The moment my boots hit the soil of Okinawa, the weight of a year-long separation finally lifted. Seeing Lydia again, after her grueling year of rehabilitation, filled me with a joy I can't easily describe. She looked stunning with her new look, and from that moment on, we were inseparable, whether we were on an official mission or simply enjoying our downtime. But today was different. Today, I carried a secret in my pocket and a plan in my heart: I was going to find the right moment to propose to Lydia Mercer and ask her to be my wife.
The city was buzzing because Okinawa had just announced the Obon festival. I called Lydia for a routine supplies delivery duty, bringing Emma and Isao along since Isao had else nothing to do. As we drove toward the supermarket, the streets were already lined with posters for the Eisa dance. We reached the supermarket to pick up food and beverages for the personnel at Naha Base, While Lydia and Emma began organizing the food and beverages needed for the Naha Base personnel, I saw my opening.
"Hey, I'm going to head out for a bit," I told the group about stepping out for a moment, keeping my voice casual. While Lydia, Isao and Emma organized the supplies the base needed, I slipped away to a local jewelry shop, my heart racing as I picked out a diamond engagement ring for Lydia. After purchasing it, I hurried back and hid the small box of ring carefully so no one would notice.
"You're finally back, Aaron. Are you finished?" Lydia asked.
"Yes, sorry to keep you waiting," I replied, telling a lie. "My friends from the Chicago base were asking for Naha souvenirs they were looking for".
"Did you find them?" Lydia asked.
"I found them, but they said they'd buy them later when they return to Chicago," I said.
"We should get back now; you can continue the chat later," Emma interrupted.
The next day, just before the Obon festival, it was our duty to watch over the festivities. When Emma offered to get Lydia and me Yukatas for the final day of the festival, my heart raced thinking of how pretty Lydia would look. She looked so stunning and beautiful that I knew I wanted to marry her right after the festival. I still remembered her words:
"You can see it on the last day of the festival, Aaron," Lydia said, giving a soft touch to my nose. "We will have our moment on the last day".
Then came the festival, began with light and music, and the moment In the dense, surging crowd, I lost my grip on Lydia's hand became separated from her in the crowd. Panic set in. I pulled out my phone to track her location and I managed to detect her location on my phone, but my blood ran cold when I saw the photo and video she had managed to send.
It revealed our "trustworthy" mechanic, Masao, speaking with a man named Zuckerberg. Masao was a Zeon spy—the one who had leaked information about the Gundam's arrival and the one who had shot Koga. My greatest fear was realized: Lydia had been abducted by the Zeon Remnants.
"Masao?! What in the world is he doing with Zuckerberg!?" Emma exclaimed in surprise.
"I have a bad feeling about this," I growled, my adrenaline spiking "Come on, let's find Lydia fast!" I said.
We sprinted through the less crowded hallways to move faster, we found her in a hallway, but we were seconds too late. Lydia was inside, bound and gagged. Zuckerberg was barking orders at his soldiers to retreat to the truck because their cover was blown and the truck speeding away. Masao took off in a different direction, and I chased after him while Emma reported the situation to Commander Emiya to report the situation, I went after the traitor.
Masao threw up obstacles to slow me down, but I managed to dodge them and catch up. I ran fast and caught him when he tripped and fell. Masao rose and drew a pocket knife, trying to cut and stab me. We engaged in ground combat until I found an opening, disarmed him, and fought him hand-to-hand. I hit his face hard until he fell, then pinning him to the ground.
"Where did they take Lydia, Masao?!" I asked, furious.
"...I don't know what you are talking about, Captain Aaron," Masao said, pretending to be dumb.
"Don't fucking play dumb!! I have the proof Lydia sent me, Masao!! Where did they take Lydia?!" I shouted.
Masao just laughed. The local police arrived and arrested Masao, taking him to the rendezvous point to meet Commander Emiya. I provided the proof of his espionage to the Commander and the police. Commander Emiya was in disbelief, as Masao had joined the Federation in year 0076, before the One Year War.
With the help of an operator, we tracked Lydia's location toward Maejima Island, possibly heading to Tokashiki Island. While Chibishi and Maejima were nearby, they were either uninhabited or mere coral islands, making them too small to hide a mobile suit or a submarine. They chose to hide on Tokashiki Island.
Isao and Ohara arrived and were shocked to see Masao there. After I showed the proof that Masao was the mole and Koga's killer, Isao angrily punched Masao in the face. Masao felt no guilt for his actions. Commander Emiya ordered Karasu-team and our squadron to use a Medea transport to rescue Lydia from the Zeon Remnants on Tokashiki Island.
We boarded the Medea quietly so as not to cause a panic or turn the festival into chaos. Our mobile suits stood by inside as we changed into our pilot suits. Worried about Lydia's safety, I checked my sidearm in case I had to infiltrate their base. As Emma and Ohara moved toward their GMs, Isao stopped me.
"Aaron, let me say this: you should focus on finding your girlfriend and let me deal with Zuckerberg alone," Isao said.
"Understood, Isao. Just don't die before you tell Ohara everything," I replied.
