Feathers and Bones Feathers and Bones

Chapter two: All that Glitters

A/N: Well just as a bit of heads up, I'm not planning on making the Typhoon on par with the G.U.N.D.A.M.S. doing something like that, would just be silly, but it's going to fall in that middle ground between the X numbers and the mass production units.

Also, the Typhoon is going to struggle if forced into close combat, it's not really designed for it, it relies more on ranged combat, ideally some where between 1 km and 50 km, since that is where all of it's weapons are meant to be used.

As for the Pin-point barrier system, what it is, well the fighter carried version, is an energy barrier that is able to absorb immense damage, but only take a couple of hits, 1 – 3 depending on the strength of the hit. The version of it, mounted on the Harpoon Mk. VIII is more or less an offensive application of the barrier, since it is used, to punch through the armour and hull of a ship, before failing, letting the impact trigger cause the missile to explode it's 1000 kg warhead inside the ship, for maximum damage. For more information on modern missiles like this, look up the Harpoon or Exocet missiles.

The GU-27, the gun pod of the Typhoon, the upper portion of the gun, is where the gatling-rail gun is mounted, the 50mm spikes, are launched from an 8 barrelled rotating system that obtains a rate of fire of 5,000 rounds / minuet or roughly 83 rounds per second. So if you were wondering why it brought down the Phase shift armour, it hit about 70-ish times in that short one second burst.

On with the show!


She watched as he just sat there, during the mock trial for Kira, he didn't say a word, just sat there, he knew his turn was coming, all she could think of as he sat there was, That arrogant… look at him, he knows what's going on, I bet he has some ace up his sleeve, I sure wouldn't put it passed him…

"Captain? What is your verdict?" asked Natarle, she seemed to be growing impatient.

Murrue sighed, as she looked about the cabin, Lt. La Flaga seemed to be wanting to know what was in for his 'client', whom was looking worried, she felt a stab of guilt over this, she really didn't want to be so hard on him, after everything he's done, but she has no choice, "Based on these charges, Mr. Yamato, the penalty is death…" she felt even guiltier when she saw his purple-y blue eyes go wide with shock, "How ever, since you are not actually part of the military, the penalty, is suspended, but I'm going to have to put you in the brig for a little wile, just so that you understand how serious what you did is."

The boy, sighed in relief, well the man sitting on the couch, with the black and white uniform did nothing but smirk. Murrue dismissed her two other officers, along with the boy, well turning on the man on the couch.

"How could you, an officer…!" she started, before he cut her off, "Look, they way I see it, you've got two options, you can let me go, with nothing but a slap on the wrist, or you can toss me off this ship… But I doubt that you'd be up for the latter option, since that would leave this ship with one less pilot, and fighter." He was smirking again; she could feel it, even if she wasn't facing him.

That son of a…. No, I'll find out why he things he can get away with this, first. Were here thoughts, before coming up with her actual question, "And why do you feel that what you did was justified?" this time, she turned to face him, trying not to look into his jade green eyes.

"Simple, I'm not going to back a force, that has shot at un-armed ships, and is willing to use civilians as shields. Now I'm not saying that U.N. Spacy has been any better in the past, I know it hasn't, but we at least have a choice when it comes to fallowing unlawful orders. And sorry, but using that girl as a shield is pretty damn unlawful, If you ask Me." He was standing by this point, just a few inches from her face, again he was smirking, and she was finding it hard, to stay angry with him.

"Jerk. You're right, but you are still a jerk, and that's playing dirty by the way, I didn't authorize using that girl as a shield… now how about you tell me why you got Kira involved, rather then that excuse you gave in the hall way." She felt a smile tugging at the sides of her mouth, she couldn't help it, every time she caught him smiling, and she found it contagious.

"Well I didn't lie, if that's what you were thinking, I just omitted some details…" he trailed off, looking over to the window, "like?" she asked, her left eyebrow arched, as she looked out the window as well.

"The kid, Kira, he's best-friend is flying that red machine, the Aegis, he's engaged to that girl Kira saved. So rather then having them shooting at each other for once, why not let him do something nice for his friend? Well, that's what I thought, once he told me about the situation." He had floated over to the window, after grabbing water, "Just don't tell him you know, alright, I said I'd keep that quite, he's really torn up, about having to fight his friend." He finished, taking sip.

