[MONTHLY] Beltorchika's Children Ch.12

　At Axis's pier, the Rewloola lay moored. Glarv Guss snapped to attention before Mesta Mesua.
　"As you were! Despite leading Neo Zeon, the Captain has chosen to face Amuro personally. We must protect him at all costs!"
　Mesta spoke with formality before attempting to board the Rewloola. Glarv muttered disdainfully as she turned away.
"Really, that's why you called me here before heading out?"
　Mesta spun around, severing the wireless connection, and descended using her normal suit's vernier. She pressed their visors together and spoke.
"An all too human remark, wouldn't you say? A Cyber-Newtype in their right mind would simply die, wouldn't they?"
"In combat, I am a machine. I am a Newtype."
"Hmph, of course. Look after Quess. If you do, ultimately, you'll safeguard the Captain, Neo Zeon's forces, and we can live in peace."
　As Mesta attempted to leave, Glarv's hand grasped her arm.
　"One more stipulation..."
　"What is it!?"
　"You must keep the Captain in check with those 'abilities' of yours."
　"You little shit!"
Mesta shook off Glarv's hand with force, then kicked the pier and drifted away.
　"Hahaha... is that even harder than defeating the Gundam with the Psycho-Doga?"
　"Glarv!"
　Mesta's anger flared, but she couldn't deny the truth in his words. Unable to retort, she remained silent.
　"Enemy vessels detected! All hands, level one battle stations!"
　The Rewloola's announcement echoed through every soldier's headphones. On the Rewloola, Captain Lyle still had issues that needed confirmation.
　"Are you certain? Cruiser 4 from Luna II is on approach?"
　"It's the fourth ship. And there's clearly another distinct light."
　"Is this an image captured before the Minovsky particle dispersal?"
　Lyle scrutinized the photograph handed to him by the operator.
　"Yes, these lights on the radar screen are Federation Forces vessels."
　"So, enemy reinforcements are on the move?"
　"They appear to be ships from Side 2 and Side 5. Fleets from Earth's orbit are also closing in... some have even escaped Luna II."
　"Where's the Captain?"
　"He's directing the launch of our mobile suit forces at a harbor on Axis."
　"Align the Rewloola and Musaka side by side to engage the enemy."
　From the port at the front of Axis, the mobile suit teams of Geara Dogas were already launching one after another.
　"Captain!"
　Unrestrained, Quess opened the hatch behind Char's seat and launched herself in.
　"What's the matter?! You're late for your sortie!"
　Char challenged, eyeing the Alpha Azieru, but Quess disregarded it, moved in front of Char, and clung to his chest.
　"...?!"
　"Am I a substitute for Lalah?"
　For a moment, Char thought this girl had finally realized something. However, there were lower-ranking officers lined up in front of him. He wanted to silence her.
　"Who said that? I mean, why would that bother you?"
　"I love you, Captain! I hate the idea of being a substitute!"
　"That's a problem."
　Noticing the deck conductors' gazes turning their way, Char scooped up Quess and stepped outside. He hoped their curiosity wouldn't affect their command and closed the hatch behind them as they entered the airtight corridor.
　"What makes you think you have the right to make such a demand of me, Quess?"
　Char held Quess's slender waist in her pilot suit.
　"It's not about rights or obligation! Thanks to meeting you, I can destroy the Earth that bore the woman who took my father from my mother. If I do that, maybe my father will return to my mother, and ultimately, it'll serve your plan, right?... That's right! Forget about my father and mother! I am who I am. I want to be useful to you, Captain!"
　"I suppose you're right."
　Char acknowledged the shimmer in Quess's eyes, which seemed to form a world of their own.
　"I'll put Lalah out of my mind."
　Char softly proclaimed.
　It was a lie. And yet, it wasn't. Perhaps Char could already anticipate the outcome of the battle.
　"...?!"
　Quess's eyes widened.
