Disclaimer: Gundam SEED does not belong to me. I have not asked for their permission ( the creators) to write this fic.

A/N: I'm going on a fan-fic writing spree after re-watching the series, so expect more updates. Also, I'm on holiday, so I have more time for writing. This chapter has been revised. The original will not longer be available. I re-read the original and couldn't stand it, so here it is, re-written. Also it will no longer be a ficlet. Instead this will be a multi-part.

1/10/2005 – minor changes made

Phrase Shift Down

Part 1

The Strike was being cornered. There was no where to run. Mwu La Flaga cursed loudly "that idiot!" and went in the direction of the battle at full speed. Even then, he knew that there was a chance he could not match up to the speed of the Gundams.

"Don't you dare, I'm not going to a ZAFT ship."

"You're a coordinator, you're our friend."

"No, I'm not a ZAFT."

"Don't be naïve, Kira... you must come with me, if not, I'll have to destroy you."

" … I … never wanted to fight for the Earth Alliance." Kira said. He was oddly quiet. He looked at the vid of Athrun in the top left hand corner of his screen. Then he snapped his head down.

"You don't have to. Why do you have to make it so difficult for us?" there was a tone of resentment. Kira's heart clenched uncomfortably. It had to come to this.

"I do! I do, Athrun! Don't you understand? My friends and my partners are onboard the ship! CIVILIANS are onboard the ship! And... Only I and Captain Fraga can protect them."

Athrun did not have a reply to that statement.

/Synchronise with the Archangel, they'll be sending your Launcher parts out. /

That message was from Captain Fraga. It appeared on both the Strike and Aegis' screen. That was one bad characteristic. When two MS were in contact, both receive the same signals.

"Kira…. Yzak, Dearka, Nichol, the Strike's Launcher Parts are going to be launched. Intercept them and unload them on Gamou."

Kira bit his lip and sent a message back. / Captain Murrue, Strike is trapped. Captain Fraga cannot reach me. His MA is too slow. Do not try to rescue me. –Kira- /

On board the Archangel, Murrue opened the message with a gasp. The parts had already been launched. Immediately she opened a COMlink with Mwu la Fraga. " Major, where are you!"

"70 from Archangel. 130 from Strike and the Battle. I don't think I can make it." Mwu said, obviously distraught. Murrue fell back on her chair.

"Understood. Abandon the Strike. Archangel Retreat." She ordered. There were a few gasps from Sai, Kuzzey, Milliaria and Tolle. But the decision was made.

At Gamou, all four ZAFT Gundam Pilots docked their MS as anxious technicians bustled to the Strike to secure it. Athrun called for the rest of them to gather around near the hatch.

"Open the hatch. Hold your hands up."

Inside the Gundam, Kira had been reprogramming the OS such that only he can unlock and reactivate the strike. He was working on it since the trip back, after he told Murrue to abandon the Strike. The security system was already done, but a little bit of tweaking would not hurt.

So when the hatch hissed open, that was what they saw: Kira typing furiously on the keyboard. As soon as Kira heard the hatch open and a slither of light enter the cockpit, he began to enter the last sequence and put on the first few layers. He smiled. ZAFT will not use the Strike to hurt anyone.

Slowly, he bit his lip and stared at the red uniform of the ZAFT soldiers. A flash of fear ran through him and he raised both hands in the air. Now he was afraid. What if they could break through his programming easily? What were they going to do to him? His eyes started tearing.

He could not recognise the face of anyone in front of him. ' Athrun, where's he?'

One of the soldiers said gruffly, "get out of the cockpit."

Kira's eyes widened as he saw his hands trembling as he pushed the keyboard aside. He used his hand and placed them on his seat for leverage as he stood up and took three steps out of the cockpit. Two men in green uniform went up behind him and prodded his back with their rifles. Then he saw the face of Athrun, framed by the red pilot's helmet.

Athrun took an intake of breath as Kira looked him squarely in the eye. Athurn thought, ' don't look at me like that,'

Yzak was practically grinning from ear to ear as a message was past to them to bring the Strike's Pilot to the Control Centre. "Follow me." He said, and he removed his helmet. Kira saw for the first time. Platinum Blonde was a colour that was rare, even amongst coordinators. He was shook out of his reverie by a prod from a rifle into the small of his back. He was very afraid.

Kira removed his helmet too. It was very uncomfortable. So what if they saw more of his face, it didn't matter did it? He wasn't in the Earth Alliance after all; they wouldn't do anything to him, would they?

Kira was led into a myriad of corridors and his mind automatically memorised the way and the landmarks. Athrun was trailing behind, as if afraid to have Kira look at him. He seemed somewhat ashamed. It wasn't a long walk to the Control Centre, but it seemed to take years to Kira.

The door slid open and the eyes of the crew were fixed on him. There was a masked man. Kira immediately felt chills run down his spine. He had a bad feeling about this man. The man was seated on a seat around a map-table. His legs were crossed confortably as he studied Kira.

"Everybody except Athrun, leave the room."

Yzak fumed. He wanted to be the one to see how the pilot was going to be dealt with. What was so special about Athrun anyway, that he got to be the one to stay? But his face revealed none of his anger. Instead, he saluted with the rest of the group and left the room.

The masked man smiled when the soldiers left the room.

" Ades, continue to monitor the Archangel." He ordered. The captain cast a glance to Kira then set orders for the crew. Kira was very relieved to feel the gaze of the people leave him. And he concentrated his attention on the Masked man.

Athrun removed his helmet and stepped out from behind Kira. He saluted to the masked man.

" I am Commander Rau le Creuset, welcome to Gamou."