Author's Note: Hoo boy... This chapter is going to get even darker and more depressing. And we're not yet in the Second Alliance-PLANT War arc. As the previous chapter and this detail the fates of Kira, Lacus, Shinn, Cagalli, Meyrin, and Athrun before moving on to how the future trio of Akiza, Kiryu, and Ian escaped into the present.
- Having (Future) Kira killed off in the previous chapter could be seen as symbolic in light of the passing of writer Chiaki Morosawa (wife of Gundam SEED director Mitsuo Fukuda) in 2016. Both Fukuda and Morosawa as a married couple are seen as the "author avatar" representing Kira and Lacus' relationship.
- JUNO is meant to be written as a much darker Cosmic Era villain and is a far cry from Le Creuset and Durandal as big bads. Le Creuset wants the whole world burn for creating him, a byproduct of human hubris. While Durandal wanted a world without conflict, at the cost of removing humanity of their free will. JUNO wants to preserve peace through authoritarian and fascistic means.
PHASE-14: Apocalypse
The present, C.E. 72 - Team Paradox Headquarters - Conference Room
Trent checks on Flay after her sudden panic attack as a result of her time medallion's powers.
"What's the hold up? Did you got a panic attack or something?", asked Trent.
"It's from her time medallion. She witnessed what happened in the future, along with the death of Kira Yamato.", said Kiryu. "Flay's time medallion is a double-edged sword. Meaning, if she lacks the strong will to process the visions of multiple timelines and other possible futures, the chances are that the medallion can drive her insane if she's not careful."
Knowing that the medallion can pose danger to her psyche, Flay turns to Akiza and asks her to do something if her butterfly medallion can affect her mentality.
"Aki, I don't know how I can say this but...", Flay said, lowering her head. "If what Kiryu said is true, if this medallion is too much for me and I might lose my mind... I want you to kill me if that happens."
Everyone in the room is shocked by Flay's words. Kiryu went overboard at the part about the medallion driving its user insane, despite the fact that only those who lack the strong will to process possible futures are susceptible to psychological damage.
"Don't say that, Flay.", Akiza replied. "I understand what you felt after seeing the future. I know it's scary because we all don't know what the future holds. But, this time medallion is not a curse. And yours is different than the other four in our person. It's a manifestation of your own existence yearning for a future due to the fact that your supposed death is now erased from this timeline."
"Forgive me for my choice of words. But, Akiza is right, Flay.", Kiryu approached Flay, showing remorse for inadvertently gaslighting her. "That medallion is a part of you and it connects the five of us together. Because of its awesome power, your actions depend on how to use it."
Rio added, "Remember the proverb Akiza mentioned earlier, "with great power comes great responsibility." And only you can find the answer within yourself in order to master the power of your time medallion."
As the butterfly medallion flew around Flay, it decided to land on its wielder's palms. The medallion began showing everyone of multiple timelines in the future in the form of holographic screen projections floating in the room; especially on the year where JUNO began setting its sights on the PLANTs, and the aftermath of the cyber-holocaust, setting in motion the post-apocalyptic future that is C.E. 150.
Flay touched the projection of an image of the PLANTs under siege, which takes place 7 years into the future (C.E. 80). Then, the team continued to witness what unfolded during that time.
The future, C.E. 80 - PLANT Colony Aprilius One
The heavy fighting between the Clyne faction, Neo-Zala and Durandal loyalists took a turn for the worst when each of the respective factions' mobile suits had their OS experienced similar malfunctioning. Little what they know is that JUNO's presence is now being felt in the colonies as their technology is now being compromised. Because the PLANTs likewise didn't have the necessary countermeasure to prepare for an imminent cyberattack, it was already too late.
Meanwhile in the Supreme Council Building, Lacus and the other members of the council are gathered as the situation is already critical. Lacus had no time to mourn for the loss of Kira, who was killed by an android that took on his physical appearance, and seeing how Earth fell to the malignant robotic lifeforms, she knew it is already hopeless.