　"If you doubt me, leave one funnel from the Alpha. If I betray you, use it to kill me."
　"Captain...?!"
　"That's why, just for now, fight alongside Glarv. You won't survive without him as your protector."
　"Captain!"
　Quess sunk her teeth into Char's neck and fervently kissed him, whether it was his cheek or his lips.
　"So you won't die because there's someone to fulfill your promise?"
　"Thank you, Captain!"
　"I'll go out in the Nightingale as well. I don't mind Mesta's reprimand. I'm more concerned about you, Quess."
　Quess knew those words were a lie, but she cherished the sentiment behind them from Char.
　To board the Alpha Azieru, Quess lowered her helmet's visor and pushed off the ground toward the pier. Char supported her from below by lifting her rear.
　Quess's pilot suit fluttered up, and the suit's vernier gas hissed out. While watching the two, Glarv stepped in front of Char.
　"What's up?"
　"I had a meeting with the operations officer!"
　Glarv's eyes were on the rising Quess. He wasn't looking at Char. Char touched his visor to Glarv's visor and asked,
　"Why do you think I have an interest in Quess?"
　"I don't understand, Captain."
　"She's still a child, isn't she? Get along with her. If you protect Quess, she'll be drawn to you."
　"Captain...?"
　"I have no interest in anything other than the revival of Neo Zeon. Whether you're a Newtype or not, there are unimaginable things between Mesta and me."
　"Huh...?"
　Indeed, even Glarv couldn't imagine what Char would say next.
　"You see, Mesta is kind to me in bed, despite her appearance."
　"Wha...?!"
　It was Char's intimidation. But the young Glarv was overwhelmed. Char slapped Glarv's buttocks and lifted him up just like he did with Quess.
　With his vernier firing, Glarv saluted Char and headed for the Psycho Doga.

　"That's right, Captain! Until I grow up, I'll have to put up with Mesta. I'll allow that."
　In the cockpit of the Alpha Azieru, with Axis behind her, Quess was feeling very grown-up and cheered.
　"Quess! Aren't you cold?!"
　Glarv's voice, heard through the static-filled radio, was gentle.
　"Oh!? I'm fine! Glarv! Hang in there!"
　If Quess allows Char to be with Mesta, Glarv's role for Quess might be the same as well.
　"Christina also said that love requires discipline..."
　This understanding brought Quess a sense of comfort.
　"Ah!?"
　Below the Alpha's field of vision, she spotted trails of fire extending from behind. It was the light from the missiles launched by the Ra Cailum.
　The battle had begun.
　The fleet, with Axis in their rear, opened fire on the incoming missiles in unison. Behind the missile group, the Ra Cailum and other ships, while having their surrounding decoys destroyed one after another, advanced.
　"I'll handle them!"
　"No, don't!"
　Ignoring Glarv's warning, Quess's Alpha surged forward, and the Alpha's diffusion mega particle cannon unleashed a volley at the visually detected missiles.
　About five fireballs expanded in quick succession, turning the airspace into a warzone.
　"Quess! You're incredible! You really are!"
　Glarv marveled at the agility of the Alpha, which belied its appearance.

　"Our missiles were taken out? Who did it?!"
　Gazing in awe at the numerous fireballs expanding before him, Amuro, piloting the ν Gundam, continued his direct approach towards Axis. The movement speed of Axis had visibly increased.
　"!? No, this is something different!"
　Amuro sensed several sharp "presences" within the wall of mobile suits deployed before him. In other words, it was a wall constructed from the pilots' intentions.
　"Is it Quess...!?"
　The nature of the thoughts was distinct, and there was no other way to describe it.
　Facing this formidable barrier, Amuro charged forward, feeling as if he were exposing his entire being.

　"It's a mobile suit! Quess, fall back. I'll protect you when you need it most!"
　"Don't worry! I can do it!"
　"Listen to an experienced person for once!"
　"Hehehe..."
