Cybaster
Delta
Roadkilled. Repeatedly.
Posts: 231
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Post by Cybaster on May 23, 2004 23:18:51 GMT -5
"What makes you think that you can win? What makes you think I'm not right, even!?" Jerid Albright, the UEG's Head of Counterintelligence and Gundam Aquarius MS Trooper, gloated arrogantly as he and Kouji stood off on the surface of the Moon, the two facing one another. Kouji glared at him, standing in a Toho Fuhai-ryu martial arts stance; Jerid merely crossed his arms. "Boy, I've seen more in years than you'll ever see in your life! Why're you fighting me? Because I did something bad? Because I was doing my job? No, or was it only because I killed that self-righteous b*stard Cybrionne?"
Kouji clenched his teeth in defiance behind the God Gundam's helmet. "I'm stopping you because what you're doing isn't what anybody deserves, Albright!"
"And who exactly are you to say that!?" Jerid spat in reply. "I will do whatever I need to do to make sure Earth continues to rule supreme, and Earth never will unless we teach these Spacenoid scum a lesson! I'm a soldier! I'm still a soldier! Cybrionne deserved to die because he thought we could still fight a war with honor. News flash, boy: you can't! To do that's to invite someone to hit you even harder. Don't tell me you actually believe in this honor stuff and righteousness and happy endings..."
"I do, Albright!" Kouji screamed back, holding back the urge to strike first. If he lost his temper here, he'll never defeat Jerid... "What's the point of fighting if nobody's happy in the end?"
If Jerid wasn't helmed, Kouji could tell that he was rolling his eyes in disgust. "G*d, you are so two-dimensional! Happy endings never exist, not in war. You might think you're fighting for someone's happiness, but you can't keep it even if you do succeed! Something else will just get in the way and you'll be back at Square One. You don't fight wars for happy endings; you fight it for power, and do what you have to do. What makes you think you can change this? What makes you think you can even make anyone happy with what you do and still be appreciated for what you're trying to do? For that matter...how can you be sure people want a happy ending, boy...?"
* * *
Nebin Cybrionne's death was a heroic one even if Jerid didn't think so.
It was Jerid, leader of the UEG Fleet that supported the Shining Hope on the surface but in reality seeking to forcefully control the AOL Colonies, that had brought along a very powerful EMP Cannon on his own flagship specifically for that purpose. It was a powerful gun; one blast from the cannon destroyed an entire colony and every million of its inhabitants, and at the heat of the battle Jerid wanted to turn the cannon on the Shining Hope in revenge for surviving Jerid's first attack against it much earlier. Cybrionne was the nearest to the cannon, and without another thought for his own life he charged towards Jerid's ship to destroy the cannon, but he was too late; the cannon fired at him point-blank, and the last Cyb could do was to use his Biosensor to erect a mental shield that protected the Shining Hope from that very first blast. Nevertheless, the cannon proved its deadliness in that, despite his actions, Cybrionne was killed instantly by the shutting down of his systems violently without fanfare...
Thankfully, despite a second blast disabling a good portion of the Yamato defence line as well as half of his own fleet, the third blast instead overloaded the cannon and Jerid's flagship blew itself up in turn. Of course, Jerid himself survived the explosions, but that was another story.
Eventually, Kouji and Fuunsaiki's wanderings took them in front of a bar; had he been with the Shining Hope earlier, he would've realized that this was the very bar where Malek and Liv were nearly killed during their previous visit to New Mexico, now repaired but with the same clientale frequenting it, all no less seedy. Kouji ignored it; Fuunsaiki whined once, and the two continued walking just as two burly men exited the wooden doors to talk.
"Hey, you see that red-haired woman that just moved into Newbury Street earlier? She's a cute one, ain't she?"
"Yah, you're tellin' me! What a hottie!"
"Hey, maybe after sundown, we can go look for her for a little...talk in the Moonlight, right, buddy? Heh, heh, heh..."
"Ooh, yeah. I prefer women to independence any day. Who cares if the UEG's gonna garrison this sorry town?"
Kouji closed his eyes.
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Cybaster
Delta
Roadkilled. Repeatedly.
Posts: 231
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Post by Cybaster on May 23, 2004 23:17:20 GMT -5
Kouji and Jerid --- Bakunetsu no Hikari
Does the perfect ideal ever exist?
Kouji didn't know for sure. It was not easy finding the answer to this question; it never was, because nobody can make sure for the life of them that it even can be answered. And as much as he had resolved to try, there were still so many unknowns that could ruin a perfectly good day.
