I yawned and looked outside the elevator's window, Athrun right by my side. I rubbed my eyes and sighed deeply, making our assigned escort even more uncomfortable. This enormous elevator was the main link that connected every PLANT to one another. Of course, the PLANTs technology was amazing and not even the most subtitle incommodity had surfaced. As we descended from space, I couldn't help but notice the still debris outside, the ones that had deviated from Jachin Due. It saddened me to think that hostilities would be possible once again through ZAFT and the Earth Alliance. It would devastate the world even more to learn that because of a handful of fools, we would war against each other once again. "I have told the Chairman that you two are special envoys for Representative Atha, that you made a urgent request for a meeting but given the circumstances, I don't know if that's going to happen." He admitted, turning his gaze away. "I understand." Replied Athrun, his eyes half closed. The lack of sleep was evident, naturally. The television on the elevator wall caught my interest and I swiftly grabbed the zapper, putting the volume on high. It was an earthling channel.
"… I have an announcement to make to the people of the world concerning the very serious and unfortunate situation in which we now find ourselves. We have yet to receive a valuable response to our requests. As a result, we have found the government of the PLANTs to be guilty of sheltering terrorists. This government is a clear and present threat to us. Therefore, as forward, we will notify to the government of the PLANTs that the Earth Alliance will now take measures to use the threat of armed force at midnight, tonight." My hands were shaking and I couldn't stop my leg from bouncing. I closed my eyes to stay calm and reserved but this was too much. I was so angry that neither side understood what really happened on Junius Seven that I punched the wall of the elevator.
"Athrun! What are we going to do?" I asked. Even Athrun was unsure of our next move.
He seemed to be too preoccupied to even have the response to my question. His eyes were full of memories, of bad memories, that is, of that last fight of the Bloody Valentine. He got out of the elevator and we ran towards the car that waited for us outside the PLANT. I tried to stay focus on the situation no matter how hard I tried to forget the event. "Athrun, what is the Chairman going to do about that?" I asked, even I already knew the answer. He looked at me and sighed. "He's going to do everything possible to protect the PLANTs and that implies fighting." I growled and retained the tears from rolling down my cheeks. Yzak is out there right now… I was about to enter a building behind Athrun when the sky blinded my vision, turning white and pink. Of course, it couldn't be the sky of the PLANT since it was all technology and no nature. It was coming from outside the PLANT, in space. It was familiar. I had already seen it before and Athrun too. But he had already entered the building: he had not seen what I just witnessed. I decided that until I knew what happened, I wouldn't talk to him about it.
As we sat in a leather seat, I couldn't stop thinking about that blinding light. It was strange but recognizable. I knew I had seen it before, I remembered the color. When did I see it exactly? It was like the ones used to destroy Jachin Due, the ones used by the Alliance when they last used the… No way… They wouldn't have used those… It couldn't be possible! I gagged and hurried to the nearest trash can and threw up my nerves. Athrun hurried by my side and rubbed my back. "Is everything alright?" he asked.
"No… Everything's not okay. It's far from being alright! I saw strange lights outside, Athrun! These lights weren't normal explosions! Yes, they were explosions. Last time I saw them, it was back at Jachin Due, where the Earth Forces used… them." Athrun immediately stopped moving and shook his head. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew what I was talking about and he reacted the same way too because he had seen them too. "They used the Nukes? The nuclear missiles? Damn, what are they doing?" He exclaimed, punching the wall. The escort that was with us stayed surprisingly calm and tried to find out what had happened but his reception was bad and he couldn't make a call. Athrun's face was now staring at mine and he grabbed my arm and turned his head to the escort.
