Armored Seed

Chapter 36

After a Tragedy

Disclaimer: I do not own Armored Core or Gundam Seed as they are all owned by their respective copyright owners. I do own whatever characters I have created.

A/N: I Know that this is a very short chapter but the next one is probably going to be much, much longer.

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-Orb, Malchio's Orphanage-

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It had only been a day and a half since, Nathan, Kira and the others had returned with the Archangel from Alaska but things were already starting to go downhill. With the destruction of all of the Earth Forces' mass drivers, there were only two remaining options for them if they wanted to get back reinforcements into space.

They could either take one of the remaining mass drivers that ZAFT had captured or attempt to take the one that was located in Orb. So far most strategic analysts thought that the Atlantic Federation and its allies would probably make their way for Orb's mass driver. The reason being was that Orb only had a handful of mobile suits, which made it a much easier target than one of the mass drivers under ZAFT control. All they would have to do is throw an overwhelming force at the neutral nation and it would soon become a battle of attrition.

For this reason, many high ranking military officers were trying to push Orb's Chief Representative for a possible military alliance with ZAFT if the Atlantic Federation or any of its allies did decide to invade. Unfortunately there was a major problem in regards to that. There were many in Orb's government, including the Chief Representative himself, who wanted nothing more than to make sure that Orb stayed true to its neutrality. Unfortunately it was quickly starting to become apparent that such a position would not keep them safe for very much longer.

There was major activity going on in the San-Francisco Naval Base. Dozens of ships appeared to be getting ready for combat and it was clear that they weren't going out for a simple training exercise. Because of this, Orb's military was now on high alert and they were preparing themselves for the absolute worst possible scenario.

While most of Orb's military was preparing for the possibility of an invasion by the Atlantic Federation and its allies, they had allowed the crew of the Archangel a couple of days off. While most of the crew had gone off to go and either see what family they had in Orb, while people with personalities like Drake and Adam's were probably out getting themselves into trouble at one of the local bars or even at one of the strip clubs.

Nathan however had headed back to Malchio's orphanage along with Kira. After being given some time off the one place that Kira seemed intent on going to was definitely Malchio's orphanage. It wasn't really hard to guess the reason as to why he wanted to go. Flay was there and he wanted to see her and assure the girl that he was alright. That and he more than likely wanted to be as close to her as he possibly could. No one could blame the boy for wanting to spend time with his girlfriend.

Nathan meanwhile didn't fully understand his own reasons, but Malchio's orphanage was definitely one of the few places in which he actually felt truly comfortable. Perhaps it was a sense of over attached nostalgia towards one of the better times of his childhood, but Nathan felt that it had more to do with a certain pink haired girl. Despite his own reservations on the matter, Nathan knew that there was something developing between the two of them.

What Nathan wasn't sure about was how he was to proceed. True he had been in a relationship before now and was relatively experienced in how one progressed, but this was still something he was very reluctant to go into. Almost every time he wanted to get into something that was more than just simple friendship with Lacus it almost felt as though he was betraying Mira's memory. Perhaps he should talk with Carmen about it sometime.

Nathan brought himself out of his memories as the cab he and Kira had been riding in finally reached its destination, the entrance to the orphanage itself. After paying the driver for taking the two of them all this way, the Raven pilot opened the car door and started to walk up towards the entrance while Kira followed close behind.

In just a few moments the two boys found themselves standing just a few feet away from the front door. Before either of them could try and open it though they both heard the sound of someone sprinting through the house. Within mere moments, the door swung wide open and a certain red haired girl practically tackled Kira onto the ground, tears of joy streaming from her eyes. It was pretty obvious by that point that she had heard about JOSH-A and had assumed the worst.

Knowing that this was private moment best left for the two of them Nathan decided that it would be better if he left the two lovebirds alone for the time being. "I'll leave you two alone for now. If you need me I'll be inside." With that having been said, Nathan started making his way into the orphanage itself.

A few moments after Nathan left the two alone and headed inside the orphanage Flay finally decided to let go of her boyfriend. The two teens started to stand back up and the redhead looked a little bit more composed now that she had gotten that out of her system. However tears were still falling down her cheeks.

"S-sorry about that I was just so worried about you I thought that you had gotten killed. The news said that there was a giant explosion at JOSH-A and everyone's been fearing the worst about what happened to you and the others." Well that certainly explained quite a bit.

