Epilogue
Flay stared into the depths of space. Her frantic search had finally come to an end. Before floated the twisted remains of the once proud and might Freedom Gundam. And inside the once-feared suit, was the one person she truly loved. He was none other than the talented, caring, lovable, cute and funny Kira Yamato.
The Freedom looked more round than it did, mostly thanks to the GENESIS being fired. It was missing its head, all of its right arm and both legs. The wings and hip cannons were gone as well, leaving Flay to wonder just how it and its pilot had survived such a dreadful experience.
"Kira, I'm coming, just hold on." She whispered to no one.
She tried the outside panel to open the cockpit, but there was no power left. Cursing lightly, her next move was to try the explosive bolts that would, in an emergency, blow the hatch off. Luck was with her this time; the bolts performed their duties and very quickly granted Flay access into the cockpit.
Kira was floating, his eyes wide open, but unfocused. Her first fear was he was dead, staring into emptiness like that, but slowly his eyes trained themselves on her. A smile started to tug at the corners of his lips as he registered who it was. "Flay …" he murmured.
"I'm here Kira." She assured him.
He moved forward, but he forgot that he was still strapped into the seat. Fumbling around the suddenly awkward release switch, Kira finally got the straps off and floated towards Flay. Their arms outstretched, they hugged each other tightly, as if once afraid of losing each other. As soon her body came into contact with his, Kira passed out.
And for the first time in months, awoke gently, but in a place all-too familiar to him. He was in the infirmary of the Archangel, and beside the bed he was resting in, was Flay, sleeping soundly and peacefully, looking innocently beautiful. He smiled and sighed contently, and then lightly stroked her hair. "We did it." He remembered quietly, and then he fell into a peaceful slumber.
Kira and Flay sat side by side in the mess hall of the Archangel for perhaps the last time ever. It was three days after the war had officially ended, and even now, talks between ZAFT and the Earth Alliance were taking place. The delegates of Orb from the Kusanagi had been asked to attend as well, so Kisaka, Cagalli and a few others boarded a shuttle and met with the other nations. While happy that the government leaders were sitting down to discuss the future, Kira was not very optimistic in regards to the delegates actually deciding anything.
Flay was less pessimistic than her boyfriend. "So what are you going to do with your life now that the fighting is over?" she asked.
He considered her choice of words for a second. She had used 'fighting' instead of 'war'. Shrugging, he replied "I'm not too sure. Manager Simmons has offered me a job at Morgenroete once it's rebuilt, or maybe it's for rebuilding it ... but I'm not entirely sure that I want to be reminded of the tragedies again."
"She offered me a job as well. With your skills, you get work as a programmer or technician anywhere." Flay told him.
"I know ... I'll decide when we get there. What about you? She offered you a job, but I think that's not all you've been offered."
Flay hesitated for a second. "It's ... the Earth Alliance. They want me to take my father's position as a Vice Minister, regardless if the peace talks are successful or not."
Kira took one of Flay's hands in his. "I'll support any decision you make, but politics? Yeesh, that's the one fight I would lose."
Before Flay could move, Dearka strolled in and sat down opposite of the couple. "So here's where you two are." he said.
"Is someone looking for us?" Flay asked.
"No, only I was. Everyone's been going crazy trying to plan what they're going to do and it got me thinking."
"So what are you planning to do?" Kira asked.
"I don't know if I can do anything. I betrayed ZAFT and joined forces with a bunch of fugitives and helped to destroy the GENESIS cannon. As a traitor to my people, I'd probably be executed the moment I stepped onto a PLANT." Dearka told them sadly.
"So come with us. Or go to Orb. No one said any of us have to go back home, even if we had a home to go back to."
"Then what are your plans for the future?" Dearka asked.
"I think I'm going to become a Vice Minister for the Alliance."
"Are you crazy? Politics? I think I'd rather be executed!"
"Men, they're all alike." a new voice said from the doorway.
Dearka stood. "Miriallia."
"Several shuttles and a few representatives are arriving soon to organize everything. The Archangel will be decommissioned and we'll be sent where ever we want to go."
Their hands would be forced sooner that anyone thought. "Wait! Where are you going then?" Dearka asked hurriedly.
"I'm not sure, where ever my travels take me. I'm going to be a photographer and try to cherish life for once instead of watching it die all of the time."
"All crewmembers report to the hangar bay."
