Mobile Suit Gundam - The Second Century (Part 1: Prelude 0099)

[sheraldine]

Athena of Gundam has even more to herself. apart from Carter's brain, she's also got the muscles tell me whatever can beat that?

jolie has brain and possessed muscle too, only ken refused to unlocked her power and unleash her full force... plus she still a VIRGIN!

[Ken Cheng]

Yay! I've finally gotten people to debate about my characters! I'm *Jin Yong* class now!

Well not quite yet, but it's a start. My thanks to you both for your interest.

So how does the author feel about Athena vs. Jolie?

They're very evenly matched in some ways. When it comes to sheer physical ability, there's no topping Jolie. She's a once-in-a-generation talent who was simply just born to win fights. She has almost superhuman reflexes and an instinctual knowledge of fighting despite minimal formal training (she studied a little karate, judo, and wushu as a child, but nothing that other kids her age couldn't learn; she also had Special Forces training, but again, other people have had this too; her supremacy comes from her talent; her fighting style is her own).

Athena is a well-trained and smart fighter, but nowhere near Jolie's class in physical combat (although Athena's still better than 90% of the people out there). She is, however, a tactical genius unmatched by anyone else in the Earth Federation Forces, the ISRLA, or the Archduchy of Zeon. If the generals of the Earth Federation Forces listened to Athena, they could probably win the war in just a few months with minimal loss of life (alas, their egos can't handle that). Athena can't hope to beat Jolie hand to hand, or mobile suit to mobile suit, but she can play all kinds of mind games against Jolie.

All in all, they'd be very dangerous to each other as enemies, so it's a good thing that they're friends.

They do have one asset in common, however: sex appeal. Both of them are very good at stealing the hearts of young men. It depends on whether the men's tastes, however, run towards the sophisticated young lady or the sassy teen.

Me? Heck, I'd gladly take either of them!

[Ken Cheng]

still mad....

dont be mad lah... jolie is sooooooooooooooo cuteeeeeeeeeeeee like sheraldine lim here... only i am much much older.....

Do you look like Joey Meng? Jolie does. She's Joey Meng reborn as an anime character

I even had an inside joke about that a few episodes back, did you guys catch it? Shin Matsunaga couldn't quite remember Jolie's name (he'd heard of her before), and briefly calls her "Joey Meng" before someone corrects him. My little inside joke.

great, now make sure Jolie gets her own fair share of guilt too...

ken.... it is getting personal..... it is no longer between thena and jolie.... either is me or ghost....

j/k.....justttttttttt kiddingggggggggggggg

Yeah, let Jolie and Athena do the fighting.

They're the best friends who keep beating the crap out of each other. That's not so surprising for guys, but Athena and Jolie are both girls.

After Episode 10, however, they're not going to go to blows again (at least not for a long, long time). Both of them grow up a bit, and their friendship will come out stronger for what they go through in Episodes 9 and 10. But they don't get there without ALOT of pain and suffering along the way. Nobody ever said friendship was easy, especially during a war. Especially between people with such strong personalities.

pssstttttttttttt ghost.... i can bet ken is enjoying reading this! glad to make him a happy man!

Indeed. It's nice to know that I've created two characters worth discussing, debating, and disagreeing about. I thank you both.

I just wish the other people who are reading would say something...

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Athena and Jolie, two cuties who can kick butt!

[sheraldine]

Do you look like Joey Meng? Jolie does. She's Joey Meng reborn as an anime character

no, i do not look like joey meng.... i mean i am jolie-like, smart and can kick a**

Indeed. It's nice to know that I've created two characters worth discussing, debating, and disagreeing about. I thank you both.

you are welcome.

I just wish the other people who are reading would say something...

you are too strict and so serious at times, ken. scary lah.... so to these people, silence is golden.

Me? Heck, I'd gladly take either of them!

ken has a dream... and he dreams he is having two of them

[Ken Cheng]

plus she still a VIRGIN!

Well, for now, anyway. Athena's got a head start on Jolie there, but you can expect Jolie to catch up in Part II.

[Ken Cheng]

ken has a dream... and he dreams he is having two of them

Yes...Athena and Jolie in Ken's private harem.

Mr. David Duchovney and Mr. Chan 13 probably wouldn't be too pleased at the idea, however (nor would Mr. Hathaway Noah or Mr. Jonah Miguel in the GUNDAM universe)...

[sarakoth]

Athena of Gundam has even more to herself. apart from Carter's brain, she's also got the muscles tell me whatever can beat that?

Sam's got some pretty big muscles too.

[sarakoth]

Yay! I've finally gotten people to debate about my characters! I'm *Jin Yong* class now!

Well not quite yet, but it's a start. My thanks to you both for your interest.

So how does the author feel about Athena vs. Jolie?

They're very evenly matched in some ways. When it comes to sheer physical ability, there's no topping Jolie. She's a once-in-a-generation talent who was simply just born to win fights. She has almost superhuman reflexes and an instinctual knowledge of fighting despite minimal formal training (she studied a little karate, judo, and wushu as a child, but nothing that other kids her age couldn't learn; she also had Special Forces training, but again, other people have had this too; her supremacy comes from her talent; her fighting style is her own).

Athena is a well-trained and smart fighter, but nowhere near Jolie's class in physical combat (although Athena's still better than 90% of the people out there). She is, however, a tactical genius unmatched by anyone else in the Earth Federation Forces, the ISRLA, or the Archduchy of Zeon. If the generals of the Earth Federation Forces listened to Athena, they could probably win the war in just a few months with minimal loss of life (alas, their egos can't handle that). Athena can't hope to beat Jolie hand to hand, or mobile suit to mobile suit, but she can play all kinds of mind games against Jolie.

All in all, they'd be very dangerous to each other as enemies, so it's a good thing that they're friends.

They do have one asset in common, however: sex appeal. Both of them are very good at stealing the hearts of young men. It depends on whether the men's tastes, however, run towards the sophisticated young lady or the sassy teen.

Me? Heck, I'd gladly take either of them!

They'll probably not take you though.

[ghostdarTeal'c]

Sam's got some pretty big muscles too.

ah of course, whoever can forget the one-on-one fight in Emancipation. yeah Sam's got the muscles, but she's sure not an exceptional hand-on-hand combat fighter. all right, so she's proven herself to be exceptional to be able to take out the big guy, but hey, we're talking about a girl who is better in physical skills than *quote* 90% of the people out there *quote*. and she's a freaking Newtype! In this thread, Jolie and Athena are two very exceptional fighter, and i believe, although Athena is slightly below Jolie in terms of physical ability, she's sure got the brain nerves tons more active than Jolie's.....

