Flight of the Eagle
'First Recruit'
By steinerdavion2183
Archange, Officer Quarters
Elzam entered his quarters with Petty Officer Chandra, and once they deposited Miguel Aiman's unconscious body on the bunk, he thanked the man, which Chandra nodded, and left the room.
Once they were alone, Elzam looked around at his surroundings and smiled sardonically. "Well, this is impressive… steel walls, steel floors, simple and practical. Got to love military décor…but I guess this is 'home' for now."
In the past few moths, the events that led him here had allowed him to stay in several places which he called 'Home'. But surprisingly, the last place that he remembered feeling close to home and comfortable… was a base which ZAFT had given him. There, all the Gold Eagles, including himself would operate from that very base, situated near the Grimaldi Front. The better known name for that particular base was the Eagle's Nest amongst ZAFT and Earth Alliance forces alike.
He then started to unpack whatever things that was in his backpack. He pulled out the three wooden framed pictures and set them on the table. He picked up the picture that contained 16 people. 14 of those people wore golden-brown ZAFT uniforms, the middle person, which had platinum blond hair and amber eyes was clutching the Order of Nebula medal. He had his hands wrapped around the shoulders of two men. One was a tan skinned blond with a cocky smile in top gun red, while the other man, a blond haired man wearing a basic green ZAFT flight suit, smiled a thin lipped smile. It helped of course, since said man was now waking up on his bed.
"Urrrgghhh ..." Miguel groaned as he sat up from his bed, removing his helmet. "Did anyone get the number of that Mobile Suit that hit me?" He slurred slightly.
Elzam chuckled and said. "Good to see you back in the land of the living, wise guy. And I am so glad to see that you still have a sense of humor. I had feared it had been lost forever when you joined Le Creuset's team."
Miguel's head whirled towards the sound and his eyes narrowed. "You… you have some explaining to do, you jackass! Do you know how much your apparent and faked 'death' has hit those of us that were close to you? Elsman can't sleep for a bloody week after that incident. Elsman's parents were even hit harder! Your auntie's grown thinner since then, and your uncle has become even quieter after that! Heck, even my annoying sister actually shut up for once. I should be glad for that, if not for the fact that she didn't lock herself up in that damn lab of hers, and buried herself in work to get over her grief. Most of all, do you know how bloody hit I was over that! You jackass!" Miguel roared as he lunged forward and delivered a hard right hook on Elzam's cheek, sending him sprawling across the room and flat on the floor. Only then Miguel breathed hard, catching his breath, his right hand still clenched into a fist.
Elzam slowly got up, and rubbed his cheek from the punch. "I am surprised that you still haven't lost the touch, Miguel. You finished?" He said quietly before he got up, fixing a pain filled look that made Miguel flinch. "What do you know about pain, huh?" He suddenly said frostily. "True… I regret that I caused so much pain to so many people… but it had to be done! You don't know what it's like to be betrayed by your own commander, which made me lost the men and women that I considered close comrades, friends and battle brothers and sisters! You weren't there at Endymion, you jackass! So don't go around preaching to me about being hurt! And worst of all… I had lost faith in ZAFT, once I got wind of their plans about bloody GENOCIDE! I will NOT, I repeat WILL NOT be apart of an organization that plans to do such a thing!" He roared back.
Miguel looked stunned for some time. "I'm sorry… could you run that by me again. What do you mean by genocide? I thought that we as Coordinators and ZAFT are fighting for the freedom of the PLANTs. That's what we signed on back then right, Elzam?" His voice shook for a second in disbelief of what he had heard.
"That's what I had thought too… until I discovered something chilling within the PLANTs itself. I cannot forget what National Defense Committee Chairman Patrick Zala had said back then. Listen to this, ALL NATURALS MUST DIE. Those are his very words, I quote. Shortly after, my uncle Tad Elsman informed me of something that is so chilling that the project is classified as OMEGA BLACK! Only the members of the Supreme Council are privy to this knowledge, and I only got to know it only as Chairman Clyne secretly made a copy and asked my uncle to deliver it to me."
"O… Omega Black!! But that's the highest security status within ZAFT and the PLANTs. What can be so horrible that it warrants an Omega Black status?" Miguel's eyes bugged out in surprise at the news.
Elzam sighed and said. "I'm going to give you a clue, Miguel. Its name is GENESIS, that's all you need to know for now. Patrick Zala's snapped after Junius 7 and he regards all Naturals, mind you ALL as a blight of the universe, and he is going to use this as a weapon of mass murder, to wipe out the Earth of its population. Here's a clue if you still don't get it. It's a mobile version of that thrice damned Cyclops that took out my team and everyone that didn't get out of Endymion in time!" He bit out the last few syllables, as waves of fury and grief radiated from him in waves.