Kira stood shakily, supported by Flay, and the four left for the hangar bay ... and the future.
Not even Destiny can know what is in store for the future.
Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed everything I've put up so far. It means a lot to me to see that there are so many supporters of Flay out there, because last time I checked, there were about 4 of us, myself included.
This isn't the end, nor is it the beginning, but it is the end of the beginning. Those words hold true, as the sequel is next. Below is an exciting preview of "Gundam V90"
Dreams of Destiny:
Lacus walked down the hallway without the slightest bit of fear in her steps. Barely two steps behind her was her bodyguard, a new one, nervously glancing around at all of the empty cells. This prison block in particular was reserved for the most dangerous of criminals the security forces caught. And at this particular time, there was only one occupant.
Kira Yamato.
Yzak had pulled many strings to get Kira locked up in here, believing that no one would be able to see him or even attempt a rescue. But the former Duel pilot hadn't counted on Lacus' enormous influence among the Triad. And so, she was given top-level clearance for the day. Finally, her journey came to an end as Cell 956 finally came into view.
Inside the small cell was a lavatory, a bed and no window. On the bed was the cell's occupant, the once-famed and mysterious Kira Yamato. There was no way he couldn't have heard her walking, even her light footsteps echoed through the drab hallway.
He did not move, nor acknowledge her presence. A small hand signal informed her bodyguard to give her a bit of room and privacy, and he reluctantly complied. Once she felt he was sufficiently out of earshot, she spoke. "Kira?"
And still he did not move. She tried again. "Kira Yamato."
Perhaps seeing that she wouldn't be leaving anytime soon, Kira rolled upright and turned his head to face her. "Lacus Clyne, what a surprise." his voice was devoid of emotion, except for boredom, and perhaps a bit of contempt.
"Why did you do it Kira?" she asked.
"Do what? Allow myself to fall into that bastard's plans? Why did I not kill him when I had the chance? Do what, Lacus?" anger crept into his voice.
"Why did you try to kill Yzak?" she clarified.
"Action, reaction. I know now that this wasn't driven because of the First War, but rather because of you. He tried to kill me before I moved to the Orb safe house, and when I found out that he was in Orb, I decided to strike preemptively." his words held no regret.
"Yzak may not be the nicest person around, but he dreams of peace. Peace Kira, just as I dream about peace." she argued.
Kira stood and walked up to the cell bars, leaving only a handful of inches between himself and Lacus. He narrowed his eyes. "What do you see first when you wake up Lacus? What's the first thing that enters your mind?" Kira asked his tone unforgiving.
"The joy of a new day," she answered simply, "the hope that today will be just as good as the day before, if not better."
"You know what I see?" Kira forged on, not giving the songstress a chance to actually answer. "The flames of war, engulfing me and the world again and again. I see my destiny Lacus. War is who I am, who I've become and who I'll forever be. You can't fight fire with fire, not if you want to live, you have to accept it, and destroy it from the inside. That is what I do; it will be a part of me forever."
"That's not true Kira, and you know it. No one as kind as you would be a part of war willingly." Lacus replied, trying to shake him of his pessimisms.
"Everyone I've met thought I was a nice boy, friendly and cheerful. And I was, a long time ago. I got involved in the war and it began to destroy me, piece by piece, my sanity disappeared. Flay helped me to regain some of it, but it wasn't enough. Until I figured out how to survive. I used my kindness; I turned it into a weapon. I dream of violence, murders, torture, everything, and I can't stand it. I fight for that, I use my kindness, and I'll continue to fight until I die." he clenched his cell bars tightly.
"But we're trying to stop the war, all wars, from happening." she said softly.
A bitter laugh echoed the hallway. "You're far too late Lacus; the only way to stop this war is to fight. And I can't fight if I'm stuck behind these bars!" he punched his cage violently before turning around.
Lacus jumped at the sudden outburst from his fists. "Who will you fight?" it was eerily similar to when Kira had to leave the PLANTs during the First War.
"Whoever is perpetrating this war." the lack of emotion in his answer sent chills down her spine.
Inspired by Yuugiri's "Happy Birthday Bunny!" dream of Lacus Clyne. (oddly enough eh? To be inspired by something so happy and cheerful and turn it into something like that)
V90 will be chock-full of action, suspense and romance (or at least I hope so), keep your eyes peeled for it!
Prayer Out!