I don't own anything except Kevin Walker and Invictus
Kevin Walker was, as usual, keeping to himself when news of the pending rendezvous with the advance force from the Eighth Fleet was announced over the intercom. As far as he was concerned, the sooner they reached Earth, the sooner he could disembark and begin his hunt for CARDINAL... and the mystery girl from Heliopolis. Other than that, he really couldn't care less.
Kevin was even less impressed when he heard who was on the Montgomery. He certainly sympathized with Flay, since Atlantic Federation Vice Foreign Minister George Allster was her father; but he had little use for government officials in general, and Atlantic Federation government officials in particular. And as for Captain Koopman, Kevin had heard of him, and he wasn't terribly impressed with the man's reputation.
Andy would eat him for breakfast, he thought, gazing out a viewport in an unused compartment. But then there are very few people who can outwit the Tiger. Shrewd, and perceptive, too.
Thinking of his mentor, and the experiments he had endured, Kevin extended the claws that lay hidden within his hands. "In the natural world, there is no such thing as boundless slaughter..." he whispered, remembering his mentor's words, years ago.
"There is always an end to it," the Tiger had said. "But you... you are different. The road you walk on has no end." The coffee-drinking warrior had had an odd smile on his face. "Each step you take is paved with the corpses of your enemies."
"Andy," Kevin mused aloud, "you should have been a prophet. How could you have known?"
Back when he knew the Tiger, Blade had only just begun his wandering days, his wilderness years; yet his mentor had already figured out that Kevin Walker (whom he knew as Racher, the Revenger) would shortly leave a trail of dead bodies and missing persons (many of whom soon turned up as dead bodies themselves) across five continents and a couple of dozen space colonies, wracking up a death toll of over three hundred.
And now he was headed back to Earth, back to the Libyan desert, to the very city where he had met his mentor... and where now resided the double agent whom he intended to, in assassin parlance, "TWEP": Terminate With Extreme Prejudice.
After all, those who wronged the Blade perished, slain by the perfectly tempered weapon Kevin Walker had become. The man who had shed his own name, taken another, and forsaken his homeland for good. The man whose body had been irrevocably changed by the devices which had been fused to his atomic structure... the man who had sworn to destroy both Blue Cosmos and ZAFT, for one had murdered his parents, and the other had taken advantage of the opportunity to do unto him whatever they wished.
How ironic. They tried to create their ultimate weapon, but instead created their ultimate enemy. No doubt they would kill me, if they knew I still existed. But I am not yet ready for death. Medusa, Scylla, Talos... their deaths will not have been in vain. The destruction of the Destroyers will have meaning, and when all is said and done...
"When all is said and done," Kevin murmured, "then perhaps the Hydra will join those he murdered in death. With my purpose accomplished, my mission done, maybe Rachel and I will see each other again in death... as I atone for what I did to them, for my betrayal."
Yet somehow, he sensed there was someone yet out there, someone as close to him as even Rachel had once been, someone who would mourn his death as bitterly as he mourned those he had slaughtered, that horrible day. But Kevin Walker could not remember who...
Later, Kevin wandered into the hanger to perform some routine software checks on his GINN; apparently repairs were nearly complete, and Murdoch needed him to check things out.
Murdoch was just leaving when the youth drifted past the Strike. "Hey, Kira," he greeted, looking in. "Rewriting the OS again?"
Kira shrugged. "Just changing the settings to match the offset values. I guess it doesn't really matter, since we're joining up with the Fleet, but..."
"But technically, it's still your job." Kevin nodded. "Lucky you; once we do make the rendezvous, you won't have to worry about that anymore. I, on the other hand, retain personal possession of my machine; it may prove essential for my survival."
His friend raised an eyebrow. "Going underground again?"
"'Fraid so. You know how it is, Kira," Blade said wearily. "Blue Cosmos will inevitably catch up with me again, which puts everyone close to me in danger. Besides, there's someone I have every intention of hunting down and killing, and someone else I need to find because I think she holds the key to my identity."
"What about after that?" Kira asked. "You can't run forever; couldn't you just settle down someplace? The Atlantic Federation, or maybe Orb?"
"No, Kira," Kevin said firmly. "The Atlantic Federation is out, since they're a hotbed of Blue Cosmos -let me tell you sometime about a little altercation in the New Mexico desert- and, for that matter, the head of Blue Cosmos was born there. As for Orb..." He trailed off. "No, Orb is absolutely out of the question. You don't know what it'd be like for me there, Kira. If they got hold of me again, I'd be wrapped in cotton and never let loose again. I hate that kind of treatment." He quickly, and abruptly, changed the subject, as if realizing he'd said too much. "So, what about you, Kira? With Heliopolis gone, where will you go?"
Kira shrugged. "To Orb, I guess; that's where my parents probably ended up. And I'm from there, originally, just like you."
Oh, no, not "just like me" at all, Kira, Kevin thought. You've got no idea just how different we are. Not that it really matters, as far as I'm concerned. "So," he said aloud, "you won't be joining the Earth Forces? Even to stay with this machine you pilot so well?"
Kira snorted. "Not a chance, Blade. I never wanted any part of this war; you know that. And I don't think you did, either. Am I wrong?"
The soldier slowly shook his head. "No, you're not. But things have changed, and now, while I don't care for the Earth Forces, either, I am nonetheless sworn to destroy ZAFT. Among other things."
"But why?"
"I can't tell you that," he said simply. "Too dangerous, and too many bad memories. Suffice it to say that since we parted in Copernicus, a great many things have happened."
Kira considered pressing the matter, then shrugged and dropped it; trying to get information out of Kevin Walker was like trying to get water out of a rock, only not as easy. "So you'll just wander around?"
"Pretty much," Kevin confirmed. "Oh, not exactly randomly; I'm sure there will always be something I need to deal with. But settling down is probably out of the question."
"So, after we reach Earth, I guess we won't meet again," Kira said quietly. "Will we?"
"Don't worry," the soldier told him with a slight smile. "I'll drop in from time to time, if I survive... which I should; killing me is not the easiest thing in the world. I should know." He shrugged. "Well, I should get to that maintenance before Mr. Murdoch does anything drastic." He pushed off toward his own, battered machine.
What in the world was that all about? Kira wondered. "Wrapped in cotton"? Kevin, who are you?
He was beginning to understand just how little he knew of his lethal friend's background.
On the Bridge, the mood had been considerably lighter ever since they'd made contact with the advance forces from the Eighth Fleet.
Now Ramius and Badgiruel hovered by Romero Pal's station, watching the detection display he had up. And soon enough, three blips appeared on the screen.
"The contacts, Captain," Pal reported. "Thermal patterns consistent with 250- and 130-meter-class escort ships. Checking IFF... Confirmed. Montgomery, Bernard, and Law."
Ramius smiled broadly in relief. "That's the Eighth Fleet, all right. We've made it."
"Not exactly a good omen, though," Badgiruel commented.
