Chapter 11: Survivors

"I want to know why all of the others died and why we didn't." Shiro said as he and Amura sat in the sick ward tearing up the keyboards at two separate computers. Shiro was pouring over the results of blood tests and various other scans and tests while Amura was looking through the staff records looking for a possible common thread.

"Well with the exception of a few people everyone on the colony were Naturalized Coordinators over the age of 25. Do you think that Blue Cosmos developed something that breaks down the weaker connections of genetically manipulated strands?" Amura wondered looking at Shiro.

"No because then why are we and Diaska still alive? Get a hold of Akiko and see if she knows anything." Amura walked over to the intercom station and called for Akiko in the main control room.

"Akiko do you know anything about the genetic experiments that the RPC conducted? Besides the whole NC thing, do you if there were different kinds of NCs or something maybe?" He called as he watched type and a keyboard then walk over to another.

"They used the same strand configuration for ten years then established a new one but the many of the configurations were lost a few years ago in a revolt of sorts. Tell Officer Shiro that ship left at 2 am and established a connection with the other colony. When it failed to give the proper password it was shot down. I believe that may have been our culprit trying to attack the other colony however I'm unable to connect the colony right now due to solar flare interference. I'll forward the records to Officer Shiro for his review then begin scanning the surveillance system for survivors." She said not looking at the camera stationed behind her.

"Akiko. Are you all right? You don't seem yourself..." Amura said worried.

"I haven't been my old self for a long time now Amura. I'll get back to you if anything comes up." The screen flicked off and Amura sighed before going back to report to Shiro.

"I think I figured it out. Blue Cosmos must have gotten a hold of some of the older gene configurations used by the RPC then tailored a chemical compound that would break down the most common chemical connections. That must have taken a pretty substantial amount of time to do so because we're younger and have a different configuration we weren't affected enough to become ill." He explained as he sat back down at the computer.

"We'll have to test the theory to check it's viability but that sounds like a likely explanation to me. What did Akiko find out?" He asked getting up and stretching.

"She's going to send you the data in a minute for you to look at. You can do it while I set up the machine to run the gene check." Amura said punching a few keys and watching a machine on the other side of the stark white room light up. He walked over to a counter with the blood samples and took the top off of one before tipping it upside down into the respective spot on the machine. He punched a few buttons on the side of the machine and it started to hum quietly. "She has to wait to report to the sister colony until the interference dies down some."

"All right I see. Well it looks like we're set here for a while then." Shiro said nodding as he scanned over the data she had sent.

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"So what's your name?" Mori wondered looking at Diaska curiously. She had calmed down some as she sat there on her bed and now she was watching Diaska as he stood there by the door looking out a window passed her. He had a grave almost angry face as he glanced at her then back out the window. His hand was hanging loosely over his gun ready to fire. "Well apparently you think you know who I am." She went on quietly as she laid back on the bed and let her feet dangle over the side.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He wondered as she wrapped the light blue blanket around her to add to the protection of the white shirt and navy colored shorts she had slept in. "You're an Allster. That's all I need to know."

"I'm not like the rest of my family. I don't hate anybody. Least of all those who have no control over who or what they are. You poor people I feel bad for you. Everyone is either scared of you or thinks you're like your ancestors who fought in the war with us Naturals. They don't care that we Naturals really started that war. It was such a stupid, stupid thing and I'll never understand it. If another one breaks out I'll never understand it either." She said as she stared at the ceiling. Diaska looked at her a little shocked then eased and walked over and sat down on Akiko's bed.

"I'm sorry Miss Motono. I really did misjudge you and for that I'm sorry. I did to you what others have done to me." He whispered regretfully; Mori sat up and smiled at him warmly.

"It's ok. That's why I changed my name - so I could hide. Something is as it is but it's a name that people associate with. I just choose to not live up to mine so I decided I needed a new one." She replied pulling the blanket closer. "Would you mind stepping outside long enough for me to get dressed?"

"Oh... Sure..." He blushed and walked slowly out of the room. He leaned against the wall as the floor slid shut beside him. "She's either being genuine or she's on hell of a good actress." He said to himself as he stood there staring at the wall across from him. A few moments later the door slid open and he jumped at looked in.

