================
Chapter 5
================
Athrun was bitter as he drove away from the embassy, mentally cursing the ambassadors of both Earth and ZAFT for their cowardice. The negotiations had not gone well, both sides saying that they could go no further until GHOST had been dealt with. Athrun understood their fears of another war breaking out but wanted to press ahead, unwilling to let fear tamper the still-fragile peace everyone had worked so hard to create. Yet it was to no avail.
He stopped when he saw Lacus standing in front of the gate to a former ZAFT base, abandoned when their forces had pulled out after the war two years earlier. She looked almost etheral in the light of the artificial sun, her pink hair cascading down her back and a gentle look set in her eyes. His anger cooled gradually as he remembered why they both were there, seeing the gentle smile on her beautiful face. After hearing the broadcast from GHOST declaring their independance from Earth, he had planned to set out for the Archangel and help them fight. He no longer had either the Aegis or Justice Gundams, both having been destroyed in separate acts of self-sacrifice, yet Lacus mentioned that there was another way.
"We have to hurry, Athrun." Lacus said to him as he stepped out. "If anyone finds out what's here..."
"I know." Athrun replied. "Lead the way." As they walked past the gates to a nearby hangar, he noticed for the first time that her pink Haro was missing. It was odd since Lacus never travels without it, it being her one-time partner when she wanted to sing. If the Haro wasn't there, things had definitely taken a dangerous turn.
They went through a side door of the hangar onto a catwalk, being careful not to trip or fall in the dimly-lit area. As Athrun's eyes adjusted to the lighting, he gasped to himself when he saw it. It stood there like a crimson-red sentinel, a silent knight of metal waiting for it's master to reclaim it from the darkened prison. The dark green sensors stared into his eyes, drawing his attention from his pink-haired companion.
"You've rebuilt it?" Athrun managed to mutter. "You've rebuilt the Aegis?"
"Not quite." Lacus explained. "After the war, the military wanted to build one last mobile suit, a test model in case the fighting started again. It's the ZGMF-X10-A2, but it's called the Aegis Mark II." She looked at the black-haired Coordinator, seeing the resolve coming over his features. She knew right away what he was thinking of doing. "You're going to fight again, aren't you?"
"That's why you brought me here, isn't it? Lacus, if GHOST continues their attack on the colonies, another war could break out and millions of lives could suffer. It has to stop. You know that."
"Yes but... I already lost Kira to what's going on out there. I can't lose you, too."
Athrun gently held Lacus by her shoulders, feeling the softness of her skin, his heart hurting from the tears behind her beautiful eyes. She was always such an gentle person, not meant for the harshness and tragedy war has brought. They had spent so much time together recently, sharing so much more than either of them ever would have while they were betrothed. Athrun regreted so much what he had to do but knew that there was no other choice.
"You won't lose me. I promise..."
The two drew steadily closer, their eyes speaking volumns of what couldn't be said between them. For a moment, Athrun thought about Cagalli, feeling a sudden sense of guilt over his closeness to Lacus. He reluctantly released his pink-haired compainion and began his ascension to the mobile suit cockpit, feeling her gentle eyes watching him. As he sat in the pilot's seat, her face was the last thing he saw before closing the hatch.
Stay safe, Athrun. Lacus silently thought as she heard the sounds of the Aegis Mk. II's various systems coming to life, it's green eyes lighting the darkness of the hangar. One by one, the engines ignited and forced the mobile suit upward, slamming through the roof of the hangar as it ascended toward the sky.
Please Kira, don't be an enemy again. Athrun thought to himself. If you are, I'll have to kill you myself. He touched some of the controls, converting the Aegis Mk. II into a new transformation mode. Rather than the mobile armor it once was, it now gave the appearance of a sleek fighter jet. The main thrusters kicked in as it shot towards the colony's exit, heading into the expanse of space.
----------------
Murdock mused to himself as he moved down the cooridors of his ship, smiling to himself at how well his plans have gone. After hearing that half of their attack fleet was decimated by the Earth Alliance ship and it's mobile suits, as well as the defect of the Reverse Strike and it's pilot, he knew that everything was on track for his true intentions. Soon, Earth and the colonies would never have to repeat the horrors of centuries past.
Murdock compared himself often to Char Aznable, a powerful military leader during what the Dark History called the Universal Century. During that time, he laid careful plans to rid the colonies of that period from the grip of the Earth's influence. He nearly succeeded until his defeat by his rival, Amuro Ray. From that point, over and over would the past repeat itself up to this point, right down to the creation of Gundam-type mobile suits.