The Captain raised an eyebrow. "How so, Ensign?"
"Well, I still don't trust Mr. Walker," she began, "but I have to agree with him on one point. There was once a general named Montgomery, back during the Second World War. In Walker's words, he was 'an incompetent little cockroach'. Most famous of his disasters is probably Operation Market Garden, which had plenty of luck involved... all of it bad."
Ramius chuckled. "I didn't know you were a student of military history, Natarle."
Badgiruel shrugged. "Remember, Captain, I do come from a military family. But in this case, I've just heard Walker ranting about it."
"Yes, that does sound rather like him-"
"Radar wave interference," Pal broke in suddenly, alerted by the static which had consumed his display. "Someone's deploying N-jammers, powerful enough to blanket this entire area!"
"What?" Ramius glanced down at the display, then darted over to her command chair. "It must be ZAFT! They found our trail at last."
"But how?" Badgiruel wondered aloud, moving to CIC. "How could they have located us after flying through the Debris Belt?"
"Does it really matter?" The Captain shook her head. "Contact the Montgomery. Request instructions."
"Yes, Ma'am," Kuzzey acknowledged.
"They were probably looking for Miss Clyne," Ramius murmured. "They must have stumbled onto our trail by pure chance, and decided to chase us down... But do they know she's onboard?"
"Unlikely, Captain," Badgiruel opined. "She is Clyne's daughter, after all; if they knew she was aboard, they wouldn't even think of something this... blatant. More likely, they'd use the Blitz for some kind of boarding action."
"Except that it isn't a Laurasia out there," Pal cut in. "It's a Nazca. So whichever ship that is, it won't have the Blitz aboard."
"Thank heavens for small favors."
"Orders from Captain Koopman, Ma'am," Kuzzey reported. "We're to stay out of the fighting and attempt to withdraw. We are not to launch mobile weapons."
Ramius sighed. "Understood. But, just out of curiosity, what's the opposition?"
Pal consulted his display. "The Nazca, three GINNS... and the Aegis."
She bared her teeth. "Then we know exactly which Nazca-class it is." She hit an intercom button. "All hands to Level One Battlestations; repeat, all hands to Level One Battlestations. Lieutenant La Flaga, Kira, Blade, to your machines and stand by. Orders are not to launch, but just in case..."
To no one's surprise, Kevin's voice came back, "We're to stay out of it? Tch, I always knew Koopman was an idiot." An audible sigh. "All right, Captain, standing by."
Kevin entered the hanger in a thoroughly disgruntled mood. Not only had his meal been interrupted yet again, in addition to his usual depression, but now he was following the orders of an idiot. He'd heard of Captain Augustus Koopman.
He did not have a high opinion of the man.
On his way there, he'd also heard Kira get sidetracked by a very worried Flay, who was more afraid for her father than herself. She was, in fact, sufficiently terrified that Kira had told her everything would be all right. Actually, he'd promised her... something which the passing soldier thought was not his brightest move. If everything was not "all right", Flay's reaction could be... severe.
Kevin, however, had other problems; another of which reared its ugly head not ten seconds after he reached his GINN. "Sorry, kid," Murdoch said, spying him. "It still ain't ready."
He managed not to roll his eyes in irritation. "What now? I thought you said the major structural repairs were done."
"They are," the mechanic agreed. "But it turns out we missed an electrical fault in the verniers; doesn't help this is the first GINN any of us have ever seen up close, let alone worked on."
"Okay, then," Kevin said with a sigh. "As it happens, I am familiar with GINNs. I'd better get to work." Doffing his flight suit, he pulled himself into the cockpit and keyed the radio. "Hey, Kira?"
"Yeah, Blade?" Kira responded, having finally gotten to the Strike.
"Looks like I'll be sitting this one out, tovarisch; my bird's got a broken wing. Now, I don't think we'll be able to avoid action, so keep in mind you'll be short a little support."
"I'll manage, Blade." Kira swallowed. "The Aegis is out there, by the way. Think we'll have to fight... him again? Like outside Artemis?"
"Probably," Kevin conceded. "I don't like it either, Kira, but if he attacks you, you know what you have to do. The whole ship is counting on you."
"I know. And," the other pilot added to himself, "I'm getting really tired of hearing that."
"Believe me," his friend commented, his keen ears having overheard the remark, "there are worse things in this life. I should know, most of them have happened to me. Murphy's Law -and who the blazes was Murphy?- could have been written for me."
"This is ridiculous," Captain Augustus Koopman muttered to himself on Montgomery's Bridge. "Surely we should be doing better than this!"
The battle was not going well for the two 130- and one 250-meter-class ships of the advance force. They had deployed their mobile armors immediately, but it was a fact that a GINN, assuming an average pilot, was equal in battle strength to five mobile armors with average pilots (Moebius Zeros were not factored in, since only one of them remained). Worse, it was becoming increasing apparent that a far larger number than even that would be required to take on a G-weapon such as the Aegis... particularly since only the three capital ships even had weapons which could hurt the cursed thing!
"This is ridiculous!" Vice Foreign Minister George Allster burst out, ignorant of the fact that Koopman had just said the same thing. "There are four mobile suits and a single ship out there! We have three ships and a dozen mobile armors! What are your people doing?"
Koopman felt an almost irresistible urge to punch the politician. As Kevin Walker had accused, he was not a brilliant man, but at least he had some conception of the realities of modern warfare. This... this blathering idiot...!
"We're doing the best we can," he said in a forced-calm voice. "Unfortunately, one of those machines used to be ours, and it's more advanced than anything remaining in our arsenal except for the X105 Strike. And in order for that machine to do us any good, we have to buy the Archangel time to make its withdrawal."
Allster, frightened into fury, clenched his fists. "We're being killed by our own machine that they stole? Is there anything more ridiculous?"
A club would do nicely, Koopman thought. No, a sledgehammer...
Mu La Flaga, viewing the battle from the Archangel, was getting fed up. That idiot! Ordering the Archangel to stay out of it when we're the only ones with a realistic chance of stopping that thing, and small chance of us withdrawing in the first place!
He finally keyed his Zero's radio. "Captain," he said harshly, "we've got to do something. The advance forces are getting slaughtered out there!"
On La Flaga's screen, Ramius visibly mulled things over, and sighed. "There's no guarantee of us avoiding battle even if we did withdraw." She nodded abruptly. "Very well, then. Lieutenant La Flaga, Kira, launch at once. Blade, deploy as soon as your machine is ready."
La Flaga nodded to himself and began the catapult launch sequence, while Kevin replied to Ramius. "No guarantees, Captain. This piece of ZAFT junk isn't working very well. I'll launch if I have the chance, but no promises."
"Understood, Blade. We'll keep you informed."
The soldier shook his head, still cross-wiring circuits in his cockpit. "'Keep me informed'. Hah! At this rate, the only event that's really going to matter is our destruction, and I don't imagine I'll need anyone to tell me about that. Ouch!" He winced as a shock went through his fingers, but quickly got back to work; pain didn't bother him much anymore, and he suspected he'd have a job to do soon enough.
