SailorStar9: Chapter 35 is up, this is Chapter 36. Read and review.
Disclaimers: Don't own, don't sue or I'll sink a SEED mode Kira after you. And flames will be extinguished by a fire extinguisher or used to burn joss sticks.
Chapter 36: A Call for Counterattack
On the Archangel...
"Hey!" Murdock shouted as Athrun took out the Infinite Justice.
"Captain!" he opened the communicator to the bridge. "The kid from ZAFT is going out in a mobile suit!"
"What? In his condition?" Murrue gasped. "That's ridiculous! Stop him!"
"Captain." Lacus entered the bridge. "Please let him do as he wishes."
In the battlefield...
Shinn and Kira fought again, with Kira blocking the rifle beam's attack with his beam shield.
On the ground, the DOM Troopers continued to fight off ZAKU Warriors.
"Hey, hey! All of you should back off!" Hilda remarked. "Just back off, I say!"
"If you're saying that, then you shouldn't shoot out their legs." Herbert noted as Mars scoffed.
At the defense headquarters...
"Hayamatsumi, sunk." an officer reported. "Tayamatsumi, unable to move. The 6th Mobile Air Squadron should move to the shore of Izanagi. I repeat. The 6th Mobile Air Squadron should move to the shore of Izanagi."
"No sign of Djibril in Sector 9." a female officer reported.
"Sector 10 , normal." Another officer added.
"Damnit, where is he?" Merci cursed.
"The 10th Mobile Squadron and the frontline artillery squadron are requesting backup." an officer reported.
On the Minerva...
"Parsifal, fire!" Arthur ordered.
On the Archangel...
"Evasive maneuvers, 30 degrees to port!" Murrue barked, the Archangel barely missing the shot.
"Helldarts, fire!" Amagi ordered.
On the battlefield...
Neo damaged the Minerva with a missile attack, but the Sky Grasper was hit by one of the Minerva's cannons.
"Damn!" Neo cursed.
On the Archangel...
"The Sky Grasper has been hit!" Miriallia reported.
"Will you lend me a hand?" Neo opened the communicator.
"Mechanics, prepare for an emergency landing!" Murrue barked.
On the battlefield...
As Neo came into for a landing, he was hit by a flashback of landing on the Archangel during the Battle of Alaska.
In the air, Kira dodged fire from Shinn's rifle beam.
Appearing behind him, Rey attacked Kira who dodged the attack. Rey fired another shot at Kira who flew up to avoid the attack.
"That unit...!" Kira gasped, dodging fire from the DRAGOONs and thinking of how similar the Legend Gundam was to the Providence Gundam.
"You...! Why won't you...!" Shinn hissed, going in for the kill.
Dodging Shinn's palm beam, Kira kicked the Destiny away.
"Shinn!" Rey came in just as Kira was about to use his rifle beam.
Kira winced at the Freedom took on the Legend's blasts head-on.
"Now's your chance, Shinn!" Rey called as the Freedom fell down. "Fire!"
"Stop!" came Athrun's cry before Shinn could finish off the Freedom, the Justice's beam boomerangs hitting into the Destiny's beam shield and the said Gundam slammed into the Destiny.
"Athrun!" Kira was shocked.
"Stop it, Shinn!" Athrun barked, trying to knock some sense into his protege.
"Athrun..." Shinn was stunned. "But... that's...!"
"Stop it already!" Athrun scolded. "Do you have any idea what it is you're trying to destroy? To destroy Logos in order to end all wars... that's why Sanc must be destroyed. Is that really what you wish for? They won't listen. That's why they need to be destroyed! To bare your fangs against that country...! Remember, Shinn! What is it that you actually want?"
"Damnit!" Rey cursed. "What are you doing sauntering back to the battlefield, you old, useless, traitor! Don't be tricked, Shinn!"
As the Legend rained fire on the Justice, the Freedom moved in to cover the injured Athrun.
"Rey!" Shinn came to the Legend's aid.
