MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM NARRATIVE NOVEL

Summary

Prologue

Chapter.01 Reunion

Chapter.02 Homesick

Chapter.03 Atonement

Chapter.04 Flight

Epilogue

PROLOGUE

When thinking back to the sights that day, Jona Bashta always remembered this poem:

It has been found again.

What? – Eternity.

It is the sea fled away With the sun.

It was part of a poem written by Arthur Rimbaud during the old century. She was the first to find it at the facilities they grew up in. Both Jonah and Michelle taught her about the poem. She would tell them how beautiful yet sad it was.

The scene is the outskirts of the Gold Coast. Jonah, Rita and Michelle are on a school bus on their way back from a field trip when Rita suddenly yells out “Stop!” As the driver slams on the brakes, she races out the door and out into a field. While the students and teacher are in disarray, new could be heard on the radio: the Principality of Zeon declared war on the Earth Federation at 7:20 GMT. At the time detailed information was not available.

This news, however, didn’t seem to pertain to the driver or the other students on the bus since it had nothing to do with things happening on the surface. The students were more focused on Rita who had bolted from the bus. Jona and Michelle pushed through the throngs of students staring out the window and rushed out towards Rita. Ignoring the angry calls from the teacher, they ran towards Rita out in the meadow.

The three all share a necklace (one part a piece which forms a whole), which is a symbol of their bonds as friends.

Michelle asks Rita why she jumped off the bus so suddenly and Jona says they need to get back right away before the teacher yells, but just then the three are interconnected to one another (they’re all touching one another and unable to let go). Cue a flood of imagery, sounds and feelings: overwhelming destruction and devastation. Unfathomable anxieties and fears. Michelle, who was always calm, was staring wide-eyed because of the fear that she had seen something terrible. “What was that just now?” she choked out because she didn’t have an answer. She asked if Jona saw it as well.

Jona again grabs their hands and the full scope of everything becomes apparent: the colony drop by the Zeon… only it didn’t happen just yet.

CHAPTER.01 REUNION

SECTION 1

“Heaven… Do you think it really exists?”

“No… There’s no such place.”

He recalls a conversation with Rita and Michelle from when he was 15. He never believed in such a thing ever since he foresaw the future from the cliff that fateful day. The three have a conversation that is similar to the one in the novel about the existence of God, death and Newtypes.

His consciousness wandered around the darkness. Where was he now? Is it something that happened in reality or was he still wandering through the vision of the site that happened when he was 8 years old? A blue phosphorescence flashed across the darkness. The light grew steadily and sharply before him. There was a giant, clad in golden colored armor with wings spread out from its back. It looked like a bird of fire that shone gold.

A Phoenix.

When the word came to Jona’s mind, a giant golden arm with its palm outstretched appeared before his very eyes. Jona wakes up in bed, hand outstretched towards the ceiling calling out Rita’s name. His senses returning to him, he gets up and yanks open the curtain to the dazzling sunlight of New Hong Kong City. It is now U.C.0097.

New Hong Kong City mixes old with the new. The city has since reconstructed since the incidents of ten years ago and a monument was erected for that purpose.

The Luio & Co. building is situated close to that monument. The interior of the building exudes the magnificence of a palace. In the middle of the space is a structure that could be mistaken for ancient Chinese ruins. An altar (tendan) that resembles a five-story Japanese pagoda is a replica of one built during the Ming period.

In front of the bamboo-covered alter kneeled two men in business suits. One is a 50-something white haired man and the other is a thirty-or-so year old man. Despite wearing suits, both of them have large, sturdy physiques. One is Vice Admiral Mauri and the other is his adjutant.

He is worried that if exposing the material comes to light he could be arrested or much worse. A voice from behind the bell tells him that he has nothing to worry about. The woman was Michelle Luio, and her predictions had given her significant influence over the Federation Forces as well as political and financial worlds time and again. She was also the reason that Jona was brought here.

Heeding her words, Mauri returns to his black luxury car along with his adjutant. Seeing him off was a young man wearing a suit, Brick Theklat, Michelle’s secretary. Mauri gets in the car without so much as a second glance at the man. As the car is leaving, Mauri expresses his disdain for the man. His adjutant wonders if he really should or not, considering that Michelle is Luio’s step-daughter and not a blood heir and that there are rumors that Stephanie is planning on exiling her father since he fell ill.

Mauri said her words are sound and that everything she’s predicted has come true. His adjutant is surprised that even something so far back as the Gryps War and events from the One Year War. Mauri tells him that she has many fans within political circles, even in the military. Still in disbelief, he explains to his adjutant that she is one of what they call the “Miracle Children”.

SECTION 2

Having finished the ceremony, Michelle retreated back to her personal quarters, one that gave of a considerably different vibe from the temple setup. Also with her is her piece of the pendant she shares with Jona and Rita, a memory of their time.

Also present in her room is Brick who is manipulating images on a large screen on the wall. It is secret imagery captured by the Federation’s military surveillance cameras last year. It’s footage of the Unicorn Gundam demonstrating remarkable success in battle. However, no one refers to it as the Unicorn Gundam anymore but instead by the name “Singularity One.” Michelle responds by calling it a technological singularity.

Brick places a file down on the table in front of Michelle which is noted with various classified signs since it was provided by Vice Admiral Mauri. There’s footage of the Unicorns horn splitting in two and the NT-D system activating and what not. Brick wonders if it is appropriate to call this “technology”. The Unicorn is then seen with is psycho-crystals racing through the cosmos with the Banshee Norn behind it. In this battle it emitted a large wave that knocked out the large battalion of Federation Forces units following it. When the wave hit them, the suits became immobile.

Brick explains that the identity of something like this wave is not understood even with all the mechanisms of its occurrence. What’s certain is that every Federation unit that was bathed in the wave appeared to have their generator disassembled, as if it had been gone back to the way it was prior to assembly. He shows a file with a disassembled generator from the belly of an RGM-89AD Jegan Type A2.

Michelle is shocked, uttering “You’re saying it can turn back time…”

Following the Laplace incident, an agreement was secretly concluded between Mineva Lao Zabi’s side which opened the box and the Federation government. Singularity One is owned by Mineva’s side and the Banshee Norn belonged to the Federation Forces. Both of these units would be disassembled and sealed away in the presence of each sides auditors. It would be the same for research and manufacturing of psycho frames.

The clause in the Universal Century Charter revealed to all of mankind caused ripples between the Earthnoids and Spacenoids. Nonetheless, Banagher and Mineva believed in the hope and possibility of humanity and left the answers to the people. At the same time, by sealing away the two Singularity One units, it subdued the cause of heated weapons development competitions.

Brick hypothesizes that perhaps mankind had no choice but to shy away from the power of God that it had obtained. If mankind could harness that power, people could possibly have true innovation. But would they be prepared? He wanted to tell Michelle this, but it was too late. This was the day that Michelle was living for, and Brick who had watched over her since she was 15 knew better than anyone.

Luio Woomin’s room was in a high security area of the same building. An elevator that went directly to his room wouldn’t move unless fingerprint authentication was done, and even then it was only registered to Woomin’s close relatives and a few administrators. After Brick left, Michelle headed down to his room alone.

When the elevator door opened there was a long, empty corridor. At the end was a set of smoky, bulletproof glass doors. The corridor was ice cold and Michelle’s breath gave off white clouds. After authenticating herself on the pad, she enters into the room. Each step she takes leaves a print on the ground that is quickly covered up again by frost. At the rear of the room she stands in front of a cold sleep capsule connected to medical equipment. Inside it was Luio Woomin. Through the window she could see the face of an old man with white hair and a beard and moustache. In the past, this man reigned in the economic circles of New Hong Kong City as well as the underworld is now a body who is kept alive by machines after collapsing five years ago. Michelle is reminded of when she first met the man ten years ago. At the time he was probably over sixty years old, and it wasn’t clear how he had survived and gained his current position. He had offered to give her a life of comfort in exchange for something.

