Chapter 8: Transfer

Starbuck closed his eyes as the meter hit 0%. The shadow cannon pressed into the mech and the outer shell exploded. Starbuck opened his eyes and saw the Shadow Gundam fly backwards. Tendrils of light extended from the inner wall of the Dragonguard Gundam. The Phoenix rose up and the tendrils wrapped around the mech and it took a new humanoid form.

“Archangel Form?” Starbuck said looking at the screen. “I guess you really can’t touch me now.”

The Phoenix transformed the scythe to a bladed boomerang and threw it at the Shadow Gundam. The shadow and CDB layers were pierced by the new intense light weaponry.

Before the shadows could regenerate, the Phoenix used its Purification Needle Gun and aimed at the exposed spot and fired. The Slayer took more and more damage as the Phoenix continued to fire.

“Look’s like the tables are turned!” Starbuck said proudly. This Gundam was more powerful than he had imagined.

“You think you are the only one with a hidden mode installed in your Gundam?” said the pilot laughing. “Watch the power of Werewolf Mode!”

The chest of the Shadow Gundam opened and a large red portal appeared. The energy from the needles was absorbed inside. The more needles it absorbed the faster the portal moved. The energy it was absorbing was turned into a red electrical energy which moved towards the hands of the Slayer forming large energy claws.

Starbuck stopped firing and the Slayer lunged forward and jabbed its energy claws into the light of the Archangel. This resulted in a powerful explosion which damaged both. Werewolf and Archangel modes were both deactivated.

“Your Gundam proves to be a challenge...I will leave for now. But when I return, I will make sure you are destroyed.”

The Slayer flew away and the Phoenix was left bare. The light energy had run out and the outer shell was destroyed earlier. It was a weak frame now. Starbuck began walking towards Soluna and met up with the others. Odessa, Warlic, and Maria had joined Lisa and Tek.

“What happened?” Tek asked examining the Phoenix.

“Long story...” Starbuck said grimly. He had failed to stop the Slayer and as he looked around at the damage he felt the necessity for that mission to Zargon was much higher.

---

On Zargon, Starstorm examined the ZPSS-002. She knew it was a technological marvel, but she still had no idea how to power it. It was gigantic and more than triple the size of a mobile suit.

“Billy, have you had any luck with the new engine?” she asked.

“Sorry, but it just isn’t working. I’ve made great improvements that tap into more of the CDB’s power but we will still need an insane amount of power.”

“Hopefully another planet answers our distress call and has a power source we can use.”

“Selina...I’m getting an alert from the Daily Zargon. They say there is a Shadow Gundam headed towards the planet.”

“The military is moving out?” she asked.

“Yes. Unfortunately the last time the Shadowscythe attacked, the last light manipulating superhuman was killed.”

Selina was about to respond with her worry about the situation when the roof of the starship hangar they were in exploded. Above them they saw the Shadow Gundam.

“Hellfire is here, to destroy your superweapon.”

Selina and Billy both flew down from the top of the mech to hide behind it. Hellfire however did not attack ZPSS-002. “This mobile suit...is more powerful than a Gundam. It would be such a waste to destroy it.”

Hiding down below Selina realized the solution to their problems. “That is it! A Gundam can power it!”

Hellfire then left the hangar and went for the city. “I’ll be back for that wonderful weapon...but first I’m going to have some fun.”

Above Metropolis Hellfire activated its Shadow Railguns and began to fire upon the buildings. Some of the superhumans with shielding abilities protected the buildings but the majority of them ones attacked were damaged.

“This isn’t satisfying enough...” Hellfire said as it activated the Corruption Particle Cannon. Both arms combined to form the cannon and the shadow energy gathered. Hellfire then looked upon the city, but changed his mind. He aimed up and fired at the sky. The full energy was released into the sky and caused a “corruption storm”.

A storm of green lightning and rain began. The corruption ravaged the city below and continued to spread out. The change would be slower, but more widespread. The superhumans tried to run but the rain was too heavy, some of the weaker children began to collapse as the infection began. Odd dark fibers began to grow on the buildings.

Some of the superhumans and mobile suits flew upwards towards Hellfire, but he simply activated his targeting systems and Shade Flak Vulcans on his shoulders. The pilot had little work to do as the targets were automatically destroyed.

“Now for that superweapon.” he said turning towards the hangars. He arrived and found a giant shield around it. Hellfire fired upon the shield but it did no good.

Inside ZPSS-002, Selena and Dr. Boltavolt were using the test CDB to power the shield.
“How long do we have?” asked Boltavolt.

“An hour at most.”

“Can we divert power to a weapon and destroy the Shadow Gundam?”

“It is too risky. The power we have left may not even reach all the way to the weapons. We have to hope help can arrive.”

Boltavolt sighed. “I guess this is it. There is no way help can arrive in time.”

“Don’t give up so easily. I have a new plan.”

Hellfire watched as the hatch of ZPS-002 opened. The Gundam floated down to examine the opening and found it was large enough to fit a Gundam in. Hellfire moved inside and the hatch suddenly closed.

“Remember those generator problems we had?” Selena said staring at the test controller for the mobile suit.

“You wouldn’t.” Dr. Boltavolt said smiling.

Selena pressed a button and inside the generator chamber, a reaction began to occur with the CDB. In one large explosion Hellfire was incinerated. Selena opened the hatch and they found a burned Gundam inside.

“Is this what you meant by using Gundams to fuel the mech?” Billy said laughing.
Selena laughed as she flew up to view the city. Her face was horrified. The entire city looked like it was made of a black shadow material, with green pods growing on the sides of the buildings. The citizens were all transformed into Shadowscythe style aliens.

“Metropolis...” Selena muttered in disbelief. “Billy, contact Korinth. We are going to need some assistance.”

Tomorrow in Gundam: Shadow.....Betrayal! With the attacks on Loreon and Zargon partially-destroyed, the Shadowscythe will turn towards EbilCorp. The power of LDB has removed their dependence upon Mr. Z and his corporation.