15 Years Later
The reddish dust of the plains once known as East Asia enveloped Neo-Veridia Metropolitan City. Here, one of the many fortress cities established by the Colony Forces stood proudly as a logistical supply hub for the space colonies. Life in Neo-Veridia was dominated by the technology and luxury of the Colonians, while the native Earth inhabitants were forced to live in the shadows of oppression. They were second-class citizens on their own planet.
In a high school building constructed with typical Colonian futuristic architecture, twin teenagers, Zaki Kimeza and Maki Kimeza, lived their days amidst the noise and arrogance of the Colonian students.
Zaki Kimeza, the elder sibling, was a 15-year-old with a quiet and serious demeanor. His tense face and sharp gaze reflected the burden he had carried since childhood. His hair was dark brown and his eyes were brown, inheriting almost all of his mother Airi's appearance. He rarely spoke unless necessary and always kept his distance. Zaki was a shadow moving through the crowd.
Meanwhile, Maki Kimeza, the younger sibling, was the total opposite. She was cheerful, chatty, and full of overflowing enthusiasm. With bright blonde hair she inherited from her late father, Klaus, and her mother's brown eyes, Maki was a true Mobile Suit otaku. She admired Mobile Suit technology in all its intricacies, ironically unaware that the technology had taken her father and been created by her own parents. For Maki, studying Mobile Suits was an escape from the reality of oppression.
They were both in the same class when the automatic sliding door opened, drawing the attention of all the students.
"Please welcome our new transfer student," the Colonian history teacher said in a formal tone.
The figure who entered was a girl with a beauty so pure, as if untouched by the dust of Neo-Veridia. She had long indigo hair that contrasted with her pink, sakura-petal-like eyes. Her slender and elegant stature immediately made her the center of attention.
"My name is Aurora Anveil," the girl said with a soft, innocent voice.
In an instant, Aurora became the new star of the school. Colonian students, both male and female, immediately swarmed her with questions and compliments. Zaki, who happened to be sitting in the back row, only glanced briefly, returning his focus to his textbook which discussed Colony history—a false history that claimed them as the heroic saviors of Earth. He was completely indifferent to the commotion around him, including Aurora.
The break bell rang, and Zaki hurriedly packed his books, intending to immediately head to the rooftop, where he usually sought solitude. However, his steps paused.
"Zaki Kimeza?"
The girl, Aurora Anveil, was now standing next to him. A faint sweet scent emanated from her indigo hair. Zaki, who was accustomed to being ignored or oppressed due to his status as an Earth native, was surprised.
"I noticed you sitting alone," Aurora said with innocent pink flower eyes. "Want to have lunch with me?"
Zaki had already opened his mouth, preparing to refuse in the shortest possible words, when his sister's cheerful voice interrupted.
"Zaki! Don't be rude!"
Maki appeared with a backpack full of Pioneer Mobile Suit merchandise. Her eyes immediately widened upon seeing Aurora.
"Oh my gosh, you're the famous Aurora Anveil, aren't you? I'm Maki! Zaki's twin. Of course, he wants to have lunch! We'll show you a great secret spot!" Maki exclaimed, nudging Zaki's arm.
Zaki snorted, but it was too late. Maki had already pulled Aurora, who merely smiled happily, down the hallway.
"But, Zaki..." Maki whispered quickly into her brother's ear as they walked, "We have to be nice to her. She looks high-class. Who knows, maybe she has connections to the Colony Mobile Suit warehouses! We might find out what new Pioneer types have been released!"
Zaki only gave his sister a flat look. He knew Maki's obsession with Mobile Suits would cause big trouble one day. However, this time, the trouble came sooner than he expected.
Just as the three of them were about to reach the cafeteria, a loud boom suddenly sounded, followed by a violent tremor that shook the entire school building.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Red alarms immediately blazed across the city.
The Colonian students began to scream in panic. From the school's large windows, a sight that made Zaki and Maki's hearts pound was visible.