[Ken Cheng]

In terms of "muscle," we are talking figuratively here for both Athena and Jolie. Physically, they're pretty tiny, even somewhat skinny girls. A running joke about Jolie is that although she's very quick and ferocious, she can't land a lot of force in her hits because she's so small. But it's a matter of knowing *where* to hit and how to hit, so Jolie can hurt much bigger people (which is most adults) by hitting the right spots.

[ghostdarTeal'c]

well, when we were talking bout muscles, we were referring to their ability to kick other people's ***......physical size isnt the case at all....

[Ken Cheng]

well, when we were talking bout muscles, we were referring to their ability to kick other people's ***......physical size isnt the case at all....

Indeed. I just didn't want readers to get the wrong impression of Athena and Jolie being butch. They're not. Both are very feminine...but TOUGH feminine.

[Ken Cheng]

Episode 9...conclusion!

At noon, Athena is at the barracks’ cafeteria, having just gotten her lunch. She spots Jolie already sitting at one of the tables alone and dejected, filling her face with food.

Athena takes a seat next to Jolie. Without looking at Athena, Jolie moves her tray and herself to the end of the table, putting distance between herself and Athena.

“Hey,” Cpl. Geoff Sutcliffe whispers to Cpl. Anna Horowitz, indicating Athena and Jolie with a motion of his head, “What’s with them today?”

“They were fighting about something late last night,” Anna whispers to Geoff, “Didn’t you hear the yelling coming from their room? Looks like they punched each other around some too.”

Sgt. Tomo Higashi joins the conversation, “What’s up?”

Geoff indicates Athena and Jolie, “Lovers’ spat,” he jokes, causing the other Centurions to giggle.

Athena and Jolie continue their meals in silence, sitting at opposite ends of the bench, not speaking, not even looking at each other. It’s a stark contrast to the warm camaraderie they shared just twenty-four hours ago.

Jolie, finished with her lunch, pulls a cigarette from her pocket. She fishes around for her lighter, but realizes that it’s not on her.

Athena’s lighter comes to the rescue, igniting Jolie’s cigarette.

“So did you find out what really happened?” Jolie asks at last, breaking the silence.

“Yes,” Athena replies, “I talked to Colonel Cairlay this morning. The bastard went around me to give you those orders.”

Athena looks at Jolie’s pretty left cheek, a tiny purple bruise on the spot where Athena had punched Jolie the previous evening. Athena places her hand gently on Jolie’s facial wound, “Does it hurt?”

Jolie, tears forming in her eyes, replies with a choked back sob, “Not so much on the outside as on the inside.”

“Jolie,” Athena begins awkwardly, “I’m so sorry. I…”

Jolie finishes, “You did the same thing I would have done if I were you. I understand, Athena.”

Jolie puts down her cigarette and looks at Athena’s nose, fortunately not broken.

“How’s your nose?” Jolie asks.

Athena puts her hand on her delicate nose, “Still smarts.”

Jolie begins to laugh, as does Athena.

“We’re supposed to be fighting the ISRLA and the Zeon,” Jolie says through her laughter, “But instead, we beat the crap out of each other!”

“If the enemy leaves the two of us alone with each other long enough,” Athena adds mirthfully, “They won’t need to kill us. We’ll do it for them.”

The two young women collapse into laughter, embracing each other.

The Centurions have been watching all this from the sidelines, but missing their commanding and executive officers’ hushed dialogue. They turn to each other, perplexed.

“I don’t think I’ll ever understand those two,” Tomo tells his colleagues.

Anna agrees, “They’re definitely very strange people.”

“Total nutcases,” Geoff adds.


Outside of Side 3, the black Sazabi MK-II appears suddenly to launch a lightning assault against a civilian passenger transport leaving Side 3 for Side 6. The 120 passengers aboard the transport are instantly killed by the single shot fired from the Sazabi. A team of six GM-IV mobile suits from the colony’s Civil Defense Division is eliminated with three more shots.

Colonel Braniff Oskar’s silent reign of terror continues. Now, it appears no one can enter or leave Side 3 without the threat of being shot out of the sky.


Cislunar Daily Journal Editor-In-Chief Linda Ackerman is on local television at Zum City, where she is being interviewed by the mainstream media about the Federation’s destructive assault on the CFM compound the previous evening.

Linda angrily tells her interviewer, “I think it’s very clear that this attack was carried out not for security reasons, as the Federation’s leaders would want you to think, but for political reasons. The notion that our headquarters housed deadly nerve toxins for use against the people of the city is utterly preposterous: pure fiction made up by the Federation to attempt to cover up their true motives! Our investigative reports and articles have been very candid and unflattering to the Federation, so they decided to silence us through terror tactics. But we refuse to be intimidated! Even though we’ve lost our headquarters at Zum City, we will continue…”

On another channel, Colonel Cairlay is deflecting questions from the media, “We would not have taken such extreme measures except for the fact that we have learned that the CFM was serving as a front for ISRLA terrorists. Their compound held G3 toxin canisters that our intelligence confirmed as being intended for use against the citizens of Side 3. In all good conscience, we of the Federal Forces could not allow that to happen to our citizens here at Side 3.”


Later that day, Athena sits at her office desk, lost in thought. She’s devising her next strategy in light of recent events.

Jolie comes into the office, “You wanted to see me?”

“Yes, Jo, have a seat,” Athena replies.

As soon as Jolie is seated, Athena gets to the point with her, “This rogue mobile suit pilot terrorizing the Side 3 Zone is the source of many of our problems. He’s making us look incompetent by striking at will before we can do anything about it. We’ve got to shut him down.”

“All right!” Jolie enthuses, pumping her fist into the air, “It’s ‘bout time we saw some action again! I’d love to nail this bastard! He shot down a shuttle full of people today!”

Athena nods, “He’s a menace, and we need to deal with him. But we need to be careful: it’s obvious that he’s a highly skilled mobile suit pilot.”

“I can take him,” Jolie says confidently, “I took down the White Wolf, and the Blackbirds, and all those others, after all.”

Athena rises, patting Jolie warmly on the shoulder, “You ever heard of Braniff Oskar, the ‘One Strike Killer?’”

