Athrun's shoulder was searing. The last thing he remembered was being struck over the head with something hard, and hurled, bound and gagged, into the dark room that was his current prison. He must have passed out quite some time ago; the dull ache in his limbs and the stiffness of his body was proof he'd lain in one position for a long period.

Slowly, he began to slip his wrists from the bonds. He worked deftly, keeping silent as he waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The ropes fell free sooner than he'd expected, and he tore off the rag that had stifled his mouth and nose, rubbing sore limbs ruefully. He paused at the sound of a low groan from somewhere off in the darkness.

"Athrun, is that you?" Her voice was melodic and sweet, even through the layer of pain that masked it.

"Lacus!" He made his way blindly toward her distant voice in the dark.

"Oh, it is you, Athrun! I'm so glad." She grew cheerful. "I was wondering when you'd come to. That man threw you in here a while ago, and I couldn't reach you to wake you up…"

He'd located her, strapped to a hard wooden chair in one corner of the room. He circled around behind her and tugged at the bonds angrily.

"How could that guy do this to you?" He growled, helping her up once he'd loosed her. "Where are we?"

"I believe we're in the washroom," she clarified for his benefit, brushing off her skirt meticulously.

Athrun slammed his fist against the wall. Lacus jumped at the sudden movement, and he regretted frightening her. Yet try as he might he could not quell his rising anger. He had gotten involved in dangerous matters he'd known nothing about, and all at the fault of his own commander. Worse yet, his fiance had been tossed into the mix.

"This is ridiculous," he mumbled, feeling his way toward the door. "Stand back, Lacus. The door is probably locked, and I'll have to get us out by force."

"Oh, you don't have to do that," she brightened. "That man came in while you were unconscious. He said, 'I'm leaving the door open, girl. I don't care what you do when you finally get loose. I have what I want.'" Then she giggled.

Athrun stared. Her voice had been pitifully un-Envy like, yet he was glad for the information.

"That must mean they have the stone," he determined.

"They?"

"He's one of them. I know it. One of those awful…things." He couldn't help but shiver.

"I must say, Athrun, you are acting a bit strangely," He looked away as she neared and put a hand to his cheek. "What's happened?"

He didn't answer, but located the doorknob and led her out by the wrist. She flinched and drew her hand away immediately.

"Lacus?" Then he caught sight of the deep gashes embedded in the flesh of both her wrists. "You're wounded."

"I was trying to get loose so I might get you to stir," she said quietly, and a hint of a blush rose to his cheeks. "I was really very worried, you know, Athrun, when you didn't wake up."

"I'm sorry," he apologized vaguely, sneaking around the next corner and surveying the area. He heard Lacus gasp behind him and spun around to find her crouched over something on the ground just outside the door.

"Why, it's Mr. Pink," she said sadly, scooping up what was left.

The lively little Haro had been smashed, gears and wiring scattered like bits of colorful confetti. As she swept the hopeless pieces into her lap, the Haro emitted a static buzz.

"Har…o!" After that it fell silent, and Lacus stood, the broken bits clutched in her hands, a solid resolution apparent in her lavender eyes.

"I'll make you another, Lacus," Athrun reassured her.

"I'm afraid it won't be the same," she said, "But thank you. No, we must press on and track down what it is you're looking for."

"Right." Suddenly he halted as a terrible thought struck him. "Lacus, back then, exactly how long were you…you?"

Fist her eyes went wide, then she grinned in realization. "I see. You were worried that what I told you about Kira wasn't really from me."

The tension ran out of his shoulders. "Yes, that's right." He had been worried. The words of the pop singer had soothed him, made him nearly forget about the horrors of battling with his best friend. She'd enabled him to collect his thoughts, and if it hadn't actually been her telling him those things, but that imitation Lacus instead…he would hate to think of the effect it would have had on him.

"I was me right until the moment you went to change clothes," she smiled. "You could imagine my surprise when through the door to the patio, another me walked out instead of you."

Athrun relaxed and located his things. "It looks like he's gone for now. We need to hurry back."

"Back where?" she questioned him.

He had come from the Gibraltar base on Earth. He would have to go back and make his report. If this Envy had already made it back and handed the stone over to Rau Le Creuset, he'd be in an even bigger heap of trouble. Then he thought of the rest of his team back in Resembool, entirely unaware of the stone that was causing so much trouble for ZAFT everywhere else.

"I'm going to Earth, Lacus, and I'm taking you with me."

"Is that wise?" she asked. "Not going back I mean. I mean bringing me along." She fiddled with a hairclip absently.

"Why wouldn't it be?" He was thoroughly puzzled.

"I'm not part of ZAFT, and except for that one time in the life pod, I've never been outside the PLANTs. I've certainly never been to Earth before."

Athrun chuckled. "There's a first time for everything, Ms. Clyne."