2023-03-12: A Dread Return
- Cast: Akane Shinjo, Alouette Pommier, Guy Shishioh, Kamille Bidan, Leina Ashta, Sayla Mass, Char Aznable, Domon Kasshu, Mineva Lao Zabi
- Where: Hong Kong - Kowloon Walled City Park
- Date: U.C. 0097 03 12
- Summary: Four years to the day since Axis Shock, a desperate woman makes a play to trap a Ruin Apostle whose coming she can sense across the firmament - but the Red Comet, returned from that fateful day, will not be stopped by a simple ambush. Follows directly on from 2023-03-12:_Countdown_to...
<Pose Tracker> Char Aznable has posed.
Precisely twenty minutes after the mysterious distress signal to Orbit Base:
Z0-SIMILAR EMISSIONS DETECTED.
TRIANGULATING EMISSION POINT... ... ...
PREDICTION: KOWLOON WALLED CITY PARK.
=======================================================================
At first, the rising sun seems to glimmer with traces of a rainbow. Then the object appears - perfectly spherical, vermillion, 4m across and descending fast, wreathed in the flame of agitated atmosphere as it plummets inexorably to Earth, the furrow its impact carves carrying it to the exact centre of the park.
The dust cloud seems to take an eternity to settle, but by the time it clears, a whole new flame, amber-and-gold, has surrounded the red sphere. Inch by inch, component by component, metal twists and winds itself outward from the anomalous object, knitting together armour for itself at an implausible speed until a 25-metre giant stands astride Kowloon Walled City Park.
Crimson hue washes over the panelling of its armour. Manipulators flex. Over its shoulders, twin racks of funnels swing upwards into a ready position.
A sleek, crimson head crested with a single fin surveills the field, and with that unmistakable sound its monoeye sensor comes to life, not green as it was four years ago, but a baleful amber - a light which in turn seems to suffuse the armour of the machine, making it glow uncannily from within.
It is none other than the herald of Axis's descent, the MSN-04 Sazabi, and all who gaze upon it know, without a doubt:
The Red Comet has returned - as a Conquering King.
<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.
Hundreds of miles away, in Fujinomiya City, Zeon's princess-in-exile lays asleep in bed. Her dreams are fitful, upsetting. Ghostly hands grasp for her, whispering possessive intent.
Then they dissolve. Overpowered, by--
((SFX: https://youtu.be/KlRxAIYy-WU))
The sensation pierces through her, loosing a torrent of emotion, building like vertigo as the ground crumbles beneath her.
She sits bolt upright, eyes wide open, gasping for breath as she wakes. It catches in her throat as she exhales, turning into a half-formed sob. Her conscious mind slowly pulls together what her unconscious already knows... and she looks to the south.
"Char..." she whispers, echoing unbidden through the firmament.
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
Again the nightmare comes, like an old friend.
The hands twist and writhe as they cover her like locusts, one hand for every kind of touch. Applause floods her ears, more, and more of it until it becomes a buzz of tinnitus. She can't breathe, she can't think. She stares into the void visage that looms closer and closer, the grip upon her doesn't allow otherwise
I M P A C T
Her eyes flare open, as she clutches the sheets, breathing rapidly, sweat slick across her forehead.
What did I just feel?
What did I just feel?
What did I just feel?
Panting, she fumbles for the nightstand, and reaches for a bottle of a medication, twisting the cap off, and shaking a pill into a tremulous hand as she brings it up to her mouth dry swallows it. She knows it'll take some time for the 'As Needed' medication for anxiety to kick in, but she needs it right now.
Grabbing her phone, she almost drops it, as she quickly sends Sayla a Vertex.
[VERTEX] theater_girl_wp: hey sayla i know ur out today but when u get this can u call me back?
[VERTEX] theater_girl_wp: pls i just need u to call me
[VERTEX] theater_girl_wp: its just that day and i need to hear ur voice
[VERTEX] theater_girl_wp: pls
Five minutes pass. Six. Seven.
[VERTEX] theater_girl_wp: sry its ok just dont worry about it
[VERTEX] theater_girl_wp: everythings ok im ok ur ok
Nine.
[VERTEX] theater_girl_wp: dont worry about it.
Clutching her phone to her abdomen, she stares up at the ceiling of her room, and realizes there's absolutely no chance she's getting back to sleep. Sliding out of bed, she puts on her slippers. Somewhere along the way, Foras joins her and instantly finds a place in her arms, and as she stands at the doorframe to the living room, she asks, "Hey you. Couldn't sleep after all?" She tries her best to put on a smile as she inquired, "Don't suppose you'd mind some company?"
Sitting down next to Akane on the couch, her mind roiling with uncertainty, there was at least one anchor point in this moment.
She won't be going anywhere for a while.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
In the cockpit, the woman's eyes bolt open. With her comms off, she finally speaks.
"You actually came back, Casval..."
((BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEWL8wgtGb0))
In an instant, an MS whirs to life, and explodes out of the back of a truck. It's almost as big as the Sazabi itself, coloured in grey and snow blue, with purple-grey highlights- except for the wing like funnels on it's back which stand out in stark black and red. On it's head is the v-fin of a gundam- red on grey. It's long, pointed shield is raised as it charges out to confront the Sazabi, it's rifle opening with a rapid series of blasts.
It became the only way he could get his attention. Her comms open only for a moment, something for her incoming allies- her hopefully incoming allies- to hear.
"Heart-2 deploying in Photon Hi-Nu Gundam!"
This time, she didn't disguise her voice.
KTS: Sayla Mass has deployed in RX-93-v2-MZ Photon Hi-Nu Gundam. KTS: Domon Kasshu has deployed in GF04-017NJII God Gundam. KTS: Kamille Bidan has deployed in FA-178 Full Armor Gundam Mark-II. KTS: Sayla Mass: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: Sayla Mass targets Char Aznable with Hi-Nu Beam Rifle Shot! KTS: Sayla Mass has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Kamille Bidan has posed.
He was given a very short notice heads up that this Could Happen, but if he were honest with himself Kamille Bidan knew that on a gut level, ever since Amuro showed up at Torrington. Even while he tried to unravel the secrets of Full Frontal.
You don't get one without the other.
And as he approaches he feels the intense dread of Triple Zero, that awful aura of the dawn. Like a mockery of the strange rainbow that manifested after the Axis Shock, the sickly gold-yellow of a Ruin Apostle.
The Full Armor Gundam MK-II launches from nearby and hears Sayla on the comms. A quiet nod, a cool gaze forward, because...
