Sorry it took me so long…I'm working my way from the ones I haven't done the longest and up, so whichever one is at the bottom of my list is what will come next I hope…hehehehehe
Chapter 9: Darkness and Fire
Cagalli laid on the ground for what seemed like hours, her mind moving in slow motion. She felt someone pick her up bridal style and she caught a glimpse of brown hair, Kira. Her amber eyes looked in the direction she was facing. She could hear shouts and yells, but she could only see a few things, her eyes were getting blurry.
"Hold on Cagalli…"Kira said as she felt him start running. She caught a glimpse of the others whom had escaped as she was thrust into a car that quickly sped off.
"Kira…?" She whispered, her eyes now glazed over and distant.
"Hold on Cagalli…" Kira said looking down at his sister. He was going to kill Athrun when he found him. He was going to kill him. He saw the scared expression of Nikki who was in the front seat next to one of the escapee's who was driving. "She's bleeding from at least two bullets, give me your coat Nikki!" Kira demanded as he took off his own and wrapped it around her shoulder.
When Nikki handed Kira hers, she looked at Cagalli's face. It seemed calm despite the pain, her eyes slightly opened and glazed over. Kira wrapped the second jacket around Cagalli's waist. The bleeding had slowed, but Cagalli didn't seem to notice or feel.
"Ki…"Cagalli started but didn't finish for she was suddenly shrouded in darkness. Her mind replayed all of the horrifying events and dangerous things she had done. From her first gundam fight, to her most recent, the boat incident and the ball one as well.
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Athrun walked down the side walk, his hands in his pockets; a concentrated look on his face. His eyes down cast, he didn't look up as he walked for nearly an hour. It was getting colder and when he looked up, it was pure surprise that he saw what he saw. He was at the gundam hangar, and it was in full operation, the sound of the intercom barking out orders was clearly heard over the clamor of machines.
He saw someone that looked like Kira through one of the large open doors. Sneaking in close, he managed to get into the main hangar. Hiding behind a large pile of wooden boxes. He saw his, Kira's, Cagalli's, and about seven others all being prepped. What confused him was why Cagalli's was. He hoped she wasn't badly hurt though.
The rush of emotions that had gone through him when he had seen her get shot was something he never wanted to experience again. Sighing, he watched some of the people he had met a while back come and go, all in a hurry.
His breath caught after about five minutes. Walking out of the elevator came a limping blonde haired, fire eyed girl.
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Cagalli had woken up in the infirmary of the main gundam hangar. She was dizzy and nearly collapsed back onto the pillow when she sat up. Her side was hurting as was her shoulder. Her memory came back, and she looked down at her wounds. Her waist wasn't bad, and taking a look at the chart next to her bed, found out that the bullet had gone through and missed all of her organs. Her shoulder was fine as well, but her muscles hurt the most.
She hadn't seen anyone in the room until she heard a door closing nearby. Her head snapped up, and the muscles in her arm protested painfully. Her grandfather stood there, his eyes seemed older and tired.
"You're awake." He said smiling warmly.
"I feel like going back to sleep." She muttered as he helped her sit up and lean against the back board of the infirmary bed. "What happened? I don't remember very much of what happened after I was shot."
"Kira grabbed you and we came here. Half of the council members made it out. A lot of the guests did as well, but the ones that weren't so fortunate have been moved to a warehouse on the outskirts of the city. They have most of their mobile suit units out and searching for anyone who might try and attack. The city has also been evacuated." Sir said with a long, tired sigh. He had been worried sick over his spunkiest grandchild, and he didn't know the outcome of the upcoming battle.
"We're attacking?" She asked the unspoken question. He nodded and she sighed. The doctors had done a good job at checking her and bandaging her wounds, and she could only hoped she didn't injure herself further with her plan.
"Sir," She said hesitantly. "I have an idea." Kira had just come in and was watching her cautiously. She had the don't try and talk me out of it look on her face as she looked between the two.
"What are you going to do this time?" Kira asked smiling. She had finally woken up, and a huge weight had been lifted off of him as he looked at her all too familiar try me look.
"I'm going to go talk to the leaders of the Rebellion." She stated as if it were every day chit-chat.
"No, and we will not discuss it further." Sir said, and angry look now on his face. "Get some rest, and no more talk about the Rebellion." He said in a cold voice before stalking out, quite quickly for an old man.
"Don't look at me like that…"Kira said when Sir was gone and Cagalli was smiling innocently at him, completely unfazed by her grandfather's refusal to even consider her idea.
"If you don't help me," She started cockily, "Then you'll just have to watch me hurt myself more by trying to get to the hangar without any help." Her grin was all too knowing as she watched him fight a losing inner battle.
