At first all I can see is darkness, but I can feel it, pain, pain in my chest, pain my lungs and pain in my throat. Each breath is an arduous labour and sounds akin to nails scraping against granite, the sound of metal upon stone. Now as I struggle to close my hand and my hands tremble as I do so, until I hear something crack and pain runs up the entire length of my arm. This pain, it is utterly unbearable, but it means that I am alive.

I can feel something fall off my neck now as I try to lift my head and I feel something else crack and something else start to fall off it. I am no expert on nuclear radiation, but I am fairly certain I'm meant to die not be well whatever this is. Slowly I feel more pain starting to course throughout my body.

The area in front of me suddenly bursts to life, Agito Zero is not destroyed either, I can hear beeping, the sound of systems running and the faint buzz of lights. I feel something now break again as I open my eye lids and look directly in front of me. My vision blurred green now as I ask "Agito Zero, where are we?"

It feels like I have some sort of rocks in my throat when I talk and coughing up now I feel something large and solid forced out of my body. After this my eyes focus in on the information being presented to me, it would appear there is a green glass like thing in my way. Rasing my hands I notice it is in front of my eyes and slowly now move and peel it off. The pain, but finally I can see normally again. Taking another laboured beath I rise to my feet and walk back to my piloting chair.

Looking up at the screens I realize that I am back in the AD timeline. Which is good because that is my timeline, but there is something seriously wrong with year, it is 2312 AD, that's like what, literally 290 years in the future for me. Wasn't I just in the Cosmic Era? Like didn't I just get destroyed at the end of the Bloody Valentine, nah never mind I can't even thing now as the face of a purple eyed green haired, androgynous person appears on the screen.

Yes I recognize that face, my memory is not gone yet now as I say the name "Ribbons Almark?"

That explains it, so now taking a seat I realize that this must be the second half of 00, because of the year and the uniform Ribbons is wearing. Well I am aware that Celestial Being doesn't require any assistance and well. It also begs the question just what day it is in this year and what days was. But I do know two things, unlike with Kira Yamato and the Archangel, I don't feel any strong desire to help.

Is this war fatigue, did I take a serious head knock when I got hit by the GENESIS Canon, I do know however that just like with SEED, everything should work out. But then again the same could be said of SEED, there were things I wasn't able to stop, there were people who were supposed to die who I managed to spare only to die later on. Yes there was so much wrong with SEED.

Of course while the Crew of Ptolemaios can handle basically everything that is thrown their way. They can win despite the odds and just like season one, there will be casualties along the way. The A-Laws would kill many innocents and are right royal monsters, Ribbons Almark is like a Treize Khushrenada from wish or is that just my nostalgia? Well he is alike, Treize is a magnificent bastard, Ribbons is just a bastard.

I hear Agito Zero and the Zero System hum to life now showing more many courses of action, my eyes darting through the many futures it is showing me. Agito Zero is prompting me to move forward, ton not sit out and stay idle, it wants to fight, perhaps unlike me, it is not tired, not weighed down by all the events of the Cosmic Era?

Either way now Agito Zero makes intent to fight be known by playing that message from the man himself, though If eel it sounds a little too stoic to be Ribbons. It was his taunt against that fool Alejandro Corner when he revealed "Alejandro Corner, you played the jester so well... I should tell you, this is no longer Aeolia Schenberg's Plan; you see, it has now became my plan... Know that you'll be leaving the future of the unified world in my hands."

Yes let there be no doubt about it, Agito Zero wishes to fight and to destroy Ribbons Almark and his dream. While Anthony for a moment thought to ask why, he stopped himself and began to laugh hideously now as if that was the most stupid question in the world. Looking back to the image of Ribbons that appeared with a the traditional targeting sign, Anthony said "Of course, I could never stand that man son you could not either, very well Agito Zero, show me the way forward!"

Chuckling to myself I know better than to ask if this world that Ribbons has built, where they arrest and murder at will, was it really peace? Of course not, its not peace at all, it is just subjugation through fear, a false peace at the cost of freedom. So at the end of the day, I do have a single question now as I ask Agito Zero "Hey what is the Price of Freedom?"

A gentle and familiar tune comes over me now as I smile and see the course that Agito Zero has charted before me "Alright then our course is set let's move out!"

The A-Laws had dispatched the GNX-704T Ahead piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Barack Zinin, supported by two GNX-609T GN-XIII piloted by First Lieutenant Araga and Warrant Officer Louise Halevy. It was for all purposes, an easy search and destroy mission. Katharon had been lured to make a rescue attempt Colony Proud. The GN Beam Rifle had just been aimed at the Rebel ship that was there and Barack was about to go in for the kill.