Because he knows he is going to lose it when he sees Char again for real. He can already feel old anger and frustration unwinding around him as he approaches the monstrous mockery of Sazabi.
"You're a Ruin Apostle," he mutters to himself, "but you're also..."
One shot, one opening shot with the beam rifle, aimed at the Sazabi. He's not close enough to yell at him yet.
KTS: Kamille Bidan targets Char Aznable with Snipe! KTS: Kamille Bidan has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Alouette Pommier has deployed as a Sub Pilot for Guy Shishioh!
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Akane looks up from the couch, startling a little to hear someone approach her. "Ahaha... not for long," she admits, rubbing at the back of her head. "I'm kinda scared I'm gonna get kicked out of 3G for having a breakdown up there..." Operators are supposed to be level-headed, Akane chastises herself.
It's not my fault, she tells herself. Maybe if she thinks it enough times she'll believe it.
Something nags at the edges of her perception, but right now there's so many things nagging at the edge of her perception that it's hard to figure out what any of them are, and this one is particularly distant. Her pager goes off, but she's benched anyway... the best thing she can do for herself in this moment is a lot of nothing. She lets it beep until it stops; she'll review it later.
As Leina settles in, Akane leans on her. "... let me show you my latest project," she says, in an effort to lighten the mood a bit. She'll stay there until they're both ready to get up.
<Pose Tracker> Domon Kasshu has posed.
Domon's eyes snap open from his mediation within his cockpit. Still seated on the floor of the Mobile Trace chamber, he wills the God Gundam to rise from kneeling, emerald eyes flashing to life.
He might not be a Newtype, but he still could feel.
Upon hearing Sayla's deployment, Domon rises, the God Gundam mirroring his ready stance even as he watches the Hi-Nu soar upwards to meet the Sazabi. The sickening pulse of Triple Zero reaches him even at this range, its corrupting influence held back by the calm emptiness of Meikyo Shisui.
Char Aznable.
The true Red Comet. Char Aznable was a not a foe to enter combat with only half measures at the ready. There was no room for fear, no room for hesitation or doubt. His pretenders might be strong, but this was the original. Not Full Frontal, or the silver colored comet...Voltan? Voltron? Zoldan?
His eyes remain unblinking, pure white, the color drained from them and replaced by the void of sheer focus. Domon roars a cry of challenge over the God Gundam's speakers. "Char Aznable! Long have I wanted to test my skill against the true Red Comet, but this is not the battle I sought! We will free you from this corruption, and then you will fight me as an equal, man to man! Domon Kasshu, The Undefeated of The East! Here I come!"
The God Gundam sends forth great gouts of flames from its arm gauntlets, twin dragons roaring forwards toward the corrupted Sazabi.
KTS: Domon Kasshu targets Char Aznable with Burning God Buster! KTS: Domon Kasshu has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
A warning comes through the GGG emergency line from one of the very few GGG pagers still in service. 2, Place. 911, life-or-death emergency. 000, Triple Zero. 207, meet me. 230, a park.
...well, that last one took them a bit, but it's easy enough for GaoGaiGar to be preapproved for Final Fusion and already loaded on the Mirror Catapult when the call of Z0-Similar rises up from the Intelligence desk. A Ruin Apostle attack, or something worse.
Division Ship XI: Intelligence Mirror Raid Warship Yamatsumi descends toward the Kowloon Walled City, and the mirror catapults spin up and fire, a set of shapes in a familiar formation merging into each other en route.
From the electromagnetic cloud of Final Fusion, the King of Braves roars out, slamming into the ground opposite Ruin Sazabi. The last flakes of Mirror Particles crackle and fall away. "So it is you," Guy Shishioh says, the twin horns of his helmet's grown rising high above him. "Sorry about this. But I don't intend to let you use that thing's power here!"
He charges immediately, leaping high to simply DROP an axe kick right toward the Sazabi's head.
KTS: Guy Shishioh targets Char Aznable with Axe Kick! KTS: Guy Shishioh has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Char Aznable blocks Sayla Mass's Hi-Nu Beam Rifle Shot, taking 990 damage! KTS: Char_Aznable has deployed as a Boss for 4 opponents. KTS: Char Aznable blocks Kamille Bidan's Snipe, taking 1710 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 44790 KTS: Char Aznable successfully evades Domon Kasshu's Burning God Buster KTS: Char Aznable fails to evade Guy Shishioh's Axe Kick, taking 3330 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 41460 KTS: Guy Shishioh has engaged Char Aznable! <Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Alouette has a pager, she got it when she was very small, but it's very rare that it actually does beep, which it does in succession with her operator terminal. Heart-2, life-or-death, Triple Zero, meet up in the park.
It's short enough notice, with short enough staff, that Guardienne Aviaire won't be deploying, with Alouette serving as Guy's operator in this mission. ...The GaoGaiGar Final Fusion program is a lot more difficult to work with, lacking all of her enhancements and efficiencies. Still, she makes it work. "FINAL FUSION! PROGRAM DRIIIIIVE!"
Guy charges forward with his standard initiation axe kick. "Guy! Tools are prepped for use at any time. For now, prepare for anti-funnel defense.. that appears to be its cream of crop." She warns, scanning the mobile suit a match for the Sazabi deployed by Char Aznable in the Axis Shock.. yet with the glow of dawn within it.
KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Guy Shishioh <Pose Tracker> Char Aznable has posed.
The trailer explodes outwards as the Hi-Nu Gundam rockets towards the Sazabi. That terrible amber monoeye swivels towards it, and the pilot speaks: "Amuro... No." The Sazabi raises its shield against the beam barrage, holding its ground. "Somebody else playing at hero."
The voice is confirmation enough, even if you couldn't feel his presence halfway across the Earth Sphere - it's him.
Sayla announces her deployment, and the pilot within the Sazabi falls silent. Photon Power? Interesting. It's not broadcast. The pilot's thoughts are a cloud, at present.
The Full Armour Gundam Mark II descends, firing a single shot. Again the shield is raised to intercede, as the pilot speaks once more. "Kamille. A shame. You deserved to sleep through the end of days." He's no longer looking up at the machine, head on a swivel for sight and sense alike of any additional opponents.
Only two, Artesia? I expected more - ah.
The God Gundam surges forth, and the pilot of the Sazabi smirks. "The King of Hearts himself. My, so many Gundams... So many pale imitators of the original."
As Domon rushes in, the Sazabi simply steps aside.
