Chapter 25: Mastermind
Disclaimer: GS, GSD owned by Bandai.
ooo
"Come on! Everyone faster!" Shinn shouted to Athrun as he flipped Max over his shoulder so he could run better. Kira was carrying Marlene, and Athrun and Mwu were dragging Light along behind.
"Where are you all?" The message came from Shinn's communication device, it was Bethany's voice, she sounded desperate, "The docks are collapsing around us!"
"Coming!" Shinn replied somewhat calmly, Athrun frowned, their progress was mainly slowed by the injured and the falling debris; the army outside had started blasting the place apart. At this point Shinn casted a backward glance of disdain at Light, Athrun understood, even though Shinn did not voice his thoughts aloud.
Athrun felt the man beside him miss a step, and he dragged him upright to balance him. "Light…? You okay?" Athrun asked as he paused a little. "Come on, we are almost there."
"Leave him!" Shinn shouted back accusingly, losing his temper. "He's the reason why we are in this mess! We have no time to pity our enemies now, you should know better!"
Athrun merely glared back silently, and was not capable of producing an explanation.
"He's right…"
The sentence, surprisingly, came from Light himself. Athrun turned to look at him in surprise, he had lost quite a lot of blood and was beginning to sound groggy. They needed to hurry and get him treated.
"…I'm a crook, why are you trying to save me at the expense of your comrades and children?" He asked quietly, and his statement hit the nail on the head.
Everyone turned to look at Athrun, who looked down for no reason, he stood fixated for a moment, then shook his head.
"…I can't…I won't leave him…" He muttered, then met the eyes of the people around. Shinn was livid, Mwu just looked detached, whereas Kira nodded and made a gesture. "Then let's go!" Kira shouted, breaking up the row that impeded their progress and gave Light a meaningful look. Shinn cursed the sentimental idiots as Light looked pained for a moment, and dropped his head in shame. Athrun thanked Kira silently.
The ship came into view.
Shinn sighed in relief and ran on, "Come on!".
Then a thunderous rumble resonating from deep within the ground shook them off their feet. Athrun tightened his hold around Light's torso as there was a flurry of limbs, and he heard the child scream out in terror as the ground opened up and swallowed them. Athrun managed to leap out of the collapsing floorboard's way but his heart froze.
It was Max's voice.
"Max!"
He laid Light down and made his way to the side of the chasm where he saw Shinn's hand hanging over the edge, the other hand was desperately clinging to Max's wrist, and Athrun quickly grabbed hold of him. "Hang on!" He shouted as Mwu came up beside him and grabbed on to Shinn's arm alike, Kira and Light were behind them, holding down a panicking Marlene.
Shinn was obviously trying not to look down as air was being sucked out from the dark hole beneath his feet, and he was being dragged downwards by the terrible force. Athrun knew the damage was done, soon they will be exposed to the deadly vacuum of space.
Shinn seemed to realize it too. "Take Max!" He shouted urgently as he shielded Maximillion from the wind and shoved him up at Mwu, who dragged the child over the edge and aside. They were floating off the ground, the place was losing ability to generate even the meager bit of artificial gravity.
And if they did not leave soon, they won't be able to leave at all.
"Leave me! GO!" Shinn ordered heatedly, attempting to wriggle his hand out of Athrun's grip.
"NO!" Athrun shouted back, renewing his grip on his arms, refusing to leave his comrade to die. Kira joined in, holding on to Shinn's arm, trying to snatch him from the terrible suction of space.
"You can't save everybody!" Shinn shouted over the holler of the wind, his hand slipping out of their grasp, centimeter by centimeter as the abyss thirsted to claim him. Athrun realized that Shinn was being stretched like a rubber chicken, being pulled on both ends at once. And his clenched his teeth as the pain seemingly worsened. "Urgh. Just let go…!"
"Shut up!" Athrun yelled heatedly, desperately clinging on, but Shinn was not paying attention, he was staring past Athrun's shoulder at something really big judging from the dilation of his pupils. Athrun turned around, a big chunk of the ceiling had seemingly dislodged itself and was flying right at them.
"LOOK OUT!" Mwu noticed where his gaze was directed, and yelled as he dragged the children out of the way.
"LET GO!" Shinn shouted in desperation and Athrun shook his head, tears in his eyes.
He could not let his friend die.
The a third arm joined their efforts, and with a heave, pulled Shinn up and slammed him into the two of them, shoving them out of the way.
"LIGHT!"
Athrun's voice was lost over the howl of the wind, and he could only watch as the debris smashed Light, flattening him with the horribly sonorous impact. Athurn could almost hear the crunching of bones as he bore a force that no human skeleton-Coordinator or not- was built to withstand.