Miguel fell silent for a moment, and then his face grew serious. "If that is true… then I guess I don't owe loyalty to the PLANTs or ZAFT, at least to Zala anymore, as long as that man is in charge. And seems that Commander Le Creuset should know of this knowledge, since I heard he is a crony of Zala. I'm in with you, Elzam. I joined ZAFT to fight for PLANT's independence and freedom, not commit genocide."
"Thank you… old friend." Elzam said gratefully, breathing a sigh of relief.
But Miguel said. "Don't mention it…. It's a relief that you're not dead." He then sighed and shook his head. "I pity Zala's kid though… he doesn't know that his father's already gone over the edge, and somehow still thinks the best of him."
"You are saying about Athrun Zala, correct? Kid's a brilliant engineer in making small mechanical devices. Heard about him from his childhood friend, the kid that matched you toe to toe in that other G-Weapon." Elzam grinned, ribbing Miguel good naturedly. "And did I mention that he's only a civilian Coordinator?"
Miguel secretly was glad that Elzam was back to his normal behavior, just snorted. "Hmmmph… the kid just got lucky that I thought the MS was being piloted by a Natural that's all."
"Ohh, are you sure?" Elzam grinned, teasing him mercilessly. "You're just having a bout of sour grapes and can't accept that a civilian, with neither military nor mobile suit piloting experience actually forced The Magic Bullet of Dusk to a stalemate."
"Alright, I admit that the kid's good alright!?" Miguel finally admitted rather reluctantly. "I think I want to meet the kid, see what he is like. Oh, and don't worry… it's obvious by the way you mention him, that you consider him a friend. Well, any friend of yours is mine by extension I guess."
"Good…. Then I suppose you wouldn't mind wearing these." Elzam said as he took out two sets of blue Earth Forces volunteer uniform. Miguel just shot him an incredulous look. "You have to be kidding me."
"I kid you not, Miguel. Believe me… I didn't want to wear these as well, given that these are the uniform of the enemy. But for now, since we have unofficially joined up, I believe we should wear these as a sign of our goodwill." Elzam said with a straight face as he began to change his clothes.
"I swear… the things I get into when I am mixed up with you…" Miguel grumbled as he reluctantly as he changed as well into the outfit.
Once finished, Elzam said. "C'mon let's go… I'll go introduce you to the staff of this ship." He then paused for a moment and said. "By the way… what happened to my cousin? Any idea where he is right now?"
Miguel hesitated for a moment, and Elzam had a sinking feeling on the bottom of his gut. That feeling was further confirmed when Miguel spoke. "It's… it's hard for me to say this, Elzam. Rest assured that you are not going to like it… Elsman is in Creuset's team… along with Zala's kid, Ezalia Joule's son, Yzak, and Yuri Amalfi's son, Nicol."
"Damn…. All four are sons of members that make the Supreme Council…. And the worst thing is I might have to fight my cousin on the battlefield! If that don't beat all, that hothead Yzak, and most surprisingly is Nicol Amalfi. He should be performing in concert halls, not on the battlefield… but I guess that's inevitable, seeing how this war goes. I'm not surprised if Cresuet put them in the stolen G-Weapons."
Seeing Miguel's look made him sigh even deeper. "Oh Shiest… we really got into a deep heap of trouble this time." He then shrugged. "Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk… come one, let's get over to the bridge. We need to start planning how to get the hell out of here without damaging the colony. Knowing that psycho as I do, I won't be surprised if he would destroy the colony just to kill all of us."
Miguel just nodded solemnly as they left the room, and walked towards the direction of where Elzam thought the bridge was.
Archangel, Crew Quarters
"You know, it's amazing how he could doze off like this… dead to the world anyways." Kuzzey said as he looked at Kira's sleeping form on the upper bunk, which is close to catatonic, though none of them minded, seeing how hard their friend had gone through the day's events.
"Just let him sleep in peace, Kuzzey. He's had a rougher day then all of us combined here. He even had to fight that mobile suit in order to save us. I think he deserves the rest." Mir said gently as he brushed Kira's hair in a sisterly sort of way.
"You know… I'd suspected that Kira was a Coordinator. The way he works, programs the things in Morgenroete." Kuzzey remarked. "Coordinators… genetically enhanced humans with abilities that surpasses us normal people. Most normal humans can never catch up with them in terms of abilities…"
"What about Elzam and his friend then… you know the one he captured?" Sai put his two cents in. "Both of them are ZAFT pilots, aren't they?"
Tolle shrugged. "It doesn't matter to me… in case you all have forgotten; both Elzam and Kira saved our butts back there. I don't think we should be wary or scared of them."
"But all those people at ZAFT are like that!" Kuzzey said in a worried tone. "You've seen how they are like on the battlefield. Does the Archangel even have a chance to survive?"