"I am going to go with her to the bathroom. She doesn't feel too good." We exited the waiting room and we hurried to the women's bathroom. I walked in first and he passed right behind me and closed the door, locking it in the process. I poured some water on my face and sighed. This couldn't be happening. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was hoping I imagined the lights, at one point. I told myself I was going blind or something but I knew deep down what I saw was real. After a couple of minutes and after having brushed my teeth, I walked out, Athrun behind me. We walked up the stairs we got down minutes ago and heard a voice echoing in the stair cage, a voice I could also recognize. "Am I going crazy or am I hearing Lacus's voice?" I asked, ready for an answer. Athrun listened more carefully but couldn't pinpoint the answer. We hurried up the stairs and I looked around. Seeing nothing abnormal, I told myself that it couldn't be her. But when I glanced up, to another staircase, I noticed a woman with glossy pink hair and a beautiful, probably super expensive dress. A small red Haro was bouncing right beside her, speaking in an annoying voice. "Lacus?" exclaimed Athrun, almost too surprised. He saw the mirage too. Damn! I am not nuts! Then… How come she's here?
When she turned around and noticed our presence, the woman's face lit up with a radiant smile and she exclaimed with a loud gasp: "Oh, Athrun!" I could hear the surprise and happiness in her voice but also lust, which I found very strange considering she was my brother's fiancée. She got down the stairs pretty fast and Athrun was completely dumbfounded, his mouth and eyes wide open. She jumped in his arms and sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm so happy! You came all that way just to see me!" she continued, making us even more uncomfortable. "Don't be so humble…" I mumbled, making Athrun smirk. She quickly shrugged it off, ignoring me.
"Uh… What are you doing here…?" he asked.
"I have been waiting such a long time, Athrun. Waiting for you to come and see me…" she said, in between giggles of innocence, her bright blue eyes glittering while looking at him. I was completely fucked at this point and so was Athrun, his face in consternation. The two bodyguards accompanying her also got down the stairs and came to us. "Uh, Miss Lacus?" they asked.
"Ah, yes. I'll be right there." She said to them, her lovely voice ringing in my ears. She gave Athrun the warm gaze and smile and said: "I'll see later. I'm just so thrilled! Great to see you, Athrun. Bye now!" she yelped, walking away with her escorts, leaving Athrun and I in awe or more shock. "What the fuck was that?" I asked, waiting for no answer. We heard steps behind us and I was the first one to look back, Athrun's head way too mixed up to even consider looking somewhere else. "Ah… Alex, Miss Desjardins." Athrun also turned around and faced the man, the tall man facing us. It was Chairman Durandall, his porcelain face always in such a delicate posture. "That's right, I remembered: we are supposed to have a meeting." He said, shaking our hands. Athrun asked the imminent question (for him, that is). "I just saw…" he wanted to say Lacus Clyne but he knew it wouldn't make sense. The Chairman seemed to have understood and asked: "Is there something wrong?" I was about to say 'Well, of course! This is not Lacus Clyne because the real one is in Orb!' but he grabbed my hand, making me stop in my tracks.
"Uh, no. Nothing's wrong." He simply answered. The Chairman asked us to follow him and I started walking as soon as he mentioned those words. I knew I was in a delicate situation: I had lost my title now and I was considered a normal citizen… or more of a peasant. I had been Athrun's key pass for two years and now he was in a higher position so I had to listen to his commands. He walked beside me and the Chairman led us to a private elevator, where we stepped in. He pressed on the 14th floor button and the elevator started elevating right away. "So, Miss Desjardins. I am tragically sorry for what happened to the last Orb's council meeting. I hope you'll tell me if there's anything I can do to help." I smirked and replied:
"You don't really have to do anything, Mister Chairman, except to prevent another war. I know it will be a difficult task, even for you. As for my departure of the Orb's council, it was my entire fault. I spoke out of terms. It's interesting to see how people react when they don't like the truth and get told. I am the perfect example." I answered back. His eyebrow elevated. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, with honest intentions.
"They said something… Something I am not proud of even thinking. They… One member in particular reacted violently to the way I described Orb's situation and he… he said that since I am a Coordinator, I have no choice but to be on your side, Mister Chairman, that I was obliged by nature. I don't have a problem by what insults he threw at me but the way he did think: many people think there are sides again, Mister Chairman, again with the Naturals vs. Coordinators. That's not acceptable." The Chairman seemed to be thinking and Athrun was silent.