He never fully believed in the concept of reincarnation, yet he felt for years that he was Char's true successor, destined to complete what so many failed to do. Yet the only hinderance was Kira Yamato, now known as Heero Shinigami. He knew Kira carried with him the essence of those who piloted Gundam-types before him, including the legendary Amuro Ray. If the past was destined to repeat itself, then they were meant to fight each other soon. Murdock was careful not to let Kira, then Heero, learn more than he needed to know about the Dark History. Yet fate seemed not to be in his favor today.
"Captain Murdock!" He turned to Akito, who had returned from the battlefield with the other pilots. "They're waiting for you, sir."
"Excellent. I'm on my way now." As the young man floated down the cooridor to the hangar, Murdock smiled to himself. Soon destiny would finally be their favor.
----------------
"How is he?" Cagalli asked as she came into the infirmary. After the mobile suits docked with the Archangel, she went to the infirmary immediately out of concern. Whatever the young Coordinator had gone through, it had taken it's toll on his both mentally and physically. She looked over and saw the state he was in. Kira's eyes were back to normal but filled with so much pain, so much darkness and self-hatred.
"He's in a deep state of shock." One of the medics told her. "I've seen a lot of it in post-war victims over the last few years. You can see him but don't be too long."
"Thank you." As she went to Kira's bedside, her heart went out to the young man she once called brother. Now knowing what she knew about them both and seeing him like this made her all the more confused. What was this new feeling she felt for him? Why does it keep haunting her since they saw each other that night? She needed answers but that could wait. Kira needed someone close to him now more than ever.
"...Cagalli?" Kira said as he turned to her, his voice quiet and full of regret.
"Yeah, it's me."
"I..." Kira blinked back some tears, tears he hadn't let himself shed for a very long time. "I can still remember everything, everything I did while I was Heero Shinigami. Everyone I killed as a pilot, everyone's lives I ended... I can still hear their voices, screaming in terror..." He broke down and began to sob, the pain and anguish of the last two years finally breaking the surface. Kira barely noticed the feeling of Cagalli's arms wrapping around him, smelling the scent of her short blond hair as she comforted him. He was drowning in his sorrows and needed someone right now, someone to be there for him.
"Kira, it's okay." Cagalli soothed as she held him. "You don't have to go through this alone anymore. I'm here with you now." There was something that felt right about the embrace, a sense that they were connecting on a deeper level. It felt familiar, like something that happened many years ago but was forgotten and buried. Kira reluctantly eased out of the embrace and looked into Cagalli's golden eyes, the tears finally stopping.
"There's something I learned while I was Heero Shinigami." Kira told her. "I have to talk to Murrue right away."
"Why? What is it?"
"Because if GHOST isn't stopped, both Earth and the space colonies will be destroyed."
----------------
"Captain, I'm getting an interception signal over all COM channels." Miriallia spoke from her station.
"Let's hear it." Murrue replied, straightening up in her command chair. Around her, the bridge was in a constant state of repair, the evidence of the last battle still obvious. The crew, keeipng a constant vigil for more enemy attacks, was getting tired rapidly. Suddenly, static invaded the COM lines as the main viewscreen snapped to life, bringing with it the image of Victor Murdock.
"I address the Earth Alliance forces and the pretenders from the forces of ZAFT." Murdock spoke in a commanding voice, booming over every COM line on the ship. "You now face the forces of GHOST."
So, he's the one behind all of this. Murrue thought to herself.
"Centuries before the Cosmic Era began, mankind was involved in a bloody conflict known as the One Year War of the Universal Century. They used mobile suits, the very basis of our own technology, to fight these terrible battles. Even the designs of the Gundam-types draw inspiration from this forgotten history. I tell you this to prevent the tragedy of this era from occuring once more."
----------------
"And I thought Raww Le Klueze was demented." Dearka said as he and Yzak headed towards the hangar, about to oversee the repairs to their Duel and Buster mobile suits.
"It's often madmen that become leaders for fanatics." Yzak replied. "Raww was insane. This Murdock sounds no different. Long-winded, yes, but no different."
----------------
"With the close of that era, another war for independence of the colonies was fought, decimating the Earth but allowing a temporary peace to rise from those ashes. This era of After War gave birth to new colonies for the After Colony era, another time when war threatened humanity. They vowed never to fight again and forgot their mobile suit technology, buried it under colorful retorics and paradoxes of peace for both Earth and it's colonies. Yet it happened once again in Correct Century, launching the rebirth of war, mobile suits, and a new Dark History. Now, in the Cosmic Era, we hear the same convoluted words of history from the lying lips of those in power. They hide the history I spoke of, in vain hopes of retaining their control over your lives. Yet GHOST rises with the voices of those lost souls of wars past, echoing the dawn of a new era of true peace, an era without the interference of those from Earth. With this as our rallying cry, we now declare full war upon Earth and it's allies. We shall never ignore the cries of history again. Instead we embrace it with the sounds of our own hearts. Hail Freedom!"
