Episode 22

This is not good. Lu thought as he studied the three mobile suits around him. I could rush the one in front but that would leave my back open to the other two. I could roll right but the one in front might be able to get a shot off before I was completely clear. "Shit" he muttered into the com.

"Such language." Megaere laughed. "Give it up boy. I have you." The three Furies began to circle Tallgeese. "There’s no escape." The suit with the buster rifle began charging it’s weapon.

However, before the Fury could get a shot off what appeared to be a grappling cable shot out of nowhere and ripped the buster rifle from it’s grasp. Lu took the opportunity to charge the suit currently to his left, breaking free of the circle of suits.

"She’s here." Megaere whispered as the three suits scrambled clear of Tallgeese.

A form began to take shape in the space to Lu’s right. A rather demonic looking red and black mobile suit appeared as the grappling cable snapped back into place on the suit’s shield arm.

"Rowan?" Lu asked. There was no reply.

"Silly boy. That’s Alecto, isn’t it my dear?" Megaere asked. Still there was no reply. "Now, now don’t be rude. Not after all the trouble I went through to get you to this little party." The three Furies took up defensive positions next to one another. " Oh I see…you’re angry with me for not killing him yet. I told you I would and I will if you’ll give me a moment."

The new suit’s eyes flared a dark red in response. "Oh don’t tell me you still love him." One of the Furies suddenly cloaked. "Really Alecto, I’m surprised at you. I though you’d be smart enough to realize when you’re not wanted. Need I remind you of that other pilot?" A flash of red again lit up the space around the new Gundam. A second Fury cloaked.

"Yes remember her. The one your lover replaced you with only a few weeks after your supposed death." The suit drew it’s beam saber.

Lu noticed a small movement behind the new suit. "Rowan behind you." He cried.

Rowan activated the suit’s beam saber and spun around quickly slicing the Fury behind it in half. The suit exploded sending Rowan’s Gundam tumbling forward into space. Lu quickly positioned Tallgeese between Rowan’s suit and the visible Fury.

"Get out of my way boy." Megaere growled. "This is a family matter. You were helpful in getting Alecto here, however your presence is no longer needed."

"I’m staying. You’re never going to touch her again asshole." Lu cried swiping at the suit with his beam saber.

***

Rowan pulled her Gundam out of the spin and drew it’s other beam saber. Tallgeese and one of the Furies were trading blows just off to her left. Where’s the other one? She scanned the area around her but couldn’t pick up at thing. She chanced another glance over towards the space where Lu and Megaere were fighting. Tallgeese was holding it’s own against the Fury.

Her alarms began to sound. "Finally" she sighed The sooner I destroy this other suit the sooner I can get out of here. She prepared to attack; however the suit approaching was not the Fury she had expected. Instead it was one of the Preventer’s Gundams, her replacement in fact. Rowan snarled despite herself, as she watched the suit approach.

Apparently Megaere had noticed the additional suit as well. He had moved away from Tallgeese and the other Fury had uncloaked next to his position. "My, my things are getting a bit crowded, aren’t they? I think I’ll just take my toy and be on my way."

"Oh no you don’t" Lu shouted charging the Furies. However, before he could reach their position they had already cloaked. "Fuck." He cried.

In the mean time Rowan had begun to circle the other suit. She had to admit that it was quite impressive. A foil for her own suit in a way, while her suit was a demon, this new suit appeared in every way angelic. She took a swipe at it with one of her heat rods. The other suit easily dogged the strike. She has good reflexes, but can she dodge two at once?

Rowan brought both of Alecto’s arms up ad lashed out at the angelic suit. Once again the suit rolled clear, but not before one of the heat rods clipped it’s right wing.

Lu’s face appeared on her forward screen. "Rowan answer me. Come on disengage baby. You don’t know what you’re doing."

Rowan paused at the term of affection. "You’re right I don’t. I’m sorry I shouldn’t have come. Clearly you have plenty of people to watch out for you" she sighed. She turned her Gundam preparing to leave.

"Rowan wait." A new voice called.

A face Rowan never expected to see again joined Lu’s on the screen. "You can’t leave now. I’ve only just found you again."

Hallucinating…I’m hallucinating. Rowan began to shake. "No, you…y-you’re dead. I saw the colony explode. You’re dead."

"I got out. I’m alive and I’d kind of like my big sister back. That is if you’ll come back with us." Sheder replied.

The hatch on the other suit opened and it’s pilot stepped out. "Come on Rowan come out."

Rowan slipped on her helmet and opened Alecto’s hatch. Once she stepped out side of her suit the other pilot floated towards her. She began to shake, as the face of her dead sister became visible. "No, this is some kind of trick isn’t it?"

Sheder grabbed her hand. "No, it’s not a trick. I’m alive."

"Sheder?" Rowan asked weakly, looking into her eyes.

"Yeah, it’s me."

"Oh god, I nearly…I…" Rowan mumbled as her eyes rolled back into her head. She heard Sheder scream for Lu just before everything went black.