She sighed, taking her own water, and collecting her thoughts, I knew he had something up his sleeve, I just didn't expect this. "That explains a lot actually, why the Strike hasn't been really fighting the Aegis, like it has against the other three. Alright, you are going to get your slap on the wrist, your confined to quarters till we link up with the 8th fleet, then I figure, there is going to be a lot of questions asked, now get out of here, and get some sleep alright? You're looking tired."

She couldn't help but sigh, as he left her cabin, he was so calm and cool, entirely in control of what went on, right from the get-go, he played it, just how he wanted it to go. It bothered her, but made her feel relaxed at the same time.

He was standing in his room, with a towel around his waist, looking at the pictures that he had on the mirror, they were all the ones from his old locker, save for one, he smiled, as he touched the one, of him and his squadron, from the U.N.S. Victoria, CVS-702. Home. He thought as he looked at it, 10 years on that ship, moving up from the VAF-102 Diamondbacks, to the VAF-113 Stingers, and finally getting his own squadron, VAF-103 the Jolly Rogers, he found it nice, to have a squadron under his command, with such a long, and illustrious history, going back, all the way to the second world war, on old Terra.

He was pulled from his thoughts, by a gentle knocking at his door, "Enter." He barked, a little more then he should've, but what was done was done.

The door slid open, and a tall man with blond hair, with this highest rank, that Alexander had seen to date, on his uniform, was flanked to the left by Murrue, he turned to face them, his circular dog tags, with the red and white diamond in the middle showing proudly against his tanned well defined chest. "And to what do I owe, the pleaser?" he asked, looking at them, with his head tilted off to his right side.

The two of the walked into his room, as the door slid shut, the man, removed his cap, before speaking, "So you are the one, that belongs to that strange mobile armour on the flight deck, at least that is what captain Ramius tells me, she also says you are not from here, at least not earth or the PLANT."

Murrue looked at Alexander, her eyes couldn't help but wander, it was the first time she'd seen this version of him, more or less naked, also the first time, she'd see what he'd done with the quarters, she noted some pictures behind him, before she took a seat on his bed. "I told him, what you told me, the Admiral wanted to speak to you, after he saw your Typhoon…." She trailed off, as the Admiral extended his hand to Alexander.

"I'm Rear Admiral Lewis Halberton, a pleasure to meet you, Lt. Commander Kross." Alexander chook the man's hand, not really sure, what to do at this point, "I understand, that what ever it was that brought you too us, may have made it difficult for you to return home, so I have an offer for you, if you are interested." The Admiral continued, after letting go of Alexander's hand "That offer is, to instate you, as an officer of the 8th fleet, of the Earth Forces… And yes, I agree with you, about the incident that happened with those two Drake class ships, needed to be stopped, as well as I don't like the idea of civilians being used as shields."

Alexander drifted off into the bathroom, to grab his uniform pants, before repapering, and speaking, "Look, right now, I've got a couple of objectives, the big one, is get some time, to actually pull all the panels on the Typhoon, to find out, what's wrong with it, because there is no way, I got here, with out something going wrong, and with being stuck in round the clock sorties, not nearly enough ground staff, and me not being an engineer I'm not really that qualified to poking around inside that bird. The second objective is to find a way home, as much as I might not like it, my current assignment from U.N. Spacy is to report to Terra for assignment to a Flight School as an instructor."

Alexander leaned back against the mirror, and folded his arms in front of his chest, he looked to Murrue, then back to this Admiral, whom seemed to be in thought, before responding, "Well it would be easier to have your craft serviced, with our, being the 8th fleet's resources, or for that matter Alaska's, since that is where the Arc-Angel is heading. And if you were one of our officers, we could slip you in easily, into the repair line, since we now have some new machines of our own, we can just claim it was under development as well, so that is why there is…"

Alexander cut him off, "No offence, but not going to happen, right now, she flies, fights, and does alright, the only way, I am letting a non- U.N. Spacy engineer poke around in her, is if I don't have a choice, I know I gave Murrue the data on it, but this craft still has a lot of secrets, that I'm not willing to happily hand over, at this time."

The Admiral smiled, and nodded, "If you did, I would've been worried, none the less, I would like you to continue to protect this ship, till it's safely at Alaska. Now if you will excuse me, I have other places on this ship to be. Have a pleasant day, Lt. Command. Captain." And with that, he left the room.