"Yeah well, I'm not dead, so you know t-there is that," Kira said weakly, not really sure what else he could say to the girl. Flay wiped the remainder of her tears off of her face and she seemed to have calmed down somewhat.

She looked like she wanted to press the issue about how likely it was that he could have died in that massive explosion. Instead though she figured that it would probably be better not to at the moment and instead decided that for now she should just be thankful that Kira was still alive.

However inside she made a promise to herself that the next time that there was a battle she'd be going out alongside the rest of the team. No matter what.

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While Kira and Flay conversed with one another, Nathan continued to make his way inside of the building, all the while he did his best to avoid the children there. Some of the younger ones seemed afraid of him even after they had seen him interact with Lacus whom they all clearly looked up to like an older sibling or hell maybe even as a kind of surrogate mother.

Nathan could hardly blame those kids for being a little afraid of him though. After all he was a battle hardened Raven pilot (sure they probably didn't know about that part but it was besides the point) with blood red eyes and a cold demeanor. It would be a wonder if they weren't a little bit nervous around him. However it seemed as though there weren't any children wandering the halls at the moment. This was probably because it was nearly time for the kids to go and get their evening meal. If that was the case then they were probably all in the dining area of the orphanage.

Nathan was broken out of his thoughts when he spotted Reverend Malchio himself walking down the corridor in his direction. While normally the priest had a serene look about him, this time he seemed very troubled about something. This struck Nathan as odd as he'd known the man throughout most of his young life and he'd only once or twice seen him look like this before at most.

Cocking a brow in confusion and doing his best to keep the worry from his face, Nathan asked "Reverend Malchio, is there something wrong?" Malchio practically jumped in surprise, having been so caught up in his own thoughts that he was neglectful to his own surroundings. "Oh, uh, Nathan I didn't see you there. With what happened with JOSH-A we feared the worst until the Chief Representative's staff called and informed us that everyone was all right."

Nathan knew that that was probably part of the reason that Malchio looked troubled but he would have acted like his calm and serene self after he heard that they were all okay "That can't be the only reason you seem so troubled," Nathan all but accused before he saw Malchio somber up again.

The priest looked away for a moment and then sighed, inwardly debating whether or not he should tell Nathan about what had happened to Lacus' father. Sooner or later the boy would find out and it would be best if Malchio told him rather than someone else "Just a few hours ago, an old friend of mine, Siegel Clyne was murdered by the Earth Forces, or at least that's what just about everyone in the PLANTs seems to think."

Nathan cocked his head at the look that Malchio had on him. It was obvious that Malchio didn't think that the Earth Forces were the ones responsible for what happened to Chairman Clyne. But if it wasn't the Earth Forces, then who the hell else could it have been?

Curious as to what Malchio thought on the matter Nathan asked "Who else would want Chairman Clyne dead? He was a good man and very well liked by many in PLANTs and even Orb." Malchio sighed "Patrick Zala. He had the most to gain and almost nothing to lose by Clyne's death. Even now he's working everyone up into a frenzy so that they can 'avenge the wrongful death of the beloved leader of the PLANTs'."

Nathan resisted the urge to cock a brow at the priest who was starting to sound more and more like a conspiracy theorist. "While admit that Zala had motive and I know that he and Clyne haven't exactly seen eye to eye lately but I don't think it's likely that he would order the man's assassination in an attempt to gain more power and prestige."

Malchio looked conflicted about something after Nathan's counterargument. As if he knew some information that Nathan didn't and was reluctant to tell him about it. Eventually though the priest decided to give the pilot some rather, disturbing information.

"Shortly before Lacus arrived at the orphanage, her father contacted me. Siegel told me that he was fearful that Patrick Zala might want to use her as leverage against him, for what end he wouldn't tell me but asked that I keep her safe here in Orb as best I could and to not inform anyone about this unless I trusted them completely."

Nathan had already known that Malchio was an old friend of the PLANTs Supreme Chairman and because of that Siegel probably trusted Malchio implicitly. However there was a more current and pressing matter to deal with that was already eating away at Nathan's mind, Lacus.

"How-how is Lacus handling this whole thing?" Nathan asked already knowing that the answer was probably going to be one that he wouldn't like hearing want to hear.

Malchio looked at the ground for a moment or two before he looked back up at his former ward, his expression already telling him more than words probably could. "About as well as can be expected. She's shut herself in her room and refuses to speak with anyone."

