Chapter 29: The road to reunion

He was an eternal, ectoplasmic creature that transcended the laws of logic. The passion was rising in him, glorious and hungry; the more he drew on that power, the more there was for him to claim, it got increasingly desperate to be unleashed. It was a song more ageless than the stars, dating from the moment of their birth. Water turned incandescent at his touch, the ground at his feet fused instantly to glass, as if seared by the very breath of the sun itself.

So strong an instant ago, he shattered with the impact of death, crush and broken, stripped of anything that might resemble the man he had been once. Yet…he went on from there. Even as his perception of the beings around him splintered, and he found himself cast adrift-yet remain a part of things that had happened. Experiencing the totality of thought and emotion with an intensity that was raw to his senses; yet oddly exhilarating.

From the people around- thoughts drifted around him- his touch brought forth sensations of grief, fury, confusion and irredeemable loss. Some were as loose from their mooring as he was now, nothing but a spirit. He skimmed the residual essence of the slain, scattered throughout the vast space that stretched out above and below him indefinitely. The number alone was horrifying and he shied away from those lingering strands of contact.

He willed himself away, and suddenly the earth was beneath his feet, the PLANTs over his head. He skipped over the surface of the water, his bare foot causing nothing but ripples to sweep across the plane of the iridescent liquid; never breaking the smooth, silk-like surface.

He lifted off, and found himself flying across the face of forever, on wings so wide that they reach from beginning to the end of all. Worlds, whole dimensions screamed violently to an end, while other slipped silently into being. And suddenly he understood, that life was always a cycle. The story of every individual, no matter how inconsequential, forms a thread in the tapestry and being preserved by the arms of eternity.

And he knew, it will be his turn to join the cycle.

Soon, but not yet.

Athrun opened his eyes, taking a deep breath. He felt better than he had done in a long, long time. In fact, much better. His body was whole and well-rested, he felt like he had been reborn.

He sat up in bewilderment for a few minutes, unable to believe that he woken up, he patted himself down, trying to convince himself that he was flesh and blood once again.

He undid the buttons on his tunic and looked down gingerly, and gasped softly as he found a fully-healed gunshot wound there, he fingered the raised ridges and was surprised that there was no pain, not at all. Something rattled to his left, and he knew he was not dead just by the fact that his wrist was cuffed to the bedposts...

But it was impossible. He remembered the excruciating pain that racked his body as he laid dying, the cardiac infection, the bullet that punched through the vest and slammed into his lungs. He remembered Kira, he remembered being amazed and honored that Yzak would shed tears for him. And the worst part was that he was not able to meet Cagalli one last time…

No matter how hard he fought to stay awake, blood loss and shock claimed him. Then he remembered all sounds ceased, including his own heartbeat...

I shouldn't be, but I'm alive...

He scanned the room, looking for hints, he was in a medical facility of sorts, and the clock showed 8.15am, three days from when he fallen asleep.

Where are they?

Life gave him a miracle, but did not show him mercy.

He is as good as a dead man. The military trial was ongoing, and he had been placed under custody ever since he had been found alive, and he recalled the dream he had, wondering if that was real. He did try to gather clues by listening to the medical staff gossip, something about 'phase two' and 'phoenix phenotype'. It made no sense whatsoever, but they seemed to be talking about him, because they would give him curious looks whenever he passed by, as if he had sprouted an extra head. But they avoided contact with him unless for instructional purposes, and overall, he felt like he was invisible. No one would talk to him, no one would offer information about the outside world...He was locked up and impossibly alone.

Soon, his frustrations did not matter anymore, it was clear that he had been dealt the harshest possible lot. It was worse than death, and soon, his hopes of ever seeing the people who mattered to him were lost. He had been completely and mercilessly isolated, even when he was brought for hearings, he did not get a chance to talk, there were so many people talking at the same time, the facts had been twisted and warped for the media's sake apparently. He would look around helplessly, looking for people he knew, witnesses, anything; but each time he was disappointed. They apparently scheduled hearings usually involving only him, and once or twice he saw Yzak and Steven, but they avoided eye contact and ignored him. He had been condemned to crime, to intense isolation, to death…

Only Steven quietly told him Violet had wanted to come, but she had been infected as well.

Eventually, it became obvious that his words added no value or consequences to the trial; he stopped offering words because no one wanted to listen. He just nodded when people pointed fingers at him and accused him of something; whatever it may be. At some point the judge added one more crime of falsifying information; he nodded to that placatingly as well.

He was then transferred to a proper prison, and the prison head utterly loathed him. And he got the distinct feeling that that man will kill him once the opportunity arose, the impression was drilled deep since day one when he was brought to his cell...

The cells he passed by had basic amenities like a bed, a stool, a toilet and wash basin. But his was barren, it had no furniture to speak of, only a foul-smelling toilet bowl that was detectable from three stalls away. He did not complain even when the wardens shoved him in and locked the door, when he shook as much dust as he could off his face. He picked himself up and curled up at the furthest possible corner from the smelly toilet.

He then kept himself entertained by people watching, he realized that the other prisoners were murderers, pimps, slavers, drug traffickers and madmen, most of them made it to the news before. But all their arms where uncuffed the moment they were in their cells, his hands are still immobilized behind his back.

At lunchtime, a tray will be slotted through a hole in the door. But when it came to his turn. The prison head took the tray from his subordinate and gazed at Athrun, "Are you Athrun Zala?"

He nodded.

"Would you like me to take off your cuffs?"

He nodded again, and saw that the people around turned towards him in anticipation as if something exciting was about to happen. Athrun began to wonder if he had said something uncustomary.

The man smiled, gesturing at his men to unlock the door, Athrun stood up as he came in, turning around for him to gain access.

A foot on his back caught him by surprise, and he could not even brace his fall. The place resonated with laughter as he fell harshly to the floor. Athrun thought it was pathetic, but it seemed as though it was all the entertainment they had.

But that man was not done, he stepped on Athrun's neck, hard.

"Listen carefully, buster! Here, you have no name. Here, you are just number 341157. Here, you obey my rules, you got it?"

Out of sheer defiance, Athrun ignored his tirade, and the man ground down on his throat, threatening to break his jaw. "Answer me!" He demanded.

Athrun only turned as much as he could to glare coldly at him. And the man backed off, as if hit. Athrun thought, Ah, a coward.

The man recovered after a while and told him smugly. "This is my territory, I'll break you sooner or later, cur. For now, I will take your cuffs off when I feel like it." He patted Athrun's face much to the amusement of the prisoners.

Athrun got up as the man walked outside, and suddenly he seemed to realize that there was a food tray in his hands.

"Oh, and this, is for you to practice proper behavior." He unceremoniously dumped the food on the floor. "You're hungry, aren't you? I can tell, eat it." He commandeered.

Chants of 'Eat, eat, eat, eat, eat' became louder and louder, Athrun's face was burning with humiliation, but he withdrew to the corner, choosing to ignore the taunts.

"He'll eat when he's hungry enough." The man said in mockery, "That's what dogs do." The place howled with laughter, then he locked the door and left.

Athrun's next few meals followed the same demise, and by the second night he could not sleep. His arms are still clamped behind his back, cramped up and painful. It was inconvenient and painful as it ensured that he could only sleep on his side. He was also positively famished, and could feel his intestines churn with acid and dissatisfaction. He was starting to feel weak and giddy from the lack of nourishment, but his pride prevented him from touching the ever-growing pile of food on the ground, he wanted to believe that he kept his dignity at least-if nothing else. The price he paid was an empty stomach and that his lips had cracked and bled from dryness.

To occupy himself, he played catch-the-moonlight with his toes for a while, before he caught himself with a weak laugh.

He began to wonder how long he is going to last, how long it will take for him to go mad from boredom? Or to die from malnutrition or abuse?

It did not matter which, only he wished it will be faster, and less hungry.

He had nothing left.

He had not managed to talk to anyone, and so far no one has come looking for him. He wondered if they had forgotten completely about his existence, and even if they were, he will never be able to see them, he was a condemned criminal. He deserved nothing, he had been stripped of his all, his friends, his kids, his pride...

His lover...

Cagalli...

He swallowed as hot tears welled up in his eyes, and he blinked them away, they streaked down the side of his face.

He had no right to cry, he had brought all these upon himself, he had chosen to fall...

As if telling him things could have been worst, the door creaked as it swung open, and he got up a little as two wardens came in, "Boss wants to see you."

"...Then tell him to come." He retorted lazily, lying back down.

They obviously used brute force to drag him there anyway, he guessed they were going to beat him up for sport.

His guess was not wrong.