She had been saved from a facility when she was 15 years old. She had been with Jona and Rita, reunited after having been separated when they were 8 years old to “better protect them.” Speaking to the man in the frozen capsule, Michelle says, “Stepfather, I’m on my way. The power to manipulate time… I’ll get my hands on it for sure once more…”

SECTION 3

Inside the cockpit of his MSK-008 Dijeh, the sounds of the transports engines and the vibrations mixed with his breathing. Also with him aboard the Luio & Co. transport were three other Dijeh units. Each pilot was on standby. They were hired as the private army for Luio & Co.

They would soon be in the skies over the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Jona had been training for a considerable amount of time but this was his first time in real combat. His hands were sweaty as he held the control sticks telling himself not to hesitate and if he did, he’d be dead.

A voice came over the comms that their target had been sighted. One armored car, two Anksha mobile armors for escort, an FD-03 Gustav Karl and three RGM-79D Jegans. The armored car was on its way from the Federation Forces California base. The team descends and a battle ensues. Jona battles one of the Anksha and pierces the cockpit with his beam naginata. He’s reminded that he is logistical support from the leader of the Dijeh team. He tried to object but is reminded by Michelle that he cannot get hurt right now.

The armored car gets toppled over in the battle and the shadow of a woman wearing a coat crawling out the broken rear door can be seen. There was no doubt that this was the target Jona was looking for. The lead unit looked down at the woman. A man in a suit came running out brandishing a handgun at the mobile suit, but he crushed him mercilessly with the foot of the mobile suit. There was an unpleasant sound of crushing bones and flesh.

Michelle calls down to the woman, “Martha Vist Carbine.” Search lights are directed down at her, and odd pockets of the crushed man could be seen on the snow. The cockpit hatch opens and Michelle, who was on board the lead machine, steps down onto the hand. Removing her helmet, she asks Martha if she remembers her. She stammers out her name and asks how and why she’s here. Michelle tells her that both Anaheim and the Vist Foundation abandoned her. Martha is clearly upset by Michelle’s words yet Michelle tells her that she can give her a new life under the protection of Luio & Co. with the assets and networks equal to what she had before.

Martha thought about this for a moment. Even though she was detained as a political prisoner, she hadn’t lost her high level of pride. She asked Michelle what she wanted in return. Michelle explains that it’s the third brother of the Unicorn and Black Lion… the one from the accident she was present at.”

Martha instantly became puzzled yet muttered “Phenex” in response to her request. It was all she uttered.

Michelle explains that military records have all been deleted and she wants everything explained. She also says she cannot refuse. Jona is reminded of a time when they were growing up together. “Don’t you get it, Jona?! We’re not genuine! The miracle children cannot survive alone… That’s the only way all three of us can survive!” Jona wasn’t able to answer at the time, but he knew. He would do as Michelle said. He took her word for it. And yet she was sacrificed.

Jona looked at Michelle on the monitor with sad eyes and muttered “liar” even though it wouldn’t reach her .

SECTION 4

In a sector of space formerly known as Side 5’s Loum (the new Side 4), a large amount of debris accumulated during the early stages of the One Year War.

Minovsky particles that were dispersed in high concentrations during the war were still present. Lieutenant Commander Iago Haakana was in the cockpit of the RGM-96xs Jesta when a strong acceleration kicked in and caught him off guard. They were chasing after a blue phosphorescence that glistened in the darkness… the Phenex.

Iago fires off several shots at the golden suit, some of them grazing it. The suit on his panoramic monitor almost appeared angry. The dogfight continues, the Phenex slipping in and out of the debris. Even with B Team and C Team arriving to provide support the team is no match for the suit. The Phenex reverses at such breakneck speeds the team is led to believe that the pilot inside couldn’t possibly bear it.

Just then the voice of a young woman breaks in on their coms. She tells them to corner the target, then to spread out at the same time on cue and regroup at the designated coordinate Oscar. They demanded to know who she was affiliated with but the voice just told them they couldn’t guarantee their safety unless they followed instructions. A countdown began. “Shezarr 001 to all units, spread out immediately!”

As soon as the countdown reached zero, a beam from a high mega cannon penetrated the empty space where they just were. It raced towards the direction the Phenex had fled towards. It exploded against a piece of debris just beside the unit. The explosion flipped the golden suit. The team is bewildered that the suit stopped. Just then Taman’s voice breaks in over the comms of an intense heat source approaching them from the rear.

A mobile suit was approaching them with the mass as large as a booster. Taman asks the Iago what it is and he says he doesn’t know, he didn’t hear anything. As the craft rapidly approached them, its form became clearer: a Gundam! The suit kicked in all of its boosters and tore after the Phenex.

SECTION 5

In the cockpit of the Gundam, Jona lets out a ragged breath, clad in a psycho suit, a pilot suit that has a psycho frame in the suit itself along with a thick visor. He remembers the unexpected uneasiness with the power of the high mega cannon he just fired. He kicks up the speed of the Gundam, clenching his teeth due to the overpowering G’s. The distance between the Phenex closes and Jona begins to feel the limits of his body from the force. He desperately grasps the control sticks and continues to increase speed.

He thinks to himself, “wait for me. I’ll reach you soon.” With that in mind, he desperately fought off the pain of the G-forces crushing his body.

The team is shocked that it’s speeding up and yet if it can, it may catch the suit. Michelle, meanwhile, was monitoring the situation from the bridge of the transport ship Rosebud. She mutters out in a low voice not to let the suit get away. An operator reports that the Narrative is increasing speed and shrinking its relative distance to the target.

Narrative, the name of the Gundam, means “myth.” It was also a warning to the act of touching the realm of God, which is what Michelle was attempting to do. Brick warns Michelle that any more would be dangerous. Michelle radios to Jona to use the high mega cannon to shake it off. Jona retorts that it’s too close to use it.” She tells him that it won’t take the Phenex down and that he needs to do it or he’ll die. Jona ignores her instructions and instead continues to closing the distance, intending to capture it without using the high mega cannon.

With another explosive accelerated boost, the relative distance with the Phenex shrinks dramatically. Jona thought for sure that the cockpit would be crushed by the G-force, he borrowed the power of the psycho suit and activated the special composite weapon called the psycho capture mounted on the booster that the Narrative Gundam rides. The psycho capture traps the psycho weapons controlled by the psycho waves of Newtypes in a field making it impossible to activate.

Jona brings the Narrative Gundam in closer in an attempt to capture the suit within the field. However, the psycho field generated by the psycho waves repel the Narrative Gundam. Two suits continue to violently clash, with the Phenex firing several shots of the psycho field towards the Narrative. It was then Jona saw Rita’s face in the Phenex. He called out her name. Rita Bernal. That was her name.

Instead of firing on the Phenex with the high mega cannon, he fired a comm wire and it became entangled with the Phenex. Jona keeps calling out Rita’s name, trying to get it to recognize him. He says that he understands if it’s too late now.” Jona’s psycho suit was starting to emit thin glow of light in response to the psycho wave’s given off by the Phenex. It repeatedly a rippling glow like someone breathing.

Back on the bridge of the Rosebud, Michelle is thinking back to that day on the cliff when her thoughts are interrupted by a sound over the comms. Iago was calling out to Jona, telling him to keep heading for the designated coordinates. Jona is interrupted by a myriad of thoughts, the one most jarring was the question of whether heaven exists or not. However, he wasn’t the only one to hear this voice. Michelle heard it as well on the bridge. It wasn’t just them… it was everyone in the group that were surrounding the Phenex had a part.

Seizing on this moment of forgetfulness to capture the Phenex, the suit deployed its Armed Armor DE and its blue phosphorescence radiating outward like wings on a bird, the suit blasted off dancing while dodging the debris. The light from the Phenex’s eyes seemed to ask Jona why. Jona called out to Rita again. The Schezarr team concentrated their fire on the Phenex yet again as it slowly faded into the darkness.

