Phase 7: Parting Ways
With the battle over the Earth Forces regroup within the Archangel, Kamille's MK2 is stored aboard the ships hanger having been escorted in by Emma and Jerid. By the time Kira and the others return Kamille has been removed from the Mobile Suits cockpit and taken into custody. Kira heads back towards the hanger after changing out of his pilot suit but stops when he see's Jerid, remembering the destruction of the capsule that set Kamille off. Before words can be exchanged the nearby door opens as Kamille is escorted out of the hanger by two guards and Emma. Jerid turns away from Kira and steps towards Kamille.
"Hey kid." Jerid address Kamille who looks up at the Titan. His look annoys Jerid.
"I heard about who was in that capsule." Jerid's words still hold a hint of dislike towards Kamille but at the same time pity for him though Kamille just glares back defiant.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry, I had no idea that your mother was in that thing... Must be hard for a baby to lose his mummy like that. Just tragic."
Kamille steps forward but is pulled back by his guards. Graham arrives behind Kira and stops to watch.
"Go ahead, take a swing at me if you want kid. Just like the space port right?" Jerid goats but this time Kamille does not bite.
"I know. I get it. You were just carrying out your orders like a good little soldier right? It's not like a civilian like me can expect you to do anything else. Even idiots have their duty. So.. I forgive you." His words seem to just annoy Jerid further.
"I'm just powerless against this cruel military system, right? A system that breeds hate and forces people to fight" Kamille's eyes lock with Kira behind Jerid.
"Why you! Who do you think you are!" Jerid shakes his fist raising it but is stopped by Graham.
"Hey, calm down! Try and control yourself a little, you're a Titan right? Aren't you meant to be an elite? Then act like a real soldier and don't get provoked by a child who just lost their mother. Graham snaps at Jerid calming him before he pulls away and storms off past Kira. Graham turns to Emma his scowl relaxing.
"Thank you Lt. Aker" Emma thanks Graham who nods back
"Sorry if I over stepped my bounds there, since you too are Titans."
"No, I think that was for the best for both of them." She looks towards Kamille who still has a defiant look in his eyes.
"Excuse us" Emma motions for the guard and Kamille to leave before following. Graham looks back to Kira and motions for him to come closer.
"Hey, boy. Mu told me to warn you to put a lock on the Strikes activation codes as soon as you can." Kira looks confused by Grahams orders so Graham drags him in close so no one else would be able to overhear as more personnel leave the hanger and move by them.
"The Titans are sending over some engineering crew to look at that Mk 2 we recovered but we don't want them tinkering around what's not there's if you get my drift?"
"Oh, okay sure." Kira confirms, Graham nods and pushes Kira away gently
"That's it. Now get going, we don't have all day, yeah." The two split up.
Vesalius pilot changing room, Athrun is slammed against a locker by Yzak who holds him by his collar.
"What the hell was that all about!" Yzak yells as Athrun remains quiet refusing to look Yzak in the face.
"Hey, calm down Yzak!" Nicol tries to intervene grabbing Yzak's arm but is shuck off.
"Why! We had him! Until HE pulled that stupid stunt!" Yzak again bangs Athrun against the locker.
"Just what the hell were you thinking?" Dearka asks but Athrun remains quiet.
"Alright break it up already." Rusty walks in standing by the door. Yzak grumbles slamming Athrun once more while letting go letting Athrun fall to the floor.
"Damnit!" He storms out, soon followed by Dearka who gives Athrun a final stare.
Once the two leave Nicol goes to help Athrun back to his feet.
"Athrun..." However Athrun rejects Nicols arm and stands himself. He clenches his fists.
"Just leave me alone for a bit.. Please" Athruns words warn Nicol off who still looking worried for his friend, decides to leave as well.
"We're all pretty pissed at whatever that was.. I hope you had a good reason for it, Athrun." Rusty leaves having said his bit leaving Athrun in the room alone. As he walks down the corridor he hears a loud bang. Inside Athrun has punched his locker in frustration denting it...
Archangel, inside the ships holding area, Kamille sits on his bed in his cell as the door opens.