"Don't even worry about that, dear. Some people like to relive the petrifying instants that are wars: it gives them a purpose and a reason to act. Don't even think one minute that you're a disgrace to them. Freedom is a right and everyone has the right to have it." He said. Of course, he nailed the right words just wonderfully and I smiled, looking away. "By the way, Miss Desjardins, I am glad you're safe, after what happened at Junius Seven. Thank you for your support too, Alex." He said. When the elevator stopped, the doors opened on a majestic office, probably the Chairman's. It had taken an entire floor. When we stepped in, the Chairman couldn't help himself anymore. He had to ask.
"Have you heard about the nuclear attacks thrown by the Alliance?" I looked at Athrun and angrily fumbled away, walking to get rid of the rage. "Yes, we have heard. Kim saw the lights in the sky. I… It's just unbelievable." He said.
"I know it's sounds like a bad dream… but it really did happen." Said the Chairman in a grave voice, opening a secret wall revealing a very large television. It was the news of the PLANTs, images of the explosions flowing again on the air. "Repeating our top news. This afternoon, the Atlantic Federation and the other nations of the Earth Alliance officially declared war on the PLANTs. After making the announcement, they launched a full scale nuclear missile attack. However, defending ZAFT forces, on the orders of Supreme Council Chairman Durandall, moved quickly to establish final line of defense after the attack. The Earth Forces have now fallen back to the lunar base and all hostilities have ceased for the moment. The situation remains tense." I clenched my fist and got close to Athrun, who was reacting the same way.
"Make yourselves comfortable. Sit down, my guests." He said. We sat on the seats in front of the Chairman's. "It's over for now, at least. Relax." I sighed and was the first to look directly in the Chairman's eyes, his golden orbs staring into mine also. "Although it's true their attack wasn't completely unexpected, it was still a great shock to me." Admitted the Chairman, his eyes full of sorrow. "They forced a declaration of war and then went straight to the nuclear missiles. This is… no ordinary war we are facing." I nodded Athrun contented himself with a simple word: "True."
"The Alliance may have drawn its forces for now but I can't seem to see them abandoning their plans just yet. In contrast, our side is in a state of panic and though we will defend ourselves, nuclear weapons are being used against us once again. Our problems have only begun." Said the Chairman, sending shivers up my spine. "…And what about the PLANTs? They attacked you; they declared a war on you… What are the PLANTs plan to deal with the situation?" Of course, Athrun's question couldn't be answered directly because it would imply the Chairman to say things he didn't officially say to his council.
"If we retaliate from their attack on us, then the world will sink once again in the chaos of war. You both know what kind of situation we'll be dealing with then. If that were to happen, and needless to say I wish to avoid it at all costs, there's no denying how grave the situation actually is, then. If they knew the full details, the people would rage and clench their fists in anger. They want vengeance. So how should we proceed? The clock is counting down, just as it did in the last war. Though this is not the first time they attacked us, they are still using Nukes." Said the Chairman, also bearing a little bit of anger in his voice.
"Mister Chairman, I know what you are saying, but please reconsider!" pleaded Athrun, his soft voice now tainted with sadness and anger. "We can't afford to fight another war. This is just too painful for everyone in the world to relive." I added. "Fighting is not the answer." Athrun continued, his emerald green eyes glimmering with the faintest sparkle of tears. "We can't let anger and revenge control us! If we attack each other now, the world will fall once again in this senseless disaster. Nothing will be gained and all will be lost! Please… you can't let that happen." Said Athrun, his eyes closed.
"Oh, Alex…." Sighed the Chairman but this was too much for my friend to bear.
"My name is Athrun Zala. I'm the son of Patrick Zala, a man that lived his best moments in the raging fire of war and that twisted himself out of control and consumed the whole world with his hatred. I believed what my father said. I fought in the war, I killed the enemy! I fought my best friend and even when I realized how wrong it was, I couldn't stop him! I lost everything and yet my father's words still linger…" Athrun was now trembling. "We must never repeat that tragedy ever again!"
