barreled rifle, destroying the ship in the process, ending the battle.

"Whew... What a night.", Ian breathed in relief after enjoying another battle. "Man, I can't believe those tinheads trashed the party."

"What's important that we managed to keep casualties to a minimal.", said Rio. "But now, I feel like that I have found my calling to keep fighting to protect this very homeland. Give me strength, papa... With my new mobile suit and new companions, I have succeeded in redeeming our family name."

From the ground, Akiza glanced at both the Mach and Izayoi, she nods at Ian and Rio positively as they once again foiled JUNO's attempt of killing humans in the present day.


Author's Note:

- This is probably the longest chapter I ever wrote. I've been busy with my Real Racing 3 videos and polishing some thumbnails for my upcoming videos on my YouTube channel. I didn't even need to rush on this story, I only abide my time when to write.

- This is the first time the Paradox doesn't participate in combat.

- "Glitzer" acts as the Cosmic Era equivalent of Twitter.

- The time medallions serve as this story's "MacGuffin" of sorts, in addition of giving its wearers time powers. As Ian points out the JoJo reference of his time ring, his ring invokes King Crimson. Whereas Akiza's Obsidian Pendant stopping time brings to mind DIO's Stand, The World, and the magatama used by Rio is inspired by C-Moon, Pucci's Stand without the gravity manipulation. So, the time medallion users can control time at will based on the medallion/ring they used.

- UPDATE 5/4/2023:

** Added the activation screen for the Mach and Izayoi Gundam. It uses the same OS as the Paradox and Mach.

** Renamed "Justice Hunter" to "Sex Pistols". This is due to the fact that some of the auxiliary Gun Vehicles will be named after certain musicians, bands, or song titles.

*** Sex Pistols' vehicle for is based on the Bugatti Chiron as a police car.