Chapter 4: Into the Dawn Skies, leaving the Trembling World
Everything stopped for a moment. The red savior, which was a mobile suit, stole everyone's attention. It looked to be brand new, equipped with new weapons, and the same model of beam rifle that Freedom carried. Finally, its pilot spoke.
"This is Athrun Zala of the ZAFT Special Forces. Freedom, I'm talking to Kira Yamato, aren't I?" he demanded.
"Athrun?"
Wasting no more time, Athrun fired twice at the Raider Gundam, forcing Crot to evade. Following Athrun's lead, Kira drew a beam saber and slashed at the Forbidden Gundam.
As they fought, Kira spoke to Athrun. "What are you doing here? Is ZAFT sticking their nose in Orb's fight with the Earth Alliance now?" he asked angrily.
"No. I am here on by my own volition. ZAFT has nothing to do with this fight." Athrun replied.
The Forbidden Gundam charged from high above, but both Kira and Athrun managed to dodge in time. As Shani turned around, Justice's sub-lifter backpack narrowly missed him and before he knew it, Justice was before him and sent him flying with a powerful kick.
As Shani flew backwards, Orga fired once at the energy-deflecting shields that Forbidded was equipped with. The beams curved around and missed Freedom by several meters, but almost hit the Raider.
Crot was outraged. "ORGA! Watch what you're doing!"
"You're pissing me off Crot!" Orga replied, boosting upwards and firing at the nimble Raider Gundam.
"Yeah, well you're pissing me off too!" Crot replied and just as he took aim, it seemed as if his entire body was wracked in pain.
Orga and Shani felt the same way, and they all realized that the powerful Gamma Gleptin had worn off. Their hour was up. Crot transformed and grabbed the Calamity by the shoulders and flew off with Forbidden close behind.
The surviving defenders wondered exactly what had just happened but they weren't about to complain as the Strike Dagger forces retreated as well. The Orb forces pulled back to reestablish their defensive lines.
Athrun and Kira landed their nuclear-powered suits close to each other as Flay and Dearka landed not far off. Many people gathered to see the pilot of the red Justice who had intervened and possibly saved Kira. As Kira and Athrun began to walk towards each other, armed guards raised their weapons.
Kira motioned for them to stand down. "He's not an enemy." He announced.
Athrun was a little shocked and very relieved. Cagalli and Dearka made their way to the front of the crowd and were astonished to see that it was Athrun Zala. Finally, the two reached other and stopped.
"What are you doing here Athrun?"
"My mission is to capture the Freedom and its pilot or destroy it and everyone who came in contact with it."
Kira stayed silent, waiting for Athrun to go on. "I'm choosing not to follow my orders. Like I said before, I'm here on my own will, ZAFT is not interfering."
Hearing these words, Cagalli ran forwards, tears in her eyes and hugged both of them happily. "Cagalli?"
"You're both idiots!" she told them.
Having diffused the situation, the pilots moved their suits into the Morgenroete hangar bay for repairs and rearming. No one knew when the Earth Alliance forces would be returning and they all had to be prepared.
Seeing Murrue, Kira quickly pulled her aside into an out of the way corner. "Who was in the skygrasper?" he asked.
Murrue hesitated with her reply, knowing the answer would crush him almost as much as it had crushed her. "Mu was."
Kira inhaled sharply and backpedaled as she went on. "He landed the Strike and ordered Murdoch and his crew to prep our last Skygrasper and the Launcher equipment. He told us that he could end the threat if he could take out the mothership. I refused to let him leave, and he threatened to blast the doors open and launch anyways."
"So you cleared him and he failed. Now he's either dead, or worse, in their hands." Kira lowered his head.
"You'd better go; the red pilot is waiting for you."
"I think you'd better listen as well, Athrun could have important information." Murrue nodded and they met up with Flay on the way.
