PHASE-19: Clear Mind


[Music: "Clear Mind" by Masaaki Endoh from Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's]

Akiza, Kiryu, and Ian find themselves being overwhelmed by more wave of enemy mobile suits sent by JUNO. Orb's National Defense Committee and Rio can not help but watch as this chaos unfold in the skies. Cagalli herself was watching the battle from her office with Athrun.

A white flash just lit from Kiryu's mind. "Something's coming this way!", he exclaimed.

A Gundam riding a mobile suit-sized motorcycle appeared out of nowhere and managed to singlehandedly tear down a number of Wisels, Granels, and Skiels; much to the surprise of the future trio. It's the Neptune!

"The Neptune...", Akiza looked on at the Neptune in awe. "No, it can't be!"

"Holy shit!", Ian exclaimed.

But, Akiza knew Flay that she would disregard her despite being warned to leave Morgenroete with Rio.

"Flay, what are you doing in the Neptune?!", Akiza yelled in dismay.

"Aki, I'm sorry if disregard what you said. But, I can't stand here and do nothing... I know what it's like to fight to protect everything I hold dear. I'm not holding back, nor leaving anyone behind. I want to fight, for everyone's happiness and the very world that Kira fought hard to protect. Please, Aki... You have to believe in me."

Akiza realizes that Flay has proven herself, being able to put herself back together after hitting rock bottom. And now seeing her growth made her this far, she is now ready to face those challenges.

"I'm proud of you, Flay.", Akiza smiled at her partner as her face appears at the Neptune's front monitor. "And here we are, Team Paradox is better and stronger than ever. I knew the fact you'd go your way to pilot that mobile suit."

"Way to go, Flay.", Kiryu approved Flay's determination.

"This is how you show some grit, Allster. Don't lose that! Get it?!", Ian followed.

Flay continued, "Aki... Back when we were at Cagalli's office..."

Akiza replied, "Say no more... This is a promise we all share as members of Team Paradox. To the villains who make the citizens of Orb cry, to those who threaten the peace in the whole world, and to those who bring death and destruction across the galaxy will forever hear these words from us. Flay, I want you to say it with me..."

Flay nodded, as she already remembered that catchphrase. Both the Neptune and the Paradox point their fingers at the Falcon ROBEAST.

"Now, count up your sins!", the two redheads utter the catchphrase in unison.

To count up one's sins also acts a double-meaning for Flay's end. She has said volatile comments about Coordinators and did a few horrible deeds in her past which had seemingly haunted her in the present; although she is able to put her past behind by confronting inner demons and through the support from her new friends. Though her journey of atoning for her mistakes has just only begun, the catchphrase itself is fitting, as Flay wants to make those who threaten the world that Kira fought to protect count up their sins.

Within moments, the Aerosmith arrives. The Sentinel sees the new Gun Vehicle as it provided air cover. Afterwards, the Sentinel flew alongside with the Aerosmith to combine into the VGMT-5DS2000+CXR-AS86 Aerosmith Sentinel Gundam. The Gun Vehicle, being based on a high-speed jet fighter, acts as a wing-pack for the Sentinel in the same way as the Aile Striker Pack for the GAT-X105 Strike.

Thanks to the Neptune and a new support Gun Vehicle for the Sentinel, Team Paradox is ready to turn the tide of the battle. That being said, Akiza pulls out the 00 Raiser card from her deck. Ian then drew the Barbatos Lupus Rex card.

Kiryu then reveals the Double X card. Flay picks the Strike Rouge card, the same mobile suit piloted by Cagalli, and another one, the Ootori Striker.

The four Gundam Operators swipe the cards into the G-Phone's card scanner to begin the transformation.

[Change: 00 Raiser!] / [Change: Barbatos Lupus Rex!] / [Change: Gundam Double X] / [Change: Strike Rouge]

Meanwhile, Flay follows up by scanning the Ootori Striker card.

[Equip: Ootori Striker!]

Flay's hands gripped tightly on the controls of the Neptune, while under the form of the Strike Rouge Ootori, entering in a state of clear-mindedness. Akiza felt it, as if she is familiar of the ability. Flay closed her eyes, the screen turns black and a droplet of water falls into a puddle of water. She opened her eyes and yelled...

"Clear Mind!"

