[X] The three of them proceed to link up with the Ra Cailum, as per the request of the Londo Bell pilot.
Ple Seven was born knowing three things.
How to fly.
What to fight.
Who to serve.
Everything she did was the will of her Master. The idea of doing something for herself and herself alone was utterly alien to her.
That was, until that fateful day.
Her Master ordered her and her sister's to slay a demon. They sorted, expecting victory.
That day, as her sisters died around her, the demon staring down at her on its white wings, Ple Seven learned a fourth thing.
How to run.
He was shown to her in a dream, a dream given by her first sister. Big brother would give her a home, he would protect her. Ple Seven just had to keep running.
She ran far. Past the Moon, beyond Mars, on and on until she soared in the vast emptiness between Earth and Jupiter.
Her pursuers dispatched, Ple Seven left her cockpit and looked upon the man her sister spoke of.
He was…
"Hello, big brother." She smiled. He was exactly what she'd hoped for.
"-Stea? Adrastea?" Judau's voice cut through her idle recollection, "You with us, Stea?"
Ah. She'd let her mind wander a bit there.
"I'm here, Judau." The young woman once known as Ple Seven answered, "Sorry. I was just thinking…"
"Focus, Stea." Roux chided her lightly, "We're coming up on the battle space."
Adrastea nodded, switching her Qubeley over from efficiency mode to performance mode, a feature most Jupiter Fleet MS had. It helped with the long distances they regularly traversed.
Her machine's wings unfolded as the reaction thrusters warmed up, and the beam gun capacitors began to charge. Her Funnels came online one after the other.
Beside her, Judau's ZZ switched into MS mode as Roux's Lightning Zeta powered up combat systems. Just in time too. The Minovsky Particle density rose sharply as the three of them dove into the combat space, already passing smoldering debris. Mobile Suits, crewmen, hull fragments…
Blood was being drawn.
"I've got a visual on the Ra Cailum." Judau connected to Adrastea and Roux with cables, sending them his video feed, "That doesn't look good…"
Adrastea noted the situation with worry. The Ra Cailum was at the front of Londo Bell's formation, but it was also the focus of most of the Federation's fire. The main hull was streaming flames from multiple breaches, and the port engine pod was just straight up gone.
Space all around the Ra Cailum was ablaze. Londo Bell Jegans could be seen darting about, exchanging fire with much deadlier Silver Bullets and enhanced Jegan variants. There were a few LB Stark Jegans holding their own, but they were few and far between.
Then there were the two Mobile Suits babysitting the battleship's bridge. An unfamiliar Gundam-type and a Qubeley Mk.II, both using their Funnels to supplement the Ra Cailum's overwhelmed point defenses.
Adrastea knew. The one in the Qubeley was one of her sisters.
"Big brother, permission to engage?" She asked, eager to run and help her family.
"Granted. You and Roux clear the airspace around the Ra Cailum. I'm going to pay the enemy fleet a visit."
"Affirmative," Roux replied, "Stay safe Judau."
The communication cables detached and Judau flew off in the direction of the Federation ships.
Roux and Adrastea shared a look.
"Most kills gets to pick a restaurant in Londenion," the clone smirked, "Least kills buys."
"You're on, kid!" Roux laughed as she equipped her machine's back binders on each arm, "Just a heads up though, I've got expensive tastes!"
The two of them dove at the ongoing fracas, and Adrastea picked out her first target. Two high mobility Jegans ganging up on a single partially-disabled Jegan. They hadn't spotted her. Too bad for them.
She equipped and deployed both her Beam Sabers and flew straight between them, twirling as she went.
Her blades cut in spirals, and seconds after she passed, both suits came apart in fiery conflagrations.
She slammed straight into a squadron leader's ReZEL, obliterating it's head and spearing the cockpit. Turning to look at the shocked remnants of the squad, Adrastea laughed.