They had caught them unaware, Katharon were exposed and their own mobile suits were utterly outmatched. But out of nowhere, faster than the Mobile Suit was able to keep track. The GN Beam Rifle was destroyed and the explosion blew the GNX-704T Ahead now as he looked upon the suit that had done it. The mobile suit in front of him was one of the most bizarre that anyone had ever seen.

It sported a cloak with a black body and white legs, there was a massive V-fin that looked in the shape of a birds wings. Its eyes glowed a menacing red but not with the same energy as their Tau-Drives. But it seemed to sport two different drives, one GN and another upon it as well. The caped seemed to settle around it now as the Lieutenant Colonel stated two his two fellow A-Laws "There's no mistaking it, it's a Gundam!"

This unknown Mobile Suit was so fast that it had gotten the drop on them without being detected. And now mocking them it folded its arms as if to let them know they weren't a threat. It was unarmed and looked different, but to the trained eye, like that of Barack Zinin, he could see that this Mobile Suit had been bloodied many times. Not only that but it was certainly not unarmed and must have had some secret weapons hidden upon it.

First Lieutenant Araga reported back "It's taunting us, who does it think it is! Clearly, it's with the rebels!"

There was a slight shine to the unknown Mobile Suit's red eyes that gave off a very sinister feeling and Barack though a veteran and a man driven by revenge felt pressure suddenly being exerted upon him. The A-Laws were the hunters, they were the bigger fish to the outdated suits of Katharon. But here and now, as they had this tense stand off, it felt like this Mobile Suit was the hunter and they were the prey.

Something which was just unacceptable as Barack ordered his two wingmen "Form and follow me, it cannot take us all on at once, we are the A-Laws! Even if it is a Gundam, it is just one Mobile Suit, we'll take it down with our superior-!"

A vermillion flash flew past the GNX-704T Ahead and went straight for the GNX-609T GN-XIII that was piloted by Warrant Officer Louise Halevy. That was some horribly freakish speed now as it seemed to be right behind her rather than in front and then with ease its hand closed around and begun to crush the arm of the GNX-609T GN-XIII. While noise does not travel in space, it was not hard to imagine the sound of metal slowly crushing metal in a most twisted and unnatural way.

Of course neither of the two A-Laws were idle, rushing towards their junior, Barack ordered her over the comms "Warrant Officer Halevy disengage right now!"

But the answer he got was just silence, she wasn't responding now as the unknown Mobile Suit removed the arming holding her GN Lance from the GNX-609T GN-XIII. Before Barack or Araga could even get to it, the unknown Mobile Suit out maneuverer them again, moving with grace and ease that befitted an ace pilot who had totally understanding of his Mobile Suit. He had taken the GN Lance and now while holding it broadcast a simple yet cryptic message saying "Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess. We seek it thus, and take to the sky. Ripples form on the water's surface. The wandering soul knows no rest."

Barack noticed now that the Rebels seemed to be continuing with their operation, this meant that this Mobile Suit was stalling for them. Whatever the hell those words mean, they were poetic and cryptic and probably nonsense, but there was very sinister promise to them that made Barack. They had to get past this, but how? That unknown Gundamwas clearly superior to them and was toying around with them.

They needed to think smart about this, but it seems whatever those words had meant had gotten to First Lieutenant Araga as he now charged forward saying "Tell hell with you and your riddles, you bastard!"

His GN-Lance was primed and Barack called out "No it's a trap!" Just as the Lance struck true causing and explosion, it would appear the Gundam had not dodged this time and simply taken the blow. At first Barack could hear his First Lieutenant's laughter before it was cut off by the shock of disbelief!

As the smoke cleared, revealing the Gundam without a scratch on it and the GN-Lance destroyed, it would appear that given the lack of the GN-Lance it took, that both Lances had taken out each other. Barack sped forward now to save his wayward lieutenant! But he was too late, for the Gundam grabbed Araga's GNX-609T GN-XIII and moving out of the way of Barack's GNX-704T Ahead's charge saying "My soul, corrupted by vengeance. Hath endured torment, to find the end of the journey In my own salvation And your eternal slumber."