Mir frowned and said. "We have Kira and Elzam, and maybe if he can talk him around, even his friend on our side. And besides, both Elzam and his friend would know how ZAFT pilots fight. So I say that we have nothing to be worried about."
"There is something that bothers me, Mir. While I do not have any doubt that what you say is true, I have some concerns. Firstly, Elzam is a recipient of the Order of the Nebula, and secondly, both he and his friends are both ZAFT ace pilots." Sai said, feeling just a bit suspicious. "I mean… why would they betray the PLANTs? Can they even be trusted, on that matter?"
"I honestly don't know, Sai…" Mir said in a tone that brooks no argument. "They will tell us when it is time and they think we are ready to know what is really going on."
Kuzzey then said to no one in particular. "I wonder… what's going to happen to us??"
ZAFT Laurasia-class escort carrier Gamow
The two remaining GINNs, belonging to Olor and Matthew were now being prepared for a second assault with D-type equipment, as three ace pilots, all clad in top gun red looked on with some interest.
"D-Type equipment… How interesting." Yzak Joule commented dryly. "Never thought they would use bunker busters for this second run. The prey must be something big if Commander Le Creuset is willing to order this to play."
"But what will happen to Heliopolis. With those weapons that powerful…" Nicol Amalfi said, with some concern.
"Can't be helped… can it?" Dearka Elsman shrugged, though he had a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Serves those Naturals right…" Yzak said in an unpleasant tone. "How could they call themselves neutral when they have been caught red-handed in building new weapons for the Earth Forces?"
Dearka did not hear what Nicol said next, as his minds were heavy on other things. Truth to be told, he was in a minor state of shock after his commander had returned and told him and his fellow pilots
"I am afraid that there is a piece of bad news… bad enough to warrant concern." Rau Le Ceuset spoke in a serious tone. "One of the new machines, the Aquila… is being piloted by one of own."
"The machine that disabled Miguel's machine?" Athrun Zala remarked. "Who was it?"
Rau Le Creuset paused for a moment before fixing a gaze on Dearka. "Elzam Zonbolt… is his name."
"The Gold Eagle of Jachin Due!?" Athrun Zala said rather incredulously. "Are you sure it was him, Commander? He's been reported dead a few months back due to a malfunction of that prototype Guaiz he was testing."
"So we were all led to believe…" Le Creuset said calmly. "However… reports indicate that no body was ever found amongst the wreckage of the prototype GUaiz he was testing. The logical and most compelling theory is that he faked his own death and joined up with the Earth Forces."
"Sir, you must be joking!" Dearka protested. "I know Elzam all too well, and he will never do something like this! He was at Jachin Due, and the Grimaldi Front! He is a staunch supporter and defender of the PLANTs and I refuse to believe that he might have switched sides!" He declared vehemently.
"I know this isn't easy news for you to accept, Dearka, given that he is your best friend and cousin. We do not want to believe the worst of anyone, but I heard his trademark ascending wail, something I doubt that anyone in the Earth Forces could ever copy, even if they tried. He actually made fun of me, and my mask, something that only he dared to do since back then."
Dearka smirked cockily at that comment. "Knowing him, he would either describe you as a Phantom of the Opera wannabe or an opera reject."
The room fell silent for a moment, and then Rau Le Creuset stormed out of the room, loudly muttering curses, while the room he just left erupted into snickers and roars of laughter.
Yzak looked to the side and saw Dearka brooding, something the happy-go-lucky blonde did not ever display. He put a hand on his fellow pilot's shoulder. "Still thinking of your cousin, buddy?" He was often seen as a cold and rather arrogant person, no thanks to the image that he and his mother shared, but he wasn't heartless, and has been Dearka's close friend other than well, Elzam. Besides, the news had shocked him a bit as well.
"I don't understand, Yzak…" Dearka said in a slightly shaky voice. "I mean, we were close cousins, and we entered the academy at the same time too. I thought I knew him the best… but I guess I don't. Not if he really betrayed us for the Earth Forces."
"I don't know, Dearka…." Nicol said, trying to reason with his fellow pilot. "Maybe, just maybe he just can't take the pressure and finally sort of, snapped. After all, he has been part of every single major space battle there is."
Dearka shook his head and said. "Your words make sense, Nicol. And thank you for trying to comfort me… you're a good comrade. But I disagree… this is not his style. If he had snapped…. It would be after he lost the team that he brought to Endymion… and his parents, which was at that time, visiting friends on Junius 7."
Yzak shrugged and said. "It's no use speculating things now, Dearka… we'll find out the truth soon enough. After all, if he has indeed joined up with the Earth Forces, he will definitely be ready for us."
Archangel, Bridge
Elzam, followed by Miguel in tow strode confidently onto the bridge, though their movements were shadowed by nervous and somewhat uncertain gazes from the other bridge crew members.
