Future tense Chapter one “ The Beast that shouted I . . ”
It is the year 75 of the cosmic era, and with the one year anniversary of the end of the second Bloody Valentine war approaching the eyes of the peoples of man kind are turned inward. The scares of war still fester, even as leaders on earth and off labor to continue the past years peace.
Some where along the scarred cost of the former nation of Japan the ghosts of a shamed past walk through the bones of Tokyo 3.
“ So long waiting, for love, for duty, for simple compassion. ”
Another voice almost an echo of the first, or was it the other way around?
“ What is time really? We knew this was coming, if nothing else. We need to be ready, one way or another for what she brings. ”
The first voice returned with a determined whisper.
“ Death, as ever, she brings death. ”
In the moon light the first voice is relieved. Rei Ayanami, in the form of the school girl she was almost a century ago. A step behind her in her shadow the second voice speaks.
“ Thats not fair Rei, she was never Gendo. I'll deal with him so you don't have to, I promise. ”
**
In a wide orbit around Mars the warship Eternal is enjoying a rare peace time cruse.
Kira Yamato floated a feet above the floor wrapped in blanket, pondering his situation.
“ How exactly are we getting away with this ? ”
Lacus Clyne's head pop out from under the blanket, as she spoke in her normal happy tone of voice.
“ It seems when not in war time, a ZAFT ship is allowed a relatively easy first mission to ensure the ship as s whole is working properly. Mr. Waltfeld was happy to let us us come along for as a wedding gift. ”
He knew just how ridicules it was that they got to do this just because it was Lacus Clyne that asked the counsel. Kira laughed as he spoke.
“ So after years of operation and two wars, we get to see if the ship works right, and with a Captain thats technically not in ZAFT anymore? Haha! I think I'm not going to complain. Its rare we get to get away from it all, with your schedule and all. ”
“ You'd better not! ”
Faint laughter echoed down that hall, while on the bridge Andrew Waltfeld pulled up another image of the planet below them.
“ Sand's a bit red, but I think I could get used to that. Better gravity then the moon, also nice. This far out solar power would be an issue, and the dust would make it to hard to maintain. Some uranium and i think we'd be set. ”
One of the bridge crew spoke up.
“Sir, what are you talking about?”
Waltfeld smiled as he replied.
“ Just pondering making myself king of the red sands of Mars. With the war over, and relations with earth still tense it's only a matter of time before the Plants move out further, and try to find another place to get large amounts of raw materials. Regardless of what they find in the asteroid belt, Mars is the easy choice for a colony. But don't mind me, I just miss the desert. ”
He reached for his coffee and mused internally.
And no canned coffee on my planet either, punishable by exile to earth or the PLANTS with the other canned coffee drinking barbarians!
His wasn't the only happy thought interrupted by the ship listing 90 degrees to port, and collision alarm blaring over the ship's speakers. Waltfeld saw his bionic replacement hand go floating past as he realized he was on the ceiling.
“ What in the hell! Status report, NOW?! ”
The confused bridge crew struggled to return to their controls, franticly trying to answer the Captains question.
“ Two large objects just passed within between 12 and 30 feat of the hull. Nothing on any warning system, manual or automatic before that. Their inertia almost pulled us into the atmosphere. Nature of the objects is unknown. ”
He floated back into his chair and used his remaining hand to punch a console.
“ Looks like the heat shielding held up fine, get me locations on our to surprise visitors.”
“ Already done sir, their at the foot of Olympus Mons. Both targets are . . reading as organic in nature . . ”
Grabbing his wayward hand as it floated past, he raised an eyebrow.
“ Well then, check on our guests, then prep Gaia for launch. ”
**
Deep under the Orb union, the nation's oldest prison looked like a hotel room from another century. The nation's long held neutral standing prompted the United Nations to store certain things on its soil thought too dangerous to keep elsewhere.
The last active samples of the lethal Polio, and HIV viruses, the original UN charter, and the most hated man in human history. Gendo Ikari, as if defying time, and God, still alive and serving his life sentence for war crimes directly resulting in the 3rd Impact event that preceded the resource shortages that gave birth to the Cosmic Era calendar and world of today. Somehow, for reasons unknown medical science, he appeared the same as he did the day he was arrested. Save the addition of a serpent headed cane used to make up for knee injury suffered at the hands of Pope Justice IV. A 12 year old zealot that offered him a billion dollars in Templar gold and the absolution of his sins if he would only admit to the world he'd been damned by Christ to walk the earth till Judgment day. Justice IV had been the last sitting Pope, and he died more then 20 years ago, Ikari however remains.
Ikari sat at a desk older then most of his jailers. Kind people these days, that actually allowed anyone with observer status at the UN to visit him with an appointment, or sometimes even historians if they can get favors with the security counsel. One young man named George Glen, sent by no less than Ritsuko Akagi, had collaborated with him on a book regarding the ethical application of genetic engineering in regard to humans. The Modern Hippocrates wasn't a big seller, until after George Glen outed himself as a coordinator. Gendo always knew the man was hiding something.
