Battles may be my weakness but once I get into them it's pretty hard for me to stop writing. I'm excited about this chapter.

A quick update, because I am relentless, this story is far from over!

Phase 34: You Wished For Redemption

"It was something that I wanted more than anything," she said once they were in out of the rain, "I wanted to be free of my past and everything wrong I had ever done, for in the first war my actions caused so much death and pain. I was fighting in the earth forces and I truly believed I was right to do so but I was so wrong, and I didn't find out until it was almost too late." A blanket was draped around Meiko as she listened in awe of the fact that for the first time she had family. Here was her mother, she couldn't believe it. This woman had watched over her so many times.

"I was badly injured from a mobile suit explosion," she continued on remembering everything, "I was near death but somehow something within me was protecting me. I was floating in space inside a pilots suit for what felt like hours when he came, John Liene's ship happened to be passing by my way. He picked me up and cared for me. After a few weeks I was well and I had discovered that I was pregnant with you, it was one of the few things that kept me going because I wanted to die. Liene was kind to me, he cared for me like no one had in a long time. I told him everything that had happened in the war and he in turn taught me to forget it, saying that such things have past and they no longer have a hold on us. So I pretended to let go of everything but you were a constant reminder once you were born because you reminded me so much of your father." Meiko tilted her head as if to ask who it was so Milady answered that next, "he was an earth forces pilot who was killed early on in the war, he was not strong enough to fight against such strong forces as ZAFT released. It was partially for him that I fought, but I was mostly selfish."

"What kind of person was he?" Meiko asked her, "from what it sounds, I inherited both of your legacies, fighting and fighting." Milady looked into Meiko's eyes remembering everything, all the hurt and guilt that she carried about the things that never should have occurred yet things that she could not change.

"He was the best kind of person," she said looking up into the distance, "but I do not really look back on it with much sadness, it was more of a youthful infatuation. We had both been burdened by the earth forces with particular tasks in the war, and we both leaned on each other for comfort. When he died I was devastated so I fought harder and multiple times I betrayed people that I loved for further my own interests. It was wrong and I knew it, but I was so angry. Liene took these haunting feelings and twisted me, I changed my name from Virea to Frost and my first name became Rayla; in doing so I distanced myself from you and very few ROW operatives knew the truth of who I was. I posed as your nurse and nothing more, trying to forget the past." Meiko looked saddened by this.

"I loved you," Milady continued, "I loved you so much Meiko, despite everything. You were a part of me, the only part of the real me I had left and I vowed to protect you but I didn't realize who Liene was and what he was doing. He had child projects whom he was using in an elaborate plan to change the world. I backed him up because I too wanted to change the world, but like so many others I was deceived by him. I realized what his plan was and what it would cause this world to become."

"So you left," Meiko continued for her, "and you left me behind."

"No your wrong about that," Milady responded with sadness radiating from her, "I didn't want to loose you! I fought to get you back, but it was too late, he had hidden you away from me. It was all I could do to escape with my life but when I did I left Mike to protect you because I realized I couldn't. I took upon myself the duty to counter Liene, changing my name a final time to redemption and building my force to destroy him. All this time I have watched and waited for you to grow into the power I knew you possessed for all this time I had to believe that you my daughter would take on the traits of kindness that were possessed by your father. I prayed that by his grace your soul would not be destroyed by Liene's hatred. I feared that it had when the Journey was destroyed but I began to see that it was by Uzumi's hand that your soul was freed."

"For he gave his life for me," Meiko confirmed thinking back through everything, "he gave his life, to make sure that I would live to save this world. He did it as if he knew my importance when I know he didn't. He didn't deserve to die for me, and I have put it behind me but I still believe it was wrong! It was Liene's selfish act that caused it and I was powerless to do anything to stop me. Now Liene's twisted ways have caused a war between ORB and the PLANTs."

"Yes," Milady replied standing up, "this war is one that can only be stopped by you Meiko, for within you alone lies the power to defeat the forces that were sent by the PLANTs. But all this is your decision, there is nothing that can force you to do it, you have to make the choice! You wished for redemption, now it is up to you to hold it close and take what is yours!"