“Kind of,” Jolie says, having heard something vaguely about him, “He was like the top Zeon ace of the One Year War, wasn’t he? Didn’t he shoot down the most enemies or something like that?”

Athena nods, “Each with a single shot. His efficiency rating is actually higher than the more well known aces, such as the White Wolf, the Red Comet, and the Federation’s Captain Amuro.”

Jolie ventures, “You think this guy is Oskar?”

Athena replies, “I’m pretty sure of it. If it is, we’re going to have one hell of a fight on our hands.”

“He really has never missed before…ever?” Jolie asks.

“Not a single shot,” Athena confirms, “If he has, it’s not a matter of record.”

Jolie actually begins to feel worried. Even she can’t claim to have never missed before.


The following day, the Centurion Team is deployed outside of Zum City in their mobile suits, using Minovsky particles to conceal their presence.

“There’s a particularly large supply convoy coming in today,” Athena explains to the rest of the Centurions via coded message, “My reasoning is that this bait will be too tempting for Oskar to pass up on.”

The Centurions are more nervous than usual. They know of the reputation of their enemy, and each of them fears that it could all be over in one lightning instant.

Fifteen minutes later, the Centurion Team is shadowing the convoy as it approaches Side 3.

In the distance, a black Sazabi is establishing its mark on the convoy. No time to waste with the mobile suit escorts.

Oskar has the lead supply ship bracketed in his sight.

His finger tenses on the trigger, then relents.

2Lt. Jolie Minh’s mobile suit emerges seemingly from nowhere to obstruct the path between Oskar’s Sazabi and its target.


Oskar pulls back on the control stick. His Sazabi narrowly misses being stricken by the beam of the Centurion Gundam’s rifle.

The Centurion Gundam’s sudden appearance caught Oskar off-guard…something that Oskar has never previously experienced in his twenty years as a mobile suit ace pilot. But no matter: he will finish the enemy mobile suit in the next heartbeat.

But the Centurion Gundam is gone.

Wary now, Oskar takes his attention away from the convoy ships. A moment of silence to center himself.

The Centurion Gundam appears suddenly once again behind Oskar’s Sazabi MK-II; Jolie fires, but Oskar is able to dodge her shot once again.

Oskar locks the Sazabi MK-II’s beam rifle onto the Centurion Gundam. He is calm. He is centered. He is prepared to strike down his target, like so many thousands of times before.

This time, however, is different. Oskar is infamous for having never missed a target once in his entire career. To be shot at by Oskar is to be stricken by Oskar. There has never been an exception.

But today is different. As Oskar targets the Centurion Gundam, he feels an uncertainty. For the first time, ever, Oskar does not feel confident that his shot will strike the target.

Something is different about this one, Oskar realizes, If I fail to strike her down with the first shot, I won’t get a second chance. She can kill me. Somehow, Oskar is quite certain that the enemy pilot is a “she.” He senses her powerful Newtype aura, more intense and overwhelming than his own.

The Centurion Gundam takes a third shot at the Sazabi MK-II. Oskar deflects the shot with the Sazabi’s arm-mounted shield.

Some other time, then, Oskar resolves, When I’m ready for her.

Oskar vectors the Sazabi MK-II away. Jolie gives chase in the Centurion Gundam. The rest of the Centurion Team follows.

Braniff Oskar fires a barrage of blinder flares to cover his escape. The blinders illuminate local space with blinding light. The Centurion Team is forced to halt its pursuit.

“Damn!” Jolie slams her fist on the control console of the Centurion Gundam in frustration, “We lost him!”

“Yes,” Athena concedes, “but we’ve given him something to think about, which will deter him until we can eliminate him. Let’s get back to base.”

The Centurion Team withdraws to Zum City.

End of Episode 9

Next in Episode 10: Athena and Jolie’s friendship reaches a point of crisis as a startling betrayal is revealed. Additionally, Athena and Jolie must face down the threat of Braniff Oskar, the One Strike Killer. Be here for Episode 10, “Innocence’s End,” the final chapter of Part I of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Second Century (Prelude 0099)!

[Ken Cheng]

EPISODE 10: INNOCENCE’S END

Christmas Eve, U.C. 0098. For the moment, things are quiet at Side 3. No new attacks by the One Strike Killer have occurred during the past week, and while the backlash from 2Lt. Jolie Minh’s attack on the CFM headquarters compound still simmers tensely, the situation is no longer quite at a boiling point.

Work on the colony’s refurbishment has been suspended for two days so that the people of Side 3 can enjoy the holidays with their families. It’s the best holiday that the people of the space colony have had in many, many years, thanks to the arrival of supply convoys that bring not only extra food, medicine, and clothing, but even holiday decorations and toys for children.

The Centurion Team also has Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off, and is gathered in the lounge of their barracks.

Jolie hands a small, gift-wrapped box to Athena, “Merry Christmas, ‘Thena.”

“Thank you,” Athena says, accepting the box, “Want me to open it now?”

“Yeah,” Jolie enthuses with a sweet grin.

Athena opens the box methodically and neatly, laying aside the wrapping paper. Within is a box that contains a gold pocketwatch with a chain.

“It’s beautiful,” Athena smiles, “I’ll cherish it, Jolie.”

“I got that in Shanghai back when were on Earth,” Jolie tells Athena, “Cost me a few hundred credits too.”

“You know,” Athena says with a mischievous grin, “gold pocketwatches are traditionally gifts for people who are about to retire from their careers. Are you trying to tell me something, Jo?”

Jolie, unaware of the tradition, blushes in embarrassment, “Well, um. No, that’s not what I meant. I mean…”

Smiling at her friend’s discomfort, Athena produces a somewhat bigger gift-wrapped box, “I have something for you as well.”

“Cool!” Jolie says, accepting the box from Athena and ripping the wrapping to shreds.

Jolie’s eyes widen as she opens the box: it contains a high-caliber Walther hand pistol, similar to the sidearm that Athena always carries, but a newer, more advanced model.

“Wow,” Jolie says, picking up the small, but deadly silver handgun, “You know, only you would give someone a gun for a Christmas gift.”

Athena smiles, “This Walther hand pistol has greater range and accuracy than your standard issue Federal Forces sidearm, and packs a stronger punch too. If it ever comes down to it, it’ll give you an edge in a life or death battle.”