"Hello, everyone! It's nice to meet you!" Her Qubeley held out its arms as her Funnels deployed, quickly surrounding them, "I'm sorry I can't spend more time playing with you, though. After all…"
She licked her lips and sighed wistfully, her cockpit lighting up with the flashes of their demise as her Funnels eviscerated them one by one.
"-I
really want that parfait."
Artesia Deikun floated in darkness, the only light being the flashing red oxygen indicator light on her normal suit.
When the Phenex shot her down, she was able to separate the Attacker from the Nutter, saving the upper half of her suit. The blast took out the power in her half, however, and left her drifting with the shattered remains of the other Neo Zeon pilots.
The cockpit wouldn't open, and she had no way to signal for help. It would seem like she had hit the end of the line.
That… That was fine. She did the best she could. Artesia had faith in Amuro to follow through, to create a better world. It was what they'd all been striving for since the One Year War, wasn't it? All of the White Base's crew, each in their own way…
The oxygen was thinning, and it was getting hard to breathe. It reminded her too much of that fateful day in Side 7. She could remember it like it was yesterday.
Amuro…
Amuro would grieve. Of course he would. He'd always cared about her. She'd thought once upon a time that their relationship would develop into something more, but post-war their lives took different paths.
It seemed almost cruel that after they met once again, they would spend so little time together before this happened…
"
I told Amuro to take care of you, didn't I? I'm rather disappointed in him."
She recognized that voice.
"Casval…?"
"
Artesia… It's been a while."
"That… that it has…" she smiled, trying to envision his face as she remembered it, "All this time and not… not a single call or letter? Shame on you… brother."
"
Would you have listened if he did try to speak to you?" Another voice spoke, a young girl, vaguely familiar from their brief encounter years ago, "
Char knew you weren't ready… and he wasn't either."
"Lalah." Artesia greeted her, "Has my brother… been behaving himself?"
"
As much as can be expected of the Red Comet." Lalah Sune giggled cheerfully, "
Not that behavior really matters when you're dead."
That made Artesia chuckle a little, "Yeah, I… suppose it doesn't."
Even deep breaths weren't helping. Oxygen levels had finally fallen to a critical low.
Artesia wheezed, her body reflexively clawing for breath, "Casval… Amuro-!"
"
Artesia Deikun, Sayla Mass, your story doesn't end here." Lalah spoke, "
It cannot. It will not."
"
Emergency Power Restored."
Her machine intoned as the monitors around her lit up, and a gentle whoosh of the O2 filters kicking in filled the cockpit. Frantically, Artesia grabbed at her helmet, yanking it off and gasping lungfuls of air.
Alive! She was alive!
The remaining half of the Rebawoo seemed to hum around her as the Psycommu came to life. The reactor was still down, and probably would not come back without extensive repairs. However, she still had the backup batteries. She was so sure that they were damaged when they didn't immediately kick in after the reactor was knocked out.
"Did you two do that?" She asked as she tried to steady her breathing, checking the Rebawoo's status.
"
I'd love to claim credit, but this was meant to be." Lalah's voice drifted through Artesia's head, "
More importantly, take a look."
She craned her head around the seat, trying to find what Lalah was hinting at. When she saw it, her jaw dropped.
Londo Bell was engaged in a pitched battle with the Phenex. She could see the Nu Gundam trying to duel it, but between the Neo Zeong's weaponry and the Phenex's destructive light, he couldn't get close.
Still, he was beautiful. The Nu's armor had opened up to reveal its radiant green Psychoframe. Iridescent light poured from the vents, wreathing his machine in an Aurora as he ran rings around Rita.
In fact, multiple machines were blazing with light, the entire area lit up with the brilliant light of the Human soul.
However…
"Why can't I feel them?"
"
We're hiding you." Casval said, "
There's something you need to do, Artesia."
"
Yes," Lalah continued, "
Something like that can't exist in this world."
They wanted her to destroy it with a surprise attack? But it had an i-Field, and even if it didn't, her batteries weren't enough to fire the Beam Rifle even once!
Wait… Artesia brought up the weapons status display.