But for a final moment he was there, a perfect biological replica of Kira; but with the pain of the world on his brow. He gave but a serene and tired smile at the unlikely company, and gazed pointedly into Athrun's eyes with delibracy. And in that heartbeat Athrun saw him mouth words that no one could hear.
Athrun could hardly believe what he said.
The next instant he was gone, just like that. Soon all that was left of him were splutters of scarlet that floated off the ground in perfect, warm spherical droplets and bits of bone and body matter.
"Noooo!"
Athrun woke up in the infirmary, he was drenched in cold sweat. The military doctor was still bandaging up his wounds…and he noticed there were electrodes placed on his chest, wrists and ankles.
Mr Zala, don't get up. I just need a few more minutes." He requested.
"What's… this?" He questioned shakily.
The doctor sighed, "Hmm, I think…the viris is beginning to affect your immune system. You probably know that you have a persistent low-grade fever and chest pains, it's pericarditis, likely an opportunistic infection. When you came here, beyond there being rales there were arrhythmias."
Athrun merely narrowed his eyes, "…Do you all enjoy it?"
"Enjoy what?" The bespectacled man asked nonchalantly.
"To tell others in a long and convoluted way that 'You are going to die.'? Please, get to the point."
The man sighed again, "Forgive my interest in studying an unknown condition, well…it's, shortly put, the primary virus is hiding in your bone marrow and harming nothing else, but the cardiac infection is unanimously fatal if left untreated."
"Thank you." He replied sarcastically. He paused, digesting the information. Reality was knocking on his door...
"On a side note, any guesses on why is it not infective? It is an endemic in PLANTs now…is it not?"
"My guess?" The man considered, "It's may or may not be airborne, but only spreads via certain vectors."
"Vectors?"
"Like migration of birds or butterflies may carry certain diseases with them, there's no such ecology pattern on PLANTs, my guess is that the virus is deliberately seeded, say in the soil…"
"Or water?" Athrun pressed.
"I beg your pardon…?"
"Water. How about water…?" The one liability of the PLANTs was water, and Athrun had been brewing on it for a really long time.
"There's a possibility of that too."
The sight in front of him dissolved.
Murrue appeared out of nowhere, and the surroundings became much more constraint, it was the corridor of the ship.
"I…I can't do this." Murrue whispered in a tiny voice, "I…can't watch you fight Spencer."
Athrun simply gaze back at her, then nodded once.
"Go."
Murrue looked up in surprise at the generosity.
"…Thank you. Mwu says he wants to stay, though..." In an after tone she implored, "Athrun, please…if possible…spare him."
" Spare his life." She whispered, and the military woman transformed totally into a mother in that instant.
"…I can't promise that." Athrun replied in an equally quiet manner, "Captain Ramius, surely… you understand." He paused, letting the gravity if the situation set in.
"This is war."
Murrue nodded in acceptance, and despair. Athrun looked away, averting his gaze.
"Captain Ramius…I have a favor to ask."
"…Go ahead."
He looked at her, right in the eye. "Don't let this affect the morale of the soldiers, say to everyone that you're on a mission to take Max and Marlene with you back to Orb."
She paused for a moment, shaking her head. "That's sounds fair…but…they won't come with me..."
"I'll make them." Athrun replied, appearing unfazed, even though he was afraid she will refuse. He had no one else to turn to. "But please, take them back to Orb with you."
Eventually she nodded, "Okay…"
"Thank you, please…take care of them…"
Murrue disappeared, and Lacus appeared in front of him. She gave him an angelic smile that caused his insides to tighten. This was the way he remembered her, no matter how long has passed.
"Athrun…can I…?" Lacus questioned gingerly.
He merely nodded wordlessly, Lacus came and sat down behind him in an equally quiet manner, slowly, she leaned her head on his back, her cheeks on between his shoulder blades. He felt her sigh, it was warm, and the fabric of his uniform stirred.
"Kira…doesn't seem to remember anything…"
He nodded. "Give him time…"
"What if he doesn't…?" Lacus whispered in distraught, "…know me anymore?"
Athrun felt his heart wrench, he had never seen Lacus like this.
Then suddenly she was whisked away from his side.
"Lacus!"
She was gone in a heartbeat, and he found himself staring at the surface of an unbroken lake of water. The waters were deep and cold.
Then blood blossomed across the surface, and he caught a figure beneath the waters, the figure was the source of the blood.
"Kira!"
Kira lay dead, fragmented and bloody. Athrun could only recognize him by half his severed head.
He stood in front of himself, laughing.