Gendo was glad to hear, Ritsuko had done well in her later years. Helping to create the coordinators, and, according to George Glen, being so close to the first dozen, they called her grand mother.
He flipped though the pages of The Modern Hippocrates, wondering how after two wars, what his old friend would think of the world they lived in today, as a ghost from his past appeared with a whisper.
“ She has returned. ”
Looking over his shoulder he saw the impossible image of Rei Ayanami, had she lived another decade or more. Gendo had long since grown to hate the word impossible.
“ You look like your mother, Rei. ”
She stared at him with those alien red eyes of hers, and responded in a tone of voice with more anger then she was once capable of.
“ I don't have one of those, you grew me in a vat to use and discard when you where through with me. Now, once they realize what is going on, they'll be coming for you. Be ready. ”
Gendo replied with almost a smile as she was still so transparent to him.
“ Then will you finally discard me? ”
“ When I'm done with you. ”
**
Kira trailed behind Waltfeld, half dressed, and he walked to his Mobile Suit .
“ Give me five minutes for a preflight check, and I'll go with you. ”
Kid, this is supposed to be your time away from things, just you and the wife. Probably the last time you'll get the chance for a while considering the lives you lead. Now those to unknowns are one of two things, random space junk that happened to hit a blind spot in our sensors that fighting two wars didn't let us in on, or it's some stealth shielded weapon that's damaged and doesn't know the war's over. Either way its my job to deal with it. Go back to your wife, and enjoy your time off. I'll take care of it.
Kira finally caught up as he prepared to board the Gaia.
“ Listen, you're probably right, just be careful. I don't want to have to explain anything happening to you to Lacus. ”
Andrew took a moment to fix his helmet in place, before responding.
“ Glad to see you're used to the idea of thinking like a man with higher responsibilities, Kira, thats a good sign. ”
The younger man retorted.
“ I'm glad you think so, now give me 5 minutes for a pre-flight check or I'm spending my honeymoon in the dog house. ”
Andrew considered having to cut his impromptu trip to the sand short by the help, but then again there was the possibility that what was down there was something important, and something his energy shield-less mecha might not be able to take care of.
“ Alright, it'll take me that long to calibrate my hand for Martian gravity anyway, suit up. ”
**
The pair fell to Mars with with an ease imposable in Earths thicker atmosphere. Gaia and Freedom two weapons from the last war, fast approaching the red sands of Mars. Landing with a crash, Gaia in its four legged alt mode set off across the sand at breakneck speed.
“ Freedom to Gaia, are you getting a weak signal from up the mountain? ”
Waltfeld punched a few buttons on his com panel, and got the signal. Kira spoke before he could say a word.
“ What the heck is Evangelion unit 1 ? ”
From up the high atop Olympus Mons, a roar went out through the planet's thin atmosphere. A burst of white hot light ripped down from the sky like the rage of Zeus down from on high. In the heartbeat between the roar, and the impact of the blast, Freedom engaged it's shields and stood its ground.
Gaia took advantage of the light gravity to jump skyward and fire a volley of blaster fire. Waltfeld's mind began to race, struggling with one thought that might lose this battle. Kira has no idea what they're fighting.
“ Kira, pull back! This isn't a mobile suit! ”
Before he could respond, the attacker barrelled down from above. In preparation, Kira disengaged the light shields and drew his beam saber, intent on bringing this fight to a quick end. He didn't hear the older pilot's warning over the sound of his own heartbeat.
The huge green scaled monster had a pair of claw-like hands, and raptor like head. It lunged forward, claw extended. Kira parried the blow with his sword, fully expecting to take off the hand. His disappointment came in the form of what appeared to be a tight forcefield, with an odd octagonal pattern. It held back the full force of the saber, though, much to Kira's surprise, the armor under the field where he struck seemed to boil like flesh under fire.
“ What the hell? ”
Andrew held his finger on the trigger, the target lock already set, as the beast clawed into the chest of Kira's Gundam. For once he hoped he didn't have a kill shot as he fired. The blast impacted on the back of the monster's head. It's protective energy field gave way with surprising ease, burning a hole through its skull. The cross-shaped explosion was bright enough to be seen from Earth ripped a hole in the surface of Mars. As if foreshadowing the return the war god himself, the solar system shook.
**
Dawn of the following day. In the ORB union UN embassy.
Gendo sat waiting for his visitor.
As he entered the room he tried to size up the young man. Tall dark hair, and young[,] though he was at least old enough to shave.
Well thats one improvement at least.
“ Mr Ikari, My name is Athrun Zala and I've been charged with bringing you before the UN Special Security Council.
Gendo saw Rei's ethereal form hovering over him.
“ To the throne of souls it is then. ”
Next: full realization
Ld got me to try a crossover blame him.