"I don't want to talk to anyone.." Kamille huffs unable to see his visitor.
"Should I leave then.." Kira's voice responds, causing Kamille to look up as his friend walks in to see him.
"Kira?" Kamille questions as Kira tries to reassure his friend with a faint smile as he brings over and sits on a chair, the two separated by bars.
"Hey" Kira faintly responds
"So you stayed with them then.." Kamille begins
"Yeah...Tolle and Miriallia, along with our friends are on this ship, so.. I need to stay. To help protect them." Kira quietly answers still uncertainty in his voice
"I see.. I didn't know." Kamille looks down and fidgets
"You know I piloted there Mobile Suit don't you?" Kira asks Kamille
"Yeah, I knew it was you in that Gundam.." Kamille responds
"And.. I'm a Coordinator" Kira states surprising Kamille
"I had a feeling, I always knew there was something different about you. At School, when we hung out. You were different but not like me.."
"The crew here are really nice, there protecting me from the Titans"
"Since if they find out you're as much a prisoner as I am here?"
"Sort of.. So you joined the AEUG?" Kira moves the topic on. Kamille tenses back up
"I guess, I just couldn't stand how the Titans put people down.. and now.." Kamille clenches his fists thinking of his mother.
"I'm sorry about.."
"It's fine.." Kamille cuts of Kira.
"It's not like my dad is going to care, either." Kamille continues before he is interrupted by a knock at the cell door. Emma walks in
"oh, Kira? Am I?" Emma questions as Kira gets to his feet.
"That's alright, I was about to leave. I'll see you later Kamille" Kira goes to leave but Emma stops him from exiting the cell.
"Hold on there was someone in the Mobile Suit hanger asking for you Kira" Emma tells him before he leaves, Kira leaves puzzling over who might be waiting for him. Emma shuts the door to the cell behind her.
Archangel Hanger, a blonde haired man in a blue suit stands looking at the Strike. He see's Kira enter the hanger, noticing the uniform he calls to Kira.
"You! Are you the pilot of this Mobile Suit?"
Kira recognises the man as he turns "Mister Bidan?"
The man is Franklin Bidan, Kamille's father. Kira knew he was a engineer for the Federation having meet him before. Franklin also recognises Kira as he walks closer.
"Wait. Aren't you one of Kamille's friends? You are, you're Kira if I remember rightly... Why are you in that uniform?" Franklin asks confused.
"I'm the pilot of that suit." Kira confirms hesitantly. Franklin is suspicious but moves on.
"So you are... It's a fine machine." He looks back to the Gundam
" Morgenroete really out did themselves with this. It might be even better than my ." He states a glimmer in his eye
"Oh it most certainly is Lieutenant Bidan." A voice comes out from behind Kira, who turns to see a man in his late twenties to early thirties with tied back brown hair, Kira recognises him as the stranger who had arrived to see Professor Kato.
Franklin gives a laugh " You Union guys must be very happy with this. I'll make sure to correct any problems you made once I check it over."
"That's if the blueprints hit your desk" Billy retorts in a sarcastic manner
"Well I am more interested in that new AEUG Mobile Suit anyway, it looks to use Zeon or maybe ZAFT technology" Franklin says seeming to get lost in his own thoughts as he speaks.
"Billy Katagiri!" Graham announces having arrived himself. The brown hair man smiles recognising
"Well look who it is! I had heard you were making trouble in space." Billy and Graham shake hands, Graham laughs
"Well you know me. Still I didn't expect to see you here?"
"We couldn't find Dr. Kato so I was sent to help with maintaining the Strike since I was at least briefed on the machine before I came to the colony to help with the tuning."
"So you were involved on this project, you never told me."
"Don't be like that, the old man told me to keep it under wraps is all" Billy seems a little uncomfortable with having lied to Graham
"Well no harm, while your here though, mind checking out my FLAG as well?" Graham smirks
"Be my pleasure" Billy smiles his mood seeming to have improved however the two are cut short as Franklin intervenes
"Anyway, I would like to test this Mobile Suit out, but it seems to have an activation code. Do you know what that is Lieutenant Graham?" Kira looks away as Graham's eyes narrow
"Graham isn't the pilot, I think it's that kid if the report is correct." Billy responds pointing to Kira, Franklin looks to Kira but Graham steps forward.
