Fandom: Gundam Seed Destiny
Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance
Rating: T
Type: Multi-part, Chapter 52
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 52
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C.E. 73, December 29
Venue : ORB - Akatsuki Island
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Cagalli stared down at the figure of Athrun Zala lying atop of the bed in the medic wing, looking terrible with all that bandages wrapped over his upper torso. The sigh she let slipped by accident, was obviously loud enough to wake the slumbering teen, as Athrun Zala stared up at her - in question.
Cagalli fingered her ring nervously, causing the former to flinch - yet again. Gathering up her wits before she loses her nerves completely, Cagalli asked the first question that popped into her mind.
"Can you forgive me ?"
Athrun looked over to Cagalli for a moment, before turning away to stare at the ceiling. "I was the one whom was supposed to apologize... "
"Eh ?" Cagalli blinked, puzzled by Athrun's statement.
"The time in Crete - Kira and you were telling the truth. However, I choose the Chairman's words over Kira's words ... " Athrun let out a bitter laugh, before continuing his statement.
"I must have been too hasty in my actions ... Moreover, I felt useless and powerless - when I saw how hard you were working with the country's burden on your shoulder. Then the Junius 7 Incident occurred, and then I decided I wanted to do something to help ... "
Cagalli listened attentively to Athrun's statement, all the while - keeping her comments to herself. However, Athrun still did not answer her question - with regards to forgiving her for her actions taken. Thus, she blurted out.
"But ... I was trying to get married ... without even telling you ... " Cagalli added the last bit, softly but loud enough for Athrun to catch wind of her whole statement.
Athrun finally turned towards her, and replied simply and matter-of-factly. "You're doing it for the sake of your country - isn't it ?"
Cagalli was silent, and then she realized something - she never did bothered with, in the past. She had taken Athrun's feelings towards herself - for granted. Because, the former was always there - so she had become so accustomed to his presence, that she did not paid the former any more attention.
Instead, she had placed her country as her top priority. She had taken everyone's support for granted - thus, she did not made it a point to consult Kira in advance when Yuuna proposed.
Regardless whom she was in love with, or whom was in love with her. In the end, she still loved her country above everyone else.
Athrun was unhappy with her decision then, and now - although the former had forgiven her but that still does not means, the former would be able to face her like before. The wound was still fresh and raw, and it hurts just as much as the injuries he had received from his latest mishap.
Turning the conversation topic away from her own affairs, she touched on the topic of Meyrin Hawke - instead.
"Meyrin Hawke - the girl with you, she was the CIC officer of the Minerva, was she not ?" Cagalli brought up the subject, wanting to get some clarifications done.
Athrun turned away from Cagalli, again. This time around, he faced the inside of his bed - as he spoke and related the events to Cagalli, all over again.
"Meyrin ... she helped me ... while I was being pursuit by the others. I didn't even know her well, except for her position and role on board of the Minerva. Yet, I had still accepted her help and got her involved with my situation.
When we arrived at the hangar, I asked her again why she would want me to escape - but she told me that if staying on meant being killed, then it would be better if I were to leave. However, we were discovered by others - and when I saw that she was about to be eliminated by the others for helping me - I decided to bring her along with me... "
"So you did your best to protect her - I know, Kisaka told me ... you were shielding her with your whole body when they found the cockpit.
Melody had also added that, you were holding on to her so tightly - that they had to separate you from her, forcefully. " Cagalli continued the statement for Athrun - when the former paused in the middle of his explanation.
Athrun remained silent still, and Cagalli sighed - before commenting. "I heard the whole story from Mirialla, it would seemed that she had managed to get Meyrin's side of the story. Meyrin was not taking any credit of her saving you - claiming that you deserved more credit for saving her. "
Athrun finally responded, and said. "No ... if anyone should take credit - it should be her. She saved me from pursuit, by hiding me in her private bathroom. She stripped off her clothes and wet herself with the shower tap, after that - she answered her room door, without putting on any decent clothing - saved for a towel wrapped around her body.