"We've lost escort ship Law!" Montgomery's radar officer reported. "They're beginning their attack on the Bernard!"
"Isn't there anything that can be done about this?" Allster demanded. "Are you people just going to let them kill us?"
No, Koopman decided, a sledgehammer would not be sufficient. No, a wrecking ball would be more appropriate... or perhaps an asteroid...
"We're doing the best we can," he said again. "But the fact remains that ZAFT, for all its inferior numbers, does have qualitative superiority-"
Koopman broke off as a bright flash intersected with one of the approaching GINNs, consuming it in a massive kinetic strike. A shot from a capital ship-grade linear cannon.
"The Archangel is firing!" came the report. "They've also deployed the Strike and Moebius Zero!"
Allster felt a surge of hope, uncomprehending how truly dire their situation was. "They've come to help us! Someone's finally shown some sense!"
Koopman gritted his teeth. "They shouldn't have."
On the Vesalius' Bridge, Rau Le Creuset smiled. "So... the lead player has made its appearance. Don't waste your time on the ones that don't matter."
"So it begins," the armored figure next to him murmured. "The only question is... where is Hydra? I cannot see him sitting out this battle."
Le Creuset glanced at his hatchetman. "I thought you said the stolen GINN received heavy damage at the Battle of Artemis. I would assume they're still repairing it."
"True," the assassin known as Invictus conceded. "I highly doubt they have spares for GINNs aboard." His eyes narrowed behind the helmet. "I assume you want me to deploy, Commander?"
"Yes; if we succeed in destroying the legged ship, the odds are good Hydra will survive. Secure him at all costs."
"Understood." The infamous assassin strode off the Bridge, prompting the crew to breath a collective sigh of relief. Invictus was on their side, but his reputation was still fearsome.
Had Kevin Walker been particularly concerned then by whether he lived or died, he probably would have been getting very concerned about then. Kira and La Flaga had launched now, which had immediately put the Strike into direct conflict with the Aegis, and the Zero was trying to take on both remaining GINNs simultaneously, while the Archangel attempted to fight both of those while also exchanging fire with the Nazca. In other words, it was not a recipe for survival.
Then things got worse.
The soldier-pilot felt a click in his head, and froze, listening; only two people had the frequency for that radio, and Kira was undoubtedly far too busy. "Yes?" he subvocalized.
"Blade," Mir said, sounding urgent, "you'd better come up to the Bridge, right away. Flay's here, and she brought that Coordinator girl with her. She says-"
Kevin could hear it for himself. "Tell them!" Flay was ranting at Kuzzey, who was unlucky enough to be manning communications. "Tell them that if they don't stop firing on my father's ship, I will kill this girl!"
He felt cold fury at those words. He strongly disapproved of hostage-taking in general, and he and Lacus had always been close for a reason very few were aware of. If Flay Allster was threatening her life...
"Understood, Mir. I'll be right up."
"Thanks, Blade."
Kevin pulled himself out of the cockpit. "Something I need to take care off," he said in response to Murdoch's questioning look. "There seems to be a situation on the Bridge."
"Go for it, kid," the mechanic said without further question. He had no idea how Kevin knew there was a situation on the Bridge, but he, like his men, had grown accustomed to the Crimson Tiger being right. If he said space was white, they'd believe him.
Kevin did not particularly care just then what Murdoch or his people thought. What mattered was that, for all his ruthlessness, he loathed hostage-taking more than almost anything else. So if Flay Allster wasn't careful, there was a very good chance she would shortly wind up with a revolver bullet in her brain.
Ramius gritted her teeth on the Bridge. Bad enough that the advance was getting slaughtered; now Mu La Flaga had even been forced to retreat, leaving the Strike on its own to try to protect the one remaining escort ship... and he was busy trying to deal with the Aegis.
And now this.
Flay had already come to the Bridge once, trying to get a better look at the battle, before being escorted away by Sai. She'd seemed fearful then, but now she'd returned in fear-spawned anger... and with a hostage. Even now, the girl was ranting at Kuzzey, who at least had the good sense to keep the radio closed down.
She was still ranting when the elevator doors slid open, and a voice as cold as space spoke. "Let her go, Flay. Now."
Ramius turned to see Kevin Walker entering, normally calm face suffused with cold fury. "Blade...?"
Flay appeared not to have noticed the soldier's arrival. "Tell them!" she shouted, keeping an iron grip on Lacus' shoulder.
"Enough!" Kevin's voice cracked like a whip, and a revolver materialized in his hand. "Let Lacus go, or I will not be responsible for my actions."
Sai came up behind him. "Blade, wait-"
Blade's free hand suddenly held a combat knife, pointed directly at his friend's chest; seeing it, Sai backed off, swallowing. Even though the soldier wasn't even looking at him, Sai knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he didn't need to be.
"Stand down, Blade," Ramius ordered. Her voice was not as firm as she would have preferred, however... not that it would likely have mattered in any case.
"I don't think so, Captain," Kevin replied flatly. "I have seen, and suffered, far too many atrocities in my time. I will not permit this to continue."
For several, endless seconds, the Bridge was a frozen tableau, with everyone wondering what would happen next. Then-
Something flashed on the main screen, and Flay shrieked. All eyes, even Blade's, whipped back to the display, just in time to see what was left of the escort ship Montgomery vanish in a fiery pyre.
Flay had, in that instant, released her grip on Lacus, and she backed toward the elevator, eyes wide in disbelieving horror, breath rapid and ragged. She had gone white as a sheet.
Sometime in the interval, Kevin's weapons disappeared, and his gaze whipped over to Sai. "Get her out of here," he said curtly, an uncharacteristic note of command in his voice.
Sai nodded choppily, grabbed Flay by the arm, and pulled her from the room; even as he did so, she fainted dead away... which was probably a mercy.
"Now we have just one problem," Kevin said conversationally. "We are one ship and one mobile suit against one ship and three mobile suits. Anyone have any bright ideas?"
Natarle Badgiruel, apparently, did. She pulled herself up out of CIC and snatched Kuzzey's headset with one hand, while pulling a confused Lacus (who didn't seem to understand any of what had just happened) into view of the transmitter.
"Attention, all ZAFT forces," she said, clearly and distinctly, "we have aboard our ship someone I believe you're familiar with: Miss Lacus Clyne. No doubt you are as aware as we are of the consequences to your troops' morale if anything were to happen to Miss Clyne."
Out in space, Kira and Athrun had ceased fighting as the transmission began. "Lacus?" Athrun whispered, startled.
"What are they thinking?" Kira wondered.
"If you continue your attack," Badgiruel went on, "her safety cannot be guaranteed... and if it appears likely that our ship will be destroyed, we will be forced to take matters into our own hands. I suggest your consider that very carefully." With that, she disconnected, and glanced at Lacus. "Someone escort Miss Clyne to her quarters."
