This is an update that was 3quarter written in draft, but I never had the time due to folio's exams, general school chaos, or life chaos like molving house. Never made it to bgeing typed out till now. Been along time coming and hopefully at least for a while I can be more diligent and update ^_^
Sorry... But its a bit shorter than normal. Good and dramatic though, but perhaps not my best writing? Whatever.
I hope you like it.
"What are we really fighting for?"
Chapter 13: of Blood Tainted Hands
The cool air was stiff, rigid to the bone as the two prisoners were brought in front of the council.
"Athrun Zala and Andrew Waltfelt, stripped of military position due to their accused acts of treason. Step forward," rang out the cool emotionless voiced of the chairman.
Athrun eyed Waltfelt carefully as they both stepped forward to approach the council. They met the furious eyes of the council. Only Seigal Clyne showed any remorseful action, still trying to reason with the council and alterior punishment for the prisoners.
Athrun eyed his father steadily, seeing the flickedr of fear and remorse across those stern, penetrating eyes; something no one else woiuld recognise in their Chairman. Athrun saw the extreme pallor of the Chairman's skin, the only outward indication of the emotion he refuses.
"Under the treasonous acts of disobeying the Chairman's direct orders. Accomplises to the escape of the natural Cagalli Yula Attha, Princess of Orb. And lastly the act of forsaking the ideals the Zodiac Alliance presents- betraying ones own people."
Athrun continued to the eye the council as the charges were laid out before them, in tones colder than ice and bitterness to rival this war of which they partake. Athrun stood firmly with a cool exterior, his trained eyes boring into that of his father's.
Only when he picked up the sounds of gunfire hollering in the distance, did he look away to share a glance with Waltfelt. Waltfelt saw the glance and grinned knowingly, nodding in reply to Athrun's unspoken queries.
'Now we just wait to make our move.'
Cagalli felt the nerves begin to bundle, churning the inside of her stomach as she gently landed the Skygrasper on to the surface, She found herself in desperate panic for more oxygen: after all, she'd never done anything like this before.
She took a deep, calming breath, momentarily closing her eyes, before swiftly ejecting herself from the craft, as did Kira from the Strike alongside.
Kira put a comforting hand on her shoulder, before turning to face forwards with an familial determination set into his eyes. She brought her eyes to rest fully upon the military base grounds laid before her, keening her eyes in on to the where the mission objectives were presumed to be.
She felt the Commander's step fall into step behind them as they three with guns raised, crept into hanger area.
The hanger was inhabited by mostly mechanics, the few soldiers there had recently been dispatched faster than Cagalli's eyes could follow, thanks to the handiwork of Kira and Commander Laflaga. The shots were the first fired, which would then start the chain reaction of more to follow.
"This is it", Cagalli sighed heavily, before cocking her gun and silencing the Zaft soldier intruding on their scene.
"The first shots have been heard. They'll be looking for us", Mwu stated calmly as he made his way through, deeper into the base with his comrades in toe. "We have to keep moving."
Athrun eyed Waltfelt again as they heard the increasing pierce of gunfire headed closer, causing great commotion amongst the council members. The soldiers were guarding the council with trained and somewhat worried eyes.
Athrun noticed the soldiers mostly surrounding the council, especially the chairman, leaving themselves to be under guarded considering their known capabilities.
The guards surrounding the entrance were forced back as a grenade exploded under their feet, leaving them incap;acitated and out of the way. Out of the smoke came three suited up soldiers at the centre of the disturbance.
Athrun and Waltfelt held back no longer. The distraction was all it took, as Athrun shouldered the guards behind, feeling the handcuffs binding his hands behind his back and jar with his movements. With Atrhun's restriced movement he levelly connected his solid military issue boot with the side of the guards head, pushing him sidelong into Waltfelt's guard. He felt a smirk tugging at his lips as he rolled to the side in an easy dodge, leaving a heavy trail of hot lead in his wake.
Waltfelt shouldered the poor lad, whose bullets were no match for Athrun's speed. The forced sent the boy sprawled to the ground, his gun out of reach.
"That's our escape crew, youngster. Let's que our exit", called the lively Andrfew Waltfelt, a knowing gleam in his laughing eyes.