Useless fool… You killed your own mother, abandoned your children, and watched the clone die. Your selfishness cost your best friend his lover. You can't save anyone. You are an abomination who deserves nothing, you should not exist…
You should become me.
ooo
Kira opened his eyes, sat up on his bed, gazing at nothing.
It all seemed like a dream, or a nightmare.
Since he found himself stranded on earth, he had known no companionship till he met Nicol, then Athrun, then there came a woman into his life who told her she was her wife, and truth to be told, he loved her like there was no one else in the world when she was around. And if possible, he would have preferred if he could take her away to a quiet place away from the war and have a family. With her, he did not mind leaving the world behind.
And now she's gone…
He gazed at his palms and tears fell upon them, and he clenched them into fists.
"Lacus…"
He can't even protect that one woman who mattered to him.
He had stopped Athrun from apologizing, however terribly tempting it was to have someone else to blame. He was disgusted at himself that he harbored those thoughts at all, and Athrun must have known it, because there was such guilt and pain in his expression when he looked at Kira. For someone who always beats himself up even when nobody expects him to, he's beating himself up for it even more now.
Kira turned to look at Athrun, his friend had fallen into an exhausted sleep after clearing up the aftermath, though 'fainting' seemed a more appropriate term to describe 'losing consciousness upon touching the bedsheets'. In essence, he simply curled up on the bed about twenty five hours ago, and had been sleeping soundly since. Kira was the one who eventually plucked off his shoes and laid a blanket over his friend's prone and unguarded form. Kira stood watching over him for a while after that, and he knew Athrun had been running a mild fever since their bare escape from Siseneg.
After Light died, they managed to drag a stunned Athrun back safely onto the Eternal catapulted them into space. Kira had never seen a ship go from stationary into maximum speed in less than 30 seconds. The upgraded Eternal flew like a bird, and they just managed to clear the place when the Zaft army suddenly stopped blasting. Kira guessed they received orders that the place was to be kept intact for future use, and the Corona ordered them to clear out from the area. The Crimson army regrouped at L5, nearer to the PLANTs.
Athrun was clearly emotionally and physically drained, and they speculated among themselves what happened between Light and Athrun when no one else is around. He was completely and frighteningly quiet for a few hours when he was dragged back to safety, like he has turned into a doll, and allowed the medic to dress his wounds without protests. Kira could onyl imagine what he was rehearsing in his mind over and over, he was taking all the blame.
Then the captain of the Corona requested a private audience with the Crimson Warlord…
Athrun went alone and came back alone, no one knew how it went, what they talked about. Then he called a marathon meeting with the generals that lasted for the next five hours. After which, it was announced that the Archangel is leaving the fleet. Murrue came quietly to Athrun after the meeting.
"Argh…"
And Kira looked up from his thoughts in alarm.
"Athrun?"
His friend did not wake, but his face revealed a trace of pain and anguish. Then a stream of tears began to trickle down the side of his face and onto the down pillow. Kira took a piece of tissue, and dabbed at Athrun's face, then he realized that his forehead was quite hot and his breathing raspy. He wondered what his friend was dreaming about, too many things had happened all in such a short span of time.
And he began to writhe, as if in his dream he was running from something.
"Athrun?" Kira asked, shaking his roommate's shoulder.
Athrun did not wake, but started thrashing a little more. He coughed, and clutched his chest, the coughing did not stop for the next one or two minutes. Kira almost panicked, he went o his friend's side. "A…Athrun? Come on, wake up." He pleaded with zeal as he patted his face urgently.
"Kira!" Athrun suddenly opened his eyes and gazed at him, he sighed in relief.
"You gave me a fright…!" Kira half-yelled, but Athrun grabbed his arm, panting.
"…You're okay…!" He seemed to mutter breathlessly, as if reassuring himself, his eyes were wide and bloodshot.
"Of course I'm alright." Kira merely nodded, noting that Athrun's breathing slowed, but still sounded a little strained. "What about you?"
"I'm fine..."
Kira could not find a retort to that standard reply, however worried he was. Eventually, he nodded grudgingly. "You are sick..." He said as he eased Athrun's hand off, and obtained a wetted cloth, dropping it unceremoniously on his friend's face as he took a seat beside him.
"Thanks." Athrun whispered appreciatively as he shifted the cloth a little from his eyes, then implored, "Kira?"
"What?" He snapped.
"…Are you angry?"
Kira was, very, for reasons unfathomable to himself.
He knew what was happening to Athrun, and he hated his dishonesty but could not protest against it. If he did that, Athrun will know that Dr Sas spilt the beans, and that was precisely what Kira promised not to let Athrun know. It was a vicious cycle, one resulting from knowing something important but not being able to say it. And it costs him frustrations to no end, it was not easy to bear this terrible secret. Plus, Athrun has the tendency to shun anyone trying to show him concern…and Kira knew there was nothing he could do…
Except to watch his friend die…
"I'm worried, maybe…Whatever." Kira dismissed the topic curtly, he cast a fleeting gaze at Athrun, hoping to shake him off his trail.