Athrun and Kira were sitting on several crates, and Cagalli had just returned with some water. Miriallia stood behind a support, eyeing Athrun nervously as Dearka appeared behind her.
"I believe that there's no other choice. I believe that what Cagalli's father says is true. If Orb were to side with the Earth forces, the Atlantic Federation would take advantage of its power and use it to attack the PLANTs. And the same thing would happen if Orb were to side with ZAFT. The only difference would be in which country Orb would be designated the enemy." Kira said.
"But either way there'd be no real change for the better. I can't let it go on like that. And that's the reason why. I know I killed a comrade of yours, a personal friend. But I never knew or met the guy, and it's not as if I wanted to kill him." He continued.
"And you … killed Tolle." That got a reaction from Miriallia. "But you never knew him either. You didn't want to kill him right?"
"No. But, I tried my hardest to kill you."
"Same here. Look Athrun, it'd be great if we could live in a world where we never had to fight, and if we could live in that world forever." As he spoke, memories of Tolle and Mu came to Kira's mind. "But this war keeps escalating."
'If we want to win this war, we will need its power, and we need it now!' Athrun recalled what his father had said about Justice and the N-Jammer Cancellers.
"If it goes on like this, the PLANTs and the Earth will have no choice but to destroy each other. And that's why I've decided to fight. I just wanted to protect others, but having pulled the trigger, it's too late to pull back. Do we have to fight each other again?" Kira asked earnestly.
As Kira stood up to leave, Athrun stood as well and spoke. "I have one question. The Freedom is equipped with an N-Jammer Canceller. What would happen if that data …"
"If anyone tried to get that data for their own purposes, I'd shoot them." Kira was dead serious.
Mir finally had enough and ran off, brushing past Dearka who called for her to wait. She turned with tear-filled eyes. "What do you want?"
He approached her cautiously, stammering his words. "He's the one who killed that guy … you know … Tolle."
"What's your point? Were you listening to Kira? This is what he meant! Would killing him bring Tolle back to me? Of course it wouldn't, so why don't you just stop talking about it!" she ran off, and Dearka chased after her.
Orb continued in their efforts to prepare and soon enough, the morning light broke through, and with it came reports of Alliance mobile suits headed for Orb again. The battle alert was sounded and the scramble was on to bring forces to bear to withstand the new offensive.
Athrun watched as the Freedom walked out of the Morgenroete hangar. "Tough choice, isn't it?" Dearka asked him.
"Dearka?" Athrun faced his old friend and comrade.
"Your orders are to bring that machine in. We're ZAFT soldiers, and it's not going to go over well if we keep sticking our noses in."
"I don't want any of them to die." Athrun said.
Dearka let out a small laugh. "Amazing, for the first time, we agree on something."
The Alliance landed more and more Strike Daggers on the shores of Onogoro Island, and Kira was too preoccupied dealing with the Forbidden, Calamity and Raider to lend a hand to the straggling defenders.
The three Earth forces Gundams increased their barrage, nearly succeeding in trapping Kira. A beam boomerang came from nowhere, forcing Shani to block as several shots from a beam rifle sent Crot evasive. The sub-lifter backpack from the Justice buzzed by Orga before returning to the main suit.
"Athrun!" Kira called out.
"Both of us completely understood what you meant about fighting for the right thing. There are some things that I want to protect, so I must fight for them. Let's kick ass!"
And the fight was joined. The three new Gundams kept up their intense barrage but it had little effect, both Kira and Athrun had been at this game far longer that they'd like to admit. Athrun used his sub-lifter backpack with great success, although it didn't pose a major threat, the pilots couldn't afford to ignore its presence.
Another alarm sounded in Orga's cockpit as the lifter flew by, and the blond pilot realized that he was almost out of energy. "Stupid mobile suit! You run out of energy now?"
"That's because you're firing all over the place you dumbass!" Crot told him.
Just as the words left the red-head's mouth, Athrun leapt from the water and sliced the Sphere Breaker in two, forcing Crot to transform to make a quick escape.