Ooo

Cagalli was positively pissed off. Orb had brought an all-Natural crew, doctors, nurses, pharmacists who specialize in oncology and medications on their cargo ships, all according to Athrun's plea on his letter. Not only they knew what they were doing, they are also naturally unaffected by the virus, they were the ideal staff. PLANTs received the gift with open arms, but whisked Athrun away from her the moment they realized he was still alive. The government regrouped after both Chairmen were accused of treason. From the point she handed over those documents, they maintained a closed-circuit information system, Cagalli was not allowed to know where Athrun was, how he was doing. She could only base her assumptions on the status quo, which is somewhere in prison.

Cagalli knew Athrun well enough. He would not speak unless people wanted to hear. She was not allowed to attend the hearings as this was Zaft's domestic business, but video recordings showed Athrun increasingly quiet and he maintained complete silence and dignity in the last few. Fortunately he looked hale and hearty enough, his eyes were sharp and intelligent, which set her heart at ease.

The plague had not taken him from her, and she vowed that neither will these people. She dug deep into the case, and realized that those whose testimony would be in favor of them releasing Athrun, like Mark and Shinn and the police High commissioner, were not allowed to testify at all…neither did they volunteer to testify against the odds.

It was rigged to condemn him from the start…

She hated that the media would refer to her as a 'close acquaintances' or 'friends', highlighting and mocking her inability to get involved. So she did the only thing she could despite Kisaka's most fervent protests.

"I came with aid, not just because we want to help our fellowmen, but because Athrun asked me to..." She declared at a press conference.

"Why did you trust him and abide by the request then?" One reporter raised his hand and questioned.

"I trust him, that's all there is to it. Well, the truth is..."

She took a deep breath for effect.

"...We are married."

And she proceeded to fax her marriage certificate to every known publisher and tabloid. It caused uproar, and soon she was under scrutiny for being involved in the trial. Soon, ugly remarks and hate mail started pouring into her temporary home in PLANTs, which was Athrun's place, of course she had the keys, the caretaker, an old gentleman named Wayne, had hugged her and Kira and Lacus upon arrival. Shinn and Luna came to the doorstep just to cheer her, they were emitting so much hope and happiness that Cagalli almost wished they never came.

The eventuality was that Cagalli brushed the comments off and made preparations to go in and rescue her husband.

Still, she could not find him, it were as if his whereabouts have been deliberately concealed…

ooo

Dr Giorados was on a mission the first thing in the morning, and his heart leapt in anticipation as he walked closer and closer to the subject's cell, Albert followed closely behind. Giorados could sense his excitement as well.

His nose wrinkled at the smells coming from the stalls, but he ignored them and brushed invisible dust off his immaculate white coat. He is 42 this year, and had never failed in his life, he went through the best education and married the number 1 women. Marrying a Natural is adding unnecessary fudge into an otherwise perfect genepool. So what's wrong with match-made marriage? Love is merely another branch of science to be harnessed.

The head warden in front of him stopped, and he stopped as well, peering into the cell. He observed three things immediately.

One, all cells were furnished except for this one, where the subject lay on the ground. Two, everyone else was free, he alone was bound, food littered the ground. Third, he appeared unconscious whereas others were asleep.

And Giorados looked at the head warden and smiled at his own geniousity, but frowned at the revelation.

He had wanted the subject in optimal health condition, if it were to be used.

"Hey, 341157." The man commanded, Dr Giorodas flinched involuntarily as he kicked Athrun's stomach and splashed a cupful of water at his face.

Athrun grimaced and blinked bearily, but did not make a sound.

"Get up, you have a visitor." The man growled.

Athrun made no response, only laid back down as if he was too lazy to care, Giorados noticed that Athrun's shoulder joint was stuck out at a weird position and he narrowed his eyes as the man made to kicked Athrun again. But Albert stepped forward, shielding Athrun. "Don't, I need to know."

Albert quickly pricked Athrun's finger and squeezed one drop of blood onto the test kit.

Dr Giorados realized that he was holding his breath as well, and he willed with all his heart that the test kit will turn blue, meaning it was positive.

He is the only hope.

Ten seconds elaspsed, but it felt like an eternity.

The reagent turned from colourless to a beautiful cerulean, it fanned out as a purple to blue gradient on the test kit.

Albert's smile was enough to summon sunshine and butterflies. "He carries the X21 antibody...!" He told Giorados, who nodded.

Albert next called to Athrun, taking his shoulders, "Athrun...Come on."

Athrun hissed in pain, and Albert unhanded him. "Sorry..." He muttered.

"Albert?" Athrun Zala was awake, and turned a little. "Why are you here?" This is the first time he spoke, Giorados's frown deepened. He sounded weak, they had probably smashed him up as well, barbaric.

"Hey. To save you, sort of...But you are gonna save alot of people!" Albert replied sincerely. Which made Athrun blink a few times before he questioned. "Huh?" in a clueless fashion. But good, he is at least lucid. His intellect is undamaged.

"His shoulder joint is dislocated." Dr Giorados pointed out. "And only after three days..." He turned to the warden, "You have been most helpful to have the subject injured and unfed, please note that this man is now under the custody of PLANTs medical center. We will take charge from here. Albert, Mr Zala, let's go. This place stinks."

"What? I don't take orders from a...!" The warden protested.

"From a what?" Giorados challenged as he casually showed off his Faith badge.

The man paled, Giorados grinned gleefully. "Please also note that you will receive a letter from the attorney for charges of intentional damage and personal assault against government property. And you might want to spice up this cell, it will become yours. I'll make sure it does."

"What the hell are you talking about?! There is no goddamn government property to damage here...!"

"Him." Giorados pointed casually at Athrun, as if it were the obvious.

All three people gazed at his finger as if it were magic, only Albert had the guts to nod fervently.

Ooo

"Here, eat something. If possible, I prefer more to less." Giorados said once they were inside the transport. He took out a few bars of chocolate and mineral water from the chiller and pressed them into Athrun's usable hand.

Athrun took one of the dark chocolate bars and bit off one mouthful, swallowing before stating, "You're Dr Giorados Winhill, the head researcher at PLANTs Medical..."

Dr Giorados smiled, of course Athrun Zala remembers him, his research is the finest.

"Greetings, and you shall have the privilege to call me G from now." He took Athrun's arm as he ate the chocolate uncaringly. There were angry red gashes that ringed his arms and has started to swell, telling of his frustrations and exactly how longed he had been locked up. He disinfected those wounds swiftly, just in case.

"Please take off your shirt, I would like to assess your injuries and fix this arm." G requested.

"I'm alright..." Athrun replied immediately.

He retorted in a dead-panned voice "You left arm has popped out of its socket. It's not alright, you are undernourished and dehydrated, and I suspect you have a couple of broken ribs as well."

But Athrun would not let him touch him, and challenged. "So?"

"So...?" G asked, unable to guess what Athrun was really asking.

"What do you want from me?" He demanded.

"I want nothing from you…"

"Then why are you helping me? What business it is of yours if I lived or died? And what's with this...antibody?"

G sighed, "You are here, because the state needs those antibodies..."

"?" Athrun merely gazed at him, his eyes questioning.

"The plague, the X21, you carried the virus, you fell ill, but you lived while others died."

Athrun nodded slowly, comprehension in his eyes. "I...these antibodies can save those who are sick...?"

G nodded. Athrun widened his green eyes, looking earnestly at G. His hand landed on his own chest in a manner so sincere that G was touched for a moment.

G went on calculatively, presenting the deal. "In return for letting us extract these antibodies, you will be absolved of all charges. And perhaps, finally granted a visit to Lady Yula Athha."

Athrun's mouth hung slightly opened at that, and the joy and hope in his eyes so evident that he looked like a different person from the one lying on the ground, beaten up those hours ago.

"You mean...I'll get to see...see Cagalli again?" He stammered, his voice was shaking uncharacteristically.

"Not just see her." G added. "Talk to her, marry her and have it acknowledged under PLANTs marital laws..."

A gleam of tears was visible in Athrun's eyes, and G knew he had hit the spot. Athrun did not speak for a full minute, then bit his lip, his expression sad but hopeful at the same time.

Suddenly, he gazed into G's eyes. "I'll do it."

G was surprised, "I haven't even tell you the terms yet."

"You don't have to." Athrun said with confidence, then added softly. "...If I can help to find a cure, bring an end to the plague, you can take me apart for all I care. Just...I...want to see Cagalli."

"At the end of it all." He promised.

"How long will it take?" Athrun asked, a little impatiently.

"I am obliged to explain the process because of the risks involved." He raised a hand to stop Athrun who looked like he wanted to interrupt. "Please listen carefully, because by choosing to participate you are essentially signing an indemnity that temporarily voids your human rights."

Athrun looked pensive, "I don't have rights...". G was utterly surprised, and somehow felt he ought to see some fear and consideration in his subject.

"Have you heard of symbiosis?"

