Here we go chapter 9 and after a reasonable amount of time for once. Prepare yourself for a bit of a twist.


Matthias and Riyu touched down gracefully by the escape shuttle momentarily followed by Kira and Lacus. Kira was grinning at the slightly older pair as if he wanted to say something embarrassing or stupid, then again knowing Mu it was probably both. However the glare Riyu had been giving him since she'd landed seemed to keep him in check.

Though Matthias still decided to make absolutely sure. "You can say something if you want but I will personally guarantee that you will not have any children if you do."

Mu's grin disappeared quicker than a railgun slug as the blonde pilot put some extra distance between himself and the pair.

With the annoyance taken care of the official couple turned their attention to the new arrival aboard the ship.

"I hear you're the pilot responsible for scaring the ZAFTs away." Said George Allstar. Thankfully deciding to overlook their earlier public display.

"I must thank you."

Matthias shifted slightly though only Riyu noticed it. He did not want to be thanked by the man in front of him but he decided to be as polite as possible.

"Kira deserves the thanks as much as I do, if not more." He replied in a decidedly neutral tone. "I doubt you would be alive without him."

The Vice Foreign Minister was obviously surprised by the response but took it with good grace.

"In that case I thank you as well young man." He said turning to a slightly bewildered Kira.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both." He continued holding out his hand to Matthias.

The blond mobile suit pilot looked at the hand for a moment before shaking his head. "I cannot say the same." He said with a hiss. "I have nothing but contempt for blue cosmos members particularly one connected to operation Ranger"

Most of those present went wide-eyed at Matthias's brutal honesty as he and Riyu left the hangar with Kira and Lacus not far behind.

Mr. Allstar was both shocked and confused. "Would someone care to explain what that was about?" he asked only to get silence in response no one really wanting to answer.

It was Flay who eventually answered if timidly. "Kira and Matthias are both coordinators."

With that Mr. Allstar immediately rounded on the bridge officers. "Care to explain what two space monsters are doing on the same ship as my daughter uninhibited." His tone low and dangerous.

"DADDY!" Flay scolded, only to be ignored.

Mu decided it was time to step forward. "If it wasn't for Kira and Matthias this ship wouldn't have made it this far. Hell we probably wouldn't have made it out of Heliopolis."

However the Vice Foreign Minister was having none of it. "It doesn't matter what they've done a space monster is a space monster." He growled reaching for Flays arm only for her to pull away. Much to his surprise.

"They're not space monsters." She whispered towards the floor.

"WHAT?"

"I said they're not space monsters." This time she yelled it out. "Their normal people. I don't care that their genes were altered they're just like anyone else here. They have protected everyone here and I'm proud to call them my friends."

The rant left her out of breath in front of her stunned father.

"Y-you ungrateful child. You have no idea what you're talking about." He yelled raising his hand.

Flay closed her eyes bracing herself for the blow. Only it didn't come.

Opening her eyes she saw Riyu standing in front of her having blocked the strike. She'd retuned to the hangar just in time to see everything unfold.

Even from behind it was obvious the brunette was completely irate. Flay couldn't help but feel that her father had almost literally put his head in the mouth of a hungry lion, which had metal teeth.

"You are a very lucky man Allstar." Riyu's tone was enough to make everyone shiver with its coldness.

Almost anyone else would have killed you on sight for the amount of pain and suffering have inflicted on Matthias either directly or indirectly. Yet he was able to talk to you politely and walk away. Even after that you have the nerve to call him a monster and then attempt to strike your daughter just because she stood up for him and Kira." Riyu's glare had now reached a laser like intensity. Even for those watching it was a terrifying experience they'd seen her angry before but this was something else.

"You're the real monster here Allstar." With her piece said she pushed off to help the mechanics with the Defender leaving the group in silence.

George looked around searching hopefully for some form of support. However the looks on everyone's faces made it perfectly clear who they sided with.

"Flay?" He said hopefully, extending his hand towards his daughter only for her to back away unable to meet his gaze.

With his last lifeline gone George Allstar's shoulders slumped his head hanging in defeat.

Captain Ramius turned to one of the crewmen present. "Please escort the Vice Foreign Minister to his room. I think we're done here."

With that the gathering disintegrated everyone returning to their stations or rooms including a rather confused Flay.


Vesalius Bridge

"So what's the plan now?" Asked a rather subdued Solomon Green.

Rau looked at the tactical map in front of them. "We take the most sensible course of action. We'll escort the Claymore to the tender dispatched to us, where we will pick up a fresh load of GINNs and pilots, then head back and see if we can destroy the legged ship before it reaches a secure location.

