Okay guys how are you all it has been a little while, yeah I got the next chapter of this story up and ready to go. I have to warn you not alot does happen in this chapter as in there are no battles that I wrote taking a break from all of that. This will be about character development and moving the plot forward.
As always please review and let me know what you think no flaming.
Opening Song (Ash like Snow)
The music starts, with the first rhythm it shows an image of the Agito Zero slowly zooming.
When the rhythm changes it shows Anthony opening his eyes, his eyes a lit up with the Zero-System,he moves the Agito Zero down from space towards the Earth, showing Africa.
Gundam Agito SEED (logo)
"Sor akaku someru." Kira is shown looking at the desert sun set, then turning away from it as the view zooms in on his eyes
"Kokutan no yami." Tolle is shown looking at the door to the hangar bay, opening and closing
"nomikomareta." It shows Mu standing before the Skygrasper, while the camera panns to the Moebius Zero.
"Hoshikuzu-tachi" Anthony is shown then the view panns out to show the cockpit of Agito Zero
"Hakanaku." Lacus is show turning with Haro just as wind picks up and blows her hair around her face.
"Fruitsimoru hai no yuki." Sai and Flay are walking along a corridor playfully bumping into one another as the exit through a door.
"Mitsumeta." The view panns out from that of an eye to that of a tanned young woman in ZAFT gear.
"Nageki no mado." Yzack is shown launching in the MS Duel his face scowling
"I never dreamed." Dearka is showng launchingin the MS Buster as his face a mix of emotions as he sights the enemy."
"Kooritsuku." The seenn zooms in on the custom BuCUE showing Waltfeld and Aisha in it, smiling.
"There, I come for!" Waltfeld now closes his eyes and grins, the view zooms out to show his BuCUE engaging in combat.
"Omoi wa sekibaku no yazeo ni." The scene shows the Archangel, the Skygrapser, the MS Strike and MS Agito now engaging BuCUE. Mu is shown in the Skygrapser avoiding a blast from the MS Buster. The scene flips to Anthony in the MS Agito Zero waving a hand and sending forth red light.
"Maiagarai ." The red light hit's the desert sand sending up a cloud of smoke and sand
"Kudaketa." The MS Strike and the custom BuCUE are shown classing, a silhouette of the faces of both Kira and Waltfeld are shown narowing there eyes and yelling behind their suits
"Kono sekai ga." The scene flashes to the bridge of the Archangel, showing the concerned faces of, Murrue, Natarle, Sai, Flay, Miriallia and Tolle.
"Katachi wo kaera tabi." The Archangel is show to fire it's main cannons at the incoming BuCUEs, blowing the sand, smoke and fire around them.
"Mamoritai mono wo." The shape of the moon from earth is seen as a red light flashes and the MS Agito Zero descends from the moon until it's face is the only thing in view.
"Kowahite shimatteitan da." Anthony's, Kira's and Mu's faces are seen on a split screen and fade as it shows the Skygrapser, the MS Strike and the MS Agito Zero all avoiding attacks. The Skygrapser and MS Strike fire in the direction of the view, while the MS Agito Zero emits a vermilion light from it's back.
The music continues to show the earth enveloped by vermilion light as the music beings to fade, so to does the light.
Chapter Nine
"Anyone may claim that he will act in the direst times, yet only a brave man acts in times great and small." Cloud Strife
Archangel
Right now Anthony was on board the open deck of the Archangel, the sun was out and he was enjoying the breeze that was on his face.
It was at this moment that he recalled what Rambal Ral from the first Gundam had said "This wind, this feeling, this my friend, is War!"
It was not the most bright thought that he had, but by no means it was the darkest.
"I have to figure what I have to do, that is for me and only for me to decide."
Kira was out here as well he was talking with Sai, Flay, Miriallia and Tolle, Anthony did not intend to listen in so he did not.
Now Tolle called out to him "Hey Anthony do you want to hang with us?"
Anthony in turn gave a shrug and said back "I'd rather not drag you guys down."
He knew that they just wished to include him, it may be due to the fact that the rest of the crew now looked on him suspicion.
Well more so than they did before he had saved the Desert Tiger.
Now giving a little yawn he had to think "Well all actions come with a price, I knew the price and chose it so well I guess I will have to deal with it."
Kira at this point came over to him "You seem a little down, well since all of the crew other than us have now looked at you as if you are a spy?"
Anthony at this point said "I don't blame them, but if they think it will make me act the way they want me to you are mistaken."
Kira gave Anthony a smile and said "Yeah I can see that, you don't seem like the type of guy to let what others think of you get to you."
Anthony just gave him a nod before he said "You should go back to your friends, you must remember that to many you are just a weapon, a weapon with a mind of it's own, is no use to them."
Kira knew that he was talking about those in the Earth Alliance that did not knew him as human, rather than those who were on board the ship.
Anthony saw the look on Kira's face and said "Don't doubt, if you do you will fear what you may do wrong and that fear will make itself become reality."
Kira now gave Anthony a look and asked "Are you speaking from experience?"
Anthony shook his head "Not mine, but one I sat next to did this, in the end his fear made him take actions that brought his fear to come to be by his owned hands."
That last part of did scare Kira a little bit so Anthony added "He did get better though and he and she lived together for the rest of their days."
Kira asked "Wait what do you mean by that?"
In reply Anthony just said "014, 015 and 016 were revived or so the record said, get it now?"
