Chapter 33

(The first wave)

(Scene opens on one of several enormous carriers orbiting planet Frieza. A mass of soldiers sits in a large auditorium with a huge screen on the back wall, awaiting briefing on the mission. A hush falls over the crowd as a highly decorated and muscular man walks on stage)

General: All right men, this is very simple, so I hope I only have to say it once. Your job is to break through the defenses around planet Reblious, recently renamed planet Pokemon, so that Lord Frieza doesn't have to be bothered with them, and can save his energy for the fight. More specifically, you'll be targeting the ships with space to land capabilities. We can't have them interfering with Frieza's battle, now can we? Now then, here's what you can be expecting.

(The screen comes to life, and begins displaying the schematics of each ship mentioned. Presently, it displays a pokeball-shaped craft)

General: This is one of their more common ships. It’s basically a frigate, carrying several pokemon-shaped battle drones, but be wary of its close-in combat system, especially if you pilot a battleship or any kind of heavy cruiser. Its powerful ship-to-ship missiles have punctured some of our strongest hulls. I would recommend ignoring this craft, unless it imposes an immediate threat. It has no space to ground weapons, and is therefore not a necessary mission target. Now as for the drones (the screen shows various pokemon-shaped crafts), they may hinder some of you. Some of these drones are computer operated, allowing them to move at speeds that a human couldn't handle. Others may be manned. You may also encounter mobile suits. For those of you not familiar with the term, this is a suit shaped like a being, usually a man. They can be equipped with a wide variety of weapons, but mobile suits are fairly out-dated, so you shouldn't have much trouble. Should they be guarding a necessary target, you may engage them, but I would advise avoiding them. Now, (monitor shows large crafts) these are your targets. Destroyers, battleships, and satellite beam guns. They all have the ability to attack the surface. We estimate around 250 of each of these ships currently in orbit, along with a ring of satellites surrounding the equator. However Ash, being the dumb ass that he is, has spaced them far too close, so if we blow one up, the rest will likely follow in a domino effect. Worry yourself with the ships. Engage non-essential mission targets at your own digression. Report to the docking bay to receive your assignments. We will be launching in two hours. I wish you the best of luck. You are dismissed.

(The soldiers get up and head for the docking bays. Heero and Trowa receive their assignment papers)

Heero: What'd you get, Trowa?

Trowa: They put me in the first wave, delta squadron. What about you?

Heero: Same here. I guess they thought we’d work best together.

Trowa: Do you think mobile suits are really out-dated?

Heero: No, it's just that no one knows how to utilize one anymore...speaking of out-dated and useless...

(Heero and Trowa walk toward their ship and enter Dr. J's lab to find him actually working...apparently)

Heero: Are those final upgrades done yet?

Dr. J: Almost!

Heero: Now Dr. J, I want you to promise me something. While we're gone, you are not to leave your lab, the ship is not to leave the docking bay, and you will protect Relena. Did you get that?

Dr. J: Yes! Protect Relena, steal the ship, and blow up the planet!

Heero: (sigh) Well, he got one right.

(Heero and Trowa walk into the living room to kill what time they have left before the battle. Ryo walks in)

Trowa: Hey Ryo. Shouldn't you be with Frieza in his luxury ship?

Ryo: I just came to wish you guys good luck. Believe me, I'd much rather be fighting with you, but machines aren't quite my specialty.

Heero: Just leave it to us. You have a job of your own to worry about.

Ryo: I guess you're right. I'll need to keep up my strength so I don't look like an idiot in front of Frieza.

(The loud speaker outside comes on)

Speaker: Attention! Attention! All pilots report to the docking bay! Launch in five minutes!

(Relena walks out)

Relena: Heero, please come back alive. I...

Heero: Don't worry. I have no intention of dying without reason.

Ryo: Yeah Heero, if you make it, maybe you can watch me take on Ash!

Trowa: We'd better go now.

Ryo: Yeah, Frieza should be expecting me soon.

Heero: Relena, just make sure you stay in the ship. Dr. J will keep you safe.

Relena: Ok. I'll be praying for you all.

(They board into their separate ships and prepare for launch. Shortly after, the carriers make a hyper jump to the outer perimeter of planet Pokemon. The first wave immediately deploys)

General: Alright men, we'll concentrate our force directly ahead.

Heero: (transmitting openly) Uh, sir...you may want to take a quick look at your radar...

General: Soldier! You have received your orders! You will comply without question! Is that clear!