"Athrun!" exclaimed the Chairman, snapping my friend back to reality. I grabbed his and it seemed to have reassured him.
"I know what the criminals at Junius Seven said… Shinn Asuka told me." I straighten up my back and opened my eyes widely. The name of this young man still haunted my memories with embarrassment and with confusion. "To hear that, it must've been difficult for you." Continued the Chairman. I knew Athrun and he wouldn't have thought that way.
"I think it's better if I know the truth. Otherwise I'd be blind to what's really happening. Again…" I closed my eyes and held on Athrun's arm, resting my head on his shoulder, letting him know I was here for him and that I would leave him in this situation. "Don't blame yourself, Athrun. You're wrong: you aren't responsible for their actions. It's sad that the memory of your father pains you. It's such a source of great bitterness for you but I suppose it really can't be helped. You are lucky to have friends to support you in this hard moment in your life." He said, looking at me. "And Chairman Zala… he probably wasn't that kind of person before receiving his title, was he?"
"No, he wasn't." replied Athrun.
"As Chairman, I know he's probably had his share of great mistakes. However, his primary goal was to protect the PLANTs, to protect us and to make a better world for his people. The best intentions of great men often lead them into making great mistakes. Sayings of such great men can be easily taken out of context. Listeners with their own intentions can take these words to ease their motives and to create something dreadful indeed. The criminals on Junius Seven used these words as an excuse, Athrun, to vent out their past frustrations. You mustn't let your emotions be controlled by that kind of thing, Athrun. Who's side you're on is irrelevant." He said while looking at me. "All of this has nothing to do with who you are." Said the Chairman, trying to console Athrun.
"Chairman… I…" Athrun said, getting up. I also stepped up but gave him some space.
"You're just an individual who wants to help, to stop war from starting. Just keep that in mind. Stop holding yourself responsible for what everyone did, for all this. But I must say I am pleased, Athrun. I am glad you came up here with such a valuable friend to accompany you. I am sure that Kim will support you in your decisions. All the people who think like you will be the ones who save the world, along with you. Some people might call me a dreamer but I very much believe dreams to be true." Said the Chairman, smiling at Athrun.
"Yes."
"Now, more than ever, we must stand together with people." He said, looking again at the television. I glanced back too and gasped. I held my hands against my mouth and Athru finally turned around, his eyes widening. "My friends! Please… Yes, it is I, Lacus Clyne…" She was on television now, that woman who resembled so much my good friend Lacus. "My friends, please remain calm and please listen to what I have to say: Junius Seven, the Earth's Forces declaration of war and this sudden nuclear attack… these events are all sad and tragic. I feel the same as every one, I am as shocked as you are… To strike us with nuclear weapons! Please my friends, be calm and let reason carry the day! Hatred and anger can only lead us to more conflict. Even as I speak, the Chairman and the Supreme Council are putting their best efforts into evading the worst case scenario. So I call upon you, each and every one of you, friends and show that you love peace! The Supreme Council and Chairman Durandall are working hard to find the right path. Please remain calm during this hard time." I wanted to vomit from what I saw: some nobody was imitating Lacus Clyne, a woman so fierce into believing in peace and one of my best friends, ridiculed by an imitator, an imposter.
"You can laugh if you want…" the Chairman said to us. "I don't want to laugh, I want to puke." I mumbled, making Athrun's head turn to me in evident warning.
"Of course, I understand your reaction, Kim. She is both your friend and I can see it rubs you the wrong way. I'm sure you know what's… going on, with this Lacus. I'll freely admit this ploy carries a touch of deceit… But I had no other options left. Her power to influence others is tremendous. It obviously surpasses mine… I could end up looking totally foolish but right now… I have need of her multiple strengths." I frowned.