"Symbiosis, for two organisms to live together in mutual support."

G was a little miffed that Athrun had taken those words right out of his mouth, and was determined to ask him something he cannot answer. "What is a mitochondria?"

"An entity in the cell that produces energy in the form of ATP. Theory proposes that it was a parasite, but had achieved a symbiotic relationship with ma..."

"Mamalian cells, yes." G cut him off irritably. Athrun frowned slightly, then looked at him, "Can you help fix my arm?"

"With pleasure." G replied as he stepped to Athrun's side and removed his shirt. He was right, Athrun's torso was an utter mess of blacks and blues. G took his arm and shoulder joint, kneading it a few times, "Does this hurt?"

Athrun was clenching his teeth, but replied, "Not too much..."

"Alright, listen, that's what happened to you, the virus reached symbiosis with your cells. Because of that, your cells!" With that he found purchase and snapped the bone right back into the socket, Athrun did not even have the time to scream. He just curled up and nursed his shoulder as G started immobilizing the joint with bandages.

"...Your cells now regenerate at more than twice the speed of normal Coordinators, you'll recover soon. That's why you did not die, your cardiac tissue, which had necrosized because of pericarditis were regenerated almost instantaneously. The bullet was snagged beneath your collarbone, all it took was for someone to dig it out and your body's healing mechanism kicked in. The mysterious man who wrote to the Supreme Council called it, 'Phoenix Hyperion'."

Athrun considered, seemingly having an idea who this mysterious person is, he went on, "The second thing that happened was that you were conferred natural immunity. Those viral particles in your cells have fused their genetic material with yours. Infected persons have cells that expresses an antigen on their cell membranes, yours don't. Instead, your body has begun to produce an antibody that binds to these cells that go awry and make them easy targets for the macrophages."

"Alright..." He muttered, not fully comprehending the science. "What do you need?"

"Your blood and your bone marrow…" G reported, and Athrun stiffened.

"The collection will be done in two phases, first we will withdraw 1.5 to 2 liters of blood divided in 50ml aliquots, depending on how much you can withstand…" He added slyly. "These will be sent out to various locations for research, they will purify and extract the antibodies for those patients who needs treatment urgently. Inducing a state of anemia, coupled with stimulatory medications, will force the bone marrow to go into overdrive, we will collect stem cells about 7-10 days from there, generally from multiple sites on the femur and pelvis, understood?"

"What's the catch?" Athrun questioned.

"It's an unheard-of-protocol, it borders on the inhumane."

"Inhumane?" Athrun asked, a little paler now.

"The medications involved are quite...potent. They work fast, but they are also known to cause bone pain rated like, 8 or 9 over 10. And once you start, you cannot stop no matter what until dose escalation is complete, the effects take time to build."

"I can take pain..." Athrun whispered softly, looking down, and for some reason, G felt a gush of pity, but in that instant he also believed Athrun could.

"It will leave anyone in a near-crippled state. There is also a 35% all-cause mortality rate…"

"You said this protocol has never been utilized, how then is this number derived?"

"Expert opinion." Athrun raised an eyebrow as G declared proudly, "Aka my opinion."

Athrun did not laugh at the joke, he looked thoughtful for a moment or two, then said with finality. "Okay."

G widened his eyes, and stammered incredulously, "Okay...as in you are gonna do it? You don't even need time to consider?"

"But under three conditions." Athrun added.

"Ah, for a moment there I was starting to think you are not human. State your price."

"One, I want priority to be given to Dearka and Violet...Dearka Elthman and Amamiya Murasaki...They are my friends..."

G noted that down on his hand-held, "And...I don't think anyone informed you. But the general of Orb, Sir Yamato has come down with the infection as well. Would you like me to add him to the list? "

Athrun paled visibly at that, and his emotionless face turned sad. He was so shocked he could hardly speak.

"Kira...Kira too...?!" Then he quickly recovered his composure, gazing into G's eyes. "Please...Please do!"

"Alright...two?"

"If possible, don't tell anybody...Don't let the public and the media know."

"You want to do all the work and take no credit?" G was surprised, he had never seen anyone like that.

Athrun merely shook his head, "Those ill shouldn't live with knowing that the source of the cure was procured by such a process..." Athrun was quiet for a moment, he sighed as he realized G was still studying him.

"I...don't want to let Kira know, he will call me an idiot..." He whispered reluctantly.

"... All that has been said and done. On paper you are still in prison and on the way to the gallows..."

"Good, three..." He sighed, and implored softly, "Are you sure...I can't meet Cagalli first...?"

"Not now." G replied after consideration.

The fact is, Athrun could, at this point if Athrun refused to sign the indemnity until he gets his way, there is nothing anyone could do, he hold all the cards. Hence G had to convince him that he cannot, G is anxious that he might end up in someone else's hands.

"Not while the trials are at this stage... And it's not as if you're definitely going to die. You'll get to see her...my job is to make sure you survive." He patted Athrun on the uninjured shoulder just for effect.

Athrun gazed at him for a little while, then suddenly, gave a small, sad smile.

"Thank you." He whispered sincerely. That caught G completely off guard.

I'm only here to make use of you...

"I would think that you have a lot of underlings to embark on this research, you need not come here yourself, thank you for that."

Of course I came personally, who would let a Nobel prize slip through their fingers like that?

"You...don't need to thank me." Was all he could say.

"Why not...? To me...You're giving me my life back. At least...I'll get to see her again."

Before Athrun could say more to soften his resolve to keep the project all to himself, "He added, "We will clear the paperwork these two days and start ASAP, don't worry for now, just concentrate on eating and sleeping well."

Athrun nodded once, stretched out, and was asleep within minutes.

G let out a breath he had been holding.

Ooo

Cagalli had not expected Kira to fall ill.

It started with a flu that worsened each day and would not go away with rest and antibiotics. Soon, he was complaining of persistent chest pains and muscle aches, Cagalli got worried, and various tests and examinations yielded no conclusive results. Then eventually, he started using sugar as salt in copious amounts and declared that the food was delicious.

Cagalli tried to reason with him, it did not work, and Kira threatened to burn down the house should she say another word. When he slapped Lacus one day for keeping all the sugar in the house, it became clear to her that Kira was no longer sane. Her suspicion was right, he had been infected, it was the plague. Subsequently, Kira passed out after an arguement with Cagalli.

She watched with a broken heart when the authorities came that night and took Kira, kicking and screaming away from them.

Lacus cried, and they cried together in the nights, and prayed in the days. They would take turns to take care of Kira in the hospital, who had been sedated to stay away the convulsive phase and to prevent him from hurting himself and the medical staff in his fits of madness.

Lacus buried herself in work as an honorary member of the temporary government, drawing up policies and tie-over strategies that would help the effort of reestablishing diplomatic ties, but Cagalli knew she was just trying to numb herself by doing something, anything. She was staying strong for both their sakes.

Soon, it became evident that Kira was not going to make it, he spiked fevers that reach up to 41 degrees Celsius and his blood profiles were crashing, he began to show signs like bruises all over his arms and legs, and respiratory distress. It was the most experienced oncologist from Orb who had to break the grimmest news to Lacus.

"Lady Cagalli...Miss Lacus Clyne..." The doctor did not continue, merely shook his head.

By then, Cagalli could not say a word to comfort Lacus. She had come to PLANTs wanting to make things right, wanting to save Athrun, not to watch her brother die. They had found that the source of contamination lay at the heart of the water filtration system in Aprilius, it was removed and eradicated, but what was done was done.

And Kira was only 25...

Her tears had run dry. Death descended like a black cloud, choking the city in it's miasma.

Lacus hardly slept, she spent all her time by Kira's bedside. Watching him sleep, holding his hands and singing or speaking softly, it was heartbreaking to watch her pine as he wasted away. Around them, other patients disappeared as some started convulsing, others died. It was all too terrible…

"Kira...don't go...don't leave me..." Lacus muttered over and over, as if her mantra could somehow bind him to life…

One night, they were told that Kira might not live till morning. And both of them held each other in the ward, watching, waiting.

It was the longest, most dreadful night in her life. They were fortunate Kira survived the night...

For in the morning, a cure came, breaking through the gloom like the first light of dawn.

The first batch of antidote was released in small quantities, and miraculously, Kira was among the recipients.

It worked like magic, Kira woke up lucid and hungry two days after the administration of the little miracle vial of clear serum. The first thing he asked Lacus when he could talk was that whether it hurt when he hit her, the second was if she was really pregnant like what she said when he was sleeping. Lacus nodded tearfully to that, holding on to his hands tightly.

Cagalli left the two of them to their whispering of sweet nothing's and long and erratic embraces.

With Kira on the way to recovery, she could finally refocus. She had returned to PLANTs for only one reason…

"Athrun, where are you..?" She found herself whispering to the coffee mug one day.