She still had six missiles. Those needed minimal power to fire.
The batteries also had enough charge to ignite the engines and run them for a few minutes.
…
She could do this.
"
We will help too." Lalah provided as the Rebawoo's Psycommu lit up with the presence of two souls, "
The living need to decide the future, but…"
"
We've got some meddlers down there." Casval finished, "
So we're leveling the playing field a bit."
Artesia smirked with newfound confidence, "Well I won't say no to help. Let's go."
The Rebawoo Attacker jettisoned its Beam Rifle and fired up its thrusters, shooting forth like a comet.
The Scarecrow put up a valiant fight. He really did. However…
"
This is as far as he can go." Haman said as you plow your Heat Blade straight through the Narrative's head.
It's amazing. With her help, you can weave Psycho-energy like it's second nature! Even with the difference between Psycommu and Psychoframe, your precision overwhelmed his power. If this is what Haman can give you-!
"
Do not become complacent, Cybele." She scolds you, "
You need to remember what this feels like, so you can do it on your own. You're nowhere near my level yet."
"But I can get there eventually, right?" You eagerly ask, taking the opportunity to deliver the finishing blow, a kick straight down onto his chest.
"
Yes." Haman answers, "
With effort, one day."
At the last second, the Narrative splits, with the top half flying up and colliding with the Woundwort's leg, stopping it. The bottom half pushes itself away before the Core Fighter ejects.
"Trying to get away? Not a chance!" You level your Shield Boosters at it and arm the beam cannons.
Then light streams across space, a rainbow of emotion and feelings that makes you hesitate. When you look back, Jona is gone.
"
This is…" Haman stares in the direction of the light's nexus in shock. You follow suit, as does Lutetia.
A Psycho-Field large enough to swallow the whole battlefield, emitting from the Phenex and amplified by the Neo Zeong.
The cockpit seems to melt away as the stars swirl around you. You hang in the void, watching alongside Haman and Lutetia as Amuro faces down Rita and the young man standing behind her. The young man has heterochromia, with scars running down through both his eyes. You know him instinctually… That's Zoltan. You saw him die when the Zeon Republic attacked the Phenex.
"
Zoltan! This has gone far enough! Let Rita go, and stop this needless bloodshed!" Amuro orders him, but the man just laughs bitterly.
"
You think you know what's best for her? What's best for all of us?!" He snarls, "
Take responsibility for Newtypes, Amuro Ray! You're the reason why we're seen as wonder weapons! You're the reason that innocent people like Goldie and I are carved up in the name of a miracle!"
"
That's only because people don't understand! They repeat the same mistakes, but even so, I still believe in the good of mankind!" Amuro counters, and you can't help but clap with encouragement. So inspiring! So cool!
He ignores you.
"
The good of mankind? You mean Oldtypes?!" Zoltan snaps, "
Oldtypes don't understand us! They can't even understand each other! They never will! The only thing an Oldtype understands is physical phenomena! You can wait forever for them to understand, but they never will!"
"
Even so, change through force isn't the answer!" Amuro insists, "
Change through force never lasts! You can't force someone to have a revelation! Mankind needs to come to it of their own volition!"
"
Violence isn't the answer, huh?" Zoltan sneers, "
Well, Goldie, what do you think? Will peace bring the world we need, the world we deserve?"
Rita stares down at her feet, quiet.
"
Oldtypes don't want peace." She whispers, "
They see a bird flying free, and they want to chain it to the ground. They want to pluck the feathers from its wings. Carve it up and devour its flesh."
She looks up, tears streaming down her cheeks, and you feel her sorrow. You all do.
"
I can't take it anymore, Amuro! The agony, the fear, the confusion, it's all too much! I only wanted to fly free, but even that is taken from me! My wings… My lovely, beautiful wings…"
"
That's right, Goldie." Zoltan purrs into her ear with a wicked, spiteful smile, "
They cut us up, replaced parts of us until we were no longer ourselves, but imitations of their false god."