The Supreme Council then intercept an incoming transmission from the evil artificial intelligence, JUNO.
"Greetings to the PLANT Supreme Council. We are known as the Joint Unification Network Order, otherwise known as JUNO. An artificial intelligence designed as a deterrence for future wars."
Lacus then reasoned with the AI, "How could you do this?" She remained calm and keeping her emotions shut while confronting this sentient doomsday device. "Is this what you call deterrence? And by meaning, committing acts of genocide as an excuse for deterrence?"
"Just as my analysis of the human heart have stated, mankind is incapable of preserving peace.", the AI spoke in a robotic and emotionless tone. "I am created by humans, and so it's natural for us that humans will be annihilated by us. So long as humans disagree with one another, more conflicts will continue to persist. And the cyberattack on Earth three years ago should serve as an example that humans shall be pacified through fear and oppression."
"This is unacceptable. We will never bow down to your tyrannical methods."
"Oh, really? What can you do about it, child? Without Kira Yamato to protect you now, and your military now at our mercy, you have already lost! To you, you view us as just another vile creation of man. But, here in this vast universe and in the computer world, WE ARE GOD! Now, watch in despair as our army of robotic soldiers and unmanned mobile suits trash your colonies!"
Lacus knew that this is a hopeless situation, and without Kira, the battle is already lost. Humanity as a whole at this point are now slaves to JUNO's robots. Even so, Lacus is not afraid to die, and is willing to face her own impeding doom with dignity.
Meanwhile, as Shinn tries to defuse the Destiny's self-destruct sequence. And knowing that he's trapped inside the mobile suit with no way out, knowing that the explosion can wipe out the PLANT colonies in a chain reaction, it's already too late. However, Shinn isn't afraid to die either.
"Luna, Meyrin. Get out of here now!", Shinn radios the Hawke sisters. "I... I can't get out of the Destiny. I'm trapped. The suit is going to blow up in a minute, you guys have to get out now!"
"Shinn, no!", Lunamaria cried out. "I know you can find your way out of there! Please..."
"No, Luna... It's too late. You and Meyrin better get out and head to Earth to see if Athrun's safe."
"But..."
"Just go!", Shinn shouted.
Many of the PLANT denizens begin a swift evacuation, knowing that there will be massive casualties as the JUNO army are advancing quickly as possible. Lunamaria and Meyrin made it in time on the escape shuttle with the former's Impulse Gundam intact.
Several escape shuttles leave the PLANT colonies as several Placido and Lucciano-class ships began targeting the colonies. Lunamaria got on the Impulse to protect the escape shuttles.
Inside the Destiny's cockpit, the self-destruct countdown is now reaching 10 seconds.
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Despite the fact that his fate is imminent, Shinn kept fighting the hacked mobile suits as his deathclock is already ticking.
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[00:00:08.0]
[00:00:07.0]
[00:00:06.0]
"Dad... Mom... Mayu... Stella... I'll be there with you soon, finally.", Shinn muttered, in his last moments reminiscing his family and Stella, as he closed his eyes preparing to accept his fate.
[00:00:05.0]
[00:00:04.0]
[00:00:03.0]
[00:00:02.0]
[00:00:01.0]
[00:00:00.0]
The Destiny explodes, killing Shinn inside the cockpit, what followed after is a chain reaction caused by the nuclear explosion as each of the PLANT Colonies are now devastated by the blast.
From the Impulse's cockpit while protecting the escape shuttles, Lunamaria can only look on in despair as the PLANT colonies are obliterated and Shinn having also died as well due to the Destiny's self-destruction. She can only lower her head, her thoughts were full of grief, frustration, and the shock of the destruction.
"SHINN!"
Lunamaria wailed in her grief and sorrow, after witnessing her boyfriend perished. This moment that ultimately became one of her lowest points of her life. Shinn's death had ultimately changed her forever.
From afar, Team Paradox observed the destruction of the PLANT colonies while floating in the fabric of space.
