Gundam Zodiac Astral Prologue

Court of Leo

Leo: Andromeda...

Andromeda and Perseus had broken up due to conflicting ideals regarding striking the Zodiacs down and came to me after the first quarter of the Conflict. From then, we developed a romantic relationship with each other. Although the relationship was fresh, we knew each other enough to feel secure with talking about each of our pasts, that's why I knew about the torture inflicted onto Andromeda by Perseus and Ophiuchus and the involuntary installation of a remote-activated Hysteria System in Gundam Andromeda.

The end was nigh for the First Astral Conflict's final battle. From the transmissions I had received before I encountered Andromeda and Perseus, it seemed like everyone had either defeated their enemies or drove them away. 'At least the other's are safe...' I thought, but then the threat on my end wasn't over yet. It wasn't surprising to see her physically on the opposing side on the battlefield, but what I had encountered that moment was horrifying.

Andromeda: STOP IT, PERSEUS!! DEACTIVATE THE SYSTEM!!

Perseus: I don't care if you're in excruciating pain. Even if you're cheating on me with Leo, you're still my wife, and the wife needs to listen to what the husband has to say!

Andromeda: STO-

Leo: Andromeda!

Perseus: Now, sweet... With the power of Singular Energy flowing through you, strike Leo down at once!

Singular Energy, a name we had heard during the final few battles of the First Astral Conflict. Most of the Zodiacs, myself included, didn't understand its capabilities, but from observing the enemies who had harnessed the power seemed to prove that it can enhance their overall strength, stamina and agility.

With Andromeda infected with the energy given to her by Perseus, I had no choice but to fight her. She immediately charged towards me with her energy whip in hand, I jumped out of that attack but in the next second, she was behind me, aiming her whip at my Gundam's drive and disabling it. I tried retaliating by sending out my remote-controlled Rasalas Fangs, but she destroyed them with one fell swoop, tied me up with her whip and started absorbing my energy.

Perseus: Splendid! Well done! Hold him right there!

The drainage of my energy wasn't my major concern, but the fact that she was absorbing my Light and Fire elemental energy, which can give her Gundam a reflective coat and further increasing her attack power respectively. The major feature of Gundam Andromeda is absorbing different types of elemental energy can give her different buffs, which gave a lot of constellations trouble during the Initiation Fights. In that moment, she gained the buffs of absorbing Light and Fire elemental energy coupled with Singular Energy, while I laid on a nearby asteroid struggling to get back up. There was no chance of me defeating them! Upon seeing that I was unable to move under Andromeda restraints, Perseus drifted up to me, pointing his short sword at my cockpit, channeled with Singular Energy.

Perseus: Oh, Leo. You were never deserving to sit in the 12 Courts, since you did immoral things in the past. You've lost against Hercules a lot during the fights, so I barely understand why you are a Zodiac. And now you want to steal my wife from me? You deserve to die, permanently...

An arrow from seemingly nowhere hit Perseus and saved me from him, I took the chance to break free from Andromeda's whip and kicked her Gundam towards Perseus. From the blackness of space, Aquarius and Sagittarius suddenly emerged, coming to my aid.

Aquarius: Leo! Are you alright?

Leo: I'm not doing so well. My energy has been sapped, so it'll take time to recharge.

Sagittarius: It's just the guys we have beaten in the past. How hard can taking them down be? Bro, give us your plan and we'll get to work.

Leo: I appreciate your optimism, but they're not the same as they used to be.