"Fine." He said after nearly five minutes of silent debating.
Grinning wickedly she put her arm around his neck as he helped her to her feet. Taking her over to the closet nearby, he let her go and turned his back as she donned her pilot uniform. She was ready to kill any Zaft Alliance fool who dared stand in her way.
"Let's go." She smiled happily, once again taking the offered help from Kira. The two then made their way down to the main hangar.
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Kira and Cagalli finally made it to the hangar. Kira had called the hangar crew on his way down with Cagalli and told them to prep her gundam along with the others. Cagalli was now walking more without his help, but she still needed a little support.
Finally getting to the hangar, the siblings entered to recieve stares by several of the people who had seen Cagalli get shot. A small group of people applauded until Cagalli blushed and glared at them. Making her way over to her gundam, she finished walking to the lift without Kira's help and grinned cockily as she pushed her helmet on over her messy blonde hair.
Athrun saw Cagalli and he sighed in relief, at least she was well enough to walk, but then again, she'd probably try to walk even if she had no legs. Always optomistic and smiling, the girl never ceased to amaze him.
Even though he was relieved, he wondered where she would be going. The other gundams were about an hour from launch, but she was about to launch. This caused him to get the need to follow her and keep an eye on her. He certainly felt bad enough for what had happened. He thought she had died, and he wasn't about to lose her after finding out she was her normal cocky self once again.
Sneaking back out of the hangar, he ran the mile to where his gundam was, and entered the back door. Looking for anyone who might see him, he quickly sneaked in, grabbing his helmet as he went.
The lift took him up to his gundam as he got ready to launch. Within five minutes he had burst through the cieling of the hangar and was following Cagalli's new gundam as she headed towards the ocean, away from the fighting.
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Cagalli knew she was being followed, but ignored it as she passed over the water off the coast of Orb. She could see bright lights fromt he Rebellion fleet up ahead and started to contact them, sending a message that spelled 'Peace. Request to land and speak to leaders.'
The reply was surprisingly yes she could land and to do so in the third docking bay on the main carrier. She watched warely as she set her gundam down. The hangar was crowded, and she had noticed her follower had not followed her this far. Opening the hatch, she got into a lift and was transported to the ground.
About a dozen soldiers waited on the ground for her, guns poised at her. Ironic, she thought, this is twice in one night that I've been aimed at. She watched the men as she stepped off the lift, bracing herself for the pain in her side. She pulled her helmet off and saluted to the captain of the small squad who was watching her submissively.
"If you'll come this way." he said in an overly snobby voice and quickly walked away, leaving her to limp after him, surrounded by guards.
Cagalli was taken to a room towards the middle and top of the ship. She was escorted in to where four men and two women sat at a long table. There were guards in the room as well, and they watched her suspiciously.
"Your name please." Said the one nearest her.
"Cagalli Yula Attha." She replied without hesitance. The six people looked at her surprised for a moment, then regarding her honesty with a slight nod.
"Your purpose." the same guard asked as he watched her.
"I come here without the knowledge of the rest of Orb's Council. I come asking peace between us, and maybe an alliance. The Zaft Alliance has decided to attack and try to take over Orb. Half of the council is either dead or captured, and we are planning an assault within the next hour. I come here asking for what can only be the salvation of my home and country, and an alliance with your group." she said without taking a breath, her diplomat and council position taking effect over her.
"You're the pilot of that gundam that Argon 1 fought a week ago if I'm not mistaken." Said a tall, red haired woman who was assessing her.
"Yes ma'am." Cagalli said formally.
"We'll consider it." One of the men said as he nodded to one of the guards. "We'll call for you when we have finished discussing it." With that, the guard escorted her from the room and helped her now tired body to a room down the hall way with plush pillows and a comfortable couch.
Guards were posted inside and outside of the room and watched Cagalli quietly as she rested on the couch, her side and arm killing her.
Fifteen minutes after the leaders had sent her out, they called for her again, and the same guard from before came and escorted her back into the meeting room. Once she entered, she noted their calm faces and wondered what their desicion had been. They could easily hold her for ransom or kill her, but she suspected that they hadn't decided on that course of action yet, because she was still being treated like an honored guest.
"We have come to a decision." Came one of the other men as he stood. He had peppered grey hair and sea green eyes that watched her intently.
"We will help you." The red headed woman from earlier said as she motioned for Cagalli to take a seat as they began discussing preparations for the retaliation against the Zaft Alliance, which turned out to be, the Rebellions, main enemy.
That was fun...in a tiring sort...I'm so tired...I'm going to bed now so don't kill the dark mistress....love ya all and keep up the reviews!
Mentally and Physically exhausted...
-DHM-