Athrun who was also at the table then spoke. "What about Lacus sir aren't we still meant to be searching for her?"

Rau shook his head. "I'm sorry Athrun but its unlikely she has survived this long unless someone else picked her up which isn't likely."

Hearing Rau say this hit hard. Yet Athrun couldn't shake the feeling that Lacus had beat the odds. Whatever happened he hoped she and Kira were safe wherever they were.


Flay was still confused half an hour later as she sat alone in the canteen.

'Why did I do it?' She mused silently to herself. Only for a shadow to fall over her and interrupt her thoughts.

"You ok there?" Asked Matthias as she looked up at him.

She only shook her head in reply as he sat next to her.

"So what's the problem?"

Flay's eyes snapped up to glare at him. "Why don't you just look in my head and find out." She snapped with a hint of bitterness.

That made Matthias frown slightly. "It's an invasion of your privacy besides I don't really read minds that much."

Flay looked surprised at that. "Why not?"

"What people think belongs to them and them alone I prefer to leave it like that. Beside reading minds all the time would wear me out." He explained.

"I see." Said the redhead quietly.

"Now back to your problem. I assume it has something to do with what happened between you and your father in the hangar."

That made Flay round on him only for him to halt with a raised hand.

"The ship isn't that big and news travels fast." He said to placate her.

She nodded once before replying. "I don't know why I did it. I just… It just happened."

Matthias leant back slightly looking at the ceiling. "It was the right thing to do you know."

"Yeah I-I know it's just… I think that…" She trailed off not wanting to finish the sentence.

"You've ruined your relationship with your father." Matthias finished for her.

Flay nodded.

"I can help you fix that."

Flay looked at him as if he'd grown another head. "How? Talking to him? He's a hardliner no matter what you say he won't listen."

Matthias shook his head. "I'm going to ask your permission to do this and I will be honest I won't pull any punches with him. He'll see the truth of his choices and the hell that they caused. Are you ok with that?"

Flay now understood what Matthias intended to do.

"It's ok he needs to have his eyes opened if that is what it takes then so be it."

The blonde pilot let out a sigh and stood up just as Riyu entered the room her hair still damp from a shower.

Matthias smiled as he went and wrapped his arms around her. Holding his girlfriends delicate but strong form close as she snuggled into his shoulder.

Matthias waited till she had finished before talking. "So how is it?" he asked.

Riyu grimaced and shook her head as she faced him. "How bad?"

"The fight knocked some of the components of the TBE loose so when you fired it…" She explained.

Matthias did some brief mental calculations. "So assuming I help it wont be fixed till after we join the 8th fleet." He surmised prompting a nod from Riyu.

"I'm going to go and have a 'talk' with Mr. Allstar. See you later." He said giving her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Good luck." She called after him as he left.

"You're lucky to have him." Said Flay after a few moments.

The brunette turned to her and smiled. "I know, but I have a feeling he'd say the same about me."

Flay then let out a deep sigh.

"What is it?" Asked Riyu sitting down where Matthias had earlier.

"I wish I had someone like Matthias or Kira." Replied the Redhead sounding more than a little depressed.

"So you noticed then?" Said Riyu stretching her legs out.

"You mean Kira and Lacus? Yeah I noticed. Why do you ask?"

Riyu Smiled mischievously. "Matthias and I have been aiming to get them together almost since Lacus got on the ship and had drafted the support of the Captain and Mu as well."

Flay was surprised at that. "So that's why they are assigned the same room then."

Riyu just grinned before saying. "Do you want in?"

"Oh yes."


George Allstar barely looked up as Matthias entered his quarters.

"Are you here to kill me now then?" He muttered. All hunched up in the corner.

Matthias grunted in amusement. "If I intended to kill you wouldn't even have laid foot on this ship."

Allstar shifted slightly but did not turn to face the blonde. "To gloat then. About how you've managed to brainwash my daughter with those powers of yours."

Matthias shook his head even though the man wasn't looking at him. "So you've figured out who I am then."

The Vice Foreign Minister nodded but still did not look at him. "Matthias and operation Ranger just those two were enough. You're supposed to be dead."

Matthias shrugged. "I've heard that before."

Mr. Allstar let out an emotionless chuckle.

"Flay's mind is her own you know." Said the blonde psychic, now leaning against the wall.

Finally Allstar looked at him. "You're lying you must have done something to her."

Matthias scratched his head. "All we did was be ourselves, talking to her and befriending her as the people we are."

"Impossible, You're monsters if you did that she'd be terrified of you."

Screeched George, seemingly half mad with rage and despair.

