By: Shadow Chaser
Previously on Gundam SEED: Entropy Rising…
This is what you look like, a part of him seemed to say, you are haunted, tired, and alone. All alone.
"I should just tell him that I was sorry I couldn't take care of his best friend, my own brother, because he was too consumed into the fact that the world revolved around him," Cagalli pierced him with a tear filled glare, "because you know what Kira Yamato? You are alone."
"Stand strong," she reached out and clasped one of his hands with her own, giving it a reassuring squeeze, "if the media hounds, then let them. You do not have to answer to them. If assassins come, let them. You are well protected, Senator. Orb's Princess Cagalli does not believe you are culprit to the bombings and the Liberation Forces are investigating similar bombings all over the PLANT cities and possible ones on Earth."
"All…right… I will go with you," Amalfi finally agreed after a few minutes of silent contemplation.
"Did you activate our new little puppet during your stay on earth?" he asked.
"Yes sir. She is ready and operational. I also contacted Hyperion and he says he is ready to rendezvous with us if we so decide to attack Panama," Griever said in matter-of-fact voice and Sven glared at him.
"If you do not want to pain to consume you again, kill Kira Yamato when you get the chance. Or else he will kill you," he said, before he turned around and clapped his hands together.
"Now, prepare a task force and send it to Earth. I want Panama to burn."
Phase Ten – Crossing Paths, the Babylon
Cagalli stared at the readout she had received from Erica Simmons. "So is it ready for launch?" she asked Kisaka who was sitting across from her in a conference room table down in the technological research department's main building.
"Yes, but I seriously ask you to reconsider what you think you're doing," Kisaka replied, frowning. "Even though the Council has approved of you leaving, don't you think the media will pick up on the fact that you have gone missing?"
"Orb provides the funds to build the LF's mobile suits and some of its ships and you're telling me that I shouldn't go out as its leader to oversee the investigation?" Cagalli asked, skeptical of Kisaka's words.
"No, Princess, that's not what I'm saying; I'm saying that there is the high possibility of a battle to occur if Miss Lacus' sources are correct, and if you do go to Panama, you might stand the chance of-"
"Being killed? Is that what you're worried about?"
She watched as Kisaka clamped his mouth shut and knew that she had scored on her protector's deepest fears. Though the recent revelation about Kisaka being one of the original assistants to Dr. Hibiki shed new light on her perspective of her guardian, she still believed that he was too overprotective at times.
"I am a competent pilot of Strike Rouge. If a battle were to occur, I can handle myself out there," she folded her arms across her chest, "and even so, since the Archangel received clearance to rendezvous with the Eternal at Panama, there still won't be enough ships to patrol the Earth Military's three main bases. The Babylon can handle that."
"The Babylon still needs a captain," Kisaka said and Cagalli was about to reply that she was in the process of finding one when she caught a gleam in his eyes.
She sighed, "Why not…will that appease your fears?"
"No," Kisaka replied truthfully, "but it will ease them a little. Princess, your father never wanted you to live the life of war and endless battles."
"But to defend Orb, one has to live battles for now. There will be time to study later, when war's over," she said in a quiet voice, "tell the crew of the Babylon that we're departing in a day. We'll load up the rest of the Astray Mark II models and head to Panama." She turned to head out the main room of her the governmental building of Orb, when Kisaka's next question stopped her.
"Cagalli, what about your brother?"
Cagalli hesitated, feeling a pang of regret before she shrugged it off, trying not to be bothered by it. "Don't tell him. He shouldn't be fighting any battles anymore…just like Athrun told me. Let him have the peace he deserves…"
Athrun absently scratched a flake of paint from the outside railing of the Archangel, one of the few decks the ship had, and stared out into the endless blue ocean, the Pacific Ocean. Though they were only half a day away from Panama, the Pacific the quickest route as traveling over sea was faster than traveling over land, Captain Ramius had kept them on a level 3 battle alert status since they left Orb waters.