That was how she saved me from being found - she tricked them into thinking that I was not hiding in her room because she had been in the shower - all the while! I did not sacrifice anything by saving her - but she sacrificed and betrayed her own dignity, her own family members by saving me. Therefore, she deserved more credits than I do ... "
Cagalli resisted the urge to gasp in shock, while Meyrin had told her tale to Mirialla - the former had not provided the exact details of how she saved Athrun from pursuit.
They could only assumed that the former was only taking Athrun to the hangar where he could made his escape - they certainly had not foreseen the process of hiding Athrun from those pursuit teams.
"She must have been really fond of you - if she went to such extent just to save you from being discovered by the ZAFT Forces. " Cagalli finally managed in summary, to Athrun's side of the story.
Athrun said nothing, only averted his eyes away from the blonde - when she commented on Meyrin's feelings for him.
Inwardly, he was silently contemplating on Cagalli's words - he was not that blind to his tendency to attract attention from the female populations, especially on his recent return to the PLANTs.
Then he recalled the incident of Meer Campbell, and how the Hawke siblings had yearn for his attention - but he never paid them any mind. The only time which he did - was simply to get himself far away from Meer Campbell, the imposter of Lacus Clyne.
Realizing that he had no intention to speak further, Cagalli left behind an assurance that she will personally attended and see to the care of Meyrin Hawke - before leaving his bedside, heading for the bridge.
---
Meanwhile, Dacoasta failed to realize that the Mendal Colony was being spied on - and that when he returned, one of the 'Ginns' had followed him back to where the 'Eternal' was hidden among the debris of Yakin Due.
He had only managed to find two notebooks with the mention of the 'Destiny' plan - which he believed the Chairman, was intended to carry out. Arriving back to the bridge of the 'Eternal' - he told Lacus and Andrew Waltfield that this was all that he could manage to find in the colony laboratory.
"They must have cleared out the laboratory ... nothing of the previous research and experiment notes was found. All I've managed to retrieve was simply - these notes, probably written by one of his fellow co-workers on the same research. " Dacoasta said, as he flipped to the page whereby the 'Destiny Plan' was briefly mentioned.
They had yet to get a close look at the notes, when the radar of the 'Eternal' detected looming dangers ahead of their fleet.
"What the hell ?" Andrew Waltfield turned towards the monitor view to have a closer look of what was dangerous to them - and cursed aloud when he spotted the hovering 'Ginn' which destroyed their monitoring devices placed ahead of their fleet.
"Damn you, Dacoasta! You were followed! " Andrew Waltfield turned accusing tone on the male redhead officer.
"EH?! " Dacoasta yelped, while Lacus berated herself for her careless mistake. She should have expected the colony to be kept under observation, Dacoasta hurried to assure Lacus that it was not her fault.
Andrew agreed, instead - he pushes all blame upon Dacoasta, as he strangled the former - playfully.
"Alright, I'll launch and keep them away from here ... " Andrew suggested, but Lacus protested against the idea.
"No, wait - Mr. Waltfield! If they managed to come this far - then its' motherfleet should not be too far away ... "
Andrew Waltfield cursed aloud, before asking Lacus - what she had in mind for them to do. When Lacus responded for the 'Eternal' to remove themselves from hiding and launched out - Dacoasta commented that they will be discovered if they do it - her way.
"Either way, they will still see us ... so it doesn't matter - anymore. " Lacus emphasised.
"However, if we were to launch now - our ship hardly had any power to win the battle ... Are you sure you want to do that ?" Andrew commented.
"I am not trying to /win/ - I am trying to /protect/ ... " Lacus responded, as she gripped the two notebooks close to her chest.
"Huh ?" Dacoasta blinked, not understanding Lacus response - but Andrew Waltfield nodded as he understood the meaning behind the pink haired Coordinator's words.
"Mr. Waltfield, we will head over to the Earth atmospheric layers. Tell the factory to hurry with the units final adjustments. If we cannot break away, we will drop the pods and those units, together with the notes down to ORB. That is - if the worst were to happen. " Lacus instructed, as she settled herself on her Captain's seat.
Andrew Waltfield nodded in agreement, as he hurried to announce the decision for the Eternal to launch - to the crew members on board. At the same time, telling them to get the factory into silent mode and continue working on the units.
"Removing disguise from ship - Eternal, heading out! " Andrew Waltfield ordered.