Chapter 5
================
Athrun was bitter as he drove away from the embassy, mentally cursing the ambassadors of both Earth and ZAFT for their cowardice. The negotiations had not gone well, both sides saying that they could go no further until GHOST had been dealt with. Athrun understood their fears of another war breaking out but wanted to press ahead, unwilling to let fear tamper the still-fragile peace everyone had worked so hard to create. Yet it was to no avail.
He stopped when he saw Lacus standing in front of the gate to a former ZAFT base, abandoned when their forces had pulled out after the war two years earlier. She looked almost etheral in the light of the artificial sun, her pink hair cascading down her back and a gentle look set in her eyes. His anger cooled gradually as he remembered why they both were there, seeing the gentle smile on her beautiful face. After hearing the broadcast from GHOST declaring their independance from Earth, he had planned to set out for the Archangel and help them fight. He no longer had either the Aegis or Justice Gundams, both having been destroyed in separate acts of self-sacrifice, yet Lacus mentioned that there was another way.
"We have to hurry, Athrun." Lacus said to him as he stepped out. "If anyone finds out what's here..."
"I know." Athrun replied. "Lead the way." As they walked past the gates to a nearby hangar, he noticed for the first time that her pink Haro was missing. It was odd since Lacus never travels without it, it being her one-time partner when she wanted to sing. If the Haro wasn't there, things had definitely taken a dangerous turn.
They went through a side door of the hangar onto a catwalk, being careful not to trip or fall in the dimly-lit area. As Athrun's eyes adjusted to the lighting, he gasped to himself when he saw it. It stood there like a crimson-red sentinel, a silent knight of metal waiting for it's master to reclaim it from the darkened prison. The dark green sensors stared into his eyes, drawing his attention from his pink-haired companion.
"You've rebuilt it?" Athrun managed to mutter. "You've rebuilt the Aegis?"
"Not quite." Lacus explained. "After the war, the military wanted to build one last mobile suit, a test model in case the fighting started again. It's the ZGMF-X10-A2, but it's called the Aegis Mark II." She looked at the black-haired Coordinator, seeing the resolve coming over his features. She knew right away what he was thinking of doing. "You're going to fight again, aren't you?"
"That's why you brought me here, isn't it? Lacus, if GHOST continues their attack on the colonies, another war could break out and millions of lives could suffer. It has to stop. You know that."
"Yes but... I already lost Kira to what's going on out there. I can't lose you, too."
Athrun gently held Lacus by her shoulders, feeling the softness of her skin, his heart hurting from the tears behind her beautiful eyes. She was always such an gentle person, not meant for the harshness and tragedy war has brought. They had spent so much time together recently, sharing so much more than either of them ever would have while they were betrothed. Athrun regreted so much what he had to do but knew that there was no other choice.
"You won't lose me. I promise..."
The two drew steadily closer, their eyes speaking volumns of what couldn't be said between them. For a moment, Athrun thought about Cagalli, feeling a sudden sense of guilt over his closeness to Lacus. He reluctantly released his pink-haired compainion and began his ascension to the mobile suit cockpit, feeling her gentle eyes watching him. As he sat in the pilot's seat, her face was the last thing he saw before closing the hatch.
Stay safe, Athrun. Lacus silently thought as she heard the sounds of the Aegis Mk. II's various systems coming to life, it's green eyes lighting the darkness of the hangar. One by one, the engines ignited and forced the mobile suit upward, slamming through the roof of the hangar as it ascended toward the sky.
Please Kira, don't be an enemy again. Athrun thought to himself. If you are, I'll have to kill you myself. He touched some of the controls, converting the Aegis Mk. II into a new transformation mode. Rather than the mobile armor it once was, it now gave the appearance of a sleek fighter jet. The main thrusters kicked in as it shot towards the colony's exit, heading into the expanse of space.
----------------
Murdock mused to himself as he moved down the cooridors of his ship, smiling to himself at how well his plans have gone. After hearing that half of their attack fleet was decimated by the Earth Alliance ship and it's mobile suits, as well as the defect of the Reverse Strike and it's pilot, he knew that everything was on track for his true intentions. Soon, Earth and the colonies would never have to repeat the horrors of centuries past.
Murdock compared himself often to Char Aznable, a powerful military leader during what the Dark History called the Universal Century. During that time, he laid careful plans to rid the colonies of that period from the grip of the Earth's influence. He nearly succeeded until his defeat by his rival, Amuro Ray. From that point, over and over would the past repeat itself up to this point, right down to the creation of Gundam-type mobile suits.