Meiko looked toward the window and saw his face once again, somewhere Yaro was out there. Perhaps they would not be so far apart anymore. Everything hinged on her choice. Save ORB and she would dirty her hands again with the blood of the coordinators, for she believed that she would not be able to fight any other way. The question was was she willing to lay her life on the line? Was she willing to put everything she had gained at risk once again for this twisted world?

"Entering stage 5!" Meyrin shouted, "load all lunch tubes, prepare main guns and engines! Tell Ceveris to load into the launch tube and wait for orders!" Alicesia smiled as she carried out the orders now. The plan was going on above according to plan, now it was there turn.

"You ready Meyrin?" she looked up to see Murrue Ramuis's face on the screen above her.

"Yes," Meyrin responded, "Now Minerva! Stay with the archangel! Launch together! We're going to stop this battle!" The two ships then from under water were propelled upward. They rose faster and faster till they exploded into the the surface of the ocean. Following after then were hundreds of small submarines which moved toward the enemy forces form below.

"All mobile suit forces into defensive positions!" Athrun commanded over the wide range radio.

"Yaro's pinned down!" Lunamaria urgently expressed to Athrun, "That mobile suit! It's stronger than the rest!"

"You're going to pay for this!" He yelled charging for the machine as the blue glow intensified around him no further than it had ever gone but for some reason he slipped and seemed to loose his mind. Time stopped for what seemed like ages and he found himself far away.

"Clearly the skies are changing," he saw a woman before him with dark black hair much like his own and eyes that sparkled differently than any he had seen. Where was he now and what was happening. Why was he brought here now? The battle in ORB was his focus, He had to protect those who he cared about. The woman seemed sad as she floated about and she was angry at the same time. She was angry with him for some reason he didn't understand and yet at the same time she smiled.

"Who are you?" he yelled at the strange figure.

"Why I am a part of you," she responded holding out her hand, "you who wallow in the past and feel the darkness of everyone else! You who swore to protect the future yet you have made movements that clearly jeopardize it." He was becoming angrier with every word, "And for what cause? What is it that really drives you Yaro Yamato or whoever you are, for only the name Yaro really belongs to you. Do you dare pretend that you are powerful any longer? Do you dare persist that you own this world or that it should be some way simply because that is what you desire? Our desires are always selfish, so what is it about yours that makes you different from the rest of the world? Your pride or your love of a girl who could do nothing to help you in the end? Your path is one of broken tragedy and you try to change it? You arrogant fool! Do you really think that by fighting and by the strength of your own will you can change this world!"

"STOP IT!" Yaro yelled trying to get her voice out of his head. This woman taunted him, he had to fight her! He couldn't listen to her! Not if he wanted to save ORB.

"Then do you deny that by your own actions Meiko Virea was killed?" The woman continued on, "because you were in danger, because she cared for you more than herself she killed herself so that you would live! Do you dare to say that you are some all powerful person who can right the wrongs? You are destined to become everything that you have sworn to destroy because in your heart dwells a darkness that you can't stop! Do you not desire the destruction of all the world around you?"

"NO HE DOES NOT!" it was another voice, a voice he knew. Uzumi. "Go away you who would torment and lie! You who would twist the soul of the one that you should protect! You who do not understand what it was that you did to cause all this you only see your own pain! Flee from me or I will destroy the memory of you from the world! GO back to the shadows now and come again no more!" And with a grim cry just as she came she disappeared and Yaro lifted his eyes to see Uzumi in front of him, back turned to him as a warrior protecting him with his arms outstretched. Angry Uzumi turned back to him.

"Fight it Yaro!" Uzumi yelled, "Fight!"

Just as quickly as it had come the vision faded and the dark Gundam was coming toward him. He dogged the blast from it in just a split second in time.

"Yaro!" he heard Athrun's voice as anger surged through him at this pilot, she had killed his friend, she wasn't going to get away with this! "Yaro stage 5 is commencing! Get out of there!" Yaro knew this part of the plan, perhaps he could lure the black gundam into the trap. Angry he launched his mobile suit high into the air out of the range of the next stage.

"He's moved!" Luna yelled, "but he is still being engaged by the enemy.

"No matter, he's out," Athrun responded opening another channel, "now Minerva! lead the charge!"

Meyrin smiled as the main ships of the ORB forces followed her lead and as she ordered it they all fired at the same time. The front lines of the PLANTs broke instantly as many of the blasts hit their targets, damaging the ships and mobile suit teams that were coming. They fired a second round as the charge continued.