Heero: Yes sir. (begins transmitting to Trowa) I just wanted to tell him that they forgot to guard the third dimension of the planet.

Trowa: Do you think we should break away from the others?

Heero: No. I get the feeling Frieza's army is going to need all the help it can get.

Trowa: Roger that.

(A sudden barrage of beam fire erupts from the distance. Starships, drones, and the satellite defense system fire a wave of attacks)

Trowa: Why are they firing? We're way out of range.

(One of Frieza's nearby fighters is hit and blown up)

Heero: Or not.

(The two fly straight ahead with their squadron, dodging beam fire)

Trowa: We're really out numbered.

Heero: That's never stopped us before.

(A wave of enemy drones and mobile suits approaches fast from a floating pokeball. The squad tries to ignore them, but they're too fast to escape)

Heero: Damn! With all the stuff Dr. J did with these suits, you'd think they'd be invincible, or at least able to outrun those guys!

Trowa: Maybe we just have to press the right button.

Heero: The controls don't look any different.

Trowa: Maybe Dr. J switched the controls around.

Heero: The basic control is the same.

Trowa: Well, what button would Dr. J expect us to press in a bad situation?

(Momentary silence)

Heero and Trowa at the same time: The self-detonation!

Trowa: But what if he didn't change it? We'd blow up!

Heero: Let's just leave it alone unless we get in trouble.

General: Delta squadron! Prepare to engage the enemy fleet!

Trowa: Here we go!

(The two teams engage each other. Several ships, enemy and friendly, are seen exploding immediately. Heero engages a nearby Mewtwo-shaped mobile suit. They fly around each other, blasting rifles in an attempt to make an easy kill. In the middle, two fighter drones come at Heero from both sides, firing small plasma cannons. Heero sways to dodge them, and narrowly avoids a punch from the mobile suit)

Heero: This isn't going to be easy!

(Meanwhile, on Frieza's luxurious personal transport, Ryo, Zarbon, Frieza, and Goku sit on the bridge with the pilots)

Frieza: (sips wine) Ah! Would you like something to drink my boy?

Ryo: No thanks. I'd better keep sober.

Frieza: Oh yes, I forgot how easily alcohol hinders you humanoids. Goku! Refill!

(Goku refills Frieza's wine glass)

Ryo: How are they doing?

Zarbon: Well, they're obviously doing horribly! That's the point of the first wave. We send them in to get killed and use up the enemy's force, then we send in our heavy cruisers to finish them off.

Ryo: You put my friends on a suicide mission!!??

Frieza: You said they were good. If they're really good, they'll make it to the second wave.

Ryo: Can you find them on radar?

Crewman: Yes. I'll put it on screen.

(Image of Wing Zero pops up)

Ryo: They don't look too beat up. Maybe they can make it (takes out small radio and talks into it). Hey Heero, how's it hanging?

Heero: Ryo, I'm trying to fight! Quit distracting me!

Ryo: Oh, sorry. Hey Frieza, do you have any of those little honey roasted peanuts?

(Back on the battlefield, Heero and Trowa are having a hard time fighting the multiple targets engaging them all at once)

Heero: Too many...too fast...I can't keep this up for long!

Trowa: Me either! This is much tougher than anything we've done before!

(Wing Zero is hit in the side with a small beam from one of the fighters. Then one of the Mewtwo suits flies in front of him and smacks him with its tail)

Heero: Hrr! I have to focus! (Heero says as he plunges Wing Zero's arm through one of the enemy mobile suits, destroying its cockpit and pilot) Focus on the enemy...

(By now, Alpha and Bravo squadron have been entirely obliterated, as well as most of Charlie and Delta squads. With increasingly less cover, Heero and Trowa find the fighting increasingly more difficult to keep up. Heavy Arms' dual machine guns, which have been upgraded to plasma cannons for space combat, fires off a few rounds, destroying an incoming fighter. Immediately afterwards, a mobile suit emerges from below. The Heavy Arms swiftly rectifies this with the blade in its left wrist, and then fires a few more rounds to the right to stop another mobile suit, but misses)

(Back on Frieza's ship...)

Zarbon: Most of wave one appears to be gone, Master Frieza. Shall we order in the second?

Frieza: (glances at the screen displaying Heero blow up a battleship with his buster rifle) I think they can hold on a few minutes more.

Ryo: What?! They're dying out there! Send in the reinforcements!

Frieza: Hmm...alright kid, I'll send them in just for you. But you'll have to make it up to me by putting on a good show when we arrive.

Ryo: You got it!