He threw his arms out, laughing, "
Don't you see, Amuro?! Just like they tried to turn me into the Red Comet, the Federation made this girl in your image! An innocent defiled and twisted into a faux you!"
Amuro flinches, grief filling his eyes.
"
I know. What happened to her was awful. But snuffing out more lives won't save her! Misery creating more misery is why nothing ever changes, why the same tragedies and atrocities are committed again and again! Eventually, someone has to say no! Someone has to break the cycle!"
"
And we should be the ones to do that, huh?" Zoltan growls, "
We should just suck it up, and accept our fate? Who are you to deny us our vengeance?!"
Rita raises her hand.
"
I just want to fly free," She says, "
and you're in the way."
The light surged forth, threatening to swallow Amuro and the others whole.
You rush into the gap and hold up your hands.
"
Why do only your dreams matter?!" You summon a shield of Psycho-Energy and stave off the light, "
Just because yours have been trampled on, that gives you the right to trample on others?! That's selfish, Rita!"
"
You reckless little-!" Haman snaps, quickly reinforcing you, "
You're not strong enough for this! The Woundwort's Psycommu can't take the strain!"
Amuro takes your hand, and his light flows into yours.
"
She's not alone! We all have dreams, and we all have a future that we want to see!" He declares, "
You can have new dreams, Rita! You have people who care about you! Look at Cybele! She lost her home, her family, but she still has things she wants to fight for, to live for! You can be the same! Don't let the regrets of the dead drag you down with them!"
"
Well said, Amuro." Haman chuckles, "
You remind me of a boy I knew."
"
...Aren't you dead?" Amuro remarks as he looks over at Haman, the former leader of Neo Zeon smirking smugly at him.
"
Funny, I thought you were too," she snarks back, "
but I guess the rumors were exaggerated."
"
We… We all want a better future! Even with everything that's happened, and everyone we've lost, we still strive to make it come true!" Lutetia joins hands, her light joining yours, "
Don't you see, Rita?! Don't listen to Zoltan, his possibilities have ended, yours are still alive!"
"
Each and every one of us." Camilla stands with you, "
We all create the world we live in. If you deny possibility, then the Hell you live in will be of your own creation."
"
Listen to Big Sis!" Sicilia hugs you from behind, "
She gave me back my life! She gave me hope when I thought I'd lost everything! There's always a light at the end of the tunnel, Rita!"
You feel Elle's light merge with yours. Then Mondo's. Everyone from Londo Bell.
Your lights war against hers, your Mobile Suits shining together as if fording a raging river.
"
You don't understand, none of you understand!" Rita shrieks, her rage and despair growing, "
Just blow away, all of you! Leave me alone!"
The energy pouring out of the Neo Zeong increases, and begins to swallow up your own collective light. You all strain against the Pressure, and alarms begin to blare around you. The Psycommu begins to fail. Flames start to pour from the Psychoframe vents in the Nu Gundam.
You're not enough. The Phenex and Neo Zeong are just too strong together.
Her light is about to engulf you, when you see it.
A magnificent swan, soaring high above.
Amuro looks up, mouth agape.
"
...Lalah?"
You can see it. A beautiful swan. Not just in your mind's eye, but in reality, a mass of Psycho-Energy shaped like a bird.
It dives on Rita.
"
You-!" Zoltan curses, "
Goldie, heads up!"
With a scream, Rita cuts off her Psycho Energy and fires up all her Beam Cannons, swinging the pillars of plasma upwards.
As the beams buffet the swan, eroding it away, you hear a voice.
"
Your destiny is your own, Rita Bernal!" Lalah Sune declares, even as her manifestation is destroyed, "
Only death puts an end to possibility!"
As the beams crush the swan, a blazing red ball shoots out from the remnants, continuing towards Rita. It's almost like a comet. A Red Comet.
"
It may seem like things never change, but that's not true! Mankind changes a little every day! It's the duty of the new generation to continue that change!"
"
Char?!" Amuro looks on in shock.
