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“I feel sick…” A pilot muttered, pulling off her helmet and covering her mouth in agony. Unknown to her, she had just unleashed one of the most devastating weapons humanity has ever seen: the Yomagn’tho. The massive circular weapon loomed near Earth, ready to bring about the destruction of mundane humanity.
All for Lady Kycilia’s dream.
Nyaan’s hand shook as she typed in the second launch code into her console, following the coordinates given to her by Kycilia. Her other hand continued to hold her mouth, afraid to lose the dinner she had so painstakingly made.
I hope Lady Kycilia tries some of my homemade Khao Man Gai…she’s given me so much, I want to repay her… Nyaan thought to herself. She finally finished typing in the code, and was met with an error message.
“Cooling sequence? So I have to wait to fire it again…?” Nyaan asked out loud. She reached her hand out to try and look through the override menus, but then felt a familiar tingle in the back of her head.
She looked up to see a large mobile suit descending into the Yomagn’tho’s control room. Her eyes shot open when she realized it was a weapon she knew well.
“The Gquuuuuux?!” Nyaan exclaimed. The mobile suit slowly descended toward the platform she stood on. She immediately commanded her mobile suit to rip off the wires connecting her to the command console.
“Machu, is that you?!” Nyaan called out through the mobile suit’s loudspeakers.
Please, let me hear anyone else’s voice. I don’t care who, just don’t let it b- Nyaan’s thoughts were interrupted by her greatest fear.
“Nyaan?! What are you doing here?!” Machu’s voice rang out through her own speakers.
Nyaan immediately closed the hatch on her mobile suit and powered all the systems back up. Machu saw this and readied her shining orange laser axe.
“I’m following Lady Kycilia’s orders! Don’t get in my way, Machu!” Nyaan yelled out. The Gquuuuuux leaned forward, challenging Machu.
“Do you know what you just did?! It was…it was horrifying, Nyaan…” Machu shook inside of her cockpit, remembering the devastation that one attack brought upon the floating station. Nyaan thought back to how she felt during the attack, and felt a wave of nausea rush back as she clasped her mouth once more.
“I…I don’t know…but I trust Lady Kycilia! She wants to make a better world for us all!” Nyaan responded, voice wavering slightly. The Gquuuuuux pointed its axe directly at the GFred.
“You’re being an idiot, Nyaan! She’s using you to do her dirty work! Now come on, let’s get out of here and escape this place together!” Machu said, holding out her hand and commanding her mobile suit to do the same.
But Nyaan was silent, looking down at her controls in deep contemplation. Images of herself sitting in Kycilia’s chamber filled her mind, her gentle fingers brushing her hair back. A reassuring voice echoed into her ear.
“If you want to be stronger, shoot without hesitation”
Kycilia’s face then walked around the chair, and looked at her directly.
“You have the will to survive. You are strong, Nyaan.”
Nyaan’s eyes darkened as she pushed her controls forward, and commanded 2 Gund Bits to fly off of her mobile suit and encircle the Gquuuuuux. Machu felt a tinge of danger, and hurriedly commanded her mobile suit to dodge horizontally, just in time for two beams to shoot above and below her. Machu glared down at Nyaan.
“Are you crazy?! I’m trying to help you, Nyaan! I’m here to save Lalah too!” Machu yelled. She blasted her thrusters downward, and nearly missed the GFred’s arm with its cut. Nyaan responded by activating her own leg thruster, and roundhouse kicking Machu across the room.
“Lalah…? Is that who’s been in my head…?” Nyaan muttered to herself. She then activated the intercom once again, a new fire in her eyes.
“Help me?! So you think coming here to take away the one shred of power I managed to grasp is helping?!” Nyaan fired her rifle at Machu, who deflected it with the head of her axe. Nyaan followed up by shooting one of her Gund Bits at the Gquuuuuux’s hand, sending the axe flying across the room.
“It’s just like at Side 6! I had to jump into the Gquuuuuux when you couldn’t make it in time! And I got a taste for what freedom was like!” Nyaan’s eyes sparkled as she recalled the Clan Battle she fought in. The rush of battle, putting her life on the line and trusting her own instincts. Her will to survive allowed her to demonstrate her own power for the first time.
“But when you saw I was in the mobile suit, what was your reaction?! I was so excited to tell you I could see the Kira-Kira like you and Shu-chan, but you said that was YOUR space! You couldn’t bear the thought that I could have the same freedom as you!” Nyaan unleashed a devastating punch to Machu’s stomach, sending the mobile suit reeling.
