The Albatross sliced through the sky like a desperate dart. The sea wind battered the hull, and the engines roared, strained. The ship was too low for its size… and too alone for what was coming behind it.
On the bridge, Vivian held onto the railing as the radar alarm shrieked as if it wanted to escape.
—Captain,—Masami said, without taking her eyes off the screen, —...five mobile units are coming. Four Marasais... And Unit 03."
The air turned to ice.
Lawrence was already standing.
—Permission to leave.
Vivian looked at him for barely a second. That was enough.
—Granted. Kiriko, you too.
The veteran had already turned around.
—I'm not going to let those bastards get on top of us. My Mk-II is ready.
They both ran out of the hangar as the Albatross descended and climbed back up to avoid the first enemy burst.
The Zeta Plus A1 lifted off with a roar, transforming into waverider form as soon as it left the hull, leaving a bright trail above the low clouds. Within seconds, the Gundam Mk-II emerged mounted on the Dodai Kai, stabilizing its thrusters and taking position to the right of Lawrance.
Kiriko grunted into the radio:
—Don't get ahead of me, kid. I'm going to cover your entrance.
—Just keep the Dodai level,— Lawrance replied. —They'll come around the flank.—All five signals appeared on their monitors. But one had a distinct pulse. A pulse that could be felt more than seen.
The 03.
The Black Gundam.
The psychic pressure hit Lawrence's chest like an echo of someone else's pain.
—…Vieru… —he murmured, without realizing it.
The Marasais descended in formation, firing beams that sliced through the humid air in white trails. Lawrence banked his Waverider upward, cleaving the sky at an impossible angle.
—I'll go for the one on the right. Kiriko, break your line.
—I'm coming.
The Dodai accelerated violently and the Mk-II opened fire with its beam rifle, forcing the Marasais' front trio to scatter. Lawrance took advantage of the opening: he dove into a steep descent, switched to MS mode, and fired at close range.
The first Marasai exploded in an orange flash that illuminated the belly of the Albatross.
—One out!—shouted Lawrence.
Kiriko whistled into the radio.
—Don't get too excited. Look up.
Lawrence looked up.
The sky darkened.
The Black Gundam plummeted, without propulsion, without technique. Like a beast dropping upon its prey.
The psychoactive pressure affected both pilots.
Lawrence gasped.
—Kiriko, to port!
They separated just in time: the 03 passed between them like a black spear, so close that the compressed wind shook the Dodai and almost flipped it over.
Kiriko snorted:
—That thing doesn't fight. That thing chases.
Vieru clung to the stretcher when he felt the psychic impact of 03.
—No… don't provoke him… he just wants… to get me back…
Masami held her arm.
—What if he finds you?
Vieru trembled.
—Destroy…Destroy what prevents him from reaching me…
The two remaining Marasais repositioned themselves behind Kiriko.
Lawrence shouted:
—You have two in line!
—I already saw it.
Kiriko piloted the Dodai toward the sea, almost touching the surface. The spray of water hampered the pursuers' aim. Then, the Mk-II jumped from the Dodai, fired while in freefall, and landed back on the platform mid-air.
One of the Marasais exploded.
Lawrence was breathless.
—Kiriko… that was…
—Calm down. I'm just showing off in front of the ladies, hahaha. The last one's yours.
Lawrance accelerated, reverted to waverider form, and cut through the vapor cloud left by the explosion. The Marasai tried to turn, but the Zeta Plus flew over it and blew its head off with a clean shot.
—Target neutralized.
The Albatross reappeared on the monitors, climbing higher. But before Lawrence could signal that the path was clear…
The psychic pulse returned.
Stronger.
More targeted.
The 03 was coming for him.
Kiriko shouted:
—Lawrance, your six!
The young man reverted to MS form just before the Black Gundam rammed into him. Even so, the impact ripped off his shield and sent him spinning in a spiral.
The alarms went off.
Lawrence breathed in short gasps.
—Damn… he's looking for… the ship…!
He didn't finish it off on the 03.
He went straight ahead, directly and without hesitation…
…towards the Albatross.