As soon as the word 'slumber was said, the Gundam slammed its fits into the cock pit and through the cock pit and out the other side of the GNX-609T GN-XIII, killing Araga instantly. Barack could do nothing but watch as his right-hand man was just killed and with his Warrant Officer unresponsive, he could do little other than get ready for what was next to come. But instead of striking the Gundam merely looked at him and stated in tone that was very sinister and poetic not to mention holding a very dangerous promise "Even if the morrow is barren of promises. Nothing shall forestall my return."

The message while still cryptic was also clear, he had returned, and he wanted others to know about it. Not that Barack knew who he was or what he was or what he was doing. Radioing to his surviving wingman, he said "Warrant Officer Halevy we're with drawing!"

When he got no response he added "Unit Three respond!"

Barack then looked to the Gundam who was yet to move, it clearly was 'letting' him retreat and wanted to let Barack know it could kill them at any time. Such a level of arrogance was beyond the comprehension of the A-Laws Lieutenant Colonel. But he wasn't going to squander it, he now moved straight away to retrieve Unit Three.

This, this was a humiliating defeat and he was going to come back with reinforcements to destroy this Gundam, but he also knew that it would be long gone by then. It had appeared out of nowhere and there was a sense of dread that it emitted ever so subtle and having seen it without any weapons dispatch an A-Laws GNX-609T GN-XIII with little to no effort. Any battle against such a monster was going to be one hell of a fight and far different to any battle they had recently faced.

I don't feel hatred towards the A-Laws, no what I feel now is disgust. They are sickening, the sight of them makes me nauseous. They are so confident in the fact they have the superior Mobile Suits that they are only good for wholesale slaughter. The way I look at it, ZAFT and their militia pilots are far superior in skill to the A-Laws. Then again what was I expecting? Unlike Titan that had to contend with the AEUG and Karaba which were both outfitted with equal if not superior Mobile Suits compared to Titan.

Which is why Titan still had pilots worth a damn and here the A-Laws aren't in that same league. They are too used to wanton and mass slaughter than any actual Mobile Suit Combat. Looking up at the Zero System I concede the point "Yes it is a little hypocritical of me to say that while I pilot a superior Mobile Suit, but I'm not an entire military organization. Oh and Agito Zero, I'm not a soldier so take that conclusion and shove it."

Agito Zero now counters that I did fight and partake and only had successful sorties in Bloody Valentine, not only that but I did beat many ace pilots. I however argue back now "Still doesn't make me a soldier Agito Zero, these guys are military soldiers and pilots trained to fight in Mobile Suit combat, but they don't know how to fight in Mobile Suit combat unless they have a total overwhelming advantage.

But I stop now as I detect the signature of Exia, Setsuna F. Seiei must have been able to get to it now. It's kinda sad to recall how badly outmatched he and the Exia Repair was. Which means we are going to have company soon, specifically Tieria Erde, at the remains of the crew and some new faces. Either way now I message Katharon's ship "Expedite your evacuation as best you can."

After this though I hear the familiar voice speak to me "Pilot of that Gundam, identified yourself."

That would be Tieria Erde, he's decided to reveal himself, no doubt he must be thinking I'm not Setsuna who he was expecting. You know what, I'm in the mood to play some games. So I respond "Given that you're approaching me, I would request that you identify yourself."

A part of me wants to tell him that I am already aware of who he is but instead I tell him "We shouldn't tarry too long, we are waiting on one other, the one you've been tracking."

Tieria Erde of course is not a trusting man or rather innovade as he doesn't give away anything when he states "You must be mistaken, I am not tracking anyone."

Of course, he's smart enough not to give away that he has allies, that he has a mothership nearby, a rookie mistake someone like Yzak might have messed up. Though to his credit, Yzak would buckle down and make sure that he weathers his mistake. I however don't need to dispute him, for I know already the location of Setsuna and what is about to happen.

Just like clockwork or rather the Zero System predicted, the signature of the GN-001 Gundam Exia appears now and I say "I believe that Mobile Suit and more importantly its pilot are the one you've been waiting for."

If I recall correctly it is Wang Liu Mei who gave them this information, that spoiled child who got herself killed by thinking she could play both sides. Not to mention that she was only in it for her own selfish reasons, which even Nena Trinity thought was stupid. She had a chance to survive as well but was too vain or arrogant to accept it.

Contacting them both I state "I'll repeat that we should not linger here any longer, Katharon should be able to evacuate in time and the A-Law's own ship will likely be getting ready to bring in more reinforcements. I can handle them, but your long last friend certainly cannot in the state he's. I'd advise a tactical withdrawal to CBS-74 Ptolemaios 2."