And then Orbit Base intercedes, mirror coating particles scattering to reveal the unmistakable silhouette of the King of Braves - and even Char Aznable can only be struck speechless at the sight of a Super Mechanoid that has been missing to Earth for years. A moment's hesitation that costs him as GaoGaiGar descends to strike the first meaningful blow of the battle, even as the aura of Dawn works to knit cracking Gundarium Alloy back together.
"It has already begun, King of Braves. Observe: Funnels."
All six drone weapons detach from the racks on the back of the Sazabi, flitting about to zero in on each of the attackers at speeds those four-year-old weapons should not be able to reach. Alouette's abilities to predict her opponent's options remain uncanny, even when faced with one of the finest pilots in the Earth Sphere, it seems.
"Show them the Truth."
They fire, a barrage of beam fire that is not megaparticle energy but the raw spite and hatred of the Oath Over Omega, the fire of dawn forming a halo of energy around the Sazabi!
KTS: Char Aznable targets Sayla Mass, Kamille Bidan, Domon Kasshu, and Guy Shishioh with MSN-04 Funnel Rack - Cloud the Sky. KTS: Domon Kasshu has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Domon Kasshu has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Domon Kasshu successfully Evades Char Aznable's MSN-04 Funnel Rack - Cloud the Sky KTS: Guy Shishioh's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Guy Shishioh blocks Char Aznable's MSN-04 Funnel Rack - Cloud the Sky, taking 1440 damage! KTS: Char Aznable repulses Guy Shishioh, forcing him to disengage. KTS: Char Aznable enervates Kamille Bidan, reducing his Morale significantly. KTS: Kamille Bidan fails to Evade Char Aznable's MSN-04 Funnel Rack - Cloud the Sky, taking 6890 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Too Many Masks activates, causing Jam L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Unbreakable Oath activates, causing Deject! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Red Comet activates, causing Control Bonus! KTS: Char Aznable repulses Kamille Bidan, forcing him to disengage. KTS: Sayla Mass has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Sayla Mass's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Sayla Mass fails to Evade Char Aznable's MSN-04 Funnel Rack - Cloud the Sky, taking 5640 damage! KTS: Char Aznable repulses Sayla Mass, forcing her to disengage.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
There were two people she had counted on arriving as backup. The third catches her by surprise. "Kamille, what are you-"
The Funnels fly off the back of the Hi-Nu, creating a pyramid barrier around Sayla- but even Photon Power struggles under the weight of the dawn, and she screams as she is knocked around in the cockpit. Those funnels are at least as powerful as Amuro's were, she accounted for that... hadn't she?
"Don't call me that!" She yells back, anger in her voice. Twenty years of hurt bubble up to the surface, unable to be controlled. "You gave up that right when you left!"
Two funnels fly off to circle around the Sazabi. One glows red with the heat of a Breast Fire, while the other focuses the icy cold of a Reito Beam. The two fly in formation, like fighters going on the attack- then both streams of energy are focused into one blast against the Sazabi's armour.
"Domon, don't underestimate him! He didn't do 'honourable' combat even before this!" Sayla's cool has all but evaporated, and no skilled plan is coming today. "Guy, we need to deal with him today. Purified or-" She falters, the anger draining out of her. "Or otherwise."
And then, she looks to Kamille. The only other person save maybe Nanai that Char was ever 'close' to. "...You understand, right?"
She pushes the Photon Hi-Nu to it's feet. "If all you're here to do is try and finish what you started four years ago, there was no point you coming here at all. Why couldn't you have stayed dead, and spared me all of this!?"
KTS: Sayla Mass targets Char Aznable with Antipode! KTS: Sayla Mass has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Kamille Bidan has posed.
Those T0-augmented funnels are absolute monsters, and they hit the MK II hard. This is what Kamille gets for using an upgraded old machine, perhaps, against a Ruin Apostle. But right now he doesn't. Really. Care.
"I had a thought, a sense," he messages Sayla, though not much else. It's hard to concentrate on anything beyond old feelings of rage, resentment, loss, longing, confusion.
"You don't get to tell me what I deserve! You didn't deserve to judge humanity then, and you don't now! We're going to purify you to the last atom of Triple Zero in your body," he rants as he charges straight at the Sazabi, raising his beam saber and attempting to bring it down on the mutated mech, "so that I can! Fight you! Fairly!!"
Which might indirectly answer Sayla's question to him, but he's just...not in a place to answer clearly. At the moment.
He never has reacted well to Triple Zero Newtypes.
KTS: Kamille Bidan has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Domon Kasshu has posed.
Domon watches the Triple Zero infused Sazabi easily weave its way past the twin blasts of flame...and grins slightly. Despite the last few years, despite the wandering and self-pity, nothing had been able to truly extinguish the fighter's spirit within. Here was a worthy adversary, a powerful foe deserving of his utmost.
Domon Kasshu wouldn't have it any other way.
Swiftly closing the distance, the King of Heart repays Char's evasion of his Burning God Buster by casually darting through the funnels sent to entrap him. Weaving in and out of the lasers, blasting past the remote weapons, Domon closes the distance with the Red Comet, the God Gundam emits odd energy...and splits into multiple copies.
Please watch me, Schwarz Bruder.
Moving swiftly like the former Shadow Gundam, the Gundam of Gundams and its shadowy clones converge on the Sazabi from all sides. Deadly slashes, powerful strikes, and brutal kicks are closed by a shattering axe kick from the God Gundam.
While Triple Zero's energy might knit back the pieces of the Sazabi together like it had done to the Conqueror Nu Gundam, there was a limit to all things. Which would fall first? This alliance of fighters? Or the reanimated corpse of a fallen comet?
One thing was for certain. Staring at Sayla's unit, Domon gave a slight nod.
I will bring him back. I owe you that much.
KTS: Kamille Bidan targets Char Aznable with Direct Slash! KTS: Kamille Bidan has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Domon Kasshu targets Char Aznable with Bunshin Sappou God Shadow! KTS: Domon Kasshu has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
"We might need the Dividing Driver in a minute here!" Guy calls, half to Alouette but half to Sayla, too, asking permission. It's her op, after all. "Alouette, check the spacetime readings and make sure it's safe to get a Dividing Field going!"
Funnels, she warns him, and Guy already sees them move. He isn't a Newtype; he doesn't sense that clarity of intent that can let a man know where an attack will come from. But he does have honed skills of his own, and his Evoluder senses can close some of that gap. Which is to say, as the lances of light spear down, Guy thrusts GaoGaiGar's left arm up, and, "WALL RING! PLUS!" he calls: "PROTECT WAAAAAAAAAAAALLL!!"