“That…that’s not something I’m proud of now! I’m sorry! But you have to listen to me, Nyaan! You’re being m-” Machu was cut off by Nyaan’s loud, frustrated voice.
“You’re sorry now because I’m a threat to you! You fear me now, just like Haro did after the first time I saw the Kira-Kira! You want me to stay a helpless refugee struggling to make money, so you and Shu-chan can be the only special ones!” Nyaan continued.
Machu’s hands shook against the pilot controls, wanting to yell back, but saw that Nyaan wasn’t in any position to listen.
“All three of us can be special, together! I was being selfish back then! But I always saw you as a friend! Remember when I kicked that agent in the nuts so you could get away?!” Machu yelled back, dodging a laser from one of the Gund Bits.
Nyaan recalled the moment, and gritted her teeth in frustration. She then recalled Kycilia’s words, and squinted in determination.
“Yet here you are, trying to take away my key to true freedom! Lady Kycilia promised me that I would be free after this mission, and I am so close…I can’t be alone again, Machu!” Nyaan screamed as she raised her purple sword to slice the Gquuuuux’s head off. But her strike was halted by a shining green sword Machu had pulled from her side.
“You’re so stupid, Nyaan! You keep saying you’ll be alone if you don’t do this! Well even if Shuji’s gone, I’m still here! You’ll never be alone as long as I’m alive!” Machu responded, the two clashing their two beam sabers.
Nyaan commanded her two Gund Bits to fire at Machu’s mobile suit, but Machu expertly twisted around the beams once more. Nyaan’s hands shook against the controls, feelings swirling through her mind. Images of Machu and herself walking down the road, laying on top of the Red Gundam, sharing a moment on top of the roof park. All moments that had no ulterior motive.
“That’s easy for you to say! You have a loving mother you can go back to at any time! You have a safe apartment to escape to, and lead a normal life! I lived in a refugee camp, and my parents are dead! What am I going to do when you decide to leave me like Shu-chan for the Kira-Kira?!” Nyaan let out a loud scream as she clashed with Machu’s beam saber once more. Both fighters let out their cries as electricity arched across both blades.
After seconds of the clash, Machu slammed her fist down upon a panel to her right. The chestpiece of the Gquuuuuux began to open as Machu held her hands out.
“Here I am, Nyaan! Let’s talk this out, face to face!” Machu challenged. Nyaan stared with disdain at Machu, her red hair reflecting off the lights of the space station.
The GFred’s cockpit opened as well, and Nyaan rocketed out faster than Machu had anticipated. Machu then found herself unable to breathe when Nyaan grabbed her by the throat, and pinned her against the Gquuuuuux’s cockpit chair. Nyaan’s expression was cold and empty as she held the gun Kycilia had given her to Machu’s forehead.
“If you want to be stronger, shoot without hesitation. That’s what Lady Kycilia taught me. You keep throwing these weird objections at me, and making me doubt myself. I think it’s about time I stopped questioning my mission now.” Nyaan muttered without emotion in her voice. Machu tried to scream, but air was rapidly being squeezed out of her lungs. Nyaan stared directly at Machu’s eyes as she pressed her finger against the trigger.
And held it there. Seconds rolled by, but no shot came. Nyaan’s eyes turned downward, and her grip loosened against Machu’s throat. Machu was finally able to pull away when she saw two streaks of tears beginning to roll down Nyaan’s face.
“I can’t do it…I can’t kill you, Machu…I’m sorry Lady Kycilia…I’m not strong enough…” Nyaan cried. She dropped her gun and covered her face with her hands, sobbing directly into them. But just as she was expecting Machu to end her miserable existence, she felt a warm embrace.
“You are strong, Nyaan. You survived on your own through all of this chaos. You took down all of those Big Zams, and won a clan battle almost by yourself. You don’t need Kycilia’s words to prove your worth.” Machu said. Nyaan was finally able to open her eyes to see Machu’s smiling face below her, hugging her from the front.
“You’re the strongest person I know, Nyaan. And I’m sorry that I didn’t recognize how much you were struggling compared to me. But this Kira-Kira that Kycilia is trying to make you use…you feel it’s not the same, right?” Machu asked.
Nyaan silently nodded her head, and pressed her face against Machu’s shoulder.
“It makes me sick, Machu…everything about this weapon is not freedom that the Kira-Kira is supposed to bring…it’s terror…” Nyaan cried. Machu patted Nyaan’s back as the two hugged.
“But…but if I don’t do this…Lady Kycilia…I don’t want to be alone again…” Nyaan cried.
