Chapter 3: The Incinerator

"Young miss we have a certain job we need you to fulfill."

A tall man was standing over a handcuffed girl sitting with her legs out toward the sides in a large room. The room was dark, cavernous, and empty. The voices of the man and the young woman bounced off the walls in an eerie echo.

"I won't do anything for you stupid Coordinators... I want you to take me home... I refuse to cooperate with people like you!"

"No, wait you're misunderstanding the situation! I'm not here to harm you, or force you into anything. Rather, on behalf of Chairman Dullindal I'm here to request your help."

"What would you need me for?"

"We need you for the dream of ending all wars."

"Ending all wars..?"

"It is the Chairman's ultimate goal and we need the help of people like you to realize this dream."

"Is that why you attacked our home?"

The young woman's anger began to rise. A blood red aura began to surround the young woman which frightened the tall man standing over her. "No no! Please! We didn't mean such hostilities! Our soldiers were only defending themselves when your kind attacked us. It is really our fault. We are in your debt."

"Then you wish to be indebted to me again?"

"Yes... If it's too much to ask... Please listen to me."

The aura around the young woman faded.

"There are people out there who want to destroy this goal. They are in the form of the organization known as Logos. Those who follow Logos must be dealt with as well or else war will continue to plague and destroy us. For this purpose we have created a new weapon we call The Incinerator. As it name implies it incinerates those who would bring harm to peace."

"So what? Your weapons are outdated for us. I'd break the machine..."

"We know. That's why we want you to guard it."

"With what? One of your limited Mobile Suits?"

"No. With one of your limitless ones..."

The lights in the gigantic room turned on blinding the young woman for a brief moment before revealing itself to be a hanger. There in front of them both stood an unusually large, familiar Mobile Suit.

"That's... The Mobile Suit from Kira's dream... Kira..."

"We don't know anything about the Mobile Suit and we can't pilot it either. All of our attempts to try have failed. It wasn't meant for Coordinators or Naturals to use it seems. That's why we came to your home. We believe it was meant for you. The Mobile Suit has no name either. There was no mention of a name or even a model number in its records. It's as if it came from another world..."

"Kira..."

"What was that?"

The young woman stood up and looked at the Mobile Suit.

"Its name is Qubeley... It will be my Mobile Suit..."

The man walked over to her and released her from her handcuffs. "From now own The Incinerator and those stationed to it will be under your command."

The man took out a small box from his pocket and opened it in front of the young girl revealing a gleaming white pin resembling feathers from an angel. The young woman picked up the pin from the box and looked at it with her reflection shining back at her.

"The thought of ending all wars... Maybe this is the right path Kira... Maybe Z.A.F.T... Maybe..."

"Young miss...?"

"You can stop calling me that now. My name is Tia Domina."

The Albatross was one of the Earth Alliance's Nelson class carriers. The group had rendezvous and docked with the Albatross an hour after takeoff. They are now proceeding on their way to Onogoro Island. In the hanger of Albatross Kira sat next to the Gaplant Zero pondering to himself when Elain came rushing over nearly tackling him.

"So Kira how was it?"

"How was what?"

"The Gaplant Zero of course! Did you throw up yet?"

"No I didn't throw up. It was actually alright. But I guess that's because I was flying in a straight path most of the time."

"Then maybe you'll start feeling it once we get to Orb."

"Hopefully not..."

Yuki then decided to stroll over and join in their conversation.

"Kira, you're always thinking. What are you thinking about?"

Kira sighed and looked up at Yuki.

"My friends... Roderick decided to stay behind at the station... Angel... She risked her life to save us all from Z.A.F.T... I would have never thought she would have done something like that... Hehe she was always the prankster of the group... and... Tia..."

Yuki sat down next to Kira and began to share her own memories of sorrow.

"I had a lot of friends too... Daemon... Lila... Will... Hilton... Robert... We were all there, that decisive battle... Jachin Due..."

"Jachin Due... why were you there?"

"At the time Dezas was influenced by the Earth Alliance. We were deployed there in order to ensure victory at whatever cost... The Z.A.F.T weapon however prevented that victory. As a result everyone I knew except Will died... But there was so much going on then, my head started to hurt... Z.A.F.T as well as those three ships with their own Mobile Suits... They looked like Orb Mobile Suits... I didn't know who to attack... it seemed like everyone was shooting at everyone..."