SECTION 6

The Republic of Zeon is located on the opposite side of the moon, the furthest location from Earth. It was once called Side 3. The capital of the Republic of Zeon was located in Colony 1 since its founding. Yet even when it called itself the Principality of Zeon, there was no stiff or rigid atmosphere. Degwin’s residence remained undestroyed for historical value, as well as for its unique design.

In an office, Monaghan Bakarov, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, was having a video call with someone. He was only in his mid-forties, but he was a blood-thirsty man full of mental and physical strength.

“You seem to be playing with a dangerous fire, Foreign Minister Monaghan Bakarov, mobilizing the Sleeves remnants and trying to intervene in the Federation’s operation…” The voice was that of a young woman yet full of conviction. Monaghan chides her that it’s a highly political issue and avoided her question. On the screen was Mineva Lao Zabi in full dress. He tells her that even if they keep Magellanica within the territory of the Republic it would be a constant political effort.

The Magellanica had anchored itself in secret in the Republic of Zeon in order to avoid being exploited politically. He explains that since the Laplace declaration, there has been a growing momentum for Spacenoid independence and that if the princess’s whereabouts were to be leaked, then it would pose a considerable issue. Mineva asks if it’s to avoid war and Monaghan acknowledges this.

Having finished her call, Mineva summons Zinnerman. Monaghan was also considering his next deal and gave instructions to his secretary to keep an eye on Magellanica and to warn Zoltan. The secretary bows and leaves the room. Monaghan stares up at a portrait of an elderly man lamenting about how deplorable it was that the descendant of the Zabi family abandoned their dream of independence for Spacenoids and now merely wanted peace. The portrait was of his father, former Prime Minister Darcia Bakarov.

*

Anchored in a shoal zone was the Federation Space Forces Clop-class cruiser Damascus. On the mobile suit deck, mechanics were scrambling about as equipment and supplies for the Narrative Gundam were steadily being loaded from the transport ship Rosebud. On one side of the deck, the Narrative Gundam was anchored, already equipped with a booster.

Iago watches from an overhead catwalk. Below are members of the Schezarr mobile suit teams. He noticed a woman talking with Abaev, the captain of the ship. It was Michelle Luio. She was on board the ship as a special envoy for Luio & Co. The team members converse about how the mission they’re on is supposed to be confidential, under the direct orders of Staff Headquarters. The captain tells them that they’ve received reinforcements and should be thankful for it. They think the people on board are with Anaheim but are surprised to learn it’s the Earth-based Luio & Co.

They watch the pilot come out of the hatch of the Narrative Gundam and drop. The weight of the suit was quite evident as it appeared to deprive them of their physical strength. The team is surprised by this and speculate whether the pilot is a Cyber Newtype or not. A mechanic and Brick guided Jona towards the gravitational sector of the ship. As soon as they crossed the bulkhead, the weight of the psycho suit pulled Jona to the floor. The mechanics supported him as he was taken to the residential block.

Jona was unaware that he arrived in the room. The psycho suit was stripped away from him. His muscles which had been paralyzed by the weight of the psycho suit started screaming. Before he knew it, he was grabbed by the mechanics and electrode pads for vitals and an oxygen inhaler was placed on him. They weren’t really mechanics but rather a medical staff specifically for the pilot of the Narrative Gundam. Michelle, who had arrived earlier and slapped him when he tried getting up, didn’t say a word as she watched over the medical team.

Iago meanwhile tries to spy on Jona but is caught by Luio & Co. security staff. Michelle and Jona talk about Rita. Michelle tells him that she’s not human any more that she no longer exists in the same world as us.

Meanwhile on the MS tech, the last of the parts were transferred to the ship and the Damascus was left alone to go about its mission.

*

In a place not that far from the same shoal zone, a warship was on the move while tracking their movements. It was the Chivvay-class heavy cruiser Gulltoppr of the Neo Zeon forces. While confirming the blip on the bridge’s radar monitor, Lieutent Zoltan Akkanen also had the eyes of a hunter and pursued prey like Lieutenant Commander Iago. The only difference was that hunting for him involved chasing his prey and depriving it of life, relishing him in ecstasy.

Zoltan was still in his late twenties but he was a cunning, brutal yet qualified youth. Yet for some reason his right eye had a red iris. He ordered the operator to display the previous battle the Schezarr team had with the Phenex.

“Well, gentlemen. The Phoenix Hunt is on from here.” He says as a daring smile creeps across his face and a sudden but subtle twitch happens in the iris of his right eye.

A huge cargo container was being pulled behind the Gulltoppr. Around it, a Geara Zulu mobile suit flew around it on guard, its mono eye flashing.

CHAPTER.02 HOMESICK

This chapter is a flashback to U.C.0078 in Australia along the Gold Coast. We learn that Jona was an airplane fanatic like his father. He’d always hear the sounds of planes here and be reminded of his dad. His father was a researcher working in the development sector at Hervic. His Spacenoid father was originally working at a colony branch on Side 6 but due to his ground-breaking aeronautical tech that he developed in the gravity-free part of the colony, he was allowed to move to earth three years ago. But, his father was gone now. Two months ago, his father suffered a cerebral hemorrhage at work and collapsed and died.

While the survivor’s pension and his mothers office job covered things, life was more difficult than before, but he was glad there was an airport nearby to watch planes at.

**UPDATED LATER – NOTHING OF REAL IMPORTANCE IN THIS CHAPTER**

CHAPTER.03 ATONEMENT

SECTION 1

U.C.0087, over the South Pacific. Jona, Rita and Michele are aboard a Federation Forces transport that left the Augusta base in Georgia and had taken a route from the North Pacific across the equator to the South Pacific. They were huddled beneath a blanket as they hid behind a cargo container. The aircrafts destination was the Torrington base in Australia. Jona felt he was drawn to the continent again, even if there was nothing there. He felt that he couldn’t move on unless they all went there (and was certain the others felt the same).

As they approached the coast, they suddenly realized their hometown was not where it was anymore as it was destroyed in the very colony drop they foresaw years prior. The group had escaped the facility they were being housed at in a very elaborate method. After the transport lands, the group manages to hitchhike to where they need to be: the spot where it all began (Jona converses with the driver who was an old vet from the OYW). This is where Rita asks Jona if he thinks there is heaven to which he says that he doesn’t.

Rita also has a fascination with birds and can name off a bunch of them like Jona can name off various planes. Nothing of real interest in this section of the chapter.

SECTION 2

U.C.0097 – Side 6 College Town Colony Metis.

Jona’s daydream ends. The Phenex is inside the colony. He’s in the cockpit of the Narrative holding out his hands towards the monitor. He think Rita is there talking with him. She talks about not being whole right now and that she’s been reborn many times. She quotes from the poem again, “From humain approbation, From common urges You diverge here And fly off as you may.” She tells Jona that she’d like to become a bird when she’s born again and asks Jona what he’d become. Jona has a momentary flashback to when he was 15.

On the bridge of the Damascus, the power of the psycho wave have washed over Michelle as well. Brick notices that she is crying and wonders if it’s from the resonance of the psycho wave. He wants Captain Abaev to launch the ship right away. Michelle, however, would not have it. She wouldn’t run away. On the other side of the monitor, the light of the psycho field emitted by the II Neo Zeong was leaking out of the ruptured colony.

*

Flashback to the trio at the coast. Policemen have started questioning them and Jona tries to say they got lost. The policeman knows he’s lying based on his shoes (they’re Federation issued brand). They basically jump the policemen and take off with their car. They try running a roadblock that was put up but they’re unable to. Michelle and Jona are yanked out of the car. They’re picked up by a group of men in black suits and were taken back to the facility they escaped from.

As they were taken back to the facility, they were going to be subjected to a “special extracurricular activities”. They were separated and sent to separate laboratories and various experiments were conducted to bring out abilities as Cyber Newtypes such as hypnotic suggestion, diving experiments, body reinforcement training as well as awakening experiments through electrocution and medication. But, they wouldn’t be killed because they’re “miracle children.”