Likewise, instead of going SEED mode like she always does, Akiza instead does the same thing Flay did. She closed her eyes as she lowered her head. In the same vein, the screen turns black and a droplet of water falling into a puddle of water. Within moments, Akiza enters into the same state of zen as Flay earlier.

"Clear Mind!"

While fighting a wave of enemy mobile suits, Kiryu and Ian notice that both Flay and Akiza are sharing the same ability. On the contrary, Akiza already mastered the use of Clear Mind. As he elaborated...

"It took almost two years for Akiza to achieve that ability.", said Kiryu while shooting down a Placido-class vessel. "Unlike those who possess the SEED factor, Clear Mind compresses the user's time while maintaining their focus, in exchange of superhuman feats like enhanced reflexes and the ability process information at a fast pace. It seems that Akiza and Flay are mentally linked to each other due to her psychic powers, and Flay being able to attain that ability."

Ian replied as he unleashes the Barbatos Lupus Rex's Alaya-Vijinana System. "Save the lecture later. But, the way I see it... Those two are an unstoppable combination!"

The Mach in Barbatos Lupus Rex form starts rampaging on another wave of Wisels and Granels, while Ian laughs maniacally as he tears every single enemy mobile suit like a rabid animal.

While the Sentinel as the Gundam Double X, open fired the Satellite Cannon at a Lucciano-class ship, causing the ship to plummet into the ocean.

The Paradox in 00 Raiser form and the Neptune Strike Rouge Ootori form deal with the Falcon ROBEAST. They were able to match the ROBEAST's speed, and clearly outpaced it while maintaining their focus in combat. And both Akiza and Flay put their team game into play.

Flay's Butterfly Medallion began to alert Flay by showing a vision of the Falcon ROBEAST transforming into a humanoid form.

"Aki. That thing is...", Flay sensed something, and it's not going to bode well for everyone.

Akiza's response, "Don't panic. Some ROBEASTs have alternating forms. This one is an angry bird man."

The Falcon ROBEAST changed forms from an actual bird-like mutant to a bipedal avian humanoid. The ROBEAST proved to be a much more of a hassle for the team as it fires its feathers as projectiles and unleashing a barrage of claw attacks.

Inside the Mach's cockpit, Ian pulls out the Final Attack-Overdrive card for the Barbatos Lupus Rex, scanning it on his G-Phone.

[Barbatos Lupus Rex: Final Attack-Overdrive!]

After that, he scans the G-Phone's scanner into his G-Watch, and then executes an arm gesture resembling a clock hand pointing at 9 o'clock, triggering the Full Charge.

[Full Charge!]

Ian then proceeds to brutalize the ROBEAST with Mach Barbatos Lupus Rex, as expected, there's blood and gore coming out from the ROBEAST, given that JUNO having subjected humans with horrifying experimentations.

With the Falcon ROBEAST weakened, the Mach reverts back to its base form as the Alaya-Vijinana System of the Barbatos proved to be taxing.

"Fuck! That Barbatos is a freak of nature rather than a Gundam. But, this is where I get the chance to unleash the beast inside me!", Ian panted.

The Paradox, Sentinel, and Neptune revert back to their base forms.

With most of the JUNO forces weakened, it's time to finish off the ROBEAST. And given that these were humans were being experimented on by th1e tyrannical AI, Team Paradox had no other choice but to kill the creature out of mercy.

Akiza appears on the screen in the Neptune's cockpit. "Flay, pick the Final Attack-Overdrive card and scan it on your G-Phone."

Final Attack-Overdrive Cards act as the activation for a mobile suit's finishing moves. The Paradox, Sentinel, Mach, Izayoi, and Neptune all possess their own Final Attack-Overdrive abilities, only used as a last resort.

Flay picks the Neptune's Final Attack-Overdrive card.

Akiza instructed, "After you scan the card, scan the G-Phone on your G-Watch to simultaneously activate a "Full Charge", that way, the Neptune can execute its finishing move."

[Neptune: Final Attack-Overdrive!]

The card is successfully scanned. Flay proceeds to scan the G-Phone's camera into her G-Watch's screen, before executing an arm motion forming a "3 o'clock" clock hand motion.

[Full Charge!]

