[MONTHLY] Beltorchika's Children Ch.13

　"Stop it, Amuro! Stop tormenting me!"
　Quess focused her will on the last remaining funnel, attacking the overstretched tube that connected the Gundam to the Ra Cailum again and again.
　"Enough, Quess!"
　But her stubborn determination won out over Amuro's reprimand. The tube melted away.
　"The tube to the Ra Cailum has been severed?!"
　The Gundam discarded its Hyper Launcher and raced towards Axis. Then, bereft of fin funnels, it took the beam rifle from its waist and clenched it in its right hand.
　"Huh? He's heading for where the Captain is?"
　Quess's anger swelled, but her funnels were spent, leaving only the diffused mega particle cannons on either side of her Alpha Azieru. Still, they packed enough power to obliterate Ra Cailum's fleet in an instant.
　The Ra Zyme, shielding Ra Cailum, emitted a dying flash of light. Escaping the explosion, the Ra Cailum surged ahead, leaving only two ships to follow.
　"Close the distance!"
　As a wave of mobile suits bore down from the front, the Ra Elm positioned itself in front of the Ra Cailum, creating a barrage of cannon fire in all directions. Yet, through the chaos and the falling wreckage of their own, the Geara Doga pressed on.
　"Launching the last nuclear missile!"
　"Not yet! We'll hold onto the treasure for now!"
　Bright held them back with cool resolve. He believed they could endure a little longer.
　Against the backdrop of the immense Earth, the Neo Zeon fleet watched the light of the Ra Cailum fleet's charge toward Axis on the ridge. The Musaka, the fourth ship with one last launch in reserve, aimed all its gun ports at the enemy fleet.
　"Londo Bell is putting up quite the fight. Target their flank. Fire at will!"
　At the Musaka captain's command, beams and mega particle cannons were unleashed. The Ra Elm erupted in a fiery blaze just ahead of the Ra Cailum, and the intensity of the explosion shielded the Ra Cailum.
　"Don't falter! Let's do this! Prepare our treasured missile! Ready, fire!"

　"Bright! A nuclear missile!"
　Amuro's senses within the Gundam sharpened as the attack commenced. A dozen missiles hurtled toward the nearing Axis. However, Char had noticed them too.
　In fact, it was possible that Amuro had unwittingly alerted Char.

　"There it is!"
　Char unleashed all but one of the Nightingale's funnels. The five funnels zeroed in on the incoming missile cluster.
　"Only two ships left in the Ra Cailum fleet!?"
　Four brilliant flashes of light illuminated the entire battlefield.
　"No, no...!"
　In the midst of the hellish inferno, another Neo Zeon vessel vanished. Evacuating vessels also had their sides melted by the searing heat of the nuclear blast. The Rewloola slipped into the shadows.

　"That's it for the nukes, right? Even if two ships collide with Axis, the course won't change!"
　Char boldly charged the Nightingale towards the Ra Cailum's fleet.
　"T-the nukes have been stopped!"
　"I can see that! Land the Ra Cailum on Axis! Get inside and detonate it! Three hundred degrees, barrage!"
　"All hands, prepare for ground combat!"
　"Can we even make it to Axis?"
　As he spoke, Bright opened the hatch to the combat bridge and raised the Captain's seat, but Hathaway, who should have been on the regular bridge, was nowhere to be found. Only Haro remained, shining like the moon in the dimly lit bridge.
　"...?"

　"Where is Quess?!"
　When Glarv, who had decimated a corner of the Jegan unit, turned his attention to Axis, he suddenly glanced back.
　He sensed an unusually heavy presence approaching.
　"What is it?"
　The heavy sensation was fleeting; a more fitting description would be a vivid, repulsive feeling. More accurately, it felt like the essence of life itself.
　Glarv's focus landed on the Re-GZ piloted by Beltorchika.
　"The enemy is here?!"
　Despite being unnerved by the Psycho Doga's unique silhouette, Beltorchika's Re-GZ knew she had ventured toward Axis past the point of no return.
　"Nngh...!? It's that Gundam wannabe! You so brazenly show yourself?!"
　Glarv caught sight of it and felt a deep sense of ridicule.
　The damaged mobile suit from the previous battle still clung to life, and, moreover, it appeared unarmed before the Psycho Doga, a machine known as a psycho-machine. He had one funnel left, but the enemy hardly seemed worth using it.
　Glarv had the Psycho Doga's right manipulator clutch the beam saber hilt and charged.
　"Ah!? A psycho-machine!?"
　There were two bazooka launchers on Re-GZ's waist. That was the only weapon Beltorchika had. She fired one of them.
　"Hmph…!"
　Glarv's Psycho Doga dodged the incoming shot and,
　"Are you serious?!" he roared, firing his rifle.
　The beam struck the Re-GZ directly, engulfing it. The beam seemed to burst and scatter. But something strange happened.
　"No, you mustn't!"
　The same innocent voice Quess heard pierced Glarv's mind like a dagger.
　"What the…?"
　In Glarv's vision, an image of a fetus materialized, seemingly enveloping the Re-GZ and diffusing the beam in all directions. Then, the fetal image interwove with the beam of light and dissipated into the light.
　Time seemed to stop...