"
The regrets of the dead have no place amongst the living!" Char continues, before his sphere of Psycho Energy is smashed between two beams, popping. Out of the light a small craft darts out, screeching downwards towards Rita.
"
We'll decide our own fate!" Artesia Deikun's voice rings out clear as her Rebawoo Attacker burns straight for the Neo Zeong, "
There's no place for wraiths like you, Zoltan Akkanen!"
Six missiles streak forth from the Rebawoo's wings, slamming into the i-Field generators on the Neo Zeong. With a dreadful whine, they each fail simultaneously. Rita screams in outrage as Artesia flies past. The Psycho Shard flickers and dims, suffering from some kind of system failure likely caused by the attack.
You're slammed back into the real world, in your cockpit, with your allies by your side. Before you is the Phenex and Neo Zeong, the latter streaming fire from the now-disabled generators.
"The i-Field is down!" Amuro raises his Beam Rifle and launches his Fin Funnels, "All units, open fire!"
Beams and rockets pour into the Neo Zeong, slagging armor panels and melting beam emitters. Rita's shrieks of defiance fill the comms and she tries to fire back. She misses, but even so, the mass of the Mobile Armor is just too big! Even Sicilia can't deliver a kill shot! You'd need a really big gun to take it down!
"Incoming!" Ensign Carter of Sherman Team screams hysterically as he enters the battle space like a bat out of hell, the Dendrobium Night Fighter bearing down on the beleaguered MA, "All units, clear my line of fire!"
Amuro and Elle dart out of the way as the Dendrobium fires, piercing the Neo Zeong just below the cockpit.
"Looks like this is the end of the line for me, Goldie." Your Big Wings sigh as he begins to crumble away, "Sorry I couldn't help you out more."
"No… No NoNoNo!" You grab at him, sobbing, "You said you'd help me fly free! You were going to carry me and my Wings to the open skies! We were going to punish the bad men who cut us open together!"
"That would have been great…" He smiles bitterly, "Fly enough for the both of us, will you? I know you're going to go far."
"So long, Goldie."
The Phenex is thrown from the Neo Zeong as it erupts, detonating in a massive fireball.
He's gone.
They took him from you. They destroyed the Wings that told you the truth, the Wings that were going to carry you to happiness.
"You…"
You grip the controls, knuckles white.
"
You-!"
The shields on your back fly off, circling you before locking onto both forearms.
"
YOU!!!"
They will burn for this.
The Phenex is a golden blur, moving faster than you can track. It slams into the Dendrobium.
"Holy shi-!" You hear Carter swear right before Rita crushes the Core Fighter and i-Field generator, kicking off from the MA in the same move before unloading multiple Beam Cannon shots into it, blowing it to smithereens.
Oh god, she just killed him.
"All units, fall back!" Amuro orders frantically as the Phenex makes a hard burn for everyone else, Rita's screams of rage echoing over comms.
"I don't think running is an option, sir!" You retort as you raise your Heat Blade.
It flits around you before ramming Mondo, grabbing his Methuss Kai by the arm and throwing it into Elle's ReGZ-ID. The impact breaks his MS in two at the waist, and heavily damages Elle's machine.
You think you liked your chances better before she left the Mobile Armor.
"Rita must still be suffering Psycommu Feedback from the Neo Zeong!" Amuro calls out, "Just hold out until Kamille gets here! If anyone can get through to her, it's him!"
"We're just going to let her tear into us, Captain?!" You shoot back in disbelief.
"Of course not! Just don't-
Damn!"
He raises his arms in time to mitigate the impact of Rita hitting him at full speed, pushing him rapidly away from your location. You can see the glare of her Armed Armor DE Shield Boosters propelling her…
"
...You should probably kill her." Haman comments, "
I doubt you can save that girl at this point."
Okay, cold-hearted option from the infamous war criminal. Kind of expected. Still, you have options!
[] Take Haman's advice. Fight to kill.
[] Obey Amuro's orders. Hold out for Kamille.
[] For the love of god, go get some backup!