But, there were rumors circulating at the facility where Michelle and the others were at. Michelle was betting their release on the fact that the AEUG may overcome the Titans. As Michelle is laying on an operating table for one of the medical experiments, she overhears voices from the other room. It’s the voice of Eskola Gedda, director of the facilities. He’s threatening to cut off funding since three of them escaped. Marga, the senior researcher he’s talking to tries telling him there’s no problem with the research here. She tries explaining that there’s no competence difference between the three and that Luio & Co. requested that only a true Newtype be handed over.

Eskola cut her off. He says that Gryps 2 has fallen and the AEUG’s cooperation with Zeon remnants won’t end. She needs to unravel the secrets of Newtypes even if it means surgically doing so. Michelle was disgusted by this though. Marga tries to protest cutting open a true Newtype, but Eskola tries to tell her that if the Titans collapse they’re both war criminals.

Michelle swore to herself that she’d do whatever she could to escape the situation she was in.

SECTION 3

The Narrative Gundam, enveloped in the psycho wave, is slowly engulfed by the hulk of the II Neo Zeong. The docking mechanism was activated automatically. Although Jona felts its vibrations in the cockpit, his consciousness was connected with Michelle and he was able to relive a memory from Michelle’s past. Rita, in the Phenex, should have also shared in that same memory.

Back then, Michelle told Jona that Rita was a true Newtype. Ten years ago, after being separated due to their attempted escape, Jona began to follow the instructions of his teachers, researchers and medical staff. He lost the will to escape. The only time they had together was for their audio visual lessons. The three would pass notes to one another in the dark auditorium. Jona tells Michelle that he wants to talk to her alone during lunch.

Michelle laments to Jona that only one of them is a miracle child and that only one of them will be saved. If only one of them is found out to be genuine then that means any type of human experimentation can be done without any sort of concern for the other two. She tells him that if they volunteer then Rita can be saved and eventually when the war ends and the Titans are defeated then they’ll be safe with Luio & Co.

Jona was doubtful that it was really true and she insists she heard it during her exam and that she wasn’t sick. If the three of them parted again they would probably never see one another again. He had a hunch about it. Michelle was adamant about him making a decision, even calling him a crybaby again. She says it’s the only way for the three of them to survive.

Back in the cockpit, feelings of anger welled up inside of Jona as he remembered that day. “Liar.” Came out of his mouth, despite Michelle not being there. However, on the bridge of the Damascus, the words resounded inside of her. She agreed that she did lie, although she had no ill-will at the time.

Another flashback where she’s seated in Eskola’s office with Jona, remembering what her dead father told her, “In order to win the trust of your opponent, first deceive yourself. You’re the best in the world today.” That day, she believed in her father’s words.

Eskola asks them what they are there to discuss. Michelle explains that they’re referred to as Miracle Children yet only one real miracle happened. Perplexed, Eskola presses Michelle on who that might be. She explains that it’s Rita and that she’s hiding her abilities. She believes that if the three of them don’t know who is then they can be protected. But, if the experiments continue then Rita may be broken.

Eskola asks Jona his thoughts. He agrees that she is a Newtype and that she needs to be saved. He nods and tells the duo that they should leave Rita to them and to not make matters worse before ushering them out of the room. Michelle says that she has a little more she’d like to discuss. Jona leaves the room first. He asks what that may be. She tells them she heard them taking earlier outside the operating room doors. At this point all signs of a pleasant disposition disappear from the two.

She bargains for the safety of herself and Jona. Eskola agrees. Back in the present, Jona again calls her a liar to which she denies it. She had masked herself as a Newtype and was taken in as an adopted child by Luio & Co but she didn’t abandon Jona and Rita.

In thought, she says she intended to come for them, but Jona wouldn’t have it. He says she abandoned them so she could escape and made Rita a scapegoat. He says he too is guilty for believing her lies. He remembers what happened ten years ago.

Just two days after disclosing Rita being a true Newtype, a woman name Stephanie from Luio & Co. left with Michelle. Dejected, Jona goes back into the facility only to find Rita being held by two Federation soldiers. She didn’t seem to be resisting. She was taken to a more secure location, one that only Newtypes could set foot in. Two guards stood on either side of the door blocking his entry.

Jona called out her name and tore after her. He was trying to tell her not to go but is restrained by a soldier. As he was slammed to the ground, he began to cry and scream out that it was a lie and that they all lied and that they should take him. He kept calling out to her for as long as he could.

Jona’s cries resonated with the II Neo Zeong through the psycho waves. As if a huge mobile armor took up Jona’s anger and sadness, the arm unit with five finger cannon muzzles slowly lifted themselves and beams of light began to blister inside them.

Michelle again says she searched for them when the war had ended, as soon as the facilities were closed. Jona again calls her a liar. He was now living through his memories of 15, the embodiment of hatred. After being taken away from the restricted area, the events surrounding Rita were swift. Her beautiful blond hair was shaved off, an anesthesia mask was placed over her mouth and she was subjected to a craniotomy. She was no longer her former self. Even then, harsh surgeries and experimental tests were conducted over and over again. It was a hell that not even Jona could imagine. Eventually, Rita donned a normal suit on board the Irish-class battleship Shallot and climbed into the cockpit of the Phenex.

When one tear drop filled with deep sorrow fell from one of Rita’s emerald green eyes, the Phenex synchronized with Rita’s sorrow through the psycho frame. And then, the Phenex went beserk. Jona turned to the Phenex floating before him while being surrounded by the funnels released from the Narrative Gundam. He was seeing Rita’s memories now. Michelle repeatedly tried to interject with what seemed to be excuses only to be called out by Jona as a liar every time. They abandoned Rita. They robbed her of her body. Michelle tries to explain that by the time she knew where she was she was already gone. Once again Jona calls her a liar and this time his anger explodes to the point where the muzzles of the II Neo Zeong were about to fire and pierce the wall of the colony.

Iago had been listening to the conversation via psycho waves as well but didn’t really know what was going on. He tries to walk Jona back from his anger by telling him that he’d be taking the lives of those in the colony as well due to the anger he has.

The team notices the appearance of the Phenex. The funnels surrounding the Narrative are destroyed one by one but there is no explosion. They were all disassembled. The Phenex unleashes its blue phosphorescence again.

The II Neo Zeong was ready to fire but a voice came telling Jona not to do it. It was Rita. She tells him that he should not leave himself to anger, but Jona tries to stutter out that it was their fault… Just then, a small white hand appeared and gently wiped away his tears. Jona knew immediately that it was Rita.

The Phenex gently touched the docking port of the II Neo Zeong that held the Narrative Gundam. As soon as it was released, it moved away as if to spit out the Gundam. At the same time, the beams that should’ve been emitted from the five finger barrels of the II Neo Zeong converged. The Narrative was gently embraced by the Phenex drifting in space. In the cockpit, Jona felt as though he was being embraced by warmth.

Zoltan was piloting the Sinanju Stein and was monitoring the situation. He wondered what the hell kind of farce he was witnessing. He was thrown off due to the disturbance of the Phenex. He’s then informed that they’ve recovered the control system of the II Neo Zeong. He instructs his team to withdraw and take the II back to the ship. He steps on the foot pedals of the Sinanju Stein once he sees the II Neo Zeong returning from the hole that was blown in the colony. He swears to retaliate against the two machines saying he’ll remember the names of those who made him suffer such humiliation.

Jona watches the II Neo Zeong withdrawing. The Phenex also witnesses it. Rita’s voice tells him that that shouldn’t be in this world. She asks him to lend him his strength when the times comes. Before he knows it, her warmth is gone.

Back on the Damascus, it’s chaos. Their radar captured the suit but it rapidly fled the colony. Before they knew it it was off their radar and traveling at almost the speed of light. The captain of the ship tells Michelle that they need to talk, that there still seems to be some things they don’t know. He’s rather peeved at her.

SECTION 4

Stephanie Luio is watching the news in her office. “Although the air leak has been stopped, the extent of the damage is not yet known and casualties may be higher than last years incident at Industrial 7…” The level of destruction at Metis made it evident that there was a large number of casualties. It was obvious that Michelle was involved in the mess so Stephanie placed a call to Vice Admiral Mauri.