Kira did not, but he did get a bit of it, what Anthony meant was for him not to get confused or to doubt what he could do in battle.
If he did so, he would only feed them until they were real.
Now Kira had to ask "How old are you, no tell me for real?"
Anthony gave him a smile as he began to head back inside the Archangel. As he did this Kira did hear him say "I'll never tell."
Kira had to ask himself in his head "Wait what is with him, at times he seems like me at times he seems much older than me, just what is he?"
He went back to his friends who had unlike Anthony did listen in on what was being said "Why why did he walk off when you asked about how old he was?"
Kira turned to Flay but he had no answer, he now looked back to where Anthony had been and said "Well I guess he likes to make fun of us every now and again."
He did not know how true that was, nor how far Anthony could go with a joke or how long he could plan it out for.
Archangel Hangar
Anthony now saw Cagalli staring at his suit, shaking his head he walked past her and said "You know that it is impolite to stare, it has feelings to you know."
She still stared at his suit and said "It flashed it's eyes at me?" Anthony raised an eyebrow at this and asked "Oh and what colour was the eyes?"
Right now Anthony was not mocking her, due to the fact that he did wish to know what colour the eyes were?
"They were red, like that of blood, like the colour of the cape?"
It was clear to him that she was unsure of what she had seen.
Anthony replied calmly "If it was red, then it wants you to like back off, ever heard of red eyes take a warning."
It was at this moment that Anthony saw that her eyes reflected a bit of the Zero-System.
Now alarm bells went off in Anthony's head, but he did his best to remain calm "I'll ask you this once, what did it show you?"
Her reply was brief but gave Anthony some relief "I don't know, all I saw was it's eyes flash at me, then you came in here and started talking to me."
At least she seemed or thought she was telling the truth, but Anthony was a little unsure of it, he had to take precautions.
Anthony took in a deep breath then exhaled, that was a relief he then said "I would try not to stare at it, if I were you go get some rest, you look terribly."
She gave him a nod but did not move from the spot, it was as if she was transfixed by his suit.
Anthony in turn moved past her at this point and went to his suit, getting inside he he pulled up all that it had done.
"So you flashed at her, okay but what else did you do to here?"
Anthony pulled up surveillance of the suit so that he could see what had occurred while he was absent.
Giving out a very long sigh he got out of his suit, it had only flashed at her, but due to the nature of the suit, it had to use the Zero-System to do that.
Anthony knew two ways to break on out of a daze or out of fairy land.
One was to straight up hit the person in the face, but that was not going to cut it, right now he did not wish to make an enemy out of Kisaka or Cagalli.
The other was to shock them, but to do that he would have to risk getting hit by her, she would not be gentle with him, fear did not faze Anthony.
He decided to take the latter as well as a more gentle approach, while she was of in la la land, or fairy land or wherever young girls go to, he decided to tap his forehead to hers.
It took a full 5 seconds of this for her to notice his eyes right in front of hers, the eyes he had did not seem to reflect her but that of his suit despite staring right at her.
The first thing she did that Anthony saw was that she gave a blink and the Zero-System that was reflected in her eyes was gone.
The next thing she did was a lot less subtle. Jumping back as far as she could, only to see Anthony do the same and shake his head and sigh.
"What, what were you doing, why were you so close to me?"
Cagalli managed to ask as she blushed violently and was unable to meet his eyes.
"I did what I had to, to snap you out of a daze, would you prefer my book?"
As Anthony said this he nonchalantly tapped the book at his side, Cagalli shook her head at him.
Still blushing and unable to meet his eyes she said "Thanks I guess, it was not like I asked for your help or anything ass."
In return Anthony just smiled and said "Many people do believe that they do not need help and will bat away the hand that is offered to them, only once they have destroyed what they wished to protect will they learn."
This was much deeper than Cagalli had thought and she said "Well who asked you any way!"
It was cute to watch for Anthony, she was still blushing and looking away from his eyes.
"Yeah she is a Tsundere, no doubt about that, well for now at least."
She clearly got angry with the smile on his face and said "You, you liked that didn't you pervert!"
Anthony now did get offended and in reply said "Dear child, as high as you may think you are, when I compare you to the one that would have given my heart to you are dull, more dull than a tank compared to the my suit."
Cagalli now asked "So what happened to this lady, did you give up on here, or where you not good enough?"
Anthony smile as a tear dropped from his eye as he said "She died holding my hand, while I was asleep, we had just come through a crisis."
Anthony now turned away from her and said "I feel the sudden urge to weep, I'll leave you to what you desire, but respect that I do not want you near my suit."
Anthony left Cagalli feeling like shit, she wanted to call out to him and say that she did not mean it like that she wanted to apologies for being such a brat.
But the speed that Anthony made it to his suit and hopped inside before she was able to say a single word.
Kisaka who had seen the whole thing gave a sigh as he showed himself to Cagalli "That was not the wisest move you could have made, did you know you were staring at that for 10 minutes?"
She now did her best to put on her brat face, though she called it by another word and said "You asked you for your input?"
Kisaka now gave a louder sigh and said "No doubt he can hear you right now and though I dare not believe that I know what he his thinking I can assume he would be rather angry with you."
At these words Cagalli shut her trap, then said while she looked at the ground "I did not know he had, I did not know that one of those people was dear to him?"
Kisaka now looked at her as he raised an eyebrow and said "So you really are sorry huh, if what you said about his suit is true, try not to bring about any thing that will make him no longer value life, it would not be wise for the Earth and Space."