GaoGaiGar is buried in light. But when it fades, it still stands, hand thrust aloft, and space warping above it with rapidly redirecting beamlight.
Guy exerts himself some to hold it in, "Purified, then," he says, forcing the words out, and then through raw Courage and not much else is able to lever the Protect Arm down to point at the Sazabi. "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" he screams, and the pentacle of gathered light races downrange to crash against Char's reassembled Zero Sazabi.
KTS: Guy Shishioh targets Char Aznable with Protect Wall Reflect! KTS: Guy Shishioh has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Char Aznable successfully Evades Sayla Mass's Antipode KTS: Char Aznable fails to parry Kamille Bidan's Direct Slash, taking 3280 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 38180 KTS: Kamille Bidan has engaged Char Aznable! KTS: Char Aznable fails to parry Domon Kasshu's Bunshin Sappou God Shadow, taking 4730 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Domon Kasshu's Master Asia's Teachings activates, causing Nullify! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 33450 KTS: Domon Kasshu has engaged Char Aznable! KTS: Domon Kasshu begins a Formation attack! KTS: Guy Shishioh rattles Char Aznable, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Char Aznable blocks Guy Shishioh's Protect Wall Reflect, taking 3300 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 30150 KTS: Guy Shishioh continues a Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Char Aznable has posed.
"Don't be ridiculous," Char says as Sayla falters, the Sazabi turning its full attention on the Photon Hi-Nu Gundam, dawnfire gathering in the emitter mounted on its waist. Fire from one side, ice from the other - the Sazabi simply jumps, leaping clear of the blast towards Sayla even as the Scattering Megaparticle Cannon continues to charge!
"If you'd ever meant to kill me, you'd have done it while on White Base. Go home."
More searing than his words - the torrent of energy that cascades forth to engulf her Gundam.
A beam saber snaps out, but Kamille and Domon's aggression wins out, scoring gashes across the dawn-lit crimson armour. Char clicks his tongue, discarding the saber and reaching behind the Sazabi's shield even as he raises it to block the rebounding energy from GaoGaiGar.
"Pests. Begone!" Out comes the Sazabi's beam tomahawk, i-field extending to create a broad blade of megaparticles which he sweeps to catch the Full Armour Mk. II and the God Gundam in a singular sweep, as he turns the waist-mounted cannon on the King of Braves, a second volley of dawnfire blasting out!
KTS: Char Aznable targets Sayla Mass and Guy Shishioh with 000 Scattering Megaparticle Cannon Principle Imposition. KTS: Char Aznable targets Kamille Bidan with MSN-04 Beam Tomahawk Driving Combo! KTS: Char Aznable targets Domon Kasshu with MSN-04 Beam Tomahawk Driving Combo! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 166. KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 130. KTS: Char Aznable has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Domon Kasshu has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Kamille Bidan has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Domon Kasshu parries Char Aznable's MSN-04 Beam Tomahawk Driving Combo, taking 1290 damage! KTS: Char Aznable repulses Domon Kasshu, forcing it to disengage. KTS: Kamille Bidan blocks Char Aznable's MSN-04 Beam Tomahawk Driving Combo, taking 3225 damage! KTS: Char Aznable repulses Kamille Bidan, forcing him to disengage. KTS: Sayla Mass's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: [Spirit Defense] Sayla Mass's Tempered Heart activates, and her spirit endures. KTS: Char Aznable enervates Sayla Mass, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Char Aznable rattles Sayla Mass, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Sayla Mass blocks Char Aznable's 000 Scattering Megaparticle Cannon Principle Imposition, taking 6000 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Too Many Masks activates, causing Jam L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Unbreakable Oath activates, causing Deject! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Red Comet activates, causing Control Bonus!
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
The collatoral damage has already gotten ugly, it's no surprise she receives a request for the Dividing Driver. "It should be safe, if you're confident this mission will be over timely!" She responds, noting the limited operation time.
"Kit Number One! Dividing Driver - EMISSION!" She twirls, her fist SLAMMING the red button on her terminal.
The coordinates are sent from the terminal, to be picked up through Guy's evolual senses. "Mirror Catapult, launching!" The coated Dividing Driver flies from the Yamatsumi, to be docked onto GaoGaiGar...!
KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Guy Shishioh with Prospect! KTS: Alouette Pommier has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Guy Shishioh's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: [Spirit Defense] Guy Shishioh's Fighting! activates, and his spirit endures. KTS: Char Aznable enervates Guy Shishioh, reducing his Morale significantly. KTS: Char Aznable rattles Guy Shishioh, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Guy Shishioh blocks Char Aznable's 000 Scattering Megaparticle Cannon Principle Imposition, taking 6600 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Too Many Masks activates, causing Jam L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Unbreakable Oath activates, causing Deject! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Red Comet activates, causing Control Bonus! KTS: Alouette Pommier assesses Guy Shishioh's prospects, increasing his SP! KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
"...Go Home?"
The words fill Sayla's heart with sorrow, hurt and anger. "Go home!?"
The Photon Hi-Nu throws asider it's rifle, and hefts something off it's back. A new model Hyper Bazooka.
"I am home you selfish prick!" The Hi-Nu crouches, and raises the weapon over it's shoulder. "The Earth is as much my home as Munzo ever was! We grew up here! Our parents raised us here! And you forgot that for..."
"Order the mobile suits back! Give the Cailum our starboard and tell the teams to approach port!"
The crew is in a flurry, a half-dozen voices relaying her orders through comms stations. Nanai sinks back into her chair and squeezes her eyes shut even as the Rewloola is rocked with explosions.
Captain, come back, come back, come back--
NANAI, DON'T INTERRUPT A BATTLE BETWEEN MEN!
Nanai jerks her head up in another startle that is by now becoming familiar. This time, when she looks across the bridge to Sayla, she has another sad smile for her.
"Because you couldn't move on from Amuro and Lalah!" Sayla is screaming now, her walls collapsed, her the scar tissue on her heart exploding open, bleeding from the wounds reopened.
"Never once did you give a damn what I wanted! It was always what you wanted me to do! 'Leave the military', 'go home'!" Tears well in her eyes. "You *never* listened! Your revenge against the Zabis! Your revenge against Amuro!" She's shaking, broadcasting her feelings on all axes. "Would you even have felt anything if Lalah hadn't stopped you killing me that day? Do you even remember I was there?"
