Chapter 4
Meer looked across the table in what seemed like a mirror...but the reflection was wearing another outfit. Lacus smiled disarmingly and waited patiently. The other person in the room looked from one to the other with clear confusion.
"Yes Glenn, I know...there's two of them. But the one on the right is the real one." Athrun chuckled as Glenn face-palmed.
"So let me get this straight...the Chairman needed Lacus Clyne, but knew she would never go along with his plan...so he created a double to fill in for her till she either came around or was killed off, but he got impatient and sent in a hit team to kill her...but the pilot of the FREEDOM stopped their attack only to have them kill themselves...and when the Lacus on the left decided to leave because she knew that the Chairman would have her killed off eventually, I just happened to be the lucky guy guarding her at the time...which means there is more he isn't telling us. Which is why the ARCHANGEL has been standing by instead of doing anything. And with what I told her about my cousin...why would he attack Orb?" Glenn looked confusedly over to the real Lacus.
"An excellent question...why would he?" Lacus looked over to Meer as she asked the question.
"I don't know...but I remember one time when an officer came in saying something about...Mendel..?" Meer looked away deep in thought not noticing the shocked expression on Athrun's face.
"The Mendel Colony? Why would he have that place watched?" Athrun looked in thought to Meer.
"...I know I'm new to this but...could he have a secret there?" Glenn looked at Athrun who just seemed to have stumbled onto something.
"Actually if you think about how Meer got the part of Lacus...and how everything fell into place afterward..." Athrun looked back to Meer.
"If anything...why not have Andy check it out?" Lacus looked to Athrun.
"Good Idea, meanwhile we can get the team ready. Durandal won't sit by for long...all he needs is time and evidence." Athrun nodded and left the room.
"Well it was good to meet you. I hope your stay here will be a good one for both of you." Lacus got up to leave.
"Hey...what use could a ground pounder be to your cause?" Glenn looked to Lacus.
"You can train her in the basics of self defense. But if you want to be of more use, we will need someone else on the inside. I have a suspicion that our other agent will need some help." Lacus left the two in the room.
"Your thoughts?" He looked to Meer.
"You get to be the hero." She smiled at him.
xXx
Koren was busy working on her ZAKU PROTOTYPE when she heard the near quiet foot falls.
"You know, if you want to sneak up on someone, you have to be sure that they are unaware of their surroundings first." The startled gasp let her know it was a male and a clink of metal let her know that he was armed. "Drop the weapon kid, lets chat." She turned to see Rey there holding a pistol.
"You do not follow the Chairman. Why?" The blonde looked to her confused.
"Why do you follow him blindly?" She shot back at him.
"He knows what's best for all of us." He replied.
"Does he?" She gave him a piercing gaze.
"Yes he does."
"Then why haven't you shot me yet?" She looked at him as if she was seeing his thoughts.
"I just want to understand why you won't follow him."
"Fair enough. All my brother did was give the ARCHANGEL a anonymous warning. That was it. He checks his breaklines daily, and he found them cut. Someone told on him or there was a bug somewhere. Either way, the Chairman tried to have my brother killed mafia style. Thats why. If he's capable of that, then the power has gone to his head. And if that has happened, he needs to step down. He won't though. His own arrogance will defeat him." Koren just sat simply and gave him an understanding look.
"But his plan-"
"-Is all wrong. You want to know what my hobby was when I was younger? It was breaking into databases. The security they use now is a joke and I know his plan. It will fail due to people wanting freedom. Yes, knowing what you're good at is a great idea...but the journey there is just as important as the destination. It's why he is trying to wipe Orb off the face of the planet. Now I know you're smart, and have asked yourself 'Why don't I go to the press about what I know?' It's because he has plans in case that happens. He's a planner, not an operator. He'll deny everything, and because he is who he is, the person is dismissed and then killed later on. The old 02 shuttles have poor safety ratings." She had a sarcastic edge in her tone.
"But under him you could-"
"-Be another puppet? Not for me. I'm independent. I like to think for myself, I like to do for myself rather than depend on someone else to do for me. I like to have my team around me because we help one another. The team here needs serious work, why do you think I was made a commander, but I don't act like it?" She gave him a questioning gaze.
"Power."
"Exactly. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. It's why he made Shinn an ace pilot, it's why you're at where your at. This ship is his petri dish, his social experiment. He knows he doesn't want me here, but he can't override the Captain. She wanted me here to knock some sense into you kids." At his shocked look she looked away.
"He knows what is best for us all..." Rey said quietly.
