Super Robot Wars/Z2.2/Story2

Stage 13 - Go With Kallen

The sudden appearance of Insalaum and its flagship cause ZEXIS more than enough problems. It seems that the Imperum isn't quite dead after all. During the fighting Setsuko appears out of nowhere to lend aid much to ZEUTH and Shinn's delight(If on the Go With Kallen Route). She's not exactly sure why she was brought here to this world but is glad to finally encounter familiar faces after her aimless wandering.

After the battle is over Setsuko meets with the ZEUTH crew members and is properly introduced to ZEXIS. Setsuko hits it off with Esther who has started taking to seeing Setsuko as a beautiful big sister type figure which is something Setsuko doesn't seem to have an issue with and is glad to be quick and close friends with Esther.

Stage 15

Traiya and Esther are discussing how ZEXIS is coming back together though Esther lets slip that she hopes to meet with Crowe soon which she soon regrets saying. Traiya asks Esther what could she possibly mean by that and a blushing Esther tells Traiya that it's for ZEXIS only, her being in with ZEXIS is just a coincidence.

It's not like she's likes him and is looking forward to meeting up with him again or anything, ZEXIS just needs Crowe since he's an important member which is the only reason she's asking for him! Right... With that out of that way they get back to business at hand, being with ZEXIS means she's made a lot of enemies after all.

Meanwhile ZEXIS decides to take a break and relax, they've earned it after all considering all they've accomplished already. While they go enjoy themselves Esther trails off on her own and arrives at the ruins of a city. DMs were clearly the ones responsible for this which causes her to remember her painful past. As she reflects she is approached by Setsuko who wonders what Esther is doing out here all by herself. Esther brushes it off that is nothing but Setsuko knows something is wrong, however she wont press Esther. Instead she tells Esther that she is always willing to listen and that she doesn't need to keep her emotions all bottled up, Setsuko than leaves.

Alone once more Esther ponders what Setsuko has just said but is than approached by a young looking woman in a Lolita dress. The woman seems to be lost and unsettling innocent and girly. Esther wonders what a strange woman is doing here at these ruins. Marilyn feigns ignorance but soon gets tired of the charade when Esther actually starts she's just an innocent and reveals that she is Marilyn Catto, like Esther is supposed to care. Marilyn says that she is the leader of Firebug, mercenaries that frequently clean up "accident" sites of all witnesses, fan the flames of rebellion, and that Crowe was a part of Firebug whom she personally trained. In fact Crowe was there all those years ago when Esther's life went to hell!

Esther can't believe what she's hearing and says that Marilyn is lying. This causes Marilyn to laugh, she pities Esther. Such an ignorant girl and clearly untrustworthy since Crowe never told her the truth of his past and how closely it is connected to Esther's. Esther isn't going to stand for this woman slandering Crowe's good name or say that Crowe kept such things from her which gets on Marilyn's nerves. No matter, she doesn't need Esther to believe a thing. All Esther needs to do is be a good little kitten and just let herself be used as bait to draw out Crowe.

Many people are very interested in Crowe and she personally wants to punish Crowe for betraying Firebug over a girl who wasn't exactly drop dead gorgeous. At least not compared to her, for Marilyn is perfection! Firebug than attempts to capture Esther who isn't some cheap damsel in distress! She punches, kicks, and manages to escape their clutches and get to her Brasta Es. However before she can escape and contact ZEXIS her signal is jammed and Firebug appears and there are a lot of them.

Marilyn explains to Esther in great detail more of Crowe's past as a member of Firebig to torment her. Such as Crowe being her star prodigy that she spent years training or how Crowe killed innocents with the media classifying them as "Accidents" when they were really cover ups. Or that Crowe took dirty money, did horrifying things to his fellow human beings, and obeyed her every command which usually involved breaking many laws, at least until Esther ruined everything. After all, Crowe meeting Esther ended up erasing years of work she had put into Crowe since she had wanted him to proudly take up the Firebug name. Sure many would have to die by his hands but think of the honor of being a true successor of Firebug!

If anything Marilyn would have been fine with Crowe just having his way with Esther since Crowe is a man with needs and Esther for some reason left an impression on him which she'll never know why since Esther is like an A, or a B though C is pushing it, and Marilyn is a DD+ which is a generous understatement. Than when he was done with her he could have even taken her in as a pet which Marilyn may have even let Crowe keep if he behaved himself and remembered to feed Esther every once and awhile. Instead the fool ditched Firebug for a whimpering girl that couldn't stand the sight of mass murder! Oh... Before getting too off track Marilyn reminds Esther that Crowe was there when her family died and participated in cleaning up that mess too before he betrayed Firebug. So isn't it grand how dirty the hands of the man she's in love with is?

