Fandom: Gundam Seed Destiny
Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance
Rating: T
Type: Multi-part, Chapter 37
Pairings: Melody(OC)/Nicol, Yzak/Michelle (OC), Kira/Lacus, Dearka/Mirialla ...
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Gundam Seed nor Gundam Seed Destiny
Author's notes: Revised Edition, I shall begin from Shinn's decision to join the ZAFT when he first arrived at the PLANTs. Namely, slightly before the start of the final battle in Seed. From now onwards, I'll go on and insert my own ideas and original scenes to the story - at the same time combining them with those from the original series of 'Destiny'.
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Chapter 37
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C.E 73, December 7
Time : 15 00 hours
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Lunamaria Hawke sprang into actions, as she noticed Athrun Zala readied himself for a trip outside. Since she had no idea what Athrun Zala wanted to do for the day, she brought along all the equipments required for her spying mission - just in case. Settling herself in the helicopter - she traveled above Athrun Zala's moving car as she eyed the former's actions, discreetly.
She watched as Athrun met up with the same female brunette from the day before, at the town's cross junction. Mentally, she hoped she was not spying on another coffee date between them. Yet, her prayers were answered when she noticed them traveling to an isolated area where she knew the blue-haired pilot had first left his 'Savior' unattended while he went exploring around the town.
/This is it ... / Lunamaria thought, as she distanced herself away from the duo - settling for watching them through her binoculars, instead.
Frowning, she noticed Athrun Zala pulling the brunette into the cockpit with him - before the 'Savior' took off flying, heading out. Lunamaria followed them discreetly, thankful that the helicopter was meant for civilians' use and not for battling purposes. Otherwise, it might be shown on the 'Savior's radar.
/Where are they heading for ? How could Athrun simply just show some random civilians' his Mobile Suit ? I thought that the units given to us for usage were considered part of the Military secrets / Lunamaria thought, her mind swimming with questions.
She watched in silence as the 'Savior' landed on a small island near Crete, while she landed her helicopter some distance away from the 'Savior'. Making full use of the time that the 'Savior' was transforming into its' Mobile Suit form - Lunamaria began setting up the incoming transmitter device as well as the self-recording devices.
Placing the camera with silencer equipped next to her reach, Lunamaria placed the headphones from the transmitter over her head - covering both her ears. With that, her spying mission commenced officially.
Lunamaria was lying flat on her stomach, so that none of them could spot her that easily if their eyes were to scan their surroundings. Approximately, ten minutes after Athrun Zala and the female brunette emerged from the cockpit of the savior - another two newcomers joined them.
Upon closer inspection, she could easily recognized the blonde female as the ORB's current Head Representative - Cagalli Yula Attha. Therefore, the boy next to her - could possibly be the pilot of the 'Freedom'. After all, according to the rumours going around - it was the 'Freedom' whom seized the ORB's Prime Minister from her wedding altar. Was it not ?
/Heh ... ? The Captain wanted me to spy on Athrun Zala's meeting with the Attha heir ? Why though ? Unless, its' about the Archangel intervening in our previous battle / Lunamaria wondered as she continue spying on them, at the same time snapping several photographs of their secret meeting.
Half the conversation she had listened in on - she had no idea what they were talking about. They looked as if they were speaking about the events of the past war - and comparing them to the situation now.
Then, the most strange statement came about - the brown haired male was asking Athrun Zala about the Lacus Clyne on the PLANTs. It seemed like they knew another person going by the name of Lacus within their social circle ...
The conversation from then on - escalated down to a point of near arguement, and then Athrun Zala left them a warning of not to interfere the battle - again. After that, Athrun Zala left with the 'Savior' - leaving those three behind.
Lunamaria dared not stayed too long after the blue-haired pilot left, after all - her mission was completed with Athrun Zala's departure. The superiors had send her to spy on Athrun Zala, not on the ORB's Prime Minister.
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Athrun Zala, meanwhile, had his head swell, and his mind full of questions. Now those questions seemed to have increased by itself, instead of decreasing like he had hoped to achieve - following the end of his meeting with his fellow friends from the Archangel.
