Part of me really wanted to place Natarle in the story for this second stanza/verse, but it really didnt work out in the end. It was hard enough finding a scene that "closed the gap" between the episode numbers of chapter one and three, and though this isnt the best "middle", it still worked its purpose, I believe. Thanks again go to MapleRose for help.
Part II -- (Phase 15)
Mu stifled a yawn before absently pushing away some stray hair from his face. Despite first impressions, the new Skygrasper's cockpit was quite comfortable. He flicked one of the levers—nothing happened. The man hadn't expected anything, but it still made him sigh.
He lowered his eyes once more to the pages in front of him. Mu's eyes had been scanning the Skygrasper Manuel's pages for a while now—mostly to pass time. He could have figured out most of it's operations on his own—seeing as how it was significantly more simplistic than his favored Zero.
But, as with landing in the middle of ZAFT territory an' all, he had to know what he could do piloting-wise in case of a problem. He was the ship's only defense.—Kira was still unconscious from the descent.
With another yawn, Mu flipped the page and continued half-reading. Then one line came he slowly read aloud:
"The FX-550 Skygrasper's primary function is delivering the Striker Packs to the GAT-X105 Strike."
He gaped at the words. Mu blinked at the manual given to him, personally.
"I'm . . . I'm a delivery boy?" Was that really how far the Hawk of Endymion had fallen?
Murdoch's rough laughter filled the open cockpit as the mechanic made his way up the Skygrasper's ladder. Appearing beside Mu, the grease-stained man didn't even pause before he proceeded to tinker with one of the control panels.
"Yeah, well," Murdoch pulling at something. "—At least you've been promoted for it, Lieutenant—oops, sorry, Commander."
Mu cocked a sarcastic eyebrow at the mechanic.
"Heh, no problem."
Mu was glad for the whole Archangel crew getting promotions, but having Murdoch joke about his constantly slowly got on the younger man's nerves. How many times could one man forget, then 'suddenly' remember, a rank change?
Even so, it made Mu grin.
Turning away from the working mechanic, Mu tapped his hand against the thick manual, grin falling into a glare.
"But, still . . . fighter planes are pretty limited when going up against ZAFT's suits, don't you think? Even with the Strike's . . . add-ons. . . ."
Murdoch erupted into his coarse brand of laughter. The man just hung on the side of the plane, no longer concentrating on the work in front of him.
"Yeah, well, they probably think the best can make the most out of 'em—wouldn't you agree?"
Mu could only sink himself further into the pilot's chair and childishly cross his arms over his chest.
"I already miss my Zero," he muttered darkly.
"Oh, don't complain, Commander. It's not going anywhere," the rough man teased. "It'll still be here for you for when we go back up into space."
"Yeah?" Mu countered, eyebrow raised questioningly. "And when will that be?"
"Hah—good question." Murdoch laughed before disappearing down the ladder. "Like I'd know!"
Mu quickly pushed out of the seat so he, himself, could hang over the side of the cockpit. Locking eyes with the mechanic on the Hangar floor, Mu put on his harshest face as he brandished the manual beside him.
"Hey!" He yelled, laughing. "Get back up here! You need to finish reading this over with me!"
"Sorry, Commander," Murdoch visibly grinned. "Already have. And I don't need, nor want, to read it again."
As Mu playfully glared back, Murdoch sighed.
"But really, Sir . . . you should really be getting some rest. You've been reading that thing for the past three hours."
Mu pouted at the mechanic's truthful concern. He had told the Captain to get some rest while he did—that they both needed it. Then, instead of going to his own quarters, Mu had made his way to the Hangar to check out his new toys.—not that they had made him any happier.
"Well, what about you?" Mu suddenly challenged. "You've been down here with me the entire time."
Murdoch flashed a toothy grin.
"I, at least, can take a lot of naps, Lieutenant—oh, Commander."
Mu opened his mouth, but couldn't find a good enough retort. With a deflating sigh, he ran a thick hand through his hair.
"Ah, maybe you're right. . . . Nothing much else I can do, eh?" Mu made his own way down the Skygrasper's ladder, leaving the manual behind. Placing both feet to the metal floor, he spun around on Murdoch—but the mechanic had already began walking away. Mu plodded after him.
"But . . . I will check out the kid first—see if he's any better than the last time. After that I'll get some sleep."
"Oh, come back down here first."
Mu cocked his head. "Why?"
Murdoch narrowed his creased eyes. "Do you really have to ask, Sir?—Because we want to know how he is, too."
"Ahh, gotcha." With a wink of dancing eyes, Mu turned and began to walk away. Murdoch's voice followed him.
"We do, Commander.—so don't forget."
"Sure, sure." Mu waved the mechanic's concern away as he stepped into the Archangel's hallway.
Alone, the man began to softly chuckle about his latest encounter. Being the "Hawk of Endymion" meant being shuffled around from ship to ship, wherever he was needed.—a lot of times being an escort, like with that ship he'd helped take to Heliopolis way back then.
But, already, Lieutenant Commander Mu LaFlaga had been on the Archangel longer than a lot of his other 'assignments.' And he was beginning to really like that fact.
When you make new friends
In a brand new town . . .
And you start to think
About settling down. . . .
The things that would've been lost on you,
Are now clear as a bell.
And you find yourself.
Yeah, that's when you find yourself.