GUNDAM SEED ETERNITY

Editor: xlandar

Episode 12: Nothing Good

"Is she the only survivor?" Lacus asked, looking at the picture of the girl.

"Yes, Chairman!" the soldier replied.

"What of Hagen Simons, the other hostage?" Lacus asked in concern.

"He was killed and disposed on the way in the forest while the terrorist escaped."

"How horrible… how did this happen?" Lacus stared at the picture now that she had flipped to the next page on the file presented to her.

"Our soldiers were warned to stop following them, or the hostages will be killed. However, their warnings were not heed, and the Simons was killed as a show of what they mean. They had probably killed him instead of Hazaguchi because Hazaguchi is only a girl." Commander Yale, who was at Lacus' side replied.

"This is horrible. We must bury the man and give him the proper honours." Lacus said, just as Kira entered the room. Kira did not interrupt with the meeting, but merely listened on as Lacus gave her orders. After they left, Lacus turned to Kira.

"We have conducted the interrogation." Kira said to Lacus.

"You must be tired already. Would you like to rest?" Lacus asked in concern.

Kira shook his head and said, "the man refused to say anything more. But it is apparent that he is in cahoots with the terrorist. That is how the video of what happened in the prison before the hostages were captured went missing."

"What about the search?"

"We did not find anything. The search is still on. The Commander said that they will continue to search until the missing video is found."

"Even if it is, it should most likely be destroyed." Lacus was not hopeful. Though Kira shared her thoughts, he did not say anything about it. "It seems that there were traitors in Miss Cagalli's side as well."

Kira look at Lacus at that, and she said, "that was the conclusion, wasn't it?"

"Yes." Kira took Lacus in his arms, and they rested in that position for a moment. In the mean time, the terrorists that Lacus and Kira were worried about were having a pleasant time.

"Who is that girl," Ain asked Irina.

"Who? That little red-eye?" Irina asked in return.

"Ya, she came suddenly to our cell and unlocked us, telling us to be quiet and quick. Before we can do anything, the stubble man – the prison guard, I hate him, by the way – he found out and she quickly pinned him down. Then, she led us down the prison, telling us to take her and the man as hostages." Ain rested his head against his hands in the truck as he continued, "and that was how we managed to come here."

"I have no idea who that girl is. You should ask Xan," Irina answered. "He was the one who told us to come here to meet you guys."

"Ah, that silent man?" Ain shook his head, "what is happening, do you know?"

"I don't, but what I know is this: Master is killed by that rat of a man; that dirty Ralph."

"What?!" Ain was shocked.

"He declares himself the lord over us now, but I wonder what will happen later," Irina snickered.

"Nothing good!" the driver jumped into the conversation at this point. "What good can come out of it if you pilots refuse to work for him?"

Both he and Irina laughed and Irina continued, "ya, that is what happened. The GUNDAM pilots are on strike now, so Ralph can continue to lord for all he wants! Over tankers that is!" After the laughter died down, Irina spitted through the open window. "That gall! How dare he kills Master!"

"I don't really care about it," Ain replied.

"What?!"

"Well, it does not matter who dies and who lives. What is important is what will happen of us," Ain replied.

Irina looked as if she was about to confront him, but Ain ignored her. In his mind, he was wondering what Ralph would do now. In actual fact, Ralph was troubled over it. Much as he paced his room (previously owned by Master), he was unable to come up with a solution. That was when an email came for Rayzak. Surprised by it, Ralph went towards the computer terminal.

* * *

Rayne stares at the food on her tray. Around her, the buzz of the canteen gave the impression that nothing much had happened. How is that possible? How can they eat as if nothing happened now?

"How am I going to stuff in the food?" Kim groaned from beside her.

Rayne look up at her but happen to see Sibver passing by with her friends. Their eyes met and Sibver quickly looked away. Rayne did not blame her for her reaction. Anyone who had been locked up in the dark for ages would shun away from those who had cause her predicament.

"Just stuff it in," Jon replied. "You can't go about wasting food now. There is a war, you know?"

"Of course I know! But after what happened…"

"Pretend it didn't happen," Bill advised.

"What?"

"Everything." Jon added.

"Even how the principal interrogated all of us?"

"Yes. You need to eat too, Rayne."

"I am eating," Rayne lied.

"Staring at your food is hardly what I would define as eating, you know."

"Yea, me too." Kim said.

Rayne looked over at her and said, "you were the one who were saying all about not being able to eat after what happened."

"Well, that is me, and this is you." Kim said defensively.

"In my opinion, you girls are the same. And you should eat whatever that you can eat and pretend nothing happened."

"Even the O's?" Rayne asked softly. At that, everyone paused. It was Bill who spoke eventually. When he spoke, his tone was especially soft.

"Forget the O's and even Zack. We need to live our lives as best as we can now. We tried our best and that is it. Everything that happens now has nothing to do with us, and we cannot help it at all."

Rayne sighed and tried to eat it. Eating it seemed so hard. It was the last thing in her mind, now crammed with all the happenings of the past weeks.

--End of Episode 12--