　Quess, at this moment, had the tolerance to accept Glarv's kindness. That's why she felt happy. However, she sensed the pressure of a sudden approach within the fluctuations of her emotions, and her heart trembled.
　"Amuro is coming?!"
　"It's a powerful enemy! Fall back, Quess!"
　"Eh? Oh...!"
　Glarv's Psycho Doga moved forward with a loud boom, covering the Alpha from behind.
　"Glarv...!?"

　When Char entered the regular bridge of the Rewloola, Mesta was the only one present.
　"Cruiser 4 has moved in front of Axis."
　"Good. Once it's moored at Axis, immediately have the crew--"
　"On it. We are directing a Musaka to recover them."
　Char stood in front of the combat bridge, seemingly counting the number of fireballs spreading in front of him.
　"You managed to trick Glarv, huh?"
　"He's not someone you can trick easily. I just told him the truth."
　"And after the battle concludes? Will the truth remain?"
　Char did not engage with Mesta's barbed sarcasm.
　"I'm prepared to bear the stigma of polluting the Earth. Besides, I let Amuro have the Psycho Doga's psycommu abilities."
　"...?"
　Mesta's astonishment was tinged with the realization that her suspicions about Char's mindset were correct.
　"I've done what I had to do. Now, I leave it to fate."
　Char turned from Mesta, peering into the combat bridge.
　"I'm going down to the mobile suit deck! If needed, I'll go out immediately."
　"Understood!"
　Lyle responded, looking up.
　"Captain! What did you just say?"
　Mesta's voice, laden with emotion, reached Char as he entered the corridor.
　"Captain! Captain!"
　Her voice quavered with unshed tears.
　"...!? I just stated the facts."
　"Did you give the psycommu to Amuro with the intention of dying?"
　Mesta, her usual composure shattered, grasped Char's shoulders, desperate to impede his progress.
　"Don't be ridiculous. There's no merit in defeating an inferior opponent like Amuro in a lesser mobile suit."
　"No, what happened at Fifth Luna wasn't just a matter of a man's pride. Captain, you intend to be defeated by Amuro as atonement for polluting Earth, don't you?"
　"My atonement is to realize my father's ideals and transform all of humanity into one as Newtypes."
　"That's right. That's right!"
　Mesta nodded vigorously.
　"However, men possess their petty pride. When facing a weaker adversary, an equal playing field is necessary, lest it haunt us indefinitely. That is all, Mesta. Today, I bid farewell to the foolish man within. So, observe in silence."
　"..."
　Mesta's sorrowful gaze returned, her hands sliding from Char's shoulders to his elbows.
　The very embodiment of tender affection.
　"A man who genuinely aspires to rule the world must possess such ambition, don't you agree?"
　"Yes! Without doubt. Otherwise, you wouldn't be the man for me."
　"After all, if I were to be defeated by the Gundam, the dropping Axis would not succeed, right?"
　"No, kindness and gentleness alone do not make a man..."
　Mesta reiterated.
　"Hmm...!"
　Char pressed a kiss to Mesta's tear-brimming eyes, absorbing her tears before descending to the mobile suit deck.

　At the Axis spaceport, the fourth vessel approached at high velocity, the Earth as its backdrop. On its deck, dozens of crew members bustled about, making ready for docking procedures. Awaiting their arrival was the Musaka.
　Strobe signals from both ships marked the nearing of Cruiser 4 to Axis.

　"Don't rush to your deaths! This battle has nothing to do with you!" Amuro screamed, annihilating several Geara Dogas and surging forward.
　"It's pointless!"
　The Gundam evaded while still possessed by a bizarre force, destroying an approaching Geara Doga. At the same time, a strobe flash emerged from behind the Gundam.
　"Signal from the Gundam! Extend the tube!"
　Bright issued the order, recalling Hathaway left on the bridge above.
　"Disperse additional Minovsky particles!"
　"Launch the second wave of mobile suit forces!"