And of course Tieria responds with "I'm sorry but we can't just trust just anyone we've just met, even if you have helped me. Good will can only go so far."

"I wasn't asking your permission, your concern and objections are noted, but we don't have time for games." I state this now gently releasing more pressure so he can feel through what did they call those things, 'quantum brainwaves' that I'm not in the mood to argue.

Tieria Erde, through his 'quantum brainwaves' he could feel the pressure that this unknown person was exuding towards them. They had come all this way to find Setsuna they did not expect to find this. While Wang Liu Mei's information had been correct it also failed to mention this pilot of this Gundam that was clearly using a GN Drive of sorts mixed with something else. Either way, this was going to be a risk taking him.

But the pressure he felt while it was overwhelming it was not hostile to him, given that and now the voice of Setsuna who asked the unknown pilot over a joint channel "Just who are you and what are you doing here."

The answer that Tieria received was not one he expected which was simply "I detected the presence of an A-Laws ship and Mobile Suits on board along with their automated automatons. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what was going to go on, so I decided to intervene and stop the wholesale slaughter of those within the Colony Proud."

The voice was measured and polite, yet it as also tired, or at least that is what Tieria detected. However while one of the questions was answered another was not, which caused the innovade to sate "You still haven't answered the first part of my question."

"You can call me Anthony Hitoro." This time he had answered Tieria's question to the letter but not the spirit, whoever this Anthony Hitoro was, he certainly was more than just a name if that was his real name anyway. Fox example that Mobile Suit was certainly a Gundam and if Tieria's gut was right, it has a GN Drive, but that also makes it impossible. There should have been only ever five made and that was clearly a GN-Drive not a GN Drive Tau.

This suspicion was of course warranted now as Tieria adjusted his question asking "How did you come into possession of the Mobile Suit?"

There was a slight chuckle now as the pilot of the unknown Gundam, Anthony Hitoro as he called himself said "How did I come into possession of this Mobile Suit, well that itself is a very long story, one we do not have the time for I am afraid. But let me ask you this question, as a member of Celestial Being and a follower of Aeolia Schenberg. Did you really think that he would not suspect someone of usurping his vision and develop countermeasures for it."

Now while this made sense, it also did not make sense, but seeing was believing and this person had a Sixth GN Drive. And those don't just appear out of nowhere, however there was another question for this Anthony Hitoro that Tieria did have when he asked "If you were for some reason you are part of a countermeasure you're rather late, why did you only appear up now and not sooner?"

This time the answer was a bit longer though it revealed very little all the same "There are multiple factors that led to my emergences at this point in time, but if you are going to point the finger, I'd ask you why you were clinging to the shadows for so long rather than coming out into the light. But I'm already aware of the answer, time is short, Katharon is nearly done and the A-Laws will be waiting for reinforcements after what just went on. Think of me as an ally and right now that is something you desperately need."

There was logic to his words now, but this did not win Tiera over. But the voice of Setsuna F. Seiei who said "He's right, we can question him later , until then we have to find a way to get out of here and fast."

Tieria Erde did not like this but he did say "Very well we should get moving soon, we'll rendezvous at Proud before moving off" then turning his attention to Anthony Hitoro he states "This doesn't mean we're going to let you come with us or that we trust you."

I was tempted to sit out the whole Saji scene and let it unfold as it should. But no Tiera had to demand that I get out of my Gundam and now I am hear. Getting stared out, in fact I am so unsightly that Saji has put down his gun as he looks at me and asks "What, what are you?"

"I am known by Anthony Hitoro, the pilot of the Mobile Suit you see behind me. I'd say it's a pleasure but you were just pointing a gun at the fellow over there." I avoid using Setsuna's name not to draw familiarity, but I do let Saji know that I don't think much of him pointing a gun. I partially wonder what would happen if he shot me, would I bleed, would their be crystals in my blood? Agito Zero has the answer to that, but I am none too interested in learning it.

But now after he lowered his gun I take a step closer to him as I say "The way you just went on, I would assume that you were the only person to have ever lost anyone in the history of the world. Someone with as weak will as you has no business here, why were you with the Katharon rebels. Wonder why you didn't go with them unless of course you weren't one of them at all."

It is just as Agito Zero predicted, he would not go with the Katharon rescue ship because, well it is not in his character to. He aims the gun now at me and I take a step forward as I state "The only logical assumption is that you were taken by them because they felt like it and your fate had it not been for this intervention was more than likely execution at their hands."