The aiming solution is finished, and the Funnels fly out, flying aggressively, firing precisely- trying to funnel the Sazabi. The Bazooka starts firing, barraging the ground and sky.
"This time... this time you're going to be the one who has to listen, Casval!"
KTS: Sayla Mass has activated the Rouse Spirit Command. KTS: Sayla Mass has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Sayla Mass targets Char Aznable with New Hyper Bazooka Barrage! KTS: Sayla Mass has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
"That's always the risk, huh?" Guy says, thoughtfully, to Alouette's announcement. Then he switches comms channels to announce to everyone, "Dividing Driver incoming!"
He sees the light of Sazabi's main gun charging up in his direction; he attempts to get a "PROTECT SHADE!" up in time, but the lesser Protect force isn't ready in time and GaoGaiGar takes a gushing beam of amber to center mass, Galeon and Guy both crying out in pain as the beam streams out around him.
But GaoGaiGar takes to the skies, StealthGao's thrusters shooting it upward. It streaks away from the field for a moment - just as a light is arcing down from Yamatsumi. The Mobile and Engineer panels both show the live feed as GaoGaiGar links up with the Dividing Driver, as the clamps press down into the Protect left arm, a safe connection signal goes down to Alouette - and Guy arcs down toward the center of the field.
"DIVIDING DRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!!" Guy screams, and there's a thunderous POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! as the fuel floods the Dividing Core within the flathead screwtip of the Dividing Driver.
Space warps. An Arresting Field and a Repulsing Field form and immediately act against each other in such a way that - so smoothly it borders on magic - the space around the screwtip of the Driver simply pushes away from itself, leaving a huge ten kilometer hole where the city used to be, the buildings and people therein harmlessly spatially compressed out to the edges of the gap. Water floods out of neatly split pipes down to the stony surface left by the field's formation.
Guy throws the Dividing Driver away.
Then the jets flare up and GRABS for the Sazabi, trying to physically hurl the machine down into their new battlefield.
KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh targets Char Aznable with Dividing Driver! KTS: Guy Shishioh has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Kamille Bidan has posed.
Kamille's instincts flash, and he holds up the shield to block the brunnt of the megaparticle beam tomahawk. He fumes at being called a pest, at Char's attitude towards Sayla, but...
(It's not him, not really. That is to say, if he's infected with T-0 and really thinks he has to destroy us all for our own good, he'd want us to hate him.)
(BUT THAT'S STILL MANIPULATIVE THAT SON OF A...)
The thoughts dance around his mind. "Ggh...can't concentrate." If he used a Psychoframe or Psycommu, he could keep up, but-no. Nononono. No.
"You would've hated what you've become. Not just because you're arrogant, because you think you know what's best, but because you've been turned into...nothing but a puppet! Poisoned by the same force as Amuro! He broke free, so if I don't help you break out, he'll /never/ hear the end of it...!"
As Guy wisely uses Dividing Driver to create a field outside of the city, an effect that has never ceased to give Kamille a little bit of nausea he barely notices as his Newtype-projecting emotions flare again, he fires the Mk II's grenade launcher at the Sazabi. If they can keep Char occupied in this subspace long enough...
KTS: Kamille Bidan has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Kamille Bidan has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Kamille Bidan targets Char Aznable with Grenade Toss! KTS: Kamille Bidan has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Domon Kasshu has posed.
Domon Kasshu grunts as the God Gundam is forced back by the Sazabi's beam tomahawk, despite parrying the brunt of the blow with his beam sabers in the nick of time. Such pressure...was this normally how Char Aznable was? Or was this a side effect of his corruption? A glancing blow from the beam tomahawk calls Domon's attention back. It's shallow, but there's still a thin line carved into the God Gundam's shoulder armor.
And thusly did the warriors exchange blows, tasting each other's steel in their bodies.
Readying himself again, the King of Hearts observes the grievous damage dealt to the King of Braves and Photon Hi-Nu. The Full Armor was still largely in good shape, but Domon had heard of Kamille Bidan's relationship with Char. Surely, he must be struggling the most after Sayla?
Yet, there is little time to spare thoughts and concerns for others in the midst of battle. Distraction is the surest path towards the underworld, and it was still too soon for Domon to rejoin his family, Schwarz Bruder, and Master Asia.
As the Sazabi swipes again, the God Gundam butterfly kicks away, flipping through the air with a grace few other suits could hope to match, aside from Trowa Barton's Heavyarms. Landing in another stance of The School of The Undefeated of The East, the King of Heart 4711 prepares another assault.
"Let's see how the Red Comet enjoys being struck by the winds of the king! Chokyuu Haoh Den'ei-dan!"
The aura of the God Gundam erupts with fierce energy, as the Gundam of Gundams launches itself forward towards the Sazabi like a cannonball, coating itself in crackling power until only its head is visible from an orb of channeled strength. Even the Sazabi would be stunned for a moment if it was hit by this.
KTS: Domon Kasshu targets Char Aznable with Chokyuu Haoh Den'ei-dan! KTS: Domon Kasshu has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Char Aznable successfully intercepts Sayla Mass's New Hyper Bazooka Barrage KTS: Sayla Mass: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: Sayla Mass completes the Formation attack! KTS: Guy Shishioh anchors Char Aznable, forcing him into close range. KTS: Char Aznable fails to evade Guy Shishioh's Dividing Driver, taking 1500 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 28650 KTS: Guy Shishioh has engaged Char Aznable! KTS: Char Aznable successfully evades Kamille Bidan's Grenade Toss KTS: Domon Kasshu anchors Char Aznable, forcing him into close range. KTS: Char Aznable fails to evade Domon Kasshu's Chokyuu Haoh Den'ei-dan, taking 6380 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Domon Kasshu's Master Asia's Teachings activates, causing Nullify! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 22270 KTS: Domon Kasshu has engaged Char Aznable!
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
The Dividing Driver is successful in forcing the fight into the enclosed space. Although another part of her job is assessing damage.. GaoGaiGar took a heavy hit before he could unleash the Dividing Driver, and Alouette sends him the appropriate combat data for further engagement.
It's not just physical damage tonight, either... Heart-2's Photon Hi-Nu Gundam and Dr. Bidan's Gundam Mk. II take heavy hits respectively, but she can hear, and maybe even feel a little bit the pain in their voices. It's not the same pain as hers; their memories with this Ruin Apostle are far less pleasant than the memories she shared with the Brave Ruin Apostles.
