AN: Hi! Again, thank you for your comments! I'm glad there are people that are reading this story and enjoying it!

Behind Enemy Lines

The New Assignment

Yzak fastens his long red overcoat and looks into a mirror. His scar isn't a swollen as it once was. He could have it removed now that the Strike pilot probably died on his descent to Earth, but he decides that he will wait until he has confirmation that Athrun's precious friend burned to a crisp upon his fall to Earth.

The intercom buzzes to life. "Yzak, it's Dearka! Le Creuset wants us to meet him on base."

Yzak goes to the front door. He pulls the door open to see Dearka in a matching red uniform. Yzak looks to Dearka and says, "He called me this morning. He says that he has new information to share with all of us."

"Yeah, something like that," Dearka shrugs. "With the Strike falling into the Earth's atmosphere and the Archangel escaping, I guess he's just giving us new orders."

Yzak steps outside of his house and closes the door behind him. He walks with Dearka till they reach Dearka's green sedan. Yzak pulls open the door to the passenger seat and sits inside. Dearka sits by him in the driver's seat.

"Check out what I got," Dearka shifts in his seat to grab a bottle from the back seat.

Dearka hands the bottle to Yzak. Belvedere Vodka. "How did you get this?"

"They passed new legislation while we were gone," Dearka says. "If you are enlisted in the military, you can drink even if you aren't of the legal age."

Yzak takes the bottle of vodka from his hands and scoffs. "Laws never stopped us before."

"No, but now we don't have to drink whatever cheap shit we can get our hands on," Dearka grins. "The world is ours, Yzak!"

Yzak shifts in his seat and sets the bottle in the backseat. He crosses arms. "Le Creuset wishes to see us so soon after our arrival. Something is up."

Dearka starts the car and drives out of the front gates. He drives down a long vacant road before pulling out into traffic. Dearka pulls the car up to the front gates of the military base. A dark haired man dressed in a green uniform approaches the car. Dearka holds his finger against a button to roll the car window down.

"IDs please?" the man says.

Yzak reaches in his front pocket for his wallet. He pulls out his military ID and hands it to Dearka. Dearka hands the man both his and Yzak's IDs. The man scans the IDs and returns them to Dearka.

"You're good to go."

Dearka hands Yzak his ID, and Yzak returns it to his wallet. The gates buzz open, and Dearka drives through. He circles through the parking lot until he finds an empty parking space. Once the car is parked, both Dearka and Yzak exit the car.

"That Jade girl tried to smother me yesterday," Dearka cringes. "She asked if I was going to visit her in Arizona."

"What did you tell her?" Yzak says.

"I said 'God, I hope not'," Dearka laughs. "That girl is so damn thirsty, man. I didn't want to be mean, but she was just too much, you know."

Yzak snorts. "I'm just glad we don't have to deal with all those civilians on our ship anymore especially Jade. It wasn't just how desperate she was, but how disruptive she could be."

"Hey, so whatever happened to that Flay chick?" Dearka says. "I didn't see her leave with the rest of the civilians yesterday."

"ZAFT won't release her," Yzak says. "Her dad is involved in some shady shit. They're holding her in a secure location possibly until the war is over."

"That sucks," Dearka says. "I guess it's over for you two then."

"There was nothing really going on, Dearka," Yzak says. "I was just sleeping with her."

"Lucky," Dearka says. "I haven't been laid in months."

"Jade was more than available," Yzak jests.

"Please, even if I was that desperate, I wouldn't touch that," Dearka says. "That girl would tell everyone, and I'd be court martialed."

Yzak sees Nicol and Athrun at the front entrance. The sight of Athrun Zala makes his blood boil. If his father wasn't the chairman, Yzak is certain that Athrun would never been graced with a redshirt. The two of them share a glance of mutual loathing as Yzak walks towards by him.

"Hello Nicol," Yzak says, purposely neglecting to address Athrun.

"How are you, Yzak?" Nicol says with a smile.

"I'm well," his gaze shifts to Athrun. "I wonder if the Strike made it to Earth. I imagine it's probably a pile of scrap metal now."

Athrun glares to him. Yzak smiles. The thought of Athrun's Coordinator turncoat friend burning up in the atmosphere amuses him.

"How's your scar feeling, Yzak?" Athrun says. "I wonder how it feels knowing that the Strike bested you."

Yzak's fists clench as he pivots towards Athrun. He advances upon Athrun, but Nicol steps in front of him.