"I can't imagine what that would be like..."

"Everyone I knew died that day... Accept for Will but he's been gone now for nearly two years... He's just as much as dead as the others..."

Kira extended an arm to Yuki but before contact was made an announcement alerted everyone they were entering Orb airspace.

"All hands prepare to launch Mobile Suit teams!"

"C'mon Kira!"

"Right Yuki!"

The group began to scramble to their Mobile Suits, each one boarding their respective units and activating them. Derrick was the first to step up to the catapult. His launch was confirmed and the Rock Asshimar took off without hesitation. From the other catapult Elain launched next, flowed by Yuki. Kira stepped up to the catapult next and took his first glimpse at the battlefield. Explosions rang all across the island. Fighting wasn't limited to the coasts and military lines but also the residential areas.

"This is crazy! Damn those Coordinators. How far will they go? Kira Zamura, Gaplant Zero! Launching!"

The Gaplant shot out of the catapult system like a bullet heading straight into the battlefield. It quickly caught up to and passed Yuki and Elain's Messala units and proceeded to catch up with Derrick's Rock Asshimar.

"Kira! Z.A.F.T has already begun advancing on the shorelines! The Asshimar's sensors are counting twenty six Mobile Suits on the shoreline we're approaching! The majority of Z.A.F.T and Orb Mobile Weapons are on the other side of the island!"

"We don't need to worry about them, we have a mission and that's too find Lord Djibril!"

"So what, we're taking Z.A.F.T's side?"

"Never. Z.A.F.T will shoot anything that comes at them and Orb is only trying to defend their country."

"Defend? They're sheltering that man!"

"No they're not. They want nothing to do with him."

"Eh? How do you..."

"Derrick, take Thomas and Jones and reinforce Onogoro Island's northern shoreline! Yuki and Elain will split and look for any hidden launch facilities in the main land. I'll follow behind them searching for anything suspicious off the residential area!"

"Roger!"

The group split into Kira's assigned areas as they entered the Island. The two Gabthleys landed next to a pair of Orb M1-Astrays and began firing out toward the Z.A.F.T fleet advancing toward the coastline.

"More reinforcements? Ever since Lady Cagalli reappeared friendly units have been coming from nowhere! We might be able to push them back!"

As Thomas and Jones helped the Astrays Derrick took the opportunity to land behind the advancing Z.A.F.T GOOhNs and GOUFs and began assaulting them in the Asshimar's Mobile Suit variant. The Asshimar punched in two GOUFs and destroyed two more GOOhNs before proceeding down the shoreline. On the mainland Elain and Yuki were destroying Z.A.F.T ZAKUs in the Mobile Armor variant of the Float Messala that was curious enough to get close to the flying machines. Kira was right behind them on the surface of the island slashing apart GOUFs with the Gaplant's beam sabers. He then turned to shoot a ZAKU and radioed Yuki for her status on the mission.

"So far I see nothing other than forest. Elain?"

"No there's nothing here. We have to search somewhere else. Huh? What's that feeling...?"

"Elain? What's wrong?"

"Kira!"

"I know Elain. He's very confused out there, and in pain. He can't tell right from wrong because of the others confusing him and it's making him angry. However he's all the way on the other side of the island. We don't have the time for him right now."

Yuki turned her head back and forth in confusion.

"Who is? What's going on?"

"The pilot of that Z.A.F.T blue and white Mobile Suit with the red wings... He's on the other side of the island fighting the Freedom."

"How can you tell...?"

"Yuki it's alright. They aren't our concern. We have to find Lord Djibril!" Just then a flash of light whizzed past Kira's forehead.

"What? Back at the coast?"

Thomas then came roaring over the Gaplant's radio

"Kira a shuttle just flew over our heads!"

"He's on that shuttle! Stop it!"

"We can't! We're being suppressed by Z.A.F.T fire! We'll be shot down if we shift our attention!"

Two Orb Murasames whizzed by overhead followed by a Z.A.F.T Mobile Suit with the familiar blue and white color scheme.