She realized that she had absentmindedly made two cups, and the other cup sat forlorn on the table, it would be where Athrun would sit to have dinner with her, probably also teasing her about why she looked so haggard nowadays...

She felt her eyes get hot.

She was lost like a ship torn from its moorings, and she felt utterly useless. She hadn't been able to do anything for him, she did not even know where he was after so long. She missed him so terribly, sometimes she would go to the wardrobe, find his trademark sunshine yellow turtleneck, and hug the soft fabric to sleep.

Eventually, she will have to return to Orb to face the emirs, but she was too ashamed to return to Max and Marlene empty-handed. She was jaded and vengeful at those who had locked Athrun away and had accused her of promiscuity by being involved with Leonidas and Athrun, of abusing her status to get Kira the cure. She did nothing of that sort, but apparently there were only 20 vials of the serum available, yet Kira and Dearka were both apparently among the first batch to receive it.

Was it just a coincidence, or was there someone to draw up the list...?

The miracle serum was rumored to have been derived from a medical research center in central Aprilius, and things had turned ugly from there. The media and desperate family members of the sick attempted to break into the facility, demanding that they hand over all their stocks of the serum. One vial sold for two million in the black market and counterfeit cures became a crime problem. The center was adamant in their stand that they were temporarily out of stock and refused to release more information about the methods of synthesize. But obviously, no one believed them. There were rioters outside the building on an hourly basis, the police had ringed and barricaded the place.

She was sitting on the sofa absentmindedly leafing through the research left by Ulen Hibiki, trying to find out more and listening to the news that riots and armed group had attempted to break into the facility. Lacus had gone to pick up Kira, who was going to be discharged.

Suddenly, the windows started to rattle, she wondered why but for a few second when without warning, an explosion sent her flying forward and the place quaked as the bomb brought the house down. She did not even have time to draw breathe as the sofa flipped behind her and landed heavily over her. She curled up instinctively as she was forced into a huddle on the ground, reducing the surface area that could be burnt by the bellowing heat and fire. Her arms and the back of her neck were already blistering and hurting.

It was sonorous, things were collapsing around her, she yelled for help. She screamed aloud as something heavy collapsed heavily atop the inverted sofa. Soon it will burn right through, but all she saw around her were flames and falling debris. "Wayne!" She cried helplessly, "WAYNE! Where are you? Anyone?!"

There was no one in the place, she bit her lip, reining in her tears.

There! An opening in the flames that leads to the exit, a full length glass window. She was on the second floor, but it was her only chance.

Quickly, she crawled out from under the sofa and ran out low, braving the fires as fast as she could. A few meters from the glass, she raised her arms to protect her face and brace for impact as she crashed right through the glass window.

It was a moment of pure exhilaration as cool night air met her face, and she savoured her breath and thanked the heavens for being alive to breathe it. She landed on her feet and rolled forward on the soft grass. More glass bits cut her skin.

Lacus had apparently arrived home and broke from the restrains of a few butlers as she quickly ran and wrapped herself around her. "Oh my! Cagalli! Are you alright?"

Cagalli nodded, grateful to be alive, but too shaken for words, and she had no heart to tell Lacus she was hurting her. Lacus helped her onto her feet, and Kira took off his coat and wrapped it around her. She was only in her tank top and shorts, her feet started to hurt, and she realized she has a deep cut on her ankle as well.

The gardeners and maids from the other wings had arrived, and they began to put out the fire using buckets and garden hoses. But their efforts were in vain, the fire brigade arrived with the media dogs, all these people watched with the mansion's staff as the flames rose higher and higher until the house razed to the ground, some had tears in their eyes.

Wayne was one of those, his white hair singed. In a sorrowful and tired tone he tried to explain. "This was the house where Master Zala and Mdm once lived. Young master grew up here..."

Athrun had never told her that this was where he had spent his childhood, and Cagalli began to feel sad as the house soon collapsed on it's own scaffold. Taking with it some blackened corpses, she shuddered, knowing she should have been one of them.

"Let's get you some shoes, we go to the hospital." Said Kira, steering her gently by the shoulders.
"Kay..." She consented, her eyes glued to the house. It felt like it was all she had left of him, now it was gone...life really left her nothing...

Not even that yellow turtleneck she could cry into to pretend he was still there with her...

In the car, she was listening to the news reporting the incident that just happened. Apparently the attack was aimed at her, they called her a hypocrite for bringing aid to PLANTs. It was done by an unknown terrorist group who claimed that it was a mistake to let Naturals step onto PLANTs surface. Kira clicked his tongue irritably while applying cold compress on her wounds, but Cagalli did not regret her decision. She had done all that was in her power to protect him…

At the hospital, she was still mourning her loss, and could not care less as doctors wrapped up her wounds and a nice staff nurse cut off her hair that had been burnt.

Lacus suddenly barged into the treatment room.

"Miss, you can't come in now." The medical staff blocked her way and told her. Cagalli looked up in surprise, it was unlike the pink songstress.

"This is very important..." Lacus insisted, Cagalli's interest was piqued.

"But you can't..."

"Cagalli!" Lacus yelled over the crowd, it was so uncharacteristic of the gentle and demure Lacus Clyne.

"Athrun called!"

"What?" Cagalli whispered, her heart raced.

ooo

A few hours ago.

"This is the second desaturation today..." Albert muttered as he examined the charts, "It might precipitate ARDS. We need to watch him more closely..."

G frowned, worry creased his brow.

They were on the final, critical phase of the dose escalation. And it did not seem like Athrun could take much more...

The human body was just not designed to withstand prolonged, excruciating pain, it did not matter if they were Naturals or Coordinators. Beyond a certain pain threshold, the body chooses to shut down from the supposed damage and goes into shock, and Athrun's body was swiftly approaching that point, his stress markers are flying off the charts. They had given him medications, but the limitation was that these have little efficacy past a certain threshold. The only way was to increase the doses huge enough to numb the nerves, but it would knock him out altogether. Athrun vehemently refused once they suggested that option. He would not let them put him to sleep even if he had to bear with the pain, it seemed as if he was afraid of something...

"Dr Winhill, Dr Canberry!" A nurse came running, "The protestors have broken past the second storey, they are heading up in the elevators! What do we do?"

"Shut the barricades." G ordered.

The labyrinth of labs spanned the entire ninth floor with a need for increasing security clearance as it moved deeper in and with the research lab tucked most inside. The rioters will have to get past many security devices before they could get in...

"Do we issue an evacuation order?" She pressed, looking like she wanted to run.

"No, not yet. Just go, do as I say!" He snapped, shooing her off.

It will buy him time to do what he needs to do, he cursed himself for selling that extra two vials of purified antibodies to a man able and willing to surrender his fortune in exchange for his daughter's life, it led the mob here...

"Giorados!" Albert cried, "We have to tell the public the truth, I know we promised him, but in the event we really have to evacuate, we can't move him like this! It's too risky."

"Tell the truth? You think they will believe us when we say we don't have more at the moment?"

"They will believe you if you told them that the cure was derived from an immune host contrary to belief. Logically, the production is limited by how much we can obtain without killing the host!" Albert insisted, then rounded sharply in front of him as he did not reply.

"Giorados, please! This research did not belong to any of us! Our priority is to keep Athrun safe..."

Giorados did not let Albert finish, he sent a hard punch to his diaphragm, effectively knocking him out for a moment.

"Gior...!" He sputtered, then his body went limp.

G pushed him aside roughly, then indicated to the two men who were standing in the shadows. "Let's go. We need to deliver the goods."

"What about him?" One man pointed at Albert, cracking his knuckles audibly.

"Leave him be. The two of you go dress the part."

"Yes sir."

The party stomped to Athrun's room after changing, and G forcibly shut off a few exits on his way in by jamming in his security pass backwards. His hand rested on the final door handle as he took a deep breath, then swiped his security pass and walked in.

"Mr Zala, we have to go...!" He implored, touching Athrun's arm urgently.

He had to put up a show and make Athrun leave with him willingly; he was worth an unimaginable sum. G would leave with him and make his fortune another time.

Athrun was barely conscious as he opened his eyes groggily, but did not get up and did not look as if he recognized G, his brow was coated with perspiration. This was pretty much the default state-of-being he was in for the last few days due to the side effects and high doses of medicines, which includes severe nausea, extravasations and respiratory depression. He had hardly gotten out of bed or eaten anything over the last few days as a result, and there were multiple burns so bad that some of his veins simply cannot be used anymore.

G could not help but admired him, for through the hardship and suffering he never complained...

"G...?" He whispered questioningly, his voice so weak it was barely audible. G recalled the multiple desaturations, and knew that any more exertion might kill him, but G preferred dead to never. His role was to transport him to the stipulated place, the buyer did not care if he was dead or alive.