In the heart of Neo-Veridia City, thick smoke billowed high from the industrial sector. Amidst the plumes of smoke, giant silhouettes were moving. They were nine old Pioneer Mobile Suits—the type used during the invasion 15 years ago—with large machine guns and heat hawks in their hands, attacking and disrupting the city's supply infrastructure.
"Mobile Suits! Old Type Pioneers! They're attacking!" Maki shouted with a crazy mix of horror and otaku excitement.
The Colony Forces, who considered themselves too superior to be attacked, were in disarray. They were reluctant to deploy their own combat Mobile Suits within the city, fearing collateral damage would destroy the Colonian population and infrastructure. Instead, they could only deploy armored tanks as an initial resistance.
Teachers and the principal started shouting, urging all students to immediately evacuate to the underground bunker. Students ran in hysterical fear. Aurora, her face pale, stood frozen.
But Zaki and Maki did not move. They exchanged glances. In their eyes, there was no fear, but a plan that had been prepared for years.
Zaki raised his left arm, and Maki her right. They touched the surface of the worn watches they wore—a secret communication device made by their mother.
"AIRIS. Mission active. Priority: Target Protection. Coordinates: Neo-Veridia School. Immediately," Zaki commanded inwardly through the device.
Outside, one of the chaotic Pioneer Mobile Suits turned towards the school. Perhaps seeing the window full of crowds, or perhaps simply out of frustration, the steel robot raised its large machine gun and aimed it. The ammunition belt trembled.
RATTATATATATAT!
The shots were fired. Time seemed to freeze. Everyone still in the school hallway screamed.
Suddenly, a massive shadow appeared from the sky. A giant object moved at an unimaginable speed, penetrating the thin atmosphere above Neo-Veridia. It landed hard right in front of the school, kicking up earth and debris.
BLAMMM!
The Pioneer Mobile Suit stopped firing. The machine gun rounds from the Pioneer hit the surface of a large, solid shield, creating massive sparks. Thick smoke billowed, enveloping the area between the school and the enemy Mobile Suit.
This was the opportunity they had been waiting for.
"Let's go!" Zaki shouted.
Maki nodded eagerly. They left the stunned Aurora and ran through the smoke. They ran out of the school, heading towards the mysterious object that had just landed.
Amidst the thick smoke, the silhouette of the White Gundam was visible. The Mobile Suit had been positioned by AIRIS—the AI that was now their guardian—right in front of the school.
Zaki and Maki moved quickly. They knew where the secret hatch was. They climbed the sturdy leg of the White Gundam, jumping into the hidden dual cockpit.
"Zaki, you pilot! I'm the gunner!" Maki exclaimed, her otaku instinct now switching to the instinct of a weapon operator.
Zaki nodded. He grabbed the main control levers. The Mobile Suit, which had been dormant for 15 years, now reacted to the touch of its pilots.
"AIRIS, activate combat mode. Lock target!" Zaki commanded.
"Full Combat Mode Activated. Locking onto Pioneer Mobile Suit Nine. Weapon Operator, stand by."
Maki, who was now in the weapon operator seat, activated the White Gundam's beam rifle. The view on the cockpit screen showed the Pioneer Mobile Suits outside, confused by the appearance of this white Gundam.
"Target locked! Right shoulder!" Maki commanded, aiming for the enemy Mobile Suit's weapon joint.
Zaki pressed the fire button.
WHOOOSH!
An intense, deadly beam of light was fired. The beam struck the Pioneer Mobile Suit's shoulder with terrifying precision, melting the steel and severing the joint holding the machine gun. The Pioneer's arm fell to the ground with a loud thud.
The thick smoke around the school slowly cleared, blown away by the wind.
Under Neo-Veridia's gray sky, amidst the now-frightened Pioneer Mobile Suits, stood the Mobile Suit of hope: the White Gundam, with Zaki and Maki Kimeza inside. The white bird had awakened from its long sleep.
To be continued....