Yaro fought off the black suit while struggling with his own anger and the words of the vision.

"Come on don't hold back!" the girl in the mobile suit taunted him, "I want to see your anger! I want you to hate me! HATE ME! FIGHT ME!" His mind warred with him as he told himself not to give into this. He needed a way of escape, she was strong and he didn't want ot fight this person now. He looked down as the ORB ships fired all their firepower at once in an attempt to destroy the PLANT ships.

"Then follow me," Yaro replied as his super seed glowed and he used his anger to see the way out. He dived from their high place in the sky, just in time to miss the volley shooting from the Minerva as he descended into the sea below and behind the safety of the ships defenses.

"Now launch all mobile suit teams and forces," Meyrin heard Murrue's broadcast to the ships and then they rose, a second wave of fresh ORB troops into the sky fighting for their nation. Meyrin smiled a the strength the nation had show so far. She was sure the PLANTs had not expected them to have such a large military force at this time. They had been holding back and now they were unleashing the full power of ORB upon the world.

Verria laughed now as she saw many of her own forces fall and the ORB forces make their move toward the front lines. This was all too good to her as she had seen Zala's plan coming her way and she realized now that her own plans completely countered him. This battle would belong to the PLANTs just as she promised the Chairwoman that it would. She made motions to her commanders and moved her troops accordingly.

"They have left themselves wide open," she said with a laugh as she watched her own troops encircle, "now they are trapped. They think they are the only ones who can supply a fresh wave of troops. Now PLANT forces double the number they sent!"

With the Dreamer pinned down they were sure to win.

Gera had tried to follow Yaro but was stopped by the volley from the ORB ships. He had played it well and now he was out of her reach. She jumped back and was quickly engaged by another mobile suit which seemed very powerful.

"Now you will face the power of the Iron Fist!" Ceveris said in anger, he had seen Yaro just narrowly escape this machine, he had to be In position for the next part of the plan, so Ceveris made the decision to fight back this machine.

"You think you can defeat the power of the black gundam alone?" the girl in the mobile suit questioned in anger.

"He's not alone!" A blast hit the side of the black Gundam and Ceveris turned shocked to see the Courage. Kiran Yamato had disobeyed orders to stay behind and come anyway. This kid was strong enough to help him and he knew that Kiran had made the right decision. Right now this machine was after Yaro and together they had to stop her.

"Formation Kid, we can beat this one!" Ceveris said to Kiran.

"Correction commander," Kiran responded, "kids don't pilot Gundams, I am no kid."

Athrun was overwhelmed as he and Lunamaria stood down watching the old ORB troops come in to rest as the new wave replaced them. Shinn had insisted on staying out there and Cagalli had come down to see Athrun as he evaluated the next part of their plans. The PLANTs had countered their fresh troops with more fresh troops; they had more forces than ORB by far and Athrun began to realize that his careful planning alone wasn't going to beat them.

"We have to hold on," Cagalli said putting a hand on his shoulder, "you can do this, we just have to keep on fighting."

"Yes," Athrun replied picking up his helmet and turning back to Lunamaria, "We have to get back out there." It was then that they received a broadcast from the Minerva, it was Meyrin.

"Athrun!" she said frantically, "Kiran is on the battlefield! He has engaged the black Gundam with Ceveris!" Athrun's heart skipped a beat at the news. This was not supposed to happen. Now Kiran was in danger if they didn't succeed. New determination filled him. Neither of Kira Yamato's sons could fall in battle today, he had lost his own son, he would not allow his friend to feel that pain.

Jeffery Zala stood back from the balcony for a second watching as the battle unfolded from the distance in the Attha mansion. It appeared to be going well at first but things just seemed to be getting worse as the rain fell down harder.

"Come inside Jeffery," he turned to see Nessara, "You'll catch a cold out there. We'll turn on the news and then we'll know even more about what is going on. There is really nothing we can do from here." He stood still as if he hadn't heard her, "please Jeffery." She pleaded. He didn't move. His family was out there and the last time there was a battle like this he had lost a brother. He did not want to loose another one. He hated felling useless.

"Jeffery!" he felt a slap hit his face as Nessara stepped out in front of him, "you're a prince of ORB! You're strong! Don't sit here and imagine what could happen! Stand strong like Uzumi would have wanted you too! Snap out of it." He looked at her as tears escaped from his eyes and she took his hand and led him inside.