But Kouji had learned long ago not to try to know for certain; trying to do so had nearly cost him his life in the hands of Yamato ace Camilla Diamond. His belief in happy endings was strong then, but it was doubtful, unfocused; that belief had drawn out his Super Mode, but wasted his energy.
I had learned not to even ask; just keep running forward and do my best, and let the best come naturally...
That was what Kouji Kamishima, student of Toho Fuhai-ryu martial arts and former crew member of the Shining Hope, was doing, his person walking through the streets of New Mexico casually and looking for his next duty to come naturally. He inevitably drew attention to himself; Kouji's God Gundam armor, now around his body for most of his waking hours, was still scorched black in many places from one of the draconian Ryu's flamethrowers although the armor itself was otherwise undamaged. And beside him, trotting casually as well with Kouji merely letting her walk beside him, was his Mobile Horse, Fuunsaiki.
Fuunsaiki...Kouji smiled at that briefly, realizing that by the time Kouji had discovered Fuunsaiki's secret, the Mobile Horse had already grown too fond the name. A Mobile Horse constructed for specific use by his father before the April Fools Massacre, Fuunsaiki was in secret Kouji's very own mother, Miki Masuda; during the War of Ages, Miki was also his father's second-in-command before she was killed in battle, and to preserve her life Miki's mind was installed into Fuunsaiki so she could continue helping her husband after death. In a brief moment of dreaminess, Kouji turned to the incarnation of his mother that walked beside him; Fuunsaiki nuzzled his face, causing him to giggle. Although the time that Kouji and Fuunsaiki knew each other was very short, she was now indispensible to the boy, even if she wasn't family...
But the dreaminess was brief, and listening in to the conversations around him, from those who weren't looking at him, sobered Kouji quickly. The real world was indeed harsh, and even harsher was blatant ignorance...
"Have you heard? Is the New UEG really going to garrison this city...?"
"Why should I care? It doesn't mean my life's going to change any. It's not like they'll force me to become an MS Trooper..."
"We should never have let Yamato garrison itself here! The UEG'll slaughter us all for what Yamato did to them! That's the only reason the UEG even bothered, isn't it!?"
"Slaughter, kill, whatever. If the UEG's really going to do that, I'll just move."
Kouji frowned wistfully, the passersby otherwise oblivious. At this, the boy was forced to shake his head; the insensitivity of these people surprised him but, then again, this wasn't the Shining Hope. But was Jerid really right...?
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Cybaster
Delta
Roadkilled. Repeatedly.
Posts: 231
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Post by Cybaster on May 22, 2004 21:28:08 GMT -5
And....my turn.
* * *
Cyb and Souffle --- The Last Phoenix[/u]
New Mexico, three weeks later
It had been in New Mexico that most of everything happened to the Shining Hope, facing constant attacks from Yamato, AOL Remnants and other villains, with three members of its crew kidnapped and two betraying the ship. Now, three weeks after the final battle, it was fitting that New Mexico became the place where Souffle Reeds wrapped one final detail up.
Souffle buried Nebin Cybrionne there.
Underneath the blazing New Mexico sun, the red-haired, small-framed Phoenix Gundam MS Girl by the name of Souffle Reeds stood desolately on the particular barren hill where the Shining Hope had landed before; as she stood, reminiscing about her one-time foster father, the eternally young Souffle could only try in desperation to keep from crying again. It was scary to live in a world without Cybbie; it was even scarier to imagine one without him...
At least, however, she wasn't alone. Standing with her to Souffle's left, also in front of the single marble gravestone that marked where Cybrionne rested in peace, was arguably the veteran MS Trooper's one-time and only love --- purple-haired Hi-Nu Gundam trooper Yumi Sonchiro, Yamato's former 'Black Fox'. Perhaps for once, the new Yumi was likewise solemn; the more outgoing self that she had discovered was deathly silent, Souffle and Yumi holding onto each other's hands in comfort. Yumi was the closest Souffle now had to family --- whether Souffle wanted her to be or not, but Souffle trusted Yumi implicitly by now. After all, if Cyb believed in her...
"Yumie?"
Yumi turned to Souffle quickly, blinking once. "What is it, Souffle?"
Souffle's eyes, Yumi could see, were both longing and desolate at the same time, as if Souffle had both prepared for Cyb leaving her and wished that he would never do so. The girl whimpered a little as she voiced her question. "Did you love Cybbie when he was...you know, Yumie? Like I did?"
The first reaction that Yumi had was surprise, sadness and instinctive defiance, blinking blankly at Souffle's question: How...how is this any of her business!? Yumi gasped mentally, more surprised than actually angry. I know Cybbie's the closest thing the poor girl had to family, but should 9-year-olds really know these things? How are these girls maturing so quickly all of a sudden...!? Once that had passed, however, Yumi's features softened once more towards the girl; she realized that, all in all, Souffle had a right to know no matter what was said and done.