"You're the dumbass!" Orga retorted as he landed his suit heavily onto the Raider.
"Damn freeloader!" Crot cursed.
Shani kept fighting, apparently oblivious to his own energy concerns. It wasn't until Kira fired his plasma guns that Shani realized he didn't have the power to deflect the beams and managed to dodge enough so the powerful energy blasts wouldn't destroy him. Then he zoomed in to see Orga and Crot making a speedy escape. He joined them after evading one last attack from Freedom.
"Captain, Lord Uzumi wants us to pull back to Kaguya." Sai announced.
"Kaguya?" Murrue echoed.
"That's their mass driver!" Arnold said.
"Fall back to Kaguya." She ordered.
As the Archangel approached the facilities near the mass driver, Uzumi's face came to life on the main screen. "Set down in the dock outside and prepare to install a pair of atmospheric boosters."
The crew followed their orders and Murrue quickly disembarked to seek an explanation from Uzumi. The answer she got was short and possibly even more confusing. "Leave Orb?" she echoed.
Cagalli cut in. "Father, what are you thinking?"
"Our people have been evacuated, and they'll be taken care of elsewhere. From now on, we'll bear the responsibility." As Uzumi spoke, Kira, Athrun and Dearka entered.
"No matter what, we must never give up. The Earth Force's actions are being guided by the leader of the Blue Cosmos, Murata Azrael. To make matters worse, the PLANTs are led by someone who believes that Coordinators are the new species, for Patrick Zala rules them now."
Athrun stared at the floor. "The way things are going, the world will be trapped between two forces that refuse to acknowledge each others existence. Is this the future you want to see? If you wish to see a new world of hope, then take this small light we have lit and set a course for a new future. It is a hard road, but I'm sure you understand why it is necessary, Murrue Ramius." Uzumi finished.
Murrue nodded. "That light may be small, but it burns brightly, and we believe in it as well."
"Then I suggest you get ready."
The main section of the Kusanagi, an Izumo-class ship, was brought up from storage and loaded with data and the remaining M1 Astrays. Final preparations for the booster attachments were being made for the Archangel.
The Earth Alliance detected the buildup at Kaguya and assumed that that's were Orb was making its last stand. Everyone knew that Orb couldn't take a third round of this abuse, it was sure to fall this time.
Murrue and the bridge crew received instructions on how to proceed with the boosters. "Modify your Lohengrin cannons to this modulation, and you'll need to fire them at the precise time you activate the boosters. The modified positron beams will create a feedback interference which will isolate you and provide less resistance and more power for the boosters."
The crew got to work as Dearka, Kira and Athrun chatted outside, near their Gundams. "Y'know, there is no reason why Carpentaria wouldn't take us back. Afterall, we were fighting the Earth Alliance." Dearka suggested, but meant it more as a joke.
Athrun thought about what Lacus told him before he descended to Earth, and then shook his head. "She called me a soldier of ZAFT; it was like she knew all along what would happen. I always thought you were supposed to follow the orders of your nation, and fight with all of your strength. I believed there was no other way to bring a quick end to this war. Now I don't know what I'm fighting for, or against."
"Come with us Athrun, and we can look for those answers, together." Kira offered.
They boarded their suits as Orb's sensor grid picked up the imminent arrival of the three Alliance Gundams. The Archangel was cleared for launch, and because the Buster couldn't sustain atmospheric flight on its own, Dearka joined Flay inside the hangar bay to watch and do nothing. Mir let out a small sigh of relief as the Buster was secured for the launch.
As the three Gundams closed within firing range, the Archangel fired their Lohengrin cannons and activated the boosters, catapulting them into space. Athrun opened fire at the Raider and Calamity, hoping to delay the trio long enough for the Kusanagi to launch.
"Final launch sequence commenced. Kusanagi, you have a go. May the blessings of Haumea be with you." The flight controller's voice said.