Nonetheless, they receive combat data too, prefaced with a text message that states "Keep fighting bravely, let it see you through."
KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Guy Shishioh, Sayla Mass, and Kamille Bidan with Awe. KTS: Alouette Pommier has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Attune Spirit Command targeting Guy Shishioh
<Pose Tracker> Char Aznable has posed.
The Sazabi watches the Hi-Nu Gundam as Sayla screams out her heart. Though the pilot's intent remains distant and cold, its monoeye stares.
Char tightens his grip on the controls, lips thinning out as his eyes narrow, but he says nothing.
Warheads and grenades arc towards the Sazabi, and a blaze of vulcan fire rips forth from its head, catching the New Hyper Bazooka's payload and detonating it far too early, while Kamille's grenade salvo is caught within the blast and detonates in turn.
The Sazabi turns to face the God Gundam - in time to be seized by GaoGaiGar as space twists and warps to create a secure battlefield, and flung towards the earth, where it is struck even before hitting the ground by the whirlwind of energy surrounding the God Gundam and carried forward into the rock wall of the Dividing Driver's enforced arena!
"Very well," Char hisses, pushing the Sazabi out of the wall and reactivating his tomahawk's megaparticle blade. "If you mean to step into his shoes so completely,"
The Sazabi's monoeye sensor flashes as it carves at the God Gundam.
"You shall receive everything he would."
Of course, his options remain somewhat limited, trapped in melee with a Gundam designed around close-range fighting, but he still has the funnels. At a thought, one each focuses on the Hi-Nu Gundam and the Full Armour, while the Sazabi lunges at the God Gundam in a vicious two-handed strike with the broad beam blade. GaoGaiGar, meanwhile, receives the attention of the remaining four funnels, bombarded with dawn-tinged beam fire to make it stagger backwards and buy space and time for the Sazabi to press the attack anew.
KTS: Char Aznable targets Sayla Mass with MSN-04 Funnel Rack - Distant Regard! KTS: Char Aznable targets Kamille Bidan with MSN-04 Funnel Rack - Distant Regard! KTS: Char Aznable targets Guy Shishioh with MSN-04 Funnel Rack - Pressure Formation! KTS: Char Aznable targets Domon Kasshu with MSN-04 Beam Tomahawk Megaparticle Blade Cleave! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 155. KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 150. KTS: Char Aznable has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Alouette Pommier inspires awe, increasing Kamille Bidan's Morale! KTS: Kamille Bidan fails to evade Char Aznable's MSN-04 Funnel Rack - Distant Regard, taking 3680 damage! KTS: Alouette Pommier inspires awe, increasing Sayla Mass's Morale! KTS: Sayla Mass has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Sayla Mass's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Sayla Mass blocks Char Aznable's MSN-04 Funnel Rack - Distant Regard, taking 1800 damage! KTS: Domon Kasshu has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Domon Kasshu has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Domon Kasshu fails to rush. KTS: Char Aznable enervates Domon Kasshu, reducing its Morale significantly. KTS: Domon Kasshu partially guards Char Aznable's MSN-04 Beam Tomahawk Megaparticle Blade Cleave, taking 7440 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Too Many Masks activates, causing Jam L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Unbreakable Oath activates, causing Deject! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Red Comet activates, causing Control Bonus! KTS: Char Aznable has engaged Domon Kasshu! KTS: Char Aznable roots his unit, coming to a standstill and leaving him vulnerable. KTS: Alouette Pommier inspires awe, increasing Guy Shishioh's Morale! KTS: Guy Shishioh's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: [Spirit Defense] Guy Shishioh's Fighting! activates, and his spirit endures. KTS: Char Aznable enervates Guy Shishioh, reducing his Morale significantly. KTS: Char Aznable rattles Guy Shishioh, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Guy Shishioh blocks Char Aznable's MSN-04 Funnel Rack - Pressure Formation, taking 5060 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Too Many Masks activates, causing Jam L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Unbreakable Oath activates, causing Deject! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Red Comet activates, causing Control Bonus! KTS: Char Aznable begins a Formation attack! KTS: Domon Kasshu has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Domon Kasshu has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh targets Char Aznable with Two Powers Into One! KTS: Guy Shishioh has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
Oh Guy hears Sayla screaming, alright. "Sayla!" he calls out, concern as much as caution. But...he can't reach her, can't reach out to her, like this. Char Aznable and the Sazabi are just what he'd heard, terrifically powerful enemies. Having locked Sazabi into the distorted Dividing Field with him, he's now got his attention. Sazabi focuses on God Gundam while the funnels locate GaoGaiGar, and by now Guy's got enough on his mind that his attempts to catch the beam fire with the Protect Wall don't cut it. GaoGaiGar's armor burns and blasts, explosions rattling along the frame. But...
Guy's eyes light green, and the signals trace in lines of light out of his body and into Galeon. GaoGaiGar charges forward, bursting out of the explosion. "CHAR AZNABLE!" he screams, and rears back one fist, shouting, "I know the Light of Dawn won't let you hear her pain! I'll have to BEAT IT INTO YOU! GIMU!!"
He slams the Right Arm of Destruction into the Sazabi's head, and then shifts stance, like a boxer seeking position, and "GIRU!!" the Left Arm of Protection swings up into the Sazabi where the solar plexus would be.
Alouette's desk, of course, is alight with the precursors to Hell and Heaven.
The Protect Arm spins with gathering light and the Broken Arm blazes with focusing glory as the punches connect. He swings up the left leg in a sweeping kick, "GAN!!"
Reaches for a pauldron to try and tear it the whole way off, "GO!!"
And then, having it pried it free, he slams it into the side of Sazabi's head again like a brick. "GUuuuuuUUUFOOOOOOOO!!"
KTS: Kamille Bidan has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
Sayla bares her bleeding heart, screams desperately to be heard. To even be acknowledged.
And she receives silence.
Tears stream down her cheeks. Even now...
Even now, Artesia's big brother won't hear her. Even now, she is that little girl, staring at his back, begging him to hear her. Begging him to stay.
And the best she ever got was a lie.
The Sazabi's funnel beams crash against Sayla's shield, buffeted by her funnels. The Hi-Nu is blaring internal alarms all over. Armour compromised, cockpit seal broken, joints damage, pilot heart rate above healthy range...
All six of the wing funnels burst to life. Two glow red, two cause the air around them to turn to mist- and two crackle with electricity. The six funnels form around the Sazabi, in two triangle patterns.
