Well, I didn't get a lot of reviews for that chapter, no worries though, I guess it's all right, none of you want me to rewrite, so I'll stick with it. I'm a bit unsure of my new characters considering I honest to goodness have no clue what I'm doing... I've never written them before because I hadn't created them until now... so yeah, if you see real messy character developement, you'll at least know why.

Anyway, here we go, pray it doesn't turn out too bad. Review replies will be at the end of the chapter.

Dutiful Loyal Rebels

Adrene walked them quietly to the door, and Cagalli was able to catch a glimpse of Nicholas slipping out the other door, nodding at her quickly before disappearing.

She frowned slightly, feeling Adrene's hand on her elbow, though it was a light touch, it was a commanding one.

"Please, ask any servant on board to take you to myself or my master and it shall be done, whenever you may need us. However, we have a lot to do in preperation for the council meeting involving all the lower levels, excuse me. It was a pleasure to meet you all in person." Adrene said quickly, nodding to them politely, her cascade of dark hair glittering as she moved her head, right before she quietly shut the door.

Mir and Cagalli glanced at each other, frowning slightly. As if on cue they all looked down at the black folders they had been handed and winced.

Each of them had been offered an assignment.

"Keyword is 'offered." Nicholas had said. "Offered. You are not being forced of expected to participate... However, it would greatly help people unable to defend themselves if you did."

Athrun rubbed his face lightly, now feeling torn between three different groups each with their own feelings on the war and what should be done..

"I think, we all have a lot of thinking to do." he murmured.

Kira nodded and froze, looking in the direction of the hall, eyes wide in slight surprise.

Cagalli and Athrun both followed his stare and blinked in surprise, seeing Yzak and Fllay heading down the hallway slowly, talking...calmly.

"What the..." Athrun murmured, blinking. Mir and Dearka looked at each other in surprise then back at the two figures heading in their direction.

"And where in the world were they when the council was in place?" Dearka asked quietly, staring in shock as Yzak actually opened a door for Fllay and waited for her to get inside.

Athrun shook his head slightly. "I don't know... weren't they envited?" he asked catiously, looking back down at the invitation he still held in his hand.

Cagalli gave a loud groan of frustration and rubbed her face.

"I need silence and thinking space, so if you would all excuse me." she murmured, and turned around, leaving without another word.

She left a wake of confused slightly surprised looks behind, blinking at her back.

"What was that all about?" Mir enquired, feeling her confusion increasing. Things were happening so fast, there were a lot of things for her to think of.

Dearka puta hand on her shoulder. "she has one of the toughest choices, already Zaft and the Earth Alliances are after her... and if she decides to paly an agent to keep Orb from creating any new weapons-"

Athrun winced. "She'd have her own people hunting her too..."

Kira frowned. "Wha... but, she's the princess- her father would-"

Athrun interuptted quickly, frowning. "Parents can be trusted as far as you trust anyone else, Kira. And her father has already lied to her once... Hyliopolis is the result of said lie."

The silence that leveled over the group was intense, awkward, strangling them slightly. They all had choices to make, and only a week to make it. Once they got back to the harbour, each one of them would be going in their own directions, and they would all either have a task or not...

A dangerous task no less.

Lacus looked down at her black folder, a bit frightened by what might be in the papers.

"I think I too need some room to think." she whispered, her eyes narrowing slightly at the paper.

Kira started in slight surprise, hearing that slight tone of sadness in her voice he had heard only a few times before. "...Lacus."

"Do not worry, I need only some time." she continued, turning to head down the hall opposite the way that Cagalli had headed.

The group that remained looked at each other, four anxious faces. Mir looked at them and sighed. "Maybe we should all just... go." she murmured. Dearka nodded. "We all need to make our choices, we'll get together at dinner and see what we should do."

Kira and Athrun nodded, started away.

Mir looked up at Dearka then back down at her folder. "I still don't understand why it is that Nicholas wishes for my assistance. I have no connections to the Earth Forces, or the Plants."

Dearka nodded slightly. "Perhaps that is the angle he wishes to use you for."

she started at the thought. If she was unknown, past reputation could not follow up on what her actions might be, unlike Lacus and Athrun, she had no treachery to make the Zaft forces question motives, unlike Kira, she had not faught against her own people, unlike Cagalli she had not lied about neutrality...

She frowned down at her hands.