---
"Kira-kun ... Kira! Come over to the bridge immediately - information of the Eternal being discovered and was now moving out of its' hiding place were received. " Captain Ramius broadcasted the announcement - calling out for Kira's attention.
Kira was in the middle of adjusting the OS coding for one of the 'Murasames' unit - when he heard the announcement. Leaping off the elevator, he started for the bridge of the Archangel - in a hurry to understand the situation better.
Upon arrival at the bridge, he found Cagalli and Captain Ramius glancing over to him - with concern.
"What's going on ?" Kira asked.
"No idea, we only know that - they were now battling the ZAFT Forces whom discovered them. Lacus also mentioned that - if they failed to break away in time, they will be dropping the pods and notes down to ORB from their location. " Captain Ramius told Kira, as they now stared at the information - of the 'Eternal' location.
Meanwhile, Athrun Zala - whom was in the medic wing was trying to move out of bed. Meyrin Hawke, whom was just allowed out of her bed - was outside the room, when she noticed Athrun trying to move out of bed - with much difficulty.
"Athrun-san, what are you trying to do ? Its' too reckless, you should be in bed ... " Meyrin hurried in, as she attempted to stop Athrun from moving out of bed - in his condition.
Neo Lorrnoke, whom was in the bed - next to Athrun Zala, finally could tolerate the sight of him trying to move out of bed, no more. He punched in the code to the bridge of the Archangel and said aloud.
"Hey! The guy next to me - had been creating a racket since the announcement came on. " Neo said into the intercom.
Athrun Zala, then muttered out - despite his painful injuries. "Kira - go ... go to the Eternal! Lacus must be protected - no matter what. Everything will be over, if we loses her ... "
/Eh ? Lacus-sama ? Eternal ? What was going on / Meyrin frowned, bewildered by Athrun's statement.
While Meyrin was well-aware that the Lacus in Gibraltar now - was a fake, but she still had no idea why Lacus Clyne had anything to do with the Eternal.
Meanwhile, on the bridge - Kira muttered a quick 'thank you' to Athrun, before turning to Cagalli and said.
"Cagalli, I'm using the 'Rouge' - also get me a 'Strike Booster Pack', immediately. "
Athrun, whom heard the statement sighed in relief, as he allowed himself to be push back into bed by Meyrin - whom was now hovering over him, like a mother hen.
Captain Ramius, meanwhile, sighed aloud before commenting. "Looks like you still remembered the code to the bridge - huh ?"
"Hah ?" Neo only managed to arch one eyebrow in response, before the connection to the bridge were cut off - entirely.
"Thank you - Commander Fllga. " Athrun Zala finally managed, from his position on the bed.
Neo Lorrnoke grimaced, before speaking up. "Not you too ? I am no Commander, I am Neo Lorrnoke - Captain! "
"Eh ?" Athrun blinked in surprise, before dis-regarding the issue - as he allowed Meyrin to coax him back to sleeping.
---
In the meantime, Lord Dijbil was on his journey over to the Kingdom of ORB - hiding himself with the Seirans' house. That, information somehow had wriggled itself over to the Carpentaria ZAFT Base - and was then routed to the Gibraltar, where the Chairman were currenting residing.
Back at ORB - Akatsuki Island, Kira was doing speed re-programming of the OS coding on the 'Strike Rouge' converting them to those of the 'Strike'. It had been a very long time since he uses the 'Strike' - therefore, it took him a minute to remember the exact OS he had used back in the last war.
"Oi Kid! What of the weapons of the unit ? Which one to use ?" Murdock, the head technician asked - as he was having trouble deciding on the equipments to go along with the unit.
Without pausing in his typing, Kira responded back without hesitation. "Used everything the same as the original 'Strike' ... "
"Okay, done! " Both Murdock and Kira, exclaimed at the same time.
Murdock then turned to the rest of the technicians and ordered. "All hands - take cover! "
The moment everyone get themselves away from the machine, with the booster pack attached to its' back. Kira Yamato launched out in the 'Strike' - and headed for the space, where the Eternal were now trying their best to fight against the ZAFT Forces.
to be continued
Date started: 21/06/07
Date completed: 21/06/07
Date edited: 16/09/07