Despite all that has been said Esther fights back her disgust and chooses to resist and believe in Crowe which pisses off Marilyn who calls Esther a naive child since Crowe is no saint. After a bit of foreplay Marilyn eventually gets bored at watching her Firebug fail to capture Esther and calls forth for the Firebugs star formation. Her four bodyguards quickly surround and bombard Esther who is now at the mercy of Marilyn. She damages the Brasta Es and warns Esther to stay down or her next strike will be fatal. Esther can only do just as that as Marilyn wonders how to best use her freshly caught bait. Just as Firebug moves in to secure Esther they are attacked by Crowe who appears out of nowhere and rushes to Esther's aid.

Esther is glad to see Crowe and Marilyn is as well since this saves her the trouble of luring him into a trap. Crowe asks Esther to come to his side which she happily obliges to, she's still seeing stars and hearts from being saved by the love of her life. ZEXIS than appears as well but receives a hefty bombardment from Firebug. After shrugging that off Crowe and ZEXIS go move to smash Firebug. While that is going on Esther meets a strange woman, Siony, at the beach who gives her some Tuna Buns. Strange.

When Crowe attacks Marilyn she says it's nice they have a chance to meet after all this time. If Crowe is a good boy Marilyn will even let him rejoin Firebug after his "Punishment". Crowe isn't exactly taken in by this offer and tells Marilyn he'll make her pay for the hell she put him through. Fine, but that was Crowe's one and only chance to get out of this in one piece! Crowe tells her that things have changed and she's about to learn just how far he has come and is no longer just her former student but more than enough to be her equal. So rude, perhaps Marilyn should have put more effort in obtaining that girl after all to use as leverage.

Once Marilyn is defeated she taunts Crowe and tells him that this is just the beginning of things to come and that she'll be back to later play some more with not only him but the little kitten as well. Arksabers than appear after Marilyn leaves though they prove no match for ZEXIS. Soon enough their leader, Gerard - Knight of Knights, appears and he's looking forward to beating Crowe. After all Crowe was the one that killed Cheval, right? This is payback, honor, and the such! Despite his determination he is defeated and forced to retreat before he can get "serious". Clearly it was his Mecha's fault he lost.

After the battle Esther separates from ZEXIS and is all by herself on the beach looking at the sea. Crowe finds her all by herself and can tell she's conflicted and confused, he than opens up about his past as a member of Firebug, who Marilyn is, and that he has done many regrettable things in his life and that he did save her all those years ago. In fact meeting Esther also played a part in saving his own soul since he was in a dark place before meeting her even though the circumstances weren't exactly ideal. Crowe than says that he's sorry that Esther lost her family, friends, and innocence all in one day and that fate has been most cruel to her and that he is also at fault for her suffering.

However fate wasn't entirely cruel, it brought them together after all right? Esther says there's nothing to forgive and she doesn't hate Crowe even though he did some questionable things in the past and may have even worked with those responsible for the failed experiment that took the lives of her family and friends. Instead she's glad that they were able to meet and cherishes all the time they have spent together so far.

At this point ZEXIS appears and are very loud in voicing how much they missed Crowe and that they were surprised at catching the Brasta rushing at ridiculous speeds to go to Esther's aid. Esther is embarrassed that Crowe went to such lengths for her sake but she's glad. Kallen sees her blushing and wonders if Esther is "in love" but she protests that that isn't the case. ZEXIS than piles on and they all tease Esther over her obvious feelings for Crowe who enjoys watching Esther being her Tsundere self once more since her being sad just doesn't suit her. Curious civilians notice the commotion and head over to where ZEXIS has gathered at on the Beach and quickly demand that the pilot of the Brasta pay for all the damages.

Turns out Crowe had really pushed the Brasta to its limits and the accompanying sonic boom had caused a large amount of damages. Crowe is pressured to pay and has no choice but to ask for a loan and gets stuck back in debt. However, he isn't all mad since he did get to enjoy his freedom for a time before getting wrapped back into battle against debt. Esther wonders if this means they'll be working together from now on which he says that seems to be the case. Esther is happy since this means she can spend more time with Crowe to win his heart and build up the courage to let him know just how she feels about him.

Elsewhere Marilyn has concluded that with all of that extra firepower that ZEXIS is throwing around she may actually need help to get back at Crowe after all. Thus she convinces Uther to let her serve as his guide to this world and she offers the services of Firebug as well. Naturally Wayne and Anbrorn protest but Uther is taken in by Marilyn's princess-like behavior and agrees to let Marilyn tag along and she get a new mecha(Pearl Nail) as a sign of good faith. Marilyn in turn is looking forward to this new partnership and she always wanted to get in good with real royalty, especially one so handsome.

Stage 16

Uther announces his intentions to the World(Which isn't healthy at all for anyone but Insalaum considering they're basically making giant bombs) and the power of ZONE which they just built in a city crater of their own making. Really swell bunch, huh? ZEXIS moves in to intercept Insalaum since this ZONE business sounds bad but they still don't have a good idea what it's supposed to do.

Zero tells them that even with such unknowns they're the only ones that can intervene, so no matter how bothersome it is to go in blind they have no choice in the matter. ZEXIS agrees, though Setsuko seems to have a better idea on what's going on than the rest but she keeps it to herself. She silently puts it upon herself to protect ZEXIS, Esther, and Crowe with her life if need be if things take a turn for the worst.