Kisaka was right, it was not a good idea to make a young man feel like shit about a memory that he deemed a failure that to him was unforgivable.
Anthony inside the cockpit of MS Agito Zero did not weep, though the memory of that girl did sadden him.
Shaking his head he said "Sigh, why do things have to go this way huh, well I guess I am to blame at times, but hey, all we can do is move forward."
"The present is the best time to be in for it is the only time you can make a real impact, so make use of the time you have I guess?"
PLANTS: Clyne Residence
Lacus now was reading the reports that were meant for her father, she saw that the ship named the Lesseps had suffered serve damage, but for some reason, all of the crew were fine, well for now.
It was clear to her that Anthony had done this.
No other person would just leave the enemy alive, if it was not for him, all those people may have been killed, killed by Kira.
Now she turned to Mr Pink who was on her lap. "WHATS WRONG HARO?"
She gave him a nod and said "Mr Pink, we have to find a way to help Kira, I believe that he does not wish to fight us?"
While Lacus did not wish to take him away from his friends, she did want to see him again.
In fact she wanted to see Anthony too and ask him, why he piloted that mobile suit of his.
"Why do people fight Mr Pink, war is such a complicated thing?"
Mr Pink did not know how to reply to that and just said "SCARY, SCARY HARO!"
When Mr Pink said that, Lacus was able to recall that Anthony had scared and been able to tease and bicker with Mr Pink, it was amusing to watch them.
To think a young man would was polite as well as rather playful was in a suit that took down its foes as if they were jokes and let them live in order to shame.
Lacus had to state out loud "Does he change his the mindset he is in once he gets in that mobile suit?"
It was a good question, that Anthony she had seen and spoken to was not arrogant in the way that the ZAFT pilots had heard.
She now thought of her father and how is term was coming to a close, with him no longer chairman of the PLANTS, Patrick Zala would take control.
Lacus did not dislike Athrun's father, but she got the feeling that he was a man who desired that a world only for Co-ordinators.
Now it was a major issue that the people of the plants, this superior race that Patrick Zala spoke of had problems with sterility.
Lacus knew at times she was could appear to be a bit of an airhead, but she also knew that was due to her nature, her pacifist nature and her philosophy.
She now smiled as she looked down at Mr Pink and said "I think it is safe to agree that we have to act if we want any change to happen, don't you think so Mr Pink, I believe that is the way to act?"
Lacus now began to ponder why Anthony did not kill, she recalled what she had seen on when she was with Athrun and the other pilots.
"Does Anthony feel guilt at not dying with his friends no he said they were his brothers and sisters, does he feel that he failed them still, how long has it been since then?"
It was a good question, one that she had to ask.
Her mind now drifted to that which Anthony had shown her inside his mobile suit "I seek a strong heart, worthy to be a l'Cie.
A query: wilt thou become l'Cei and protect me the Vermilion Bird?"
To here l'Cie was a word that she did not understand or know of, was the l'Cie the power of the kings that Anthony had spoken off and denied.
Right not it was paradox to her, for it both mad sense and no sense at all.
But the bigger question was, what is the Vermilion Bird, what did it need protection from?
At this point Lacus realised that she had got in more than she wished to and came to a stop there.
She now looked at her window and saw the lady that she had invited to her home.
Moving out to meet her Lacus said "Ah Miss McGriff, so good of you to join me so soon."
Selene in turn said "How can I refuse an invite from Miss Clyne, you are quite popular even in the DSSD."
Lacus gave a small laugh and said "Oh please don't tease me, I am sure that you are popular as well."
The two of them exchanged pleasantries, until Lacus decided to get to the core of why she had invited Selene here.
"You see Miss McGriff, I invited you here today to ask a favour of you."
Selene in kind said "It depends on what that is, I may or may not be able to help you with it."
Lacus gave Selene a nod and said "You see while I was on board the Archangel, the ship of the Earth Alliance, I met two young men, one was a Co-ordinator like us, he was the pilot of the mobile suit known as the Strike."
Selene now asked "And the other was the pilot of the Omega?"
Lacus gave her a nod and said "Yes that is it, he let me a few questions to think over, if you do come into contact with him, I ask that you allow me to see him, if you can allow this?"
Selene now said "You do know that if any of the PLANTS find out that you were in contact with an enemy pilot, it will not go down well."
Lacus gave her a determined smile and said "I believe he knows how to bring this war to an end, he and the pilot of the Strike, if I could speak to them, I would try to implore the two of them to show mercy on the people of the PLANTS."
Selene knew what she was being asked was risky, but even she could not say no to Miss Clyne.
"I'll see what I can do Miss Clyne, I must tell you we are no closer to him than the PLANTS are."
Lacus said "I know but it is important that we try to act."
Selene had to agree it was important that they try, that was what the DSSD was all about, they were doing their best to show that Naturals and Co-ordinators could live and work side by side.
If it was true that the pilot of the Omega was a Natural while the pilot of the MS Strike was a Co-ordinator, it could only help the DSSD's cause.
Food was now brought out for the two of them and Selene did say "I take it that your father's term is now ending?"
Lacus gave her a grim nod, the look did not suit Lacus, she should be more upbeat and cheerful in Selene's opinion.
"That is why I am trying to make contact with the pilot of the Omega, if I can do this, it will be step in avoiding the loss of life."
It was at this point that Selene had to ask "Miss Clyne, he does not kill his enemies in battle what could you possibly mean?"