"Then how am I talking to you now." Snapped the coordinator before reigning in his temper.

"Fine we'll take things up a level then." Hissed Matthias removing his false color contacts.

The gray haired man only had a moment to take in the pale blue glow before it suddenly increased in brightness.

'9 Years ago, you're an Earth Alliance soldier. The house you stand in has been torn apart by your comrades. Your pistol is drawn.' George Allstar froze it was the voice of the coordinator in front of him yet the young man had not spoke.

As he processed this, his surroundings seemed to shift.

Morphing into the living room of a ransacked house. He felt his clothes shift as well and the weight of a pistol in his hand.

'There is the dead body of a man on the floor shot by your squad leader he wasn't even armed. From behind you hear the pained screams of the mans wife and young daughter. You know what the other soldiers are doing to them but ignore it.

Against his will his view shifted onto the dead body on the floor. Multiple gunshot wounds marred the corpse rather than single clean headshot. At the same time the sound came. Shrieks and cries of pain of the woman and child as the soldiers had their way. It was horrifying like something out of the twisted depths of a person imagination.

'Then there's the boy 8 years old, terrified beyond all imagining yet unable to look away.'

He knew what would happen now. 'Please no.' Thought Allstar as the point of view moved again to settle on the boy. Tears streamed down the face of the child that shook violently in terror unable to run or scream.

The view moved again this time onto the squad leader who had moved up and was now smiling savagely at the young boy.

George Finally realized what Matthias had done he was reliving another persons memories that's why he had no control. An observer nothing more.

The squad leader advanced on the boy drawing his combat knife.

The boy didn't move remaining frozen in fear as the knife wielder slowly advanced.

George could feel the conflict within the solider whose eyes he was seeing this though. The view shifted around first to the boy then the squad leader and finally the gun.

The Unknown Soldier raised his gun and fired.

In that one moment everything seemed to freeze as the squad leader hit the floor.

Only the boy seemed exempt shocked into motion by the shot.

The boy looked straight at the Unknown Soldier pausing long enough to nod his thanks before running.

As soon as the boy was out of sight the soldier span around and emptied the clip of his pistol. He kept pulling the trigger even when the bullets ran out. Then a stutter of gunfire and everything went black.

After a few moments the interior of his quarters melted back into view.

"What the hell was that?" Said Mr. Allstar almost out of breath and sweating profusely.

"Those are the last memories of a man I'll never forget. Lance Corporal James Rose. The man who saved my life." Matthias's tone was cold and emotionless as he spoke hardly looking at the other man anymore.

"That boy was… you?" Allstar managed to utter out despite being knocked completely off center by what he'd just seen and heard.

"Not much of a space monster there was I."

Allstar scrunched up his nose. "Unlike now."

Matthias let out a sigh. "You're so short sighted that you're nearly blind." He muttered pinching the bridge of his nose. "How about we give this one a try."

This time he reached out and touched Mr. Allstar's forehead.

When everything finished flowing George found himself looking from the point of view of a boy about 12 or 13 years of age looking at his hands.

It was clearer this time; the thought's and feeling were more distinct.

The boy hated himself he realized, hated himself for what he'd had to do.

The boy put his hands down allowing Allstar to see the heavily modified rifle that lay to the boys right and the pair of bloody combat knives to his left.

Then the boy looked up even through the psychic projection Allstar's physical body gasped.

He recognized the scene he'd seen the pictures of what lay before the boy.

Cave 21, a coordinator resistance base that had been targeted by the Earth Alliance. According to the report there were no survivors. On either side. Yet he was looking at it though the eyes of the last person standing.

The boy stood retrieving the weapons beside him as he did. Quickly he grabbed a rucksack obviously pre-prepared and began to walk though the field of scattered bodies. He identified the dead as he walked. A friend, a rival, a couple, the mechanic, a mentor, my kill, his kill, hers. Each body was accompanied by waves of emotion as mental images of their deaths flickered in the background yet the boy kept walking heading for the mountains that dominated the backdrop.

Then quite suddenly everything faded to black.

"Who was tha…?" George trailed off when he saw Matthias. The teenager was struggling to hold back tears as he breathed heavily from the effort of creating the projections.

George quickly put everything together. "That boy was you?"

Matthias barely managed to nod in reply. Letting out a ragged breath as he still tried to keep the tears from falling.

George did not know what to do. The person most wanted by Blue Cosmos, a man who had killed thousands was falling apart in front of him.

And he felt… Ashamed and sorry for he had caused this. A display of emotion that was so human.