(Heero and Trowa float back to back, completely surrounded by suits)

Trowa: Well...this is lookin'...pretty bad...

Heero: Trowa, let's try that combination attack we worked out.

Trowa: Roger. Dock in 3, 2, 1.

(Wing Zero and Heavy Arms bend their knees in such a way that their feet almost touch. Then, Heavy Arms' feet retract, creating a slot. Wing Zero makes a similar transformation, yielding a block that slides perfectly into the slot and locks into place. Heero splits his buster rifle into two beam rifles and hands one to Trowa)

Heero: Will begin applying centripetal force in 3, 2, 1.

(The two suits ignite their jets, and begin spinning rapidly in a circle, pivoting on the vertex where their feet met. They form a sphere of spinning metal. The confused mobile suits never see the attack coming. The beam rifles erupt in a constant stream of plasma, slicing through virtually all of the suits and nearby Heavy cruisers. The rifles run out of energy, and the suits stop spinning and separate)

Trowa: That worked well! They all crowed into one spot, so it was easy to get them all.

Heero: I think that about does it. We'd better go refuel.

Trowa: Yeah. (transmitting over an open channel) This is Heavy Arms and Wing Zero disengaging.

(They fly back toward a carrier and dock)

Ryo: Yeah, they did it!

Zarbon: Master Frieza, it appears the enemy is retreating!

Frieza: Excellent. How many more heavy targets remain?

Zarbon: ...several. I guess they just ran out of drones.

Goku: Or they're just about to send in a second wave.

Frieza: Regardless, tell our men to finish this. I don't plan to spend the whole day up here.

(Heero and Trowa come out of the carrier, fully loaded)

Heero: Do you think the General survived?

Trowa: Yes. I saw him at the carrier. Apparently, he withdrew early in the battle.

Heero: Coward...

Trowa: Look! The second wave is arriving!

(A fleet of friendly bombers, fighters, and heavy ships comes to provide aid)

Heero: There doesn't appear to be much left, but stay on guard.

Trowa: Go after the heavy targets with your buster rifle. I'll provide support.

Heero: Roger that.

(Heero and Trowa join formation with the second wave and head toward the targets. Suddenly, the enemy ships launch a field of small dots)

Soldier one: What are those? They don't come up on radar.

General: (Whom has recently rejoined the formation) They appear to be pokemon. Actual pokemon! Attack from a distance! Don't get too close!

(But they realize too late. A fleet of psychic and ghost type pokemon quickly approach. The psychic pokemon take control of Frieza's troops, and play with them for amusement, causing them to fly around in circles, shoot each other, crash, and the like. Heero and Trowa are the only ones spared of this horror, as it seems not even telekinesis can break through Dr. J's shields)

Heero: We've gotta take out those psychic ones before the whole fleet gets destroyed!

(They begin attacking. Trowa fires his bi-plasma cannon, while Heero uses the separated buster rifles. The pokemon don't even bother to move. The psychic types simply move the shots away with telekinesis, and the shots just pass through the ghosts. The pilots quickly see the futility of their attacks. Heero pulls out his beam sword and points it at a mewtwo. The saber bends around it)

Heero: Looks like Dr. J forgot to include something to FIGHT psychic enemies.

(A ghastly appears in Heero's cockpit. He jumps with a start, and slams his fist into it. It passes through, slamming into a monitor. Heero clutches his fist in pain, while the ghastly mocks him with laughter. The pokemon are no longer amused by Heero and Trowa's attempts to stop them, and begin sending the allied ships after them. The gundam pilots do their best to avoid getting hit while not fighting back. They are able to keep this up for a while, but the pokemon get impatient and begin firing attacks of their own)

Trowa: Heero, there's nothing we can do here! We'd better retreat!

(But they are surrounded on all sides. There is no escape)

(Back on the ship)

Frieza: What the hell is going on out there?

Zarbon: I don't know, sir. Our ships appear to be fighting one another.

Frieza: I'm aware of that! I want to know WHY!!!

Goku: I'm sensing some psychic waves out there.

Zarbon: Those must be psychic pokemon that have taken control of our ships!

Frieza: But why aren't those two affected? (points to Heero and Trowa)

Ryo: Dr. J gave them a shield to protect against psychic attacks.

Frieza: Who? Well never mind, it doesn't matter. Goku, I want you to go out there and kill those pokemon.

Goku: But I can't breath in space.

Frieza: Then put on a suit!

Goku: We didn't bring any.