"I'm perfect for a new face to distract everyone with." she murmured. Dearka nodded slightly, taking her chin in one hand gently. "Think carefully, Mir."

Turning away, he turned into the nearest hallway, leaving her alone. Mir looked down at the folder again, angry that Nicholas would should such a damned color for information. Black of all of them... did he need to use the darkness of death to tell them their missions.

Rubbing the frown from her face, she turned away and started towards her room... there was so much to consider. So much to ask...

Unlike the others, Fllay and Yzak had not been handed an invitation to the council, and had no idea why the group before them was staring with such looks of surprise as they walked down the hallway.

Fllay frowned slightly, and turned towards Yzak, murmuring quietly. "They won't let us pass without an explanation, that much I assure you."

Silently, Yzak nodded and turned, opening the nearest door. "It's here anyway..." he mumbled.

Fllay slipped inside quickly and looked around, frowning.

The room was white washed, walls of a creamy color stained marble stood in each corner, from then fell heavy white curtains, blocking out the walls.

Yzak started in surprise as he closed the door.

"What the-"

"Good afternoon." a voice said.

Together they spun around sharply, looking to find the voice.

A young woman they had never seen before slipped into the room behind them, though they hadn't seen her following. It was Adrene.

Fllay stared at her, frowning slightly. "Who are-"

"My name is Adrene." the woman continued, cutting her off. Her voice was sharper than when she spoke to the others, and her tone less fragile, more forceful. Her hands were carefully folded in front of her. "Please sit down." she added cooly.

Yzak and Fllay looked at each other... both feeling odd for doing so. It had only been three minutes after they had decided on a rather grudged truce, and they were still unsure of why they had decided upon it in the first place.

Yzak's excuse had simply been that it was best for them all while at a council. Fllay however had her doubts.

Together they settled on the table, smoothing their hands over the cool smooth surface.

"My master will be with you shortly, while he is away I am to inform you of some rather important things." she continued, walking around the table to face them opposite of the door.

Fllay's eyes flickered to the door for a half a second, noting that despite it being in reach, she felt as though she were trapped.

"You are about to meet a leader of a secret organization." Adrene continued. "One that has been at work for the last two years. He wishes to ask for yous assistance, however..." she murmured. "...because he is in danger in most places, you are not allowed to speak of him anywhere any time to anyone, and must endure being wired in order for us to trust you."

Yzak scowled. "What- you must be mad. What kind of wired are you-" he started.

Adrene stood, and he was slightly surprised to find that she was rather imposing despite her frail figure and wide innocent eyes.

"You may endure it by will, or by force. You know too much already." she stated. Fllay scowled as well.

"We never even wanted to-" she started. Adrene shot her a glare and shut her up in seconds.

"Will you be silent, for once. This is a problem that I can adress with only one person at a time. His reasons are different from yours." she stated.

Fllay gaped like a goldfish for a long time, gasping for breath at being insulted.

"As for you." Adrene continued, turning to look at Yzak. "Our technology is beyond that of your nation." she said. "You need not fear being caught. For the most part you wont even remember that you're being recorded."

He frowned. "For how long must I have this piece of wiring?"

Adrene shrugged. "As long as my lord commands"

Fllay sat there for a moment more, wondering why she hadn't bothered to simply run out of the room already. The door was right there.

The thought was enough to make her stand. "I'm leaving." she stated, turning to go.

Adrene watched her for a moment, then stated. "You leave, you bring a whole world of trouble towards you. Whether you like it or not we must make sure you tell no one. It matters not how we do so."

Fllay froze.

"What?" she whispered, turning around. Yzak looked back and forth between the girls, feeling a bit out of place.

"By coming to the council you agreed to this. Would you find it so difficult to keep silent on meeting the host of this ship?"

Yzak mulled over that piece of information for a moment, wondering if he really would have trouble. Sighing he sat down, and frowned down at his hands. "Fine." he stated.

Fllay blinked at him in surprise, feeling left out, all alone to face the glare of that black haired goth.

Fuming she sat down again, arms crossed. "Fine." she snapped as well.

Adrene nodded her irritated acknowledgment and turned around. "He is here."

A door they too hadn't seen opened to the right and they both started in surprise as the vampire look alike walked quietly into their midsts.

"Good day." he started and smiled, though it looked bitter. "To buisness..."