Murrue stood to leave the room as well, when she felt a hand grab her wrist, she turned to see Alexander, with a bit of a smile on his face, "Congratulations on the promotion, I can read rank after all, I see the extra stripe on your shoulders. I'm going to launch with the Typhoon, something is going on, I can feel it, we've not been under attack, in a wile, so I know that something is going to happen soon."

Murrue smiled, and nodded, "I know, you've got permission to launch, just don't wander too far, in case you need to go planet side, you should be in the Arc-Angel…"

She watched as he finished getting into his uniform, before heading off to the flight gear lockers.

Alexander was tossed back into his seat, as the catapult through him out of the ship, with his after-burners showing off there power, he rocketed past the large blue ship, that was just off to the side, of the Arc-Angel, he did a tight pass, around it's tower, before heading out beyond the fleet, with his RADAR doing a full sweep.

Admiral Halberton, watched with interest as that white, black and yellow craft circled his ship, as if just to give him, a short air-show, before it shot off, into space.

"I wish that boy would've taken us up, on that offer, a craft like that, would've been an interesting study." He spoke, to the man to his left.

Alexander, was just coming back around the fleet, when he saw the flashes of light, that were the tell-tail signs of battle, his RADAR was filling rapidly with targets, everything except for one ship, was showing as non-friendly, he mentally kicked himself for not taking the time, to key in, the profiles of these craft, to tell the difference between not so hostile, and down right hostile.

As he neared the battle, he saw some of the machines that he was told were called GINN's, Alexander locked up two of them, and he let fly 4 short range high manoeuvre missiles. He hoped that these machines were not as well protected, as the X number machines, as the distance closed, the GINN's turned in time, to see the missiles, just before they hit home, their centre bodies erupted in fire and debris.

Alexander grinned, he found his prey now, and set about to attack the remaining GINN's.

He came in at full throttle at this one GINN that was on top of that blue ship, with it's rifle about to open fire on it's bridge, a quick tap of the trigger, and a shower of steel spikes flew at the GINN, striking it in the shoulder.

The GINN turned and used it's boosters, to attack it's new attacker, the pilot licked his lips, some new mobile armour, this should be easy, he thought to himself, to his horror though, the white craft changed into a mobile suite, still traveling at him, at a high rate of speed, he dropped his rifle, to pull his sword, and flared his engines to close the gap even faster.

Alexander selected the particle beam, and tapped the trigger, losing that blue-white beam, he watched as it hit the craft in the chest, then passed through it's chest, causing the craft to explode. Satisfied with his kill, Alexander went back to his Jet configuration, and blew passed the bridge of the Admiral's ship.

But this was a battle that they weren't going to win, no matter how hard they pressed the attack. As ships fell, other tried to fall back, to shield the one white and red ship, as it breached the atmosphere, a craft stuck to it's decent, into the planet, even as the ship changed it's course to stay with another craft that belonged to it.

As the Arc-Angel shuttered under it's own weight in the sky of Earth, the crew looked out the bridge windows, to see a craft go shooting past, it's two spheres of blue-white behind it, the craft went some distance passed them, before turning in a steep climb, the air braking over it's wings, well contrails came off the tips of it's wings. And that was when it happened, the armoured glass of the bridge shuttered, as a very audible 'BOOM' passed through the bridge.

Alexander felt, the shutter of joy from his fighter, as it's engines for the first time in their life, bit into the air of Earth. No matter how many times, on how many different planets he flew in, each new planet felt different for his fighter, she seemed to enjoy it, the thrill, the feel of the air over her control surfaces. The craft was semi-smart, it knew enough when it was in space or in an atmosphere, but not much else, at least that's what General Galaxy would say. Though if one asked a pilot of a Typhoon, they would swear, that each one had it's own personality.

He grunted as the strain of the high G turn brought him around and behind the Arc-Angel again, as they neared the surface of the planet, he brought himself into land, and took a deep breath of the sealed air of the ship, before it was changed over, to local.

"What do you mean the kid had a rough re-entry?" Alexander asked Mu, as they were walking the halls of the ship.