"They're trying to catch that shuttle!"

"What do we do Kira?"

"Take Elain and regroup with the others! I'm going after the shuttle! The Gaplant should be able to catch up and stop it!"

"Kira no! That much force can destroy your body permanently! It's too dangerous!"

The Gaplant Zero transformed into its Mobile Armor variant and its active thrusters pivoted upward and rocketing the Gaplant off in the direction of the shuttle. The two Murasames were abruptly passed by the Z.A.F.T Mobile Suit and it began to fire at the shuttle. Its aim was off however and it became too far out of range for the Mobile Suit to lock. Its pilot, a young woman with red hair, sat in disbelief that she let the shuttle get away and decided to withdraw. As she began to fall back however a dark blue streak rushed past her at an alarming rate.

"Wha-What was that?"

The image flew by so fast it only seemed to be a blur to her eyes. Onboard the shuttle Lord Djibril relaxed seeing as the Z.A.F.T Mobile Suit had stopped firing but a loud voice then shouted in his head telling him to stop. Alarmed Lord Djibril looked out the window to see a dark blue fighter rushing upward trying to match the shuttle's speed.

"What? Impossible! The Gaplant Zero?"

Kira's body was begin pressed against the seat of the Gaplant, his hair thrashing downward and blood starting flowing from his mouth. Despite the immense force he was feeling Kira still managed to yell out the word "stop!" directing his attention to the shuttle. Djibril sat nervous watching the Gaplant slowly began to catch up to the shuttle. Sweat began to drip from his face but soon the Gaplant began to lose momentum.

"No... NO! He's... right... there...!"

Kira passed out from the immense G-forces and the Gaplant began to nose dive back to Earth. The shuttle then cleared the atmosphere and proceeded to leave the Earth's gravity well. Djibril was finally able to relax but not without some tense moments.

"That was the Gaplant Zero...! Damnit Dezas... You too? You and your freaks should stay out of this!"

The Gaplant Zero began its rapid decent back to Earth.

"Kira! KIRA!"

"It's no good Yuki! He's knocked out from the G-forces!"

Yuki's Messala rocketed up toward the plummeting Gaplant in attempt to catch the Mobile Suit. Derrick then yelled at Yuki saying it would be impossible to try and cushion the blow. Yuki paid him no mind and continued toward the Gaplant. She reached the machine and transformed into the Messala's Mobile Suit variant to catch the Gaplant. The Gaplant Zero crashed into the Messala's arms nose first as Yuki began to thrust trying to break the G-forces. The Messala however, was falling too and combined with the Gaplant's speed it was falling too fast. Yuki cursed under her breath but soon two large shudders rocked the Messala. The two Astrays which Thomas and Jones had helped were supporting the Messala's descent. Soon Elain came and supported them as well.

"Ah hell, might as well. I'm part of the team too!"

With that Derrick then rushed in and pushed the mass of Mobile Suits toward the sea. Once in position over the water Derrick maneuvered the Asshimar underneath the mass and thrusted upward until they hit splash down.

"Well you don't see that everyday do you Jones?"

"Not at all Thomas. Not at all."

The two transformed into the Bee Gabthley's Mobile Armor variant and took off to where the group had splashed down.

Kira awoke inside a small medical room. Looking up he saw Yuki sitting over his bed waiting patiently. Kira figured he was back in the Albatross until he saw a young man with blue hair in the bed across from him. He had bandages around his head and left arm and was fast asleep. Kira sprung up and alerted Yuki he has come to.

"Oh you're awake!"

"Where... is here...?"

Kira started to force himself up but Yuki prompted him to relax.

"You should take it easy. You just came to. We wouldn't want anything else to happen to you now."

Kira slowed himself down and got up gently. He peered at the young man again then at Yuki's face.

"Where are we?"

"You're pretty sharp. You instantly realized this wasn't the Albatross. Or maybe that's because you can already tell... We're on the Archangel." "Arch...Angel?"

"Yes, almost immediately after the shuttle escaped Z.A.F.T retreated. Those Astrays then took us to the Archangel."

Kira got up and exited the medical room.

"Wait Kira!"

