“What…the…hell…?” Leon said.
“You don’t remember me? I’m hurt.” replied the pilot, in a sarcastic tone.
He opened up a video link with Leon’s CGUE. He couldn’t believe it…it was the 3rd pilot from the Telepath Project. He was still alive…but why was he working with Blue Cosmos? “What the heck could he be thinking?” Leon thought to himself. Before he could ask any questions, the pilot charged at Leon with his beam saber. He dodged the initial attack and countered by firing rounds from the CGUE’s shield gatling gun at him. The pilot dodged Leon’s assault and fired his beam rifle at the CGUE. The whole process of trying to hit one another continued for a while. They weren’t able to hit each other since they were able to read each others’ movements.
“Hahaha…you’ve certainly proved your point to me. It’s impossible to hit you.” said the pilot.
“Heh, I should say the same to you. I never really did catch your name back when we were at ZAFT.” replied Leon.
“It’s Fahren Arcadia. Too bad we had to meet under these circumstances. You two are in the way of my plans, so I must kill you both.”
“I don’t think so!” yelled Rhapsody as she fired the Barrus heavy particle cannon at Fahren. She caught him off guard so he was forced to put up his shield and block the shot. Leon took the opportunity to attempt to cut off his mobile suit’s legs. The mobile suit’s backpack cannons were fired at Leon as soon as he got close to him. The CGUE’s left arm was blown apart. Leon crashed into the museum and had to struggle to get up. His head started to bleed and his whole body felt like hell due to the force of the crash. Fahren immediately unleashed an onslaught of lasers on Rhapsody. All of the limbs on her GINN were blown off and she fell hard onto the ground.
“You bastard!!!” Leon yelled. He charged at Fahren with the full intent to kill him. The CGUE’s thrusters were set to its maximum output and he attempted to slice Fahren’s mobile suit in half. Leon’s emotions were so unfocused…he didn’t know what he was doing. He completely lost his humanity and his mind. Fahren was able to block every single attack he threw at him with ease. Fahren’s mobile suot deployed its shoulder cannons and blasted the CGUE at point blank range. Fahren stomped on the ruined body of the CGUE as soon as it fell.
“You’re such a fool. You should’ve known that we cannot control ourselves when we have extreme emotions. That was the flaw in the Telepath Project experiments. It was a good fight, until you lost control of your mind.” he said.
Fahren flew above the conference center and unleashed a barrage of lasers on it. Luckily, the chairmen were evacuated and taken to a safer area. Fahren fled from the area as soon as he was done destroying everything in it. Leon lied on the ground of the ruined land, forehead still bleeding, staring up into the sky. He was so tired and his body was sore…he just wanted to sleep.
-------------------
Leon found himself in a large field surrounded by trees, lush grass, and flowers. He saw three people in the distance.
Where is this…? The park? I remember this place…
“Mommy! Daddy! Catch me if you can!”
Laughter…
“Slow down son! We’re not young like you, haha!”
Mom…
“I’m gonna catch you and give you a big hug! You better run faster!”
Dad…
“Coordinator scum!!! Go to hell!!!”
“For the preservation of our blue and pure world!”
“MOMMY!!! DADDY!!!”
“Run son…run!!!”
-------------------
Leon woke up in a cold sweat, wrapped in bandages. He looked around and saw his music player on top of a dresser. Next to it was a large mirror and some make-up that belonged to Rhapsody. He was back at home in Orb. Rhapsody was sitting in a chair next to his bed. She walked up to Leon and embraced him.
“Thank goodness…I thought I was going to lose you.” said Rhapsody as she let out a tear.
“You’re never going to lose me, Rhap.” Leon replied.
“I’m so glad you’re awake now. Here, have some soup! I made it myself. It should help you recover faster.”
Leon took a sip and choked. “Blech! This is so salty! Now I know why I do all the cooking.”
“Don’t push me, or else I’ll make your injuries worse.”
“Haha, I’m sorry.”
“Finally awake huh? Did you know that you were asleep for 150 years?! I am not Alex; I am actually his great great grandson! We live in a society where we are slaves to an evil robot empire!!! BOW TO THE ROBOT OVERLORD!!!” said Alex.
“Uh…”
“SILENCE MORTAL!!!”
“Oh shut up Alex. You were only asleep for day, Leon.”