He never fully believed in the concept of reincarnation, yet he felt for years that he was Char's true successor, destined to complete what so many failed to do. Yet the only hinderance was Kira Yamato, now known as Heero Shinigami. He knew Kira carried with him the essence of those who piloted Gundam-types before him, including the legendary Amuro Ray. If the past was destined to repeat itself, then they were meant to fight each other soon. Murdock was careful not to let Kira, then Heero, learn more than he needed to know about the Dark History. Yet fate seemed not to be in his favor today.
"Captain Murdock!" He turned to Akito, who had returned from the battlefield with the other pilots. "They're waiting for you, sir."
"Excellent. I'm on my way now." As the young man floated down the cooridor to the hangar, Murdock smiled to himself. Soon destiny would finally be their favor.
----------------
"How is he?" Cagalli asked as she came into the infirmary. After the mobile suits docked with the Archangel, she went to the infirmary immediately out of concern. Whatever the young Coordinator had gone through, it had taken it's toll on his both mentally and physically. She looked over and saw the state he was in. Kira's eyes were back to normal but filled with so much pain, so much darkness and self-hatred.
"He's in a deep state of shock." One of the medics told her. "I've seen a lot of it in post-war victims over the last few years. You can see him but don't be too long."
"Thank you." As she went to Kira's bedside, her heart went out to the young man she once called brother. Now knowing what she knew about them both and seeing him like this made her all the more confused. What was this new feeling she felt for him? Why does it keep haunting her since they saw each other that night? She needed answers but that could wait. Kira needed someone close to him now more than ever.
"...Cagalli?" Kira said as he turned to her, his voice quiet and full of regret.
"Yeah, it's me."
"I..." Kira blinked back some tears, tears he hadn't let himself shed for a very long time. "I can still remember everything, everything I did while I was Heero Shinigami. Everyone I killed as a pilot, everyone's lives I ended... I can still hear their voices, screaming in terror..." He broke down and began to sob, the pain and anguish of the last two years finally breaking the surface. Kira barely noticed the feeling of Cagalli's arms wrapping around him, smelling the scent of her short blond hair as she comforted him. He was drowning in his sorrows and needed someone right now, someone to be there for him.
"Kira, it's okay." Cagalli soothed as she held him. "You don't have to go through this alone anymore. I'm here with you now." There was something that felt right about the embrace, a sense that they were connecting on a deeper level. It felt familiar, like something that happened many years ago but was forgotten and buried. Kira reluctantly eased out of the embrace and looked into Cagalli's golden eyes, the tears finally stopping.
"There's something I learned while I was Heero Shinigami." Kira told her. "I have to talk to Murrue right away."
"Why? What is it?"
"Because if GHOST isn't stopped, both Earth and the space colonies will be destroyed."
----------------
"Captain, I'm getting an interception signal over all COM channels." Miriallia spoke from her station.
"Let's hear it." Murrue replied, straightening up in her command chair. Around her, the bridge was in a constant state of repair, the evidence of the last battle still obvious. The crew, keeipng a constant vigil for more enemy attacks, was getting tired rapidly. Suddenly, static invaded the COM lines as the main viewscreen snapped to life, bringing with it the image of Victor Murdock.
"I address the Earth Alliance forces and the pretenders from the forces of ZAFT." Murdock spoke in a commanding voice, booming over every COM line on the ship. "You now face the forces of GHOST."
So, he's the one behind all of this. Murrue thought to herself.
"Centuries before the Cosmic Era began, mankind was involved in a bloody conflict known as the One Year War of the Universal Century. They used mobile suits, the very basis of our own technology, to fight these terrible battles. Even the designs of the Gundam-types draw inspiration from this forgotten history. I tell you this to prevent the tragedy of this era from occuring once more."
----------------
"And I thought Raww Le Klueze was demented." Dearka said as he and Yzak headed towards the hangar, about to oversee the repairs to their Duel and Buster mobile suits.
"It's often madmen that become leaders for fanatics." Yzak replied. "Raww was insane. This Murdock sounds no different. Long-winded, yes, but no different."
----------------
"With the close of that era, another war for independence of the colonies was fought, decimating the Earth but allowing a temporary peace to rise from those ashes. This era of After War gave birth to new colonies for the After Colony era, another time when war threatened humanity. They vowed never to fight again and forgot their mobile suit technology, buried it under colorful retorics and paradoxes of peace for both Earth and it's colonies. Yet it happened once again in Correct Century, launching the rebirth of war, mobile suits, and a new Dark History. Now, in the Cosmic Era, we hear the same convoluted words of history from the lying lips of those in power. They hide the history I spoke of, in vain hopes of retaining their control over your lives. Yet GHOST rises with the voices of those lost souls of wars past, echoing the dawn of a new era of true peace, an era without the interference of those from Earth. With this as our rallying cry, we now declare full war upon Earth and it's allies. We shall never ignore the cries of history again. Instead we embrace it with the sounds of our own hearts. Hail Freedom!"