Frieza: Idiots! Well, I'm certainly not going out there! Any brilliant ideas, anyone?

Ryo: I'm going.

Frieza: What? Don't be a fool, boy! What could you possibly do?

Ryo: With my armor, I can breath in space. I should be able to move myself if I concentrate.

Frieza: Humph…fine. Just don't blame me if you die, or can't find your way back and get stuck floating in space forever.

Ryo: I'll make it.

(Ryo's facemask slides out as he walks out of the air lock)

Ryo: Let's see...they're over there, and I’m moving this way, so…I gotta jump that way!

(Ryo launches himself from the ship toward the battle. It takes much longer to get there than he'd expected, since depth perception is quite poor in space. But he eventually gets there)

Trowa: Hey, isn't that Ryo floating out there?

(Ryo flies by in his inferno armor. He pulls out his swords and prepares to attack)

Frieza: Zarbon, did that boy mention anything about being immune to psychic attacks?

Zarbon: No, Master Frieza.

Frieza: What a pity. And here I though I'd found an intelligent fighter.

(Ryo prepares to use an inferno flare on a cluster of mewtwos, when he is suddenly grabbed by their auras. He is dragged, immobile, in front of one of their faces)

Ryo: Oh crap.

(The mewtwo tosses Ryo aside, flinging him at the nearby planet. He falls haplessly into its gravitational pull)

Ryo: Oh no! I can't break free! Grr! Well, if I'm going down, I'm taking all of them with me! Rage of inferno!!!

(An explosion of fire erupts from Ryo's soul swords and flies straight for the psychic pokemon. They take the attack lightly, assuming it's just like any other flame. They counter with a mental shield, but are consumed in the inferno)

Trowa: Wow! Did he actually get them all?!

Heero: I don't see any more. Trowa, you stay here and finish off the remaining forces. I'll see if I can rescue Ryo.

Trowa: Roger that. Be careful, Heero.

(The other ships come out of the dead pokemons’ spell)

General: Huh? What happened?

Trowa: You were under mind control. Now come on, let's finish this.

General: Uh, right. Let's move out men!

(The squadron proceeds to destroy several defenseless heavy cruisers. Heero, meanwhile, glides toward the plummeting Ryo)

Heero: (on transmitter) Ryo, can you hear me?

Ryo: Heero, is that you? Your voice sounds weird in outer space.

Heero: Ryo, I'm going to try to rescue you. Just sit tight.

Ryo: Sit tight?! Where do you expect me to go?!

Heero: Into the ground.

(Wing Zero rockets to Ryo's side and grabs hold of him)

Ryo: Alright Heero! Now let's get back to Frieza!

Heero: ...uh oh...

Ryo: What do you mean uh oh?!

Heero: I don't have enough fuel to break orbit.

Ryo: What?! Some rescue! Can this thing survive reentry?

Heero: No...

Ryo: Well, do something!!!

(Heero glances at his self-detonation button)

Heero: Hm...Ryo, do you think you could survive if I blew myself up?

Ryo: What?!!!

Heero: Well, never mind. Here goes!

Ryo: Wait, Heero! What the hell are you doing!?!?

(Heero presses the self-detonation button, hoping that Dr. J had messed with it. And sure enough, he had! Wing Zero transforms. The hull sections part and reveal more armor underneath, which comes out and reinforces the gundam. The buster rifle becomes part of Wing Zero's arm, and converts into a magical cannon with lots of colorful lights. Three beam blades stick out of its other hand. Ryo is sitting in that hand)

Heero: Hey, it worked! I think this thing can survive reentry now!

Ryo: Heero, you lunatic!!! You could have at least warned me! You scared me half to death!

Heero: Wait...

(Flash back:

Heero on communicator: Dr. J, we're getting torn apart! Your shield sucks!

Dr. J: Reconfigure the shield harmonics to a rotating frequency.

Heero: Great idea. What the hell are you talking about!!!???

Dr. J: Push the red button!

Heero: That's the missile button!

Dr. J: Exactly!

Heero: I don't have any! We can't afford missiles!!!

Dr. J: Oh...then I'm afraid I'll have to recommend self-detonation.

End flash back)

Heero: He was hinting at it all along! The next time I see him, I'm going to strangle him!

Ryo: Um, Heero, not that I don't like the ever intensifying heat of reentry, but can you get us out of here!!?

Heero: Roger that.

(Heero pushes the thruster stick forward. Nothing happens)

Heero: ...I'm going to kill him.

Ryo: What now?