“Thanks, ‘Thena,” Jolie says, twirling the gun on her finger before holstering it at her side.

Nearby, the rest of the Centurion Team is drinking eggnog and singing Christmas carols. Athena and Jolie step over to join them.

Jolie plants a warm kiss on the cheeks of each of her Centurion Team squadmates. During the past year, the Centurions have become her surrogate family. After her real family was killed by Alexander Miguel, Jolie thought she would never belong to a family again. Athena changed all that, however, by taking her off the streets of Industria Colony and inducting her into the Centurion Team. Thanks to Athena, Jolie has a family to belong to again, and she couldn’t be happier.

Athena smiles at her team. Like Jolie, Athena has developed a sense of kinship with the young men and women under her command. She has vowed never to let harm come to any of them, especially Jolie, whom Athena regards practically as her little sister.

“You know,” Sgt. Tomo Higashi says, “As cool as you guys all are, I really do miss my folks and my kid sister back at Side 2.”

Sgt. Karim Abdul Al-Said says sympathetically, “I understand what you mean, Tomo. I had hoped to spend some time with my fiancée during this winter. I promised her that we would be married as soon as my current tour of duty ends in about twenty-four months from now.”

Provided I can keep you alive another twenty-four months, Karim, Athena cannot help thinking to herself gravely.

So far, Athena has been fortunate: the Centurion Team has not lost a single member under her command. The team’s original commanding officer, Captain Rick Tinne, was killed during the team’s very first mission, but that was a casualty that Athena had been counting on…deliberately manipulated into place, in fact.

Athena sighs with regret. She reflects on how downright evil some of her past choices and actions have been. Maybe people were right about her Zabi Family heritage after all: the Zabis were all pathologically evil to the core.

A few months ago, Athena had explained to Jolie the need to be Machiavellian during these dark times. Athena’s experiences in recent months have changed her greatly: her disastrous romance with Hathaway Noah, her unexpected reunion with her childhood caretaker and friend Dory Ischinda, and her often tempestuous friendship with Jolie.

“Hey, ‘Thena!” a laughing Jolie calls out as she and the Centurions engage in a spontaneous game of Twister/wrestling, “Stop standing there frowning and come have some fun!”

Athena grins, and joins the happy pile of young soldiers. This is her family now, and she loves every one of them. That’s all that matters now.


Elsewhere, a man who never celebrates any holiday is hard at work.

Colonel Braniff Oskar tinkers with his Sazabi MK-II with the single-mindedness of a machine. Working with supplemental parts provided to him by Anaheim Electronics by way of the Earth Federation Forces, Oskar upgrades every system of his mobile suit, preparing for his impending rematch against Jolie Minh’s Centurion Gundam: the first opponent that Braniff Oskar has ever doubted he could shoot down with a single strike.

Oskar is not motivated by jealousy, ego, or similar considerations. He is of a singular mind and purpose: destroy the enemy with a single shot. Until he accomplishes this purpose or is destroyed in the process, he will pursue it…without fear, without hesitation, and without desire. His target being formidable, special preparations must be made. But the end result, Oskar knows, will be no different.

One shot. One death. One goal.

Episode 10 to be continued...

[Ken Cheng]

Episode 10 continued...

December 26, U.C. 0098

How The Earth Federation Forces Play A Shell Game With Our Lives

by

Linda Ackerman

Editor In Chief

Consider yourself lucky if you are actually reading this. After all, you are still alive to read it, and I am still alive to have written it. I have even found a way to distribute it despite all that has happened in recent days and weeks.

But make no mistake: your luck and mine is going to run out sooner rather and later. We are playing the Earth Federation Forces’ shell game, and the chips are our lives.

The dealers in this particular game are General Manron Blackhead and Colonel Peter Cairlay, two blackjacks if there ever were any.

And like all dark princes, these two sent one of their pawns to do their dirty work.

My office is no more. The facility from where I once wrote and distributed these articles is a memory. I am fortunate that I have other resources that have enabled me to return to limited publication. I am also fortunate that my colleagues survived that night of fire and fury.

But as I said before, our luck is running out.

That’s why I say that Spacenoids cannot continue to press their luck with the Earth Federation Government. The Spacenoid population must do as Zeon Daikun and Degin Zabi once urged them to do: seize control of their own destiny…

Captain Athena Ibaz puts the newspaper down. She faces Linda Ackerman (Dory Ischinda) at a café in Zum City.

“And you say that I’m the one playing with fire,” Athena mutters in exasperation.

Dory replies, “We’re sending a strong message to the Federation: we’re not backing down, no matter how many mobile suits it sends against us.”

“How are you able to keep publishing?” Athena asks, “Jolie wiped out your entire compound, including the printing facilities.”

“We aren’t fools, Minerva,” Dory says, “The Zum City compound was just one of our bases. We have other locations from which we can do our work…all throughout Cislunar Space, and even on Earth.”

“You’re going about this the wrong way,” Athena tells Dory, “You’re jabbing a caged lion with a short stick, and even though it’s a sick lion, it’s still ferocious enough to kill you.”

“Some of us aren’t willing to stick our heads in the sand, Minerva,” Dory responds, “Are you telling me that your way is working? Yes, the people of Side 3 have seen their daily lives get a little better this past month, and yes, it’s because of your efforts. But let’s not kid ourselves: you’re only a captain in the Federal Forces and there’s only so much you can do. Before long, your commanding officers are going to order you to do something terrible to the people here…just like they ordered Jolie Minh to destroy the CFM compound, except worse. What will you do then, Minerva?”

Athena says nothing. On some level, she realizes that Dory is probably right.

Having said what she wanted to say, Dory leaves behind money for the coffee she had, and prepares to go her way.

Before Dory leaves, however, she turns to Athena one more time and tells her, “Hathaway sends his love.”

Athena turns to Dory, “So you know…?”

“Of course,” Dory says, with the hint of a grin, “Don’t forget who signs Hathaway’s paychecks.”

“How is he?” Athena asks meekly.

“A bit depressed when I last talked to him two days ago on Christmas Eve,” Dory says, “He misses you terribly.”

Athena sighs.

“Unfortunately, I can’t tell you where he is,” Dory continues, “You saved his life by reporting Mafty killed in action, but you could still implicate him if you were to find out his current location. In the ISR, we don’t endanger our colleagues like that.”

Athena nods understandingly, for once agreeing with Dory’s decision.