Starting the five kilometer boost, the Kusanagi rode the mass driver as Justice and Freedom struggled to gain a hold on the ship. Kira finally secured himself, and after a moment of trouble, managed to secure Athrun as well. The trio closed in, firing everything they had, but to no effect. Having enough of their barrage, Kira and Athrun fired their own weapons, sending up a massive spray of water to further delay the Gundams.
An in an instant, the Kusanagi was free of the mass driver and on its way into space. "The seeds have flown. We've succeeded, and we can't leave Orb, or the world, in the hands of those bastards." Uzumi said, pressing a small red button that set off a series of explosions which destroyed the mass driver, the Morgenroete facilities, and the control room where Uzumi and the other Emirates stood.
"Faaaaattthhheeeeer!"
Sadness hung in the air as the other components of the Kusanagi were installed, the entire process being guarded by everyone: Kira, Athrun, Dearka, Flay and the surviving M1 pilots. Fully assembled, the Kusanagi was a force to be reckoned with, hosting two dual-barreled Gottfried cannons, several batteries of CIWS and two Lohengrin cannons.
Kira and Athrun docked inside the Kusanagi to comfort Cagalli as Flay piloted a shuttle from the Archangel with Murrue and Dearka aboard. They all met on the bridge of Orb's last ship to discuss where they should go.
"As you know, the PLANTs are in the L5 colony cluster. Over in L3 was Heliopolis and Artemis. I suggest we head for the L4 cluster." Kisaka was saying.
"The L4 colony group?" Murrue echoed.
"Neither the Kusanagi or the Archangel will have to resupply for a while, but that doesn't mean the supplies will last indefinitely. Water in particular will become a problem fairly soon. A group of colonies at L4 were damaged and abandoned after the war began. We can use them as water sources."
"That sounds awfully familiar." Murrue felt her stomach sink a little.
"This is different from Junius 7." Kira said, trying to comfort her a little.
"You know I'm pretty sure there are still some functioning colonies at L4. ZAFT investigated the area after receiving reports of a suspicious group holed up there. Of course, this was a while ago. Although no one really lives there anymore, some of the colonies still have functioning facilities." Athrun put in.
"There's another question: are you okay with this?" Flay suddenly asked.
Everyone turned to look at her. "The same question is directed at you Dearka." She continued.
"Flay." Kira said softly.
"I saw you both fight at Orb, and I know your actions speak for themselves, but I can't help but notice the uniforms you're wearing." As a precautionary measure, most pilots kept a change of clothes aboard their mobile suits for emergencies, and Dearka and Athrun were no exceptions. They both donned their usual ZAFT elite uniforms.
"Depending on what happens, I'll bet good money that we'll end up fighting against ZAFT forces, and it won't be like at Orb at all. Are you ready? Really ready?" Flay asked them.
Cagalli looked at Flay with anger on her face. "Why should it matter to you what uniform they wear? You and Kira still wear Alliance uniforms. Even if he is Patrick Zala's son, he's not-"
Murrue cut her off with her gentle tones. "It is a very serious matter for a soldier to desert his army, much more than you seem to think Miss Cagalli. We've all been there, and now both Dearka and Athrun are faced with the same options we were. It will be hard for Athrun because of who his father is. You can't fight in a war without truly believing the cause your side is fighting for, and we've all had that belief turned up on its head."
"I hate to force the issue here, but we all need to know if we can count on you both. Can we?" Flay asked, her tone having calmed down a little.
"Since I joined ZAFT, I believed in the cause we fought for. But meeting you people, and seeing the true colors of both ZAFT and the Earth Alliance, I'm not sure who they are anymore, but I do know that I want to end the war as quickly as possible." Dearka said.
"There are many questions in this world that I've thought about, even before the war began. I still don't have those answers, and I may never find them. One thing is for sure, all of you people share the hope for this world that I do."