"Well we've got no idea how hot it got in the cockpit of the strike… by the way, I heard as well as felt, your little fly-by. I'm a little envious, I've got to wait till the Sky-Graspers are ready, before I can get out there again." Said the tall blond man, just before they separated off for the evening.

In her cabin, Murrue grumbled to herself Grate, I've been down here now, four hours, and that's the fourth cup of coffee I've spilt on myself!

Her thoughts were cut short, from the short double knock on her door, she smiled to herself that was his knock, "Enter" she managed to catch herself before she almost sung it out.

He walked in, he looked so pleased with himself, she couldn't help but smile, "Did you know that would happen when you flew passed the bridge that close?"

He stretched and walked further into the room, to stand at the window, smirking to himself even more, before he responded, "Consider that my way of saying 'thanks' for letting me out to play in space today."

"How do you do it? How is it, that you can make this all look so easy? I saw how you shot down those GINN's with what looked like so little effort?" part of herself didn't want the answer, but she needed to know it.

"If you think I make this look easy, it's because I want every one around me, to feel confidant, in what is going on. Me, I'm scared, I've never been to Earth, much less being stuck in a world I don't know much about it, seeing that I've got no-one around I can look to for guidance, because they aren't whom they are to me, at least. Look at me, we've barely known each little under a month, and I'm already talking to you, like you are my confident." He said, looking out over the sand, one hand on the glass. "As for the GINN's, they are in the same class, I guess as my Typhoon, a main line craft, not an experimental, like those X numbers, against them, more then three quarters of my fire-power is wasted, as it won't even scratch them."

It was times like this, which she both enjoyed, and made her nervous, If he's scared, and just puts up that act to make us all feel better, then things are probably worse, then they look… "Alexander, I hadn't thought about that, at least not till you more or less told the Admiral what he could go and do with himself, in a very polite way." She smiled as she thought about the short time she spent in his cabin, "But I wanted to ask you about those pictures, that were on the mirror…"

"The one in the top left corner on the mirror, the ship, you saw in it, that is the Victoria, that ship was my home, since I was 16, right up until I got here. As for the others, they are just shots of me, and the friends; some now long dead that I made there. I'm sure you saw the one that was just off to the centre, well that one, was taken the day I took command of VAF-103 Jolly Rogers." He still hadn't left the window, though his eyes had traveled up, to look at the stars.

She smiled, and walked up behind him, and placed her arms around his chest, and said, "Don't take this the wrong way, but you looked like you could use a hug, you sound kind of home sick…. I think I would be as well."

"All I want right now, is stability in my life, I'm almost at the end of run as a pilot, I've been getting ready to shift into the role as a ships captain, at least there, the amount of time, I've got to worry about getting shot at, is so much less, but the rush I get from the flying all but goes away, granted I'll be able to keep a craft for my personal use, but I won't be able to stray too far, from my ship." He said, so softly, that she almost missed it.

She smiled and put her head against his back, and took in his scent, she was enjoying this, it was bringing back so many happy memories, until he pulled away from her embrace, to look at her and smile, with a bit of a pout she spoke up, "We're going to be heading out, as soon as Kira is good enough to leave sick bay, I'd like you to fly out, and map a route to the sea. We're going to have to go through the Indian ocean, since that'll keep us away from Gibraltar, as well as far from Victoria as possible."

He nodded, "I'll be away then for a couple of days. 'Cause I'm guessing you want a in-depth search, not just a high speed fly through?"

She smiled again, before speaking, "There you go again, reading my mind. Now off with you, I'll see you again, in a couple of days." She watched as he reached for the door control, and spoke again, "And Alexander, please be careful."

"Aren't I always?" he grinned, as he exited the cabin, to take off in his search.

It had been an exhausting several days for Alexander, flying low, to avoid RADAR, and slow to get a good look at the area, though it was mostly sand, sand and more sand. But he mapped it out a few different routes three to be exact, on his flight back, he was almost back he shot over the area where the Arc-Angel should've been to find that it was gone, but the there were signs of battle.

He started to search the area with active RADAR, sweeping left and right, well in his search pattern he spotted two jeeps, heading out into the desert.

The Typhoon got low, and shifted into the high speed cruise mode, it's wings swung down slightly, well the rear tails / rear wings sung up, to fit snugly on the sides of the engines, well the three fins on each engine were forced open, wide as the thrust reached into the after burner range.