While the still-confused girl was lead away, the ensign met Ramius' eyes unflinchingly. "I couldn't just sit by and let them destroy the Strike and the Archangel," she said flatly.
"Yes, Natarle," the Captain replied in a toneless voice. "I know."
Badgiruel then looked at Kevin Walker, and paled in instinctive fear. He was angrier than any living person had ever seen him; not screaming mad, but calmly, methodically kill entire cities mad. "If you ever," he said in a flat, overly-controlled voice, "ever do that again, I will kill you, Natarle Badgiruel. Quickly, and without a shred of mercy. Remember that the next time you choose to stoop to such cowardly tactics!"
He stormed off the Bridge in a towering rage, leaving Ramius very, very thankful he had sufficient self-control to avoid transforming. She'd heard tales of the Crimson Tiger's zoanthrope rampages, and she most certainly did not want a berserk man-tiger on her Bridge.
Not that she could actually disagree with his sentiments this time.
There was mild pandemonium on the Vesalius' Bridge. "Commander?" Ades urgently asked of Le Creuset.
"Yes, yes, I know," the masked man replied. "We can't afford to continue military operations with Miss Clyne in that position. Signal withdrawal."
"Yes, Commander." Ades turned away. "That's right, break off the attack! Didn't you hear that broadcast?"
In the Aegis' cockpit, Athrun felt a rage fully as towering as that of his lethal former friend. "Well, Kira?" he demanded. "Using a rescued civilian as a hostage? Do you still feel justified in fighting by the sides of these cowards?"
"Athrun, I..." Kira couldn't finish it; Badgiruel's actions had badly disturbed him, as well.
"I'm gonna rescue her," Athrun whispered harshly. "That's a promise." Without another word, he swung the Aegis around and boosted back toward his mothership.
"This is a fine kettle of fish," Invictus murmured. "I must admit, I never expected the Earth Forces to resort to such tactics."
"Neither did I," Le Creuset admitted. "Say what you will about the Naturals, they're usually more scrupulous than this." He cocked his head. "I notice Hydra was not involved in that battle; one wonders how many people just died over there."
"Probably none," the assassin said after a moment. "Difficult to be certain, but under these circumstances, it's unlikely he executed anyone. No doubt he threatened a few lives... but for all his hatred of hostage-taking, he's a very pragmatic man. Although... he is quite devoted to Miss Lacus Clyne."
His employer looked at him sharply. "I wasn't aware they were acquainted."
"Most people aren't," Invictus said slowly. "I won't say exactly how she does know him -that delves too deeply into his true identity- but the fact is, most people think he's dead. I imagine Lacus" distracted, he was no longer using a title "had quite the shock upon meeting him here. Ironically, though, she is most likely the only person on the legged ship who does know who he is."
"This is all very fascinating," Le Creuset said, after pondering the information, "but it still leaves us with the question of how to retrieve her. I would send you, but..."
"I'd never get anywhere near her. Copy or not, I'd not have any chance at all of getting past that soldier." The assassin flexed an armored arm. "I'm strong, but I didn't get the full package, and Hydra is a far better shot." He shook his head. "No, Commander, I believe we need to fall back for now and regroup."
"Agreed."
By this time, the Strike and Moebius Zero had both landed back on the Archangel, and La Flaga was already speaking with Murdoch about the required repairs.
"This is getting ridiculous," the mechanic complained. "What is it with this ship? Is it cursed?"
"Nah," the pilot disclaimed. "I think Le Creuset is the curse."
"What were they thinking up there?" Kira demanded, approaching them. "Using a rescued civilian as a hostage? How could they? Are these the kind of tactics the enemy can expect from the Earth Forces?"
"The only reason we'd resort to such tactics is because we're weak," La Flaga said wearily. "We have numerical superiority, but ZAFT's technological edge is still overwhelming. In this situation, it was the only way we could survive, so neither you nor I have any right to question the actions of the captain or the combat commander."
"Garbage," Kevin snapped, entering the hanger. "Absolute garbage."
The Hawk looked at him. "Listen, Blade, this is war. Sometimes you have to do things you don't like to survive-"
"Some kinds of survival aren't worth it, Lieutenant," the soldier snarled. "If we stoop to such tactics, we lose the moral high ground, and when we lose the moral high ground, we don't deserve to survive. So if anyone tries that again, especially with Lacus Clyne, they're dead. Dead. Meat. Understand?"
La Flaga's eyes narrowed. "This isn't like you, Blade. I can understand why you'd be angry, but why exactly is Lacus Clyne so important to you? How do you know her?"
"Not your business, Lieutenant," Kevin snapped. "And you wouldn't believe me if I told you, anyway." He looked over at Kira. "C'mon, tovarisch. Let's get out of here before I eat someone."
The younger pilots left together, leaving a silent La Flaga behind to ponder what he'd just heard. It seemed that every day, the Blade became more and more of an enigma. Would he ever learn the Crimson Tiger's story? And if he did, would he survive the experience? He'd thought the soldier was bluffing about eating someone... but when his back turned, La Flaga saw a frightening sight: a red-and-black-striped tail, thrashing in agitation. Kevin Walker had become sufficiently enraged to partially transform, which boded very ill for anyone else who tried Badgiruel's stunt.
Maybe, the Hawk thought, I'd better pass that along to the Captain. I get the distinct feeling he would eat someone if his temper ever slipped its leash.
"What a rotten mess that was," Kevin muttered a few hours later. His rage had had a chance to cool somewhat, and in fact Natarle Badgiruel was now the only target of his fury. The soldier was all too well aware of what people could do when they were not quite in their right mind, so he no longer bore any real ill will toward Flay. He, too, had lost his parents; and in her place he very probably would have done the same thing.
Which left him only with concern. Kevin recalled a time, now long before, when he, too, had passed out after such an event. He had almost never come out of it, almost willed himself to die... he only hoped Flay would find something to anchor her to the world of the living.
He was wandering the corridors when he ran into Kira again. "Hey, Blade," the other pilot greeted. "Can't sleep?" It was the middle of the ship's night.
"I don't sleep much," Kevin admitted. "Nightmares. Besides, I need to work off a little steam; I haven't been that mad in years."
Kira raised his eyebrows. "And what happened to the last person you got that mad at?"
The soldier winced. "Let's just say it took me a week or so to get the taste out of my mouth, and leave it at that, okay?"
"Uh, right." The Strike pilot could draw his own conclusions from that statement, and he didn't really want any confirmation. "So, any word on Flay?" he asked, changing the subject.
"None," Kevin said, shaking his head. "Sai tells me she just lies there, unconscious; seeing her father blow up like that hit her very hard. I only hope she pulls through."
Kira looked at him sharply. "But she wasn't hurt, was she? Unless you..."
"No, Kira. I got angry, but I also understood why she was doing it. No, the problem is mental, not physical; she... might choose to just die, Kira."
He gasped. "No way. Flay wouldn't..."