"Shinn!" Athrun moved in stop the Destiny.
"You mustn't destroy Sanc!" he told the younger pilot, revealing his double-edged blade.
On the ground...
"No, I don't want to go to a place like this!" Yuna whined. "I want to go to the Saran family's shelter on the mainland!"
"Just go in, please." a soldier requested.
While his guards were distracted by a Murasame and GOUF Ignited flying overhead, Yuna took this chance and fled.
"Jona-sama!" one of the guards gaped.
"Shut up!" Yuna barked as he ran. "I'm...!"
The guards came to his rescue too late when he was killed by the damaged GOUF Ignited which crashed into the ground.
On the battlefield...
As Kira and Rey decked it out, Athrun tried to reason with Shinn.
"You mustn't keep fighting without knowing the source of your anger!" Athrun scolded.
"What are you...!?" Shinn snapped.
Elsewhere...
"What's going on with Unato-sama and Jona-sama?" one of the escorting soldiers inquired. "They sure are late."
On the battlefield...
"What are you trying to say?" Shinn barked.
"Shinn!" Athrun rebuked as Shinn revealed both his beam boomerangs.
"Even though you don't know anything!" Shinn hissed, attacking the Justice which blocked the boomerangs with his beam shield. "Even though you're a traitor!"
"Freedom!" Rey growled as Athrun deflected both of Shinn's beam boomerangs and drew out his beam saber.
Kira met the attack head-on with a beam saber of his own.
"We will dive." Murrue gave the order, the Minerva's beam barely gracing the Archangel. "Down pitch, 20 degrees!"
"Preparing to dive!" Arnold declared, the Archangel taking into the water.
On the Minerva...
"Captain!" Arthur turned to Talia when the Archangel started to dive.
"We have no way of attacking them once they're submerged." Talia concluded. "Pull away and ascend. Hurry!"
"Yes madam!" Malik replied.
On the Archangel...
"Valiant, fire!" Murrue ordered underwater, the Minerva barely managing to dodge the upcoming missiles.
Elsewhere...
"I can't wait any longer!" Djibril barked. "Launch the shuttle!"
"But..." one of the accompanying soldiers started.
"I'm the one who's important! Not Saran!" Djibril reminded him. "All of you should "know as well. I have to get to the Moon!"
On the battlefield...
"Damnit!" Shinn cur
sed as the Archangel's missile destroyed several more of the ZAFT fleet.
Flashback
"Was that what your nightmare was about?" Rey asked.
"Damnit!" Shinn cursed.
Flashback
"In recognition of your deeds in the Battle of Heavens Base, I hereby award Shinn Asuka..." an officer declared.
"Shinn!" Athrun barked.
Flashback
"Shinn... said you would... protect Stella..." Stella muttered.
"I want you to take pride in that, and for you to continue doing your best so that you won't betray this moment." Chairman Durandal told him.
"That is a weakness. You can't protect anything like that." Rey told him.
"Damnit!" Shinn hollered, going into 'SEED' mode and knocked Athrun away.
Just before Shinn charged in for the kill with his anti-ship sword, Athrun went into 'SEED' mode as well, using his double-sided beam saber to destroy the sword and Shinn's right hand.
"Shinn!" Rey was stunned.
Underwater, the Archangel destroyed several ZAFT ships with its missiles.
On the Minerva...
"Captain, the situation is disadvantageous to our forces." Talia contacted the Saint Helens' fleet commander. "Please call for a temporary withdrawal."
"What are you taking about?" the commander demanded. "I can't fathom the consequences of letting Djibril get away again."
"But...!" Talia protested before the screen fizzled out when the Saint Helens was destroyed.
"The signal of the flagship, Saint Helens, has vanished!" Arthur reported.
On the other side of the island...
Djibril launched in the Saran private shuttle and headed for the upper atmosphere.
At the defense headquarters...
"A vessel has launched from the mainland!" an officer reported.
"This is..." Soga blinked.