If only it wasn't so dismal thinking about it, however, about Cyb being one of the only two things she had to live for when she returned to the Shining Hope, about how she still liked him even after she had briefly returned to Yamato and her brother, about how they were so close to making through the final battle together only to have that b*stard Jerid Alright take Cyb away from her and Souffle, perhaps this would've been easier on Yumi altogether. Even though we're almost a decade apart on the age department, he didn't really mind as long as I didn't. That Cybrionne, always so tender outside of fighting, Yumi frowned to herself, shaking her head. Damnit, Cybbie, why'd you and Cho have to die? Why'd you have to let Jerid kill you off!?
All in all, however, Yumi knew the answer, and while she didn't know where Souffle was going with this question, Yumi was going to be as truthful about it as possible. It still wasn't easy. "...Yeah," Yumi replied, giving Souffle a soft sigh. The grip on Souffle's hand tightened. "I did. Like you did, Souffle, maybe even more. I don't really know, though..." Sometimes I wonder if he ever valued me more than he valued you. Sometimes I felt so jealous of you, Souffle...
Souffle's next words made Yumi realize that she was better off not answering that question: "If...if you don't want me with you, Yumie...I can leave."
"What!?"
"I...I know Cybbie isn't coming back, and I know you're...only with me because I loved Cybbie. I can go, Yumie, you and Miss Wei-Li won't have to worry about me," Souffle lowered her head, avoiding Yumi's gaze. "I can try to take care of myself. I can find a job, and I'll be okay...you don't have to worry about me at all..."
Souffle's words startled even Yumi Sonchiro. It was scary how resigned Souffle seemed to be that she was going to be alone and yet, she was amazed at the same time at how mature Souffle had grown in Cyb's care. In the time Yumi was back with Cho, she remembered Cyb telling her, Souffle had grown a lot; she became more independent, helping around the ship, and undertook combat training so Souffle could help Cyb bring Yumi back --- Souffle even actually fought with the ship in the end and helped Cybrionne save Heather from Los Angeles! Of course, Yumi didn't quite believe it then, but now, seeing Souffle, she had to. And yet, Yumi knew that Souffle was only trying to be strong, that the girl was still so fragile in a world without Cybbie...
Souffle didn't even know if she could make it with Yumi in a world where Cybrionne didn't exist anymore. How could Souffle survive alone? "Souffle," Yumi knew her answer again. "You're a strong girl, but you don't have to be alone."
You won't have to be alone again, Yumi, Cybrionne had told her before his final sortie, I'll be right here. Whenever you need me, I'll be here for you. You never have to face your problems alone, remember that...
"B-but Yumie, I thought..."
"Look at me, Souffle." Yumi said sternly, causing the girl to whimper and look up at her. The Hi-Nu Girl paused for a moment to give Souffle a lopsided look before continuing. "Cybbie didn't want to be with me only because he pitied me, and I'm not staying with you because I had no choice. I want to take care of you, Souffle. I want to start over. And you don't have to be alone, you don't have to face your problems alone. Now don't talk like that anymore, okay?"
Souffle nodded. "And I want to stay with you, too, Yumie." She replied innocently. "I won't give you or Miss Wei-Li any trouble..."
"You better not."
For the first time in three hours, Yumi Sonchiro smirked mischeviously at Souffle Reeds.
"And Yumie?"
"Yeah?"
And then, floating into the air until Souffle's eyes were at the same height as Yumi's, the Phoenix Gundam girl leaned forward and hugged Yumi tightly. Normally it was a sight that Yumi was not accustomed to; who would want to hug the Black Fox? If it was anyone else but Souffle or Shade, in fact... "Thank you. I'm sure Cybbie felt the same way about you."
Yumi hugged back, merely letting Souffle float there while, under the sun, Cybrionne's gravestone glittered back at them:
Here lies Nebin Cybrionne, Veteran of the UEG, Brave Warrior And Endearing Father: You won't have to be alone again Because the Phoenix will make your memories live on. We'll miss you dearly, Cybbie.
Souffle Reeds, erected AM (After Massacre) 0005
Hey, don't worry about a thing anymore, Cybbie, Yumi thought to herself, revelling in Souffle's embrace. You're right; I don't have to face my problems alone anymore. I'll take good care of Souffle for you, and make sure she doesn't have to, either. Just...kick Jerid a good one in the 'nads for me, will you?
"No, Souffle," Yumi Sonchiro replied, and both she and Souffle Reeds were together once more. "Thank you."
-Cyb
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