Dory steps back over to Athena, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. When they aren’t divided by politics, they are still friends, “When you were still a little girl, we on the Royal Staff often fretted about the day when you would grow up, and it would be time to find you a suitor that you would marry and with whom you would someday continue your family’s bloodline. Little did we know it would come to this.”

Athena smiles bitterly, “So are you still planning to marry me off to some Zeon nobleman?”

Dory laughs, “No. That’s one part of your life in which I don’t plan on telling you what to do.”

“I kind of wish you would,” Athena admits, “I sure as hell haven’t been able to figure it out.”

“Do you love Hathaway, Minerva?” Dory ventures.

“Jolie used to ask me that exact same question all the time,” Athena says.

“Well…?” Dory presses.

Athena nods, “Yes. I’ve become sure of that much, at least.”

“Then why haven’t you acted on it?” Dory asks.

“It’s not that simple,” Athena says, “Like you suggested a minute ago: I’m an Earth Federation Forces officer. He’s Mafty, the ISRLA’s top intelligence agent. It’s the Montagues and Capulets all over again.”

“Even more reason you should drop this whole ‘Athena Ibaz’ charade and reclaim your real identity, Minerva,” Dory resolves, becoming serious again.

“No,” Athena replies, “Let’s let Duchess Minerva remain ‘dead.’ I don’t want any part of the Zabi name or legacy ever again.”

It is Dory’s turn to sigh, “I was hoping you’d reconsider. Farewell, Your Highness.”

Dory leaves Athena to brood.

Athena runs a hand through her hair, feeling a migraine developing. She wonders if things will ever get simpler.


Later that day, Athena and Jolie are at a test firing range, practicing their shooting skills. Jolie is using the new Walther hand pistol that Athena gave her for Christmas, gaining familiarity with the sleek and powerful new weapon.

As during many previous shooting practices, Athena and Jolie turn training into a competition to see which of them has better aim. As has been the case many times before, they reach stalemate after stalemate after stalemate…neither one of them capable, it seems, of missing the bullseye.

As the practice session/contest ends, Jolie admires her new sidearm, “This new gun is great! Lots of power, really accurate, and hardly any recoil.”

“Yes,” Athena says, “It’s a much better weapon than the standard Federal Forces issue sidearm. I abandoned mine and got the Walther not long after I graduated from the Academy. The last thing a soldier needs in battle is an unreliable weapon.”

Changing the subject, Jolie says, “I’ve noticed you’ve been hanging out with that Linda Ackerman the past few days. What’s up with that?”

“Just diplomacy,” Athena says cryptically, “Trying to keep the CFM from launching any more diatribes against the Federation after that fireworks show you performed at their compound.”

“Oh, c’mon!” Jolie says, growing visibly upset, “We already talked about that! If I’d known…!”

“You would have had to follow orders anyway,” Athena finishes, “I’m not blaming you, Jolie. You did what you had to do, like any good soldier would. But there’s no questioning that Cairlay and Blackhead are making some very foolish choices. They’re lighting matches in a roomful of explosives. Sooner or later, it’s going to blow up in all of our faces.”

“Athena,” Jolie says seriously, “We’re Federal Forces officers. Is the Federation evil? Are we doing evil things for evil men?”

Athena places a reassuring hand on Jolie’s shoulder, “Ever since human beings began fighting each other, philosophers have wrestled with the question of whether or not war itself is evil. I don’t claim that I have a definitive answer to that question, Jolie, but war does bring out the worst in people.”

Jolie blinks, “After I attacked the CFM building, I…I don’t know, ‘Thena…I just didn’t feel like one of the good guys anymore.”

Jolie looks so upset that Athena feels compelled to give her protégé a comforting hug, “Jolie, I know you. Of the people I’ve known in my life, you have one of the purest, most noble spirits. You did what was required of you as a soldier, and you did it without unnecessarily killing anyone. You don’t need to feel ashamed.”

Jolie seems to take comfort in Athena’s encouragement, and perks up again, “It’s almost New Year’s,” Jolie says, “It’s been a whole year since we got together and became a team.”

“I know,” Athena says, “What a year it’s been for both of us.”

Jolie says, “When we first met, you didn’t want to tell me anything about your past. Maybe because we didn’t really know each other then. Are you gonna tell me now? We’re best friends, ‘Thena, but I barely know you, know what I mean?”

Athena tenses. She has been dreading this question. Thinking quickly, she tells Jolie this much, “I was born here at Side 3, but moved out to the Asteroid Belt not long afterward because of the war. My father was killed during the war, and my mother died of illness two years later. I was adopted by friends of my family. When I was ten, I moved down to Switzerland on Earth. I lived in Switzerland among the Alps until I joined the Federal Academy when I was fourteen. It was like Heidi where I lived in Switzerland.”

Jolie blinks in surprise, “You were born at Side 3? Wow. That means you’re a Zeon. I never would have guessed.”

“Does that mean you hate me now?” Athena teases.

“No,” Jolie says, “Like I said before: I don’t hate all Zeon people. They’re mostly just people same as me. I just hate the Zeon leaders who’ve killed so many people…especially Alexander Miguel and the Zabis.”

Athena’s heart freezes for a moment.

Jolie continues, “I guess I can understand now why you're so nice to the people here at Side 3. This is like your home country, huh? So why did you join the Earth Federation Forces? I didn’t think a citizen of Zeon would want to become a soldier in the Federal Forces.”

Athena considers the question for a moment, “Maybe it was for redemption.”

“Redemption?” Jolie asks, puzzled, “What do you mean?”

Athena smiles, putting her hands on Jolie’s shoulders, “It’s not important. Anyway, let’s not dwell on the past. I’m more interested in focusing on the future. You mentioned the other day how you want to have children one day. Let’s do what we need to so that you can raise them in a world where you don’t have to worry about them being killed in war.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jolie says.

Athena pats Jolie’s shoulders. Athena had initially recruited Jolie to be her personal ace in the hole…her own personal superweapon to be leveraged against her enemies. At first, Athena viewed it as a purely exploitative relationship: she needed Jolie’s talents to expedite the fulfillment of her goals. Athena did not anticipate, however, that she and Jolie would grow to become such close friends.

A part of Athena curses herself for becoming so emotionally involved…just as she had with Hathaway. Love…friendship…these things complicate matters.

But another part of Athena feels very fortunate. Friends such as Jolie and the Centurions have saved her from what she was becoming…a cold-blooded killer, like her ancestors had been.

