Hey here's an update! This chapter is shorter than others. Dedicated to HydraG-245 for his use of Arli in his story Gundam Seed: Hydra Angel of Vengance, check it out! it's really good. And thanks again Hydra, (hugs) anyways, on with the chapter!
"It's not my fault," Arli snapped. "You wouldn't listen to me." Kira rolled his eyes and Arli tapped her foot.
"Cagalli was arguing, not me," Kira replied calmly.
"Look, the two of you and Cagalli are all fine so it doesn't really matter," Murrue sighed. "Just finish telling me what happened." Kira recounted all of the events while Arli thought.
Berserker… what did he mean by that? She thought. Could it maybe have something to do with how I can change my battle style in an instant?
"What do you believe about all this?" Mwu asked. Arli started and looked at him.
"I don't know what to make of it," she admitted. "It was all quite odd. I met up with two of my team mates."
"Really?"
"Yeah, my brother and his friend Yzak," Arli replied, her voice changing to a softer tone as she said Yzak's name. Mwu stared at her and Arli realised she was wearing an affectionate expression so she shook her head and excused herself, walking off the bridge. She leant against the wall and sighed deeply.
Kira joined her within a few minutes and they walked to the cafeteria in silence. They grabbed their lunches and sat down, Arli deep in thought.
"Are you alright?" Kira asked. "You've been really quiet ever since we left Commander Waltfeld's place."
"I'm just thinking…" Arli sighed. "I guess having another run-in with my old team mates made me realise how much I do actually miss them."
"Oh Arli, as soon as this war is over, everything will be fine," Kira replied.
"But when will that be? When we destroy all of our enemies or when one side gives up. I know both sides pretty well, neither will give up therefore it will end when one side has eradicated the other… Kira, I'm scared. I'm scared of how this war is going to turn out. It's so hard for me to admit it but I am scared." Kira looked at Arli earnestly and reached across and took her hand, squeezing it.
"Things will turn out fine," he assured her, but Arli could see that he was just as scared as she was.
"Kira, don't pretend to be so sure," Arli whispered. "The only way you can actually reassure yourself and anyone else is if you accept your fear and find away around it." Kira sighed as Mwu walked in and sat with them.
"Try these you two," he said, placing Doner Kebobs in front of the both of them. "They taste great with yogurt sauce." Arli and Kira exchanged a glance, Arli attempted not to laugh.
"That's what Commander Waltfeld said," Kira sighed.
"You know it's harder fighting an enemy that you know personally," Mwu said. Arli rolled her eyes.
"I think we both know that very well," she snapped.
"Whoops sorry."
"Commander," Kira said. "What's a 'berserker'?" Mwu frowned and looked at him.
"Berserkers are men who were gentlemen off the battlefield but turned into maniacs when they fought… why?" Mwu explained.
"Oh, just-"
"Commander Waltfeld called us Berserkers," Arli said casually. Kira stared at her and she just shrugged and picked at her kebob.
"That's not very nice," Mwu said.
"But we are," Arli replied. "We are both berserkers."
"Arli!" Mwu snapped.
"No, Athrun is too," Arli insisted. "Haven't you every just felt a rush of adrenaline during battle and you don't think about what you're doing, instincts just take over?" Kira stared at her and then slowly nodded.
"What are you on about?" Mwu asked.
"I think it's a coordinator thing," Arli muttered. "Hmm… I need to access my genetic files, Kira's too."
"How do you do that?" Kira asked.
"Using my special privileges as a Special Defence Forces Agent, but I need to be at the Plants for that."
"Okay, that rules that out," Mwu sighed. "But I really don't see how all three of you could be Berserkers…"
"We are," Arli insisted. "But I don't think we could be called Berserkers, it's something else. I'll find it out." Mwu nodded as Arli stood and bid them good night and left to sleep.
--
"What do you want?" Andy sighed, looking up as Yzak came into his office.
"I'm part of the Le Creuset Team, you should treat me with more respect," Yzak snapped. Andy rolled his eyes and gestured to the chair opposite him. Yzak sat down and studied the commander with his bright blue eyes.