　"Uh…!?"
　The ship tremored. The approaching Geara Dogas' numbers, combined with friendly Jegans, were no trifling matter. Anti-air fire from the Ra Cailum cascaded around like a torrential downpour. As the tube's tip reached for the Gundam, Amuro located its glowing end while nimbly dodging the Geara Doga's assaults.
　However, overhead, a lone flashing tail nozzle of a unique hue extended. It was Glarv Gas.
　"This is it!"
　Glarv launched a volley from the Psycho Doga's rifle, but the Gundam cleverly used a decoy as a shield, advancing towards the tube.
　"Funnels!"
　Glarv focused four funnels on the Gundam, which countered by deploying two Fin Funnels to intercept. These contraptions danced through the void as if possessing minds of their own, weaving a tapestry of scattered beams and laser light, all blossoming with the radiance of interference waves.
　"Funnels…!?"
　Glarv's agitation grew upon seeing the Gundam's Fin Funnels – initially misidentified as heat sinks – adeptly counter the nimble Psycho Doga funnels despite their size. As the Fin Funnels' mega particle beams collided, interference waves billowed like a curtain, obliterating the smaller Psycho Doga funnels.
　In the meantime, the Gundam's manipulator connected the tube from the Ra Cailum to the Hyper Mega Bazooka Launcher's mechanism.
　The Ra Cailum's combat bridge was momentarily plunged into darkness.
　"Connection complete! Hyper Launcher powering up!"
　Bright's voice echoed throughout the vessel.
　"Intending to snipe Axis, are you?!"
　Realizing the purpose of the connected tube, Glarv unleashed the remaining funnels while simultaneously firing the Psycho Doga's rifle.
　"Tch!"
　The Gundam extended the beam of its left-hand-held beam saber, slashing it towards the Psycho Doga. The swift movement inadvertently forged a barrier, deflecting the beams fired by the Psycho Doga.
　"Glarv! If this continues, the Captain is done for!"
　Nearing the battlefield, Quess cried out.
　Her tender feelings for Glarv during deployment had evaporated. Quess launched the Alpha Azieru's funnels.
　"What is this malicious presence?"
　Amuro questioned, although deep down, he already knew.
　Behind the funnels emitting lasers, there was a strangely shaped machine. Capturing the will of that girl, Quess Paraya, within the heavily guarded machine was easy.
　"It can't be!"
　Quess witnessed that exact instant. No, she experienced it. As the funnels were obliterated, a sudden jolt coursed through her skull. The shock forged a visual image that projected onto her retinas from within, as if conjuring a vision from the depths of her mind, akin to dreaming.
　With her visor raised, Quess shoved a hand inside her helmet, wiping sweat from her brow. The sensation of "saturation" loomed, threatening to engulf her once more.
　"That's Amuro!? He's angry...!"
　Yet, Quess likely found herself in an airspace near Amuro, spared from the onslaught of saturation. It was probably because Amuro held no malice capable of twisting others. If he had been consumed by hatred, the airspace permeated by his thoughts would have become a whirlwind of sheer insanity.
　That being said, Quess wasn't naïve enough to comprehend the situation she found herself in, where she didn't instantly succumb to saturation. She was too young, one might say.
　Instead, she concentrated on directing the remaining undestroyed funnels towards the tube connecting the Gundam and the Ra Cailum. The tube was severed in an instant.
　"Hmph!"
　Quess's arrogance, Amuro's irritation.
　"I don't have time to play with children!"
　Amuro, yet to aim his Hyper Launcher at Axis, seethed as the tube was severed.
　"Quess, retreat!"
　Glarv fired his beam rifle, but several Jegans supporting the Gundam approached, forcing him to engage.
　"Damn! Just a bit more!"
　In the meantime, Amuro searched for another tube. Glarv's Psycho Doga destroyed three Jegans.
　"The Gundam is in danger because of the tube!"