Kira's vision was dazed walking down the hallway but he was able to make out the shapes of turns corridors and people walking by. Kira found his way to the bridge where he could distinctively make out three people. A young man with brown hair wearing a white uniform. A young woman with blond hair wearing the same white uniform, and another young woman with pink hair wearing a Japanese style outfit. All three were startled by Kira's sudden intrusion. Yuki was close behind running after Kira and entered the bridge herself.

"Hey I told you to take it easy!"

The blond woman shot up in surprise and called Kira's name. Both him and the young man with brown hair looked directly at her. At that moment Kira's vision returned. The young woman with the blonde hair revealed herself to his eyes as Angel.

"Angel... Angel! Your alive... ergh!"

Kira coughed and a trickle of blood flowed from his mouth.

"Seems you're still not over the effects of the G-forces yet, but I'm glad to see you're alright!"

"What happened to you Angel... after..?"

"After you guys were clear Z.A.F.T continued to attack me. I flew off trying to escape when I ran into more Z.A.F.T Mobile Suits. But they were attacking a ship. That's when I met this Kira. I came by and shot some of the Mobile Suits he was fending off, and then together we dropped into the middle of the Orb conflict."

"Yes, she came at the right moment too."

Kira looked up to see the young man with brown hair extending his arm to him.

"Kira Yamato. Nice to meet you."

Kira brought himself up and shook his hand.

"Zamura, Kira. Likewise Kira Yamato."

The young woman with pink hair giggled at the fact there were two Kiras in the same room. The others gave a slight chuckle as well, except for Kira Zamura who had his usual lost expression.

"Angel sensed your arrival Kira. I can't explain it but she told Lacus and I you were here. Then we saw your attempt to catch up to the shuttle in your Mobile Suit."

Kira Zamura looked over at the young woman with the pink hair "Lacus... Lacus Clyne... Coordinator... why...?"

Kira began to shoot up in pain as Yuki came over to support him.

"It seems our original picture of the coordinators were wrong Kira..."

Kira looked over to Angel who began to speak.

"Not all the Coordinators believe in Chairman Dullindal. The ones here on the Archangel believe he's only parading around lies."

Kira looked up at the other Kira and Lacus and then began to relax himself, easing his pain.

"The Coordinators the way they were described back at Dezas... No. I see it now. It's not the Coordinators. It's Z.A.F.T. The Coordinators are not my enemy. Z.A.F.T is. Z.A.F.T is the one who took Tia away."

Kira Yamato then expressed himself.

"Kira, why don't you stay here with us, on the Archangel?"

The two Kiras locked eyes. Kira Yamato then had a sudden feeling. Looking into Kira Zamura's eyes he could see more than his desires. He saw his pain, his anger, and his past. He saw his goals and plans. Through his eyes it was as if he could see the stars. Kira Zamura then smiled. The first time he smiled since his home was attacked.

"I'm sorry Kira. But I can't stay. I don't belong here. I'm fighting an entirely different battle than yours. The battle to preserve the human evolution."

Kira Yamato smiled as well.

"We walk the same path but take different routes. When we meet again let us hope it's as friends."

"Yea."

The two had another gaze at each other until Angel butted in.

"Come on Kira, everyone is waiting for you back at the hanger."

Angel led Kira outside the bridge and Yuki bowed to Kira Yamato and Lacus before leaving.

The group appeared at the Archangel's hanger where Kira and Yuki's Mobile Suits were waiting.

"I was pretty amazed though. You caught up to that shuttle and almost stopped it despite the tremendous force on your body."

Yuki smiled happily

"Yep, that's why Kira is our leader."

"You're leader? Haha good job Kira! I never thought you'd be able to command anyone around!"

Angel laughed while Kira stood in confusion.

"Hey! He directed us pretty well out there!"

Yuki's anger only amused Angel even more.

"Well, we should be going. We have to get back to Senjo and give our report. The Albatross is waiting for us."

"Kira..."

Kira turned to Angel who was looking off in the opposite direction. "Kira I'm going to stay here..."

"Stay here? Why Angel? Everyone else is back at Dezas!"

"Kira..."

Kira stopped before he said anything more and listened to what Angel had to say.