Maybe Athrun knew that he knows more than he should, maybe he did not. Let him think that Kira was angry about Lacus.
Athrun was quiet, and seemed to catch his breath for a few moments.
"…Kira?"
Kira softened, it was obvious that Athrun wanted to talk, and it does not happen often.
"Yeah?" He replied eventually.
"…Thank goodness…"
"…Why would you say that?"
Athrun had a haunted look on his face, as if recalling things he did not want to remember. He gazed blankly at the ceiling for a few moments, then closed his eyes wearily.
"I watched him die…I couldn't save him."
Kira started, he knew who Athrun was talking about.
"It wasn't your fault." Kira replied, "…just as what happened to Lacus wasn't your fault…"
"I wanted to…to save him." Athrun whispered miserably, "Before he… he was…looking right at me. And he…said something…"
"What… did he say?" Kira asked in spite of himself, genuinely curious.
Athrun sighed, and seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.
Eventually he spoke, very quietly.
"He said '…Thank you…'"
Athrun placed a hand over his face, "Why would he say that…?...I didn't do anything for him…Shinn was right…", he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, clenching his fist.
"…I can't save anyone." He muttered quietly.
Kira studied Athrun. Silence stood between the two of them.
"But…You did save him." Kira replied, and paused as Athrun gazed at him.
"Kindness… speaks louder than a thousand words. And you did just that, you showed him mercy even though he was an enemy. When he sacrificed himself and pushed us away, he was trying to repay that kindness..."
Athrun gazed at him, pain in his eyes.
"He saved you because you gave him hope for tomorrow."
"…No…!" Athrun only shook his head irately, he got up with difficulty, winching at the wounds on his arm and legs.
"Tell me, what good is hope? Kira?" Athrun questioned aggressively, a terrible pain in his gaze, he shook his head in disbelief. "…He's…!"
Kira only shook his head solemnly.
"No one can live without hope…" Kira sighed as he went on.
"…Hope saved me…you saved me."
Athrun remained silent, and turned a little to look at him in wonder, it was Kira's turn to hesitate.
"When I lost my memory…I was dumped on earth. I knew no one, remembered no one, and the first people I approached robbed me of the only thing I had on me… my uniform. They stripped me and beat me up and left me to die, I didn't, and I…" He paused and swallowed to ease the dryness in his throat as he needed to tell the difficult part.
"…I sifted through the trash to find food and clothing. I became friends with the others who survived on that rubbish, drug addicts, criminals and ex-convicts...I learnt to pick-pocket tourists and steal from groceries stalls, I killed and cooked strays for dinner. I did…horrible things…because I had no choice." He saw Athrun's eye widening, but he looked away and went on.
"The gang there tolerated an extra mouth to feed because I was a Coordinator with fast hands and responses un-retarded by crack and booze...I can't remember anything, and I didn't want to starve, so I did as I was told..."
Athrun gazed at him with horror, and sat up a little, there was no condemnation in his gaze, only compassion.
Kira could not help but smile grimly at his gentle friend.
"…And in those hours where I slept under a moldy blanket and a tent made out of trash bags, afraid that rats would nibble off my fingers and toes while I slept. I would lie with my eyes wide-opened, wondering why I'm still alive, what was the point of me existing for another day? I could have done it like one of the addicts, steal some ware that's supposed to be paddled, get high, to a land of happiness, then wither away, or die from an intentional overdose. Drugs, tobacco, alcohol, whatever. Naturals, Coordinators, all the same…we will all die one day." He paused to let out a sigh. "But…I didn't want to, do you know why?" Kira questioned rhetorically.
Athrun did not reply, he was evidently shaken by the tale, and slowly shook his head.
"It's too scary. Dying is one thing, but it's to die a second time that's too terrible to contemplate, and I didn't want to…I didn't want to waste away like one of them without leaving a mark in this world…"
Athrun looked at him with pain in his gaze, and he frowned as he questioned.
"Kira…what's this… second death?"
Kira gave a sad smile.
"…To be forgotten."
Athrun looked away in grief, and Kira knew he had struck a chord in his heart. He waited as he watched his friend's hand enclose over the ornaments that hung about his neck, they were a pair of rings that Kira had no chance to ask him about. But Kira knew them to be wedding rings, and that they meant a lot to his very sentimental friend; just as Cagalli meant a lot to him.