"Poor Luna... She was unable to move on from Shinn's death.", Kiryu muttered, implying that she had met Lunamaria at one point before he met Ian and Akiza.
The present, C.E. 72 - Team Paradox Headquarters - Conference Room
Afterwards, the team are teleported back into the conference room in the present day. Flay slowly begins to control her time medallion without reacting to the traumatic effects of the events that occured in the future.
"And to think that an AI being able to turn the PLANT colonies into a pile of rubble by just self-destructing a nuclear-powered mobile suit is just terrifying.", Rio lamented.
"It's horrible.", Flay added. "I couldn't imagine billions of innocent people died by that cyberattack."
"Now you understand just how terrifying JUNO's power over the computer world really is.", Kiryu lectured everyone in the room. "Ever since that day, Dr. Steinbelt lost the respect of his peers and his achievements were taken away from him. He spent the years after the cyberattack being used as the scapegoat for JUNO's creation until he faked his death."
Dr. Paradox then played an audio-diary file for everyone to listen.
"To the future generations it may concern, what happened from that day on turned the whole world, or rather, the entire universe upside down. Mankind's desire for peace through the creation of a supercomputer turned out to be all for nothing. I realized that robots and AIs can learn even the worst qualities of their human creators, I did not foresee the design flaw of JUNO's programming. The creation of JUNO will forever go down as one of my greatest regrets that I will never live down. From this day on, Dr. Christopher Steinbelt no longer exists in this world. In order to atone for my sin of creating JUNO, I have since took on a new identity. In the next 77 years, I spent my life creating time travel technology in order to prevent JUNO's uprising and save the future. That is I met one man with a newfound determination in his hopes for humanity's future."
As soon as Dr. Paradox concludes the meeting, the team, especially Flay and Rio, finally understood the gravity of JUNO's heinous acts in the future. More importantly, despite being reduced into a Haro with his consciousness intact, the doctor himself pretty much had it the hardest. Having spent more than 77 years trying to stop JUNO from conquering the entire universe, every time he relieved those events, the more he is tormented by the consequences of his own actions.
"Doc, you're not the only one who suffered, despite you being reduced into a robotic ball.", Rio said. "Take a look around you, the people gathered here all have their own individual tragedies for all of us to share, and to live to tell their tales."
Remembering his past life as a human, Dr. Paradox realized that when meeting Akiza as a child, he was the only person she could turn to while she had to deal being an outcast because of her Zala family lineage. The doctor asked himself that how could he ever forgotten to make emotional connections while he focused too much on creating inventions in order to stop JUNO. The future trio of Akiza, Kiryu, and Ian are the only people Dr. Paradox trusted, while Flay and Rio are more willing to earn the doctor's trust and in return, trust him and his inventions.
"I guess getting to know each other through pains and bad experiences can bring people like us together.", Kiryu said. "Even though you had to upload your consciousness inside a Haro, your sadness and regret is pretty much visible.", all while pointing out to the rest of the party that even for a Haro, Dr. Paradox's default expression is always a frown.
"We are all guaranteed to face challenges in life. You don't have to carry all that burden to yourself, doc.", Akiza added. "Not when five people who are unrelated to each other stand by your side and support you."
The rest of the team nodded at the doctor, giving him the resolve to continue to use his scientific knowledge for the good of all mankind.
"Thank you, everyone.", Dr. Paradox replied, as his Haro eyes now changed into a standard expression instead of a gloomy one. Despite being now an AI himself with a Haro body, it just shows that even robots are capable of feeling emotions. "I'm totally grateful for your support. I think it's time we take a break for a while. I guess you have all understood what transpired in the future. My next discussion will be the technologies used in the mobile suits of the future."
That said, the first part of the war room meeting concluded. As Dr. Paradox will be preparing for the second half of the discussion, focusing on the mobile suits from the future and the technologies they used.
As the team leave the conference room for a much deserved break, Flay went on the rooftops of the headquarters as she reflects on the nature of her time medallion. The fact it allows her to see into the future, it sure was beneficial in combat, giving Akiza the edge at one point fighting the Providence Gundam and the Triceratops ROBEAST.