"What do you want anyway?" Andy asked, swishing his mug of coffee. Yzak sighed and looked around. "Well?"
"Don't rush me," Yzak snarled. "I'm finding the right words, this is hard."
"Fine…" Yzak closed his eyes, opened them and then looked back at Andy.
"It's about that girl who was here."
"Which one?"
"Huh?"
"The Dragon of Space or her friend?"
"The Dragon of Space…" Yzak replied. Andy nodded and leant back lazily.
"What is it that you wanted to talk about?" Andy asked. Yzak averted his eyes with a hint of embarrassment.
"It's just… are we planning to attack their ship?" Yzak asked. Andy frowned and studied him.
"If necessary, then yes, it is necessary so we are," Andy replied. Yzak bit his lip and looked at the commander worriedly.
"Will Arli fight?" he asked quietly.
"She was made with a fighting spirit; there is no way we could keep her from the battlefield." Yzak looked away, worried and sad. "Is there some problem with that?" Yzak mumbled something incoherent so Andy sighed.
"It's…" Yzak stopped and shook his head. "If she does fight, can you not harm her?" Andy put down his coffee mug and leant forward, studying Yzak curiously.
"Why is this so important?"
"She's like a sister to me," Yzak snapped defensively.
"Sure… she's much more important to you than a sister isn't she?" Andy asked. Yzak stared at him angrily so Andy leant back and smiled. "Love is very complicated; hopefully you'll find that she is the one for you. Now be gone, I have some planning to do." Yzak stood and left, walking down the hall with a dazed expression. He walked down to the room where Dearka was still reading. He looked up as Yzak came in.
"Where did you go?" he asked.
"Uh, nowhere," Yzak replied. Sitting down and looking at Dearka.
"Sure, what did you go and see the commander about this time?"
"Nothing, leave me alone."
"Every time that you have something to hide, you order everyone to leave you alone," Dearka sighed. He put down his book and turned to face Yzak properly. "Now what is it?" Dearka watched Yzak and was surprised to see that a tear had slipped down his cheek.
"Man, whatever is bothering you must be bad," Dearka said. Yzak threw him a dark glare and turned away, wiping his eyes in a less-than subtle way. "Come on Yzak…" Yzak sighed and ignored Dearka. Dearka shook his head and went back to reading.
"It's Arli…" Yzak's voice was barely a whisper and the words were filled with pain. Dearka didn't looked up, he was sure that Yzak would stop talking if he thought Dearka was going to reply. "I…I love her Dearka…" Dearka looked up, eyes wide.
"What?"
"I love her." Yzak's eyes were dark, as though he himself had only just realised it. "I love her more than anything, she's… well, she's perfect." Yzak looked at Dearka, eyes shining.
"Okay."
"Well?"
"Well what?" Dearka raised an eyebrow at Yzak.
"Are you going to start shouting at me?" Yzak asked.
"No, I think it's great."
"Really?"
"Well let's just say that if any guys besides one that I trust, such as you, Athrun, Nicol, Rusty or Miguel, had tried to make a move on her I would be mad."
"Right…"
"But I'd be most happy if you were with her," Dearka finished, returning his eyes to his book.
"Thanks man." Dearka nodded as he heard Yzak's happy sigh.
I think he just had a sensitive moment then, Dearka thought. He chuckled and focused back on his book.
--
"We're preparing to leave but I don't doubt that Commander Waltfeld will let us go without a fight," Murrue sighed.
"Well, you have Kira and me," Arli reminded her. Cagalli was standing with her as they spoke to Murrue, Mwu and Natarle.
"We know that," Natarle snapped. Arli glared at her and returned her attention to Murrue.
"We have to leave soon though," Murrue said. Arli tilted her head in acknowledgement.
"We should leave tomorrow morning, we're packed up and ready," Mwu sighed. "What say you Arli?"
"I say yes, the sooner we get going, the better. We need to get out of here, I'm sure that the PLANTs have already been alerted of my betrayal. I shouldn't be in too much trouble with my father and Seagal Clyne on the council."
