Phase 26: Genesis

The Freedom, the Justice and the Strike Rouge were now on their way to stop Genesis. As they were flying, Athrun started feeling guilty for kissing Cagalli. Not for the kiss itself, that part was amazing; but for not talking to Kira first. Although they had only just learned that he and Cagalli were siblings, it would be proper for him to get Kira's blessing.

Kira noticed something to his left and veered off toward it.

"Kira?" Cagalli shouted.

"Take care of Cagalli. Something's wrong here," Kira radioed Athrun.

That was all Athrun needed to hear. In that statement he felt as if Kira had given him his blessing. Who would trust someone with their sister's life, but not with her heart? He internally grinned, "Okay then." Not that Athrun needed to be told that, as he wasn't planning on leaving Cagalli's side anyway.

The Eternal and the Kusanagi weren't far behind the Strike Rouge and the Justice as they were fighting off the Jachin Forces to get to Genesis. The two ships simultaneously fired all their guns at Genesis, but it's phase shift armour left it unscathed.

Shit! Cagalli cursed to herself.

"Oh for…" Commander Waltfeld almost cursed as well. "We're in real trouble now."

"We'll force our way into Jachin and destroy the controls," Athrun informed the two ships.

Lacus and Commander Waltfeld gasped. That would mean they would have to go in person and it being only the two of them, they probably won't make it back alive.

"Athrun!" Lacus shouted.

"There's no time," Athrun said as he detached from his Meteor. "Let's go," he said looking at Cagalli.

Cagalli nodded to him in response. She was surprised he was asking her to go on such a dangerous and suicidal mission with him. But she was glad he was treating her as an equal and happy that he saw her as capable of doing something like this. She was also glad to help, she didn't want to be one of those leaders that just sits and barks orders, and lets other people do all the fighting for her. It was just as much her fight.

"Athrun! Cagalli!" Lacus pleaded.

Cagalli's face was now on the Eternal's monitor, "We'll be fine, trust us."

And just like that Cagalli's face disappeared and the two flew off.

Kisaka's panicked voice came over their radios, instructing some of the M1 pilots to go with and cover Cagalli.

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More and more Jachin forces were firing at Athrun and Cagalli as they got closer. "Stop it! Lay down your weapons! Do it now!" Athrun yelled to the ZAFT soldiers. "Is this really what you people desire? You'll wipe them out, completely."

"They were the ones who fired first."

"My brother was stationed at Boas."

"Damn," Athrun could hear that they had vengeance in their hearts and that he wasn't going to get through to them.

Cagalli and Athrun finally entered Jachin Due and were flying through the escape hatches and terminals. They now had to disembark and leave their mobile suits behind, as the passage ways were getting too narrow to fly through. Athrun rushed over to Cagalli and strapped her into a bullet proof vest. Cagalli was surprised at what he was doing. She knew how to put one on; and even if she didn't, she had the M1 pilots with her to help her. It surprised her more that he hadn't even put his own one on yet. She was impressed at how quickly he strapped it on though.

After Athrun had now put his vest on, he grabbed Cagalli's with both hands and pulled her close, "Don't get killed."

"Same goes for you, mister," Cagalli poked his chest and warned.

They had their guns at the ready and Cagalli and the one M1 pilot were following Athrun as only he knew the way.

"I don't know why you are worried, you've seen my hand to hand combat," Cagalli said as they flew down the halls shooting people, as if it was just another day at the office.

"That's exactly why I'm worried," Athrun teased.

They entered a passage way where there were ZAFT soldiers, the M1 pilot went in front of Cagalli as a shield while the two of them shot at the soldiers. Athrun was next to them busy throwing flash grenades ahead.

"I had you on the ropes," Cagalli said as she wouldn't let the subject go.

"Before you became my prisoner," Athrun reminded.

"Shut up, before I shoot you again."

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Athrun and Cagalli had finally reached the Jachin control room. The Astray pilot would stay outside the room and keep watch, while they went in. Athrun and Cagalli stood on either side of the door as they opened it. They waited a bit before going in as they heard gunshots coming from inside the room. Athrun was the first to peer in and then Cagalli on the other side. Athrun jumped into the doorway with his jaw dropped to the ground. There were two bodies floating around in blood. Athrun's eyes grew bigger and he struggled to catch his breath, as he realised one of them was his father. Everyone in the control room panicked and started running away as the two enemy soldiers entered. Athrun and Cagalli were just casually walk in past the ZAFT soldiers, not trying to shoot anyone as they saw they were scared and weren't going to try to fight them.

Cagalli stared at Athrun as they walked towards the two men that were shot, he seemed to be distraught. Does he know them? She followed Athrun's lead up to the one man. Athrun and Cagalli used their jet packs to propel the man down to the ground.

Patrick put his hand on his son's shoulder, "Fire Genesis. We must make the world ours." Patrick said with a struggle. He then spat up blood before taking his last breath.

Cagalli stood up to distance herself from the horrid man. To have such heartless last words, and to your son of all people.