Nyaan then felt her cheeks lightly clasped by two warm hands. Nyaan opened her eyes just in time to see Machu pull her into a kiss, her own eyes shut. Nyaan stared in disbelief, and quickly began to blush.
“Mffchu?!” Nyaan tried to cry out, but Machu only pulled her in tighter. Eventually they broke, and Nyaan kneeled down in embarrassment as she clutched the sides of her blushing face.
“Wha-what was that?! You…I…” Nyaan stammered. Machu proudly crossed her arms.
“That was me proving to you that I’m not going to abandon you, no matter what Kycilia, Chalia, or anyone says! You’re my friend, and we made a promise to see the ocean together! Even if Shuji’s not here, you’re still dear to me Nyaan!” Machu declared.
“And now you’re my girlfriend!”
Nyaan let out a shrill squeak and crawled back in horror at Machu’s declaration, hiding her face in her arms. She could feel her face growing hotter by the second.
“G-g-girlfriend?! But this…I…you…what about Shu-” Nyaan was cut off by Machu stepping forward.
“He’s with the Kira-Kira, and abandoned us anyway! The way I see it, you’ve been by my side this whole time. So now we’re together! I want a beachfront house on Earth with a sunroof!” Machu declared.
Nyaan stared in disbelief, her mouth agape at Machu’s sheer confidence. But she couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Machu joined her in laughing, and the two happily let all of their emotions wash away into the vacuum of space.
“I’ll keep that in mind. So…you meant what you said? About the whole…girlfriend…thing?” Nyaan asked, poking her index fingers together. Machu walked forward and kicked Nyaan in the shins, making her double over. She then wrapped Nyaan into another kiss, now that Nyaan was at eye level. The two shared this one longer than the first, both enjoying it this time.
Once two two broke, they were both smiling and blushing at each other. Machu motioned toward the GFred, and stared up toward the sky.
“There’s still a war going on outside. Can you abandon Kycilia’s mission, and help me protect Lalah? Once this is all over, we will both be free!” Machu declared. Nyaan let out a sigh and nodded her head.
“There you go again, acting so confident about things far above us. But I think I can do it. Let’s stop Lady Kycilia, Machu!” Nyaan responded. The two then leaped back into their mobile suits and rocketed out of the spaceship, entering the chaos of battles happening around them. Both of their cockpit warning lights began to flash.
“There’s something coming out of a rift in space! What is that?!” Nyaan called out, seeing a brilliant flashing of lights before her. Before long, they were staring at a tall white mobile suit with a long red shield, and a beam saber held out to its side. Both Machu and Nyaan felt a tingle as they were brought to a spiritual realm, face to face with a familiar boy.
“Shuji?!” Machu yelled out when she saw the boy before her. He looked at the two of them with no emotion in his eyes.
“I’m here to protect Lalah’s dream. This universe was made from her desire to see a world where Char lives. But this universe’s existence threatens my own. It must be destroyed.” Shuji explained. Machu marched forward with determination.
“Who allowed you to decide what should be destroyed?! This is our home! I’m not going to let you hurt Lalah! Especially after you abandoned us back on Side 6! Right Nyaan?!” Machu turned back, and Nyaan was slowly approaching the duo.
“I couldn’t believe you didn’t even say goodbye to me, Shu-chan. Especially when we needed you the most. How could you…?” Nyaan asked, looking down at the spectral floor below.
Shuji’s face remained unchanged. “I told you, I’m here to protect Lalah’s wishes. Neither of you are natural people. What is the point in getting attached?” He asked, tilting his head. Machu let out a yell and brought her fist back.
“I can’t believe I ever saw you as a friend! I hate you, SHUJI!” Machu roared as she punched Shuji’s face with all her might, cracking the spectral plane they inhabited and severing the psychic connection. All three found themselves back in their cockpits, ready to fight. Machu glanced over and readied her beam saber.
“Let’s take him down together, Nyaan! We can’t let him hurt Lalah! Together?!” Machu held out her hand. The GFred reached out and clased its hand in the Gquuuuuux’s.
“We’ll create our freedom together, Machu! Get out of our way, Shu-chaaaaaaaan!” Nyaan yelled, both mechs speeding toward the White Gundam. The final battle had begun. Kycilia watched with interest as the two mobile suits faced off against the newcomer.
“So, Nyaan has decided to betray me? No matter. I’ll just…what?” Kycilia’s eyes widened when she saw a familiar mobile suit staring back at her through the windshield. The blond-haired pilot completed the task he had always been destined for.