A voice, wracked with tears, echoes out. "Please, stop this! Just come home!"
And then all six burst to life, alternating the three elements in rapid succession, blasting from all angles as Guy drives GaoGaiGar's fists into the Sazabi- an effort to carry Sayla's pain for her. The funnels are erratic, blasting recklessly as she tries to keep control- to stop from harming her allies. One more plaintive cry goes out, desperately trying to reach across this uncrossable gap.
"BIG BROTHER!"
<Pose Tracker> Kamille Bidan has posed.
Kamille's reflexes are one thing, but a struggling mech can't keep up with them; the Funnels bombard the Armored Mk II as warnings flash on his screen. He should probably pull out soon, but...
He gets the data from Alouette. All he can answer her with is an exhausted, but genuine, "Thanks."
Guy is out there fighting against the Ruin Apostles, and Alouette is with him. The King of Hearts is here, and later Kamille will be in a better state to actually start to fanboy over that a little, he hopes. Sayla is here, and she's fighting /her brother./
So he can keep fighting too. That's probably what Quattro would have OKAY ENOUGH OF THAT.
"Be honored that everyone's here to save you! Or don't! We'll purify you anyway!"
He aims the beam rifle and unleashes all it has left in it at the Sazabi, all while Guy grapples with it.
KTS: Kamille Bidan has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Kamille Bidan targets Char Aznable with Volley of Fury! KTS: Kamille Bidan has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Domon Kasshu has posed.
The God Gundam's luck finally runs out: a devastating blow rends the Gundam of Gundams as Domon is thrashed about its Mobile Trace cockpit. Bruised, battered, and a little bloody. Chibodee would be laughing at him if he could see the sorry performance he was putting up. Spitting into the corner of his cockpit, the King of Heart winced. That was a broken tooth. maybe two. Wires had fallen from the canopy of the cockpit, sparking to and fro, as Domon runs a damage check. It was grim.
The God Gundam's reactor lay full exposed, a gaping wound in its torso that would've claimed the cockpit and the King of Hearts had he not stepped to the right in time. Even so, the damage was catastrophic. Most of the God Gundam's armor had been sloughed off, and what remained was now brittle, cooled slag. The brilliant white, blue, and red was now charred ash grey, war taking its toll on the symbol of the East. They would not be able to take another blow like this.
"Even when you're a puppet, you still fight like a legend, eh Char?"
The Undefeated of The East winced as he stood up. Add a broken rib to the list of injuries. As always, the hazards of Mobile Trace piloting show themselves. Even so, the pair would not go down without a last stand.
"Hyper...Mode!"
Despite its wounds, the God Gundam's aura flares to life, and the charred surface is eradicated by a tidal wave of golden energy, the God Gundam's superstructure now visible with only its heads and limbs still armored. A final strike, to make way for the others. And hopefully, it would be enough.
"The School of The Undefeated of The East's final secret!"
The aura reaches its zenith as rocks and debris float into the air, supercharged by the crackling bolts of electricity emanating from the God Gundam.
"Bakunetsu...Sekiha...TENKYOKEN!"
A giant blast of energy fires from the Gundam of Gundam's hands towards the Sazabi, coalescing into a gargantuan, fiery hand that threatens to grasp the corrupted ace of Zeon within a hellish embrace. This was but the beginning, not the end.
Isn't that right, Char Aznable?
KTS: Domon Kasshu targets Char Aznable with Bakunetsu Sekiha Tenkyoken! KTS: Domon Kasshu has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Char Aznable blocks Guy Shishioh's Two Powers Into One, taking 4200 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 18070 KTS: Guy Shishioh has engaged Char Aznable! KTS: Guy Shishioh begins a Formation attack! KTS: Char Aznable fails to evade Kamille Bidan's Volley of Fury, taking 8100 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kamille Bidan's This is Why People Keep Dying activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 9970 KTS: Kamille Bidan completes the Formation attack! KTS: Char Aznable successfully evades Domon Kasshu's Bakunetsu Sekiha Tenkyoken KTS: Sayla Mass targets Char Aznable with Delta Force! KTS: Sayla Mass has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Char Aznable blocks Sayla Mass's Delta Force, taking 4425 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 5545
<Pose Tracker> Char Aznable has posed.
Sayla's grief and rage pour out of her, and it's all Char can do to raise the Sazabi's shield and hunker down against the cross-elemental assault. Even so, though, his gaze remains fixed on the Hi-Nu Gundam's chest, where its cockpit is surely mounted.
Artesia.
There is a different tenor to this singular thought.
Now GaoGaiGar falls upon the Sazabi, hands grasping and wrenching, first casting away the remnants of its shield and then battering the Dawn-infused mobile suit. Tendrils of metal writhe as a pauldron is torn away, desperately seeking to reconnect with this host of the terrible principle of the Oath Over Omega - only to receive this will in an unexpected manner as the pauldron is reintroduced to the Sazabi's head, crushing it almost completely.
The monoeye sensor flickers green for a tiny moment.
Staggering backwards from the King of Brave's ferocious onslaught, Char instinctively throws the Sazabi backwards away from the grasping chi hand of the Sekiha Tenkyoken - only to be outmaneuvered by his onetime prodigy, the full capacity of the Mark II's beam rifle catching the funnel racks just as the recall/recharge signal is completed, a spectacular explosion throwing the glowing mobile suit into the ground.
Shuddering and straining, the Sazabi pushes itself back upright, its corona of dawnfire burning brighter and brighter as it struggles to repair the damage. Light builds in its waist-mounted megaparticle cannon once more, the terrible howl of Orange Site's turmoil of energy beginning to ring across the isolated space created by the Dividing Driver.
"Enough." A singular, damning word, followed by an expulsion of burning dawn-light from the Megaparticle Cannon.