Now Lacus spoke in a very serious manner "He came off as a kind and gentle young man who was damaged in areas that he hid from others, we all know that a damaged person is a person who can fall very quickly."
Selene was about to ask what she meant when Lacus said "I believe the loss of his loved ones made him to be in denial about that or at least he appears to be like that, while I was there he was always ready to tell a joke or bring one up."
The two of them went silent for about a minute before Selene said "So he is the type to hide behind laughter, it is not the best way, but it does work to an extent or so I have read."
It was definitely not the best way to cope with what he was coping with, but the main question that had to have an answer was how long had he been like this?
Lacus then said "When I looked into his eyes and saw him speak to the pilot of the Strike it was like he was talking to a long lost brother as if he had known him for years before all this."
Selene then asked "I take it he was like this to all of those around him, he was like a family member you knew them all very well."
Lacus gave a nod "Yes he was like that, he knew what to say and when to say it, he also knew where to be and when to be there, it was like he had seen it all before, it is like, he knows what and why you will take action, like he has known us for years on end."
Selene now asked "Now that is food for thought, to believe that there is a man out there that does know about us and he wishes us to keep guess how much he knows?"
Lacus knew that it was like that, word for word.
"It is just how you say it is, as if he knows so much and wants us to keep guessing at how much he knows?"
Selene now took a sip of the tea that was before her "Now that, that is not comforting thought to have."
Lacus did speak up on the pilots behalf saying "It is not like he abuses it thought, he is very wary of what he says and how he says it, at least that is what I could tell when he was around more than just one person."
Selene now raised her eyebrow and just had to ask "May I ask how you would know this Miss Clyne, did he tell you?"
Lacus shook her head "No he did not tell me, but he did not seem to be the type of person who sits back and lets others fight, I believe said that as long as he had power he would act."
Now thoughts of Kira came into Lacus's head, though she did not know why, she felt a her chest get a little tighter as she thought of their time together.
Selene saw this and said "I believe I may have to leave now, it was wonderful to have tea with you and I will contact you if you allow me to."
With that she left and Lacus how to wonder if Kira was thinking about her right now like she was thinking of him?
Archangel: Cafeteria
Kira at this point was thinking of Lacus as he ate his meal, though he did not feel tight in his chest, no he just thought about how she had spoke about both him and Anthony.
"It does make me want to know, if there were people like Lacus in both the PLANTS and in the Earth Alliance, what if things like the Blue Cosmos and ZAFT extremist did not exist?"
It was true if those two factions in boths sides were no longer around the war may not be still going on. At this point Flay asked him "Kira, you aren't thinking about that girl are you?"
Kira at this snapped back to reality and only heard that girl are you, so when he gave his reply he said "What no, I am not."
Tolle his best friend said "Whoa he must be, did you see how quick he was to deny it!"
Sai at this point gave a laugh and said "Yeah he did deny it a little to quickly, so now you have only confirmed your guilt!"
Flay then said "I guess it is alright for him, all except him and Kuzzey are paired up so it's only natural for him to want to be as well, I mean why wouldn't Kira?"
Miriallia then said "I am not sure that is how it works but, I can go along with it."
Kira looked at Kuzzey who just said "Hey don't look at me, I am not going to help you out of this."
All of them were able to share a laugh, well except for Kira who did not know why they were laughing at him.
But due to a young man that had grown to like and accept he was enlighten.
"I believe they may be referring to little girl, the ill tempered one, who we all picked up the desert."
All of them spun to see that Anthony was among them, how they did not notice him was beyond any of them, again.
Mu who was a little less hostile to Anthony than Murrue and Natarle were for his actions said "Well I guess if you now told me that you were not an assassin, I would have to call you out as a lair."
Anthony waved it off by saying "I believe it was either Class 3rd or Class 12th that dealt in those areas, Class 0 was more making the impossible possible."
Mu now narrowed his eyes and said "Oh you did not just go there child?"
Anthony in turn said "Chew on me Cow of Endymion." At this moment Mu replied "So, what is it like to chill in a robot as your best friend."
Anthony replied "Tell me what grass and dirt taste like Moo La Flaga, eh?"
Kira, Sai, Miriallia, Tolle, Flay and Kuzzey did not know what to say, Mu and Anthony now were in a heated verbal battle to see which one of them would win.
"So I take it that you are not a soldier, was that due to the fact that you didn't have the balls to be one?"
Mu said this with a devilish grin on his face, in kind Anthony said "Your right I am not a solider, elite units are not counted as part of the regular military not that you'll ever experience it."
Mu then retorted by saying "Hey at least I am an officer rather than a grunt."
Anthony just smirked and said "Hey at least my nation can actually win a war, not to mention kill a god."
That one really hit Mu below the belt, he had just told him that the entire of the Earth Forces were going to lose this war.
Mu now said the only thing he could "Well at least I have a cool official title."
At this point Anthony looked a little defeated and said "Damn you've got me there Cow of Endymion."
The only thing that stopped the two of them from going on any further was the fact that Murrue had come into the room.
"What were you two just doing, you are standing in the way, may I get passed?"
Anthony in his head said "Mu's wild love interest appeared, Mu is unable to battle, wait hold up, why am I thinking of this like Pokemon?"
It was only now did Anthony notice that her gaze was not on Mu, but on him "A word with you in private?"
Anthony gave her a nod and said "There is still some time before I have to enact my next plan so yeah, I can spare some time."