Natarle was sitting back, in the Jeep, relaxing, she had managed to meet all of the objectives of her task in the town, had even managed to find the Kid, and that blond girl, they were on there way back to the Arc-Angel. She sighed, this place had it's own kind of beauty, but she could do with out the sand, as it got everywhere. Her head flopped back, against the metal of the jeep, and she thought she saw something in the sky, it was low, and coming in very fast, it kind of looked like the Typhoon, but it was different, the wings were lower on it, then every other time she'd seen it, then it hit her, it was coming in very low, and very fast, "Stop the jeep, and pull off to the side, then get out!" she barked.

Once the jeep had gotten off to the side, and everyone bailed out of it, the fallowing Jeep did the same, just in time as the Typhoon shot passed them, with a trail of sand flying up into the sky behind it, and that was when the Earth Forces personnel covered their ears, the shock-wave created by the Typhoon knocked everyone to the ground, as it breached the speed of sound.

Natarle was the first to push herself back up, she looked at the jeeps, all of the glass, and mirrors had been shattered, she turned her head to see the Typhoon come around again, this time slower, it's wings looked like they normally did, she watched as the legs swung out from under it, as well as it's arms came out of hiding. That must be that Gerwalk mode he was talking about. Was her thoughts as it came to rest on the sand, it's nose tipped to the ground, as the cockpit opened.

Alexander exited the cockpit, after shutting down they systems, to walk over to the jeeps, he was sure that they were earth forces, they should be able to tell him where to find the Arc-Angel, as he walked over to them, he noticed that dark haired Lieutenant, Grate, I'm in for a lecture from that one… he thought as he walked up to them.

"Good to see you back, Commander. But maybe next time, use the radio." She had placed her hands on her hips, well glaring at him.

"Now what fun, would that have been? Besides, the kids looked like they needed to play in the sandbox for a little wile anyways, no sense in them getting to go back to the ship all nice and clean… hey, who are these people?" he was getting himself ready to run back to the Typhoon, if things were bad.

"They are allies, freedom fighters of the area. Did your recon go well?" She was still annoyed with him, How does the Captain put up with his flippant attitude over things like this!

"Went fine, I've found three routes that'll work. Would've been nice if you all left a note, saying you were going to leave with out me." He smirked; he was enjoying this, getting under her skin.

She clenched her teeth, before telling him, to fallow them back to where the ship was hidden. As the Typhoon flew down the canyon in it's Gerwalk mode, it drew looks from the various freedom fighters in the area that was till it vanished inside of the Arc-Angel.

Powering down the systems, Alexander opened the cockpit, to see the two Sky-Graspers sitting idol their engines howling, and he saw a simulator being set up.

He smirked, and took a copy of the data he had retrieved on his flights, up to the Captain.

"Enter" she spoke, not even looking up from her desk, I hope he's okay, it's been almost five days since he left… were her thoughts, as a familiar form in a black and white uniform walked into the room.

She smiled at him, before standing to greet him, "Good to see that you made it back, I was starting to wonder."

He tossed the memory disk to her, before taking a seat on the couch, and opening his jacket a bit, "Three routes, all different, there would've been more, but I encountered a few patrols out there, but they couldn't attack, what they couldn't catch."

"I'm glad, that you were able to stay safe," she turned slightly pink at her words, as his right eyebrow arched a little, "Th… that is to say, with out you, I... We'd have it more difficult…" she was rambling at this point, well mentally scolding herself. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why does he always make it hard to think!

He smiled at her; he always found it easy to be around her, despite everything that 'she' had done, this Murrue was so much different, so much kinder and gentler. "So, I'm important to you then?" his voice was soft, but his eyes were still covered up, in that predatory look.

She became a little more red, "Silly I know, maybe I'm just projecting what I want to see over you, I don't know. But you have this way, of clouding my judgment, till you showed up, I was able to keep a bit of distance between me and my officers…"

He leaned his head against the wall, smile still on his handsome features, though his eyes were shut, "Sorry," Was all he said, in a soft voice.

She blinked a couple of times, waiting for him to finish what he was going to say, after about a minuet, she walked over to him, looked him over, and smiled, as she slowly and gently put him on his side, on her couch, and placed her coffee stained jacket over him. He must be tired, I can't imagine he slept well in those few days. I'll let him sleep there, well I look over this data, and do some paper work.