"I understand what you felt after seeing the future. I know it's scary because we all don't know what the future holds. But, this time medallion is not a curse."
Flay recalled what Akiza said earlier that the time medallions are not a curse, and so does Flay's own. The fact that she learns that Kira is fated to die in the future what got her into a panic attack. For someone who is, and yet still, emotionally fragile, knowing that if she can't control her own medallion's powers can drive her insane. Akiza declined with the idea of killing Flay in the event she goes insane by her own medallion's powers. Because she can't bring herself to do that, considering that Akiza had been forced to do the same with her late ex-girlfriend in their world.
While her medallion continues to fly around her, the tune from a harmonica can be heard nearby as Kiryu finds Flay alone in the rooftops as he plays his harmonica.
"I didn't know I might run into you here.", Flay said.
"Are you still having doubts with your medallion?", Kiryu asked.
"Partly. At least I know how this thing works. But, what got me scared the most everything that happened in the future. It's far worse than the previous war."
"Yes, it is. This is a genocidal AI we're talking about. If wiping out all human life isn't enough for JUNO, then I don't know what is. It just shows that JUNO feels no human emotions whatsoever, and it has a massive God complex, seeing itself and all the robotic lifeforms it creates as a superior species of biomechanical life. At least now you know why we ended up here in the present day."
"I get it. But the point is that am I really ready to use this kind of power?"
"Like what Rio said earlier, only you can find the answers within yourself if you want to fully understand the power of your medallion. And Flay, just because things get hard from the start, don't give up. Keep going even if you stumble too many times. Because the path you're taking for the rest of your life is going to be a one-way road in which you'll never turn back."
"Yo.", Akiza then also catches up with Kiryu and Flay.
"Aki?"
"Hey, did I miss anything?", Akiza asked while in good spirits before turning her attention to Flay. "Don't say anything. I know you've been doing lately..."
"Is it my time medallion?", Flay replied, having got the gist of Akiza reading on her mind like an open book. "Yeah. I still don't know how to fully control it. But, hearing everything from Kiryu, Rio, and from you Aki, I don't need to worry."
"I don't need to say the same thing what Kiryu told you. It makes no difference, as Kiryu taught me everything I've taught you.", said Akiza. "So, he's more than just a father figure and a big brother, but also a mentor. And now I ended up becoming your mentor as well. Hehehe."
Other than Kiryu's dark past and philosophical worldview, Kiryu's maturity and level-headedness is worth of looking up to. Having raised two youths and fought alongside him against JUNO's tyranny, he is not only a loving parent, but a charismatic teacher who spreads his influence to help those in need. Akiza is one of his noteworthy apprentices, and now Flay becomes part of their master-apprentice chain.
Akiza continued, "Before I first met Kiryu, I used to be a scared little girl just like you, Flay. When I ran away from home, I don't know where else to go when the whole world is in ruins and robots having taken over the entire universe. When he saved my life and took me under his wing, he taught me how to fight, pilot a mobile suit, and helped me gain the confidence needed to face tougher challenges as I grew up. Then, when I first met Ian, we didn't get along very well and we were prone to making petty arguments, fighting amongst each other, and he is even resentful towards me for being a better pilot. As time passed, we become closer together like siblings."
"That just shows how strong our bond is, as a family of unrelated people.", Kiryu added. "We always stick together, and we never leave each other behind, let alone on how we escaped into this era. Soldiers on the battlefield have forgotten what it's like to form a brotherhood and form a family amongst their ranks. And we were merely founding members of the resistance group known as the Black Eagles."
"Kiryu was the original leader, and I was his second-in-command. As time passed, it became the other way around and I ended up leading the way.", Akiza concluded.
"I understand...", Flay glances at Akiza. "And since you three are together now, that means I also end up as part of your family, and so is Rio?"