"Step out of the way, Nicol!" Yzak says.

"No!" Nicol says. "This needs to end between you two. We're supposed to work as a team. It's why the Archangel escaped and why the Strike bested us so many times."

"The Strike bested us, because Athrun couldn't decide what was more important - our team or his friend!" Yzak says.

"I fought just as hard as everyone else!" Athrun shouts.

"What is the meaning of this?" All four of the pilots turn to see Commander Le Creuset scowling at them. "Creating a scene on a military base? I expected better of my team."

"I apologize for my behavior, commander," Athrun says. "I was out of line."

Athrun Zala - if there were an award for PLANTs Biggest Ass Kiss, Athrun would easily win it. It's clear why Le Creuset favors him so much.

"And you, Yzak?" Commander Le Creuset pivots towards him. "Do you have any words to say for your actions?"

"I was out of line, sir," Yzak says.

"It's a pity the council has entrusted you with new responsibilities, Yzak," Le Creuset says. "I'm not sure you deserve them."

Yzak brow furrows as he looks to Commander Le Creuset. "I wasn't aware I've been given a new assignment, sir."

"I will discuss your assignment later," Le Creuset says. "First we must discuss the Archangel's new whereabouts."

Commander Le Creuset motions for the team to follow him inside the building. Yzak glares to Athrun. Athrun jerks his head away in an attempt to avoid contact with him.

The team follows Le Creuset into a conference room. Captain Ades is seated at one end of the table. Nicol and Athrun sit on one side of the table and Dearka and Athrun sit across from them. Le Creuset sits across from Captain Ades..

There is a small pauses before Commander Le Creuset speaks, "The Strike survived its descent to Earth."

Yzak's chest burns as his entire body tenses. He glares to Athrun who quickly shifts his gaze to avoid eye contact with him. Yzak expects that Athrun will turn on them for the Strike pilot. It's only a matter time before he turns coat with his Coordinator traitor friend.

"At this time, Andrew Waltfeld's team is handling the Archangel and the Strike," Le Creuset says. "I'm interested in seeing the results."

"So, we are to wait and see if Andrew Waltfeld is successful, sir?" Yzak says. "Why not aid him now?"

"We have not been issued an order to leave just yet," Le Creuset says. "Patience Yzak. Patrick Zala wants the Strike destroyed just as much as you do. I imagine we will be sent out to rendezvous with Andrew Waltfeld in due time. Until then, we wait till we are given the order to leave."

"Nicol, Dearka, Athrun - you are all dismissed," Le Creuset says. "Yzak, I need you to stay a bit longer."

Yzak waits until the three of them leave before asking, "Is this about my new assignment, sir?"

"Yes, Yzak," Le Creuset says. "The Council is still unsure of Flay's innocence…"

More like Patrick Zala is unsure. Flay is a teenaged girl that was unfortunate enough to have been caught up in the mess her father created. Can Athrun's father really be so paranoid to believe a fifteen year old girl is plotting against the PLANTs? Yzak supposes incompetence runs in the Zala family.

"Your mother suggested that you be her escort in the event that she is needed outside of her housing," Le Creuset says. "In the meantime, Patrick Zala has asked that you meet with her on occasion and cultivate a friendship with her."

"Why would he want me to be friends with Flay?" Yzak asks. "I'm confused, sir. I don't see what he expects to gain from this."

"If she bonds with a Coordinator, she may reveal valuable information to us out of guilt," Le Creuset says. "Patrick Zala doesn't want his son near her, and he felt that Nicol and Dearka are too friendly. He assumed you would be the best for the job by the basis that you are the least likely to sympathize with the girl."

Yzak keeps his features plain as he looks to Le Creuset. "Will I be compensated for this new assignment, sir?"

"Yes," Le Creuset replies. "You will receive a bonus once your assignment is completed."

"I'll see what sort of information I can get from her, sir," Yzak says.

Le Creuset is grinning at him. Yzak keeps his facial features even to conceal any sign of his personal dealings with Flay Allster show. "Am I dismissed, sir?"

"You are dismissed, Yzak."

Yzak rises from his seat and salutes to Le Creuset. He's not exactly sure how he feels about seeing Flay again. It seemed so much easier an hour ago when he was under the impression that he'd never see her again. Yzak exits the office and sees Dearka waiting for him outside.

"What was that about?" Dearka says.

"I'll tell you when we get to your house," Yzak says. "And, I may need some of that vodka you just bought."