"Then why couldn't you find the real Lacus and persuade her?" I asked, crossing my arms. The Chairman smiled and closed his eyes. "Time is urgent, Miss Desjardins. I don't have the requested time to convince someone that doesn't want to be convinced. I needed this woman's immediate attention. I needed her strengths right away… just like I need your own unique strengths and talents, Athrun, Kim."
"Uh…? What?" he asked, not knowing where the most powerful man in the PLANTs was leading to. "Let's go for a walk, shall we?" he asked, wanting us to follow him. We quickly got out of his office and I stayed behind Athrun. As we got out of the building, we were escorted to a PLANT transfer system and took the enormous elevator once again. We travelled to the PLANT below us, which wasn't a PLANT really: it was more like a storage unit to the PLANT. The Chairman stayed silent and Athrun and I were very nervous: was he going to have us murdered because we knew he was using a fake Lacus? Is it because we knew too much for our own good about Junius Seven? Is it because we could easily have him down his throne? When we got down the elevator, we saw two enormous metal sliding doors with two words in a flash red color: "Restricted area." Of course, the Chairman was aloud there. He opened the door for us and behind them was a long corridor with ZAFT soldiers guarding it. As we floated through the corridor and passed another door, I noticed this wasn't a regular room at all. This is… a hangar?
We were now walking on a metal bridge and I was getting nervous. I knew where he was taking us: since we were in a hangar, it couldn't anything else but to send us back to Orb. I looked around but there was no sign of any transportation whatsoever. As the Chairman stopped, lights uncovered the mystery of this hangar. We turned our head left and I stayed frozen in time, petrified, paralyzed before what was standing in front of Athrun and I: two GUNDAMs, their eyes looking directly onto us. It was certainly impressive to see such a marvelous sight: after all, it has been two years since I looked at one for personal point of view.
"This is…" started Athrun, but couldn't finish.
"The ZGMF-X23S Saviour. Though it has different capabilities, this machine was developed simultaneously with the Gaia, the Chaos and the Abyss. If I said I wanted to entrust you with this machine, what would you do?" Athrun couldn't answer: he was too astounded to even talk. I, on the other hand, couldn't grasp the reality. I looked at the second machine with intense concentration. It seemed like I recognized it from before… like I saw it before I came here… It was oddly familiar.
"I see you recognized it, Kim Desjardins. Of course, you have vague memories of it because it's been quite a while, but I'm pretty sure it's there, in your memories. You probably don't remember the newest details on it, but I know you knew it as the Valliant. This is ZGMF-X25S Victoire. Of course, it resembles very much to the Saviour, but had a unique capability: this Mobile suit is resistant to crash landing in the Earth's atmosphere." He said, almost grinning. I couldn't find anything else to say that: "Are you mocking me?" He laughed. "I am not mocking you. I am merely saying that you won't have to… uh… be scared of…"
"Never mind, I catch on pretty fast. I have a question, though: where did you find the pieces of the Valliant? After all, it was destroyed two years ago." I asked, crossing my arms, looking at the Intrepid. "We found some in the depth of the sea of Orb and others on the many beaches around Orb as well. It took two years approximately to assemble what we have found and put our newest technology in it. This is the result." I couldn't say anything.
"… What does this imply?" asked Athrun. "Are you asking me to return to ZAFT?"
"That's not really what I meant. I want to give you two these machines. It's that simple. Although from a visual stand point, it would appear, as you say… My version of Lacus Clyne made my feelings of what happened lately very clear. However, our society requires… finesse. The thoughts of opponents advisors and organizations get tangled up, making difficult to make anything done. That's why I want those that believe as I do to stand firm with me. If it is possible, I wish to avoid a war… but that doesn't mean I'm willing to sit back and wait for someone to shoot me with nuclear weapons again… If push comes to shove, it would be in our best interest to have power. Real power."
"Chairman… I…!"
"You both experienced the last war… and I know, Athrun, how you've agonized over your father's actions. I am confident that come what may, you will choose the right path. Kim, should we take the wrong turn to steer us right in the right direction again. You have that kind of strength. However, to do that, you will need power, unfortunately." I looked at the Victoire again and closed my eyes.