“I figured as much.”
“By the way, there are two people here to see you.”
“Ah! Chairman Landon and Chairman Steele! What brings you two here?”
“We just wanted to apologize for what happened to you and Miss Giftregen.” said Chairman Landon.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. It wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t possibly have known that something this drastic was going to happen.”
“We also wanted to ask you about that pilot. Do you know who he is?”
“…I suppose I should enlighten everyone. Rhapsody and I are Neo-Coordinators. We volunteered ourselves for an experiment called the Telepath Project. It increased our spatial awareness and heightened our senses, so we technically aren’t Coordinators anymore.”
“I thought that experiment was just a false rumor.” said Chairman Steele.
“No, it’s very much true. No one knows about it because the ZAFT high council ordered that all records of it be destroyed and execute all who were involved. Rhapsody and I were able to escape along with a 3rd pilot. The man who attempted to kill you was that 3rd pilot, Fahren Arcadia.”
“That doesn’t make any sense…why would a Coordinator side with Blue Cosmos?”
“I was going to ask him the same thing, but I didn’t have a chance to. I have a feeling we’ll cross paths again, though.”
“One more thing, before I forget. We would like to ask you to help support Atlas in their fight. Your goal is the same as theirs, so it’d be great if they could have skilled pilots like you two in their ranks.” said Chairman Landon.
“Should we, Rhap?”
“Might as well, if our goals are the same.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll be happy to join Atlas.”
“Well, we have to leave now. Thank you for everything. Be sure to get plenty of rest.” said Chairman Steele.
“Thank you.”
“Leon, come to Morgenroete tomorrow morning. I have something to show you two.” said Alex.
-------------------
“Rise and shine, Leon!” said Rhapsody as she opened a window, letting the sunlight in.
“Ugh…just give me 10 more minutes please…” Leon replied drowsily.
“Come on! We have to go meet with Alex!”
“Urgh…10 more minutes…”
Rhapsody jumped up on Leon’s bed and gave him a good kick to his stomach. He let out a grunt and fell face first onto the floor.
“Alright, I’m up! I’m up! Geez, you’re gonna end up killing me someday.”
-------------------
“You’re late. Lemme guess, Leon slept in again?” asked Alex.
“Yup.” replied Rhapsody.
“Lay off. What’d you want to show us about anyway?” Leon asked.
“Follow me.”
They went inside a mobile suit hangar and saw the completed custom-made Murasames. Erica Simmons was there to meet with them.
“I’m glad you finally made it. Your Murasames are complete and ready for battle.” said Erica.
“Wow…these look nice! You’ve outdone yourself Erica!” said Rhapsody.
“We’ve outfitted each Murasame with the basic armament along with custom weapons to fit your combat styles. This black and blue Murasame is suited for your close combat fighting style, Leon. We’ve equipped it with 2 beam boomerangs on the shoulders, a beam cutter on the shield, a beam cutter on each wing, 2 beam katars, a shotgun to replace the beam rifle, a beam lance, a beam cutter on each foot, and extra thrusters on the legs. This red one is yours, Rhapsody. It’s equipped with 2 long range beam cannons that can be combined to make an even stronger beam cannon, a basic beam rifle, a beam saber, and a grapple stinger on each arm.”
“What’s with that white and purple one?” Leon asked.
“Oh, that one is mine.” replied Alex. “I’m going to be joining you two in battle.”
“Are you sure can pilot a mobile suit? You don’t seem to be the type.” said Rhapsody.
“Well, I’m not as skilled as you two, but I’m better than most average pilots.”
“You never told us you could pilot a mobile suit.”
“You guys never asked.”
“But…how could…we never would have…ugh, nevermind!”
“You know, I’ve always wondered why you’ve been building mobile suits for us, Erica.” Leon said.
“Because I support your cause. I had a feeling that another war would start, and I believe you guys can make a difference.”
“We’ll do our best.” said Rhapsody.
“I know you will.”
The three loaded supplies and their Murasames into a transport ship and prepared to leave Orb. Their fight was only beginning, and they knew that they were going to meet with hardship on the way. Their only hope now was to come back home with victory in hand. They weren’t going to let Blue Cosmos reignite their anti-Coordinator campaign or allow Neo ZAFT to harm innocent people.
“Good luck…”