"If your going to shoot me, then shoot me. And after I'm dead my team would kill you." She looked over his shoulder Knapp and Ulder who were aiming their pistols at him.
"So you see, when your gone, who's going to be his little spy? He'll find another to fill the role. To him you're a replaceable cog in a machine." She drew him into a hug. "But to me you can be a little brother." This shocked him.
"But I tried to kill you..."
"Siblings fight all the time. It's a fact of life. Little brother. Now just listen to what you think you need to do. I won't tell you what to do unless we're on the battlefield."
"Alright..."
He left her with her team.
"Are you sure it was a bright idea to let him go?" Ulder looked at her unsure.
"Yes. He didn't kill me when he had the chance, which means he is starting to doubt the Chairman. He's a good kid, but he needs to be free. As for Shinn and the other one, their already doubting. Hine doesn't like what's going on any better than we do." She smiled.
"Well thats the first guy-" Knapp let out a yowl of pain.
"Knock it off or I'll rip them off." She gave a look that promised pain and suffering as she grabbed his balls and twisted.
The warrior of a man looked as meek as a kitten. "Yes ma'am!" She let him go as he left her alone.
xXx
Dracos was a half a mile away with a scope looking at the Seiran Estate. 'Enough guards to quell a prison riot, all the shades drawn, gee, no ones hiding there...' He then saw a shade move and seen Djibril as clear as day for a split second. 'Yup, Seiran is a traitor to his own nation...I'm glad I get to make the arrest. Now to sneak in and sneak out with them.' An evil smirk on his face he picked out someone he could switch with. 'They always change guard at the fifteen mark every three hours. Which means I want to do this at midnight.' He then heard the door open behind him.
"Hello, I'm just watching birds." Dracos turned ready to see people with guns.
"Actually an angel let me know what you were up to, and I wanted to help. Glenn Rau, your backup."
"Beggars can't be choosers, and I need a partner for what I plan on doing." Dracos looked at the kid.
"Well I looked into the security firm they're using. It's a private security firm, not military. So I got us a way in." Glenn handed him a pass-card with his photo on it.
"I can't believe you used this picture..."
"It was the only one we had and you tend to avoid cameras."
"And the name, 'Arthur Cock'?"
"Be glad you don't have my name." Glenn unwillingly let his alias show.
"Ethan Pussy!" This had Dracos laughing hard.
"Yes I know! Laugh it up..." Glenn looked annoyed.
"Man...the guys that made these must've heard it was us they were doing these for." Dracos was still chuckling.
"Well I don't know what you had planned, but the best way in is either as wait staff or as security...I'm hoping you go in as security." Glenn looked serious.
"We'll try that route, or you go in as wait staff and I'll do the security thing." Dracos looked thoughtful.
"Lets do that...that way I don't have to let that last name show...will you stop laughing!"
"It's a plan. Midnight in two days?"
"Yes, it will allow us time to learn the layout of the place."
"Good, I'll put in my application as well as make an opening for myself, I suggest you do the same." Glenn looked around and then smiled. 'I get to be the hero.'
xXx
Athrun was slowly waking up as he felt an extra weight in the bed with him. 'Wha-' Then the previous night hit him.
After talking with Andy he had retired to his quarters. 'He's going to check it out as subtly as he can...which is going to be hard. I just wish either me or Kira was up there to do it.' He then heard a knock at the door and when he opened it Meiran was there, her cheeks looking redder than usual.
"Athrun..." The smell of alcohol was very much on her breath.
"Come on in..." He lead her to the private bath where she was more than willing to get out of her clothes.
"I just had some fruit punch..." The cold water hitting her, taking some of the drunkenness off.
"You hit the old vending machine...which hasn't been used in years..." He face-palmed. "You get to stay here for the night."
"Thanks..." He lead her to the bed after he helped her towel off. She was asleep before she hit the pillow.
'Looks like I'll have to talk to Captain Ramius about that vending machine...' He got ready for bed and laid down in the other bed that was in the room.
He looked down underneath the covers and found his sleepwear was gone and two arms around him.
"Meiran...Time to get up..." Her arms tightened around him.
"No...don't leave..." She just held him in her sleep.
This got him. 'What is she dreaming about?' Then he did something he thought he would never do. He kissed her.
She opened her eyes and deepened the kiss. After the kiss he looked to her seriously.
"What were you dreaming about?"
"Well..." She sounded small. "...You were with Lacus...I mean Meer...and you left me behind..."
"I would never leave you behind. You saved me, so I'll never leave you behind." This got her attention. "After this is all over...I want you to come with me to Orb."