*

At the same time, the news was also being displayed on one of the consoles on the bridge of a certain ship. “There are eyewitness reports of a huge mobile armor and rumors of Neo Zeon responsibility but there has been no word so far—“

The captain of the ship is Zinnerman, with Flaste being the likely helmsman and Takuya being the spry young teen manning one of the radar consoles (as reported he originally went to Anaheim college). The ship they’re on is the Garancieres Jr. On board standing by in the hanger is the Silver Bullet, though who is in the cockpit isn’t know.

The ship, which had been monitoring the situation around Metis, changes course and leaves the area since Unit 3 is still nearby and both the Federation ship and Zoltan’s ship had already fled.

*

About a day had passed since the fighting in Metis. There was something of a forced interrogation in the briefing room with Michelle from the Captain and other members of the Schezarr team. Although she isn’t frightened, she seems to have decided she cannot cooperate with them by staying silent. She explains that Unicorn Gundam Unit 1 is called Singularity One, a singularity that can fundamentally change human civilization. The psycho frame that forms around the Unicorn is a system that reflects the intentions of a person wielding it. But wonders what if it functions as a device to accumulate intentions instead? No one answers her question. She continues on by talking about how people who have died becoming energy for the psycommu and what not. She eventually says that it’s possible that the psycho frames could draw power to manipulate time and could ultimately lead to the destruction of the world.

Captain Abaev says that the Phenex was essentially dispatched to essentially destroy the singularity that arose in this world, from the other side, a world where souls gather. Michelle finds that sort of reasoning preposterous. Iago, meanwhile, retorts that the Unicorn Gundam Unit 1 was recovered and dismantled, which means that if the theory holds true then Phenex’s role isn’t finished… Michelle’s silence on the matter speaks volumes. Cue an uproar over whether the suit was dismantled or not.

Interrupting them all from the doorway is Jona who tells them the threat of the Unicorn still exists in the world. Michelle said nothing.

Meanwhile, Monaghan orders Lt. Ellic (the chic that moved the II Neo Zeong in the first place) not to use the II Neo Zeong inside the colony. Ellic had contacted Monaghan in secret. Here we learn that Zoltan is a failed part of Char’s revival project. He’s a Cyber Newtype who failed to become Full Frontal and maybe the burden was too much for him to bear. We learn that Monaghan was different from his father, who had abolished the Principality’s system of rule and laid the foundation for the Republic of Zeon following the death of the Zabi family. He was the advocate of the Side Co-prosperity Sphere (the one preached about by Frontal in Unicorn). Here we also learn about his attempt to leverage further autonomy for the Republic after it expires in U.C.0100.

Ellic and Monaghan converse about there is a problem with the Neo Zeong, whose basic design was done by Frontal. Ellic says that beginning with the psycho shards, the core technology has been black boxed and hasn’t been analyzed just yet. Monaghan says that they know it moves but they don’t know how it does that. He wonders if Frontal, possessed by the ghost of Char, created it with knowledge that isn’t over this world.

Ellic says that’s a rumor. Talk of psycho shard being a crystal body of unknown light generated when mobile suits and mobile armors equipped with psycho frames is enhanced to the maximum resonance (?) ability of Newtype pilots. Like the psycho frame, this crystal body generates an unknown force field called a psycho field by synchronizing with the newtype pilot. It’s a phenomenon that occurred when the II Neo Zeong tried taking in the Narrative Gundam. As such, the suit that generated the psycho shard can temporarily generate a more powerful psycho field.

Monaghan says he wants to avoid dragging the Republic’s name into this mess so he’s putting an end to things. Ellic asks whether that includes the II Neo Zeong as well. Monaghan tells her the Federation fleet will sink the ship she’s on and the matter will be closed. It’ll all be outlined as a criminal act brought about by the remnants of the Sleeves who involved Republic of Zeon sympathizers. Ellic was understandably upset by this but Monaghan tells her that she’ll be caught quickly and that she needs to escape.

Just then, Ellic is discovered. Zoltan had been sitting on the floor of the comms room the entire time listening in on the conversation. The guard outside the door had been knocked unconscious. Ellic quickly cuts the comm. She tries to stammer out an excuse but Zoltan doesn’t have it. A gunshot resounds in the comm room.

Back in the Damascus briefing room. It comes to light that if the Phenex is obtained, people can overcome death. If you know how to transfer the soul to the psycho frame, you no longer have to fear death anymore. The question of how many people were killed for this comes out.

Fast forward to the mobile suit deck. The Narrative is being equipped with the “forbidden” third pack, a psycho package.

Back on his ship, Zoltan prepares to more or less abandon ship. He heads for the mobile suit deck wearing a normal suit. Over the ship’s comms he tells them that the Republic regarded the strategy as a failure and is cutting off their support and that their ship will be shot down. He sais that he has no intention of dying at the hands of the Federation so he implores everyone to follow him.

Getting on board the Sinanju Stein, he exits the ship and docks with the II Neo Zeong. He says he’ll tell everyone his target. He swears to get his revenge on Jona and Rita as well. In front of him lies Side 6’s helium 3 reserve base. The cylindrical storage tanks were coupled in a cross section at the center of a small asteroid base.

SECTION 5

Jona and Brick are on the mobile suit deck discussing why Michelle brought him into the operation when their conversation is cut short by an alarm resounding on the ship. The two rushed to the bridge. There were countless lights against the inky blackness of space. Each of the lights were from thrusters of Federation warships.

Both arm units of the II Neo Zeong were raised as if to confront them. He tells the captain of the Gulltoppr to use the tanks as a shield. Cutting the comms he mulls how the ship and the suit he is on are the pnly place he has to go back to.

The Federation ship dispatched to investigate was the Dogos Gear-class General Revil. Captain Maseki Danbaev was listening to reports from operators. Mobile suit teams are ordered to engage.

Jegans and ReZels are dispatched to fight the II Neo Zeong. Zoltan mows them down with relative ease. We learn that he lost his mom, dad and sister in the One Year War and lived in a Newtype lab of the former Principality of Zeon as a war orphan. We also learn that Zoltan is not his real name.

Charlie and Delta mobile suit teams have been taken out. Maseki’s XO Mori orders anti-ship combat but Maseki counters that the enemy ship is in the shadow of the gas tanks. The Gulltoppr was indeed using the helium 3 storage tanks as a shield. Helium 3 background mumbo jumbo. Mori’s judgement wasn’t swayed. He believed that so long as it’s not in a critical state, it’s just gas. One or two explosions shouldn’t do much harm.

The ship opens fire on one of the gas tanks in the uninhabited area causing it to explode. This in turn caused a chain reaction of explosions from three or four other tanks. The Gulltoppr was caught up in the explosions and sinks. However, one of the tanks gets blown away from the rest and is floating in space.

Zoltan is somewhat saddened by the loss of the ship but then goes full on psycho and releases a massive concentration of hatred through the psycho frame. A psycho shard is formed. Maseki and Mori are in disbelief at the halo of light. Zoltan uses the power of the psycho shard to propel the floating gas tank towards the General Revil.

The team on the ship is unsure what to do at the rapidly approaching tank. Maseki orders them to shoot it down. Many of the shots hit the tank but the psycho field around the tank deflects them off. Zoltan, meanwhile, is feeling the physical strain of moving the object. Still, he focuses everything he has on it. With one final push he delivers judgement on them. The tank goes critical and a massive explosion envelops the General Revil and the ships in the fleet along with it.

The high heat and shock waves wash over the II Neo Zeong as well but it is protected by the psycho field. Nothing is left near Zoltan. Space is silent except for his laugh.

On the bridge of the Damascus, they caught sight of the small explosion in a sector of space. Abaev feels that the life of a comrade has been lost on the battlefield. Jona is cursing himself for not taking action when suddenly the imagery of blue phosphorescence flashes across his mind. Rita is asking him to help. Jona is in disbelief yet tells himself he can make it in time. He silently leaves the bridge but is stopped by Michelle who is asking him what he’s planning on doing. She asks him if he thinks he’s the only one who can hear her. Jona is a bit surprised. Jona looks at Michelle (whose eyes are trembling) that Rita is dead. Her consciousness may be left but that isn’t life anymore. There is no such thing as eternal life.