KTS: Char Aznable has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged. KTS: Char Aznable has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Char Aznable has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Char Aznable has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Char Aznable has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Char Aznable targets Sayla Mass, Kamille Bidan, Domon Kasshu, and Guy Shishioh with 000 Scattering Megaparticle Cannon Wide Sweep. KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 148. KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 115. KTS: Char Aznable has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Domon Kasshu has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Domon Kasshu fails to Charge. KTS: Char Aznable enervates Domon Kasshu, reducing its Morale significantly. KTS: Domon Kasshu partially guards Char Aznable's 000 Scattering Megaparticle Cannon Wide Sweep, taking 7920 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Too Many Masks activates, causing Jam L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Unbreakable Oath activates, causing Deject! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Char Aznable's Red Comet activates, causing Control Bonus! KTS: Domon Kasshu has been defeated! KTS: Sayla Mass has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Kamille Bidan fails to evade Char Aznable's 000 Scattering Megaparticle Cannon Wide Sweep, taking 5940 damage! KTS: Kamille Bidan has been defeated! KTS: Sayla Mass fails to Evade Char Aznable's 000 Scattering Megaparticle Cannon Wide Sweep, taking 5280 damage! KTS: Sayla Mass has been defeated! KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Guy Shishioh has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Guy Shishioh KTS: Guy Shishioh fails to charge. KTS: Guy Shishioh partially guards Char Aznable's 000 Scattering Megaparticle Cannon Wide Sweep, taking 3285 damage! KTS: Guy Shishioh has been defeated! KTS: Char Aznable completes the Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Alouette watches from the Yamatsumi as each combatant against Ruin Apostle Char Aznable falters against the overwhelming power of the beam of Triple Zero. Worse than that, they're just about all of time.
"GaoGaiGar and all Gundam pilots: the Dividing Field is set to close within three minutes! Make a full retreat, at once! I repeat, the Dividing Field will collapse in three minutes!"
Wherever the Sazabi escapes to, it won't escape the light of purification forever. Alouette made a promise to help save the Ruin Apostles... Sayla and Kamille deserve closure just as much.
<Pose Tracker> Kamille Bidan has posed.
Kamille covers his head and yells at the psychic sense from Triple Zero. It's so...cold and strange. He can't even really sense Char over it, nor can he do much to avoid the shockwave that leaves the MK II struggling to stay aloft, let alone combat-worthy.
Alouette gives the warning, and he manages a faint response before he pulls the MK II back to retreat to a safe place outside of the Dividing Field. At least they managed to distract him.
"Kamille Bidan, retreating. I'm going to contact Ra Mari II for a shuttle pickup. Next time..." He doesn't finish the sentence. Doesn't need to be said. Besides, he has reports to make.
As the battered Gundam retreats, he slumps forward in the cockpit.
"You know, you'd really hate this if you understood what was going on..." His laugh is bitter and sharp as he talks to himself.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
The Mega Particle Beam hits the Photon Hi-Nu Gundam again and again. One leg crumbles under the blast, forcing the MS to it's knee. Another shears the gun arm off at the elbow. The V-Fin is shattered, one eye optic blasted away, the faceplate cracked.
It will not be leaving under it's own power.
And neither will Sayla, unconscious and bleeding in her cockpit, her comms unresponsive.
Unable to escape the collapsing dividing driver- or anything else.
<Pose Tracker> Char Aznable has posed.
The barrier between the Dividing Field and realspace begins to shrink as the Ruin Sazabi stands there, smoke and dawnfire pouring off it.
It starts walking; limping at first, then as the power of the Oath Over Omega knits shattered armour closed and reconstitutes missing plates and components from nothing, its stride grows steadily more confident. Eventually, it stands over the Photon Powered Hi-Nu Gundam, a dread figure of certain ruin.
It... kneels? And scoops the RX-93-nu-MZ into its arms before leaping out of the Dividing Field, setting it down in the smouldering remains of Kowloon Walled City Park.
A pause. Some smouldering sentiment... the Sazabi reaches out to the torn-open chest of the Gundam, and pries its cockpit free. A twisted symmetry - four years ago, Amuro Ray reduced the Sazabi to nothing but its own cockpit.
Char turns the Sazabi to watch the Dividing Field close up, armour almost completely restored, and observe the struggles of his opponents moving their own ruined machines outside the dimensional barrier.
The victor has no more words for the defeated.
Holding the Photon Hi-Nu Gundam's cockpit sphere close to its chest, the Sazabi takes off, making for the atmosphere and then open space.
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
Guy rampages against the Sazabi, and then, at the end, as Sazabi backs off to get itself space, he SLAMS his fists together, grasping together into one. "HELL AND HEAVEN!" he screams, and the ports on the back of StealthGao open, driving him toward Sazabi at full speed. He grits his teeth, the forces of Hell and Heaven ripping through him, a barely controlled power, bound only barely as he thunders: "VIIIIIIIIIIIIIITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
And then the light of 000 comes.
It washes across GaoGaiGar, scattering in streaming rays that splash into the Dividing Field's rocky bottom, as Hell and Heaven chews through it, pushes through it, struggles through it, wades through it--
And finally GaoGaiGar disappears in an ocean of orange light.
When the light is gone, the Broken Right Arm of Destruction is indeed broken, shattered at the forearm casing. The left is in barely better shape. Guy, within, is bloodied. "Char," he husks out, his throat raw. "CHAR!"
Alouette warns him to leave. Not even he can resist the Dividing Field collapse. With little choice, GaoGaiGar's engines fire up. While GaoGaiGar's normal flight has some majesty to it, this is more slumped, GaoGaiGar's silhouette broken and asymmetrical from damage. Guy's thinking rapidly. What can he do? They've lost the Dividing Driver field. He can't RISK Fusioning Out to GaiGar, and GaoGaiGar can't fight anymore. But Char - as he sees, is rapidly, swiftly, recovering.
Which is when he notices what he's doing to the Hi-Nu's cockpit.
"DON'T YOU DARE!" he roars, and with no regard for the logistics, no regard for time or space or consequences, GaoGaiGar surges down. It's damaged; it can't hold an aerodynamic form, let alone an attack posture, and though Guy leads with the still-operational legs, it still means that when he comes crashing down, the Sazabi is already blasting away from the field. "SAYLA!"
GaoGaiGar stares up, GaiGar's face emoting from behind the broken mask, Guy's face pulled back in a rictus of rage and grief and a thousand swirling other things. "SAYLAAAAAAAAAA!"
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
The Sazabi does make its escape, but it's made more bitter as he does so with Sayla's cockpit block in tow. And like that, he's gone. She's gone, too.
Guy's screams are loud, they're filled with rage.. and especially grief. Will she have to make that promise about Sayla, too?
For now, she focuses on Guy's well-being. The vitals are terrible. "Beginning the process to retrieve GaoGaiGar and initiate an emergency Fusion Out." Alouette begins, stiff and professional.
"...Guy, we'll bring her back too, no matter what it takes, okay?" She adds, more privately, with more of a clear hint of heaviness to her tone. She couldn't have predicted this.. but she still hates it was allowed to happen.