Chapter 11: The enemy revealed
As Athrun, Heero, Luna and Meyrin disembarked from the ship they noticed a large crown gathered in front of a stage.
'Wonder what's going on?' asked Luna.
'No idea,' replied Athrun.
They got their answer when a large pink ZAKU, escorted by two normal ones, landed behind the stage.
'Hello everyone, it's me, Lacus Clyne,' said Meer over the speakers.
The crowd then let up a loud cheer.
'I'd like to thank all of you courageous ZAFT soldiers for your service to Chairman Durandal.'
The crowd then let up another loud cheer as Meer started singing.
'Looks like your girlfriends here,' said Heero.
'Yeah,' replied Athrun.
Suddenly, two crewmen ran past the small group and bumped into Meyrin and Luna. Both of the girls lost their balance as Meyrin fell into Athrun and Luna fell backwards before Heero caught her.
'You right?' asked Heero as he pulled Luna back to her feet.
'Yeah, thanks,' replied Luna.
'Looks like your girlfriend is causing a small riot,' said Heero.
'Yeah, let's move over there,' said Athrun as he started walking towards some shipping containers with his arm around Meyrin's waist.
Luna noticed this and grabbed hold of Heero's arm as they started walking. As Heero felt the sudden grip he looked over and thought about telling Luna off, but again he couldn't do it for some reason.
As the rest of the Minerva's crew watched the concert, Arthur couldn't help but dance to the music in joy.
'Who would've thought that Lacus Clyne would be here,' said Arthur.
'Yes it seems to be too much of a coincidence,' replied Gladys as she noticed Durandal get off a shuttle.
Then an orange headed man walked up to Gladys and Rey.
'The Chairman would like me to escort you to lunch,' said the man.
'Very well,' replied Gladys as she and Rey followed the man to a car.
The car travelled to an ancient building where Durandal was waiting for them.
'Thalia how nice to see you,' said Durandal.
'You too Chairman,' replied Gladys.
'And Rey, how have you been?'
Rey only smiled and flung his arms around Durandal in joy.
'Gilbert,' he said as he closed his eyes and Durandal embraced him.
Back at the concert, the three phantom pain pilots were watching the concert before driving off.
'We'll let those coordinators have their fun before we destroy them,' said the green haired one as he drove.
'You think that Neo will have us attack, Sting?' asked Auel from the back.
'Maybe, he just wanted reconnaissance for now,' replied Sting as they rounded a bend and Stellar started to stare at the ocean.
As the concert ended, Shinn, Luna, Athrun, Heero and Meyrin were making their way back to the ship when they were pulled up by the orange headed man.
'Excuse me, the Chairman would like you four pilots to join him for lunch today.'
'Alright,' they replied as they followed the orange headed man to the limo that was waiting.
As they got to the lunch site, Durandal was waiting to greet them as the orange headed man escorted them up the stairs.
'Ah Athrun, how nice to see you again,' said Durandal as he shook Athrun's hand.
'You too Chairman,' replied Athrun.
'And who are you?' asked Durandal as he held his hand out to the others.
'I'm Lunamaria Hawke,' said Luna.
'Shinn Asuka,' said Shinn as he took the Chairman's hand.
'Ah yes I've heard all about your heroics from the Armoury One incident to the latest battle at Mahamul. I believe that there is a medal waiting for you to accept.'
'Thank you very much Sir,' replied Shinn with a grin of pride on his face.
'And finally?' said Durandal as he extended his hand to Heero.
'Heero Yuy,' answered Heero as he reluctantly shook Durandal's hand.
'Yes I believe you may have heard this enough but I would like to personally thank you for the helping with the destruction of Junius Seven and the protection of the Minerva.'
'No thanks required,' said Heero, unaffected by Durandal's words.
As the group sat to lunch the Chairman turned the conversation to the cause of war.
'Why do you think that this war has started after two years of peace, Shinn?'
'Me Sir?' asked Shinn as Durandal nodded. 'I think it is because that there are people out there on both sides that hate each other and want the other destroyed.'
'Like Blue Cosmos,' said Durandal. 'Yes you are right in that regard but there is another influence as well. What I'm about to tell you not many other people know.'
'Chairman they're just children,' said Gladys.
'Yes, children that are fighting on the front lines, I believe they have a right to know the truth. You see that machine out there. It's our latest mass production unit, straight off the production line. You see, war is like a business to some people. They require war so that they can produce weapons for sale and keep their stock high. So if there is no war, these people will go broke. So they produce ways of starting wars, like Blue Cosmos.'
'That's terrible,' said Shinn in horror.
'It's the same in my world,' said Heero much to everyone's surprise.
'Go on,' prompted Durandal.
'I grew up in the colonies. And like here, there were people in my world that didn't like them. One day, someone from Earth assassinated our leader and started a war against the colonies. We believed that this was the OZ organisation as they constantly oppressed the colonies. We later learned that OZ was in fact controlled by a group of people known as the Romafella Foundation. This in turn was controlled by a man known as Treize and his faction.'
'That is the same here. Most people know that Blue Cosmos controls the Atlantic Federation but it is the people that created Blue Cosmos that we are really fighting. They are simply known as Logos and they desire war above everything else.'
'So we are fighting Logos then?' asked Luna.
'Not directly, but I plan to eliminate Logos to bring an end to this war,' finished Durandal as the group sat in silence at the revelation.
As lunch ended, the sun was starting to set and Durandal led them to the hotel.
'I invite you to stay here as my guests.'
'Thank you Chairman,' replied Athrun. 'Shinn, Rey, Luna, Heero, you guys stay here, I'll return to the ship.'
'No commander, I insist that you should stay,' said Rey. 'I have things I need to do.'
'Athrun!' came Meer's voice as she ran up to the group. 'I couldn't believe it when the Chairman said you were here. Did you see my concert?'
'Ah, yeah,' said Athrun in shock as Meer clung her arms around his.
'You two should go out for dinner, my treat,' said Durandal.
'Thank you Sir,' replied Meer. 'Let's go make the reservations.'
'First a word Athrun,' said Durandal as the rest of the group walked away.
Durandal led Athrun and Meer to a nearby park and Meer sat on a bench as Durandal spoke.
'Have you heard anything from the Archangel?'
'No Sir, I was hoping you would have.'
'I haven't either, though if you do, could you please report it to me,'
'Yes Sir and if you hear anything can you do the same?'
'Yes I think I can,' replied Durandal as Meer walked up and dragged Athrun away.
That's if for number 11. You know the drill. Read and Review.
