This is my first time writing a Gundam SEED fanfiction, so please take it easy on me. I hope I don't disappoint you with the story, and hopefully everyone will like how it turns out.
Cold
Things had changed since the treaty was signed between the Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty (ZAFT) and the Earth Alliance (EA). Though most Naturals still harbored resentment toward Coordinators for the atrocities that they had caused, they were forced to get along in unison because of the scare of possibly another outbreak of war. People's lives returned to normal, the Earth's populations increasing once again after the N-Jammer Cancellers were spread across the horizon of Earth. Earth had begun to regain some of its luster, the trees and grass no longer wilting but springing forth with a newfound life force. PLANTs still remained in space, as most of the Coordinators chose to remain there, even though a forced peace was negotiated. The remaining PLANTs were allowed finally to produce their own agriculture to sustain nourishment for the people living there. This was one of the benefits of the agreement to have a cease-fire. Even though things were beginning to look up for the denizens of Earth and space, things were not as they seemed...
Kira Yamato had once been an Ensign for the Earth Alliance. Now he did random jobs, but mostly took piloting jobs. Today was no different. He moved effortlessly between the seats of the Mobius that was to transport him and his co-pilot, Lacus Clyne, to the neutral colony of Kionios. Sliding into the safety of his seat, his right hand found the belt strap and latched him in. Fingers encircling the controls, he let his right hand scramble across the panels before him, giving ignition to the Mobile Armor. It had only been three months ago that Lacus had talked her fiancée into being a pilot for the rogue faction, TARU (Tactical Assault and Rescue Unit), which had recently broken away from the EA and began taking on members of all races. Someone had given them a tip that blueprints for a new set of G.U.N.D.A.M.s could be found on Kionios, which was where production would begin soon. TARU then decided to send Kira and Lacus, along with a few other soldiers, amidst the people congregated there and see what information they could retrieve. Kira waited for Lacus to finish her check of the soldiers accompanying them. He leaned over slightly, bending his head toward the inner glass of the cockpit and glanced toward the dim gunmetal texture of the wall before him. After what seemed like forever, Lacus returned to the cockpit, stripping herself of the large helmet that shielded her head and gave a polite, yet strangely eccentric smile. The right corner of Kira's mouth curled up, signaling that he found that look funny. The screen outside showed that they were three minutes away from launching. Kira tilted his head toward Lacus and spoke, issuing forth a raspy voice because of the helmet he had on, "Are you ready for this?" Lacus replied with a nod and then her sweet voice filled the air about them, "We'll be okay. This is just another routine mission like always. Just stay with the protocol and we'll all make it out." Kira gave a distinct nod in her direction, and then proceeded to run his right had out, clasping Lacus' own hand. Things had changed since he left the EA and gained the Freedom G.U.N.D.A.M. He had fought valiantly with Athrun at the end, after Athrun's own father had fired the massive weapon Genesis. Athrun sacrificed his own Mobile Suit, Justice, to stop the Genesis and his father. After that, he hadn't really kept in contact much with Athrun, though he had heard him mentioned by soldiers of TARU a few weeks ago. They stated that he was a member of the newly rebuilt Orb-Union and that he had been appointed Cagalli's personal bodyguard. Things had changed for Kira, also. After the struggle, Lacus approached him with the idea of being a pilot for TARU. He left the orphanage he had help found and jetted off into the vastness of space once again. Though he didn't want to fight, and the job didn't call for much of that, he knew that one day he would, and he must keep prepared. Over the course of Kira helping TARU, he and Lacus had grown close, becoming very fond of each other. They had pursued a relationship together, and this is where they stood now, ten seconds from launching from the Grand-Class Battleship, Peer Gynt. Kira paced himself, taking a deep breath as he flipped the switch to ignite the thrusters. The Mobile Armor rumbled as the fire lit in the thrusters, bursting outward as the screen proclaimed "Launch: Clear". With a quick jerk, Kira and Lacus were pulled back into their seats, the Mobius propelling toward the opening bay door underneath the battleship. Kira kept his focus intently ahead, once again being flung into needless conflict and the enveloping cold of space.....