When they finally arrive Insalaum is waiting with a large force around ZONE. Crowe leads the charge and smashes up the Arksabers pretty good, though during the fighting Marguerite will try and challenge Crowe. Crowe lets slip their history, from Hakai-Hen, and that they're fighting once again. Uther is shocked that Marguerite seems to know the enemy pilot personally but she remains that she's loyal to her Prince and will fight. Crowe sees no way around it so he lays the smackdown on Marguerite with Esther who isn't all too happy with fighting Marguerite since she had helped ZEXIS and her in the past though she's starting to get suspicious just what Marguerite's relationship is with Crowe.

If Anbrorn is defeated she restores the flagship through the power of ZONE and reminds Marilyn that the power and mysteries of ZONE are unlimited, which is no mere boast. The flagship is now immune to all damage so ZEXIS turns their attention at the reluctant Prince. After he takes any form of damage he panics and retreats, not the best showing for Insalaum's Leader. Anbrorn than releases 4 large DMs to cover their escape, after their defeat Setsuko moves in to examine ZONE up close. Just than ZONE reacts and starts going crazy and threatens to destroy everything within close radius, the city is no exception.

Asakim than appears to greet ZEXIS and Setsuko after their time apart. Setsuko and Shinn are furious at Asakim and if ZONE wasn't in the way they would make him pay for all he's done. However Asakim isn't here to fight, in fact he just came here to explain just how dire their situation is(If ZONE goes off they're all going to be engulfed by it) and wonders what Setsuko will do. Setsuko understands and uses her sphere to stop ZONE with ZEXIS telling her to wait. She isn't persuaded and wishes them the best of luck, especially for Crowe and Esther since things will get rougher from here on out.

Asakim is giddy over Setsuko's "sacrifice" and getting her away from Crowe since she could prove problematic, but now isn't the time to reap. Asakim leaves and ZEXIS mourns the loss of Setsuko but promise to save her. This hits Esther particularly hard since she had grown very close to Setsuko despite their short time together. With Setsuko gone there's also no one to help Crowe deal with his sphere since there's always a chance he will awaken and lose control. If that time comes than only tragedy will follow...

Stage 18

ZEXIS is forced to participate in the Ashford hat event, at least the the members that got caught on Ashford property when Milly made her announcement that is. The students at Ashford go crazy for Lelouch and the pairs of lovers in ZEXIS split off on their own. Crowe isn't really the type to get involved in such childish antics and is set in to relax until things calm down.

Unfortunately it seems like he's going to be waiting for quite a while. Lock-On is amused over the antics of the Ashford inhabitants, many of which are smitten by his good looks, and ZEXIS members pairing off with their loved ones. Just than Esther interrupts the relaxing pair with the intent on bagging Crowe herself. Crowe finds this very amusing and decides to "play" with Esther by taunting her and telling her she must try harder which motivates her to chase after him. With that Crowe runs off with Esther chasing after him as Lock-On watches the chaos unfold.

During the events Heero runs into Lelouch and deduces that Lelouch is Zero. Just when things become tense Relena comes in and wants to talk to Heero, Lelouch senses the weakness from Heero when it comes to Relena and "excuses" himself so that the pair may be alone. Heero thinks that this isn't over but he can't exactly just ditch Relena.

When Terrorists lock up students Lelouch acts as bait and allows Shirley and his friends to escape which puts elouch in avery wakward situation - a room full of angry Terrorists. Just when Lelouch is faced with possible death the window is broken through by Crowe, Heero, and all the badasses of ZEXIS at this point who save Lelouch from the angry Terrorists who retreat to get in their mecha. Before Lelouch can join ZEXIS, Heero has a chat with "Zero".

ZEXIS gets in their mecha as well to put a stop to the terrorists, just than Suzaku, Gino, and Anya appear. Suzaku wants to take out Zero now but knows that innocents comes first so the knights of the round reluctantly work with Zero to save Ashford. When Esther confronts the terrorists she's furious, they got in the way of her making Crowe hers! They will suffer greatly this day!

After the fighting Suzaku reluctantly allows ZEXIS to leave the scene, this time. Back at Ashford, Shirley ambushes Lelouch and gets his hat and than gives him hers. Milly than shows up to reveal that the whole event was a ruse to get the two to admit their feelings for each other. Lelouch still has a harem he's trying to juggle so he isn't exactly committed to this but Shirley tells him that she'll continue loving him. Than maybe one day he will grow to love her as well. - Death Flag.

When Lelouch returns to his ship he's in his room with Kallen and C.C.(They aren't doing anything dirty, stop thinking that!). As they discuss the day's events Heero arrives to the girls shock since Zero isn't wearing his mask! Lelouch tells everyone to calm down, Heero already knows. Kallen is cautious but Heero promises to keep Lelouch's identity a secret since Zero's goals line up with Relena's at this time.