Only right now had she called off the alert and Athrun had decided to spend some time outside. He brushed a few strands of his wayward dark blue hair away from his face; the sea spray whipping them up at the speed the Archangel was traveling at. Wandering around the hanger bay had done him no good, as he was finished with completely upgrading the Justice and didn't want to get in Murdoch's way of him tweaking the Astrays and the Buster Gundam.
He didn't feel like socializing with the Astray pilots that had joined up, and spending time in his quarters wasn't appealing…so he had come out here. He wondered briefly if Cagalli and Kira received his letters to them…and what their reactions were. Glancing down he reached inside of his orange jacket, the standard uniform representing the LF/Orb, and briefly touched the pendant-stone necklace that Cagalli had given to him two and half years ago.
She was the most important person to him, aside from Kira and Lacus, and he was determined not to let anything happen to her. He was her personal bodyguard, her guardian, her-
"Kind of expected you to be out here, Athrun," Dearka's voice startled him out of his thoughts and he turned slightly to see his friend walking over to him, hands stuck in the pockets of the orange jacket of the LF. So Dearka had put away the ZAFT uniform and donned the colors of the LF.
"Dearka," he greeted as the blond haired man stood next to him, leaning against the railing, a curious expression his face.
"So what made you join the LF? Last I heard was that you were happy in Orb, away from ZAFT and the politics in the aftermath of the Genesis and the war," Athrun noticed that his former teammate avoided mentioning his father's death.
It was true that he had been devastated to find that his father died in his own hands, saying to him to continue his work after the mass genocide he committed by activating Genesis, but he had gotten over that hurdle with help from his closest friends at his side.
"I thought about it," he replied and Dearka raised and eyebrow, telling him to elaborate, "and I decided that it's a better way to protect my friends…"
"Ah," Dearka smirked, an expression that Athrun realized he had missed seeing for a while, "so you mean that you would like to get those sons of bitches who blew up the Senate Hall."
Athrun frowned, "It's not like that. I just…" He trailed off as he thought about it. Why did he suddenly decide to join? Was he that angry at the people who had caused so much harm and pain to Cagalli, Kira, and their lives? Did he want vengeance that badly? He realized that the answer was yes…he was furious, he was angry, he was… He had said to Cagalli before they parted that he wanted to get back at the bastards who did this to her…and it was true…he wanted to make them pay.
"You were the same almost three years ago…you know…after Nicol's death," Dearka started quietly, "and then when I fought Yzak in Colony Mendel, Kira told me that I shouldn't repeat the mistakes you and he did in your fight."
Athrun stared at his friend, wondering what he was getting at. He had never known Dearka to be insightful, but then again, he never really got the chance to get to know his former teammate, even though they fought together in the Clyne Faction.
"Athrun, don't turn this into a quest for vengeance. It's not like you," Dearka said before turning around and headed back into the ship, leaving Athrun alone on the deck, still staring out at the endless blue sea.
Kira knocked on the door and opened it when a voice said, "Come in." He peeked in and smiled slightly as he saw his friend Haruka sitting up in the bed, a far cry from how deathly pale she looked just a days ago in the bombings. There was an unusual odor in the room, but he ignored it. "Hey Ru, you feeling better?" he asked as he took a chair and pulled it up next to her bed before sitting down in it.
He had gotten his stitches out a few hours ago and had decided to visit his friends while he was in the hospital.
"Yes, much better. Taylor stopped by a few hours ago, he's already home and recovering," Haruka smiled at him, clapping her hands together, "he even brought me some flowers." She gestured to the huge bouquet that was sitting on a side table and Kira blinked at its sheer size.
So that was what the odor was…all those flowers, mixture of different smells the they gave off was enough to make him slightly lightheaded. He wondered how his friend could stand it, but she seemed to be acclimated to it. It was going to take him a while to get used to the smell…
"I brought you something," he reached into his windbreaker's pockets and pulled out a small package that he had hastily wrapped. Yes, this was the peaceful life he should have…he should be visiting his friends in the hospital, getting them get well gifts and then when they were all better, return to finish their studies at the university.
"Ohhh," Haruka squealed and opened the gift before taking out the silver charm bracelet. "You and Taylor always think alike!" She reached over to her side table and pulled out a similar charm bracelet, except it was gold and put both on. "See?" she showed off her wrist and Kira nodded absently. He was a bit distracted by the smell and his head felt a bit light from it.