"Yeah, I—Wait, were you spying on me?!" Isao asked, shocked.
"I saw you at Shikina-en before the Obon festival. Lydia, Emma, Kisaki, and I saw you when you met Koga," I said, heading to my G-Line cockpit. "You shouldn't die in this battle before telling Ohara the truth, alright?".
"I don't plan on dying, okay?!" Isao shouted back.
I closed the G-Line hatch and activated the mobile suit. I looked at my phone; Lydia's location was hidden in a forest area. I hoped she was safe and unharmed. The Medea pilot notified us as we approached Tokashiki Island, and we dropped from the sky as Karasu-team headed for the battle zone.
Isao, Emma, and Ohara began firing their weapons from the sky to hit the Zeon mobile suits and provide a distraction. We landed and headed for the hidden base while Karasu-team dealt with an ambush from behind. As we approached the base, a high-energy beam hit Ohara's GM, destroying its left arm. It was Zuckerberg, piloting a white Gundam and using a beam bazooka. Emma and I approached Ohara to check on her.
"Are you all right, Ohara?" Emma asked.
"I'm fine. The impact was shocking, but the generator output is stable," Ohara replied.
"Ohara, let's switch," I said.
"Eh? Why, Aaron?" she asked.
"Your mobile suit isn't in condition to fight. I can't let you be in more danger because Isao has an important message from Koga for you," I explained.
"Koga? How do you know about that?" Ohara asked.
"Lydia, Aaron, Kisaki, and I saw Isao at Shikina-en. We saw how Koga felt about you," Emma added. "I was surprised too; I never knew".
"Talk later, we don't have time to chit-chat," I interrupted.
Ohara and I swapped suits. She took my G-Line while I took her damaged GM. I told Emma and Ohara to take the weapons while I used a beam saber to break through to the base. It was risky, but I had to rescue Lydia.
"I'm breaking through. Cover me!" I said..
I from the cockpit just before the machine exploded , handgun drawn.
I pushed the pedals and joystick forward, I ignited my beam saber and dashing past Zeon suits and striking them down with my beam saber that dared block my path. They fired beam guns and missiles at me, and the damage to my GM took heavy damage but I kept pushing until I crashed into one of their suits directly into the base entrance. I hurried leaped out of the cockpit just before the GM exploded. I found a door and sprinted into the facility base, and drew my handgun for a stealth mission.
I checked my phone, but Lydia was no longer detected; they had likely destroyed it. I wandered the base cautiously and The base was eerily quiet. I moved through the shadows, checking barracks and the hangar, which held a Sealance sea transport. In the weapon storage, I found a silenced rifle. I checked every room, finding no one until I reached the Commander's room, where I found Lydia's wallet and phone discarded on a table.
As I was leaving, I saw two Zeon soldiers in pilot suits passing by in the hallway.
"Hey, we should take that hostage with us and get out of here," one soldier said.
"Yeah, we'll put her in the Sealance. I have the key right here," the second soldier replied.
"Man, that hostage is so sexy and hot. I can't wait to rape her," the first soldier said.
"She has a nice body indeed. This platoon sucks because there are no women at all. I want to fuck her until I'm fully loaded," the one with the key laughed.
A cold, murderous calm washed over me. While they were talking, I stepped out and I clicked off the safety and leveled my rifle, shot both of them in the hips and legs to paralyze them. When one tried to reach for a handgun, I shot him in the head. I approached the survivor—the one with the keys.
"Wait!! Please don't kill me!! Here!!" he cried, handing over the prison key.
I took the key and pointed my rifle at his head. "Tell me, where is she?!".
"Cell B-86! It's in the left building! I swear, don't kill me!" he begged.
"I see. Thanks for the info," I said, and shot him after getting the location. I didn't give him the chance to betray anyone else.
I ran to cell B-86 and found I found her in B-86. She was tied to a chair, bound and gagged, looking helpless. When I ripped the tape away and untied the ropes, Lydia collapsed into me, She hugged me tightly, sobbing and shaking with a terror that went deeper than just this kidnapping. I held her tight, whispering that she was safe trying to calm her down, her hands shaking as she cried with relief. Once she was calm, I led her to the exit. Outside, the gunfire had ceased. Isao, Emma, Ohara, and Karasu-team were waiting for us. The Medea picked us up, and the others gave Lydia and me a private moment in the cabin.
We arrived back at Naha Base, the atmosphere was bittersweet. Everyone was proud that we had eliminated Zuckerberg and rescued Lydia, but the trauma remained. Karasu-team went to rest, and I told Isao to settle things with Ohara and Emma regarding Koga's feelings. I took Lydia to my quiet dorm and gave her a drink to help her relax.
"Are you all right, Lydia?" I asked, sit beside her.
"...I still have trauma, Aaron," she said, her hands shaking.
"Trauma?" I was surprised.
"When I was 18, a stranger stopped me near my home. Six men kidnapped me, dragged me to a dark alley, and raped me," she confessed. "Being tied and gagged in that truck brought it all back... seeing those Zeon soldiers looking at me with desire... it's still stuck in my head. I'm really scared, Aaron".