Through the meeting with Kira and Cagalli, the only thing he had understand - was their motive in butting in on the battle. Kira had told him that they wanted to stop ORB from getting involved, that was why they had appeared in the middle of their battlefield.
Judging from the way Kira was talking to him, it would appeared that the former was now wary of him - after confirming Athrun's current alliance lays with the ZAFT Forces. The way they conversed had reversed itself back to the time whereby he was still piloting the 'Aegis' and Kira was still with the 'Strike'.
Never did once, Kira had allowed Cagalli to speak her mind. The only time which she did - she had asked him why he had returned to the ZAFT. Somehow, Athrun find himself at a loss of answers and steered the conversation elsewhere - back to the Archangel's appearance on the battlefield.
After that, all the comments and statements had came from Kira. He had told them to return to ORB, and stayed there - especially, after Kira's comment of not wanting to be involved in all the fightings and killings anymore. Yet, at the same time, they do not want to see ORB being involved in this messed up situation - either. Thus, their coming out from hiding and tried to stop the war from happening on their part.
He had told them then - that their appearance did nothing to help the situation, merely complicating matters. For both parties, the ZAFT and the Earth Alliance Forces. Especially, the Kingdom of ORB was now part of the Earth Alliance Forces - like it or not, they had to simply lived by their own decisions.
Athrun then directed the next comment to Cagalli - telling the former, that if she had wanted to really stop ORB from getting involved. Then, the most logicial thing for them to do would be to return to ORB and tried to pull the Kingdom of ORB away from the alliance with the Alantic Federation and returning to their usual neutral policy ground.
That would have helped matters /a lot/ more than - their just coming out of nowhere and targeting anyone with weapons within their sight.
Apparently, his comments had triggered Kira to voice his own questions directing towards him - questioning him on the motives which the ZAFT Party had in mind, to achieve with this ongoing battle mode.
Kira had asked him if he really believed what the Chairman was telling him about - and then, when he tried to persuade Kira and the Archangel crew to join forces with the ZAFT Party. Kira had turned down his offer directly - and asked him, on his opinions as to why the ZAFT Forces had send assassinators over to Kingdom of ORB and that Lacus Clyne just happened to be their so-called 'target'.
Later on, the issue went on to the appearance of Meer Campbell - Lacus Clyne's impersonator from the PLANTs. Kira had asked him for a reason to explain the former's existence.
Athrun had failed to respond, for he found himself not having the answer to them. The Chairman never did informed him of the actual reason, and whatever Meer had told him previously - he had not been fully trusting and convinced about those reasonings. Yet, he had still allowed himself to be convinced and talked into the decision of returning to the ZAFT Party.
Now, after his meeting with Kira - all that he was aware of - was that his mind was still engulfed in a whirlwind of thoughts. Nothing seemed to make sense to him, anymore. While he still was aware of his original motive when he re-enlisted himself back with the ZAFT - and, he had chose to believe the Chairman - then. Now, he found himself doubting each and everyone's story and words with regards to the ongoing war.
So, whom was the one - in the /right/ and whom was really the one - at /fault? He had no idea, and Athrun highly doubt that there would really be a /right/ party; under such situations. Which was exactly the reason why he was now caught in a trap of his own dilemma over his beliefs and idealisms.
Mentally, he recalled heading half-way back to the Military Base in Diocula and only to receive the notice that the Minerva had set off for the abandoned laboratory situated in Lodonia for some investigation work - through his 'Savior' transmitter. Following on, he had then caught sight of the message from Michelle on his cell-phone, informing him of the fact that the Minerva was no longer in Diocula.
Working himself in auto-piloting mode, he turned the 'Savior' around, this time around - heading for the direction where the Lodonia Laboratory and the Minerva was situated. By the time he arrived and met up with the rest of the Minerva crew, it was already 20 00 hours.
Automatically, he had joined up with the rest of the crew while they ventured into the abandoned laboratory for investigation work - as soon as he changed out from his civilians' clothings, and back into his ZAFT elite uniform.
He was really surprised to find Michelle standing together with Samuel Howard and Adrian Mckenzie, while they stood around the outside of the abandoned laboratory.