"I can't believe you had the guts to do such a thing, Mister Chairman, with all due respect. You must've investigated our pasts quite thoroughly because no one knew our real passion in life. Who could've known, expect for my family and close friends that I wanted to pilot a Mobile suit again? And to have this machine ready for me to pilot when I need it the most right now? You must have a lot of power to have discovered that, Chairman." The Chairman wasn't surprised: he was actually waiting for that comment.
"You may not know me very well, Kim. Maybe you just need to trust me more, for now." Flashes of battles meddled in my head and I tried to shove the m away but with this GUNDAM before me, it was impossible: I was drawn to it, even if I fought my hardest to remember Yzak's wish.
"This is quite simple. I don't expect you to make a decision right this moment. Look, there's what you can do and there's what you want to do." Said the Chairman, leaving the hangar and letting Athrun and I stand before those machines that would once make us feel complete again. It took me a long pause to finally reach to him. "He wants me to join too." I stated, earning a pat on the shoulder. Athrun looked at me with weary eyes and said: "If we do, I won't be alone anymore. It will be less difficult, though I'm not saying I will." I nodded and we exited the hangar and returned to the upper PLANT, where my hotel room was waiting for me. It was late in the evening and I heard Athrun yawn. "Are you tired?" I asked.
"I didn't sleep very well for the past four days." He said, grinning.
"Me either. I am officially going to sleep." When we entered our hotel, I could not have blinded myself to see this Lacus Clyne waiting with her bodyguards on the lobby's multiple couches. She gasped when she saw Athrun and I frowned, looking at him: he was nervous. "Athrun!" she got up and ran to us, her breasts bouncing left to right, making me a bit uneasy with the situation. Imagine Athrun. "Welcome back!" she said, pressing her chest on his, making me smile with embarrassment. "I've been waiting for you." She said, smiling at him. He was so uncomfortable he had no choice.
"Who… Who're you?" he blurted out. "Oh, I'm Meer. Meer Campbell. Hey, but when we are in public like this, make sure to call me Lacus, okay?" she said, winking at him. I looked away and sighed. Athrun took a step back but she persevered in being in his personal space. He wished her a good night but she quickly grabbed his arm and said: "You didn't have anything to eat, have you? Probably not. Let's get you full, my dear Athrun…" she pulled him away from me and I smirked: Athrun Zala was always going to be Athrun Zala, the shy innocent folk. I waved him goodbye and he rolled his eyes, taking the elevator with this so called Meer Campbell. I was left alone in the lobby and decided to get my key and to go to my room. I took the second elevator and reached the twelfth floor within minutes. I walked to room 261 and opened the door with the key and closed it and double locked it behind me. I quickly showered and put on jogging pants and went in the crisp fresh sheets of the bed. The Chairman's words were still trapped in my mind. Look, there's what you can do and what you want to do. The only thing I thought of doing was to grab my cell phone, which I did. I pressed on speed dial and after a couple of seconds, Yzak answered.
"Hello?"
"Hi Yzak. It's me." He sighed.
"I'm so glad you called. I couldn't sleep without your call." He said.
"I just wanted to say goodnight and I love you." I said back, blushing.
"I love you too. I heard you're in the PLANTs so I'll come and see you tomorrow, how's that?" he asked. I smiled and giggled. "You are serious? We can finally see each other?" I asked back, too excited to even consider that he might be tired. "Yeah, I'm off duty for a couple of days. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know."
"That's great. I am sorry about… the other night… when…" I started. I could see him frowned at the other end of the line.
"Yeah, what happened exactly? Who's the shit bag that prevented me from getting off?" he asked.
"No one, really. I have to go to sleep now. I got to refresh for tomorrow: you know I hate it when I'm grumpy because I didn't sleep well…"
"Alright, I'll see you. Have a good night." He said, hanging up. Yzak wasn't about fluff but his words were always the ones I wanted to hear. I closed my eyes and departed in a land of dreaming.