　In the cockpit of the Nightingale, Char caught sight of the Gundam.
　"Ugh?!"
　Char's hand on the control stick, the arm raker, tightened for a moment.

　On the bridge of Rewloola,
　"Ugh?!"
　Mesta covered her mouth.
　"!?"
　Captain Lyle felt dizzy, holding his head as if to restrain it.
　"Captain!?"
　"I'm fine. Keep moving forward!"

　A severely damaged Clop at Luna II made contact with a vessel that departed Side 5. The soldiers on the deck also showed a similar reaction to the crew of Rewloola's combat bridge.
　"Did you see that light racing towards Axis?"
　"Are they calling for reinforcements?"
　"We have to go! We can't just sit here!"
　A pilot called out from the deck to the bridge.

　In another airspace.
　"Hey, can we use the Getas to deploy mobile suits to Axis?"
　"It'll be tight, but we can do it. Should we go?"
　Pilots were in discussion with the tactical officers.

　Mirai Yashima stumbled over a stone hidden in the powdery dirt and fell.
　"Mama!"
　"I'm fine..."
　Mirai, with a suitcase strapped to her back, stood up with a wry smile. She felt like she was causing more trouble for Cheimin.
　"If only we could go into outer space, right?"
　"If we could put up a barrier on Earth, there would be no need for that..."
　Cheimin muttered, gazing at the low clouds in the east.
　"If only we could, huh?"
　Mirai took a sip of water from the cold water bottle, swished it in her mouth, and spat it out.

　The heat formed a wall or lid, enveloping the plain. That was the Indian subcontinent.
　The group with Christina, who had been with Quess, suddenly looked up at space.
　"That's right. Religion wasn't meant to teach survival know-how. Each school of thought used it as a tool to loudly promote their own positions."
　"I understand that in theory, but the founders or prophets were different. They were undoubtedly enlightened."
　"They had to think so. Religious theory is nihilistic... However, they could never convey their extremely personal experiences to others. Be it Buddha, Muhammad, or Christ..."
　"And Allah, right?"
　"Talk like that will get you killed."
　"Is that the reality of religion?"
　"For existing religions, yeah."
　They seemed unable to escape the shock of their friends being killed, and their wandering life would likely continue.

　Children gathered in the shadow of a slum-like inn in Karsee looked up at the sky.
　"Hey!"
　"Yeah…?"
　"Did you see the light running through the clouds?"
　"You think it's Shiva?"
　"Hahaha…!"
　The children simultaneously bared their yellow teeth and laughed together.

　Pilots from the Earth Federation government, emerging from the ruins of Luna II, caught sight of the Neo Zeon fleet's tail nozzles illuminating as they moved towards Axis.
　"We might not make it in time, but we should head towards Axis."
　"Look for any usable ships!"
　With urgency in their voices, the soldiers dispersed across Luna II's surface.

　Meanwhile, a fleet on a geostationary satellite orbit with Side 4 behind them seemed more likely to engage in the battle at Axis.
　"In terms of course, can we intercept Axis just before it falls?"
　"We can approach from below. Shall I have our mobile suit teams on standby?"
　The officers, cheeks flushed with anticipation, reported to the commander.
　"If we can break up Axis even a little, it just might ease the damage. Launch them!"

　In another fleet with a similar orbit toward Earth.
　"Our fleet can reach the front of Axis. Go as far as you can! Those who can't make it, we'll pick them up!"
　At the Captain's order, the mobile suit squad launched.
　"If the cruising range is insufficient, even if two units have to push, make one unit contact Axis!"

　The Ra Cailum, now close to Axis's surface, applied reverse thrust to decelerate. The surviving Jegan units descended one after another, bolstering their defenses.
　In Glarv's vision, the image of a fetus contracted as the final shot from Re-GZ's bazooka launcher approached. The projectile rotated languidly, filling Glarv's view.
　"What kind of power is that?"
　Glarv thought, but neither Quess nor Char were in his thoughts anymore. Only he remained, strangely moved by the force pushing something into the fetus.
　As it expanded and collapsed, the vortex of light assaulted him. He felt a surprising warmth in his final moments of consciousness before his existence vanished.
　"What was that?!"
　Hathaway witnessed the flash of light from the rapidly moving Jegan.