Athena’s friends have made her feel human…something she often did not feel growing up as heir to the Zabi legacy. As Duchess Minerva, Athena had spent her entire childhood surrounded by sycophants who wanted to exploit the power of her family name. She has had precious few people in her life she can trust…until now.

But even if she can trust those around her, can they trust her? She is, after all, withholding a momentous secret from them. And can she trust herself? Will she be as loyal to them as they have been to her?

More questions with no answers. The Thinker’s Curse: the more one thinks, the more questions arise.

Episode 10 to be continued...

[Ken Cheng]

Episode 10 continued...

General Manron Blackhead reads the latest article by Linda Ackerman in the Cislunar Free Media. It takes him less than a minute of reading before he grows so livid that his eyes bulge demonically and he crumbles the newspaper in his hands.

“God damn them!” Blackhead roars, “What will it take to silence these Spacenoid bastards?!”

Cairlay tells the general, “Sir, our intelligence agents have located their new base of operations. Would you like us to move in?”

“In force!” Blackhead says, “Extreme prejudice!”

“Extreme…?” Cairlay says, not quite believing what he’s hearing, “But, sir...”

“It’s time to stop coddling those terrorists,” Blackhead says, “We need to show them some blood, Cairlay!”

“Yes, sir,” Cairlay replies, actually relishing the prospect, “Should we send in the Special Forces?”

“Military Police,” Blackhead says, “When you get back to Side 7, we need to have a little talk about your Special Forces officers, Cairlay. I suspect half of them have ISRLA or Zeon sympathies.”

Cairlay reddens at the insinuation, “No, sir.”

“Carry out my orders right away, Colonel,” Blackhead says darkly.

The communications video screen goes dark. Colonel Cairlay contacts the MP unit stationed in Zum City.


An hour later, the staff members of the Cislunar Free Media are preparing for the evening editorial. They are planning for a multimedia blitz to expose the Federation’s corruption and cruelty, to be available online, broadcast, and in print through their temporary facility in an abandoned warehouse in Zum City’s light industrial zone. The loss of their main compound in downtown has crippled CFM operations, but has not completely killed it. Even with minimal, jerry-rigged equipment, the CFM continues to operate, albeit at only a fraction of its previous capacity.

As the staff workers scramble about conducing their business, two squads of heavily armed Earth Federation Forces Military Police, dressed in their distinctive dark blue uniforms, storm into the warehouse. Each military police trooper is armed with an assault rifle.

The sergeant leading the squads orders his men, “Take aim and fire at will! No prisoners!”

The military police troops open fire with their weapons against the defenseless journalists. Soon, the warehouse is filled with the screams of dying men and women, the air filled with the smoke of discharged weapons and spilled blood.

Forty-four lives, erased in a moment. Forty-four voices of outrage, silenced forever.

Colonel Cairlay comes into the smoke and blood-fouled room to survey the work. He lights a cigar in triumphant satisfaction at the scene of carnage before him.

The colonel places a call via comlink to General Blackhead, informing the general that his orders have been carried out.

Cairlay then gets an inspiration. He opens Captain Athena Ibaz’s comlink frequency, “Captain Ibaz? This is Colonel Cairlay. I would like your and Lt. Minh’s presence at a warehouse in the industrial zone of the city. There’s something I’d like you both to see.”


Captain Athena Ibaz and 2Lt. Jolie Minh are there twenty minutes later, both finding their senses and sanity assaulted by the most horrifically gruesome sight either of them has seen in their young lives.

The sight and smell of death are overwhelming.

The warehouse has the distinct stench characteristic of a slaughter house. Thick splotches of dark, drying blood cover a large expanse the concrete ground. Eyes full of anger, hate, fear, and confusion remain open, staring into an eternal nothingness.

They had been sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and friends. Now, they are piles of unliving flesh, their body cavities and skulls now repositories of melted lead.

“A demonstration of the Federation’s resolve against Zeonist terrorism,” Colonel Cairlay says with an unmistakable tone of satisfaction in his voice, “This show of strength should service notice that the Earth Federation is not to be tarried with.”

Jolie takes her sight away from the horrific scene before her to glare furiously at Cairlay. Jolie’s family was murdered by a Zeon warlord; she has very little reason to feel sympathy for the people of Zeon, but the sight of the Federation’s cruelty and inhumanity towards these people, whose only crime was to speak out against the Federation’s injustice towards Spacenoids, infuriates her. Jolie musters every iota of willpower she has to stop herself from drawing her new sidearm and shooting the colonel dead with it.

Athena’s reaction to the scene is, if anything, even stronger. Feeling sick to her stomach, Athena clasps a hand over her mouth, as much to suppress an urge to scream as an urge to vomit.

Cairlay smiles sinisterly at the reaction of the two junior officers. Let this be a lesson to these two foolish girls as well. Those who defy the Federation will suffer a dire fate.


A minute later, Athena is vomiting outside the warehouse-turned-publishing house-turned slaughterhouse. Jolie supports Athena as her friend retches up the contents of her stomach.

Jolie looks at Athena with concern, “Are you all right?”

Jolie has always known Athena to be made of stern stuff. Jolie is a bit surprised at Athena’s strong reaction, although she can hardly blame her commanding officer. What they have just witnessed is, indeed, sickening.

Athena coughs twice, spewing out the last of what her stomach can send up, then pants rapidly. Athena draws out her handkerchief to wipe the residue of her own vomit from the corner of her mouth.

“I’ll be all right,” Athena tells the concerned Jolie, “I just…”

“I know,” Jolie says, looking dazed and a bit shellshocked, “That was just…sick. I can’t believe the Federation did that.”

“You asked me earlier if the Federation is evil,” Athena says, beginning to catch her breath, “Now you have your answer, Jolie.”

“What are we going to do about it, Athena?” Jolie asks imploringly.

“Do about it?” Athena says, repocketing her handkerchief and smirking bitterly, “I wish I knew.”

Jolie says, “But ‘Thena, we can’t let Cairlay and his toadies get away with this! We have to tell somebody higher up about this!”

“The higher ups already know about this, Jolie,” Athena tells her executive officer, “Cairlay wouldn’t have dared to pull off something like this on his own without the express approval of the High Command. I have a pretty good idea of who gave Cairlay his orders.”

“Who?” Jolie asks.

“General Blackhead,” Athena replies.