His bones were bursting at the seams with marrow. Even dead, he will be useful.

He grabbed Athrun's wrists forcibly, imagining it was a wad of cash. "Yes, come with me. A bunch of madmen and reporters have broken in, they want to kill you. We are evacuating the lab." He lied as he helped Athrun sit up, and began to disconnect the IV lines and electrodes.

"Why…?" Athrun questioned, a little more alert now, his eyes were glinting. He looked uncertainly at the two men behind Giorados.

"They believe the plague is Divine-sent, and any cure is sent by the devil." G tattled and lied.

Athrun only nodded grimly, he shook himself, then allowed himself to be dragged off.

Ooo

Albert Canberry woke up, and he almost panicked. He quickly got himself off the floor even though it hurt terribly to do so, his abdomen was sore. "No...Athrun!" He sputtered, walking forward unsteadily and making his way to to save his friend. He was alarmed to find that some of the doors will not open even when he swiped his security pass. And he was forced to summon help to make the exits open by force, precious time was wasted. After which, he sounded the evacuation alarm, it was probably too late anyway. If Giorados had taken Athrun then there was no point staying staying in the building.

This cannot be happening...!

The hopes of the populace rode on the success of this research, Giorados knew that, but he took Athrun anyway. Albert cannot just let it happen, furthermore Athrun was in mortal danger. Albert bit his lip, trying to contain his worries, then quickly picked up his phone and called. He waited for Yzak to pick up as he broke down entrances after entrances and finally reached Athrun's room.

As expected, it was empty. There were no signs of struggle, the bedding and equipment were all intact, meaning Giorados made use of the Athrun's trust to deceive him and get him to coorperate. Albert gasped softly in dread, hammering his fist on the wall, he knew that whatever's going on did not involve keeping Athrun alive. "No!"

There was a click as the line went through, "Yzak speaking..."

"Yzak we must get help!" Albert screamed, "He took Athrun!"

"What...?!"

ooo

Athrun sat in the helicopter, still somewhat conscious but half hoping to be otherwise. He was nauseous and his body was in generalized pain, especially his legs. He wrapped about himself as he shivered involuntarily, the pain worsened. They did not disappoint, he was indeed feeling terrible, so much so that he thought of just sleeping and never wake up…

"Where's...Albert...?" He asked G beside him, the man had a haunted look on his face, and if Athrun read correctly, fear.

G ignored him.

"G...?" He implored, coughing with the effort, it was getting harder and harder to breath, and he swallowed grimly, wondering if there was anything wrong.

He was giddy with asphyxiation and realized he could not quite think clearly anymore, perspiration drained down his temple.

He wondered where they were going, and hoped that they will reach soon, the pain was escalating, and he was beginning to gasp like a fish out of water...

Through the hatch he could see that they were flying past Athrun's estate, and he was alarmed to find dark smoke bellowing out from where his parent's house once stood. Media helicopters and fire trucks surrounded the inferno, and on the ground surface his heart leapt as he saw Lacus, she looked like she had wanted to dash into the house, but a few people restrained her, she trashed and cried and Athrun's heart contracted.

It was either Cagalli or Kira in danger...

"We are reaching the launch point soon..." The pilot reported, Athrun realized something was indeed amiss, it did not make sense to leave the PLANTs, the sick are there, the cure should stay.
"G...?" He asked again, "What's...happening...?"

Giorados did not answer, and Athrun did not get the chance to ask again, he was getting so breathless he could not talk.

And by then he knew that he was at the mercy of whatever mischief going on...

Through his blurry vision, he saw the military come into view as the launch point approached. It was an alarming sight, their guns were raised and pointed at the helicopter, suddenly it occurred to Athrun what had happened.

"Director of medical board, Dr Giorados Winhill, surrender the test subject. This is an act of treason." Someone said over loud hailer, it sounded like Frank Wisely.

G took the mic as he shoved Athrun backwards against the seat. "Let's not act saint, Commissioner, everyone lied. Everyone is making use of him..."

"True." thought Athrun dimly.

"This is my ultimatum. Surrender or we will open fire." Frank repeated, nonpussed.

G cursed, the opened the helicopter door beside Athrun, cool air rushed in. And floodlights overwhelmed his vision, he squeezed his eyes shut and felt G's hand on his arm, threatening to push him out.

"Get out of the way, or I will kill him…And I will make sure there will not be a single drop of blood left for anyone to exploit!" G threatened.

This made Frank hesitate, Athrun had no means to defend himself against either parties, but he was somewhat aware that he will be useless to both if he became a meat patty...

Frank Wisely gave an order, and with a flash and a loud bang, one of the Zakus had fired at them. The round's force zoomed past Athrun, and the sound was loud enough to cause him momentarily deafness, the helicopter swerved violently to avoid the round, crushing Athrun against G.

"Surrender." Frank Wisely commandeered.

"Missiles!" G shouted, and there was a backward lurch as missiles were undoubtedly loosed from the front ports of the helicopter.

There was another bang, something caused the helicopter to swerve right and began to lose altitude, Athrun was disoriented in the tumble. G yelled, and suddenly lost his hold on the side door of the helicopter as it tilted steeply right, there was a moment when he fell past Athrun, and would have fallen to his death if Athrun had not grabbed hold of his arm in time.

G's eyes were wide as he gazed at Athrun, and they seemed to ask a question he could not articulate.

'Why?'

Athrun clenched his jaw and focused all his might to hold on. One arm was anchored to the handbar between the front and back seats, the other grabbing G.

"Boss!" One of the two man tried to reach Giorados, but when he realize it was simply too far he grabbed on to Athrun's arm so hard that it hurt. "Don't you dare let go!"

"Athrun...Help...help me!" G cried desperately, his eyes wide with panic. Athrun could not and did not reply, he only watched and waited. He did not know why he did, only that he did not want to have anyone else die in front of him.

The ground was rushing at them as they plunged and he let go when they were close enough to the ground so G could at least land with maybe a broken leg. By then he was spent, and the pressure around his lungs intensified. He curled up in pain and waited to die, time seemed to come to a standstill, all sounds cease. There was no more explosions, nobody shouting, no cameras clicking.

He was falling, falling through nothingness.

He thought of Cagalli and Kira, and yearned with all his heart that they were safe...

"Ventilate with 100% oxygen…!"

He coughed, and tasted blood. He was not sure how long had passed, but he came to again in an emergency treatment room. People in white were shouting and rushing around, he saw with relief that the one fully garbed in scrubs beside him was Albert, he was pressing an oxygen mask snugly over Athrun's nose and mouth.

"It's ARDS..." Albert declared grimly as he observed some numbers on a screen to his left, "The results shows bilateral pleural effusions. We have no choice, do it now!"

Athrun managed to lift a hand and took hold of his sleeve, Albert looked surprised for a moment, then squeezed out a reassuring smile.

"Athrun?" He muttered. "You're going to be fine, I know it's horrible for you. Try to relax, breathe..."

Athrun knew a lie when he heard it. When two staff approached him with some vile-looking metal instruments and a syringe of clear, bright-red medication he recognized too well, he panicked. But Albert held him down, "Listen, you're in danger, it's a very rare but serious side effects. We need you to sleep for a while for the last dose..."

"No..."He forced out his protests, feebly pushing against Albert.

"Athrun!" Albert reprimanded. "Please, lives are at stake here."

"...But...!" He reminded them desperately, he was not afraid to die, he only hoped that they would adhere to that promise.

They had promised to let him see her again...

He felt tears gather in his eyes, he has been so afraid that he will not wake up; that sleep would be eternal. He had wanted so badly to apologize personally; even if it's the last time...

Albert snapped at him. "If this goes on you are gonna die! Trust me!"

He only mustered enough strength to shake to his head, he hated it that everyone was treating him like an idiot.

"You guys...promised!" He rasped.

Albert paused at that, as if remembering what he had pledged, clenching his teeth.
Then hesitated, "One call." He compromised. "If I let you make one phone call, you have to do as I say."

Athrun nodded gratefully. It was his final bid...

Albert pressed his own mobile into Athrun's palm, his hands were shaking and uncoordinated and he could not see the numbers. But he somehow managed to key in Cagalli's number with his trembling fingers, the dial tone rang, Athrun waited, heart in mouth.

But no one picked up...

"The mobile customer you have called is currently unavailable, please try again later. At the tone, please record your message."

Athrun felt his heart sink, fearing the worst had happened to her.

"You had your call." Albert declared as he reached to take back his phone. Athrun only pleaded weakly as he keyed in Lacus's number this time, and waited as the phone rang once, twice, thrice.

Then a click as the line connected.

"Hello, Lacus here, may I know who's on the line?"