"Well, you both sound very determined." Murrue confirmed, nodding at their decisions.
"Nothing like my Kira here." Flay said, holding his hand.
Kira chuckled and squeezed her hand lightly. "Since we were little."
"Orb has entrusted us all with a very large and difficult task. We are only two ships and we are trying to do may very well be impossible." Kisaka put in.
"We have faith, and we'll continue to hold the light high."
"There are people in the PLANTs who feel the same way."
"Lacus?" Kira asked.
"Yeah." Athrun confirmed.
"That singer, Mu called her the Pink Princess." Murrue asked.
"She's Athrun's fiancé." Kira told them.
Cagalli's eyes widened in surprise, and Flay was unsure what to think, after all, she had saved Kira's life right before Alaska. "They're hunting for her right now; she was declared a traitor by my father."
"Commander Le Creuset, you've received orders from the homeland." An aide told him, handing over a sheaf of papers.
"Thank you." Rau nodded, taking the papers and quickly skimming through them. "Well Yzak, it looks like it's our time to return to space. We've been recalled to the Vesaulius, it seems that Chairman Zala is having a rather arduous time controlling Lacus Clyne, but I don't believe that's the main reason we've been called back."
"I'm still having a hard time believing it; I can't imagine Lacus Clyne as a traitor." Yzak said, happy to be going home, but wishing it was under better circumstances.
"Clyne's followers are using her for that exact reason Yzak, her fans believe that she can do no wrong. But you're not so gullible as to believe that, are you?" Yzak narrowed his eyes and Rau continued. "War is really about the conflicting ideals between two people. What is it one should be fighting against? Never loose sight of that."
"Athrun?" Kira called out. His friend looked up at him. "They've finished the preparations, so we should probably head back to the Archangel. It won't make much of a difference, but this ship is full of M1s."
Athrun couldn't reply, because Cagalli entered the room. "Kira? We need to talk."
"I'll see you onboard the Archangel." Athrun said, taking the hint.
"Athrun wait! Stay here, please."
"Something on your mind Cagalli?" Kira asked.
She fished a photo out of her pocket and handed it to Kira. He didn't quite understand until he turned it over to see two names written on the back. "My father gave that to me, just as I was boarding the Kusanagi. He told me that I wouldn't be alone, because I'd be with my brother." Cagalli clutched Athrun's arm for support. "What's it supposed to mean?"
"I don't know." Kira was slow to reply. "I honestly don't have a clue."
'Twins?' Athrun wondered.
"In any case, this doesn't tell us anything really." Kira said, getting past his initial shock.
"Who's the woman holding the babies?" Athrun asked.
"If you and I are brother and sister, then what am I?" she asked. It was clear that Uzumi's death and this sudden revelation had her shaken up.
"Dwelling on it know won't do you any good Cagalli. Whether or not it's true, it doesn't change the fact that Lord Uzumi was still your father."
"Freedom and Justice are cleared for launch."
As they floated out of the Kusanagi's hangar, Athrun opened a channel to Kira. "Shouldn't you be with her at a time like this?" he asked.
"No. If I'm with her, then she won't be able to stop thinking about it." Kira replied.
"Makes sense. Do you think they'd let me borrow a shuttle from the Archangel when we get back? I need to make a little trip, a visit to the PLANTs, so I can sit down with my father to have a serious talk. He's my father, and I have to try."
"I understand. I'll talk to Murrue."
"Thanks."
A/N: Well, it's been a while, and 'Things We Do' was started and finished before this chapter became operational. Ramza, you play a mean April Fool's (anyone who read 'Forever Faithful' knows what I'm talking about), but I'm glad to see you haven't changed.
The crew in space gives me a lot more freedom to work with, and from here on in, you'll see bigger changes to the storyline.
Prayer
P.S. I urge one and all to visit my website, the URL is located in my profile section. Please sign the guestbook and leave a review of this chapter.