"... " Athrun stared at Michelle with wide eyes, not that he mind the fact that the former had once again, took his extra uniform for her own use. He was more surprised at the fact that the former was allowed to roam outside of the Minerva's living quarters.
Michelle smirked, before shrugging and respond. "Surprisingly enough, I did not volunteered for this - the Captain made the decision herself. Lunamaria was still pre-occupied elsewhere, and Rey was temporary resting in the medical wing. Meyrin was with the bridge members, I was called in temporary to stand in for Rey - and Samuel for Luna. "
"Oh I see ... and where's the Captain ? " Athrun asked, ignoring the fact that his uniform had been used without his permission - for the time-being. After all, this was not the first time - his uniform had been 'stolen' by the said brunette.
Michelle eyed him silently, before shrugging and responding that the Captain and the rest of the crew were inside the laboratory exploring. Athrun nodded, and proceed on to the entrance way of the laboratory.
The sight which met Athrun's eyes was simply horrifying and nausea-ing. Dead bodies and human organs could be seen all around the laboratory. Somehow, he had managed to keep himself from showing his disgust - the only reaction to the sight was the mere widening of his eyes in shock at the experiments being conducted in this very laboratory by the Earth Alliance and the 'Blue Cosmos' party.
He followed the lead of the Captain silently, as they reaches the computer stationed in a corner and found the information to all the 'Extended' pilots - formerly in action or was now part of the Earth Alliance Forces.
His eyes found themselves scanning each and every 'Extended' pilots' profiles and was not surprised at all - when his eyes landed itself on three particular pilots. Those three pilots had been the very same batch of pilots that piloted the 'Raider', 'Calamity', and 'Forbidden'.
The exact three units which both himself and Kira had come across - for too many times that he had not bothered to remember its' exact number of times they battled one another.
/... 'Extended' programme ... I see, now I knew why I have a strange feeling whenever I came across them in the 'Justice' - two years ago. / Athrun Zala thought, inwardly - hiding his conflicting emotions in check.
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C.E. 73, December 7
Time: 20 00 hours -Phantom Pain-
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Auel Neider was on his way to his room, with Sting when Stellar came by. Stopping to wait for her, Stellar asked them a question that caused his eyes to widen in surprise.
"Lodonia Laboratory ? What's that ?" Stellar voiced her question, aloud.
Sting, being brainless about such things - went ahead and informed Stellar that it was the very same laboratory that they had been living in - before being inducted into the Earth Alliance Forces.
"Stellar, why are you asking us about that - now ? " Sting shot back at the puzzled blonde.
Stellar blinked innocently, before responding. "They did not managed to dispose of the place - to make things worst, ZAFT managed to find it. That's what the officer told Neo - just now, when I was with him. "
"Eh! " Auel's eyes widen in shock, before turning to Stellar and demanded to know the whole details of what the girl had managed overheard from the conversation between Neo and the fellow officer.
Things may not have been that bad, if Stellar did not just recite everything she heard to the other two 'Extended' pilots. For Sting Oakley, the impact was not that great - since his memory of the past had been completely wiped clean by the Alliance.
Yet, Auel was not that lucky - he had his whole memory intact to himself. Therefore, the shocking impact to him were far more drastic then to the other green-haired 'Extended'.
Moreover, the situation worsen when Stellar revealed that Neo had told the fellow alliance officer that the laboratory had been totally /clean out/ by them, several weeks ago. Although, the disposal of the Lodonia Laboratory failed - and the ZAFT Forces now had started to investigate them.
They can no longer find any important information with regards to their 'Extended' pilots - which they were now using for their Military purposes. Even if the ZAFT did find anything - those would have been completely harmless - since they could never /talk/, again.
/Clean Out ?! Never talk again ... / Auel's eyes widen further in shock, as memories of his past involving his mother - being part of the 'Extended' programme; came rushing back to him. His mother had been assigned to the caring of other 'Extended' pilots' candidates during their training period, and she was always looking out for them.
However, the fact that she was /now killed/ brutally by their /own superiors/ - merely for the sake of silencing the relavant personnels involved in their experiment of creating 'Extended' pilots for their own use - was far more shocking to Auel, then the thought of having his mother killed by the ZAFT personnels whom went investigating.