It was early or very late depending on how you looked at it, when he stirred on the couch, the smell of roses about his nose. His eyes shot open, the room was dark, but he knew that this wasn't his cabin, nothing was in the right place for it. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, over at the far side of the room, with a head of chocolate brown hair, spilled over the desk, was a beautiful woman, fast asleep, in her paper work.

I must've fallen asleep when we were talking, I think I ruffled her feathers a bit, but she let me sleep, I'll just put her to bed, then get off to my cabin, for the rest of the night. He thought, as he very quietly, and gently moved her from her desk, then placed her in her bed, tucking the covers around her, she stirred for a moment, he held his breath, and his motion as she settled back into her slumber. Maybe this world won't be so bad. He thought as he left her room.

As the door slid shut behind him, he was face to face with that blond girl that was working in the CIC, the two of them stood in silence just looking at one another for a moment, before what could only be called a smirk appeared on her lips.

"So that's why the Captain hasn't been at her best, I didn't think she was with anyone on the ship…" her voice was almost coy about it.

"We're not, I fell asleep on the couch, after I came back from my patrol, that was all." He said, quietly, though she wasn't buying it.

"Well if you call it 'sleeping' that's your call. But I'm late for my shift," she laughed, "get some actual rest now, the officers have a meeting tomorrow." She waved, as she left for the bridge.

He sighed heavily before wondering off to his cabin, and flopping down on his back, to stair at the white ceiling all night.

The days came an went, loading ammo for the various weapons, and maintenance on the ship, as well as the war machines that were found onboard, Alexander had found the little simulator that had been set up, interesting, he watched the young crewmen, all take a turn or two at it, even Mu La Flaga, had taken an interest in watching the results. The girl, with the red shirt, and a slight attitude problem, placed the highest on the score board, that was till Mu climbed in, fallowed by Alexander, whom to his displeasure, didn't do as well as he thought he would. "It's just a silly game.."

"No, you're just not used to the characteristics of the Sky-Grasper, I've seen your Typhoon in action, there is a class difference between the two of them." Was what Mu had said, after seeing the low score by Alexander, "The Sky-Grasper is a multi-role support craft, your beast, is a predator, pure of form, and purpose, and it does it's role. She's probably a wild a ride, am I right?"

"More then you know, but she was built with enhanced pilots in mind, so you'd probably have a hard time, taking some of the turns I can, my body can handle up to 12G's. And there are times, when I nearly black out, or Red out, depending if I'm climbing or diving." Alexander had said, as he re-checked everything in the Typhoon.

The day was set, the stage had been selected, a show down on the hot sand. This battle was one about it's players, striking with well placed timing and traps, and a lot of luck, mostly due to a missed beam weapon, striking some fuel tanks, that cause what should've been a victory for ZAFT into a complete loss. The apex of the battle was the loss of an orange mobile suite, and the loss of it's crew, that broke the back for the ZAFT forces, they with drew from the field, with their tail between their legs.

The Typhoon, shuttered a little, as it landed in the Arc-Angel, Alexander could feel his fighter's displeasure about being in a desert, the sand was getting everywhere, into the panels, the intakes, even the barrels of the weapons. He was looking forward to the Ocean, to see an ocean of water, rather then an ocean of sand.

It had been only a few days since they left the desert, a few minor battles, that had ended with no grate loss, except for one, the last one, a pilot had gone missing, the girl, that had tagged along with them, since the desert, she had gone down some where, close, they had all hoped.

Their search had to be called off, due to the setting of the sun, even Alexander was feeling agitated over this, he had backed Mu, in sending her back to the ship, when her craft became damaged, neither of them, thought to escort her back, and now she was missing.

He hit his wall, with the side of his clenched fist, just as a knock came to his cabin door, "Enter." Her growled, in frustration, at his inability to not think his actions through, he never would've done that, before, so why was he so careless here and now, he wondered.

Murrue, walked into his room, she could see that he was angry, she didn't even have to hear it in his voice, when he told her she could come in, in the month and a bit that they had known each other, she'd let herself feel more for him, then anyone else on the ship, but she had found it funny, neither of them had spoken a word about that night, that he fell asleep on her couch, "She'll be alright till morning, then we can start looking again."