This earned him a look from all of them in the room and Anthony had to say "What, I plan to go and take a nap, get off my back."
All of them gave out a sigh at this, Anthony knew how to throw off any situation that he was found, it it was like he knew what to saw and when to say it to have maximum effect.
As Anthony left the room it Murrue, Kira had to say "Is it just me or does Anthony like to tease all of us from time to time?"
Now all of them had to agree with that Mu included, he even said "Man he does not hold back, remind me not to tick him off again."
Outside Murrue and him to a walk to the officers lounger where she sat down in front of him and now looked at him and said "Take a seat Anthony, if you will I do not wish to waste any more time on this than I have to."
Anthony gave her a nod and took a seat, Murrue had her arms out folded on the table, she did not look happy.
"Anthony, I have allow your antics on this ship up till now, but when you made that stunt with the Desert Tiger you have gone to far, do you know how hard it will be for me to explain this?"
In reply Anthony gave her a nod and said "I know, I also know you are in just as much crap for having Kira on board and in the Strike, so you can look forward to losing La Flaga, Badgiruel and Alster."
The shock on Murrue's face told him that she did not expect all of that.
"La Flaga will be assigned to training, Badgiruel will be promoted and put on a different ship and Ms Alster will be used to recruit others into the war."
Anthony had just told her the events that would occur after they returned to JOSH-A.
It was not a good move, but right now she would refuse to believe him so it was not a bad move.
But she did listen to him and asked "And what of the Strike and of Kira, you did not say his fate did you?"
In reply Anthony closed his eyes and shook his head.
Then when he stopped and opened his eyes he said "I have to ask you, are you so foolish that you do not know, think about it, I am sure you know the answer."
Right now all Anthony wanted was for Murrue to come to the answer by herself, he wanted her to put 2 and 2 together.
At least that way she could not say that he was being unreasonable and just guessing as to what will happen.
Anthony saw a sick look cross Murrue's face as she came to the only answer possible, it was clear to him that she did not like it one bit.
"I can tell that you know that which I speak of, please do tell me, do you intend to allow him to walk in to his death, after all that he has done."
She did not answer, no it was more along the lines she could not, she knew for herself that Kira did not have a future.
Now with a heavy heart she said "I am on an officer on board a ship, I have my orders and I must follow them."
Anthony then said "You only think like that because they have not sacrificed you yet, I can tell you that they will, that is their way, to sit back and disregard lives while they sit in their high seats away from combat."
Now Murrue asked "What is the point of telling me this, what do you hope to gain?"
It was not his reply that shook her inside but the blank honest look in his eyes "If I could gain anything, I would not be with you."
With a shadow of a smile Anthony then said "You know I once knew a man who told me to choose my own path in life, I can't say I liked him, he was not the type of man you could be friends with, but he pulled through when it mattered."
With a heavy sigh Anthony thought about that level and how all those who had been chosen to summon Alexander had perished.
"For his action he was given an order, it was a move by those in power to get rid of those that could be threat to them, a purge of our ranks."
Murrue now tried to ask "How does this relate to us, I assume that it does in some why, I am just unable to see it yet.
Anthony gave her a nod and said "Any unit in war that does well against a foe most lose to, will cause envy in their allies."
Murrue still did not get it and asked "Wait you mean to say that since we have performed well that our leaders will get rid of us?"
Anthony gave her a nod "In a crude way yes, but I must tell you as well, since you have done so well they will try to bring you down, no one likes to see those who do better than them, those above you will see you as a threat and have you removed."
It was now becoming clearer to Murrue what Anthony was going on about.
She now asked Anthony "The man that you spoke of, what happened to him."
Anthony gave a sigh as he said "He died, he lived longer than all but one who was around him, he was also Class Zero's commander, I can say they were trying to get rid of us one by one."
Murrue now said "That, that is a very sad story, as in not pathetic, sad."
Anthony now scowled at her as he got up "You best hope that it is only a story and not will come to pass with you, since you are in charge her, you will take the bullets first."
Murrue blinked, she did not expect him to say that, though it was an old saying that the officers took the bullets first.
Now as Anthony left her, Murrue had to ponder what he said.
"Is he guessing or does he know what we are in store for, I can never tell with him?"
Murrue shook her head "I will have to think on this later and discuss it with Mu and maybe Natarle?"
The story about being cast aside or rather picked off still sat in her mind, the fact that it was Anthony who told her that made her all the more weary about what could happen.
It was one of the many quips he had made, this time though he said it with a grim face and tone in his voice.
It was not a rant of a joke of his, this was a warning a warning that she was unable to truly understand.
It was in these moments that she recalled that he asked them not to ask how he knew things.
At this point in time she no longer wished to know how he figured things out, let alone who he got his information.
Archangel Hangar
Anthony gave out a sigh "Did I say way too much or way to little, I guess I'll never know for sure, well if I am able to leave this world and return to me own."
Anthony now opened his eyes to see that Cagalli was now in front of him, she was staring at him, from the look of it she wanted something to say.
Since he was not in the mood to deal with her Anthony gave a shrug and now moved on.
As he did this, she made a move to grab his arm.
To her credit she did manage to do it, Anthony on the other hand gave a look at her and then back to his arm.
Now at times, Anthony did not like being touched, this was one of those times.
The fact that he had got back into his regular uniform saved him from skin contact with her.
"I take it that you wish to talk with me, can you let go of my arm."
Anthony made sure his tone told her I really don't want to talk with you let alone let you touch me.