Cagalli was awed by both Kira and the Commander's combat, almost feeling put out by them out doing her. She smiled grimly at the bodies as she trained her fierce eyes upon the targets, eying in particular the familiar blue haired soldier, who himself was wiping the floor of one of the last low ranked officers, his hands unecersary in this weak battle, cuffed behind his back. She once again felt awed, though this time felt grateful of the pilot helmet she wore, concealing her now flushed cheeks and the great scowl crossing her lips, in reluctant acknowledgement of the burning she felt in her cheeks.
She eyed Kira and Mwu as they secured the exit, carefully eyeing the council members and their guard. The council looked intense and many had guns of their own looked onto the intruding party, whilst half of their guard stormed down to them.
"Let's go", she hissed fiercely, approaching the two former Commander's and pulling them back before a pelting of the council's bullets hit.
"Of course", Athrun replied curtly, eyeing the secured exit.
"Don't let the traitors escape punishment!" came the roar from the council as Athrun felt lead rip through shirt sleeve and graze the flesh.
He ignored the sting, dodging out of the way of the rapid gun fire that continued to rain down, ushering the suited pilot forward out of the shrapnel range with himself and Waltfelt close behind.
"Athrun", called the suited male pilot, soon to be recognised as Kira, attracting his attention.
"Kira", Athrun replied with a grin, quickly assessing the councils movements.
"Quick- turn your back", Kira urged as he too eyed the council, before firing precisely into the weak link of Athrun's hand cuffs.
"Thanks", Athrun called, before procuring a gun from one of his many victims, freeing Waltfelt of his own restraints.
Normally composed blue eyes watched anxiously as the scene grew ever more bloodied and violent. She watched with intense worry as the Anger in Patrick Zala's eyes seethed. Lacus watched as the bullets rained down upon the two ex-commander's in question, only to be avoided with ease.
Lacus sighed with the solemn hope that this necessary fighting would soon cease. She watched silently, her heartbeat flinching as she watched a bullet rip through Athrun's uniform sleeve, drawing blood. She watched as the suited pilot she presumed to be Cagalli forced her way through the chaos and gunfire towards the targets.
"We have confirmation of the positions of Joule and Elsman, Lady Clyne."
"Thanks you, Da Costa. Proceed with caution. Inform our faction members still undercover to stall the wrath of the Chairman. I will not have the Chairman endangering the operation or our comrades."
Cagalli felt her gaze linger on her blue haired companion as they made their exit from the council's court room. Kira and Mwu coming up the rear. She couldn't help staring at him, once again glad for the suit helmet that concealed her inevitably flushed cheeks; something that seemed a common occurrence around Athrun Zala. Shed was somewhat glad her identity was concealed; not sure if she was ready to face him with the feelings she was yet to neither understand nor decipher.
She smiled wryly despite the hurried scene of soldiers chasing after them, a small distance back. She felt her heart warm and her gaze soften as she locked eyes with a beautiful pair of emerald ones that she holds with great familiarity, eyes that have inspired many things in her during their short acquaintance. Athrun's gaze was questioning her, obviously feeling her perhaps blatant stare. She merely grinned privately, feelings and identities to still remain unspoiled. She broke his questioning gaze, spying the movement of a soldier near the hanger, gun raised and eyes keen.
Cagalli gasped slightly, eyes wide with panic, but fiercely raised the gun and pulled the trigger with intent. The soldier dropped behind a corner, allowing the bullet to engrave itself in the concrete of the wall.
"Cagalli!" Came Kira's urgent cry as the retaliated fire ripped the gun right from Cagalli's grasp, narrowly missing the feel of lead piercing her fingers.
She cried out as the gun was wrenched from her clutches and as the barrel of a gun stared her down. Cagalli felt all the blood drain from her face, closing her eyes in a never ending flinch, trying to block it all out as she heard the shot being fired.
Athrun's eyes widened and his movements halted in fear as he heard Kira's call.
"Cagalli…?!"
His gazed sought the suited pilot just ahead of him, his heart stopping still as he saw the gun fly from her hands and out of her reach, leaving her defenceless.
Athrun heard Kira's cries again, but knew the distance was too great. In a desperate act Athrun lunged himself before her as the shot was fired, his hand grasping hers and pulling her away as the lead ripped with aggression through his shoulder blade. He could hear the cries from his comrade echo in his ear, but couldn't discern any of it, but swiped the dagger from the standard hip compartment in Cagalli's suit, whipping it back with his unharmed arm to splice through the Zaft soldier's chest, as he himself fell onto one knee.