Never did Auel thought that there would be a day - he would prefered having the ZAFT Forces killing his own kin then having his direct superiors eliminating his mother, as a silent threat to their own benefits.
Yet, now - nothing could be done for his direct superior, Neo Lorrnoke had came out-right with the declaration that /they - the Earth Alliance Forces/ had clean out all the related personnels and members involved in the maintainence and experiments conducted within that particular 'Extended' laboratory.
The sheer impact of shock at finding his mother being killed by his own superiors was enough to break down Auel, both emotionally and mentally. During which process, he vaguely remembered himself shaking and shivering like a leaf; before uttering something incoherent to himself, but not to the others.
Apparently, his hysterical mutterings was enough to startle Sting into pulling him towards the medic wing in search for Grace - the person on duty to sedate him from going /berserk/ like Stellar usually did, when she was in shock.
Yet, somehow he must have uttered the word /dead/ or /dying/ during his near-hysterical state of mind, that send Stellar into a /berserker/ state as well. For the moment, when he awoke from his sedated sleep in the medic wing - Grace had kindly filled him in that Stellar had left with the 'Gaia', by blasting open the gate hatch of their ship.
Now the superiors were having a meeting to themselves, to decide on the fate of Stellar Loussier. Sting had been placed into the 'Special bed' for treatment - and because he was already sedated from before, the superiors left him as he originally was.
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Lunamaria Hawke arrived back on board the Minerva, with the help of the helicopter she had been using in prior. She had just finished changing out from her civilians' clothings and was about to head over to report to the Captain, when she noticed the hurried figure of Shinn Asuka carrying someone - running towards the medic wing. Athrun Zala, following Shinn - from behind dutifully.
"Athrun, what's happening ?" Lunamaria asked, feeling bewildered by the events that took place during her absence.
Athrun Zala paused, before asking. "You wanted the long story or the short version ?"
"... The short version, then. " Lunamaria commented, knowing that she could check with the others if she wanted a long story.
"Right, basically - Shinn was hurrying over to the medic wing with the female 'Extended' pilot of the 'Gaia'. I do not have the full details, but I do know that Shinn knew that female pilot - from somewhere before. Apparently, while we were investigating the abandoned laboratory of the Earth Alliance Forces - the 'Gaia' came charging at us. So, we took the 'Impulse' and 'Savior' out for battle.
Actually, Shinn was ahead of me - I just followed him to keep an eye on the situation. Somehow, he took the 'Gaia' down - successfully. However, upon the sight of the pilot, he took her over to the Minerva without seeking permission from the superiors. Now, the Captain had been notified, and we are waiting for her final verdict. " Athrun Zala summarized the whole story, from his point of view.
"Aa... I see ..." Lunamaria echoed, at the same time - thankful that it was Stellar whom was captured and not Auel. Before she had time to dwell too much on her strange thoughts, she was caught off-guard by Athrun Zala's next question.
"So where were you, today ? I did not see you on board when I reported for duty, back from my days off - just now ... " Athrun Zala commented.
"Huh ?" Lunamaria blinked stupidly, before her mind registering Athrun's query and hurried to respond. "Erm ... I ... I was out running an errand for the Captain - she ... told me to deliver some documents over to the Carpentaria Military Base. That's why - I was not around, earlier on. "
/... I told another lie ... Ever since my meeting with Auel - I seemed to have make it a habit of telling others lies ... Wait a minute, why do I keep on thinking about that pale-haired 'Extended' pilot ? He was supposed to be my enemy - although, he saved me twice in a row ... that does not warrant him the right of overtaking my mind ... Damn! I am seriously losing it ... / Lunamaria thought, with a sigh.
"Right, I supposed I better go and inform the Captain of my safe return from the errand ... Is she in her room ?" Lunamaria asked the blue-haired pilot, still watching the medic wing from the corner of his eyes.
"Aa... Yes, she's in her room - now. " Athrun replied, absent-mindedly.
Lunamaria heaved a sigh of relief, as she headed towards the direction of the Captains' room with the tape and photographs which the Captain had told her to deliver to her, as soon as she returned from her spying mission.
to be continued
Date started: 18/06/07
Date completed: 18/06/07
Date edited: 15/09/07