"What about Yzak's mother?" Cagalli asked.
"Well, that depends, she might be mad but I don't think she'd want to execute me."
"So you're safe?"
"I don't know… I'm not sure whether the election has happened yet. If it has then there's a great chance that Patrick Zala has taken over and he's insane. But if they have been alerted than there's a chance they'll be sending a whole band of assassins after me, so we should be going."
"Alright," Murrue sighed. "I trust that you know what you're talking about. We'll leave tomorrow. You and Kira have to be on standby, there will be danger." Arli nodded and Cagalli shuffled slightly.
"I want to come with you," she muttered.
"Why?"
"My own reasons, please, I'll help around on the ship in any way I can." Cagalli's amber eyes were shining. The big man, Kisaka was watching her closely from a small distance. Arli looked at Cagalli and then up at Murrue with her own eyes sparkling pleadingly.
"Oh, alright," Murrue sighed. The two girls grinned and hugged each other before walking away.
"Are you sure about that captain?" Natarle asked.
"Quite sure," Murrue replied. "There's something about her. Anyway, speed up the preparations. We don't want to be delayed." Natarle nodded and walked off; Murrue stood up and sighed, rubbing her temples.
"What's up?" Mwu asked standing and moving in front of her.
"Everything, the sooner we leave here, the better." Mwu put a hand on her shoulder and made her look at him with her orange eyes.
"Don't worry yourself too much, this war will end, I know it." Murrue sighed and smiled.
"You'd better get some rest Commander."
"Right…" Mwu reluctantly withdrew his hand and walked back to the ship.
--
In the dusk light Cagalli and Arli sat on the top of one of the cliffs above the Archangel.
"I imagine that you're coming with us because you wish to return home to ORB?" Arli asked. Cagalli nodded and looked at her.
"I need to be home, my father wanted me to actually know what happens in the world so I joined the Desert Dawn and now I wish to return home," Cagalli explained. Arli nodded and focused on the lights of the campfires in the main camp.
"It's so peaceful out here; I can't wait until we get to the ocean." Cagalli nodded and she leant back and stared up at the distantly appearing stars.
"I love being in space," Cagalli muttered. "It's been a while though."
"I know what you mean, it's so wonderful up there," Arli sighed. She suddenly tensed and her eyes narrowed. Cagalli glanced at her.
"What-?"
"Shh!" Arli stood up and turned, looking into the gloom behind them. Cagalli stood up and looked into the darkness. Arli bent down slowly, not taking her eyes from the spot where she was staring. In the blink of an eye there was a loud snap and Arli whipped down, pulled out her gun and was kneeling, pointing it at the now visible figure of a man in black.
"Well, well, well, you aren't lax on your abilities are you ma'am?" the man laughed, pointing his gun at Arli.
"I couldn't stop being the best if I tried," Arli replied. "I see I'm still the only one who wore a mask."
"That is true; you're still the most valued."
"Are you here to kill me?" Arli slowly stood, her gun aimed between the man's eyes.
"No, the council would never want you dead; you're far too valuable." Arli inclined her head as if to say 'of course'.
"Well, you mean to capture me; that's not going to happen." Arli and the man watched each other carefully; Arli had an almost relaxed expression on her face. The man had sweat building on his forehead. Arli frowned and dropped her gun, dipping down and dodged a shot from the assassin. She jumped up and kicked the gun from her opponent's hand. She then grabbed the man's arm but he twisted her around and she hissed darkly. He pulled something around and Arli made a small yipping noise as something sharp ripped across her forearm.
"Arli!" Cagalli shouted. Arli ignored her and pushed her elbow back and hit the man's side. She took the moment to pull herself from his grip. She faced him and kicked him in the mid-section; he fell to the ground, winded. Arli picked up his gun and her own and looked down at the assassin.
"Cagalli, go and get some rope," Arli said.
"Just shoot him!" Cagalli shouted. Arli threw her a dark look and Cagalli hastened to obey. Arli stayed, watching the man with disgust.