She kissed him with renewed vigor which surprised him.
xXx
Djibril looked at the reports he was getting in frustration. 'They know they have a leak, but they can't find it?! What are these fools good for...'
"Sir." A servant walked in with some tea.
"Get me Lt. Daggert. I have some business to discuss with him."
"Yes sir." The servant left the Noble sipping his tea.
The door opened and in walked the Lieutenant from Heaven's Base only in an Orb uniform.
"Yes sir?"
"James, how are things going on your end?"
"I managed to gather a pilot and three mobile suit pilots. All they have are MURASAME's, but its better than nothing. As for the people, your message spreads slowly. They still hold onto the ideals of Uzumi Nara Athha too tightly."
"No matter...this nation will burn to nothingness if Orb fails in its duties. One way or another..."
"I see sir. Should I have an escape route secured?"
"Yes...after all I lead the free world."
"And see to it that a few of the Seiran's guards and servants come into the light as well."
"Yes sir."
xXx
Durandal looked to the heads of the teams that was sent out and gave them a kind look.
"It's ok that you came back empty handed...at least we know that last area where the ARCHANGEL was at and can then plot where they'll next show up. You done well." 'And now a pawn has defected.'
Talia looked over to the Commander in a white uniform as he looked like he was going to be busted.
"I'm sorry Sir. I will accept any punishment you deem appropriate." He still held himself at attention.
"No punishment necessary. They were up against the FREEDOM and the JUSTICE. I hate to say it, but the teams that were sent were outclassed." 'The FREEDOM now has dragoons...not good.' Everyone watched the fight from the head-cams of the DINNS before the static hit.
The room door opened and Commander Koren Maximillion walked in. She gave a quick smile to Rey before she got serious.
"Sir. Ma'am. I found this. The only people we need to hit are the Seiran's. Orb as a whole is not responsible for the actions of one minister." She handed over the report which Durandal barely glanced at.
"But their military-"
"-Is looking for Lord Djibril as well. They just don't know what we know."
Durandal hid his ire at the intelligence. "And where did you get this?"
"I can't reveal my source. But sufficed to say either we will get him or they will." She couldn't hide the gleeful tone.
"The less civilian causalities the better." Talia looked pointedly at him.
"...Send in two teams. I want him alive if possible, if worse comes to worse, kill him." He said it like he had a heavy heart.
"We'll do our best sir." Commander Chriton saluted.
"I volunteer sir." Schaffer saluted.
"You are authorized to use the Special Forces models." He saluted back as all the commanders but one left.
"Which ones are those? I have to let my source know who their allies are." Koren had a serious look.
"New Models, the NX-01 VENGEANCE, here are the specs." He handed over the paper to her.
"Mirage colloid, two six rack medium missile launchers, two shoulder mounted rail guns, two beam pistols, a beam shield, two knives, and a reinforced pilots compartment...not bad." Koren was actually impressed.
"I can give some to your team-"
"We're good with what we got...and we've gotten good with them." She smiled at his confused look.
"Assign Asuka and Hawk to the team as well with their respective units."
"Why? if your going to do that, then have Zebarrel join in as well."
"Making it a three team event?" Now he had to wonder what she was up to.
"It's bad luck to split a team up." She had a matter of fact tone.
"Fine, sortie them as well. You'll be the CIC for this mission."
"Yes sir." She knew she had annoyed him.
"Dismissed."
xXx
Glenn and Dracos were finally in. The senior security officer looked at them again.
"We'll need you two on gate duty...and as for your last names, we'll call you by your first names." He had an apologetic look.
"Thanks Sir."
"It's Frank, we aren't a military."
"Relaxed? What happens when the boss is around?"
"Act like you're doing your job."
"So-"
"He's a dick. If someone kidnapped them, we would have a very slow response time."
"He's a cheapskate...I hate them. Well they get what they pay for." Dracos smiled viciously. 'The worst spy couldn't get this lucky.'
Knowing what they now knew, the only issue was Djibril's personal guard. Said man walked in and seen them.
"Double the guard tonight. And I want you two to guard the guest room." He pointed to Glenn and Dracos.
"You got it." Dracos snapped a professional salute.
"Carry on." He left them there as Glenn just smiled.
'I seems as if the Fates hate these two. Isn't it nice to be wanted?'
"We have work to do." Dracos left for his post as Glenn followed him.
xXx
A/n: I know its been a while, but I haven't been inspired to write on this one for a while. I hope you like it. Enjoy and review.