Well. Hello. Do not be fooled by this short chapter, they will be longer in the future, I just wanted to see how many people still read gundam seed fanfics to be honest. As much as I love writing this stuff, theres not much point if no one reads it. Oh, and, yes, this is an AthrunKira fic. But, I feel Shinn is highly unappreciated in the GS world, and that his character was never really developed in GSD. So, I am giving him a role as everyones favorite sarcastic love obstacle. I mean... well, anyway hope you all enjoy. And um, reviews are a blessing.
"I don't know what to tell you Shinn. Sorry"
"This is absolutely ridiculous, can't you help me out here?"
"Look, I just have no openings on active duty, okay? It's peacetime, and until another crises presents itself we have enough troops working defence already. Faith members aren't required on active duty until wartime. The best I can offer you is a gig in the training department."
"..." Shinn Asuka, 18, currently unimpressed with the ZAFT military. After the war, and Durandal's death, the earth forces and the PLANTS made another alliance, even getting support from Orb. I was working on a support cruiser eliminating small resistance forces with Cosmos, until the Earth Forces took over, said it was because the rebels were on their ground. No need to trouble us. Well they should. I thought I could handle it, just relaxing at my apartment, watching TV, going to the movies, subtly hitting on my roommate... well I failed. Badly. Within a week I was picking fights with store clerks, random pedestrians who brushed against me on the street... so, I came here, looking for some kind of field work. And, clearly, it's not going so well.
"Doing what, exactly." I paused, a small grin forming on my face. "Gundam training? Why didn't you just say so?!"
"Not Gundam training Shinn." My face fell. "Combat training. It would seem barbaric to quell foot rebellions with mobil suits, especially on another homeworld. We are aiding the Earth Forces, and trying to keep an alliance. We don't need or want sympathy for those Blue Cosmos bastards, and obliterating them with guns the size of a cruise ship is not the way to avoid that sympathy." Frustrated, I sighed. One last thought washed through my brain.
"Wait, can't you send me down to help are ground forces on earth?" The man, the new Chairman's secretary, to be precise, took a sip of his coffee, straightened out his glasses and gave me an apologetic look.
"Sorry, the chairman requires all faith members here on the PLANTS unless there's a major security crises. Besides, your too young." I raised an eyebrow. The system will let me fight in space, in a billion dollar mobil suit, against other billion dollar mobil suits, in a war, but they won't let me shoot at some rebels?
He continued: "To fight as a regular soldier. Yes, you pilot mobil suits, and yes, you have military training. But unfortunately for us, that is strictly your job. Since no mobil suits are being used, except for the defence of the PLANTS, that means no mobil suit pilots are being used."
"That...ugh. Whatever, look, how much money wise for the training gig." Now it was the secretary's turn to raise an eyebrow. I rolled my eyes. "Rent isn't free, my roommate's been paying it for the last two months, and I told him I'd have a job by now." At that, he nodded, quickly typing up something up on his computer. Printing out a form, he handed me a pen, asking for my signature. After signing he gave me a security card marked ACCESS 121.
"Take the elevator to the ground floor, around back of the building there's a security gate. The card will give you access"
"Ugh, reduced to training recruits." The secretary ignored my comment.
"Follow the path, and you'll come to the training area. Talk to Lieutenant Zala, he will fill you in on your schedule and other...details."
"Athrun...Athrun Zala?" I asked. I haven't seen Athrun for at least a year. Left on a bad note too, if I recall. The secretary's mouth stretched into a small smile.
"Yes, Athrun Zala. See Shinn, your not the only faith member reduced to training new recruits." I grumbled a thank-you and took my leave for the elevator. This should be interesting.
Arriving at the training centre, I spotted new recruits, lined up being instructed in the firing range. They all had sidearms, and it looked like they were practicing quickdraws. Drawing from the holster, and firing on a target in as short a time as possible. Figures. Athrun has amazing shooting skills. He'd be 20 now. To think how young some of the war veterans are, hell he's probably younger than most of the recruits. I saw one fumble, misfire into the ground, and drop the gun. I chuckled. Placing a hand on my hip, I watched in amusement as the Lieutenant walked over and picked up the new recruits weapon, and handed it back to him. As Athrun rose, he spotted me, and I gave him a wave. He quirked an eyebrow, and beckoned me over with a short flick of his wrist as he turned, moving back over to the corner of the range to observe. I leisurely walked over, through the gate, and over to Athrun's side.
"Hey, Lieutenant Zala. Fine lineup of recruits ya' got. I see they've perfected the 'Oh, no! I don't no what to shoot at, lets try my foot!' technique. " I gave him a big smirk, lacing my fingers begind my head. Athrun kept his eyes on the recruits, now firing.
"Shinn. I see you still haven't lost that sarcasm of yours. It seems a little refined, actually, have you been practicing?" He asked dryly.
"Don't need to, you should know that. Lieutenant." The recruits siezed fire, reloding and holstering their weapons. Athrun cleared his throat.
"Good work, guys. Reid, try not to drop the gun next time, okay?" The recruit who had dropped his gun earlier smiled sheepishly, offering a 'Sir!Yes Sir', before heading out of the firing range towards the exit. Athrun stared after them a moment before looking at me.
"So, what brings you here Shinn?" He asked, placing his clipboard down on the table sitting alone next to the corner of the firing cage.
"Well, after failing to aquire a position on active duty, I was sent down here. To assist you."
"Ah." Athrun smiled "Well, it's about time. I've been needing some help with the new recruits. it's a 7 day program, 2 batches of them split between the week. There's only 5 of us, so it gets a little hard when everyone wants to go home and relax. But, another money hungry war veteran is nice." He laughed a little, before beckoning me to follow him back to the HQ.
"Yeah, well, I need the money. My roommates payed the last two months, and I feel bad. Decided it was time to go... do something." Athrun gave a nod of understanding.
"Roommate? Did you get any compensation for the war?" I smiled sheepishly.
"Yeah, well, I kind of blew it all on electronics after I got the apartment. Figured I'd have the rent covered until I found a job. Then the landlord raised it. So I put an ad up for a roommate, and about 3 days later, a programmer decided he was interested and called me up."
"Nice guy?" Athrun asked non-chalantly. I blushed.
"Um...yeah, yeah. He actually programs mobil suit interfaces for naturals and coordinaters, I asked him why he would move into an apartment when he'd probably have the money to buy a house" Athrun smiled.
"And, what he say?"
"Well he said that he prefers to work over the computer, in quiet. I guess having a house where everyone could come and visit would be a hassle to him. Told me no one from his division knows his address. Says as long as he meets his deadline, they have no problems." I finshed quietly. Then I remembered something, important.
"Which reminds me. I'm supossed to meet him for lunch, our apartments on the other side of the city, and he offered to pick me up. Gotta go, see ya Athrun." I said briskley as I increased my pace to the front door. I heared Athrun holler after me.
"Shinn, be here on Saturday, 10:00A.M., sharp!" I waved my hand in acknowledgment before exiting the building and making my way to the restaurant a couple blocks over.
Hello again. Just a final farewell and, hey look, a review button!