Kevin shrugged. "I don't think so either, but trauma does strange things to people, tovarisch. I should know." A shadow crossed his face. "But I think you're right," he went on. "She's naive, but tough; she'll make it." He started to turn away, then looked back. "But, Kira... remember this: when she wakes up, she might not be very happy with you. Try to weather it, and understand what she's going through, okay?"
"Yeah, sure," Kira agreed, feeling perplexed. He didn't understand what his friend was talking about... but he had a bad feeling he would soon find out.
The next day, Kira learned the price of caring, and only past experience kept Kevin Walker from doing something he would regret.
Kevin was just nearing the Infirmary to check on Flay when he heard the loud, angry voice, and he winced. I knew this was coming. Worse, Kira was in range, and Flay had already seen him.
She was on the deck, in Sai's arms, and her eyes were filled with hate as she glared at Kira. "You... you promised me everything would be fine! You lied to me!" She bared her teeth in a snarl. "You didn't make any serious attempt to fight, did you?" she challenged. "It's because you're a Coordinator too!"
Kevin stood back, safely out of sight, and watched Kira's eyes go wide with shocked pain. But... but I... the Coordinator thought, momentarily paralyzed; then he ran off, ignoring the calls of his name.
The hatch swiftly slid shut behind Mir, who had also witnessed the exchange. "That wasn't good, was it?" she asked Blade.
"No," the soldier conceded. "It wasn't. Nor, however, was it unexpected. Not in this situation."
She raised an eyebrow. "You've seen it before?"
"Worse. I've been there before." Kevin sighed, feeling as depressed as ever. "It was... a bad time in my life. My parents had recently been assassinated -never mind why- and my own cursed journey had just begun. So, yeah, I can see why Flay is like this... and I can see how much it hurt Kira." He looked at her, jade eyes appearing almost pleading; a quality Mir told herself had to be her imagination. "Keep an eye on her, will you? You and Sai? I've... got to go check on Kira."
"Sure, Blade." Mir paused. "Are you alright?"
He shrugged. "Won't say it does wonderful things for my mood, but I can handle it."
"Okay. But if you need to talk..."
Kevin laughed humorlessly. "Mir, the things I'd talk about would give you nightmares for the next ten years. Or more."
Lacus Clyne was, once again, wandering the Archangel's corridors, whilst everyone else thought her securely locked in her quarters. Exactly why she was usually locked in, she didn't really understand; nor did it really matter, since Haro had somehow managed to unlock it. Again.
Lacus had been confused by a great deal of the events that had occurred since she set out from the PLANTs in preparation for the Bloody Valentine memorial ceremony. First her ship was boarded and attacked by Earth Forces soldiers, then her lifepod was picked up by a very nice young man who piloted a mobile suit for the new Archangel and just happened to be a Coordinator himself; since then, she'd also been dragged to the ship's Bridge by an angry young woman and somehow ended hostilities by her very presence.
Nothing, however, topped Lacus' sheer astonishment at meeting Kevin Walker -only he hadn't been Kevin Walker when she knew him- aboard this ship. She remembered very clearly when he was reported dead, and had even seen the (suitably edited) footage of the event. For the past two years, she'd been convinced that her good friend -though "friend" wasn't precisely the right word- was dead. Very dead, in fact, even if he'd somehow managed to get his killer in the process.
So it had been a profound shock to run into him on the Archangel. Profound... and very pleasant. Though Kevin was not quite the young man she had known (there was so much bitterness and ferocity in his heart), Lacus still loved him as she would a close relative. Which, of course, was only fitting...
She was heading aft when she heard a yell, a sound of pure frustration and despair. ? What was that? Lacus paused, wondering what she should do. That sounded like Mr. Yamato. Is something wrong? Perhaps I should go see.
A few meters down the corridor, she found a hatch leading into an observation room, overlooking the aft of the ship, with a bulkhead-to-bulkhead, deck-to-deckhead viewport. Inside, Kira Yamato pressed his hands against the transparent material, and Kevin Walker was just entering through another hatch. The former was completely unaware of her presence, and the latter appeared to be, as well... but she knew perfectly well Kevin could feel her presence. It was not, however, Kevin who concerned her at this moment.
"Is something the matter?"
Kira turned quickly, to see Lacus floating right beside him. "L-Lacus?" There were unshed tears in his eyes; when she reached out to him, he quickly wiped a sleeve across. "What are you doing out here again?"
"Get used to it, tovarisch," Kevin said dryly. "Lacus tends to go anywhere, whenever she wants; how she does it, I have not the faintest idea."
"It was Haro," she explained, holding up the bizarre robot pet. "He wanted to go for a walk, and when he wants to, it doesn't seem to matter if the door is locked; he always manages to open it somehow." Lacus looked at Kira in concern. "The battle is over, I see," she said quietly.
He merely looked at her silently for a few moments. He considered telling her to go back to her quarters, but he had the feeling that even if she paid the least attention to it, Kevin would object; and he had no desire to quarrel with him. "Yeah," Kira said finally. "And it's all thanks to you."
"Yet you seem so sad," she noted. "Is something wrong?"
"Well..." he said slowly, thinking of Flay, "the truth is, I'm getting tired of all these battles. I never wanted to be a soldier, you know; I got kinda forced into it by recent events."
"That's too bad," Lacus said sympathetically. "It is always tragic when those who want no part of war are drawn into it. If only this war had never even begun..."
"No, Lacus," Kevin interjected softly. "This war had to be fought. Even if the Atlantic Federation hadn't pinned blame for the Copernicus bombing on the PLANTs, it would have come eventually. The domination of the colonies by the sponsor nations was wrong."
Kira looked at him in surprise. "Huh? I thought..."
The soldier nodded. "Sure, I hate ZAFT; never mind why," he added for Lacus' benefit. "But that doesn't mean I don't think the PLANTs are in the right. I think they are taking things too far -or at least some of them are- but what they were forced to endure, especially the blockade and the Mandelbrot Incident, was intolerable."
"I agree," Lacus acknowledged. "But it doesn't change the fact that the two of you should never have been brought into it. Both of you are from a neutral nation, after all."
"True," Kira agreed. "And it doesn't help... that the pilot of the Aegis is a friend of ours."
"Athrun Zala," Kevin concurred. "A good man, and a close friend, but fighting for those I am sworn to destroy."
Lacus blinked. "Athrun...?"
Kira began to explain, but his friend cut him off suddenly. "Wait one," he snapped, stretching out with his empathic sense. There was someone near, someone who shouldn't have been...
He pushed off toward one of the hatches and opened it, to find Kuzzey Buskirk on the other side, looking startled. He had obviously been listening. "Um, Blade..." he began, trying to talk his way out.
Kevin ignored the excuses and grabbed his classmate by the collar with one powerful hand. "Kuzzey Buskirk," he said in a soft, dangerous voice, "what you are hearing is none of your business. And if I catch you eavesdropping again, I will break your neck. Clear? Now get out of my sight." He flung the flabbergasted student down the corridor and sealed the hatch.