Human. That last word hit like a tidal wave, washing away the remains of his bigoted beliefs. In that moment George Allstar knew what to do.

"You know it's better if you just let them out." He said softly.

Matthias looked at him for a moment, glowing eyes shimmering with unshed tears, then finally let his defenses fall.

As the tears began to fall George stepped forward and embraced the crying teen.

"I know it hardly makes up for what I've done but… I'm sorry… For everything."

He said keeping up the embrace in an attempt to comfort the blonde.

They remained like that while Matthias cried for lost family, lost friends and lost innocence.

When the tears stopped falling Allstar let him go. "Better?"

Matthias nodded wiping his eyes with his palm. "Yeah." He said tiredly.

Allstar sat back on his bed as Matthias went back to his position against the wall. "Why?" Asked Allstar after a few moments.

"Huh?" Matthias stopped wiping his eyes and shot him a confused look.

"I was your enemy, so why did you try so hard. I'm not really important just one man so why put yourself through so much just to change my mind.

"Just one man can change the course of history you know." Said Matthias now staring at the ceiling.

"I there are three reasons really. You may be just a man but to your daughter you are so much more. So for her sake. Second I wanted to try after all if you change one mind…" Matthias trailed off allowing Allstar to finish. "You can change one hundred."

The blonde nodded closing his eyes lightly.

"What about the third reason." Allstar asked causing Matthias to smile.

"Because I'm human."

George knew he was right strip away everything and we're all human at the end.

"I see, Come now I want to see my daughter." He said smiling genuinely for what was probably the first time in years.

"Sure but you'll have to support me." Replied Matthias letting out a yawn.

George couldn't help but smirk at that.

"Has anyone told you that you push yourself too far." He said putting the blondes arm over his shoulder so he could support him.

"Yeah it's a bad habit apparently." Matthias replied slowly, typing in the unlock code as he did.

That made George laugh. "I imagine a certain brunette young lady made that comment.

The teen didn't reply but his blush was all the reply needed.

Flay and Riyu were still gossiping in the canteen when the two former enemies entered. Causing the two girls to trail off as they say them in the doorway. Mr. Allstar still supporting Matthias.

Flay looked at her father hesitantly unsure what to do. Then he smiled at her telling her that everything was fine. She barely waited for her father to put Matthias down before running up and hugging him.

As the father and daughter got reacquainted Riyu went over to her boyfriend.

"You did it." She said smiling.

Matthias pushed himself off the doorframe and stood. "Yeah. I did." He managed to say before collapsing into her arms, asleep.

The brunette shook her head in amusement as she held him.

"Idiot, you did it again." She muttered to herself. "I guess you are you no matter what." She continued. Her voice then dropped to a whisper. "I guess that's why I love you."

With the words said she picked him up in a fireman's carry and took him to their room.


Lacus entered her and Kira's room to fin the young brunette resting on his bed.

"You ok?" She asked as she sat down on her bed.

Kira turned and gave her a small smile. "Yeah just tired that's all" He replied sitting up.

Lacus looked at the floor for a moment before looking back at her roommate.

"Why did Matthias act like that?" She asked referring to the incident with Mr Allstar.

Kira scratched his head, thinking. "You know Matthias mentioned operation Ranger." A nod from the songstress. "Well I don't know the details but he was the target of it." Lacus's eyes went wide, she already had an idea where this was going. "He managed to survive but … His parents didn't." Lacus finished when he trailed off.

Kira then looked at the floor. "Neither did his younger sister." He added leaving Lacus momentarily speechless.

"That explains a lot." She said eventually her tone somber.

"Yeah. Though Flay surprised me. Standing up to her father like that." Kira muttered.

Lacus noticed the tone of admiration in his voice and couldn't help but feel jealous.

Silence reigned for several minutes before Lacus spoke.

"Kira do you… 'Like' Flay?" She asked haltingly.

The brunette in question shifted slightly before replying. "I thought I did… but I was just crushing on her. I realize that now." He smiled. "Guess Matthias called it again."

Now Lacus was curious. "What do you mean by that?" She asked.

"Back on Heliopolis he would play a Matchmaker of sorts. He helped Tolle and Mirallia get together." Kira's eyes glazed over at the memories.

"He was picky though. He'd only try to put people together if he thought it would work. He'd also comment on how long he'd think other couple were last and was usually right to within a few days."

Lacus nodded. "He's quite an interesting person isn't he?"

Kira lay back down. "Yeah he is… Say do you like someone?" He asked innocently.

Lacus immediately blushed unsure if she could give him a full answer. Fortunately for her there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." They said simultaneously.