Jona heads out. Michelle orders Brick to dispose of the Narrative Gundam’s container and that it’s still too early to rendez-vous with the recovery ship. Brick asks if she is sure and Michelle says it’s neither good nor bad and that it was decided upon a while ago. She was certain that Rita was aware as well as the fate that would befall her and the choice that Jona and her had to take.

A huge container was dumped off the Damascus. In the container is the Narrative Gundam and Jona is again wearing the psycho suit much like that of a cross. He sensed Rita coming back. A ways away from their sector, the Phenex was flying about, blue phosphorescence emanating from its golden frame. The fight against the II Neo Zeong was coming up.

*

Meanwhile, the II Neo Zeong was lying in wait behind the Helium 3 reserve base. Zoltan, inside the cockpit, was already crazy. He harkens the Newtype to come and to see which one of them will show real power. For him, the chance meeting with Jona and Rita wasn’t for a personal grudge or war. Repurposed as a Newtype, Zoltan was branded as defective and this was just one way to prove he was alive.

When the container was far enough away, Jona launched the Narrative Gundam. The Narrative Gundam, equipped with a psycho package, revealed its entire form: a white body similar to that of the Unicorn Gundam!

CHAPTER.04 FLIGHT

SECTION 1

Remains of the destroyed General Revil fleet hang around the Helium 3 reserve base of Side 6. A few of the survivors, Jegans, fire at the II Neo Zeong. He takes out several more of the suits but not before some of them managed to get beneath him and fire off a few shots using live ammo (which the I-field barrier isn’t very effective in stopping). He tries firing off a few shots from the four hidden arm units but somehow the units keep managing to hit a blind spot in the I-field barrier. Behind the Jegans Zoltan sees a blue phosphorescent light shimmering that seemed to guide them. It was the Phenex.

Angered, he fires all of the beam cannons towards the Phenex, but he doesn’t score a hit on the suit itself, just the wreckage from the fleet. Zoltan addresses the Phenex. He says that Rita is an empty shell, a shadow of her former self and that she can’t do anything without a living human acting as an intermediary. He sensed that Rita was no longer in this world, instead having integrated with the Phenex.

The II Neo Zeong takes control of several Jegans and showers the Phenex with a bombardment of beams (the same way Frontal took them over in Unicorn). The Phenex dodged their fire at high speed. If it fought back, it would take the life of the pilots since they were currently just being taken hostage.

Back on the Damascus, preparations for the launch of a Type 94 Base Jabber for additional booster equipped mobile suits is underway. A container with spare materials of psycho frame are loaded onto the carrier. Brick was in the cockpit and looking at Michelle who was staring out into the void.

Stephanie was on the monitor in the communications room of the Damascus. Michelle was again repeating her confession of not being a true Newtype so that her step father wouldn’t throw her away. Stephanie tells her that it doesn’t matter and that she should come back home, that it was a foolish dream to think preserve a soul forever and that she wouldn’t kick her out even if her father died. Michelle says that she doesn’t want to tarnish Luio & Co’s reputation.

She thanks Brick and tells him she’ll control it herself and tells him to get off. He’s confused and asks her where she’ll go. Brick, however, doesn’t leave her side because he hasn’t for the ten years he’s been with her.

The Base Jabber launches, much to the chagrin of Lieutenant Franson. Iago asks if they’re certain of the results of the simulation that was run on the explosions of the Helium 3 tanks. Basically if all of the tanks reached critical levels and exploded, damage wouldn’t be limited to Side 6 alone and that the head and shock waves would impact surrounding colonies. Colonies in orbit nearby would be swept up and blown to pieces. The fragments of the destroyed colonies would be pulled in by Earth’s gravity, with the smaller fragments burning up, but debris from three colonies falling would spell disaster. There was no comparing it to past colony drops due to the extent of damage.

The booster packs left behind for the Narrative Gundam are universal specification. As such, Iago and Franson deduce that they could mount them onto their teams suits in order to reach the battle.

SECTION 2

When the Jegans detonated by thrusting their beam sabers into their stomachs, the nearby helium 3 tanks exploded in a chain reaction. The billowing fireball assailed the Phenex which was evading pursuit from another Jegan. The Phenex tried to accelerate away but was rapidly pushed back inside the base from the shockwave. The Phenex momentarily lost its way, enough for Zoltan to sneak up on it. Manipulating his puppet Jegans, he started firing on the Phenex. Since the suit was dodging the shots, they skimmed the surface of the tanks turning them red hot. Zoltan sensed Rita’s impatience.

He speculates that Rita was a Cyber Newtype. He says that humanity has lived in outer space for almost a hundred years and that it’s too farfetched for them to become Newtypes, that evolution isn’t that simple. He said that dolls like them are made to resemble that dream, but somehow she’s different. Just then, firing at the Phenex ceased from the Jegans. They seemed to be out of ammo. Deciding the two Jegans were of no use to him, he broke the units apart.

Launching the funnel bits at the Phenex, Zoltan screams that if she’s a true Newtype whose existence has transcended people after death then he wants that power for himself. One of the cables wraps itself wound the leg of the Phenex like a tentacle. Several other funnels raced towards suit as well. Checkmate. Zoltan smiled when suddenly a beam shot from above severed the cable.

Bewildered, Zoltan looks upwards to see the Narrative Gundam rapidly descending. In the cockpit of the Narrative, the NT-D display was activated, triggered by catching the psycho waves of the Phenex. When the psycho package armor mounted on the Gundam slides open and expands, it’s similar to that of the Unicorn Gundam. Jona launches into his attack on the II Neo Zeong and yells for the Phenex to get out of there. The suit looked as if it nodded at Jona. Jona says that he feels that Rita is there.

Shaking off the rapidly approaching funnel bits, the Phenex firmly grasped the Narrative’s arm. The power flowing through it propagates to the Narrative and changes the color of the psycho frame from red to blue. Regardless of Jona’s intention as a pilot, the wave released from the arm of the Narrative extends backwards and the funnel bits were dismantled. The wave washed over the right arm unit of the II Neo Zeong as well dismantling it as well. While all of this was happening, Jona was completely unaware. Just then Rita’s voice told him to target the core.

Jona is shocked because the core was the Sinanju Stein. She tells him that it should not be in this world. Jona thrust out the other hand of the Narrative towards the Sinanju Stein. The psycho frame of the Narrative Gundam, shining brilliantly, tried to be released again. There was a cry of anger from inside the Sinanju Stein. Suddenly, an abnormal radiance started to come from the psycho shard on the back of the II Neo Zeong and a light rapidly hit the tank below the Narrative. An intense flash blasted the Gundam.

Calling out Jona’s name, Rita’s voice echoed as the Phenex quickly embraced the Narrative and guarded it with both its wings. Immediately after that, the flash enveloped both units and the explosion that swelled up at one end of the reserve base caused a detonation of a storage tank that spanned a quarter of the base itself. The massive explosion illuminated the surrounding area, the Narrative and Phenex were blown away in the cluster of tanks while holding hands.

The Base Jabber was rushing towards the reserve base when Michelle and Brick saw the light. Michelle is in such shock she decelerates the craft. Brick assures her that they’ll make it in time and she wonders if Jona is still alive. Back on the Damascus, the captain is alarmed that there was another critical explosion. But, they’re relieved to learn that there’s only a single one and that multiple critical indications are not detected.

Meanwhile, the Garancieres Jr. was monitoring the situation as well from the shadows. Zinnerman asks what is going on and Takuya tells him that no one knows what is going on. As such, they head towards the situation. The Silver Bullet is on standby in the hangar. The young pilots tells them to maintain course and prepare the beam magnum.