The Black Sabbath in Mobile Cycle appears out of nowhere. Four spinning tires manifest to surround the Falcon ROBEAST while the Neptune Gundam turns its back away from the target as the motorcycle raced around it, focusing its power. The tires then fully close in on the target, being shot forwards towards the Neptune, who instead jumps at Black Sabbath and kicks at it, making the Gundam bounce off of it and kick the ROBEAST. The Neptune kept bouncing off Black Sabbath and kicking the Falcon ROBEAST many times in a pinball-like manner until the final kick lands, destroying the ROBEAST, and the Neptune skids to a stop upon landing on the surface.

"Nice drive!", Dr. Paradox commended Flay's official debut as a mobile suit pilot.

JUNO's forces retreated immediately. Knowing that it had been once again outpaced by the humans of the present day, but the AI promises to fight another day.

Meanwhile, Flay's vision started blurring, and as if she's about to black out. Little what she knew is that Clear Mind compresses the user's time while maintaining focus; while granting them enhanced reflexes and the ability to process information at a fast pace similar to those who bear the SEED factor. Also, this is not the first time Flay passed out after using Clear Mind.

The Neptune collapses, only the mobile suit ended up lying on the ground back-first instead.

In the aftermath of the battle, Flay regained consciousness, the rest of Team Paradox came to her aid. Akiza quickly rushed to check on her partner.

"Aki... I'm sorry.", Flay spoke softly while trying to pull herself back together. "I'm an idiot. But, it can't be helped."

"Yeah, you are an idiot. But, you are really that stubborn. And it's really in your nature.", Akiza smiled, turning an insult into a gesture of endearment. "But, I'm happy... I'm happy that you are more than capable than I thought."

"What happened? Why am I passing out after Clear Mind?"

"Clear Mind is... how do I put this, like it's name suggests. Clearing your mind and soul of negativity and staying focus on the fight.", Kiryu explained. "But, it compresses your time in order for you to achieve feats similar to those who bear the SEED factor like enhanced reflexes and ability to process information at a fast pace. Akiza mastered that for two years. And considering that the two of you are mentally linked because of her psychic powers, you were able to awaken your own Clear Mind. In your case, because of the dizziness you've experienced, your Clear Mind is still a double-edged sword."

"Now that I am able to pilot a mobile suit on my own. Then, I will do it.", Flay nodded as she stood up by herself. "I will find a way to master it."

Knowing that piloting the Neptune for the first time and being able to use Clear Mind simultaneously with Akiza, Flay has finally come to terms to realizing her destiny, as Team Paradox's Gundam Operator Series Blue. And sharing the promise with the entire team of protecting the world.


Later, all five members of Team Paradox were summoned by Cagalli. Orb's National Defense Force have finally recognized the team's heroic efforts of repelling the JUNO army from attacking Orb. No one is certain if the robotic army will ever attack again. But, the team know that JUNO will once again return. Either way, the high command of Orb's military decided to officially declare Team Paradox as an elite task force unit, and the four members will be promoted from non-commissioned to commissioned officers.

Akiza got promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant Commander. Kiryu got promoted from Sergeant 1st Class to Lieutenant Commander. Ian got promoted from Private 1st Class to Lieutenant. With Akiza and Kiryu having the second highest position of the team, Ian is the third. Flay goes from Private 1st Class to Lieutenant Junior Grade. And Rio, on the other hand, remains as Commander. This further solidify Team Paradox's status as Orb's elite anti-Blue Cosmos task force unit and quick response team against JUNO.

Rio, being a high-ranking officer, declares her teammates' promotion to Commissioned Officers."Starting August 16, Sergeant Izinski will be promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Sergeant 1st Class Nagare will be promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Private 1st Class Joule will be promoted to Lieutenant. And lastly, Private 1st Class Allster... You will be promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. From here on, Team Paradox has further evolved from underdogs to one of Orb's elite of the elites."

The other four Gundam Operators salute to Rio as they accept their new position in Orb's military.

"Congratulations, Team Paradox.", Cagalli each congratulated the Gundam Operators. "If we didn't do anything about those robotic soldiers, Orb would be at risk of being invaded again. The inevitability of another war is one thing, but those robots and their monsters they unleashed upon humanity is a cause of concern. But, we are not certain when they will once again return and continue their plan to invade the Earth."

"JUNO constantly claimed itself to be superior to humans. But, its only weakness is that it constantly underestimated humanity's potential to adapt and evolve.", Akiza replied. "And like what I said before. To those who make the citizens of Orb cry, and those who threaten peace in this world, and those who seek to cause death and destruction across the galaxy, we will make them count their sins. This is the creed of Team Paradox."