Kira was actually trying to suppress a grin, but Lacus looked surprised, and a little worried. "Kevin, are you sure that was a good idea?"
He shrugged. "Oh, don't worry about it. Kuzzey hasn't trusted me since he found out I used to be the Crimson Tiger; merely threatening to break his neck and throwing him halfway across the ship can't make him trust me any less."
"I... see..." She blinked, then shrugged. "So you really know the pilot of the Aegis?"
"Yeah," Kira confirmed with a nod. "We both went to school with him, in Copernicus. But now... he was one of the ones who attacked Heliopolis, and he's still trying to shoot down the Archangel. That means we have to fight against him... whether we want to or not." Kevin nodded in silent agreement, his face an expressionless mask.
"That's just so sad," Lacus murmured. "You three are all good people; if only you no longer had to fight against your friend, it would be wonderful."
The soldier's eyes snapped to her. "'All good people'? Lacus, are you saying you know Athrun Zala?"
She appeared surprised at the question. "Well, of course. He's to be part of my life; Athrun Zala is the man I will eventually be marrying."
The two pilots exchanged incredulous looks, and Kevin slapped his forehead. Oh, that's not good. That's just not good at all.
While the black-clad young man mused darkly, Kira attempted to recover his composure. "You're... you're Athrun's fiancé?"
Lacus nodded. "Yes, indeed. It's nice to meet friends of his, whatever the circumstances." She lifted the pink, round robot. "It was very kind of Athrun to give me this Haro; it has provided me with pleasant company when I'm lonely."
"Athrun built that?" Kevin raised an eyebrow. "Somehow, I'm not surprised."
"Yeah," Kira agreed. "Sounds like he hasn't changed a bit. I was lucky enough to bring along my Birdy, which he also made."
"Is that so?" Lacus was interested by this revelation; if Athrun had constructed such a thing, they must have been close friends. "All this makes it so terrible that you have to fight each other; perhaps someday, you will no longer have to."
"Maybe..." Kevin began in a slightly strained voice. "But, Lacus... he's with ZAFT. That makes him, by definition, my mortal enemy. I swore long ago to destroy ZAFT, and I have every intention of fulfilling that oath. I... I promised Rachel."
That got him perplexed looks from both. "Rachel?" Lacus queried.
"Who?" Kira echoed.
"It doesn't really matter," Kevin said with a dismissive wave; the other two both had the distinct feeling he'd said more than he'd intended. "A friend, that's all. What matters is that Athrun is the enemy... and so I have no choice but to fight and, quite possibly, kill him."
"I understand," Lacus said gravely, wondering at the same time what could have scarred the young man so badly (in more ways than one, though she didn't know of his myriad of physical scars). "But perhaps there will come a time when that isn't necessary."
"I hope so," Kira said softly, for both of them. "I really do."
That night, Kevin Walker once again lay awake in the darkness, having awakened from yet another nightmare. He could never remember the substance of them, but he always awakened with the echoes of Oracle's commanding voice in his mind, or the taste of blood in his mouth.
Why? he asked himself. Why do I still have these never-to-be-sufficiently-accursed nightmares? That creepy bastard's been dead for over two years; the conditioning should be gone, curse it!
It was always the same. It was also the reason he'd tried to take himself out of the fighting for good; whenever battle came calling, whenever he had to unleash the dark demon that lay within him, it all came back. The memories, the conditioning, the old, familiar aches and pains. It was worse, infinitely worse, when he brought everything online, the way he had at Artemis; and since then, he hadn't been able to take the chance of shutting it down. Too many lives were at stake, especially Lacus and his brother.
Brother. That was how Kevin thought of Kira Yamato, ever since Copernicus. They had been like brothers then, and they had lived as brothers on Heliopolis. And it was his reunion with Kira that began again the long process of recovering his memories.
It wasn't the first time, he knew. He could vaguely recall having recovered everything at one time... just before something else happened. Two years before, something had happened to him, something that had wiped his mind again, but he knew not what. Between crashing in Orb and awakening in the cockpit of an atmospheric fighter over the Pacific Ocean, his memory was blank.
The key, Kevin was certain, was that girl he had met on Heliopolis. Not their first meeting, obviously; and something had happened which made her think him dead... doubtless whatever kept his recollection blank.
You see? came a voice from the depths of his memory. You can't protect anyone! Not even yourself!
"Wrong," Kevin whispered to himself. "There is someone I can protect... and she's right here, aboard the Archangel." He stood in the darkness, seeing clearly through his unique right eye, and pulled together his equipment. "Okay, Lacus," he whispered. "Hang on. I don't trust ZAFT... but you're even worse off here, with people like Natarle Badgiruel around."
The hatch slid open at a touch, and the soldier slipped noiselessly from the compartment.
Kira, too, had come to a decision; and as a result, he and Lacus were skulking through the ship's nearly abandoned corridors, heading for the pilots' locker room.
Like Kevin, he'd been very disturbed by Natarle Badgiruel's tactics, and the revelation that Lacus was Athrun's fiancé had been the clincher: it was no longer safe for Lacus to remain aboard the Archangel. He knew that the officers would never approve it, and he might end up in very hot water over it, but he had no choice.
Unfortunately, it developed that the corridors were not quite abandoned: as the pair drifted silently through the passage, Sai and Mir rounded the corner ahead.
Kira urgently motioned for Lacus to get behind a structural support, and he stood in front of her as his classmates came into view.
"You're up late," Sai commented, eyebrows raised.
"Couldn't sleep?" Mir asked.
"Yeah, something like that," Kira replied, wishing his friends would go away before they saw too much. "I decided to take a walk, see if I could burn off some energy."
"I see. Well, then-"
Mir broke off, eyes wide, and the young pilot glanced behind him to see Lacus coming out of hiding. He stifled a groan.
"Uh, Kira..." Sai began.
"Please, don't interfere," Kira pleaded. "Just go back and forget you saw anything." He clenched a fist. "I just... I just can't let this go on, okay?"
The other two exchanged glances, and then Sai nodded. "We'll help."
Very shortly, Kira and Lacus were in the locker room, getting outfitted, while Sai and Mir stood guard outside, watching for any approaches.
They also talked in low tones. "So, do you think Kuzzey's right?" Sai said quietly. "About the pilot of the Aegis being a friend of theirs?"
Mir shrugged. "If that's what he heard, then I guess he is. But I really don't think it's anything to worry about, Sai. Remember, Blade hates ZAFT; this must be hurting him, but he won't turn on us. And Kira's, well, Kira."
He sighed. "I guess you're right." They settled back to wait and watch.
Unfortunately for their peace of mind, there was one person aboard who could sneak through an open field at high noon.
"Going somewhere?" came the soft, cool voice.
They both nearly jumped out of their skins. The black-clad young man had simply coalesced out of the shadows, and now he stood, blocking one end of the corridor, expression unreadable.