"Lieutenant Ramius… I've talked to Miguel here, and we have both decided to join up on your merry little band here… for reasons that I think I will only divulge when it is time. Permission granted?" Elzam said in a half serious tone.
Murrue Ramius just raised an eyebrow at the 'merry little band' comment. "Permission granted, Commander, Pilot Aiman... though I still require that your movements are slightly curtailed, just as a safety precaution." She then smiled slightly. "Though I am grateful that you are with us, not against us…."
Mu just grinned at Miguel. "So… this is a treat for me today. First I get to meet my eternal rival, the Gold Eagle of Jachin Due, and now one of ZAFT's best, the Magic Bullet of Dusk himself. I could get used to this kind of luck."
"So, you're not the serious pain in the ass that Commander Le Creuset described eh, Hawk of Endymion. Good to see that you have a sense of humor. I'd hate to kill you off for not possessing one." Miguel retorted, with a measure of good natured ribbing at the Natural ace pilot.
Natarle cleared her throat in an attempt to bring attention back to the display. "Ehermmm… while I am glad that all is going well here, I still have some questions for both of you, Commander Zonbolt, Pilot Aiman."
Elzam, still unperturbed by the serious tone, just said cheerfully. "Sure, Lieutenant Ramius. It's expected of procedure, after all. We don't mind all that do we; Miguel?"
Miguel shook his head and Elzam just said, just as cheerful. "There you see… no trouble at all." He then turned to Natarle. "And Nattie… could you please loosen up a little… I know that you have questions… but you don't have to make the atmosphere this serious... but if you must, fire away."
Natarle's eyebrow twitched at the rather familiar nickname that Elzam had called her, but tried her best to keep her cool. "Right…. First of all… how comfortable are you both in fighting against the ZAFT forces that we are sure to face in the near future from now on?"
Elzam's demeanor turned serious as well as Miguel. He then spoke slowly. "Let me make this clear to you, Ensign… I and Miguel are dedicated to this course. I know that there are many people that are good in the PLANTs, and ZAFT, though the actions of a few factions within ZAFT itself make us look bad. Besides, by actually capturing Miguel and fighting against his GINN makes me a traitor in their eyes. So I don't really have a choice in the matter either."
Natarle nodded and said. "Right… on with my second question. You were officially declared MIA by the ZAFT forces, four months after Endymion. If I calculate that correctly, that means you have been residing in Heliopolis all that time. What I want to know is, why did you do it?"
Sebastian sighed and said. "Look, I respect your curiosity, Ensign… and I know that I need to appease everyone's curiosity regarding the matter… but now is not the time for you all to know the truth just yet. I'll let you in on something though… I disapprove of what some factions within the ZAFT military and PLANT itself, which made me walk the path I take now. That's all I am going to say for now."
"Alright…. That will do for now." Natarle said thoughtfully. "Lastly… what do you think Le Creuset's tactics are going to be on the second run against us?"
Miguel and Elzam looked at each other, and an uneasy feeling swept through the crew as they saw the worried and grim expression on both former ZAFT pilots. Elzam sighed heavily and then turned to the crew. "I wish I had an answer that would make it easy… but me and Miguel know the man we are up against and there is only one thing Le Creuset would do. He will be using GINNs of course…. But with the addition of D-package equipment, I should say. I wouldn't be surprised if he actually planned to sacrifice this whole colony just wipe us off the face of the universe."
Authors Note: Well, another chapter done. I thank you all that actually put me in their favorite story list, as well as the author and story alert lists. I thank you all. Although I am a bit concerned about the lack of reviews, that doesn't bother me much for now, but I will need more reviews, to at least help me around a bit in determining the flow of the story.
Stormwolf: Thanks for the support buddy, and I am still figuring out what mecha Miguel will be piloting (in the future, though I may be letting use his GINN for now, with some modifications to it), so if you don't mind, you can drop me some ideas, and I might work on it. And do keep reviewing, your support means a lot. And can you help me talk to Solid Shark, and see if he can take a look at this fic. His views and input might be valuable to me as a writer as well.
ZoeYamato: Thanks for reviewing, and didn't know you are a Singaporean. I'm a PR myself, and just drop me a PM with maybe your contact number in Singapore. (Handphone will do). So that we can at least meet up when I go to Singapore in June, probably. As above, I need some help in thinking up a mech for Miguel to pilot, so hope you can give me some ideas as well. And do keep reviewing, your support means a lot.
Infinite Freedom: Thanks for the review, and yes, Elzam is related to Dearka Elsman, his cousin actually. And as to when Flay will get pregnant with Elzam's child… well, we just have to wait and see, won't we? And would you help me come up with some potential mechs that Miguel might be able to pilot? Thanks. And do keep reviewing, your support means a lot.