"Then, I was found by a group of EAF soldiers whom I had stolen from, they weren't happy, and were extra unhappy when they saw that I was Coordinator. They were going to kill me when Nicol came along, then I remembered you…" He turned to look at Athrun full in the face. "'Chairman Zala sanctioned murder', the soldier had shouted. And I had…a vision, a memory. We were both in the torture chamber, and Light…was there, I was taken, they hit me to make you reveal information. But what made me convinced that you can help me, was that you never bowed to those criminals…" He paused.
"They can torture you all they want, but they never managed to break you…You reassured me even when we were both interrogated. You took care of me when I came on the ship, you introduced me to everyone and warned them not to bully me. You heap food on my plate when I was still utterly embarrassed about eating with you all. You tell Lacus not to cry and lend her a shoulder when she does, and I know you visit Nicol's father and smuggles in what an old man craves, like red wine and dark chocolates..." Kira smiled at Athrun's ears turning pink.
"You always keep your promises and take good care of people around you, like you have done since we were small…..."
Kira and Athrun widened their eyes unanimously.
"Kira…?" Athrun asked hopefully.
Kira remembered, just like that, there was no light shining from above or anything like that. He just remembered.
Their childhood escapades sneaking into the staffroom, Archangel, Fllay, the desert war where he met Cagalli again, their big fight Aegis versus Strike, waking up in Lacus's arms. Fighting Rau Le Crusade. Cagalli in a wedding dress, fighting again, it's a wonder how they have not managed to kill each other. Meeting Shinn, Spencer and the others…
And he looked at Athrun through renewed eyes, and stared at the little mechanical bird dozing on the bookshelf.
Ah, how could he forget Tori?
"Tori." He called, a warm, fuzzy familarity in his heart. Tori was his friend. "Here."
The bird perked up a little, and gingerly hopped into Kira's open palm, gazing at him curiously. It was a miraculously neat little piece of programming, and had lasted through the years, through space, winter and fire. Kira touched its little head fondly, then stretched out his hand, and transferred Tori into its maker's hands. Athrun had tears in his eyes as he received the mechanical bird, and he turned to Kira.
"…Welcome back."
Kira smiled back, "I'm back." He said simply.
"Now, to bring my wife back."
Just like that, the easy mood turned sour again, Kira cursed himself inwardly as Athrun sighed,
"Kira…I…"
"Athrun-the-forgetful-Zala, this is my ultimatum, if you should attempt to apologize one more time I shall unrepentantly smack the living daylights out of you…" Kira warned, interrupting him.
Athrun fell silent, then said, "I met Lunamaria…the captain of the Corona." Kira perked up, "What did she say?"
"She promised not to hurt Lacus….She also asked me to be careful, she thinks there is a rat in our fleet. They have been constantly receiving information of our whereabouts from above…and she also says it is likely that Zaft intends to use the clones that are in Siseneg to build an army of mobile suit pilots." Kira gulped, it was very bad news.
On their fleet, they have Mwu, Andrew, Shinn, Shiho, two of the triplets, himself and six others he considered good pilots. But there was no way they could stand up to a hundred Kiras. He was not bragging, but if they were genetically identical to him, then they will need no training, time is running short.
Kira heaved a sigh. "What else…what of Dr Sas?"
"The odd thing is...he's separated from Lacus…" Athrun said grimly. "Luna says he's in one of the infirmaries."
"Special treatment eh…?" Kira muttered, something was nagging at him from the back of his mind. "It's…strange."
"I tell you what's strang-er, Luna said Spencer reported that there are two Kiras…I think Light was impostering as you there…the general of Orb, which convinced the PLANTs that Orb is in the efforts of purging us as well. And I can't possibly tell her that her Kira is…" Athrun stopped short, quite unable to mention that taboo word.
"And…Nicol's dad mentioned that there's this business man who hovers around Tad Elthman since a few months ago. And Light mentioned something about a group of business men who was interested in making profit out of war, the…thirteenth, he is actually Giovanni Lacey…"
"Yes!" Kira exclaimed, "Chairman Clyne mentioned something about the businessmen too, the death dealers..."
"But something doesn't add up, I heard of the entire account from Mwu, if Giovanni Lacey was the money and brain and Tad Elthman was the authoritative hands, why would either of them let each other live till now? And I would somehow expect that there will be someone more…intellectual involved. The well-timed bioterrorism, the blue-rinse bombs that killed Yzak's family…maybe even the plague in PLANTs now. Giovanni Lacey was somehow involved according to Yzak, but Light had called someone, 'father', and this fella is the one who made all those Kira clones…"
Kira muttered. "For the part about them not murdering each other yet, simple, they have something to threaten each other with."