"You're right," Jeffery finally said, "We have to stay strong, I have to stay strong."

"Yaro!" Athrun contacted the boy as he saw the Dreamer resurface near ORB forces, "you made it!"

"I'm ready for the next stage," Yaro responded as the recharger for his arms ejected from his machine.

"Then advance forward," Athrun responded, "Luna and I will cover you!"

Yaro obeyed moving forward as Athrun disarmed any unit that tried to come before them and Luna used the impulse to strike any who dared to attack from a longer range.

"Up!" Athrun ordered and the three machines accelerated quickly putting themselves at a large output to climb high into the sky. Once they reached a certain altitude the stopped completely. Yaro began to type in the configurations, quickly taking into mind the environment which the higher altitude had. This was one of the more risky parts of the plan and one of the reasons why the Dreamer had been built the way it had. This machine was made to protect ORB.

"Everything in place," Yaro affirmed to Athrun.

"You do realize your power output will decrease for the next hour," Athrun replied, "and even then without the recharger you won't be able to use this weapon again for another seven hours." Yaro nodded to this.

"I'm ready," he replied.

"Then fire," Athrun responded. Yaro opened stretching the arms of his machine forward and letting out another kind of blast downward into the heart of the PLANT forces, that hung back as a fresh wave away from the ORB forces.

"TAKE THIS! FOR ORB!" he yelled as a wave swept over them and all nuclear power disappeared from within their forces leaving it completely worthless. The ships would no longer be able to enter the fight. Yaro felt his own tiredness begin to sweep over him but he knew he had to keep going.

The three Gundams lept back into the battle together taking up their defensive positions for ORB. Luna appeared behind Shinn offering him backup as Yaro spotted some friends who needed his help. He felt anger fill him once again as he realized that his little brother had indeed arrived on the battlefield after everyone had told him that he would not be allowed to. It was all a lie.

Verria was shocked by the turn of events.

"Our backup forces are completely out of power!" one of the bridge members said, "The same weapon the Dreamer used before took out all nuclear energy!"

"Gera was supposed to keep that machine pinned down!" Verria yelled. Now Zala had made a move worthy of his reputation. She leaned back and smiled though, he thought that she didn't have another force waiting. That one was trivial, one small loss. The PLANTs still had superior numbers and superior tactics.

"The battle for ORB has been raging," Kira said to Lacus as they stood before the launch catapult, "are you sure Lacus? You won't be able to follow immediately."

"Go Kira," Lacus said to him, "you need to get down there if they are to be saved. Take the Justice when you get there and I will follow when I can with your new machine. Perhaps we can get it to run at least." Kira looked at her and hugged her, he held her close not wanting to let her go. If he left the Clyne faction base was automatically more vunerable.

"You're not going anywhere without me," they both turned to see Leyas standing there.

"Or me," Trey was with her, "I have a mobile suit after all, I want to help."

"A two person mobile suit," Leyas responded, "we've been working with Waltfeld on getting it outfitted specifically for both of us."

"No," Kira responded, "you to should remain here, It's dangerous down there."

"Which is exactly why you need protection once you ascend the atmosphere," Trey responded with determination, "you are taking a small ship with no defenses, you would do better if we followed you in!" He could not deny that they had a point there.

"But Leyas…" Lacus was stopped by Kira.

"The important thing is getting to ORB alive now," he replied taking Lacus in his arms again, "I'll protect them don't worry." Lacus knew he would so she reluctantly consented. The important thing now was ORB. That nation was one of the last safeguards in the world and right now the Clyne faction were their only allies who could help.

"And I will prepare things on my end," Lacus replied, "the Clyne faction will once again rise to ORB's defense!"

Kiran and Ceveris maneuvered around the machine but it was clearly picking up their tactics. Kiran was thrown off balance by a missile that came from the large machine and his Courage was sent stumbling toward the ocean. Ceveris drew his beam sabers and faced the machine.

"You're move," he said with a grin as determination filled him.

"Ceveris is engaging the black machine alone!" Alicesia declared.

"Where is Kiran?" Meyrin asked desperately standing up as the scene was shown before them, "Where is he!"