"A shuttle belonging to Saran!" the officer replied, enlarging the monitor.
"What?" Merci exclaimed.
On the Minerva...
"A shuttle?" Talia echoed.
"From the other side of the island?" Arthur inquired.
"Lunamaria, launch!" Talia requested. "Stop the shuttle that just launched! There's a high likelihood that it's Djibril's escape vehicle! In the worst case, I'll permit you to shoot it down."
"Yes madam!" Lunamaria replied, launching in the Core Splendor.
At the defense headquarters...
"Send some Murasames after it!" Merci barked. "I don't care if they have to shoot it down! No matter what, don't let it go to space!"
"Yes madam!" Kisaka saluted.
On the Minerva...
"Lunamaria Hawke, Core Splendor, I'm launching!" Lunamaria declared, forming up to the Force Impulse Gundam.
Overtaking the Murasames, she fired at the shuttle, but it sped up and escaped into space.
"Since the flagship has been destroyed, this vessel will now take command." Talia declared. "Fire the signal flares! We will retreat for now!"
"What?" Arthur gasped. "Captain?"
"This situation is disadvantageous for us." Talia told him. "And we haven't been able to locate him. At this rate, it'll be pointless to continue battling."
"However, the Chairman's orders were..." Arthur pointed out.
"The Chairman's orders were to capture Djibril," Talia reminded. "Not to battle Sanc. Have the mobile suits return. All forces should temporarily retreat outside to outside Sanc territory."
At the defense headquarters...
"Retreating?" Soga blinked at the signal flares were fired.
"Captain Gladys..." Merci muttered.
On the battlefield...
"Shinn!" Rey looked at his partner before retreating.
At the defense headquarters...
"If they're retreating, then we won't pursue them." Merci concluded. "Convey that to all of our forces!"
"Yes madam!" Soga replied.
On the battlefield...
Growling at Athrun, Shinn followed after Rey and returned to the Minerva.
With the confrontation over, Athrun shut his eyes, passing out due to his injuries. With the pilot comatose, the Justice shut down in its own and fell down from the sky.
"Athrun!" Kira raced to catch his friend, the two landing on the surfacing Archangel.
After the battle...
"The medical team and the 2nd Cybernetic Squadron will be gathering on the upper deck." the intercom sounded from the makeshift medical headquarters.
An officer declared, "The 205th Ammo Dump has been flooded. Let Volunteer Squad L begin its operation! Send the information over to the Nakatsuka-san's terminal! Have the defense squads keep an eye out on our shores! I know that already, but if you put it that way, no one can move! An assessment of damage to urban areas should come first! We still can't refuse the people in the shelters. Djibril was in that shuttle? But even that, will ZAFT believe that? There's no country that we can rely on diplomatically!"
On the Archangel...
"Athrun!" Kira exclaimed, having pulled the injured pilot out of the Justice. Removing the helmet, he was stunned to see Athrun bleeding from all his wounds.
"Athrun-san!" Meyrin gasped.
"Kira..." Athrun muttered as Kira unzipped his suit.
"Bring a stretcher and call the medics, quickly!" Kira barked.
"Alright!" Murdock took off to the sickbay.
On the Minerva...
"So Djibril was on that shuttle?" Chairman Durandal questioned.
"There is no proof, but I believe that to be the case." Talia replied.
"Either way, you weren't able to capture him and you were all defeated by Sanc." Chairman Durandal noted. "Is that it?"
"Yes, sir." Talia replied. "That would be how it is."
"Shinn..." Lunamaria looked at the brooding pilot.
"It'd be safe to say it was because of the Archangel, Freedom and Justice." Talia added. "The situation became disadvantageous for us due to their intrusion, and on top of that, we weren't able to obtain any proof that he was still within their country. So it would've just been a war of attrition if we had kept on fighting."
"I see..." Chairman Durandal remarked. "Well, thank you, Captain Gladys. I believe your decision was correct."
"Yes sir." Talia replied.