"Threaten…I've been thinking for a really long time…about who could be the spy on board…"
"What are you guesses?" Kira questioned, sitting a little closer and dropping his voice to a whisper, as if afraid the walls will hear. Athrun turned to look at him in the eye.
"After hearing uncle's Clyne's account…I am convinced that this person is familiar with the various Chairmen of PLANTs, at least all the way from Lacus's father. There are only two people I know on this fleet that fit this criteria, but both seem so unlikely."
"Who?"
"First…Murasaki san."
Kira held his breath as Athrun went on analyzing, "She has been serving as supreme Councilor since the time of uncle Clyne, she's been on our fleet for as long as we ran into trouble. She's a bioengineer by profession."
"How did you know that?"
"…She's my mother's colleague."
"Who's… the second?" Kira asked in a whisper, but he already knew…
They had taken the unconscious Athrun away, and Kira was dragged forcibly unright…he could feel it dimly as men grabbed his arms unkindly and dumped him onto a sort of a contraption table, the metal was cold beneath his touch. Light appeared, gazing at him emotionlessly as he was strapped down to the table. Then came a men holding a syringe filled with clear crimson fluid. He looked happier than he ever looked while he saw him in PLANTs.
'Nighty night, Hibiki's son. I won't kill you, that's being too nice to him. I think I will just destroy your intellect, let him watch his creation rot…'
"It's Dr Sas." Both of them said unanimously. They stare at each other for a few moments after that, realizing that it all made sense.
Kira could barely breathe at the revelation, it also means that Lacus...
He stood up suddenly, and began to change into his pilot suit.
"Kira…? Kira!" Athrun said in alarm as he got up with effort, a hand on his chest, he understood what Kira was going to do. Tori took off from Athrun's lap and hovered over Kira, wanting to follow.
"Don't go alone, it's too dangerous!" Athrun held his elbow to stop him as he was almost done, his face was white with fear.
"Lacus is the one in danger. That crook orchestrated all this! If what he wants is me, he won't hesitate to hurt Lacus…!" He retorted as he shook Athrun's hand off roughly and began to stalk out of the room.
"WE don't know what he wants, be logical! Kira, don't be stupid… this is suicide!" He exclaimed, and he stood to grab Kira by the shoulder this time, "Listen! I have an i…"
"Let go!" Kira shouted as he shoved Athrun away, and apparently Kira pushed him harder than he thought, for his friend hit the wall, slid onto the floor, and remain quite still after that.
Kira stood rooted to the spot. His heart skipped a bit.
He simply stared at his friend's limp form for a little while, quite unable to believe what was happening. Tori floated down, and landed on Athrun's shoulder, worried, the bird pecked at his sideburns and nudged his ear.
"…Athrun?"He questioned shakily.
There was no response.
"Athrun." Kira squatted down to examine his friend's face and Tori hopped over onto Kira's shoulder.
Athrun did not stir, his brow was knitted together, and coated with a sheen of perspiration. Kira held his shoulders, and began to shake him. He had never been so scared in his life.
"Hey…!"
Then Athrun opened his eyes blearily, blinked a few times and looked around until he found Kira. Athrun took his arm, and Kira released a breath he was holding, shivering. Those hands were so cold and pale.
"What…happened?" Athrun muttered, he seemed to collect himself a little with a few labored breaths.
"Sorry…" Kira shook his head, and whispered apologetically.
Athrun shook his head weakly, and squeezed out a tiny smile, "It's not you, it's me. Don't apologize."
Kira swallowed a lump in his throat, his eyes felt hot.
"…Is this why… you sent Max and Marlene away?"
"…"
"Don't act dumb."
Athrun hesitated, and eventually, he nodded. He looked down as if to mock himself.
"I can't have them… see me like this…"
Kira looked away.
Athrun swallowed grimly, then seemed to collect himself with some effort as he requested quietly, "Can you…? I can't seem to…"
"Yeah, of course. Here…" Kira replied as he helped Athrun up, and frowned, worried as he realized how much his friend was leaning on his arm for support. He shifted so that he could bear a little more of Athrun's weight, and help him to the nearest chair in the room.
"Thanks, bud." Athrun whispered appreciatively as he sat down, and he seemed to be thinking about something.
"Kira, if you really need to go there…There is only one way… two can play the game…" He declared in a rushed whisper.
"…What are you talking about?" Kira asked in spite of himself. Now, he knew he had no heart to leave, but Lacus was in danger. He clenched his teeth, torn, and combed a frustrated hand through his hair. Athrun seemed to have no such reservations,
"Light acted as you…this time you can go back and act…as you. Dr Sas does not know two things, that Light had died, and that I haven't. If Light succeeded in killing me, Dr Sas would expect him to return. Dr Sas will kill you the moment he sees you, but Light…" Athrun said it all very quickly. Kira's eyes widened, it was plausible, he nodded.