　Meunier exclaimed, and Bright rebuked.
　"Supporting mobile suits! What the hell are you doing?!"
　"We're trying our best, but we're outnumbered!"
　The combat bridge shook. In a corner of the regular bridge above it, Hathaway clutched his Haro, trembling.
　"Mama, Chey, Quess..."
　Murmuring their names like an incantation, Hathaway abruptly looked up.
　"Quess...? Is she close by?"
　Haro floated from Hathaway's grasp.
　"Huh...? It's no good...! They're all shouting at one another..."
　Hathaway rose to his feet and opened the hatch to the bridge corridor, leaving Haro adrift. Flapping its ears provided no propulsion.

　"Beltorchika! What are you doing?!"
　Astonaige spotted Beltorchika, clad in her normal suit, leaping into the cockpit of the Re-GZ, tethered to the starboard catapult deck by a wire.
　"The bridge says we're short on mobile suits!"
　"That may be, but this is a terrible idea!"
　"It's fine as long as it moves!"
　Astonaige approached, intending to stop Beltorchika as she fumbled within the cockpit, but the Re-GZ's hatch slammed shut.
　"Beltorchika! Stop it!"
　"Amuro's struggling, Astonaige!"
　The remaining right manipulator of the Re-GZ jerked into motion, severing the wire.
　"Beltorchika! That's reckless! What can you do?!"
　"The baby in my womb says go!"
　"That's preposterous! It's nonsensical!"
　The exchange between the two streamed unapologetically into Hathaway's headphones, who had drifted into the mobile suit deck facing the catapult deck.
　"Beltorchika... A baby...?"
　Within Hathaway's sight, multiple fireballs swelled before the Re-GZ and flashes from the mobile suit's tail nozzles intersected.
　"Beltorchika!"
　It appeared Astonaige was pounding on the Re-GZ's cockpit hatch, but the Re-GZ's body shifted abruptly. The sole surviving tail nozzle activated.
　With a thunderous roar, the Re-GZ left the Ra Cailum, and Astonaige's body sprawled onto the catapult deck.
　The exhaust blast hurled Hathaway back into the mobile suit deck, smashing into a wall and collapsing between maintenance panels. In that instant, a direct hit from a beam struck the catapult deck. The flash engulfed the deck with a resounding boom. If Hathaway hadn't slipped into the shadow of the maintenance console panel, he would have shared Astonaige's fate.
　"Ah...?"
　Astonaige's normal suit vanished in the explosion, and Hathaway cowered within the blinding light.
　"Mr. Astonaige?!"
　As the remnants of the explosion dissipated, Hathaway gazed towards the catapult deck and saw the Re-GZ disappear into the flashes surrounding Axis.
　Hathaway instinctively ignited his normal suit's vernier, drifting across the ravaged deck and out into the open.
　"The Jegans...?!"
　Hathaway caught sight of several damaged Jegans tethered to the upper-right deck of the catapult. Beyond them, he saw the approaching Ra Zyme. The emitted beams fanned out like needles in every direction.
　Hathaway drifted towards the Jegans and slid into the cockpit of one, finding that the cockpit was still operational. He grew frantic.
　"Quess is coming, Quess is coming...!"
　He had no way of knowing why the engine was still warmed up.
　"...?!"
　He saw a Geara Doga being destroyed in the defensive fire from the Ra Zyme, which was shielding the Ra Cailum. Hathaway tore a beam rifle from the neighboring Jegan.
　"Uwah!"
　He fired it suddenly in one direction. With a resounding blast, it scored a direct hit on the invading Geara Doga. It was destroyed!
　"...A-alright!"
　Hathaway snapped the wires restraining the Jegan's legs and raced towards Axis. Unknowingly, Hathaway didn't notice that the seat he occupied was drenched in blood.
　"What's going on?! Some dumbass just flew into the middle of our anti-aircraft fire!"