Cagalli's breath was torn right from her lungs as she heard the bullet rip through the only possible body that was pressed against hers.
"Athrun!" she cried, tearing her eyes open to see the opposing soldier fall to the ground dagger protruding from the flesh of his upper torso, only to readjust her eyes in time to see her saviour collapse onto one knee, watching the immediate blood flow engulf the red of his Zaft uniform.
"Athrun!?" came Kira's worried voice as he rushed to his sister's side, eyeing his friend's bloodied uniform.
"We've got to get you kids out of here", came Mwu's urgent voice, pushing everyone towards the mobile suits.
Kira pulled Athrun to his feet and steadied his shoulders, but Athrun stood up straight, ignoring the pain and worried looks, handing his loaded gun to Cagalli, before coolly wrenching the gun from underneath his victim's body, cocking it for his own use.
Athrun rushed towards the Zaft mobile suits in the hanger, knowing the two impressive statures before him to be the new models his father commission.
"Pilot the Justice, Athrun", echoed a voiced that made Atrhun's eyes widened and attracted his comrades wary attention, their guns aimed and searching for a target.
Athrun spun around as two figures slowly revealed themselves to the party, taking no heed to the guns pointed in their direction but both looking resolutely at Athrun. Athrun motioned for his companions to lower their weapons, as he watched Yzak and Dearka step forward and approach him.
"Pilot the Justice, Athrun" Dearka repeated with seriousness seeping through his words, his eyes glazed with determination; both things not often associated with Dearka.
"The Justice and the Freedom are the Chairman's newly constructed mobile suits, fitted with N Jammer technology…" Yzak confirmed, his own expression grave as his cool eyes sat composed; composure, something not often associated with Yzak.
Athrun shifted his gaze to the mobile suits towering before him, in all their glorified statures, his eyes wide with awe, but also mute fear.
'Nucleur technology!?... Is this what Father resorts to…?'
He turned his cool gaze upon his former comrades, nodding in acceptance, not being able to counter the slight pained look that surface his strategically composed features.
'These two weapons of mass destruction are only the beginning… More monstrosity will come to destroy the naturals by my fathers hand…'
"Will you pilot the Freedom, Kira?" Athrun asked quietly, his gaze hard as a coldness entered the emerald of his eyes as he continued to gaze intently upon the Justice and the Freedom.
"Yes, If only to deprive the Chairman of it", came Kira's solemn reply, nodding his confirmation towards his friend.
Athrun disregarded the stabbing pain that was berating his shoulder and moved towards the Justice's cockpit.
"What of Nicol…?" Athrun spoke rigidly, not facing either Dearka or Yzak, but closing his eyes in an almost defeated action.
"No need to worry. We didn't involve Nicol in this treason… He is only fifteen… Too innocent to involve…" came Dearka's solemn reply, his own eyes protective of his younger friend mirroring that same protectiveness shown in Yzak and Athrun.
"Good…" Athrun sighed, finally turning to give them a weak smile and a gratifying nod of his head, "Thank you…"
Cagalli eyed the two new comers with intrigue, recognising them from her and Athrun's union ceremony, and then the aftermath… She smiled gratefully at them, earning a respective nod from each, before she shifted her gaze back to Athrun, noticing his cooled eyes warm momentarily.
"We need to get moving, the soldiers have sighted our mobile suits!" Mwu cut into the thoughtful silence hastily.
Waltfelt eyed the mobile suits, gazing intently at the Strike outside, then the two support suits.
"What of you two?"
This question was voiced by Athrun, but thought by many of them.
"Lacus Clyne has plans to deprive the Chairman of all his present nuclear technology. Dearka and myself shall take the remaining Clyne Faction members into the Eternal, and accompany you to the Archangel. The Eternal is best left in Lacus's hands, it being the ship designed for the Justice and Freedom's use.
Athrun gazed at them in surprise, but felt a small determined smile rest upon his lips. The sounds of gunfire increased yet again and Athrun settled himself in the Justice's cockpit as Kira also mounted the Freedom, both ablaze with determination set into their eyes.
Cagalli felt herself being dragged by the Commander towards their machines outside the hanger. Yzak and Dearka headed towards the Eternal, Waltfelt flanked behind them, gun raised and alert as still the far off gunfire neared, bringing with it the sound of troops of heavy military issued boots hitting the stone floor of the hanger in hurried paces inclosing in on their position.