Heero: It seems that during the transformation, the fuel tank was jettisoned.

Ryo: Well, that's Dr. J for ya. So now what?

Heero: I guess we just wait for impact.

Ryo: Hm.…..so if you had Dr. J right now, how would you kill him?

(Meanwhile, Trowa and the rest of the second wave have been slaughtering the virtually helpless remaining ships)

Trowa: We should have this wrapped up in no time.

Heero: Trowa, just a warning, don't try the self-detonation. It jettisons the fuel tank.

Trowa: Thanks for the heads up, Heero. Good luck. I hope you find a way to come out of this alive.

Heero: Not likely, but we can always hope.

Trowa: Well, if this is our goodbye, then it’s been an honor fighting with you. Good luck, Heero.

(Back on Frieza's imperial flagship)

Zarbon: It appears to be almost over, sir. Our forces are mopping up the remaining enemy ships, and we should be able to touch down within the hour.

Frieza: Excellent. This went better than I had hoped.

(Frieza's rejoicing is interrupted by a frantic and irritating noise generated by the radar)

Pilot: Sir! We have multiple contacts coming from the opposite side of the planet. There are hundreds of 'em! Our forces are far too diminished to take them out! We're doomed! We're all friggin’ doomed!!!

(The pilot begins to flop about the bridge, shouting about how doomed they are)

Frieza: Zarbon, get this man off my bridge.

(The pilot rushes up to Frieza. As he comes within inches of his face, the pilot evaporates)

Frieza: Thank you, Zarbon.

Zarbon: Of course, Master Frieza.

(Trowa also notices the enormous force looming in front of the now pathetic Imperial forces)

Trowa: Aw...crap.

General: Lord Frieza is sending in all remaining units. This is it, guys! It's do or die! Preferably do. Let's go!

(All Imperial forces engage the seemingly endless fleet of Poke ships. And unfortunately, despite being soldiers of Ash, they are actually quite good as pilots, and easily commence annihilating the remaining forces. As he loses allies, Trowa's shield gradually gives way. Within another few minutes, Trowa finds himself completely surrounded by attack drones and suits, waiting to die)

Trowa: Well I guess this is it. Too bad I can't self-detonate...

(Just before Trowa is blown up, an unfathomable fleet of large, brightly colored starships uncloaks and swoops down, making quick work of the men surrounding Trowa, as well as many others)

Duo: Yeeehaaaa!!!!!

Trowa: Duo, is that you? I though you weren't coming!

Duo: Nah, I knew you guys couldn't do it without me! Besides, I've been looking for a chance to play with my starship collection! Now you just go get some rest and leave this to me.

Trowa: Thanks, but I plan to see this though!

(Duo's starships prove to be the most powerful in the universe, as all of Ash's fleet combined can hardly even scratch the paint. The pokemon fleet is soon reduced to a number the imperial forces can easily handle.)

Duo: Well, I think you guys can take it from here.

Trowa: Aren't you going to stick around to see the fight?

Duo: No way! You guys are nuts! I'm getting as far away from this planet as I can! Good luck, though. I sure hope that samurai friend of yours is as good as I've heard!

(Meanwhile, Heero and Ryo continue to plummet toward the planet. Ryo's armor is strengthened by the heat, and Wing Zero has enough armor to withstand it. They continue to fall, but come to a sudden bump. They notice that they've crashed into an airplane, and are now not only falling, but going down in flames)

Pilot: Attention, this is your captain speaking. A large mobile suit has just made a surprise landing on the aircraft. We are currently falling at a rate of 2400 miles per hour. Please enjoy the short remainder of your lives. Good day.

(The pilot ejects, but is almost immediately swallowed by a passing Aerodactyl. The plane explodes)

Heero: Well, looks like this is it. If I toss you up at the last second, you might survive.

Ryo: Wait, I have a better idea!

(Ryo uses the power from the heat of the fall and manifests it into an attack)

Ryo: Rage of inferno!!!

(Ryo's blast propels the gundam upward, slowing their descent, though the landing is still pretty rough. They crash in the middle of a sun-bleached wasteland. Ryo is crushed underneath the gundam's arm. Heero moves the arm, carefully gets out of the suit, (which is beginning to melt from the heat Ryo's attack left on the ground) and calls to his comrade, unable to approach because of the heat)

Heero: Ryo! Are you alright?!

Ryo: (dazed) I'm fine. I think I'll take a little nap now. Goodnight!

(Ryo falls unconscious. No sooner does Heero notice that they are surrounded by Ash's troops)