I was speechless. Lydia hugged me again, trembling. "I'm scared, Aaron," she whispered, her hands still shaking. "I'm afraid my whole year of rehab is ruined! I don't want to become the old me! Please, help me!".
I hugged her, stroking her hair to soothe her. "Lydia, I know this is too soon, but...".
"But?" she asked.
I knew I couldn't wait any longer. I stood up, opened a drawer and pulled out the box. I sat beside her, showing her a box containing a catching the light diamond ring. She was shocked.
"I bought this during the supply run; I lied about the souvenirs for my friends," I admitted. "I wanted to propose at the right moment after the festival, but seeing you like this, I want to do it now to make you feel better".
I cleared my throat. "Lydia Mercer, will you marry me?" I asked, my voice steady. "Not as my girlfriend, but as my wife and family. We will raise a child together and be a normal family. I will protect you. Unseparable".
"...I do... I do, Aaron," she said through tears of joy.
Through tears of joy, she said yes. I placed the ring on her finger—a perfect fit. I wiped her tears as she held my hand against her cheek. Our faces drew close, and we shared a long, passionate kiss. We undressed and made love in my dorm room seeking comfort in our shared intimacy and the promise of a future together. When I reached my climax and tried to pull out, Lydia locked her legs around me. She wanted to conceive my child. We stayed together all night until we eventually fell asleep.
The following day, Commander Emiya ordered us to stay at the base so Lydia could recover. Emma, Ohara, and Kisaki congratulated her on the engagement. As for Masao, the mechanic who had been a spy since U.C. 0076, he was sentenced to prison.
On the final day of the festival, the Shiisaa-team was finally off duty. Everyone wore Yukatas; Lydia looked beautiful in the one Emma had picked for her. We walked through the stalls, holding hands so as not to get separated again. We joined the Bon Odori dance, following the rhythm of Japanese folk songs. It was a wonderful experience.
One week later, after the Obon festival had concluded with a beautiful Bon Odori dance, we made our decision. Lydia and I met with Commander Emiya and Kisaki. I made a bold request for leave to get married and start a family. Emiya granted it, understanding Lydia's need for time to heal, granted the request. He informed Barry and Earl of our departure for Auckland, New Zealand.
I told my family in Auckland that I was coming home with my bride. Since Lydia had no living relatives, Barry Abbot acted as her witness for the marriage license. We had an official wedding in New Zealand, inviting friends from the Chicago and North American bases. While Lydia's teammate Markus Armstrong was missing, her name officially changed from 'Lydia Mercer' to 'Lydia Smith'. I knew her best friend, XiangLei Huang, was watching over us from above.
We lived with my parents, who were happy for the company. My mother taught Lydia how to be a housewife. In the year 0082, our son, Finn Smith, was born—a symbol of the peace we had fought so hard to find.
But peace in the Universal Century is a fragile thing. In 0083, the "Operation Stardust" colony drop devastated North America, and the Neo-Delaz Fleet rose.
"Aaron! Something is happening!" Lydia called out worriedly.
"Eh?! What's wrong?!" I asked.
"Come quick, there's a live broadcast on TV!".
I hurried to the room while my parents played with Finn. On the screen was Bask Om, wearing a new type of uniform. He began a speech about the state of the Federation.
"We are on the verge of an unprecedented crisis!" Bask Om declared. "Even three years after the One Year War, Zeon remnants are still stirring. This incident was caused by idealists who dreamed of peace! The Delaz Fleet uprising is just one example! Now is the time to strike with unfaltering power against Spacenoids! An elite special forces unit has been established! Its name... TITANS!!". Bask Om voice rise. "Our forces will be the model for the earth sphere... and will bring order to conviction! Earth! To ensure this symbol of the universe in never shaken again, we have been born! The earth! To return true power to It's hands... The Titans now rise!!"
As soldiers chanted "Titans!", Lydia and I felt a sense of dread. It felt like war was unavoidable. My parents worried that we would be called back to service while Finn was still so small.
By 0087, the war finally found our doorstep in the form of a visitor, Katarina Banks a woman I had once rescued in Los Angeles, stood in my home wearing a Titans uniform. She had changed so much that Lydia didn't recognize her. Katarina thanked me for rescuing her in Los Angeles and offered me a position in the Titans. I told her we needed time to discuss it with the family. She gave us three days to decide and left.
"Aaron, something is wrong with her," Lydia said after Katarina left. "Her eyes look thirsty for blood".
"I feel it too. She isn't the woman I rescued. The Titans are up to something".
"What should we do, Aaron?" Lydia asked, fear for our son and my parents written all over her face. "If we decline, I'm afraid Finn and your parents will be in danger and the Titans might target us".
"Don't worry," I said, looking out toward the horizon. "I'm going to talk to my friend who works with the AEUG. I hope they can help, If the Federation has become this corrupt, then we have to fight back".
The AEUG was an anti-Federation movement opposing the oppressive Titans. While their goal was political reform, after the Colony 30 Incident in U.C. 0085, they focused on fighting the Titans with military force.
To be continued.