"Kira its time we stopped hiding. We can only be sheltered by the Earth Alliance for so long. That's why there's Dezas, that's why ZAFT attacked the station... If we remain hidden evolution will never progress. If I'm here with these people, the Coordinators and Naturals on this ship, everyone will begin to realize who we are."

"I see Angel... Maybe it's for the best as well. At least I know you're in good hands Angel."

"Kira..."

"Yes Angel?"

"Make sure you get Tia back."

"That's not an option. I will get her back."

Kira and Yuki walked off to their Mobile Suits that had been serviced in the Archangel and soon departed back to the Albatross on their way to Senjo.

"So you were unable to capture Lord Djibril?"

"No Ma'am."

"However you underwent the tremendous G-forces of the Gaplant in order to pursue the shuttle Lord Djibril was on?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Well that alone shows your dedication. From this we can safely assume Lord Djibril is headed for the moon."

Karen walked around the conference room once and began to pace back and forth until Kira finally asked her what was wrong.

"I'm concerned."

"About what ma'am? Lord Djibril?"

"No, something else..."

The monitor in the conference room suddenly tuned away from the specs and data analysis of the battle at Onogoro Island to a speech held by Orb's representative Cagalli Yula Athha. Her speech stating a message to Chairman Gilbert Dullindal of Z.A.F.T's forces was soon cut off by a transmission showing Lacus Clyne.

"Well well, what's going on here?"

Kira looked at the image of Lacus and immediately growled.

"That's not Lacus Clyne."

"Huh, what do you mean?"

Before Kira could respond Lacus's speech about how Orb was sheltering a member of Logos was interrupted again by the original transmission. This time another Lacus Clyne was standing next to Cagalli. She addressed herself as Lacus Clyne and Karen immediately turned off the monitor.

"That's all I needed to see. That Dullindal has been playing everyone for fools. That brings me back to what I'm so concerned about."

She flicked back on the monitor and changed the channel frequency to bring up the records of a Dezas pilot. Kira stared at the monitor looking at a picture of a dark skinned man.

"I've seen him before..."

"His name is William Taurus. He's been apart of Dezas for awhile now but two days ago he suddenly went missing. We received a report at 1330 yesterday containing the mission log of his last assignment. Apparently the new Mobile Suit developed at Fergion Colony was undergoing some testing when they were attacked by a Z.A.F.T unit. The log has the specs of the Mobile Suit's performance and the weapon used to destroy the Mobile Suit. It was described as yellow beam then the transmission cut. Oddly enough the signal and origin point transmitted as if there were no disturbance."

"That was just like my dream..."

"Dream?"

"This morning I awoke from a dream... it's hard to believe all of what happened was in the span of a day but... What happened in that report happened in my dream."

"So that means you know what the new Z.A.F.T weapon looks like."

"It's a giant cylinder surrounded by mirrors. It was two times the size of a Z.A.F.T Nazca class with a large opening forming somewhat of a barrel at the cylinder's face."

"Ma'am!"

A communication came in from downstairs at the command center. "What's wrong?"

"You have to see this. We have a big problem."

Karen and Kira raced outside the conference room and down the stairs to the command center where a large monitor displayed a satellite picture of a giant cylindrical object surrounded by mirrors. The object itself was roughly estimated as about half the size of a space colony.

"That's a bit bigger than twice the size of a Nazca..."

"We're getting a transmission from orbit."

"To the members of the Dezas organization currently occupying Senjo Japan. We, the Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty, have decreed your existence as a hindrance to Chairman Dullindal's dream to end all wars. You have been hiding a great power that has been growing over the years and are currently a military force capable of waging war on any country you see fit! With this in mind we cannot allow you to destroy the future of this world!"

"Destroy the future of the world...? What are they talking about? They think we want to harm others?"

"No, they just don't want us to have the power to oppose them. That's what The Chairman really wants. Absolute power."

"Is that so, Kira..?"

"With the Chairman's permission we have been granted full authority to your termination."

"That's it, the transmission cut Ma'am."

"What was all that about?"

"Ma'am look!"

The cylinder began to emit a yellow glow from within its core. "They're going to fire on us? This entire City?"

Kira and Karen turned and dropped face first to the floor with their hands over their head as the others watched in horror when the yellow beam came down from space and engulfed the city.