He breathed a sigh of relief, never so happy to hear Lacus's voice in his life, warmth wrapped around his heart like a security blanket. Suddenly he felt like a child safe in bed with his first Teddy bear.

"It's me..." He rasped.

Lacus inhaled sharply, and her voice was high with elation when she next spoke. "Athrun...! Is really you? You're safe!"

Athrun felt hot tears trickle down the side of his face at the familarity, for a moment, he could pretend he had not been abandoned...

"Yeah...Hey...Are Cag…Kira...?"

"Kira is right beside me, he's fine now. But someone tried to kill Cagalli, we are at the hospital, the doctors are wrapping her up...". Athrun felt his insides tighten at that. "She's alright." Lacus added hurriedly, "A few cuts and minor burns only. How about you, Athrun? We haven't heard anything and they would not let us see you...And you sound awful, are you sick…?"

Athrun would not know he was smiling as he heard that, and the last thing he heard before the phone slipped out of his lifeless fingers and onto the floor was Kira's voice.

"Athrun...? Where are you?"

"Athrun?!"

Ooo

Cagalli's heart contracted, a thousand possibilities flashed through her mind. It was like a lightning bolt had streaked through the darkness. "What? When?" She sat up immediately, her mouth had suddenly become dry, "Is it really Athrun...?" She bit her lip.

"Just." Lacus replied. "It's him."

"What did he say?" She pressed, she was somewhat relieved.

If he called once, he will call again, right?

But for some reason, Lacus was not smiling. "He was worried, he asked about Kira and you...I told him both of you were safe...but..."

"But what..?" Cagalli's heart swelled, she was touched that Athrun was worried about her, but she was alarmed as she sensed Lacus's hesitation.

"I don't know..." Lacus said quietly, "He sounded quite awful."

"Awful...? Awful as in...?" Cagalli pressed, taking Lacus's arm, eager for more details. Cagalli was heartsick and tired, she could not take much more bad news, but she had to know.

"...Awful in what way...?"

Lacus shook her head slowly, "Awful, as in...breathless."

Ooo

Past midnight, the three of them stared at the news report in dismay.

"The vice director of the PLANTs medical has issued a statement after clashes between the director of the medical board and the police. He acknowledged that there were disagreements and internal strife as well as a possibility of corruption. The cure was manufactured not by chemical processes like most believed, but by derivation from an immune host. The identity of this mystery host is still under intense scrutiny, however, there is strong evidence to suggest that he is in fact, the ex-Chariman of PLANTs who is under trial, Mr Athrun Zala. Let us take you on site."

The screen changed from the reporter to the site were the helicopter crashed, a man who was hanging from the helicopter a few moments ago got up, seemingly unscathed, and began to dig through the debris. He was stopped and cuffed. Apparently that man was the director who tried to privatize the cure. Then Albert appeared, Cagalli recognized him, he was one of the Supreme Councilors and was the one who brought the miracle vial. He ran to the crashsite, uncaring of the people who tried to stop him. He appeared to be shouting on the video, then pulled someone out of the debris. He laid him down on a stretcher and used his white coat to cover him. There was a whole bunch of people, but through the flurry of limbs Cagalli saw one instant that made her heart race.

The person Albert had carried out of the wreck had dark blue hair, one arm was also visible through the mass of rescuers, and that arm was riddled with bright red IV plugs. She rewound the scene just to make sure she was not mistaken and paused at one frame where his face was visible through the mass of human bodies. The picture was tiny and pixelated, but enough for her to recognize him.

"It looks like Athrun..." Kira muttered, and it became even more dreadful to watch the scene.

The screen changed again, to one entitled 'Statement issued by Spokesperson of PLANTs medical'. He was squished between many microphones and reporters.

"The first batch issued was as much as we could extract without harming the host, and at present moment there are complications. The next batch will be delayed, but will definitely be released in larger quantities than the first. For the moment, please be patient with us. Our labs have been destroyed, we will base our operations from Glenhawk's medical for now..."

One of the reporters questioned, "Who is this host, is he really Chairman Zala?"
Another pressed, "What kind of complications, was it induced by the extraction process?"
"What happens if Chairman Zala dies?"
"When will the next batch be released?"

But the man would not answer those questions, he retreated back into the building.

Cagalli took out her handphone, and stared at the one missed call. It was made just half a minute before the call made to Lacus's phone and bore the same unknown number that got through to Lacus. Athrun had probably tried to contact her as well, she cursed herself for not picking up that call. She could have been the one conversing with him...

Tired but determined, she slept fitfully, and next day. She made her way to Glenhawk's medical. Limping all the way to the hospital's reception.

"I want to see Athrun Zala."

Of course the receptionist told her they had no such patient, but she did not give up, she wandered down the white corridors, desperately hoping for a miracle.

Ooo

Central Police station, virtual room.

"This is a serious breach of confidentiality and trust, Dr Winhill. Does these two words mean anything to you?" Steven spoke evenly from the hologram.

Giorados smiled in a tired manner, he could not find a reply, it was his turn being cuffed and interrogated by none other than the Supreme Council. He was fine except for a twisted ankle...

"I am...above all, disappointed." Yulie Amarfi said very softly, "I've known you since you were a boy, I thought you were above this..."

"I agree on that..." He muttered, laughing at himself. He could have achieved so much more, he had wanted to take the cure with him to space, where he could complete his research and perhaps earn a billion or two. Then retire early, honoured and beheld as the man who saved the PLANTs. If Athrun did not want the credit, he was sure he was second in place, it was his to claim, he merely chose to take it...

Yulie Amarfi only shook his head, apparently misunderstood.

"On that topic, why didn't you?" Yzak Jule questioned with a frown, "You went all the way to put both yourself and the subject in mortal danger. And you are more resourceful than this, if you escaped from prison tonight I wouldn't be surprised."

"You're right...then, I could have gotten away with the cure and you guys will not be able to find me..." He admitted.

"Then...why didn't you?"

He laughed, "I...got soft."

Yzak Jule considered, then replied sarcastically, "So you suddenly had a revelation that the cure is not just a cure, he's human."

"It's not because he's just human, it's because...he's Ath..."

"Tsshh." Albert interrupted him rudely, "You almost killed him, you're not worthy to use his name!"

"Please explain yourself." Steven requested.

"..." Giorados hesitated, "In the heli...It wasn't a case of 'I grabbed on to him as I fell...'"

"It's the other way round?" Yulie Amarfi guessed immediately.

G nodded, still unable to believe it.

"He knew...he knew I had betrayed him out of my selfishness...yet..."

"Yet he chose to save you..." Albert completed his statement, rolling his eyes. "Why am I not surprised?" G was amused as the other Councilors nodded wanly in unison.

He was acutely aware that these people are not just Athrun's colleagues, these are his friends. Apparently he had treated him like he did his friends, he was mortified, and guilt drove in deeper...
"How is he now?" He asked, the Councilors looked at each other hesitantly, as if wondering whether to answer.

It was eventually Violet, the one whom Athrun had specified as Murasaki who said, "Albert, I think you are the best person to update us on this."

"He's in a medically-induced coma...No thanks to you." Alert threw G a dirty look, then twisted his mouth. "Luckily, we managed to complete the dose escalation in time..."

"Was that before or after intubation?" G asked in surprise, it was a risky move.

"During…" Albert said almost unwillingly, then he turned to the rest. "It will take another 5 to 10 days from now."

Yzak took a deep breath, breathing out very slowly as he asked. "And...if, what if…Athrun dies...?"

"It will be delayed by another 3 to 5 days, but basically we will have to dissect immediately and vacuum out the marrow, then culture." Albert reported in a matter-of-factly way.

Violet shuddered visibly at that, it was a graphic and horrendous mind image.

"And hope." G added.

"And hope..." Albert agreed reluctantly.

"What does that mean?" Yzak questioned curtly.

"Stem cells are generally fastidious, Coordinators have perfected the art of culturing them, but these cells have been fused with the viral nuclei, we cannot assume they will take to the same conditions." G explained.

"And if that happens it will all be your fault." Albert retorted without missing a beat.

"That is enough." Yzak said impatiently.

Yulie Amarfi nodded, "Dr Giorados Winhill, your lack of discretion will be dealt with, but only after this...project is finished. For now, we would like you to continue to provide your expertise, but at a distance and under the leadership of Dr Albert Canberry. Doing so will ultimately reduce the charges that will be brought against you, are you agreeable?"

"Yes."

"Good." Albert stuck a tongue out at him.

Ooo

They sat in silence for a while after the connection was severed. "Yzak." Albert reached to touch his friend on the shoulder, "Stop it...you are becoming the next Athrun."

"Stop what?" Yzak asked without looking up.

"Blaming yourself." Steven leaned back and said, "We agreed, when we found out that Athrun was the one and only carrying the antibody we freaked, but we did what needs to be done."