“This isn’t what I signed up in the Federal Forces for,” Jolie says bitterly.

“Nor I,” Athena agrees, “but we’re currently not in a position where we can do much about it.”

Jolie’s eyes flash angrily, “I say we just go settle it with Cairlay and his creeps directly! We’ve got weapons! We’ve got mobile suits! We…”

“So do they,” Athena warns Jolie, “many, many more than we do. Besides, they supply our weapons and equipment, remember? If we start an insurrection against the Federation, not only will we be killed, but we’ll get everybody in this space colony killed as well.”

Jolie angrily concedes that Athena is right. Even with the power of the Centurion Gundam, and even with her superlative fighting abilities, there is no way that Jolie, Athena, and the Centurions can stand against the collective might of the Earth Federation Forces. If fighting were to break out, the ones who would suffer would be the people of Side 3…people like those children in Zum City that Jolie has grown fond of.

“I hate Cairlay and Blackhead,” Jolie says, tears of rage in her voice, “They’re murdering scumbags.”

Athena nods in agreement, placing a comforting hand on Jolie’s shoulder, “We’ll have our reckoning with them someday, Jolie. I swear: when the time is right, we’ll make them pay for this.”

Reluctantly, but dutifully, Athena and Jolie return to the warehouse of horrors. They were unable to save these people from the evil of the Federal Forces’ leaders, but at the very least, they might be able to do something about giving these brave, but unfortunate people a decent burial.

Episode 10 to be continued...

[Ken Cheng]

Episode 10 continued...

Later, across town in her apartment, Dory Ischinda lies in bed, sobbing bitterly. She has heard the news about her CFM colleagues, and only a stroke of fortunate timing allowed her escape their fate. She had been scheduled to work at the interim office at the time the Federal MPs attacked. Only an extended emergency meeting with Dr. Daikun and Kai Shiden had prevented her from being one more victim of the massacre.

In light of recent events, Dr. Daikun has ordered all remaining ISR activities at Side 3 to move to the neutral colony of Side 6. Dr. Daikun does not wish to risk any more of her friends to such brutality.

Dory has one more errand to run before she leaves Side 3, however.


Late that night, long after the rest of the Centurion Team has gone to bed, Athena and Jolie attempt to drown out the memories of the horrors they have witnessed with a shared bottle of whiskey. It’s not working. Despite four glasses of the strong stuff each, the two young women continue to be haunted by the sights and smells of their moments in Hell.

Bleary-eyed with alcohol and pent-up frustration, the two friends resign themselves to a long, sleepless night.

After a while, Jolie can’t hold it in any longer. The horror-stricken teenager begins to cry.

“Oh, God! I can’t get it out of my head, Athena!” Jolie sobs, “All those people…dead! Killed, just like that. Just like my mom, my dad, and my brother. I don’t care if they were with ISRLA, it was just terrible!”

Athena takes Jolie’s hands into her own reassuringly, saying gently, “Jolie, calm down.”

“Calm down?!” Jolie explodes, drawing her sidearm, “After what we saw today, you want me to calm down?! I’ve got a mind to stick this gun down Cairlay’s mouth and blow his guts out!”

Athena twists the gun out of Jolie’s hand before the teenager can do anything foolish, “Knock it off! We can’t win with this,” Athena says, indicating the gun, “Pretty soon, word of this is going to spread through the space colonies! This is going to get much worse before it gets any better.”

Athena knocks her whiskey glass to the ground angrily, the glass shattering into dozens of sharp pieces, “Damn those fools, Blackhead and Cairlay! They have no idea what they’ve triggered!”


The next morning, as Athena predicted, all of Side 3 (not just Zum City) is in an uproar. Despite the Federation’s attempt at maintaining secrecy, there is simply no covering up this incident (thanks to Linda Ackerman’s survival).

Federal Forces MPs strain to maintain a barricade against the rush of outraged Zum City citizens. Federal government and police vehicles are overturned and set on fire. Federal government facilities are vandalized. Anyone in uniform is assaulted.

Then comes the government and military response: batons are swung, rubber bullets are fired, and tear gas is deployed. The city is a burning turmoil once again.


Athena is calming a group of civilians in the city down, but is having limited success. Although the people of Zum City generally seem to be able to make the distinction between Athena, Jolie, and the Centurions from the likes of Colonel Cairlay, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the people to keep their faith…even in Athena.

“We want to know why the Federation is shooting at our people, Captain!” one man demands.

“Yeah! You Feddies are all scum!” another adds.

“When will this nightmare be over?” a woman sobs.

“My daughter was killed…!” another woman complains.

An old woman approaches Athena and tugs on the elbow of her uniform jacket imploringly. It is Mrs. Nakamura.

“Captain,” the old woman says, “my eldest grandson Kevin has been missing since last night. He was very upset by the news of what happened to those journalists, and went out saying he wanted to talk to some friends about it. He’s been gone all night and hasn’t come back.”

Athena puts a comforting hand on Mrs. Nakamura’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, ma’am. I’ll find him. Any idea where he might be?”

Mrs. Nakamura shakes her head, “I believe his friends live a kilometer or two north of here. But I don’t know.”

“I’ll be back soon, with Kevin,” Athena promises, hopping into her land rover and heading in the direction indicated by the very worried Mrs. Nakamura.

Episode 10 to be continued...

[Ken Cheng]

Episode 10 continued...

Just a few minutes later, Athena is in an industrial zone of Zum City, not very far from the site of the CFM slaughter. It is an area that has largely been abandoned, and bears great resemblance to the Industria Colony where Jolie spent her early adolescence.

“Kevin Nakamura!” Athena calls out, “Kevin? This is Captain Ibaz of the Centurion Team! Your grandmother is looking for you!”

There is no response to Athena’s calls, only the fading echo of her voice in the distance.

Athena can hear the sound of angry crowds and tiny explosions several kilometers away back in the city center.

“Kevin!” Athena calls out again.

The Centurion Team Leader is suddenly aware she is not alone.

A dozen young men, most of whom are around Jolie’s age, emerge from various hiding places in the ruins of old industrial buildings. Most of the young men carry simple weapons: pocket knives, baseball bats, broken bottles, sharp work tools, etc. They form a menacing circle around Athena.

A tall, powerfully built young man whom Athena recognizes as Kevin Nakamura is the last to emerge. He carries with him an especially long, sharp, wicked-looking knife.