"You must play the game of deception…It isn't much, but I'll tell you every conversation I had with Light, memorize them, especially what happened within the clone room. Learn to walk and talk like him, become him. It's still a long shot, but it's better than having no chance at all."
Kira swallowed, and nodded bravely. "You're right, I'll try."
"There is only one thing, Light said his father is going to put him down if he fails again. You must somehow convince him that you have succeeded in killing me this time."
"How…?"
Ooo
Lacus watched as a woman in white walked in with all regality, two officers trailing behind her, and it was not hard to see that she's the highest ranking officer in the place. Lacus recognized her immediately, but she made it a point to look intimidated so as not to spoil the show.
So she shrank back to one corner of her cell and hid her relief.
"Open this." Lunamaria Hawke said shortly to the prison guard, the guard unlocked the door.
"Leave us, I want to interrogate the prisoner...personally." She ordered as she cast Lacus a nasty look. The two men following behind her gave a salute, and left, followed by the guard.
When they were alone, the woman turned towards her.
"Lacus...!" Lunamaria whispered as she took her cap off, all pretense gone, "Are you okay? Did those hot-blooded youngsters hurt you?"
Lacus smiled gratefully, she had been so scared, "I'm fine." She answered, "Now that you're here."
Luna forced out a smile, "If other people said that, I would have called them flaky." She paused, "All that aside, our time is short, listen to me first."
Lacus nodded, and went forward, pressing herself against the metal bars.
"Orders from above says to bring you back to PLANTs, but it won't happen. I contacted Athrun..."
Lacus widened her eyes, "You did?"
"Just now, in private, only my vice captain knows. He's going to save you before we reach the PLANTs, I'll try to find excuses like refueling and such to buy time, he says two weeks is enough."
Lacus nodded, "Thank you."
"And he asked me to relay the following message, 'Your knight in shining white armor is coming.'"
For some reason, Lacus could not bring herself to be happy.
"He is...?"
"He's your husband, woman. Of course he should be worried." Luna teased, but frowned as he read the look on Lacus's face.
"Lacus...?"
She could only shake her head, "Something happened, and...Kira doesn't..." She choked a little, "...quite remember me..."
"...Oh my...really?" Luna exclaimed, "I'm sorry I didn't kn..."
"It's okay..." Lacus said quickly, "You could not have known." She bit her lip.
"It hurts...when I think of those times we had, and the fact that he doesn't remember any of it. He used to remember the important dates and how I like my coffee made. But now he doesn't..."
Luna nodded, she knew there was nothing she could say.
"But...he's sweet in other ways...he'd make me origami flowers and volunteer to comb my hair."
Lacus had a wan smile on her face, but she looked persistently at the floor. "In the past...we had an agreement to not have children, because he did not know what he wanted. And because I chose to follow him, I did not dare anchor myself to anything. Not to Plants, not to Orb. Kira is like that, he is tied to the people he loves, the way Cagalli tied him to Orb."
"It's more like Kira tied himself." Luna said quietly, "It's called commitment."
"Yes...but…I did not want to take that freedom, I chose Kira...but somehow I don't think he chose me. He didn't cheat on me or anything..." She added quickly as she saw Luna widen her eyes.
"Just...our relationship is so…sterile. Happy, but…uneventful. Sometimes I'm a little envious of you and Cagalli, to have a love that's so exciting..."
"You meant traumatic, right?" Luna said, amused. "He must have been blind then." Luna smile thinly as Lacus gazed at her questioningly.
"…To not choose you."
Lacus smiled back, "But now...He chose me...I just know..."
"That's good, his amnesia is not all bad then, remember to bonk him on the head a little more. And don't cry..." Luna whispered as tears slid down the songstress's face. She sniffled as Luna touched her cheek.
"I'm okay...it's just, I'm so worried. Scared that he wouldn't come, afraid that he will get hurt if he does… I...!" She whimpered, and drew a shuddering breath.
"I can't lose him again..." She muttered miserably, "I...can't..."
"Damsels in distress don't get to choose..." Luna held her shoulders through the bars, "He chose you...remember? Wait for him, believe him, he will come back for you. Hush, you have the one man who loves you beyond the entire universe wrapped around your little finger, you have no right to cry..."
"What do u mean by, 'Come back'?"
Luna paused, "He's been on this ship, he went on mission with Spencer and them all, but got separated. I have yet to hear the rest from Emily..."
Lacus widened her eyes.
"Lacus?"