"He's in the ocean," Alicesia replied confirming his location, "His machine is partially damaged but he is on his way up to back up Ceveris!" Meyrin looked at the scene, this Gundam was more powerful than him, he couldn't take it alone but at this rate Kiran would never make it in time.

"Tell him to pull back!" Meyrin yelled.

"We've lost contact with him," Alicesia responded quickly, "they must have been damaged." They then watched as an arm was cut from Ceveris's machine followed by a leg, then the main camera was destroyed.

"Ceveris!" Meyrin yelled standing and almost jumping toward the screen as tears filled her eyes.

"Hold on," Kiran yelled as he reappeared from the water blocking what would have been the black machine's final blow to Ceveris. It would never reach his friend. He quickly spun around the black machine kicking it and firing a round from the arms of the machine.

"You!" the girl yelled leaping for him. The seed exploded in the back of his mind but before he could make another move the Dreamer rammed into the black machine causing it to crash down into the ocean with the momentum he was moving at. Yaro fired a blast into the ocean causing the water to move and throwing of the balance of the pilot.

"I understand why you did it Kiran," Yaro said to his little brother, "but this time you have to let me face this battle alone. Take Ceveris back to the Minerva. I know I can not ask you to stay out of the battle completely, but let me deal with this Gundam now. You fight for ORB little brother but this battle is mine." With that Yaro crashed into the ocean after the black machine. He saw clearly that this machine was after him and he would face it as another battle that he had to fight.

"YARO NO!" Kiran yelled as his brother disappeared. Kiran turned to help Ceveris's machine back to the Minerva then he turned back to the battlefield as his seed blazed he was ready now.

"Uzumi protect Yaro," he whispered to the air as he fired into the PLANT forces and attacked.

Gera saw the Dreamer coming after her and she realized she was at a disadvantage underwater. Somehow he had read that from her. Angrily she pushed a few buttons and prodded her machine on, she needed to get out of here fast. The Dreamer fired toward her and she dogged blasting back to the surface and turning to wait for him to come up.

He suprised her as suddenly he appeared above her. Somehow he had gotten around her.

"Why are you doing this?" she heard a radio call and heavy breathing coming from the other pilot. This long battle was beginning to take it's toll on him.

"Because it's who I am," she responded coldly.

Yaro flipped his mobile suit once again as he tried so hard to keep everything on top, but he was loosing out as he felt the seed burning up his mind and the anger threatening to destroy him.

He fought back trying to stop the visions that kept trying to block him from the battlefield but some force was trying to destroy him and at the same time another force was fighting back to protect him. He moved his mobile suit accordingly fighting back the black Gundam for ORB and for the people that he loved and he wondered how much longer he would be able to keep it up if he was loosing strength so fast.

"Move all forces," Athrun yelled, "Full force attack!" Shinn and Lunamaria then appeared by his side and the three pilots attacked with everything that was in them.

They had to win this battle! They just had to.

Meiko Virea.

She had always been a pawn in Liene's games. She had always been a weapon to others until now.

Milady and Yzak watched her carefully now, she had just found out the truth and her response clearly showed that it had changed things. Now she watched the screen that played the battle and it seemed the one in the most trouble now was Yaro, not to mention the fact that ORB was clearly loosing the battle even though Athrun had lined up a plan for it's defense. Yzak and Milady had both made there choice but now they were waiting for a word from Meiko. No matter what she said they had to go soon, but they held back for a moment longer waiting for their Phoenix, for she could turn the tide of this war more easily than anyone else now.

She stared blankly ahead, all around tried to read what was going on in her mind as she watched the screen and the battle that took place. ORB was putting up a good fight but it was becoming more and more clear that without the Clyne faction they would not be able to stand up to the PLANTs completely. Milady and Yzak glanced at each other both knowing that they were running out of time but also understanding that Meiko's choice would define how they would approach.