“Well, if it isn’t Captain Ibaz,” Kevin smirks, “Very nice of you to come looking for me, Captain.”

“Kevin,” Athena says, “Come back with me. Your grandmother is worried about you.”

“I’m worried about her too,” Kevin says, “And I’m worried about my little brother, my little sister, my mom and dad, and all my friends here. With killers like you around, Captain, how can I not be worried?”

The crowd of angry and armed youths moves in on Athena.

Kevin points at Athena, “You’re a murderer, babe! Sooner or later, you’re going to kill all of us, just like you did those reporters with the CFM. Well, we’re not going to just sit around waiting for you and your fellow feddies to kill us off like animals. Get her, boys!”

The boys rush Athena, their weapons raised.

For a moment, Athena considers the sidearm holstered at her side. But no, she can’t shoot at civilians…especially not after what happened the previous day. She’s come to know and like the people of this part of Zum City well, and she doesn’t want to harm any of them or their children. Moreover, more acts of lethal violence against civilians by Federal Forces officer could only tip the situation closer to full-scale civil war.

One of the boys takes a wild swing at Athena with his heavy baseball bat. Athena dodges the swing, grabs the bat, and pulls it out of the boy’s grasp. She gives the boy a single thump to the chest that sends him rolling on the pavement, stunned but not seriously wounded.

Athena brings up the baseball bat to block another boy’s slash with a carving knife. Lashing out with her fist, Athena connects with the boy’s nose, sending him sprawling back and dropping his weapon.

Athena uses the length of the baseball bat to push down three more boys charging at her with a broken glass bottle, a length of iron pipe, and a crowbar.

A large young man, standing perhaps 200 centimeters tall and weighing 130 kilograms, grabs the baseball bat out of Athena’s hands. He attempts to bring this down upon Athena’s head, but before he can, Athena kicks him in the abdomen, sending the boy doubling over.

The boy with the broken glass bottle attempts to smash Athena in the face with his weapon. In response, Athena takes off her officer’s overcoat, wraps it around and over not only the bottle, but also the boy’s head and arm, and disorients her attacker. Athena then punches the young man in the gut with her right fist, and finishes it with a knee to his groin.

Another boy swings a length of metal chain at Athena. Athena dodges the swing and chops the boy across the shoulder blade, not hard enough to break bone, but hard enough to send the boy away seething in pain.

The large young man, having recovered from Athena’s kick, sneaks up behind Athena as she is dispatching of two young men attempting to attack her with a tire iron and an axe. The powerful young man grabs Athena from behind and locks her in a half-nelson, immobilizing her.

Athena struggles, using her boot to stamp the young man’s feet and attempting to bite his arm to force him to let go. The young man finally releases Athena from his grip, only to throw her to the ground.

As she lies on the ground, Athena is kicked repeatedly and mercilessly by the boys, leaving her bruised on her arms, legs, and body. Despite being a well-trained Federal Forces officer, Athena’s physiology is fundamentally fragile. Athena feels one particularly brutal kick to her side that she suspects has fractured a rib.

“Finish her!” Kevin orders his gang.

Athena, woozy from the beating she has taken, makes peace with her fate.

The boys raise their weapons.

A tiny, feminine hand moving with the speed of a cyclone suddenly strikes out at each of the boys. Despite the hand’s lack of size, it strikes with a furious force that sends each of the one dozen young men falling back.

2Lt. Jolie Minh, black eyes ablaze with fury and long black hair whipping about her head, helps Athena to her feet.

Jolie turns angrily to the gang of young men that have injured her friend, “You thugs have hurt Athena! I’m gonna make you pay for that!”

“Another one,” Kevin smirks, “It’s a shame really. You two are so pretty. If we didn’t have to waste you, we’d probably date you.”

Once again, the boys attack. Jolie and Athena prepare to defend themselves.

Jolie dodges the attack of the boy wielding the axe, locking his arm in an unbreakable grip and forcing him to relinquish his weapon. Her follow up kick catches him in the jaw, knocking him down and out. Jolie next turns her attention to the boy with the chain, who attempts to wrap his length of metal around the diminutive Federal Forces officer. Jolie deftly slides away from the chain, grabs it from the boy’s hand, and swings the chain around to hit the boy on the side of the head, rendering him unconscious.

With Jolie taking at least half of the heat off of her, Athena is faring better as well. A solid punch knocks out the knife-wielding boy. A well-placed kick takes another out of the fight. A timely judo throw takes down the boy armed with the metal pipe.

Six down, six to go.

The boy with the broken bottle and the boy with the crowbar attack Jolie in unison. She dodges both of their swings, steps back, then uses their own momentum against them to trip the boys and smash their heads together, knocking both boys out cold.

Athena punches in the mouth a boy armed with a tire iron, knocking out several of his teeth. She continues the assault with an elbow on the back of neck, knocking him down and out. Athena then dodges a near deadly attack on her head by a boy wielding a large metal hook. Athena dispatches this boy with a kick directly to the nose.

Jolie pokes her fingers into the eyes of a boy trying to bean her with a heavy steel hammer. The boy drops his weapon as he rubs his eyes in pain. Jolie knocks him out with a chop to the neck.

One boy left. The giant.

Roaring like an angry beast, the large boy, nearly twice Athena and Jolie’s combined weight, charges at the two young women.

With perfect timing borne of their training, Athena and Jolie kick the young man in the crotch simultaneously. The boy goes down, tears running from the corners of his eyes in pain.

Kevin, having seen Athena and Jolie take down his gang in just a matter of seconds, flees.

“Kevin!” Athena calls out, trying to catch him, but stopping when a sharp pain in her rib prevents her from running.

Athena coughs out some blood. Jolie runs over to her in alarm, “Are you all right?”

“I’ll be fine,” Athena says, blood still dripping from her lips, “But I promised Mrs. Nakamura…”

“We’ll find Kevin again later,” Jolie says, letting her friend lean on her, “First, I’m going to take you the medics. You’re hurt.”

Athena lets Jolie help her to the land rover. For once, she even lets Jolie drive. Why not? At this point, Athena wouldn’t mind dying in a car crash very much.

Episode 10 to be continued...

[ghostdarTeal'c]

ah, we can always count on you to be our alarm clock

[Ken Cheng]

ah, we can always count on you to be our alarm clock

The latest update is loaded with that hand-to-hand combat action you've been longing to read.