"Father," Athrun cried out as he still clung to his father's body. His father may have become a cold man since his mother died, but he was still his father. He needed a second to morn his father's death.

Athrun and Cagalli were now alone in the room with the two dead bodies. Athrun was still crying over his father's body when they all of a sudden heard a loud beeping sound coming from the controls.

"All personnel are to abandon this facility immediately," Athrun and Cagalli heard a pre-recorded voice say over the intercom.

Athrun walked over to the computer and gasped as he saw a countdown clock busy ticking away.

"Athrun?" Cagalli called.

Athrun started quickly typing away on the computer, bringing up files on the countdown and on Genesis. "They've activated a self destruct sequence. When Jachin blows up, it will trigger Genesis!"

Cagalli gasped.

"Damn it," Athrun vented as he continued typing.

Cagalli just watched as Athrun's hand was typing faster than her eyes could keep up with.

"Argh!" Athrun grunted out of frustration as he slammed his hand on the keyboard. He looked over at his father, Did Father do this or was it the soldiers as they were escaping? "This isn't going to work. I think it's too far along to be stopped," Athrun informed Cagalli. I'm gonna have to abandon my father... Athrun was torn between doing what he knew needed to be done, and being a loving son.

"Then let's go," Cagalli pleaded as she went to Athrun and pulled on his arm. She saw him fixated on his father as they were leaving the room and new he was probably feeling guilty.

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Athrun, Cagalli and the Astray pilot navigated through the passage ways as quickly as they could and climbed back into their mobile suits, where the other M1 pilots were waiting for them and guarding their machines.

"Damn," Cagalli exclaimed as she was fastening herself back into the Strike Rouge's cockpit. Athrun was being suspiciously quiet and he had a very cold look on his face. They quickly flew out of the building, but Athrun was flying ahead of them as if he had already thought of another plan. "What are you planning to do?" Cagalli asked worried as she caught up to him.

"I'll blow up the Justice and create a nuclear explosion."

"Huh!" Cagalli gasped as he flew away from her toward Genesis.

"Athrun! Cagalli!" Kira shouted as they flew passed him, but he was cut of by Rau.

Cagalli heard Kira, but was focused on keeping up with the irrational and distraught Athrun right now. "Athrun if you do that than you'll be..." The Strike Rouge followed the Justice that now entered Genesis, but the Strike Rouge's boosters were no match for the Justice.

"We don't have any other choice," Athrun interrupted her. He was right, but the thing he wasn't telling her was that he was in pain. First he lost his mother, then some of his friends and now his father as well. Although he was keeping himself composed, because they were in the middle of a battle; he couldn't handle the pain anymore. He knew from the day he joined the military that he would one day lose his life on the battlefield, and this seemed like the perfect time and the perfect way. He finally looked up at Cagalli on the monitor, "Get out of here now!"

"Athrun!" Cagalli screamed. This is exactly why she wanted to be out on the battlefield, she knew he would do something reckless like this. She meant it when she said she wasn't going to let him die, but he wasn't letting her get a word in.

"Don't follow me!" Athrun knew Cagalli was stubborn and was going to put up a fight. So he released his goon attachment to block her path through the narrow passage way, and quickly put the Justice up to full speed. Athrun felt as if their relationship was new enough where she wouldn't be too affected by his death. He also felt like the moment they kissed and him saying, "I'm pretty lucky to have met you," served as a good enough goodbye.

What Athrun didn't realise was, that Cagalli was more focused on the piece that followed, at the moment. "You and I can protect each other," Athrun's words echoed in her head. "Athrun!" Cagalli gave one more scream before he was gone and out of sight.

Athrun had made it out of the narrow passage way and into a large room connected to similar passage ways all around him. He looked around. This is it. This must be the centre of Genesis, he concluded to himself. He pressed a button on his controls that revealed a secret keypad and started punching in a code.

"Athrun!" Athrun heard Cagalli's voice as the Strike Rouge came into view, and exited the same passage he just came from.

Athrun gasped, "Cagalli?" He had already punched in the self distrust code to the Justice. He knew she was stubborn, but he didn't realise she was this stubborn. Not to mention fearless too. His eyes were shaking, This wasn't supposed to happen! She wasn't supposed to be here! Now she's gonna die!

"No, don't! Wait!" Cagalli yelled. She began sobbing, "Stop running! The hardest battle is to keep living." She pleaded with him.

Athrun gasped at her words. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew she was right. He also began realizing how much this girl truly cared for him, and that he hadn't in fact lost everyone he cared about.

"I'm not leaving without you," Cagalli repeated the words she said to her father, but hoped that this time it would end differently.

Cagalli watched with tear filled eyes, as Athrun quickly exited the Justice and made his way to the Strike Rouge. "Do you have space for a passenger?" Athrun asked at her cockpit door. Cagalli felt relief come over her as she opened the door. Athrun was barley in the cockpit when Cagalli closed it and flew off, trying to find a way out of Genesis.

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