Meiko watched it, every stroke of movement there on the battlefield. The death before her and she closed her eyes to it finding herself standing before the edge of something so great. Her mind and heart will clear as she saw inside herself her heart, her destiny, her call. She clasped her hands together and brought them to her forehead as she thought of everything that she has gone through in life, and everything that had changed in the past few months. Fear and doubt no longer plagued her as they had in the past, she was no longer filled with sorrow and confusion. No longer dominated by hatred and pain, now she was completely clear, she was Meiko, she was herself. She had made it through the dark to come to this moment, to stand in this position with a new mobile suit behind her and a battlefield in front of her. A choice that was her own, a time to be everything that she believed in, to battle on her own, a path that was her own. She hated the front lines in the past and now she could see the heavens before her though the flames still reached for her, she felt so differently. These were the enemies of peace fighting to destroy the things that she cared about and the values that should govern the world of the living; this was something she could no longer ignore. She had to destroy the evil in the world or else everything would be repeated in someone elses life. This was her path, everything was so clear, she had the power to destroy this and she would use it. A fire was lit inside of her.

"I can't ignore this," she said softly letting her arms drop to her sides and opening her eyes and those around her saw the fire that was reflected in her violet orbs. She turned around slowly as she knew that everyone was watching her every move, she was once the greatest in ROW and now she was the greatest on her own. She stared ahead at the mobile suit and took two steps toward it seeing the faces of those whom she cared for and hearing the voices of all those whom had fought to save her, now knowing that her visions were warnings and she could change it all.

"I can feel it inside of me," she said as her resolve echoed, "I am ready for the road less traveled, this is my battle. My test, my burden to bear." She turned to Milady and Yzak, "You have no idea what you are getting yourselves into but I make my own path now, no orders you issue will ever mean anything to me despite who you are to me. When I fight, I fight for what I believe in. I've been controlled for to long, you've given me this mobile suit and there is no going back now. No one has power over me, I will never again pledge to fight under the banner of another, I will ally with you but I am my own army in this. Understand I will never be held down again, no offense to you but I've seen too much. I am happy with everything you have done for me and with the things you have revealed to me, but I can protect this world better by following my own path than by following anyone else. Despite the past mother I do forgive you and I will protect you the way you did me from afar for so long, but I am not a solider of Redemption and I will not fight under that banner."

"We are not asking you to fight under our banner," Milady responded stepping forward, "The Phoenix was created for you to fight in the way you see fit. This is yours and we will not ask you to do anything more than to use it for any purpose you see fit. I know you daughter, my Meiko you will fight alone but you will always make the right choice."

"Then if you want a Phoenix, I'll give you a Phoenix." Determination was in her.

The next think Yzak and Milady knew they were responding to a list of demands made by the girl. A black leather pilot suit, an assortment of concealed weapons and the machine repainted to a new color scheme that Meiko selected. Yazk rolled his eyes at the requests but Milady understood them, Meiko was more than just a pilot, she was an assassin and she would need all her gear to feel comfortable. Now Milady helped her daughter prepare; Meiko was still in recovery and her limbs were not as flexible as they had been before, she still has to work back up to that point.

Meiko spread her arms as Milady attacked the knife belts to her arms. and a few other concealed weapons along the back of the armory she had demanded.

"I am not just here for mobile suit combat," Meiko said as the warrior within her filled her eyes, "the PLANTs will feel my wrath and they will run from it!"

She boarded the mobile suit and let her hands graze over the controls. She smiled to herself as she lifted her eyes to where her path was stretching before her. She had been told everything about the Phoenix that they could tell her in a short time and now they waited for her to launch. Once she made her move they would follow.

"I always knew from the very first moment I saw you that you were destined for greater things." She felt him with her once again, Uzumi.

"And I always knew that you would be here with me," she replied turning on her machine, "every step of the way."

As the Black Gundam fought him it also took time to completely destroy ORB mobile suits, taking advantage of Yaro's sudden decrease in performance.

Not this time. His seed intensified as Yaro saw the faces of all those he fought for now and now he no longer fought his winning companion, his anger. This pilot was fighting in a way that wasn't right and he wasn't going to allow her to be here on the battlefield any longer.

Suddenly Yaro's speed increased as he attacked the Gundam now full on.

"Now this is the person I wanted to fight," she said with a laugh, "the invincible Dreamer, time to die!"

Athrun was fighting a unit when suddenly a blast came from the sky above him and completely destroyed it. He looked up in shock as he saw a very large Gundam float down like an angel into the battlefield. He was shocked, if it came from above that could only mean one thing, it was a Clyne faction unit.