He's about to say something so I exude some pressure, he may not be able to sense it, but he certainly will be able to feel it. Now as I state my tone cold and without any sympathy "You're already living on borrowed time, yet here you are willing to throw it away. You're disgusting, you think you know everything there is to know, you think just because you feel something it makes it true. Go head pull that trigger kid, but know the consequences of you do reach out far beyond any of the wildest horrors you could imagine.

Agito Zero will not be merciful with my killer that is for sure, but now as I glare at him, he steps back and feels the strength in his arms wane as he states something to me now stating "Your eyes, your eyes they changed colour, just what type of monster are you!"

I can see that Tiera while not showing any signs of discomfort has his hand on his own gun, the pressure that I've put out is too much while Setsuna seems to be the only one unfazed. Looking him in the eye I can see his terror reflected, but I calm myself down as I state "You can either come with us and live or stay and wait for them to come and murder you. That's not a threat boy, that's the fate that awaits you."

Extending my hand now I say "So either shoot me or come with me, but know that you should only ever pick up a weapon if you intend to fire it. And as a great man once said, 'the only people who should shoot are those you are prepared to be shot'."

I might have butchered that quote, but the situation called for it now as Saji surrenders the gun and I take it before handing it over to Setsuna. Tieria Erde now states to me in his almost detached voice "There can be no doubt about it now, whoever you really are. You certainly are tied to any counter measures that would have been activated. Though the current state your body is in, indicates that you've suffered some serious poisoning."

Now a part of me could reveal that the GN Drive and its crystals are what or rather part of what has kept me alive. But he's not asking so I just simply say "When I woke up, I was like this. While it has ruined what I look like and I can't go around in public. I can say I am content and at peace with my current predicament. But that aside, your ship should arrive soon."

It is after I say this that Tieria Erde addresses me once more stating "We're going to have to quite a few more questions about your story and how you got that Mobile Suit, Anthony Hitoro."

Chuckling now I state to him "No matter how honest or open I am with you, the explanation will be unacceptable, but I'll happily answer questions about how I got the Agito Zero."

Well truth is stranger than fiction, I got that Mobile Suit through a freak accident, it was a Gunpla that I built. I just went through a War called the Bloody Valentine, that I had seen on TV and I have seen how your future is as well. But that would have me labelled as mad. On the topic of mad though, I wonder how mad Ribbons would be with the information Agito Zero pushed to Veda about Counter Measures and an 'Operation Zero'? It should be being revealed to Ribbons and his cronies shortly, in the meantime we should be linking up with the new ship and its crew.

Some time had passed since the events at Colony Proud, the world was getting to know that Celestial Being was around once more. And the architect of it, Ribbons Almark had been expecting his visitor, Wang Liu Mei. Who had just played a pivotal role in the reuniting of Celestial Being and the individual formerly known as Soran Ibrahim who now pilots for Celestial Being under the codename Setsuna F. Seiei. Someone he had recommended personally and had passed all the test and still had a role to play in Ribbons vision. But there was a slight hiccup, a slight surprise, a totally unknown and different Mobile Suit, a new Gundam had arrived.

Not only that but it appeared to be far superior to anything the A-Laws currently had and was in possession of a GN-Drive which ought to be impossible given that there were only five. Veda had no actual information on this, but it did link the suit to something called 'Operation Zero' and 'Counter Measures'. Even and inferior mind could tell that this was a reference to the usurpation of Veda's and Aeolia Schenberg vision. Which was preposterous since he himself was the perfect incarnation Aeolia's Plan or even more than that.

Whatever it was that Veda was now showing them, had to be inaccurate as if it was, it should also know about that Gundam. But it did not and because of that Ribbons dismissed these terms and what Veda found as a glitch. Except he didn't the words that were reported to have been said were ""Even if the morrow is barren of promises. Nothing shall forestall my return."

There was enough in those words to sow the seeds of doubt into Ribbons Almark now as he did take into consideration that Aeolia's Vision may not understand how he is it made manifest and of course how he shall be the one to fulfill its goals. If this new Gundam was a countermeasure that had been put in place what had it been doing for the last four years and also why did choose to appear now? All questions that required answers, but more importantly how is it possible to have a Sixth GN-Drive?

He needed to find out more on this Mobile Suit and more importantly figure out a way to defeat it should it prove an obstacle. One thing Ribbons Almark was sure about was whoever or whatever that Gundam was, it along with its pilot had no place in his vision for the future.