Sai swallowed. There was no doubt Kevin Walker was on their side, but what they were doing now might not meet with his approval. And given that, of every man and woman aboard the Archangel, only the Blade's psychomotor responses defied belief, if he chose to oppose them, this attempt to get Lacus to safety was doomed.
Then Kevin smiled slightly. "Relax, will you? You merely happen to have beaten me to the punch; recall how little I approve of hostage-taking." He glanced at the locker room hatch. "So Kira's getting Lacus out? Good for him... and I'm coming along."
Mir, who had relaxed at his words, raised an eyebrow. "You do realize that the more of us there are in this, the more chance the security systems will notice something."
He snorted. "Not likely. I have... a way with computers -not to mention a little inside information about the Archangel's software- and right now, the security computers are seeing recorded footage from half an hour ago. Nobody will notice anything."
Sai stared at him for a moment. So Blade's helping out? That's... odd. I thought he hated ZAFT so much that he... Well, to be sure, he's never said anything against the PLANTs, and he and Lacus seem to go way back, so I guess it sort of makes sense. But I just can't see him as some kind of paladin.
At last, he simply burst out laughing.
Kevin tilted his head, eyes curious behind the sunglasses. "What's so funny?"
Sai shook his head. "Oh, nothing, really," he said when he caught his breath. "It's just... All you need is a sword to complete the image."
The warrior looked at him silently. Then, deciding to throw caution to the winds just this once, he drew an imaginary rapier and struck a fencing pose, blade extended at arm's length.
The seemingly out of character action caused Mir to chuckle; but at the same time, she found something eerily familiar in the stance. Though not as into fencing as Mu La Flaga, she had seen some, and there was something about that posture...
Then the hatch opened, and Kira and Lacus exited. She wore a spacesuit, and he his flight suit. Both seemed surprised at Kevin's presence.
"Blade?" Kira asked. "What are you doing here?"
"Getting Lacus out of here before somebody else gets a bright idea," the soldier said simply. "And escorting you out. Shall we go?"
The mysterious soldier's hacking programs, set in place to aid in their unofficial mission, were almost all in readiness by the time they reached the hanger. But not everything was ready. "You guys go on ahead," he said calmly. "There's something else I need to do."
Kira looked at him curiously and shrugged. "Whatever you say. We'll be waiting; just make sure you get the locks open before anybody realizes what's happening."
"Easy. Now go."
Once the other four were safely out of sight, Kevin stepped to a computer panel, reached into his jacket, and withdrew a peculiar device that appeared to be some kind of adapter. Without pausing, he connected it to the panel, pressed his hand against it, and closed his eyes... and numbers began to scroll behind his right eye...
By the time he caught up with the group, Kira was already in the Strike's cockpit, and Lacus was just entering. "Thank you very much," she said to Sai. "I hope we'll meet again someday."
He smiled, looking slightly sad. "I'm not so sure we will." He turned his attention to Kira. "Kira?"
The Coordinator looked up from his launch preparations. "Hm?"
"You'll be coming back, won't you?"
The unexpected question caught Kira by surprise. "What?"
"You'll be coming back, right?" Sai pressed. "Back to us."
Kira looked at him for several moments, emotions warring within him as he considered the question. He hadn't really thought about it; and it certainly hadn't occurred to him that he might not come back. But now that he did think about it...
Yet there was only one answer, and he knew it. "Of course," he said finally, smiling. "You know I will."
"If you're through asking questions to which you know the answers," Kevin said dryly, drifting past on his way to his own red-and-black-striped GINN, "I suggest you get out of here before someone notices you. Kira and I will take the risks from here on."
Both cockpits sealed, and the two mobile suits began moving for the catapults... just as Kojiro Murdoch entered the hanger. "Huh? Hey! You're not supposed to be leaving!"
The GINN ignored him completely, but Kira hit his external speakers. "Please, clear the area. I'm opening the hatch."
The pair of rogue machines stepped into the catapults, leaving consternation and alarms in their wake.
On the Bridge, Ramius turned to her crew. "What's going on?" She was not yet alarmed; merely puzzled.
"They're taking off!" Badgiruel reported, sounding very surprised; there was no need to explain which "they" she was referring to. "Kira Yamato, Kevin Walker- what are you doing?"
"Give it up, Ensign," La Flaga advised, appearing on one of the monitors. "Those two are getting the girl out, and it's too late to stop them; the catapults are already open."
"Are they crazy?" Badgiruel looked up at Ramius. "What do they think they're doing?"
"Frankly," Ramius said slowly, "I'm not that surprised to see them doing this; Blade in particular. You saw how Miss Clyne greeted him. In fact, I'm more surprised that he didn't try this sooner." She shrugged. "And let me guess: someone's hacked the computers, leaving us with no clue how they pulled it off."
"You're right, Captain," La Flaga answered, sounding equally unsurprised. "No doubt it was Blade; but we'll never prove it."
"Which means, of course," she murmured, "that it's out of our hands. Well, Lieutenant, you should at least launch; try and cover them when they return."
Ramius did not permit herself to contemplate the possibility that they wouldn't return.
On the Bridge of the Vesalius, the launch of two mobile suits from the "legged ship" did not go unnoticed. "Two mobile suits launching from enemy ship," a crewman reported. "Positively ID'd as the Strike and the stolen GINN."
Le Creuset frowned. "Just what could they be up to...?"
"Receiving a transmission from the Strike," someone else called. "Audio only."
The commander leaned back. "All right, put it on."
Kira Yamato's voice quickly came through the speakers. "Attention, ZAFT warship. This is the X105 Strike. My mission is peaceful: I am bringing Lacus Clyne to you. She will be given over to you on two conditions: that you cut your engines, and that we be met only by the pilot of the Aegis." He paused, and his voice became slightly harder. "If these demands are not met, I cannot guarantee her safety."
"What do we do, Commander?" Ades asked quietly. "If she's really aboard..."
"GINN has gone passive, Sir," the sensor man reported. "All emissions blanked; we've lost it."
"Inconsequential," Invictus opined from his usual place his employer's side. "That machine won't have Miss Clyne aboard; I know how that pilot operates."
"Which leaves us with the matter of the Strike," Le Creuset mused.
His thoughts were interrupted as Athrun's face appeared on one screen. "Commander, let me go out there, please."
The masked man tilted his head. "Are you certain?"
"We haven't even confirmed that Miss Clyne is aboard it," Ades argued. "It could be a trap."
"It isn't," Athrun insisted. "Please, Commander; I'm willing to take the risk."
Le Creuset considered it a moment longer, then shrugged. "Very well, then. You've permission."
Athrun looked relieved. "Thank you very much, sir."
"Commander?" Ades questioned.
The commander smiled thinly. "Think about it, Ades. That pilot is clearly quite naive; this may also be a chance for us." He pushed out of his chair. "Cut engines, Ades, and prepare my CGUE for launch."
"Yes, sir."
"This might actually work," Kevin muttered to Kira across a short-range communications cable. "On the other hand, I know Le Creuset's reputation; he might be plotting something." In actual fact, he was fairly certain of it.