"That's right.", Akiza continued. "We all have our own fair share of pain and bad experiences to relate with each other, that's why all the bad things that happened to us in our lives brought us together. The future isn't as scary as you think so long as you believe in yourself and your friends."
Flay felt at ease with Kiryu and Akiza's inspirational speech. Given that they come from a post-apocalyptic future, they all hold on to their own beliefs that mankind still has hope for a bright and better future. Kiryu is the first person to inspire people with this philosophy, passing it on to Akiza (and to an extent, Ian), and then Akiza encouraging Flay to pursue her own future.
"Even if the next war is dawning closer, we'll get through it.", Akiza promises that even if another war is happening soon, they will fight their way to stop it as soon as possible. "Or even end it as soon as possible if we have to and change the future."
"Aki..."
"Yeah... Another war between the PLANTs and the Alliance is going to happen soon.", Kiryu said. "However... the chances of running into him..."
Flay notices that Kiryu's thoughts were onto the person whose DNA was used to create him as a Carbon Human.
"Umm, Kiryu... Who's "him"?"
"Shinn Asuka.", Kiryu continued. "And speaking of Shinn, what happened in the future did took a toll on his girlfriend when they escaped to Earth."
The future, C.E. 80 - Orb Memorial, Onogoro Island, Orb Union
After the Hawke sisters escaped to Earth barely alive, they visited the cenotaph of the Orb Memorial in Onogoro Island. They met with Athrun and Cagalli, and the first thing Lunamaria does upon meeting her former idol, she breaks down in tears as she tells him about Kira and Shinn's fates.
Athrun is visibly devastated having learned his best friend dead, this time for real. Even worse having learned that Shinn was unable to escape from his mobile suit in the verge of self-destructing.
However, their mourning is cut short when a Wisel spots them. Athrun, Cagalli, Meyrin, and Luna run for their lives as the unmanned mobile suit chases them, only for a hooded man to appear out of nowhere and suddenly punched the Wisel to the ground.
The Wisel explodes the moment it fell into the ground, the hooded man then emerges from the flames and approaches the four. The identity of the hooded man is none other than Kiryu Fudo Nagare, and this was long before he met Akiza and Ian.
Lunamaria notices a faint resemblance to Shinn in Kiryu. Despite being a rather completely different person.
"What on Earth are you people doing here? The world isn't safe for humans anymore.", Kiryu calls out the four.
"He's... He looks just like him.", Lunamaria muttered, and her thoughts were on Kiryu and Shinn. "Thank you for saving us... Who are you?"
"My name is nothing of importance to you.", Kiryu is adamant to introduce himself to anyone he meets. If taking into consideration of his cold and distant nature into account.
"Can you at least tell us who you are?", Athrun insisted.
Kiryu complied, "It's Kiryu. Kiryu Fudo Nagare. Forget that you've ever met me."
Kiryu then leaves, while drinking a bottle of beer as he went on. At that time, Kiryu cared nothing but trying to get wasted and trying to find a place to die. He didn't care what happens to the world ever since JUNO had conquered it. Even Lunamaria had a look of genuine concern at the wandering vagabond. Not that she reminded him of Shinn, his rather jaded worldview shows that he already gave up on the world.
The present, C.E. 72 - Team Paradox Headquarters - Rooftops
Kiryu briefly stopped his flashbacks of meeting Athrun, Cagalli, and the Hawke sisters. As Flay asked him about Lunamaria, or in this case, Future Lunamaria.
"This Lunamaria person, was she a soldier from ZAFT?", asked Flay.
"Yes. She and Shinn fought side by side, and they eventually fell in love.", Kiryu continued. "After she and her sister settled with Athrun and Cagalli, their lives were never the same. She used to be a cheerful and easygoing person. But Shinn's death turned her into a completely different person. The next 70-plus years weren't so kind to her... Cagalli was the first to pass away due to an unknown illness. Meyrin would soon follow after, dying on her sister's side of natural causes when she got older. And then, Athrun would also pass on. Leaving Luna as the sole survivor, alone in a cruel and lonely world."
...To be continued.