"Captain!" a soldier barged in and saluted, Luna quickly waved her hat threateningly at Lacus and sneered "You'd better cooperate." Then she turned to the man, "What is it? It better be good."
"General Yamato is back, mdm."
ooo
Tad Elthman opened his eyes.
It was early morning, and the sun was not up yet. He laid comfortably in bed, a woman with silver hair in his arms, their bodies naked beneath the sheets.
He looked at that woman now, she was beautiful even if age has caught up with her a little. And in Tad's opinion, is still one of the loveliest woman in the world. The unplanned scenario just sort of happened last night, first, it was drinking in the office's mini bar to cheer her up, then as he began to send her home. Things just happened, and progressed.
'Woman in love turn stupid and forgiving.'
He ran a hand through her soft, lustrous hair tenderly. Pained.
How strange, every single one of their intimate encounters had been a one-night stand, and so far he has not regretted a single one. How strange, it was this woman who had been standing quietly by his side, and he had never noticed this formidable force. He had never seen this invulnerable woman become mortal either, until last night.
Now he was fully awake, and his problems came back to him in full and with interest. But this time, it did not seem much as terrible a burden, now that he had someone whom he can trust to bear it with him. He may have disappointed her in the past, but he swore to himself he will not disappoint her again.
So he removed himself from the bed, tucking her in carefully and leaving a note about where he was going. He put on his garments with purpose, and called important men he needed to call to prepare for war. The most important part of the enterprise being to harvest what is at hand. He was informed regarding the clone army, it was an invaluable source. And the plague, there was only one method that can put a stop to the hellhound of madness…
Ooo
"Wow…" Dr Sas exclaimed as he watched Light walked into the room, Dr Sas was sitting on the chair, looking every bit like he owned the place. It confirmed Kira's theory. The second thing that caught his attention was the faith badge on the tabletop...
"You really managed." He asked conversationally.
"Yes, father." Kira fought to keep his voice unhurried and steady, even though his heart was pounding like crazy. The ironic part of his mission was that he had to pretend he remembered nothing even though now he remembers everything. He had to pretend that this man was his sun, his moon his god even though all he wanted to strangle him for hurting his best friend.
"Is Athrun really dead?"
"Yes." He replied once again in a monotonous voice.
"How did you kill him?" Dr Sas asked, Kira got more angry that he was asking in a more-than-casual manner befitting for the weather. But he reined it in and put on a face of nothing but nonchalance.
"We fought, with swords, he could not hold a candle against me."
"What took you so long to return?"
This part was unrehearsed, Kira swallowed briefly.
"…The actual one found me, he went insane when he saw his friend's bloody corpse on the floor. And he…transformed…he still looks the same, just he became faster and stronger, but the look in his eyes…" Dr Sas nodded thoughtfully, "Go on."
"It's like he's another person." Kira finished lamely, trying his best to describe the Seed mode from his near-death experience with Yzak.
Dr Sas nodded, pleased. "Indeed he has awakened to phase one…"
"But I won, Yamato is quite awful at hand-to-hand actually, Athrun Zala is a little more fun."
"What if…I don't believe you?"
Kira's jaw became a little slacker.
"You can just make it all up and save yourself." Dr Sas pointed out lightly, he sounded amused. "I heard from young Spencer and Emily, there were no bodies…"
"But there is blood if you know where to look, as the place was breaking down I disposed of both in a chasm. They are probably floating somewhere in space now."
"Fair, no bodies." Dr Sas raised his hand, "How about some proof like I asked you?"
"Proof?" Kira was thinking quickly, unable to decide if he should say Dr Sas did not ask, or he forgot. He was not ready to part with the trump card so soon.
"Yes, give it to me." Dr Sas demanded.
"Okay." Kira decided.
The other man look surprised, Kira swallowed as he removed the chain from around his neck. He pressed it into Dr Sas's opened palm. It was the chain that held the purple pendant and a pair of bloodied wedding rings…
Dr Sas scrutinized the items, he knew that they had never left Athrun's person, and Athrun counted on him knowing.
"Well done."
ooo
Cagalli stared at the miracle that landed at the spaceport, and watched as Murrue walked down the ramp with Maximillion and Marlene.
She resisted the urge to cry and open her arms and embrace the pair at the same time. Instead, she simply extended a formal welcome...
ooo ooo
Hi all! This is Mingathur, the months are passing by so quicky! Haha, thank you for still following this story despite it being slow and all. Thank you for all the encouraging reviews and PMs!
This chapter is quite long, and reveals finally the identity of the spy. It's ending...hang in there!
These few months I'll be bz with wedding preparation, but I'll take time to write, no worries!
Till chapter next!
Yours
Ming