"I can't believe it..." Yzak muttered dejectedly, he shook his head.

"What if...Athrun doesn't make it...?" He whispered very quietly.

"That's what we are talking about." Steven sighed, "No one could predict that Giorados will betray us..."

"And the chances of precipitating ARDS is only 0.012%, who can predict that he's unlucky enough to be the one in that 10,000?" Albert added.

"Yzak..." Violet stood up and walked over from the opposite side, and when Yzak made no response she squatted down in front of him and touched his arm gently. "Supreme Councilor Yzak Jule, head of December city, look at me."

Yzak did, in a gradual and tired fashion.

"It was a collective decision, a shared blame. We put Athrun through this, we agreed to let Albert and his accomplices infringe on every single law ever made on human rights. We withheld testimonies from the courts and detained witnesses and committed this heinous crime of cruelly denying our friend the chance to get in contact with those who ever held a place in his heart. We attempted to severe his bonds to the living...in hopes that he will consent to death. And he did, readily and willingly, he saw what needs to be done..."

"That's..." Yzak muttered, but Violet shook her head, pleading for him to listen. "Don't you see? We have accomplished what we needed to do as leaders of PLANTs. You, Yzak Jule..." She paused, "…should know better, should understand better than anyone what it is to make hard...but excellent decisions." She paused, and sighed.

" It does not justify what we have done, but it is, and remains the sovereign will of the PLANTs provisional government..."

Everyone was quiet, and no one made a sound as Yzak studied Violet for a few moments, then nodded grimly. Tears made their way down face, and he wiped at his face roughly. But it was too late, others have seen, and others have tears in their eyes. Violet leaned closer and held him gently, comforting him.

She took a deep breath. "And if it needs to be anyone's sin, Yzak…it's mine...it's mine, Athrun saved my life...!" She whispered, her voice shaking. "...He didn't deserve this."

Steven whispered pensively. "…At least…to see his wife once more..."

Albert took a deep breath, clasping his hands together as he broached the topic, "People...Actually...I kinda...let Athrun contact his wife before..."

There was a moment of breath holding, pin-dropping silence, and Albert halted in mid-sentence, gazing around for endorsement, but he found none.

"Don't look at me like that!" He panicked when Violet gave him a death glare. "It was the only way Athrun would let us save him! And he sorta didn't get through..."

"Who else did he call other than Yula Athha?!" Yzak demanded, not being fooled by the waffle.

"Erm...Just Lacus Clyne and Yamato..."

Steven whistled gleefully, "That's three witnesses we cannot touch." Yulie Amarfi was smiling and frowning at the same time, "Oh boy..."

"Soak that bloody phone of yours in hydrochloric acid and cancel the mobile line!"

"But..."

"Now!"

Ooo

And so Supreme Councilor Albert walked grumpily down the hallways of the hospital, holding in his hands his poor phone which had just escaped manhandling and certain death. He managed to wrestle it back from his colleagues on the grounds of needing to transfer his contacts and backing up documents.

So when the phone rang he picked it up without looking at the number and muttered in a woe-be-gone manner. "Hello, Albert speaking."

"Supreme Councilor Albert? My name is Cagalli...Do you know where Athrun is?"

Albert literally froze, he stood rooted to the spot as his brain went into overdrive, trying to find all sorts of excuses to decline the woman. Eventually he sputtered, "No...I...Wrong number!"

"But..." Cagalli exclaimed as he hung up, then he realized that the voice was not just from the receiver, it sounded further too.

He looked up to see Cagalli Yula Athha in front of him, staring accusingly at the handphone in his hands. She was beautiful by Natural's standards, but shabbily dressed and rugged. Her golden hair was shortened, and she looked as tired as she did when Albert first saw her in person. And there were bandaids and bandages on her face and neck.

He did the only thing he could, he ran.

"Wait!" Cagalli cried as she gave chase, Albert had planned to lose her by the next corner, but she was persistent even though she was limping.

"Don't follow me!" He shouted over his shoulder.

"Tell me where Athrun is!" She insisted, but she was lagging behind now, and Albert almost stopped when he realized she has an injury on her ankle.

"I don't know where he is!" He lied, running faster than ever, and the nurses stared as he sprinted past.

"Only you know! Ah!"

Albert stopped, slowly he turned and gaze at her, she was on the ground, rubbing her forehead. She had probably tripped and fell. And two nurses were helping her up, "Miss? Are you alright? Please don't run in the hospital corridors..."

"Ow..." She quickly picked herself up, and looked up frantically in search for Albert, her eyes were wet. She looked him in the eye, a chill rode up his spine as he saw the anger and mischief in them; she is definitely up to something.

"Please help me!"She yelled for all to hear. "That man, he stole my...!" He quickly stepped forward to cup his hand over her mouth before his reputation is forever tarnished.

"Alright!" He conceded, "I'll bring you. Don't shout."

She nodded benignly like a kitten, then inched his hand off. "Really? You know where he is?"

He nodded. "Five minutes, that's all you get."

"Okay." She nodded in agreement as he helped her up. Albert frowned, and wondered why Athrun and so many other great men are so smitten with this one woman. She is pretty even without makeup, but obviously rough and uncivilized and cunning...

Until she held his hands in both of hers and beamed wholeheartedly at him and whispered. "Thank you, thank you so much."

Albert averted his gaze as he felt his cheeks colouring unexpectedly, he began to notice how gorgeous those honey-colored eyes are, how her smile, though laced with fear and sadness took his breath away…

Her hands too, were not the soft and manicured ones that the so-called elite, fine ladies should have. But so real; warm and textured in a tantalizing manner. He studied her hands further, and realized that he had a little heartache upon seeing the bandages around her wrists and arms and the little scratches and burnt marks that were not covered.

"Supreme Councilor...?" She questioned as he did not speak.

"Please, my lady...Just Albert will do..." He managed to stammer a reply.

Her smile widened, and he noticed how tout the skin on her soft, pink lips were...

"Alright then, Albert." His heart hammered surprisingly fast as she called his name. He knew by then he was in deep trouble, he was having fantasies about the Sovereign of Orb, and a married woman at that...

No she wasn't married...not by law...He reasoned within himself.

"Erm...Albert? Can we go now?" She asked gingerly, vanquishing his fantasies about what he can do to win her over and what he will do with her then...

"Of course, this way..."

Ooo

Albert Canberry is a pratical man, in many ways, his ethics are similar to Giorados, there was alikeness, there was admiration, that was why the two of them hit it off so well. Both were absolute in their beliefs that science was god, and numbers do not lie. He recommended Giorados the moment the project X21 was proposed.

Due to the fact that he knew Athrun personally, it will be inappropriate, even uncomfortable if he were the first-line in-charged. They were friends, colleagues for quite a few years. And if it were not for the fact that Yzak wanted someone medically- trained on board, he would not even be here.

What he did not expect was that Giorados would try to sell him out and take Athrun with him, that was how ugly greed was. Albert was jaded by this so-called friendship, and angry at himself for letting things turn out this way. Somehow it feels that he was also at fault that Athrun is in the state that he is in.

Albert was not surprised Athrun would sign the indemnity and save Giorados, and in hindsight, he knew Athrun would have probably done it without the deliberate set-up, that was just Athrun being Athrun. During the project, Albert would take it upon himself to visit beyond his duties, just to distract Athrun a little from the increasing discomfort. He enjoyed himself everytime, it started with one chat about automobiles, and then he went everyday.

When Albert read the breaking news about the supposed marriage with Yula Athha, he asked Athrun deliberately. "Hey dude, what do you think of Cagalli Yula Athha? You know, Orb's matriarch."

Athrun raised his eyebrow and almost dropped the book he was reading, and he gazed at Albert in surprise.

"Didn't you say you guys are married? What is she like?" Albert pressed, knowing full and well that Athrun did not know the truth that Cagalli had declared likewise. And he was supposed to reveal nothing to him.

Athrun's shoulders sagged a little, sadness in his eyes. It seemed that he was thinking really hard, but his expression was filled with tenderness when he next spoke."She's...funny, cheerful and beautiful. More gentle than she claims to be. Why?"

"Leonidas Fitzbane claimed that they are going to have a baby."

Athrun's expression turned sour.

"Oh."

"So who's telling the truth? How many men can this one woman claim, is she that loose?"

"No!" Athrun replied most vehemently, it was the strongest emotional response possibly elicited since he knew Athrun. His interest was piqued.

"I really don't understand then, she made you a cuckoo and yet you want to apologize to .."

"Albert Canberry, there's a difference between being unfaithful and being forced." Athrun said crossly, interrupting him, then bit his lip and sighed grimly. He clenched his fists and brought them together on his lap.