"I was careless, I shouldn't have let her fly off on her own, she even said that her navigation system was damaged, if I hadn't been so preoccupied by that mobile suite, I would've gotten her back here." He said, as his hand slid down the wall, well his head hung low.

"Alex," she paused to see how those words felt, to see if she could use a shortened form of his name, not seeing any objection, she continued, "I was talking to Crewmen Haw, she seems to be under the impression that we are some kind of item…"

He let go of the wall and walked into his bathroom, after running the fingers on his left hand over that picture of him, and one of the squadrons he served in. "I tired to tell her, all that happened was I fell asleep, on your couch, but she didn't believe me."

She heard those words, from the bathroom, and felt both some pride, and some guilt, she had thought that perhaps he had run with it, or at least entertained the idea. She sighed, before speaking, "You know, I wouldn't mind, something like that, maybe if this war wasn't going on, or…." Her words drifted off, as she saw him walk out of the bathroom, and lean against the door, before walking passed her, and out of the room.

She sighed, well thinking, It feels like we just had our first fight. She absently hugged herself, well leaning against the wall, she took the time, to actually go and look at those pictures, she saw two that weren't up there yet, one that seemed to be a few years old, it was of him and her, well not her, but someone that looked like her, on her left hand, was a diamond ring, they were both laughing in the photo, they both looked to be in love.

She sighed again, before looking over to a newer one, it was from the other day, just after they had gotten out over the water, she had been outside on the upper deck, enjoying the sun, and the breeze, her left hand, pushing some of her hair, back behind one of her ears, and there he stood, his black jacket open, leaning with his back to the water, looking up at the sky.

She turned it and the older one over, on the back of the newer picture, it read

Happy birthday Commander Kross

Thanks for all your hard work.

-Miriallia H.

She was shocked, he hadn't said a word about his birthday, and some how Miriallia had found out, and managed to snap a picture of herself and Alexander, with out either Murrue or Alexander having noticed, but it was the writing on the back of the other one, that tugged at her,

Alexander and Murrue

4ever.

No wonder he was so hard on her, the first few weeks. She placed the older one back down, but tapped up the new picture, in a free spot on the mirror.

Alexander fond himself out-side looking over the water, he felt someone sit down beside him, with out saying a word, for several moments, then she spoke, it was that girl in the CIC, "I'm sorry, for thinking that there was something between you and the Captain, she strained everything out, to me. This has got to be rough on you, everyone on the ship knows that you aren't from here, and we do find it, really strange, I mean multiple realities is something right out science fiction, and here you are…"

"There was something between me, and a Murrue Ramius, a long time ago. I'll just say that things were grate, and then bad things happened. It still hurts to think on it, some days. So don't worry about it." He still just looked out over the water, almost looking to see something that wasn't there. "It's just funny, in these two realities, we were brought together, only to get ripped apart… It's not that I haven't given it some thought, it's just I don't want to go through a lot of heart ache right now, and I'm still trying to get my feet under me, right now, so to speak."

Miriallia, looked at him, this was probably one of the few times she'd spoken with him, face to face, not over a radio, he wasn't his usual self, he was always so in control, and here he was, not showing his usual flippant remarks, Is this the man that only the Captain has seen? She thought to herself, "You know, the Captain does care about you, probably a little more then she should, but she always seems happier when your near, rather then when you are out off on some five day reconnaissance mission. She was kind of depressed when you were away, she did her best not to show it, but she was. I know if Tolle was gone for five days, with no word, I'd be sad too. Why don't you go get some sleep, and then go talk to the Captain in the morning? I'm sure she'd be happy to see you, bright and early."

Alexander looked at this girl out of the corner of his right eye, and shrugged, before leaving to his cabin.

It was bright and early in the morning, when she heard a genital; no make that pounding at her door, she rolled over in her bed, to look at the clock, it was still two hours before she had to be up, for her shift. She sighed, pushing herself from her nice warm bed, and wrapped herself in a housecoat, before hitting the open function for the door, that was near her bed.

She yawned as she sat at her desk, rubbing more sleep from her eyes, she smelt the coffee, more then saw it, sitting in front of her, she took a sip, it was just how she liked it, two cream and two sugar, "Thank you, now why are you at my door so early, Commander Kross?"