　Bright, watching the Jegan's trajectory from the combat bridge, failed to issue an order to confirm the pilot's identity due to Claire's furious shout. If the culprit survived, there would be a report from the responsible officer later, and they would soon find out who the fool was.

　The Gundam connected another tube to the engine block.
　"Damn it!"
　Quess followed with her funnels. The Gundam's beam saber was no longer able to evade her relentless attacks. She was faster than before.
　It could be attributed to youthful arrogance, but her agility, born from her youth, allowed her to fire lasers from all directions as if cutting into Amuro's flesh.
　"Quess, stop it!"
　"Don't bother the Captain! Not like this!"
　Amuro sensed Quess's intentions and restrained the movements of his Fin Funnels, consolidating them.
　Then, the five Fin Funnels gathered around the Gundam, spreading their beams and interfering with each other. The interference waves of the beams enveloped the Gundam's body.
　"Ugh!"
　Seeing that her Fin Funnels seemed to have forgotten their attack, Quess felt as if she was being mocked by adults.
　She fired Alpha's diffuse mega-particle cannon from its head. The cascade of beams that flowed like a waterfall swept through space.
　"Has she gone mad?!"
　Amuro positioned the Gundam between the Fin Funnels, taking the attack overhead.
　Zan! Gyuyan!
　The light turned violent, engulfing the Gundam, but...
　Shululul
　The particles scattered like breath from Alpha's diffuse beam cannon, and the onslaught subsided.
　"...?! No!"
　Quess saw the Gundam within the pyramid-shaped curtain of light, spreading particles in all directions.
　She couldn't understand why the Gundam was unharmed. She was saturated.
　"My funnels!"
　Quess focused her funnels on the dissipating curtain of light.
　However, when the funnels' lasers struck the space adjacent to the Gundam, the interference wave created by the beam appeared to form a pyramid-shaped barrier. And the funnels that leapt into that barrier self-destructed.
　Even while moving at high speed, the interference waves of the Fin Funnels' beams constructed a pyramid-shaped barrier.
　"Ah... Ugh!?"
　Quess simply accepted the multiple sparks that exploded inside her head with a blank expression. Within her now-whitened mind,
　"Found it! There...!"
　It echoed as if an entirely different, utterly alien, white consciousness had uttered those words.
　"Eh?!"
　Quess was startled and retreated the Alpha. She remembered the impression of that voice as innocent words...
　"What? Whose voice was that just now?!"
　In that instant, the Gundam aimed its Hyper Mega Bazooka Launcher with the extended tube and unleashed a barrage. Quess had overlooked that the Fin Funnel barrier was not expanded at the bottom of the pyramid shape.
　"Aah!?"
　Quess saw the torrent of the Gundam's Hyper beam's flash heading towards Axis in her receding view. However, the massive beam that seemed to strike Axis's core nozzle directly hit the Neo Zeon vessel positioned in front of it.
　In that explosion, the shadow of Rewloola emerged.
　"Did they get us?!"
　Groans arose in Rewloola's combat bridge.
　"No, the Moussac shielded us! Axis's tail nozzle is intact! Mobile suit squads, the enemy fleet has scattered!"
　It was a reasonable judgment by the crew. They couldn't believe a mobile suit could unleash such a potent beam attack, so they assumed the Ra Cailum unit, which appeared to be invading recklessly head-on, had divided into two forces.
　"...?!"
　Mesta activated the display before her and contacted Char.
　"Nightingale. The Moussac has been sunk."
　"Sunk?"
　"The enemy deployed a powerful beam cannon."
　"Hmm... well played. Has the Musaka retrieved the crew from Cruiser 4?"
　"Yes! They're withdrawing from the frontlines."
　"Good! Then I'll head out there!"
　Mesta exhaled a sigh of relief.
　"I've sent the Captain out again..."
　Closing her eyes, Mesta surrendered to the swaying of the ship, feeling a profound sense of sorrow.