"…I wasn't there for her, I could not save her from that man...I wasn't even there to comfort her in the aftermath…" Athrun hid his face, seemingly unable to continue.

Albert looked at him in consideration. Not voicing out his thoughts.

You couldn't help it, dude. You were in exile with the whole world hunting you down…How can you save someone when you can't even save yourself?

"She was…impregnated in the encounter, and...and even though I hate Fitzbane enough I could kill him with my bare hands..." At this point Athrun squeezed the air like it was someone's neck. "The child is…innocent, and the child deserves a family. Back in space, I thought I was going to die, and I hoped that the man will cherish her, but..." He wrung his hands on the blanket.

"It just… didn't happen..." Athrun said dejectedly. He closed his eyes, and said with finality as he shook his head slightly.

"He hated me more than he could love anyone..."

Albert bit his lip, and said. "You love her."

Athrun had the decency to be startled for a moment at the proclamation, then nodded and whispered softly, the way he spoke was so gentle it made Albert believe.

"More than life itself."

"That means…you would die for her?"

Athrun merely smiled, and would not give a straight answer.

ooo

Five minutes later, Albert will eventually make a vow that he never wanted to see this woman cry again. She made her way gingerly into the isolation room, and simply gazed at the figure lying supine on the bed for a few unblinking moments, then sat down beside him, took his hand and sobbed.

"Oh no…Oh my goodness."

Albert retreated then, a sour, constricting feeling in his chest. He wanted to give them some privacy, they had been searching for each other for so long, they deserved the five minutes…

He watched his watch for up to ten minutes, and sorrow gripped his heart as tapped her on the shoulder and escorted her beyond the secure area and watched her retreating back.

It was most dreadful to know he might never see her again...

His heart leapt in elation as she came back in another few minutes with a palm-sized, crème-coloured Teddy bear, she hobbled over and pressed it into his hands tearfully. It was soft and friendly-looking with a big, green bow, short fur and large eyes, and seemed to say 'Hi, I love you.' the moment the soft behind sat obligingly in his palm.

His heart sped up, was it the gift for him to thank him for that ten minutes of time?

Cagalli was unable to look him in the eye, her eyes were red-rimmed and she had cried them raw. She seemed to blush a little too. Albert found his throat dry, he swallowed, looking at her for an explanation.

"I know my request may have made things difficult for you, but thank you, even if it is just five minutes, at least I know that he's alive. I have another favour to ask, if…I can't stay with him, at least give him this. Let Athrun know that with all my heart, I wish to stay by his side. And if I could choose, I will never leave him again." She whispered softly.

Albert only nodded wordlessly, jealous and inwardly beating himself up for his unrealistic expectations, he had flown to heaven and fallen back to earth with a thud all in that two minutes. When she opened her mouth again, she asked, "Erm, can I come bac…?"

She never got to finish, he was tired of this, it was Athrun this, Athrun that. He found himself asking harshly, then regretting it immediately. "What exactly are you asking?"

Cagalli widened her eyes, then apologized in a soft voice.

"I am sorry to have…overstayed my welcome…" She bit her lip and gazed into his eyes. "Can…can I at least call to check on him every now and then?"

He nodded absentmindedly, his heart burning with jealousy. "Yeah...of course. Whatever…"

"Thank you." She gushed.

"Hey." He called as she was about to leave. He just thought about his conversation with Athrun, and the question he had refused to answer, he was hoping Cagalli would answer him.

"Yes?"

"Will Athrun die for you?" He asked.

Cagalli widened her eyes, "Huh?"

He repeated the question, "Answer me, do you think Athrun will die for you?"

Cagalli shook her head, hesitating for a little while. "You are asking a question in theory; a supposition. But I can only answer in past tense…"

She looked into his eyes, sorrow so plain in them. "He did. He bit a bullet for me when we were 17."

"Oh…" Albert muttered, he had noticed the scars on Athrun's chest before, he had thought they were normal as Athrun was a soldier. In the Council, most members started out as grassroots leaders, few from Zaft ever become Supreme Councilors, Athrun was the second Chairman who came from the military branch.

"But…Albert, that wasn't the main reason why I chose to marry him."

"Huh? Then what is it?" Albert questioned in spite of himself. "I always thought all girls would want a knight in shining armor to save them from some great evil and sweep them off their feet into a happily ever after. Or die trying…"

Cagalli shook her head, "That is why that kind of love only exist in fairy tales, it's too heavy a burden… How can anyone live with that kind of a sacrifice?"

Albert nodded, sensing Cagalli's true resentment, "So why did you marry Athrun?"

She beamed. Albert suddenly felt small in contrast to the enormity and unfathomable wisdom behind the gesture, he did not fully comprehend it, but at that point he conceded defeat. He knew nothing could tear these two apart, their love was true...

"Because…he was willing to live for me." She whispered...

Albert considered the statement, then bit his lip. "Come, you can give it to him yourself." Albert managed to say as he dropped the teddy back in her palms, and led her back into the ward to deliver the gift, and he noticed the change immediately. He approached the bed with two quick steps just to make sure, his eyes sweeping over the readings on the instruments.

"My, my…" He said to himself in amazement.

There seemed to be a little more colour on Athrun's countenance, even if he was still unconscious, it seemed as though he was simply sleeping, and would wake up any moment. Albert consulted the monitors next, realizing that some of his vitals have stabilized, they could perhaps lift the sedation earlier than planned. It bode well.

Just half an hour ago, Albert did not believe in love, in infatuations, in miracles. But now he was forced to swallow it all, and it was too much, even for him who was taken to open-mindedness and has a knack of accepting all things weird. But he was convinced, as numbers simply do not lie…

Neither does the heart...

Cagalli gazed tenderly at her husband, and tuck the bear in gently; right beside Athrun's head such that the little bear looked like it was trying to snuggle. It looked warm and cozy and contented as it laid there beside Athrun…

Albert poked the bear in dissatisfaction when he really wanted to poke Athrun.

"You lucky dog."

Cagalli widened her eyes at him, worried and amused, "Why?"

"Nothing. Hmm, you stay here for a bit, let me make a phone call.

She nodded, she was more than happy to oblige.

Albert stepped away from earshot and sighed, gazing at his phone. He sighed one last time as resolution set in, and he dialed.

"Yzak speaking." The person over at the other line snapped, the added coldly. "I see you haven't cancelled this %$# line."

"I don't need to any more, I made friends with the witnesses." He said gleefully, and before Yzak could scold him, he pressed on. "And hey, I want to suggest something that will help Athrun to recover."

"What have you not done…?" Yzak questioned suspiciously.

"Some faith, please." He scoffed, then quickly said. "Can I let Yula Athha come back everyday? She did more good with ten minutes of hand-holding than any magic potion in the world."

"Come back…?! Let me get this straight, you used Athrun as a bribe to make friends with the witnesses?" Yzak asked incredulously, and Albert knew his colleague had taken special effort not to shout already.

"Ah…Yep." Albert could imagine Yzak pinching the bridge of his nose in his best efforts not to blow up.

"One minute, Albert Canberry. Convince me."

"First and for most, Athrun had fulfilled his end of the bargain, the bone marrow cultures are flourishing like a garden in spring...And…!"

At this moment Albert stopped talking and almost dropped his phone, he noticed movement from Athrun to his left, his body seemed to be enshrouded with a soft, warm glow that faded as quickly as it came that it left Albert momentarily wondering if he had imagined it.

"It's happening again...!" Cagalli said in a rushed whisper, and leaned forward as she touched Athrun's cheek. "Athrun...?"

A miracle happened, Athrun stirred, and after a few moments, he opened his eyes briefly. He did nothing, only gazed listlessly at the nearest thing, which is the Teddy bear sitting near the side of his face. He seemed to decide that he liked it well enough, for he huddled closer to the soft, cuddly thing and slipped back into dreamland…

"Albert…?" Yzak snapped. "What's going…?!"

Cagalli was smiling and crying at the same time, "Athrun...Athrun."

"He just woke up." Albert muttered in amazement, cutting Yzak off.

Yzak seemed to almost have lost grip of his phone as well, there were a few mysterious clinks and clangs, then when Yzak managed to recover his composure and his phone, he simply said, "I'm on my way."

"Wait…about Cagalli…!" Albert pressed.

"She can visit everyday, heck, every hour if she wants…" Yzak said.

ooo

This is chapter 29, it will end at either chapter 30 0r 31. The two of them managed to find each other after so long and so much hardship. The next chapter will depict the long-awaiting reunion scene and explain more things, this chapter is written in a very narrow way as both of them are kept in the dark, so far, its the most un-Gundam chapter.

art/Come-with-me-335261895

This is the link to the fanart drawn for this chapter. Do go have a look.

Thank you for the support and reviews!

Till chapter next

Ming