Despite shielding the Narrative Gundam from the blast, the suits sustained some damage. Even though her body should have been gone, Rita’s consciousness feels pain and fatigue. She had protected Jona and was exhausted. But, she couldn’t find Jona. Just then, her arm was suddenly caught by the cable of the funnel bits. She could sense the voice of the pilot of the II Neo Zeong.

“Sorry, I need you lend me your strength.”

Two and three funnel buts extend from the arm of the II Neo Zeong and encompass Rita’s body. It was frightening, like a warm, sweaty man stroking her naked body. “One or two simply won’t do. In order to launch the best fireworks, all the tanks must be brought critical together!” When the funnel bits cable emits light and began to absorb energy from Rita’s body, she twisted and writhed in pain. Every time it absorbed energy, the II Neo Zeong’s psycho shards glowed.

Just then a flash of light was emitted behind the II Neo Zeong. The suit turned around. It was the Base Jabber. Rita sensed Michelle’s presence inside the cockpit. Michelle yells at Brick who releases the container on the back of the Base Jabber. The container lids open and the spare material of the psycho frame loaded inside begins to cascade out of the ship.

Michelle yells at Rita to use her life. The II Neo Zeong tries to fight off the Base Jabber and the psycho shards it scattered. “If you want to die, then I’ll let you die as you wished!” Michelle senses the fury of the pilot but it felt as though he was struggling with his own power. Just then the light enveloping the Base Jabber began to shine brightly and resonate with the II Neo Zeong. Michelle saw the Phenex giving off a psycho field again and eventually the funnel bits cable surrounding the suit disintegrated.

Rita tells the pilot of the II Neo Zeong to stop it already and that he’s suffering. As her voice melds with Michelle’s, they tell him that he’s not ready to touch the power of that machine. However, the pilot wouldn’t have it and he began to resist. The Base Jabber was starting to be drawn in by the power of the II Neo Zeong as it raised its arm units. Michelle called out Jona’s name. Cue a flashback to their childhood. Jona is crying because one of the bullies broke the momento from his father into three pieces. This is where they decide to split it up amongst the three of them.

Jona is woken up from the calls from Iago. He had been drifting near where the tanks exploded. He’s surprised that Iago hailed him.

SECTION 3

The psycho frames of both the Phenex and II Neo Zeong are competing with one another. Zoltan is confused by the power that is being given off by Rita. Just then a tank exploded below the II Neo Zeong. It wasn’t critical though, just a gas explosion. Since there were multiple structures it wouldn’t be a catastrophic explosion. A Jesta appeared with a booster meant for the Narrative on it.

Jona had evacuated the Base Jabber to a safe zone away from any detonations of Helium 3 tanks. Leaving her there, Jona went in search of Rita. He locates her after enduring the screeching pain of acceleration in his psycho suit. Reaching the Narrative, he reaches out to the unit and the blue phosphorescence in her psycho frame began to revive faintly.

Just then, Iago is struck by a funnel bit cable. His suit is overrun and he starts firing off shots at the Narrative. Iago is trying to overcome the funnel bits but is failing. A beam fired from the Jesta blows off a part of the exterior of the psycho package. Jona, however, was unable to take out Iago’s unit. Zoltan was aware of this and taunts the Gundam. Iago tells him he’ll escape somehow but he needs to fight back. Jona tries to help him by cutting off the funnel’s cables.

Michelle was watching the scene from a ways away. Rita had asked her what she was doing and whether she could really run away like this. She did rob Rita of her life, after all. Michelle wonders why she said Rita was a true Newtype. She wonders why she threw their lives away. She was jealous in a way. She wanted to be born like Rita: love by everyone. She wanted to be Rita. Rita was a brave child. When she put scissors to her hair and cut it off, she knew for the first time she was no longer the child she had to protect. That, and Jona was always in Rita’s heart… she was nowhere to be found.

Since she acknowledges that this is all her fault, she orders Brick off the craft and for him to get away as far as possible. She doesn’t want to involve him in this any further. Brick, however wouldn’t leave, instead pointing his gun at his own chest. Michelle was upset by his show of brute force, which he normally didn’t show. He asked her where he would go if he got off. He puts his handgun away and sat back down in the seat, and plotted a course.

A beam from the Jesta peels of another panel of the psycho package. Reeling from the shock, Jona withdraws between the remnants of the tanks. Zoltan taunts Jona who has been losing his armor. Just when he’s preparing to attack, a shadow rushes in from behind giving of a volley of beams.

It is Michelle and Brick. Jona is astonished. Brick is talking to him. He says that when he left the ship, Michelle was in the middle of the story. He says that if the soul is real and you can transfer it to a psycho frame, death is not the end and you can meet again. He can meet Rita again. Upon hearing that, the Phenex turned towards the Base Jabber. Rita reacted to Brick’s words.

Jona was shocked. Michelle had a series of plans for him after all. She implores Jona to go, but just then a scream of “don’t come” rings out from Iago in the cockpit of the Jesta. Michelle ignored it and the Base Jabber jumped in front of the Narrative. Jona cried out Michelle’s name. Michelle was determined to sacrifice herself and that is exactly what she did. A beam fired from the puppet Jesta pierces the cockpit of the Base Jabber, but the unit doesn’t stop, instead continuing forward, cutting the cable controlling the Jesta.

Michelle cleared a path for Jona in exchange for her life. Jona cried out. Michelle had gone down with grace, beauty, and nobility. Brick was proud of that. When everything was caught up in the flash, Michelle and Brick’s consciousness were released from their bodies.

SECTION 4

**CHILDHOOD FLASHBACK WILL UPDATE LATER**

SECTION 5

Jona is stunned at the explosion that took place right before him. The light eventually changed to a rainbow colored light as materials of the psycho frame were drifting around. He felt it, Michelle’s psycho wave released from her body caused it. Freed from the funnel bits, Iago’s Jesta is blown back by the rainbow colored light.

Zoltan is angered by the sight before him. Both the II Neo Zeong’s psycho frame and the Narrative’s psycho frame start resonating. As the II Neo Zeong tries to attack, but pieces of the psycho frame material deflected the shot. Perhaps it was Michelle’s will. Nonetheless, Jona was shaken from the shock wave and couldn’t come back from the edge of despair. He’s crying, asking what they’re there for if life is only meant to suffer from the beginning.

Rita appeared before Jona. Flashback to the pendant being given to each of them when it was broken. With a newfound vigor, Jona launches an attack on the II Neo Zeong, which was still unable to move having been trapped in the rainbow colored psycho wave. He’s reminded of the words Rita said when he was 15, “I don’t know what heaven is like but I absolutely do believe that there is a soul”

The Narrative is assailed beyond belief: beam guns blew off his arms and feet and the chest experienced a direct hit. The core fighter that Jona was piloting from inside underwent an emergency jettison. Just then, the core fighter came under attack. The heat resistant frame barely protected him and it was only a matter of time before the cockpit would be pierced.

A single long-range beam suddenly appeared just then, destroying the four funnel bits at once. It came from the Silver Bullet standing on the deck of the Garancieres Jr. However, Jona wasn’t even aware. His sights were set on Rita. As the core fighter crumbles around him, he launches himself at the cockpit of the Phenex. The hatch welcomes him and he’s somewhat disappointed at his expectations of there being someone inside of it. He looks at a small shadow floating inside the cockpit. It was the pendant that Rita had. He was sure she was waiting for him, keeping an eye on him until the last moment.

Settling into the cockpit, Rita asks Jona what he would become if she becomes a bird. He says that he would do the same. As if that were a signal, the cockpit hatch of the Phenex closes. The Phenex began to transform into destroy mode, causing it to emit a blue shine. The three pendants floating in the cockpit approached one another as if they were being attracted to one another. The original shape was restored. It was as though souls started to emanate light from it. Jona oddly felt the warmth of Rita and Michelle with him, as though three souls had become one.

SECTION 6

Zoltan was astonished at the sudden luminescence being given off by the Phenex. The suit, which seemed to have lost its life force before, suddenly revived just like a Phoenix. It wasn’t like before though, the psycho waves being given off were overwhelming. He wonders if Jona is a true Newtype! He prepared for yet another battle with the suit.