"Hello Uncle," he was surprised when the faces of Leyas and Trey appeared on the screen in front of him, "do you like the Clyne faction's newest weapon? The Sword of the Freedom." He wasn't too surprised by the name, Leyas was a lot like Kira and she should pilot a machine that was like him somehow. This was no time to question what they were doing here. They had to get int the battlefield. Before he could give them orders they were fighting off PLANT mobile suits in a way he did not expect. Somehow the team was strong together and he was happy that they had come.

"Just remember everything I taught you," Trey said to reassure Leyas, this was her first time on the battlefield after all, "I'm here don't worry! We're going to make it out of this alive."

"I know," Leyas replied, "and I trust you Trey." It was words enough to motivate him. She had been the first one to condemn him on his arrive and now she was the one that trusted him the most out of them all. They had grown close in the past few weeks and the two would not easily be taken down for they fought together strongly. Stronger than anyone would have predicted.

"Lady Cagalli there is a shuttle approaching," a commander said, "It came with that new Clyne faction unit." Cagalli's heart skipped a beat as she thought of the possibilities.

"Let them in of course," they listened to her commands and before it even entered she ran toward the doors and waited as it landed and watched in amazement as it was indeed the person she thought it was. Her brother had come to help them, against the odds and without any mobile suit he had still come.

"Kira!" She yelled running to him. He hugged his little sister.

"You knew that I would be here," he said to her with a laugh, "there was no way I was going to let you fight this out on your own. We've always fought together Cagalli!" She smiled at him.

"Any longer and you might have been too late," Cagalli said leading him to the control room, "we've been loosing more ground than we should be at this stage even though Athrun planned some pretty elaborate stunts with Yaro which have set the enemy back some but not enough it seems." Kira nodded.

"And how is Yaro?" Kira asked remembering his son's disposition the last time he had seen the boy.

"He's had his ups and downs," Cagalli responded thinking about his outbursts, "but he has turned the tide for ORB so much in so many ways. Somehow he's become so strong but he was getting to reckless and angry so Athrun talked to him. I believe Athrun got through to him because he has been obedient today and as a result he has been even stronger." Kira was glad to hear it, Athrun always did have a way of speaking in terms of war that anyone could understand, though it was hard to believe that Yaro was strong enough to keep up a calm disposition. They made it to the control room when they saw it on the screens.

"Lady Cagalli!" one of the officers said, "we might loose the Dreamer! That black machine is beating Yaro!" Kira felt an urgency at the sight, he wasn't going to let his son die.

"Cagalli where is the Justice?" he asked.

"You'll never make it in time," someone said.

"No longer," Meiko said as she felt it, "it's not going to happen!"

Yaro fought on trying to keep the upper hand on this machine but he realized he was loosing. This couldn't happen, not now! ORB had to win this battle. He called on his seed over and over again feeling his anger coursing through him. The pilot before him was watching him so carefully and predicting the pattern of his moves. Somehow she was beating him. Somehow she was winning and he couldn't understand how.

"NO!" Yaro yelled fighting on as more and more anger flowed in him, "I will not fall here! I have to fight on! I have to protect them!"

"You can't have him!" Meiko yelled at the top of her lungs as the Phoenix charged.

Yaro wasn't sure what happened but the black Gundam that had been before him was gone and in it's place was a Red and Orange machine that looked like a firebird. It was so majestically unlike anything he had ever seen before.

"The Phoenix," Milady said with a grin, "the ultimate power, now unleashed!"

So I just checked some stats on this story and a sad thing has happened. My reviews and hits have begun to steadily decline as people are loosing interest in my story. I don't understand why this has happened but I want to let you know that I plan on continuing the story as best I can but sometimes it's hard to have inspiration for a story when less and less people are reading it all the time.

Now I wish to say Happy New Years for real this time and tell all of those who are still with me that I am really grateful to you! I write this story for anyone who is willing to continue to read it and it really does help when people respond to it. This year I have made more progress with it than the year before and I am confident that if my inspiration continues I will probably be able ot finish this story by the end of next year. Thank you so much to all who have reviewed at all this year, you have all inspired me in one way or another. I assure those of you who are still there that I don't plan on backing down on this story. There are more plots and reveals to come, I just hope I have you all with me when you do! Thanks and Happy New Years.

Gear up for the next Phase because it is called "Phoenix: She Shall Rise Again" for a reason. This is the moment I have been waiting for, the return of Meiko!

Please Review this chapter and let me know how I am doing! Every review is valued!
-WinterChill