"You can come back in now." He cocked an eyebrow and stepped back in. "I thought it would be in my best interest to get dressed quickly so you wouldn't think I was planning a way to get rid of you." She giggled as she ran a brush through her hair. "Although I don't think I could do much damage to you with you being a guy and all. Let alone a Coordinator!" She went on as she sat back down on her bed. She shivered against the long sleeve shirt and jeans she had on.

"Are you still cold?" He wondered looking at her concerned. She nodded slowly and blushed slightly.

"I can't figure out how to raise the temperature. I was going to ask Akiko but she left before I had a chance." She made a circle with her socked foot and stared at the floor embarrassed. Diaska chuckled quietly trying not to make it worse then walked over to the thermostat; a second later warm air poured out of the grate in the center of the ceiling. "Oh you're wonderful!" She exclaimed hopping up and standing in the warm air; he chuckled again and smiled. He walked back over and was about to sit down when she hugged him. "Thank you!" She exclaimed happily as he blushed. She then remembered he was supposed to be guarding her and let sorry and turned away quickly. "SORRY!" She was blushing vehemently now.

"It's... Ok..." He replied plopping heavily on the bed. "No problem." She sat down on her bed facing the window and tried not to look at him.

"There's nothing wrong with Coordinators at all." She thought to herslf. "They're really nice and just trying live like us. So why does my Dad hate them so much? Why would he be in Blue Cosmos?" She gasped. "Could he have been behind this attack?!"

"Is something wrong?" Diaska asked concerned as he leaned forward a bit.

"I just realized I haven't had breakfast!" She gasped trying to cover the concern in her mind. He laughed and was about to say something when the intercom beeped.

"Diaska we've confirmed who the attacker is and are in the process of figured out what they did exactly. You can let her go but keep her with you. There maybe another attacker yet on board but we have confirmed she is not one of them." Shiro's voice said clearly and with a hint of relief.

"Got it." He flipped the intercom off and smiled at Mori. "So how about that breakfast?" She smiled and nodded.

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"Battleship Michael. Come in." Akiko said into the intercom trying to reach the ship stationed at the outer bay. "Does anyone read me?"

"This is the Battleship Michael. We've suffered some kind of biological attack and over half the crew is wiped out. I repeat we have suffered a biological attack with heavy causalities." A voice replied frantically.

"Calm down we have identified the source of the attack and it has been eliminated. Please bring all survivors into the colony for a briefing and to plan of action. The colony has suffered a similar attack and order must be established."

"Roger survivors will assemble for a head count then delegates will be sent to discuss matters." The voice replied into the headset.

"Affirmative. Signal the colony when the delegates are ready. Starfire colony over and out." She flipped the intercom off and switched the headset to portable so she could round up survivors. "All survivors not currently employed in vital recovery activities please report to the conference and briefing areas by 0900 to discuss further action regarding the attack on the colony. Any officers of high rank who may be left please meet at the outer bay gates to meet with the Battleship Michael delegates." She flipped the switch and left the main control room before she left she kneeled down and said a prayer for the three people who had been working the night shift in the control room when the attack occurred. She left the room and made her way to the prison block to see if the ZAFT attackers had survived. A voice in the back of her mind kept hoping that they had.

"How many survivors do you think there are?" Mori wondered as she looked at Diaska. She had a half empty owl of cereal in front of her.

Not many. Probably more from the Michael from here but I don't think there will be many. Hurry up and eat so we can go meet up with everyone who's left." He replied sadly. She nodded and ate a little faster.

"Well it seems your theory proved correct." Shiro said reading the print out Amura handed him. "And just in time. Akiko is very level headed and get things done in situations like this. She'd make a good leader. Let's go so we can give this report to whoever's left."

The door to Nisokoff's cell slid open and light poured in from the hall. In the doorway was Akiko pointing the barrel of a gun she had gotten off of a dead soldier at the end of the hall. "Do you even know how to shoot that thing?"

"Do you really want to find out?" He sighed and got up. She walked over and opened up the other cell and Zargus walked out.

"What the hell is going on here?!" He wondered when they got to the end of the hall and saw all the dead soldiers on the ground. "Why do you need that?"

"I didn't do it. We were attacked by Blue Cosmos last night." She said sharply as she shoved him over to lean him against a wall. She expertly cuffed him and Nisokoff with one hand then cuffed them together.

"So what are we doing?" He wondered looking back at her.

"Rounding up survivors." Was all she said as she pushed them out of the prison area and down the hall.