Cagalli let go and said "Look I just wanted to say that I am sorry for what I said to you before, I was being hurtful and unkind."
Anthony just looked at her and raised an eyebrow, it was not the response she had hoped for.
"Look I am sorry that I said those things, can we still get along?"
Anthony gave her a nod and said "Sure, we can, so long as I don't talk to you, you have no reason to call me names, I dislike being called names and having those that I care for insulted, so I think we can get along fine."
At this point Anthony turned away and walked off, it did not help that he had just this in a blank way.
It was as if he was just stating a fact to her and now he was on his way.
Cagalli may not have liked it but she knew that for what she had called him she deserved this or worse.
Kisaka at this point said "I believe he might want you to take action, it may be that actions speak louder than words?"
Cagalli at this point asked "Then what do I have to do to?"
Now Kisaka was about to reply when a voice said "I think she should try to show that she is not just a teen girl in a rebellious stage, one may wonder why the princess of ORB would be in a terrorist group, if I am not mistaken that can lead to many political discussions."
It was true, she did know that her actions did in fact endanger ORB and her father.
Anthony now looked at the two of the, they had taken there eyes off him for only a moment and he had vanished and then appeared, close to the, way too close.
"I believe you do not know the full consequences of your actions, just think about those who would step into power if your father was kicked out or killed, the one who has your hand in marriage?"
It was a real shock to the two of them that he knew just who they were and what they were.
It was also a shock that he knew the plans of Cagalli's father.
Kisaka moved now in front of Cagalli to protect her, though what he was going to do was beyond him.
Anthony saw the look on their faces and said "What don't look at me like that, do you really want the future of ORB to rest with Yuna Roma Seiran."
Now the fact that he was able to name said man and also peg his character scared both Kisaka and Cagalli, just who was this man, what did he know.
Anthony now narrowed his eyes and said "TI have to tell you that no matter how hard you try your father will die and no longer be there to lead ORB, in that case will you or that man rule?"
It took a little while for any one to talk, Kisaka had to thank god that there was no one else in the hangar.
Kisaka now dared to ask "How, how is it that you know all of this, just who are you?"
In reply Anthony just quoted apart of the Nameless Tome.
"Within the spiral emerged a single locus, so close yet invariably distant."
"In the flash of an eternity, one became ten and six, then ten and two, And the wheel began whirling once more."
"The first revealed the power of acceptance, The second, the power of kindness, The third, the power of knowledge, The fourth, the power of valor, The fifth, the power of innocence, The sixth, the power of tenacity, The seventh, the power of discernment, The eighth, the power of tranquility, The ninth, the power of action, The tenth, the power of ignorance, The eleventh, the power of wisdom, And the twelfth, the power of judgement."
"Cast away were the loci of fear, love, suffering, and age."
"Their souls elevated through the endless cycle of transmigration, Those who ascend these loci were chosen by the divine spirits: One wishing to open the gate with its own hand."
"One wishing to open the gate using the hand of another."
Kisaka did not get it for it did not make sense to him, of course it did not it was part of the last verse of the Nameless Tome.
A tome from a Final Fantasy game it did not exist here.
They still just stared at him and Anthony decided to quote yet another part of the Nameless Tome.
"And unto him I shall reply: I will become Agito, I will sound the knell to shake the world."
Cagalli tried to take a guess by asking "What do you think that you are this Agito, or you will become it, what do you think you are, the saviour of the world?"
Anthony shook his head "I would not expect a child to know or to even comprehend the meaning in those words.
This only served to confuse Cagalli a little more when Kisaka said "If you are this Agito that you speak of, then what is your purpose here?"
Anthony at this point just shook his head "I alone am not Agito, those who represent the 16 loci are, I am merely one who walked beside them in life, who the twelve invited into their ranks."
Anthony now saw that the two of them still did not understand so he finally said.
"Think of it as a goal, a goal that we all must strive to reach, that is Agito, a pedestal for us all" It was now official, he was messing with them, Anthony just wished to see what they would say to him, to see how they would react, he was not pleased with the outcome.
They did not seem to accept or reject what he was telling them, it was as if they were torn between what he said and what they believed in.
Cagalli now asked "So if you do intend to become this, why are you here, I mean to say why are you not with where you learned all this?"
Anthony in reply just said "I am here, due to the fact that all of us are given free choice to do as we please, besides that where I once was is in safe hands."
Cagalli at this recalled that there were only 12 people dead in the image she had seen. "The other 4, the 4 who I did not see in that image?"
Anthony gave a sigh and said "I'm fell like I'm going to walk the ship, don't talk to be about this later"
It was true Anthony did not wish to go through all that once more, it was rather tiring to lie and just keep on lying and make sure none could tell.
As he did leave them he said "Then again all this could be made up in my head, I could be totally insane you know?"
ZAFT
Athrun now looked over the reports that he had, in short all of those who had been sent against that new suit had been beaten, if not mocked in defeat.
He had just landed on Earth to find out that his target had now made it's way to the see and had beaten the Desert Tiger.
Though said man was alive he had made sure that a certain Private Bennett had been sent back to the home.
Athrun did not even want to know what she had screwed up, but it was clear that she knew she had screwed up big time.
From the few and far between reports he had read, the suit had some type of far combat that did not even had to hit to cause damage.
As he read this report Athrun had to ask "Just how good is that pilot, it what we saw was true, then he is from a world very different from our own, what type of hell did he go through?"