The II Neo Zeong instantly lost all of its arms. He was attacking the Narrative Gundam with the remaining mega particle cannon on both shoulders and waist. He fires off the bazookas being carried by the Sinanju Stein as well. Despite the overwhelming firepower, the Phenex skips over it. It destroys the cannons and pierces the armor, and the II Neo Zeong was driven back riddled with wounds. Jona calls on him to stop, that it’s gone on far enough. Zoltan jettisons from the II Neo Zeong and intends to fight with the Sinanju Stein.

The halo of the psycho shard had continued to supply power to the unit. Roaring like a beast, Zoltan released all of its power and created a powerful psycho field around him. The visor helmet that he was wearing was shattered from the impact of the shock wave and blood started seeping from the corner of his eyes where shards had scratched him.

Jona witnessed the spectacle before him. Behind the Sinanju Stein, the helium 3 tanks were starting to approach critical mass due to the radiating psycho shard. Enraged, Jona calls out Zoltan’s name. With his body already experiencing a heavy burden, he channels Rita and Michelle to attack him. He charges towards the Sinanju Stein with everything he has. The Phenex presses against the psycho field that the Sinanju Stein had thrown up and ultimately pierced the psycho shard barrier as well. He rushed the Sinanju Stein, brandishing his beam saber. Zoltan was prepared to die.

He asks that if they die, would they meld together? Just then, the Phenex’s beam saber pierces the core of the Sinanju Stein and skewered the II Neo Zeong II as well. In doing so, he was overwhelmed with the feelings of isolation, pain, and despair, more than he himself had experienced. Just then, the remaining Helium 3 tanks erupted in a massive explosion.

Iago catches sight of the explosion and curses that he wasn’t in time. The Garancieres Jr. confirms the scene and pulls out of the sector. As they are leaving, the Silver Bullet leaves the deck of the ship and heads towards the site of the explosion. Zinnerman tries to call it back, but the pilot didn’t listen.

As the light filled the cockpit, Jona wonders whether it’s the end or not. He begins to have visions of Rita and Jona. It took all three of them to stop the II Neo Zeong. It was necessary. It was known. Rita tells Jona that she was happy to see him again. Returning to reality, Jona looks down at the pendant in his hands. It was also a testament to people accepting someone different other than themselves. IN order to understand people, they live while repeating many misunderstandings. Loving one another, understanding one another, hating one another and fighting one another. But, it’s the misunderstandings that mean people live in this world.

Iago watches the situation taking place. From within the explosion of light, the Phenex’s eyes flash and all the psycho frame material drifting nearby gathers around it. They create the shape of the Armed Armor DE, similar to the wings on the Phenex. The wings wrap around the psycho shards that are emitting light as well as the remains of the II Neo Zeong. When wrapped in the feathers, the light of the psycho shard disappeared as did the II Neo Zeong that was skewered with the Sinanju Stein, as though they were crushed. The light that was covering the Helium 3 reserve base also disappeared. Instead, a blue light is emitted from the huge wings of the Phenex. A rainbow colored light envelops the entire base.

The Captain of the Damascus asks Iago if a critical explosion was averted or not. He suddenly sees a mobile suit heading for the explosion. It’s the Silver Bullet.

Jona’s normal suit was calmly drifting at the edge of the sea of rainbow colored light. In front of him was the Phenex, which had jettisoned him out of the cockpit. It may be the light emitted by an “unknown drive” that turned the power of will into a driving force. The Phenex, filled with the light of its own psycho field, appeared to be traveling towards somewhere that wasn’t here. Jona calls out Rita and Michelle by name. Their souls overlapped with the figure of the Phenex and gave a small smile and not at him. He then saw another silhouette of a figure approaching from the other side. It was a silhouette of the Unicorn Gundam Unit 1, but the silhouette immediately collapsed and morphed into the figure of a person and embraced Jona from behind. He had come to help JOna, having been guided by Rita and Michelle’s will, but Jona didn’t know that just yet. He left the field of light guided by him.

*

Mineva Lao Zabi was watching the situation unfold from the Vist Foundation estate on Magellanica. Since the Laplace incident, it was anchored in a protective cage containing a Helium 3 tank at the Helium3 reserve base at Side 3. Monaghan appears on the screen. He reports the incident to her but Mineva lays into him, calling him out on the excuses that he’s making. Ending the communication, Mineva inputs a secret code into the terminal. An image was displayed on the screen. There, the figure of Singularity One, Unicorn Gundam Unit 1, which was sealed away in a place unknown to anyone.

Mineva muses that it’ll be their life’s work to keep it sealed away. She says it to Banagher Links, who wasn’t there at the moment. Guided by the psycho waves of Rita Bernal and Michelle Luio, he threw himself into the battle again to save Jona Bashta. Banagher, after all, was her soulmate.

EPILOGUE

Jona regained his consciousness. When he opened his eyes, the light reflected from the stars was visible through the psycho suits helmet visor. When he tried to move his stiffened limbs, he felt pain running throughout his entire body, causing him to groan slightly.

He was told to stay still, that his body was being killed by the G’s. When he turned his eyes towards the voice that echoed from the helmet’s built-in speaker, he saw a man looking at him from the hatch of a mobile suit. His face couldn’t be seen but he wore and unmistakable white pilot suit. The mobile suit was familiar to him: it was a Silver Bullet belonging to the Federation Forces. He was laying in the palm of the suits hand.

As he looked around, he noticed he was within the debris of various blown up vessels and debris from the storage tanks. In the distance he could see the semi-ruptured helium 3 reserve base and nothing else. As he unclenched his hands, he realized he was still holding onto the pendant. This time, though, it was broken in three again. Neither Rita nor Michelle were here anymore.

The man in the mobile suit tried giving him a portable rescue beacon. He’s told that relief will be here soon and that he needs to see a doctor as soon as he gets back to the ship. Jona felt that he had no place to return to. He begins to feel a sense of emptiness welling up inside of him. But just then, he heard voices. They told him they were there and will always be by his side. He didn’t know if it was one or the other but felt that it was both of them. As he looked out, the blue phosphorescence of the Phenex expanding its wings reflected in his visor as it traveled towards the center of the galaxy.

He has memories of the Augusta Labs. Specifically, a poem by Arthur Rimbaud:

It has been found again.

What? – Eternity.

It is the sea fled away

With the sun.

Sentinel soul,

Let us whisper the confession

Of the night full of nothingness

And the day on fire.

From humain approbation,

From common urges

You diverge here

And fly off as you may.

Since from you alone,

Satiny embers,

Duty breathes

Without anyone saying: at last.

Here is no hope,

No orietur.

Knowledge and fortitude,

Torture is certain.

It has been found again.

What? – Eternity.

It is the sea fled away

With the sun.

Jona spoke a specific passage from the poem, “From humain approbation, from common urges you diverge here, and fly off as you may.” While continuing to scatter its blue phosphorescence, the golden suit glistening far away melts into the Milky Way. It was like a seabird he watched one day with Rita and Michelle. Yet he felt that he couldn’t catch up with it at the speed of light. His words were filled with remorse of being forced to face reality. The man in the white pilot suit told him, “Even so, one day…”

Jona repeated the words even so and smiled back at him. He looked back up at the starry sky again. The blue phosphorescence was already fading. The man once again presented Jona with the rescue beacon and Jona accepted it. Banagher retreated back into the cockpit of the Silver Bullet and gently released Jona, turned the craft around and jettisoned away.

A group of Jesta’s belonging to the Schezarr team approached him. In the palm of one of the suits was Iago, who had been rescued from the inferno of the helium 3 reserve base. The Jesta’s approached the blinking beacon and took Jona into the palm of the suit and headed back to the ship. As he heads back, Jona realizes there is no longer a shadow hanging over his heart anymore and that someday he’d be able to follow them. But for now, he’ll live a bit longer in this world. He resolved to himself as he firmly gripped the broken pendant in his hand.