　As Quess sensed Glarv's demise and was finally freed from the curse of the fetus, she cried out, "Oh no, Glarv?!"
　The massive gap created by Jegan's attack forced Quess to evade with all her might in the Alpha Azieru. She caught sight of the left-side diffusion mega particle cannon being blown away.
　"Ah... Ugh... Uhh...! Is everyone gone!?"
　While evading with the Alpha, Quess screamed.
　"Captain! Captain!"
　Desperately, Quess tried to turn the Alpha toward Axis and make contact.
　"That's Quess, isn't it!?"
　Hathaway's faint voice reached her.
　"Stop getting in the way!"
　"Quess!" Hathaway's Jegan charged, a sight eerily reminiscent of Glarv's vision of the fetus.
　"That mobile suit! It's Quess, right!?"
　"Ah... Captain! Save me!"
　Char sensed Quess's thoughts, and as he shook the body of the Nightingale, which moved like a flash, he muttered, "Quess!?"
　Amuro wouldn't miss the opening by the Nightingale. The Gundam's beam rifle fired simultaneously. The Nightingale evaded.
　"So you've made it, Amuro! But you're far too late!"
　The Nightingale soared above the Gundam. Its mobility seemed overwhelmingly superior.
　"I'll be able to stop Axis once I take you down!"
　The Nightingale unleashed its last funnel, attacking the Gundam. Zap! A direct laser hit damaged the Gundam's left shoulder. The machine shook violently.
　"Gah!?"
　Amuro sharply pivoted the Gundam. Even a weak-output laser could end everything if it hit the engine directly. He aimed his beam rifle.
　In that instant, beams from both the funnel and the Nightingale converged upon him.
　"No good!"
　Flash!
　A burst of light filled the cockpit's panoramic display, which enveloped Amuro.
　"Father!"
　He thought he heard such a voice.
　"Ridiculous! There's energy that can emit a barrier like that?!"
　"A barrier!?"
　Amuro heard Char's thoughts and marveled at the aurora-like light enveloping the Gundam. A barrier akin to an aurora had formed around the Gundam, repelling every funnel beam.
　The funnel's laser reached its limits. Devoid of thrust, it plummeted to the surface of Axis.
　"Father!"
　"A voice!?"
　The Gundam descended just above the surface of Axis, evading the Nightingale's rifle fire from both sides. However, debris from the exploding surface of Axis collided with the Gundam, destabilizing Amuro's balance.
　"Tch! A cruiser? Why's it here?"
　The sight of the fourth vessel, armed with nuclear weapons and anchored at Axis' port, was unmistakable.
　"It's unmanned?"
　Amuro understood. He slipped past the fourth vessel.
　"He would. Damn Char!!"
　Amuro swiveled the Gundam around and fired its beam rifle at the fourth vessel.
　"Do you really think I"ll let you?! I can't let it explode yet! The fully loaded nuclear weapons have to detonate at a lower altitude, or I can't contaminate Earth!"
　The Nightingale charged, but just then, Cruiser 4 began to explode. Engulfed in the nuclear blast, the Nightingale was forced back.
　"Ugh!"
　"Will this explosion be the brake for Axis?"
　As Amuro watched the roaring explosions in front of Axis, he rotated the Gundam, targeted the base of Axis's nuclear pulse nozzle, and fired the beam rifle.
　He halted one nuclear nozzle and continued his assault on the second.
　"Out of energy!?"
　Amuro sensed that the inevitable had arrived.
　Discarding the rifle, he leaped forward with the Gundam, clinging to the base of the violently shaking nozzle, and destroyed the mechanism with the manipulator. A damaged Geara Doga spotted the Gundam and launched an attack.
　"So close!"
　Amuro had the Gundam grasp the handle of the saber and lowered the mobile suit.
　"Ugh…"
　Beltorchika clutched her stomach and thrust her chin forward, staring intently at the display.
　"Is Papa… Is Amuro in danger!?"
　She guided the Re-GZ toward Axis's nuclear nozzle.
　"What!?"
　The Re-GZ approached the brilliance below the nuclear nozzle.
　"Amuro!"
　The Re-GZ attacked the Geara Doga assaulting the Gundam from behind, sending it spiraling into the shadows. The Re-GZ followed, descending in pursuit.
　Realizing that the Geara Doga was already heavily damaged, Beltorchika grew more confident. Charging forward,
　"Kuh…!"
　She aimed the Re-GZ's shoulder at the enemy cockpit hatch and struck it.
　Thump!
　The Geara Doga's hatch was blown off. However, the Re-GZ also lost its footing and floated under the nuclear nozzle. There seemed to be no choice but to let the current take her.
　"Aah…!"
　Beltorchika had fainted.
　"The Re-GZ!? Who's that!?"
　But Amuro had no time to be entangled with a single mobile suit. He directed the Gundam toward the Ra Cailum, visible on the horizon.
　"Bright, you've infiltrated Axis?"
　Amuro sent the Gundam soaring toward the Ra Cailum, but just before reaching it, a bazooka shell landed nearby, causing the Gundam to tumble.
　"…!?"
　The Nightingale appeared unsteadily on another ridge amidst the violent shaking and hurled the bazooka.
　"Axis is already falling, drawn in by Earth's gravity!"
　Char's voice, transmitted through the radio, struck Amuro's ears.
　"Tch!"
　The Nightingale descended upon the lowered Gundam.
　Byaan!
　Both beam sabers extended, emitting interference waves. In the fierce exchange of beam sabers, both front armors were damaged.
　The shaking of Axis seemed to subside slightly. However, Earth already loomed large in their field of vision.