It was a good question, he had heard from Yzak that the Desert Tiger had met this man face to face and even had him in his office.
If that was true, Andrew Waltfeld did not know the amount of danger he had just put himself in.
"The reports say he threw a book so hard it was able to knock a grown man back a few steps."
That was slightly if not very disturbing, if he could do that what could he do in a hand to hand fight?
Athrun did not wish to say or even think of the word scary to him it was childish, if not stupid and had no real use.
Shaking his head he put away that report and moved out of the room he was given, if he could he would like a word with Private Bennett before she got sent back.
This was due to the fact that he did not know how she in a GINN was able to enter orbit.
None of the reports had told him and no one in the base had either, it was as if they were avoiding that subject all together.
It meant that she had a secret a secret that he wished to know.
Now coming upon her door he knocked and said "Private Bennett, I wish to enter."
A voice said "Replied yes sir, do come in."
As he did enter she was standing at attention, it was almost as if she knew she would get this visit.
"At ease, I just wished to ask you how was it that you came to enter the atmosphere?"
What she said next he could not believe "That pilot of the Omega saved me, his suit seems to be able to enter the atmosphere fine and he seems to be able to assist others as well."
Athrun did not know if he was supposed to believe that, but it did make sense why no one spoke about it.
"You do not expect me to believe this do you?"
Athrun asked her this as he raised an eyebrow at her, if it was a lie then it was alright, if it was the truth it only raised more questions than answers.
Her eyes did not falter even once when she replied "That is the truth sir, you ask and I spoke it."
Now that was a real cause for concern, sure Athrun knew that pilot did not kill his foes, but to go out of his way to save them?
One solution was that he was made, but if he was then there was no excuse for them being unable to best him in combat.
Right now what she did say made a twisted kind of sense, a sense that he did not wish to admit or accept.
"So then, I take it he got out of his suit, why did you not try to kill him, if not take his suit?"
Delilah looked Athrun in the eye as she said "I did sir, he beat me and then left me for those who came and rescued me to find."
Athrun blinked "He beat you, you do know that he claims to be a natural?"
Her reply came out as "No Natural can fight with a book as if it is just an extension of his body."
Athrun hoped that this was some type of sick joke, it was as if all that they saw, the metal man, the light those dead bodies, they were all made true by this.
Delilah now saw that Athrun did not look his best, in fact she almost thought she could see the fear that was reflected in his eyes.
Athrun gave her a nod then said "I thank you for your time, I must leave now."
Delilah gave him a salute as he left the room, not that he noticed it or cared, the one thing that must have been on his mind was how to contact Rau Le Cresuet and inform him of what he had just learned.
"Beaten with a book, this has to be some type of joke?" He was going into denial about this case and he knew it.
"Why does this only get stranger and stranger?"
It was true though he checked up with Yzak who said "She told me the same thing."
Dearka on the other hand said "Not to mention those who got to her said that she had her face drawn upon and all."
It was too much for Dearka the memory of the reports he had read caused him to laugh a little
"I have to say I don't know if I want to fight him and risk that."
Yzak at this point snapped at him and said "This is no laughing manner, we have to take that guy down or we have no chance of winning the war!"
At these words Dearka raised his hands up and said "Hey I know that, but come to think of it what could we do with a suit like that?"
Athrun replied "If we can win him over, then we may know the answer to soon."
Archangel: Bridge
Murrue had chosen not to share what Anthony had told her while the two of them were alone.
She was on the bridge now looking at the options, there weren't many.
"I can't focus on that right now, we can still come under fire at any time so we have to be careful."
It was at this point that Natarle came to her and saluted "Captain, I would like to request that I speak to Anthony Hitoro."
Murrue blinked and said "I have spoken with him before I returned here."
Murrue then added "Though he was able to stir the entire conversation in another direction.
Natarle and Murrue had to give him that, he did have a way with any word he said.
Not to mention the fact that every word he did say had a meaning that was not clear to any of them.
Murrue then said "I believe what he said to you was to throw of the situation, if I had to take a guess I would say that he has profiles on all of us."
Natarle was about to ask where one can get such data, but she had a feeling that Murrue would not know the answer to that.
With a sigh though she did try to hide it Natarle said "I would still like to speak with him all the same, I wish to clear up what he said."
Murrue was about to give a sigh when she heard "You know it was less of planned more of a spur of the moment that I said it on, I did not mean to cause you any harm by it."
All the crew on the bridge of the Archangel spun to see that Anthony was indeed here there.
They had heard about how he can go in out of places and none will notice, but for him to get up here spoke badly of crew.
Natarle then asked "Just how long have you been there?"
Anthony at this point gave a shrug and said "I was in the lift with your Captain, though how she did not notice me was beyond me, I would have said hi, but you did not seem to be in the mood."
It must have been true for Murrue shot him a look that would have made lesser men take a step back in fear.
Anthony raised an eyebrow and said "If you want to fight me go ahead, I'll even let you get the first blow."
Now none of them were stupid, if Anthony could dispatched two men as if they were no more than children what could he do to Murrue?
Anthony gave a sigh "I won't harm you as long as none of you give me a reason to do so, I act how I see fit that was how I was the last order that I was given.
It was true to a point Dr Al-Rashia had told the whole of Class Zero to write the last page.
Anthony now said "I doff my cap to you and withdraw."
And as he said he left before any of them could say a word.
Natarle did her best not to act rashly while she said "At times I have to wonder if he is a fool or he is fooling us?"