Cagalli nodded, agreeing with Akiza's words.

"I understand. You truly know how to inspire others."

"I'm not the only one.", Akiza replied again, as she and the rest of the team look at Kiryu.

Ian then nodded, "He's the master. She's the apprentice. And the apprentice became the master. The master found her new apprentice on Allster over here."

Cagalli's eyes immediately point to Flay. "Flay... A letter from Kira came to me and asked me to give this to you."

"No way!", Flay exclaimed as she received the envelope. "How did he? I'll read this later."

Once the team have finally accepted their promotions, all five Gundam Operators give Cagalli once last salute before leaving her office.

Later in the headquarters, Flay reads the letter, with Akiza sitting beside her...

Flay,

How are you doing lately? I've heard from Cagalli that you've been in soul-searching with your new friends from the future. Lacus has been telling me that you've been distancing yourself from me ever since after the war, if this is about all the horrible things you've said and done back then, it's already in the past. I know the war wasn't so kind to all of us. But, I feel at peace with Lacus on my side; she made me smile once again while taking care of the children here at Reverend Malchio's orphanage. I hope you've been doing well and moved on with your life. If only we can talk one last time before you and Team Paradox will be leaving Earth for the moon.

-Kira

"Flay...", Akiza gently tapped Flay on her shoulder.

"Don't worry about me, Aki...", she replied, smiling bittersweetly. "After the war, I can't bear to face Kira for all the horrible things I put him through."

"You can cry if you need to. But, it's okay. Either way, he still cares about you.", Akiza leaned closer to Flay, knowing that she's always there for her partner when needed the most. "You have to visit him sometime."

"I know that Aki. I just can't bring myself to forget him, despite that I want him to be happy and peaceful with Lacus. And here I am now, finding myself at Kira's shoes."

Flay's tears were not of sadness and pain, but rather tears of joy. Knowing for the fact that Kira hasn't forgotten about her, and she herself can't bring herself to forget about him either. Rather than bawl and cry loudly on Akiza's shoulders, she let her tears flow down her cheek quietly while leaning her head on her partner's shoulders.

"Aki..."

"What is it?", Akiza replied, lowering her voice.

"Can we stay like this for a moment?", Flay replied in return.

"If you insist."

From how her death was undone, her fateful meeting with Akiza and their subsequent adventures to becoming Orb's elite soldiers dedicated to protecting peace and the threat of the JUNO army, Flay had made it this far having evolved into a person with a profound sense of self-control with her emotions, and having a stable relationship with Akiza in three forms of love: romantic, platonic, and familial.

"To think that you've made it this far... I think Kira will be proud of you.", Akiza smiled as the two redheads face each other.

"I know.", Flay nodded.


Author's Note:

- Clear Mind is basically an alternative ability to the SEED factor. Back in chapter 9, it's revealed that both Coordinators and Naturals can use this ability so long as they are completely focused. The only main difference is that Clear Mind also involves time manipulation, through compressing the user's time.

-There's a lot of Kamen Rider references in this chapter:

1.) Keeping up with homages to Kamen Rider Decade, the Final Attack-Overdrive cards are based on the Final AttackRide cards for Decade to execute his signature moves or variations of the finishing moves of the Heisei Rider he transforms into.

1.1.) When the Neptune Gundam is in the form of the Strike Rouge Ootori, it retains the former's beam trident. It is how Decade uses his Ride Booker in Sword Mode even when he changes into a different Rider.

2.) "Now, count up your sins" is Kamen Rider W's catchphrase. The only main difference is that Shotaro and Philip's version is "Saa, omae no tsumi o kazoero" (さあ、お前の罪お数えろ). Akiza and Flay's version is a feminine and paraphrased version: "Ima koso zaiaku kazoeageru kudasai!" (今こそ罪悪数え上げるください!)

3.) The Neptune's Final Attack-Overdrive is based on Kamen Rider Drive Type Speed's own finisher, where the Rider ricochets around the Tridoron and kicks his enemy multiple times.

- The Neptune changing into the Strike Rouge is a nod to the early draft of Gundam SEED about Flay piloting the Strike Rouge as part of the Earth Alliance's propaganda.