"Guess what?" Haruka poked him startling him out of his thoughts, "I'm gonna be able to go home tomorrow!"
Kira blinked, "You are? That's great." He was quite surprised, especially since he had found her barely alive in the rubble and with internal bleeding. Internal bleeding took a long time to heal…but Haruka was up and about this fast… Did she have Coordinator genes like he did but was too afraid to tell him and Taylor?
"Hey," she mocked glared at him, "you don't sound too excited… You want me to stay in the hospital?!"
"Oh, no, no…just wondering…never mind…" Kira shook his head, trying to change the subject.
"No…go on. You look like you wanted to ask me a question," Haruka pressed, "come on…tell me?"
Kira violently shook his head, "No. I'm fine…"
He watched as she sat back, a thoughtful look crossing her face before she clasped her hands in front of her. "Do you think I'm a Coordinator?" she asked quietly and he started to shake his head no, but then decided to be honest and nodded.
Haruka quirked up a small smile before she began to pick at her blankets. "Ha…you know… That's what my parents actually wanted me to be, but I guess you can say that I'm a failed genetic defect. The process went all wrong because of my mother's habits… I do possess a few of the genes that people associate with Coordinators like fast healing and that sort, but overall…I guess I'm a cross between a Natural and a Coordinator."
Kira didn't know what to say…instead he grasped one of her hands and squeezed it gently in comfort, knowing that it was probably hard for his friend to spill one of her deepest secrets. He had his own secrets, but he dare not reveal it to anyone, including his friends Taylor and Haruka. If they were to find out…if the world was to find out…
"Thanks Kira," Haruka replied softly, "you and Taylor have always been there for me…" She leaned back against her pillows and moments later, was fast asleep. He felt her hand slack in his grip and retracted his hand, staring at her for a few minutes, watching her peaceful features.
Shouldn't the life he have be like hers? Peaceful…able to be at so much rest and not to have so many worries like he did? He didn't know…
Keiji Yamato approached the door with his wife by his side and knocked gently. There was a muffled affirmation for them to go in and he opened the door, stepping into Ledonil Kisaka's office. Even though Kisaka was the head of the police department, he had a few different offices, and Keiji had called in to find out which one his friend was in. This one so happened to be in the technological research department, to which they had received visitor passes in the front security gate.
He prided himself for his own control, but recently things had been spiraling out of control and he didn't like that one bit. He was a military man, long retired from the field since he decided to marry, but a military man nonetheless. He had enjoyed his life of peace but now, he wanted to do more – to end the ghosts that were haunting his family once and for all.
He was reluctant in returning to this kind of life…but had decided that once this was over, he would immediately retire back to his normal life. No more dealing with science, military, or politics of sorts. He would just become a normal high school teacher, teaching children the values of right and wrong and of peace.
"Keiji, Kanoko, what can I do for you?" Ledonil had always addressed them by their first names as they were really close to the conspiracy concerning the children of Katherine Hibiki.
"We know that you're planning to head to Panama to join the Archangel," Keiji said in a firm voice. It was a total bluff, but he had always been lucky with his bluffs…and this time was no exception. He saw Ledonil freeze slightly in his movements before trying to be nonchalant again.
"That's ridiculous. Why would-"
Keiji decided to try his other gamble, "We also know that after Panama, you'll be heading to Mendel to destroy the rest of Hibiki's work."
That was the clincher and he saw Ledonil's jaw drop to the floor and knew that he had guessed correctly. "H-How…I was going to leave the Princess in the care of Captain Ramius…and with a small crew take the Babylon to Mendel to destroy the Colony once and for all…"
"You're going to need some help. Remember, I used to be black ops in OMNI," Keiji thumped himself in the chest before gesturing to Kanoko, "Plus, Kanoko's got the knowledge of where everything was stored. You were only a guard, but she knows the inside of the labs and knows where the backups are so you can destroy those too."