Nathan could empathize with that. After Mira died, he had secluded himself in his quarters to grieve as well, at least until he decided to take vengeance for her and everyone else who had been brutally killed at Junius Seven.

Hesitating for a brief moment before gathering his resolve Nathan asked "Do you think that it would be alright if I could go and speak to her?" Malchio knew that both Nathan and Lacus had started to grow closer but was rather unsure of the extent of their feelings for one another. Still though it couldn't hurt to have him go and speak with the girl.

Malchio nodded and gestured towards one of the nearby staircases "I suppose it couldn't hurt. She's upstairs in her room." Nathan nodded "Thanks," he said before making his way towards the nearest staircase.

As Nathan walked towards the room that Malchio had said that Lacus was now resting in he tried to think of what he should say to the girl.

With each step he took, Nathan's anxiety towards talking to Lacus grew even if one wouldn't know it just by looking at him. He didn't have so much as a clue as to what he should say to her. After all this was her father who just died. Nathan never knew his own parents and therefore didn't really know the sense of loss that Lacus was probably suffering from, but he had to do something to help alleviate that pain if he could.

After he had finished climbing the stairs, Nathan heard the floorboards creak slightly as he made his way to the room. He began passing the rooms belonging to the other residents of the orphanage as he continued to walk. In each one he could see that the kids had left dirty articles of clothing, toys and other miscellaneous items on the floor. Those kids must have been giving the housecleaning staff a difficult time when it came to their rooms. But such things were of very little concern to Nathan. He still had someone he needed to check on.

Eventually Nathan came across the door that lead into the room that Lacus had been using throughout the duration of her visit in Orb. With a small amount of hesitation Nathan knocked on the door a couple of times but he received no answer. Hesitating for just a moment, anxiety steadily creeping up on him, Nathan said "Lacus, it's me; Nathan, could you please open up?"

There was a small amount of noise from the inside of the room which indicated that Lacus was probably walked to the door. The noise grew closer and closer to where Nathan was standing but soon it stopped and the pilot of the Seraph heard a slight creak before the door began to open.

On the other side of the door was a sight that both shocked and saddened him. The pink haired pop star no longer looked like her cheerful self to the point that Nathan almost thought he was looking at a different person. Instead there was a look of complete and utter defeat about her. It was almost as if all the liveliness that was usually so abundant had been completely drained away. Her expression was one that Nathan never thought he'd see on Lacus, and one that he never wanted to either.

For a moment Nathan was unsure of what to say. This poor girl had just lost her father for crying out loud. Nathan never had any parents so he didn't have so much as an inkling on what Lacus was probably going through right now but he had to do something.

Eventually Nathan spoke "Lacus, I-I know I can't really comprehend what you must be feeling right now, but I do know that-" he started to say. Unfortunately he didn't even get a chance to finish before the pink haired girl practically latched onto him and began to cry into his shoulder.

Her sobs were heart wrenching, it something that no one who ever knew Lacus should ever have heard. Nathan decided to say nothing at the moment. Instead he took the crying girl back into her room and shut the door behind him all the while she let the tears fall as the sadness and pain she had bottled up for the past day out.

For a time the two just sat there, saying nothing to one another as the pinkette continued to cry into Nathan's shoulder. Eventually Lacus uttered the words "Why? Why my father?" she asked in between sobs. Nathan wasn't really sure how to answer a question like this but eventually he just settled for "I, really I just don't know."

While he could have told Lacus the theory that Malchio had put forward it was probably for the best if she didn't hear about that at the moment, not without some concrete evidence at least. Lacus continued to cry her eyes out while Nathan just held her for a time while he tried to come up with something comforting to say to the girl. Eventually he settled with something he thought might reassure the poor girl.

"Uh, while I may not have known your father personally I do know that he was probably one of the most selfless people around. No matter what happened he always tried to steer the PLANTs towards peace and while this may sound like a strange thing coming from a Raven, I honestly respected that about him." Nathan hugged Lacus tighter as he continued "I know that no matter what he was probably always thinking about what was best for you, and I'm positive that he'd be proud of you."

As much as she was hurting that last bit seemed to at least help ease some of the pain she felt. "Thank you Nathan," she declared before tightening her embrace. For a time the two just held one another close, all the while, Nathan made a silent promise to keep Lacus safe, no matter the cost.

To be continued.

A/N: Next time Orb's final stand begins.