"Sorry, but since we haven't heard from our command, I'm afraid we can't let people go messing with our Mobile Suit. ZAFT might have fell back but we are in a crisis lieutenant." Graham states causing Franklin to back up.
"What?!" Franklin responds obviously not expecting to have been stopped.
"It is what it is. We don't have the time to indulge in test flights" Graham shrugs
"Fine" Franklin grumbles
"Lieutenant Bidan?" Emma arrives addressing Kamille's father.
"What is it!" Franklin still annoyed by Graham's words rudely responds
"Can I talk to you for a moment" Emma points for him to follow her, he nods and takes a final glare at Graham before leaving.
"You keep talking to Titan's like that and it will come back to bite you, you know? No matter how good you are..." Billy reminds Graham
"Fine by me. I'd rather be shot down than take orders from those idiots" responds back to Billy who just shakes his head.
"Same old Graham.."
Time passes on the ship as repairs and resupply is completed. Kira and Graham are called to the bridge. Graham heads in first, Kira spies Mu already here sitting on a railing near the commanders chair.
"You wanted to see us both captain?" Graham asks as the crew gather or turn to listen to Murrue's announcement.
"Thank you for both coming." Murrue starts
"So how come the pilots are here?" Graham asks
Mu is the first to answer "Well we got our orders finally. We're headed to Earth"
"Earth?" Kira slips, having never been to Earth before and only seen it on TV or the web.
"Yes. We will meet up with the 8th Union Fleet who will then send on the civilians to Orb's home land on Earth" Murrue begins with a smile, instantly warming the moods of the civilian volunteers present
"Awesome!" Sai shouts with a smile
"You hear that?" Tolle turns to Mirialla
"Yup, home!" she responds
Murrue lets them enjoy the moment before continuing "The Titans are to take their crew and split up with us here to pursue the AEUG fleet, meaning until we reach the 8th Fleet we will be alone again, save for the additional personal who have joined us."
"Suit's me fine" Graham nods
"I hear you" Mu agrees
"Wait! WHAT HAPPENED!?" Natarle's voice breaks the mood as she shouts into her head piece
"What's wrong Natarle?!" Murrue quickly asks as Natarle who turns around
"That female Titan pilot has just took off with the three 's!"
"What?!" Graham responds shocked
"That Emma girl? I didn't peg her as the kind to desert... Guess you can't tell what a woman is really thinking" Mu wonders getting a annoyed glace from Murrue
"It looks like she took one of the researchers and that boy with her" Natarle states as she gets the information. News of Kamille's escape surprises Kira, Graham notices and smiles.
"Well that's a shame.." Graham shrugs
"Lieutenant?" Murrue looks at him, Mu stares as well
"Well it's a Titans problem, isn't it? They decided they didn't need our help with the AEUG. We don't want to get in there way after all." Kira looks to Graham as he makes a case for the crew to not chase after Kamille and Emma.
"They do have more man power than us I suppose. And there is the Alexandria nearby" Mu adds
"Your right, we shouldn't interfere, really. Don't you agree captain?" Graham asks Murrue who hesitates
Murrue looks to Mu who grins and winks at her before she sighs "The ship is in the middle of a crisis. We aren't in any state to go chasing after anyone right now"
"Captain!" Natarle interjects
"Relax" Mu cuts her off causally "We have enough problems without adding to them. We should head towards Earth"
"If that is settled then, we depart and head for the Earth." Murrue her crew who salute. Kira joins in and finds himself thanking Murrue, Mu and Graham in his head before thinking one last time about his friend now been chased by Jerid.
"Damnit Lieutenant Emma what are you thinking! " Jerid curses as he gives chase in a Hizack before noticing the Archangel behind start to turn and depart.
"What are they doing! Are you people just leaving now!" He shouts in frustration
"The Archangel? It's leaving and not pursuing us?" Emma notices as well
"Kira, thank you" Kamille thanks his friend as he escapes with Emma.