"You're civilians you can't-"
"No one has to know. We can just stay confined to certain areas," Keiji pressed, "Ledonil, you know it as well as I do. Mendel has too much information stored in it. If Kira found out during the war what he was, what do you think some fool floating around that area would do with that information."
"I won't allow it," Ledonil started but Keiji slammed his hand on the table hard, startling himself, his wife and even his friend.
"Dammit," he shook his head, "I just want peace that's all. If someone was able to create another successful test of what Kira is, how the hell do you think they won't stop at that rate? If someone has that knowledge we have to stop them. The first step is to eliminate anymore information at Mendel and you need our help!"
He looked up and saw that Ledonil had hung his head, sighing before he lifted it back up and nodded. "All right…just…if Cagalli sees you, I'm not going to be responsible."
"Thank you, Ledonil."
"Don't thank me yet, Keiji, Kanoko. Things aren't going to get any easier right now."
Captain Lya Matato hated Naturals. Worst of all, she hated her fellow Coordinators who she thought were so spineless as to actually form a peace-treaty with the Naturals. How disgusting and despicable! It was all the stupid Clyne Faction's fault. She knew that if she ever got her hands onto the siren Lacus Clyne she would kill her without any hesitation.
"Captain, message from the Retribution," one of her officers suddenly spoke up and she raised an icy eyebrow at him.
"Patch it through," she said in a cold voice.
"Retribution calling Brimstone, Captain Matato do you copy?" the captain of the Retribution suddenly filled her communications screen in front of her.
"What is it?" she asked, a bit annoyed.
"We've intercepted transmissions from a traitor on our ship who had been trying to contact both PLANT and OMNI. We've tracked down the source of the transmissions and placed the person in the brig but it's a sure thing that OMNI knows we're attacking Panama."
"Let them gather their defenses, Captain," a new voice interrupted her and she turned slightly to see a handsome young man with a wicked looking scar down the left side of his face, walking towards them.
"Griever," she greeted the young man.
"Captain Matato," he nodded back a greeting before facing the captain of the Retribution who was still on the comm, "Captain Ishikawa, make sure you have your men watch your prisoner carefully. It wouldn't be too good if he escapes or is killed right now. We can still bargain with the prisoner's mother who's a prominent member of the Supreme Council in PLANT. Otherwise, the attack is still on schedule."
"Yes sir," Captain Ishikawa saluted once before terminating the link.
"We begin the attack in 30 minutes," Griever said in a curt voice and Lya nodded.
"Roger that. All hands to battle stations," she sounded the general alarm before bringing up her tactical data onto her screens. With their fleet, anything should fall in their way. After all, those that betrayed them deserved to die along with the infidels.
They weren't even in Panama's port for at least two hours when the general battle alarm sounded aboard the Archangel and similarly in the Eternal, both of which were resting next to each other to make the transition of newer mobile suits a little easier.
Athrun ran to the Justice, and climbed up and powering up his suit. Bringing up the three main view screens, he saw that Dearka was climbing into the Buster and a few of the other pilots of the Astrays were getting their mobile suits ready.
"Justice, are you ready?" Miri's face popped up in a small display on the top left hand corner of his main screen.
"Ready for launch," he moved his mobile suit forward to the Archangel's launch pad. A three light countdown signaled him and when the tone of an all clear sounded, he pushed his thrusters forward to the maximum, hurling him out of the Archangel's bays and into the blue skies over OMNI's Panama base. He was joined in the air moments later by a bunch of Astrays and Buster along with a hundred Strike Daggers of OMNI's mobile suit force. Behind him, he saw the Archangel and Eternal pull out of their ports, guns ready to fire at the enemy.
In the far distance, his targeting system pinpointed multiple enemies and little blips that told him missiles and mobile suits were on approach. The battle to protect Panama had begun.
Notes:
MS battles – My battles are stylized so that the person becomes the suit. Its going to be like what I do in my G-Wing stories and similar to author, Michael A. Stackpole's writings.
Prequel? – Yes, there will hopefully be a prequel to this story, major characters are most definitely Uzumi Attha, Kira's parents, Dr. Hibiki, and Katherine Hibiki.