Cagalli's heart rate picked up as she felt gunfire flushed past her shoulders to attack the Zero. Cagalli hoisted herself into the protective shelter of the Grasshoper and followed the Strike's movements, seeing an elite group of Zaft soldiers left with the Zero's reckage.
Athrun launched, the Justice proving to be proud ands swift in its movements, whilst his eyes followed the Grasshoper's progress with a protective intensity, sensing the Freedom's movements following up the rear.
An explosion formed, consuming the hanger doors as the Eternal left it's confines. Athrun set his eyes upon the Gins taking off in pursuit of them, their gunfire reigning down on the Eternal.
Athrun swung back to protect the Eternal whilst Kira stayed close to the Grasshoper, shielding it from the Gins fire.
"The Eternal has launched, Miss Lacus. Also the Justice and the Freedom" reported Da Costa, relief evident in his voice as he gazed at the monitor, his eyes fixed on the Eternal and Commander Waltfelt's progress.
Lacus let her blue eyes soften, the lessening of her need for concern a weight off her fragile shoulders. She allowed her heart to stop pounding with erratic panic and he lungs to breath deeply and draw in well needed oxygen. She smiled, her blue eyes sparkling with relief as she nodded in acknowledgement to Da Costa.
"Thank you, Da Costa. All seems in order, and hope seems renewed."
The firing trailed the Justice's tail as Athrun swerved in tactiful avoidance, his eyes constantly glancing towards the Grasshoper in distraction. He sighed in frustration, but smiled a bittersweet smile as he watched Cagalli gun down an apposing Gin. His eyes darkened as he watched this.
'Cagalli shouldn't have been involved in this... The taint of blood shouldn't have had to find its way onto her hands…'
He sensed a rush of bullets fly past the Justice's shoulder in his distraction, his gaze being drawn back to reality with a harsh crash. Athrun swiftly locked his eyes upon the Eternal as the gunfire approached it. His eyes narrowed as he spied a Gin sitting directly above the Eternal, saber raised with aggression.
The Justice reared into action, blazing his guns into the outer shell of the Gin, obliterating the Gins menial body parts sending the crude metal shell that surrounded the cockpit shuddering as Athrun thrust his foot underneath the Gin's chin, pushing it out of the battlefield.
Cagalli found herself watching the Justice in awe, letting out a gasp of amazement at both the Freedom's superiority to all else of the battlefield. She sighed in sorrow at all the lived lost in yet another battle, some of those whom even died by Cagalli's once clean hands, that were now drastically tainted by the blood of nameless soldiers.
"This was and is my choice…" she reminded herself in a breathy whisper, her throat feeling constricted with the plight of her deserved guilt.
In her distraction she let a Gin creep up on her whilst the Freedom added support to the Justice and the Eternal.
"Argh!" she cried out as a blast hit her tail and she felt the shuddering moan of the craft as she began to feel gravity's effect.
"Cagalli!" came a multitude of cries, but she couldn't respond, her navigations distorted in the turmoil as the Grasshoper's engines struggled to hold her in the air.
She clung desperately to the controls as they refused to budge. Cagalli felt her eyes widened in further panic as she smelt smoke rise from her blank navigations board; the only life was the red emergency light that whirred into activity.
The Justice was reaching out to her wing, trying to steady it; Kira in a delayed tow behind Athrun due to the incoming Gins closing upon the Eternal with force. Shed felt helpless, but again attacked the controls in hopes of rearing the Grasshoper from its downward heading.
She smelt the increasing smoke attract her eyes to the steady build up of flames in her cockpit, choking the breath from her lungs in response. The thrusters were loosing power and groaning with effort. Cagalli lowered her desperately fearful eyes to the gold band fitted around her finger, causing her to flicker back to the Justice's form and its outstretched arm as it strained itself to reach for her wing. She felt her body jerk forward again as one of the thrusters gave way entirely, sending her smoke ridden vessel in a downward spiral and well out of the Justice's reach. Shed closed her eyes in defeat and raised her left palm to her lips and kissed the band, before clutching it tightly over her heart and waited for fate to take it's course.
Thanks for reading guys. Sorry again for the delay and shortness and the mistakes that I'm sure are there. But review and tell me what you think!
I hope you guys enjoyed it!
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