"Who ordered my capture?" Arli asked, crouching down and looking the man in the eyes.
"I'm not telling you!" the man snarled.
"Fine." Arli looked deep into his eyes and searched, his name was Aaron, he had been an assassin for ten years, he was trusted and he'd been sent by Patrick Zala. "I thought so. I'm not going to kill you, but I want you to do something for me."
"Anything ma'am," the man gasped.
"Deliver a message to Patrick Zala for me, tell him that the Dragon of Space says 'I plan to overthrow you, I won't let you win. This world is going to be run by freed people and not by bastards like you. I myself will shoot you if it's what it takes to bring this world into peace.' Have you got that soldier?" Arli stared at him.
"I do, I promise to tell him personally." The assassin gave a feeble salute just as Cagalli returned with rope. Arli bound that man's legs, hands and arms then gagged him. She took an end of the rope and dragged him, Cagalli followed her. Arli left him about a mile from where they had been sitting and looking in the bag on the man's belt. She found a signal flare and fired it.
"Come on," Arli said.
"Why didn't you kill him?" Cagalli asked as they made their way back.
"I needed him to deliver a message, I won't let Zala win."
"Alright…" The two girls wandered back to the main camp where they had been missed.
--
In the bridge, at dawn, Arli, Kira and Cagalli stood with Murrue, Mwu and Natarle, waiting. Waiting for what exactly? Well, for the fact that Arli knew Andrew Waltfeld would attack them. The Archangel was out of hiding and back into the desert where they would fight and then break through to the ocean.
"Are you willing to fight if Dearka and Yzak join in?" Kira asked.
"Of course, I'll fight to the death if I have to," Arli replied, sounding far more confident than she felt. Cagalli watched her closely, knowing what was going through her mind. Arli looked at her and Cagalli smiled kindly.
"It's alright," she murmured.
"I know," Arli replied. She looked out and spotted something on the horizon.
"It's time!" Arli called. "Mwu, to the Skygraspers, Kira, we need to get to the mobile suits!" The three of them rushed out, Cagalli watched them go with a worried expression. Arli quickly changed and was helped into the cockpit of the Combat.
"Arli, are you sure about this?" Mwu asked. "You can-"
"Leave me be, I know what I'm doing!" Arli snapped. Mwu shrugged and the three of them launched. Arli and Kira landed on the sand and Arli looked out and sighed with relief when she couldn't see the Duel and the Buster.
"It's ok, we only have to deal with the Bakkus," Arli sighed.
"Good, I didn't really want to fight the Duel or the Buster," Kira replied. Arli shrugged and faced the oncoming Bakkus.
"Archangel, get ready!" Mwu shouted. Arli drew her beam sabres and leapt forward as the Bakkus jumped at her. She dipped down and swung around slicing her beam sabres across and slicing the legs of both of the Bakkus. She then jumped and sent missiles at both, blowing them up.
Beside her she saw Kira join in battle with a striped Bakku that she knew was Andrew Waltfeld's model. She turned as a shot was fired at her and threw her beam, the bakku dodged and the beam spun and came back and sliced the bakku in half. Arli caught it and then swung back around and saw the Duel land onto the sand and the dune collapsed and the blue and white mobile suit slipped.
"Yzak?" she asked.
"It's me," he grunted in reply. Arli rolled her eyes and jumped towards him, swiping at him. "Hey! What was that for?"
"Calibrate your machine and get up and fight!" Arli shouted. Yzak's face appeared on her screen and he looked confused.
"Why?"
"Just do it!" Arli swiped at him again and he jumped back, landing on the sand steadily. She stepped again and the Duel just jumped back, dodging her swipes.
"Arli, what is wrong with you?" he demanded, drawing his own beam sabres and retaliating. Arli parried the blow and attempted to jab his head. The Duel dodged and they began a furious sword fight, Yzak not willing to attempt to harm her.
"Fight like a man!" Arli shouted angrily, adrenaline rushing through her and her eyes going blank.
In the Duel Yzak was staring at the Combat, disbelievingly.