"Athrun wouldn't do that," Kira argued. "Not with Lacus involved."
"Sure. But that doesn't mean the good commander wouldn't do it without telling him about it, now does it?" The sandy-haired pilot shook his head. "Just keep your eyes open, tovarisch; and I'll stay quiet."
As the X303 Aegis neared them, Kevin was uncertain if Athrun actually knew the GINN was out there. After all, it currently had no active emissions, it was difficult to see, and even its thermal signature was small. No doubt the Vesalius knew, but they might not have thought to tell their pilot.
As it happened, they had not; and Athrun had eyes only for the Strike as he slowed to a stop relative to the Earth Forces machine. "All right," he radioed. "I'm here."
"Athrun Zala?" Kira queried, just to be certain.
"Yes."
"Open your cockpit!" he ordered, bringing his beam rifle to bear.
Athrun quickly complied, concerned only for his fiancé's safety, and peered out across the gulf of the void. He could see the Strike's open cockpit now, and the two figures within, but he couldn't tell who they were from this distance.
Kira had already thought of this problem. "Say something," he said to Lacus. At her questioning look, he went on, "He can't see your face from here; he has to be convinced it's really you."
"Oh, I understand." Lacus turned to look out, and waved. "Hello there, Athrun! It's very nice to see you again!"
Athrun smiled broadly in relief. "I confirm it's Lacus!"
"Then prepare to receive her."
Kira gave the "pink princess" a gentle shove, propelling her across to the Aegis, where Athrun caught her. Safely at the red machine's hatch, she looked back at her rescuer. "Thank you for everything you've done, Mr. Yamato! And Athrun, you as well." Then she remembered one other person who had aided her. "Be careful, Kevin! Please stay alive! I don't ever want to see you dead again!"
The GINN's cockpit opened, and Kevin nodded solemnly. "I'll be fine, Lacus. And we might even meet again someday."
Athrun stood there for a moment, gaze wandering between the Strike and the stolen GINN, and came to a decision. He had to try one more time to get his friends onto the side where they belonged. "Kira, Kevin! You come along with us, too! There isn't any reason for either of you to remain with the Earth Forces!"
Kira's eyes widened, and he flinched, thinking. "You'll be coming back, won't you? Back to us?"
"You didn't make any serious attempt to fight, did you? It's because you're a Coordinator too!"
"I'm counting on you!"
The brown haired pilot finally shook his head. "Believe me, the last thing I want to do is fight against you." His voice grew stronger. "But there are people on that ship whom I fell obligated to protect." His verniers boosted him backwards. "My friends are on that ship!"
Kevin's reaction was far less sanguine. His own beam rifle snapped into position, and he fired a shot just past the Aegis' head, close enough for Athrun to feel the heat. "Don't ever ask me that again, old friend," he said in a voice colder than the vacuum of space. "Because if you do, the next shot won't miss."
Athrun felt despair rising within him. "You don't understand!" he pleaded. "Do I have to lose you guys, too? I already lost my mom in the Bloody Valentine!"
Blade froze, startled despite himself. He recalled the Bloody Valentine very well, having witnessed the epic battle there. The Earth Forces had been soundly trounced, forced into retreat by ZAFT's superior firepower... but not before the Roosevelt's mobile armors had gotten off a nuclear missile.
Still, his mind was made up, his heart pitiless as he contemplated the organization that had caused him so much misery. "You don't understand, Athrun," he said coldly. "You have no conception of what's happened to me... and you have no right whatsoever to ask us to betray those who trust us with their lives. And think about this: could you trust us, if we so easily betrayed our own?"
Athrun closed his eyes in pain. "Then I've got no choice," he whispered. "The next time we meet in battle, I'll show you no mercy!"
"Same goes for me," Kira replied, equally pained.
Kevin merely closed up his cockpit and turned away. "If you think a mere Coordinator such as yourself can kill me, Athrun," he said softly, "you are welcome to try."
Athrun, as confused as Kira by that remark, sealed up his machine with Lacus inside and jetted off toward the Vesalius.
And that was when Rau Le Creuset made his move.
"Now, start up the engines, Ades," he ordered, launching in his CGUE.
The Archangel's Bridge noticed instantly. "The Nazca has restarted its engines, Ma'am!"
"Lieutenant La Flaga?" Ramius asked quickly.
"I'm already on it," the mobile armor pilot answered. "Though I'm not too sure what I can do against that."
Kilometers away, Le Creuset's personal CGUE, a more advanced machine than Blade's stolen GINN, blasted past the Aegis. "Commander?" Athrun called, surprised.
"Athrun, return to the ship with Miss Clyne at once!" the masked man ordered, course never deviating.
"This isn't good," Kevin muttered, bringing his weapons systems fully online. "Kira, buddy, we seem to have a small problem."
"Oh, you noticed?" La Flaga cut in sarcastically. "Did you really think they'd just sit back and watch?"
"Not me," the soldier conceded. "Still, a guy can hope, can't he?"
It had all the makings of a pitched battle, but one Lacus Clyne had other plans. Reaching past a startled Athrun, she keyed the Aegis' radio. "Commander Rau Le Creuset!" she said sharply. "Are you really intending to turn this place into a battlefield, right in front of a memorial representative such as myself?"
"Miss Clyne," Le Creuset began, "this may not be the best-"
"Commander," she said forcefully, "I am ordering you to break off this attack at once. Do you understand?"
The masked man cursed to himself. What a time for that girl's naiveté to show itself! But I suppose there isn't much choice... and there's always tomorrow.
"Very well, Miss Clyne," he said, resigned. "We're breaking off."
The three Archangel pilots, only one of whom had heard the exchange (and he only via the GINN's decryption systems; evidently ZAFT had not yet gotten around to changing the codes) stared at the suddenly retreating enemy forces. What had just occurred...?
"Not sure what just happened, but... we're retreating, too," La Flaga ordered, leading the two mobile suits in a course reversal.
"Roger that," Kevin replied, a trace of genuine satisfaction in his voice.
Kira was curiously silent, and La Flaga frowned. "What? Is something the matter?"
"No," the Coordinator replied through unshed tears. "There's nothing wrong at all."
Two mobile suits and a mobile armor retreated through space, one pilot confused, one in something akin to shock... and one in satisfaction, mixed with sadness at the thought of having to kill a former friend.
Author's note: Covered a lot of ground here. More hints of Kevin Walker's past emerge, and his final break with Athrun comes closer.
Daniel Lynx, you now know Kevin's reaction to threatening his friends; this will not be the last time he nears the brink of mayhem over such matters.
Bigronnie17, thanks for the information. As my pen name indicates, I am indeed a Metal Gear fan. Admittedly, I couldn't really care less about an updated version of MGS3, and I have little more interest in online gaming; but MGS4 appears interesting, indeed.
There doesn't seem to be much to say this time. Just read it and let me know what you think. -Solid Shark