"I'll look over the issue of the shuttle over here." Chairman Durandal added. "Perhaps we should consider a different way to negotiate with Sanc."
"I believe so." Talia agreed.
On the Archangel...
"So this is where you are." Murrue noted on the observation deck.
"I just don't fit in." Neo replied.
"Neo Lorrnoke." he started. "Born C.E 42, November 29th. Birthplace is North Luba in the Atlantic Federation. Blood Type: O."
"Huh?" Murrue blinked.
"Enlisted in C.E 60." Neo continued. "Currently the Captain of the 81st Independent Mobile Squadron, also known as the 'Phantom Pain'. That's what I'm supposed to be... but I'm beginning to lose confidence in those facts."
"I feel as if... I know you." he turned to Murrue.
"No, I don't know you." he corrected. "My eyes, ears, arms... some part of me knows you... That was why I couldn't fly away. I'm trying to understand that you're suffering. But I'm suffering too. So... will you let me stay here... by your side?"
Murrue nodded, wide-eyed as Neo pulled her into a hug. Tightening her hold on him, the Archangel's captain sobbed.
In a transport shuttle, Merci flew over the battlefield to the Parliament House.
On the Archangel...
Having awoken up, Athrun struggled to get out of bed.
"Are you alright?" Meyrin hurried to his side.
"You shouldn't ask him that question." Kira joked. "He'll say 'I'm fine', no matter what."
"That's true." Lacus agreed.
"Oh, okay..." Meyrin blinked.
"I really am fine." Athrun mumbled.
"But I'm glad." Kira added. "That the day has come again when I can talk to you like this. You tend to forget really quickly when it's peaceful. But it's really fortunate that can be like this."
"Kira..." Athrun muttered.
"Can I turn on the TV?" Kira requested. "Merci is about to make a statement. She said she's going to begin by announcing her wishes. Everything will come afterwards"
In the Parliament House...
"I am Merci Adeline Peacecraft, the Princess of the Sanc Kingdom. Today, through all available media in the world, I would like to send a message to Chairman Gilbert Durandal of the PLANT High Council who invaded Sanc the other day and demanded that we have over Lord Djibril. The message sent to all of us by Chairman Durandal the other day, along with all the information regarding Logos, was certainly shocking. As a politician and a citizen of this confused world, I certainly couldn't help but be attracted to the Chairman's words to destroy Logos and create a world without warfare. However, that's..."
Merci's broadcast was cut off by Meer's intervention.
"I am Lacus Clyne." Meer started.
"Merci!" Kisaka looked at the Sanc Princess.
"I am sure that you're all already aware of the battle that occurred at ORB the other day." Meer added. "I still can't understand why a country who used to have close ties with PLANT would do something like shelter Mr. Djibril. Why would ORB engage in a battle to defend someone who as the leader of Blue Cosmos, did not hesitate to fire nuclear weapons at PLANT, burn away cities with gigantic weapons of destruction, and use children in warfare? Because he was protected by ORB, we were once again unable to capture him."
On the Archangel...
"Well then, Kira," Lacus started. "I shall be on my way as well."
"Okay." Kira nodded.
"Lacus?" Athrun blinked.
"I'll be fine, Athrun." Lacus assured him. "There is no longer any confusion in me, either."
With that, the two headed out towards the Sanc Parliament House on the Freedom.
In the Parliament House...
"Our world is filled with many temptations." Meer continued her speech. "For better, for more. Of course, it isn't wrong for one to wish for those. However, Logos is different. They mustn't be allowed to exist. They are an evil that is unnecessary in our world. We are..."
Meer's speech was cut off with Lacus appeared on the screen.
"Please do not be fooled by her appearance." Lacus started and pretty much startling everyone else. "I am Lacus Clyne."
In Gibraltar...
"Impossible!" Chairman Durandal was shocked. "Why is she in Sanc?"
SailorStar9: Wow, can I say poor Meer? Exposed as a fake in that way and being used by Chairman Durandal without even knowing it. Now that's done, read and review.