What are you doing Arli? He thought sadly. He looked to the side to see the Buster steadying itself on the desert sand. It then turned towards the Combat and Duel. Yzak stopped fighting and began dodging all Arli's attacks again.
"What are you doing Arli?" he demanded, his voice shaking.
Arli ignored him and looked over at the Buster, it wasn't moving.
"Will you just fight?" Arli snarled. She swiped and managed to cut partway through the Duel's arm before it moved away. The Buster quickly jumped over and landed in front of the Duel.
"Arli cut it out!" Dearka shouted. "Yzak doesn't want to fight you!" Arli snarled and swiped at the Buster.
"Cowards!" she shouted as both the Buster and Duel moved away from her. She saw a light to her right and turned to see Kira taking out Andrew Waltfeld's bakku. Arli took a look around and saw two Skygraspers flying about. She frowned and jumped towards the Strike and they both went back to the Archangel, Arli glancing at the Duel and Buster feeling confused. She had expected Yzak to fight back furiously but he hadn't.
"It's so confusing," she muttered. She climbed out of the Combat and landed down on the hanger floor. She sat down and stared into space, frowning.
"Arli?" Cagalli's voice said. Arli looked up at her.
"Was it you in the other Skygrasper?" she asked. Cagalli nodded and Arli looked back at her random space.
"What's up?"
"Yzak wouldn't fight back… He usually doesn't let someone attack him without fighting back."
"Don't read too much into it," Cagalli muttered. "He probably just misses you." Arli shrugged and pushed herself to her feet as Kira and Mwu joined them.
"We're home free kids," Mwu said. The three teenagers grinned at each other and they walked out of the hanger together.
--
Arli lay on her bed with her eyes closed and her hands on her forehead. She had gained a fever over the past day and had decided that she needed to rest. There was a knock and her door opened and Cagalli came in.
"Arli? Feeling better?" she asked. Arli shook her head. "What's the fever from?" Arli opened her eyes and sat up gingerly. She pulled back the sleeve of her jacket and pulled the bandage from her arm so show Cagalli her cut from the previous night. It had become infected from Arli working with oil. Oil had gotten into it and infected it.
"Oh, that's nasty," Cagalli said. "I'm taking you to the infirmary, you need to get it looked at." Arli frowned as Cagalli helped her up and they walked to the infirmary. When they got there the doctor met them immediately.
"What is it?" he asked.
"She needs to have this cut looked at," Cagalli said. Arli rolled her eyes and sat down as the doctor examined it.
"Alright, we just have to scrape out this gunk and then get some antibodies in it." The doctor picked out some tools including a hooked spoon-type thing and Arli moved back from him.
"You are not putting that in my arm," she said.
"Don't be a baby Arli," Cagalli muttered, rolling her eyes.
"That thing is sharp!" Arli sighed and clenched her fist as the doctor put the hook into the cut. "Ow, that hurts…" Arli closed her eyes and breathed deeply, waiting for the doctor to finish. When she couldn't feel the hook anymore she opened her eyes and saw the doctor putting a needle inside a phial of greenish liquid.
"Oh no!" Arli shouted, jumping to her feet and backing away. "Shoving a metal hook into my arm is one thing but you are not giving me a needle!"
"Arli what is the matter with you?" Cagalli asked. "They aren't that bad!"
"You didn't have heaps given to you when you were being tortured by Muruta Azrael!"
"It's not too bad," the doctor muttered. Cagalli took Arli's hand and squeezed it comfortingly, Arli closed her eyes and looked away, she felt a sharp pain and then it was gone.
"There you go." Arli opened her eyes and the doctor bandaged her arm and Arli sighed.
"Do I need anymore?" she asked.
"No, you'll recover quickly. That's the beauty of being a coordinator." Arli nodded and bowed and left the infirmary. Cagalli came out and Arli glared at her.
"Hey, I couldn't have you being sick now," Cagalli huffed. Arli nodded and leant against the wall, placing a hand on her forehead.
"I still don't feel too good…" she muttered. "I think I'll go and rest."