Murrue was unable to comment on this matter for she did not know which was true and which was false.
Natarle gave a short and almost silent sigh but Murrue heard it all the same and said "Do you require a break Badgiruel?"
Natarle did not answer back right away but when she did she said "I do not believe that I require a break Captain, I will be fine."
Murrue gave her a smile and said "Then as you were, we can't allow his antics to disrupt the entire ship."
Natarle gave her a nod and said "I can agree with that, though if we limited his access to the ship it would be a step to stopping all of them."
In rely Murrue said "I don't believe we have what it takes to stop him, nor do we wish to waste the energy to try."
Natarle could agree with this, it was true, they did not have the strength to stop him right now.
It was at this point that Mu came onto the bridge and said "Any of you seen that girl and her guard, not to sound rude but I would like to know where they are on our ship."
Natarle felt that she was inclined to agree with him and said "I believe Murdoch said they were around the hangar, he did report that he was going to let some of the crew try the simulator for the Skygrasper units."
Mu gave her a nod and said "So I guess they must really want another one of us out there just in case things get ugly.
Right now all three of them knew that by ugly they meant Anthony betraying or deserting them.
"I see then you should be down there as well to judge them, should you not."
Mu gave Murrue a nod and left the bridge, it was not a pleasing sight for either Murrue or Natarle to watch him exit in the lift, though neither knew why.
Mu did notice a little concern on their faces but he brushed it off as they were concerned for those who would pilot the Skygrasper.
Mu was also a little worried, he knew that war was not a game and that no matter how good one was with the simulator, nothing could make them ready for their first sortie in real combat.
Right now he just had to hope that none of them were going to die, it would be a real shame if they did but Mu knew that this was war and people do die.
"I guess I will have to do my best to keep the one they send out with me alive as well can't have them dying on me now can I."
With the Mu now made his way to the Hangar to see if he could judge any of the new pilots and see what they were capable of.
Archangel Hangar
Anthony had seen the results of the simulators, according to them Cagalli was the best and Tolle a close second.
Right now he could see one of the crew of the Archangel putting himself between her and the actual Skygrasper.
"No you're not ready for the real thing, please understand."
Cagalli gave him a nod and said "I know that, there is a difference between a simulation and the real thing."
Anthony rolled his eyes and went over to Tolle who with Kira was now working on ways that he can improve his flight so he could pilot the Skygrasper more effectively.
Anthony now moved over to where those to were and said "I see that you two can work well together, I guess it's what friends are for right?"
At this point Kira and Tolle looked up and they both asked "Hey can you help us, your input as a pilot would do us a lot of good?"
Anthony at this raised his hands and said "I am afraid I don't know much about piloting a plane or an air ship, sorry I really got nothing that can help you."
Kira did pick up on his slip up and said "Air Ship, you mean like the Archangel, is that what you call them where you're from."
Anthony waited and formulated an answer "Well not really, I am quite sure this is a Space Ship, it was just a slip of the tongue, I meant space ship."
Anthony at this point thought "Well that was close, at least I did not say freaking White Base or the Trojan Horse of the Earth Federation."
Kira did not seem to be buying it, but Anthony really did not care at this point.
Tolle then asked "So do you have any other names that you can come up with for the Archangel?"
Anthony at this point said "Well you could call it a Trojan Horse if you really wanted."
Both Tolle and Kira did not pick up on the fact that he did just quote there myths to them.
Tolle to his credit did ask "So why did you call it that, is there a reason?"
Anthony at this point gave a laugh and said "I believe it carries the force that literally carries your entire war, am I wrong?"
They knew he was right, the MS Strike, the Archangel and the Hawk of Endymion did make them like the elite of the elite, so a Trojan Horse in a sense.
Mu at this point said "So where did you here that term, where did you hear the term Trojan Horse?"
Anthony at this point casually said "When I go into the ZAFT comms, all I hear about is the legged ship or as some call it the Trojan Horse."
Mu then said "How did you know that it carried the elite within it?"
Anthony at this point gave a shrug and said "When I here a term I tend to look it up, you may be a little amazed at all the useless junk you have in your data banks."
Mu said "Well that was below the belt, as usual for you Anthony."
Anthony looked at him and said "Hey be glad I'm not Rau Le Cresuet or I'd go on about this and that and how I am so hurt and how I want to kill like everyone."
Mu at this point asked "So how do you know what he does, do you have enemy intel?"
Anthony said "You'd think that Haro that Miss Clyne had could take data from me and I would not know all that is going on, don't insult me, I hacked into his ships cameras, though that was all I could do."
Mu no asked "So when did you do all this?"
Anthony gave a sigh and said "When they connected the Haro to their ship, what you did not think my suit can track data taken from it if not tamper with it, though only a little at such distances."
Mu took a step back "Have you done that to our systems?"
Anthony at this point said "No do you want me to or do I need to?"
Mu then said "I'd much rather that you did not do that to us?"
Anthony said "I will respect your request, until you lose my respect, that is."
Mu gave a sigh and said "I don't know what scarier the fact that you say we have your respect or the fact that you know what our enemy is doing."
Anthony at this point said "It is not absolute, I am unable to know all that is happening, I also am unable to connect all the time due to the fact that they are not within range, you must remember Mu that I am human."
So how did you like the chapter sure not a lot did happen but hey a lot will happen next chapter, I will also have to right a new song next chapter as well.
Please review and let me know what you think no flaming.