The door slid open to admit a tired looking Riyu.

"Hi Riyu." Said Lacus smiling. She got on well with the green-eyed brunette and enjoyed her company.

"You ok?" asked Kira.

Riyu waved him off as she sat on Lacus's bed.

"Yah. Just worn out. Using the TBE may have forced ZAFT to retreat but it did a real number on the Defenders internal systems. I won't be ready till after we meet the 8th fleet." She explained.

The other two nodded.

"So what have you two been doing then?" She asked suddenly becoming much more lively. "She'd noticed the fading blush on Lacus's cheeks when she came in and intended to find out the reason why.

"Just talking." Lacus replied far to quickly.

The green-eyed brunette gave a predatory grin. "About what?" She pressed.

""Stuff." Kira said. Earning himself a loaded look from Riyu.

It didn't take long for the violet –eyed teen to crack under the girls' intense gaze.

"Lacus asked me if I 'liked' Flay and then I asked her if she 'liked' someone." He said quickly both his and Lacus's faces going a nice shade of red.

"Oh really!" Said Riyu, her grin growing even wider. "Did Lacus answer yet?"

"I only asked her just before you came in." Kira managed with a slightly nervous tone.

Riyu frowned slightly she hadn't intended to interrupt a 'moment' as it were.

"Sorry or interrupting then." She said giving Lacus a wink as she stood and moved towards the door.

" Oh and if you're curious Matthias managed to sort everything between Flay and her Father but exhausted himself in the process. Ok Bye" She said rapidly before exiting leaving Kira and Lacus feeling more than a little awkward.

"I'm glad it all worked out for Flay." Said Lacus eventually.

"Yeah." said Kira.

Silence fell once more till Kira continued. "Erm Lacus."

"Yes Kira."

"You don't have to tell me who you 'like' if you don't want to." He half mumbled.

"Oh… Thank you." She said lying down and facing the wall as Kira rolled over to do the same.

They lay there in silence for a while until Kira spoke. "I may not 'like' Flay but I think I do 'like' another girl." Lacus felt her heart speed up as he said that.

"She's beautiful, kind, I like just being around her." Lacus had now rolled over to look at Kira who had also rolled over revealing a tomato colored face. "And I'm looking right at her." He finished looking straight into her eyes. Lacus didn't know what to say she could only stare at the brunette in the other bed. After a few moments he rolled over and turned off the lights.

"Night Lacus."

Lacus broke out of her stupor enough to reply. "Night Kira."

After a short while she managed to sort her thoughts out.

"Kira."

"Yes Lacus."

"I 'like' you too."


Outside Riyu moved back from the door and pumped her fist. Being patient definitely had its benefits. Now she'd have some news for her boyfriend when he woke.


I'm gonna explain some things now before I have to do so in review responses. Firstly the False colour contacts being kinda paranoid Matthias keeps a set on him at all times and he put them in just before exiting the Defender. Secondly and perhaps more importantly Mr Alstars rapid turn around. Matthias is a Psychic and therefore is an expert at manipulating people's views. The friendliness between the two is a product of guilt, exhaustion and stress (Depending on the person) however I might keep them on amicable terms later especially with what that would entail come Alaska.

Other things of note Matthias has effectively trashed the Defender. Firing the Tachyon Bolt Emitter produces a huge amount of recoil and a considerable amount of heat add that onto parts being knocked loose by the fight with Solomon and it doesn't make a pretty picture. It will however be back online in time for the 8th fleet battle. Lastly for this story Kira and Lacus make some progress admitting that they 'like' each other may seem a little childish but I found it cute besides their still not completely sure of their feelings or where they could go.

For those of you who are waiting on the next chapter of Rebellion. IT IS COMING. It's just being an ass to write at the moment so it will take a while. Also you should consider the fact that I have to do the mecha designs as well plus ships. Here's a list of what I'm in the process of designing alongside writing the story.

Orbital HQ for The Silent (The Void).

2 Additional Ship Classes alongside the Shadow Class that has already appeared.

Mass Production MS For the rebellion.

Gundams for the Jedi (Anakin will have one and Ahsoka, Windu, Obi Wan and Yoda are also possibilities)

Latest iterations of Matthias and Riyu's Gundams

Updates/Refits to All other Gundams

New Flagship type vessel. (Ardent)

Refits for Archangel, Eternal and Minerva.

Finishing the Tempest design on my profile for use.

Eclipse Alpha as it will appear.

Mod 1 (Updated) and Mod 2 (SW Tech) Variants for Eclipse, Tempest and Vessels assigned to The Silent

see lots but I promise you it is coming.