Casting aside the heavy smoothbore cannon, Gundam Barbatos gripped its two Tachis, its speed seemingly surging once more.
Inside the LaGOWE, Andrew Waltfeld and Aisha saw only a blur of dazzling shadows before one of their back-mounted cannon barrels was severed. As soon as the LaGOWE attempted to retreat, Barbatos pressed the advantage, closing the distance instantly.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Andrew shouted. He manipulated the LaGOWE's front leg, aiming the combat spikes beneath the foot at his opponent.
However, Mikazuki had already seen through the move. Barbatos arched its waist to dodge the claw, simultaneously reversing its grip on the Tachi to deliver a decisive strike. The LaGOWE's front claw was hacked off, and the 2-way Beam Sabers just beginning to emerge from its mouth were shattered along with the mecha's head.
Mikazuki wasn't finished. Barbatos stood tall, driving its knee upward to send the LaGOWE flying. In the same motion, the other front leg was severed, and the final beam cannon on its back was torn away.
The LaGOWE slammed heavily into the ground. Inside the cockpit, Andrew and Aisha were defeated before they could even process what had happened. Andrew shook the control stick desperately, but the LaGOWE's functions were dead; it couldn't move an inch. Watching Barbatos slowly approach, Andrew could only manage a bitter smile.
"To think he'd leave us... completely powerless. That kid really is a monster."
"I finally understand why you called him terrifying," Aisha added, her voice low. "He doesn't even seem human."
Andrew shook his head helplessly. He glanced at the tactical display; his flagship was heavily damaged, and those two Gundams were nowhere to be seen. They were utterly useless. With a heavy sigh, he patched through a comms line to the bridge.
"DaCosta, issue the order to abandon ship. Lead everyone in a full retreat to Banadeiyah."
"Captain..."
Before DaCosta could finish, Andrew cut the connection. He looked at Aisha, his face filled with guilt. "I'm sorry, Aisha. You should run while you can."
"If I have to leave you behind, I'd rather just die," Aisha replied resolutely. She let go of the controls and turned around, settling into Andrew's lap to await the end.
"Aisha..."
Andrew held her tightly. Barbatos now stood directly before them. Mikazuki raised a Tachi and swung it down with a fierce force. The two inside the LaGOWE felt a massive shock wave ripple through their bodies, and then the world went black.
Mikazuki stared at the spot where the LaGOWE had crashed and muttered, "I suppose that shouldn't have killed them..."
Orga's voice came over the comms. "Don't worry. For a Coordinator, that kind of impact will only knock them out at most. They won't die."
Mikazuki raised an eyebrow and popped a Date into his mouth. "That's good then. Consider it a return gift for the coffee last time."
Murrue's voice then crackled over the radio. "Mika, return to base. The enemy has abandoned ship; we're leaving."
"Understood, I'm coming."
Sheathing his Tachis, Mikazuki turned to pick up the smoothbore cannon lying on the ground. He couldn't leave this behind; it was still useful. If he lost it, he'd just get another lecture from Uncle Kojiro he was just like the Old Man.
His thrusters flared as he returned to the Archangel's deck. After recovering its three Mobile Suits, the Archangel began to head toward international waters.
On the other side of the battlefield, DaCosta and the others discovered the wreckage of the LaGOWE.
"The Captain and the Madam are still alive! Quick, get the stretchers!"
Back in Banadeiyah, Andrew slowly regained consciousness. He looked up at the familiar ceiling it looked like his luxury castle.
"Ugh... what happened? Am I still alive?"
"Captain!"
"Are you awake, Andy?" Aisha was crouched by the window, holding Andrew's hand.
"Aisha?" Andrew stared at his lover, stunned. Then, his lips curled into a smirk, and he burst into laughter. "Hahaha! I see. So he showed us mercy after all."
"Captain, about the Council..." DaCosta started to speak, but Aisha silenced him with a look.
She smiled at Andrew. "Andy, it seems we owe that boy a life."
"Yeah... Mikazuki Augus, was it?" Andrew drifted off for a moment before snapping back to reality, remembering DaCosta's unfinished sentence. "DaCosta, what were you saying about the Council? Are they calling us back?"
"Yes, the PLANT Supreme Council wants you to return for a battle report."
"I understand. We'll leave in two days. Aisha, will you be alright?"
Aisha shook her head with a smile. "I'm fine. It was just a minor concussion. I'm already recovered."
"That's good. Once we return, we'll have to choose a side. I wonder... what will it be like when we meet that boy again? I'm actually looking forward to it."
"Me too..."
Back on the Archangel.
Having successfully broken through the Desert Tiger's blockade, the Archangel needed minor repairs and a chance to say goodbye to the members of Desert Dawn. It wasn't until the 860th day that they truly set out for the open sea.
However, there were two new faces on board: Cagalli and her trusted aide, Ledonir Kisaka. Claiming she could be of help to the Archangel, she had nagged and pestered Murrue until she finally got her wish and boarded the ship.
As the Archangel entered international waters, many crew members who had grown up in Space Colonies found themselves mesmerized.
Having just escaped the Desert Tiger's pursuit, it was time for everyone to relax. Murrue generously allowed the crew to take shifts on the deck to feel the sea breeze and experience Earth's oceans.
Mikazuki stayed inside Barbatos. Orga called out to him, "What's up? Not going out to catch the sea breeze?"
"There will be plenty of chances for that. But you... are you alright?"
"Me? What do you mean?"
"The thing with Biscuit. You haven't shown it much over the last few years, but you've always kept it in your heart, haven't you?"
Orga went silent for a moment. "...Nothing gets past you."
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