He smirked, she hadn't even opened her eyes to see him, and he placed one of the trays down in front of her. "I had someone talk some sense into me last night, I've been being a selfish jerk. Thinking only about myself, and not anyone else."

Damn right you have. She thought, smiling as she took a second sip, "But that still doesn't explain why you woke me up, two hours early."

"Because I wanted to say, that I'm sorry for being a jerk, and being so cold to you last night, I know that you were trying to help. And that I've been so confused," he sighed before continuing, "You're everything I wish she had been, I find it just shocking how different the two of you are, the Murrue, I knew, she wasn't as caring as you are, but considering the worlds we grew up in, I bet you find me way more callous then the Alexander that you knew?"

She had reached out and patted the back of his left hand, with her right one, she took another sip of her coffee, before opening her golden eyes, letting them show the warmth that was in them, 'I guess that's to be expected, you told me, that the fleets that you grew up in, you are more or less, pressed into military service, only the really privileged children don't have to serve. So it makes sense that you are a little with drawn some times, or a little callous when it comes to things. But then you go and do something like this, showing up, with breakfast, and coffee. Or putting me to bed, and lets not forget hugging me from time to time. It's times like that, that I enjoy, and I wish were a little more frequent, but I understand."

He smiled at her, probably the first smile that didn't feel forced on his end, he didn't have to be a predator of the skies in here, with her, he could be himself, and he liked that. "Murrue, when we get to Alaska, what's going to happen? I'd like to…" his face was actually turning a bit red, she hadn't seen him blush, sure, he'd made her blush, more and more lately, but he was blushing now.

She stood, still holding his hand in hers, and walked over to the window, he fallowed, not letting go, when they both stood at the window, she leaned her head against his shoulder, "I don't know, but I'd like to see where things go, right now, I'm happy. And that is enough for this moment."

They found that girl that had gone missing, she didn't talk about what happened on the island that she was on, but no-one really pressed her on it, as sure enough, the ship found itself in more battle, soon afterwards.

But fate would take a turn, on a few days after, they were passing near the Orb union, when they came under vicious attack, the machines had launched, the Strike fought from the Arc-Angel, attacking the flight units for the X numbers, well Sky-Grasper 01 tried to support to it's best ability. The Typhoon pressed the attack, well going after missile interception, and trying to pull the attention of the X numbers.

The Arc-Angel took blow after blow, weapons fired in every direction, as a missile flew passed the X number that was known as the Duel, it exploded in a shower of fragments, just as the Typhoon had come around, the fragments were sucked into the starboard turbine, only Miriallia hear it, it was spoken in haste, with some fear in the voice, "Oh shit!"

Everyone watched with baited breath, this was the first time, that there had been a friendly-fire incident, for the Arc-Angel, and that was when it happened, the Typhoon shuttered, fallowed by an explosion, from inside, as black-smoke started to billow out from the starboard engine.

The Typhoon climbed as fast as it could, with the black smoke billowing out, the port side engine stuttered, and the control surfaces lost air-flow, the craft started to tumble around, rolling and spinning, violently, once the craft had come back into view, that black smoke had become black smoke and fire, the port side engine had come back on, but the damage had been done.

Murrue's heart sank, they had just started getting to really know each other, and now it looked as fate was going to tare them apart again, her ship was crashing into the ocean, that girl that had hitched a ride, had turned out to be the princess of Orb, and then she saw his face, behind his flight mask, the cockpit was full of that black smoke and that alarm was ringing so loud in the background, his helmet's glass was reflecting all those red lights from the indicators, "Open the hanger, have emergency and fire crews on stand-by, I'm going to try and put her down, in one peace, but be ready to push the wreckage into the ocean."

Half floating in the water, the port side landing way opened, the crash nets sprung into place, and the air-lock door was left open, the white craft lined up on the glide slope, but was having trouble staying in line, the fire leaking out of the starboard side, had gotten bigger, and was threatening to make it's way over to the port side engine.

The craft slammed to the deck, and came to a skidding halt in the hanger bay, as the fire crews ran to put out the flame.


Well I hope that was a good second chapter, and again, thank you all for reading this far.

If anyone would like me to go into more depth on things, just let me know, in the review section, and I'll to my best to go over it, in the notes at the beginning of each chapter.