Disclaimer: Kidou Senshi (Mobile Suit) Gundam SEED and its characters are copyright 2000-2004 Sotsu Agency, Sunrise, and MBS. English language adaptation produced under license by Bandai Entertainment.
In other words, I don't own the original intellectual property.
A/N
Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Responding to a reader comment . . . Yzak being gentle does seem a bit odd at first, but have you noticed that it's only with Asuka? Watch out for that, and how she begins to change him a little. Character development is a great thing and I like to see it as much as the next guy, but let's face it: any development of Yzak is bound to take him out of character just for technical reasons. He's portrayed as nothing but a hotheaded jerk through all but the last couple of episodes from SEED (I haven't seen Destiny).
And I don't want to hear any grief about the Destiny characters being OOC. Read the author's notes at the top of part one in case you forgot why.
End A/N
Chapter 17
As the sun rose, there were many busy people scurrying around. Cagalli still had administrative duties in preparation for the political fights that lie ahead. Kira, with the help of Lacus, was able to smooth things over with his parents. Dearka had tried to convince Yzak to allow him to tag along, but with little success. Yzak had decided to sneak off while Dearka was out courting Miriallia.
"It's time we said our goodbyes." Yzak stuck out his hand to Athrun. He was trying to get out of the country before Dearka could show up at the palace.
It was unlike Yzak to be this way, but Athrun knew better than to question Yzak's sudden offer of open friendship. "I understand. We can give you two a private flight to Carpenteria, but that is the extent of the aid you'll be able to receive officially."
"It'll be enough. We can take care of our own transportation and supply needs from there."
"Kira has offered to be your pilot so you'll be better rested when you two hit the ground. You can take Cagalli's swift little jet." Athrun had actually suggested it, since Kira had done so well piloting the plane to and from Lybia.
"That was kind of him," Asuka smiled.
Athrun placed a hand on Yzak's shoulder, pressing his luck. "Listen. If you guys get caught, you're going to start a whole world of trouble for the PLANTs and Orb. Too many people know you were here."
"Your concern isn't necessary, Zala." Yzak had reached the limits of his graciousness. "We won't fail."
Athrun smiled. "No, I don't suppose you will."
A car pulled up to receive the couple. Athrun watched as the car left through the gates. Good luck, Yzak. You're going to need it.
Sure enough, Kira was waiting for them with the plane prepped for takeoff. Their clearance was granted. The plane took off without a hitch.
Too bad the same couldn't be said for the flight.
Kira yelled back, "Hey, could you guys come up here for a minute?"
"What is it?" Yzak took the copilots seat, Asuka took that of the navigator.
Kira answered, "We're about to have a very bumpy ride."
Two fighters inbound. They wouldn't respond to hails and now they were taking a tight formation behind the civilian craft.
"Friends of yours?" asked Kira.
"They're ZAFT and probably out of Carpenteria." Yzak shook his head. "Uh, oh. They've got lock."
Before the words began to leave Yzak's mouth warning lights started flashing on the heads up display. And before Yzak was finished Kira had taken action.
Cutting the thrusters and pulling up, the little jet seemed like a car slamming on brakes to make a tailgater crash. Fortunately Kira flipped the plane at the last minute, slicing the narrow gap between their escorts.
"Damn, that was slick." Asuka was impressed with the aerial acrobatics of the Ultimate Coordinator.
"Yeah, but I think I made them mad." Kira was quickly making his passengers queasy with death-defying maneuvers. "I can't outrun them. See if you can make it to hatch."
"I'd love to if you'd stop flipping this thing!" Yzak yelled.
Gunfire tore through the ailerons. The plane was losing stability, going down. At least they had made it close to Carpenteria.
Kira left the pilot's seat and joined Yzak and Asuka at the hatch. "Everybody out!"
The three jumped with what little they could carry. Of course, Asuka had strapped on her stash of military goodies.
On the ground, Yzak and Asuka found a brooding Kira. "What's wrong?" asked Asuka.
"Lacus is going to be very upset if I'm not home soon."
Two
"How could you let them go without me?"
"Calm down, Dearka. This was their decision." Athrun was having a difficult time consoling his friend. Cagalli, also in the room, was wise enough to stay out of this discussion.
"It doesn't matter what they decided, they're going off to get killed!"
"Yzak and Asuka will be alright. Don't worry about it." Seeing the red recede from Dearka's face, Athrun decided to lighten the mood a bit. "Look at it this way. At least you get to stay with Miriallia a while longer."
"That doesn't help." Dearka's face returned to its natural color. "He's going to need us."
They had been gone a couple of hours. Kira was expected to return soon, but they had not yet heard word of his approach.
Lacus brust into Cagalli's private study, running out of breath.
"Lacus?" asked Athrun.
"Athrun, something is very wrong."
Dearka stated flatly, "I knew it."
"What do you mean?" Cagalli got out of her seat to tend to the weak-kneed Lacus.
"Kira. Something has happened to Kira." Lacus took a seat. She was very pale, as if the blood was draining from her face.
"What's happened to Kira?" asked Athrun.
"I don't know," Lacus shook her head. "Please look into it for me?" she asked Cagalli.
"I'll do it. Go lay down. I'll let you know the minute I find anything, okay?"
Lacus nodded her head before being led out by Athrun. He accompanied her to her room. Dearka stayed behind with Cagalli.
"Athrun? I'm frightened."
"I know, Lacus. Don't worry about it. Kira's been able to pull off the impossible before. He'll do it now."
"He needs help. I must go to him." Lacus laid down on the bed as Athrun left. Oh, Kira. I am coming. Wait for me.
Three
"Kira's plane was shot down near Carpenteria yesterday."
Murrue asked, "Oh, no! Is there anything we can do?"
Cagalli was on the phone with Murrue, discussing the unfortunate series of events.
"Actually, there is. Athrun, Dearka, and Lacus are going to go after them, but Athrun won't feel comfortable unless we can get some more trustworthy people at the palace."
"I see. Perhaps Andy and I should come pay an extended visit, is that it?"
"Exactly. Mind if I put you guys up for a week or two?"
"Not at all. I'll go have a talk with Dr. Simmons about getting a little vacation time."
"Great. Let me know when to expect you guys." Cagalli signed off. Leaning back in her plush office chair, she let out a sigh.
"Will you be alright?" Athrun was tasked with rubbing the princess's feet.
"Yeah." Tears began welling in her eyes, marking the first time the young lady's composure had cracked since Lacus's announcement that Kira was in trouble. "Take care of my little brother, okay?"
"I hear and obey." Athrun kissed her big toe, drawing a giggle. "Have you given any thought as to how we might actually get there?"
"Kisaka is already on it. You'll have to sneak in by submarine, much like how you snuck into Orb. Surely you know how to put all those ZAFT skills to good use."
"Yes ma'am." Athrun rolled his eyes.
"Athrun Zala, you had best behave or you'll be in big trouble." If she could have reached him, she would have added to his collection of arm bruises.
"Of course," he kissed the other big toe. That seemed to soothe the savage beast.
"And be careful. Don't forget you have something to come home to."
"You bet." He knew that was his dismissal. Cagalli wanted to be tough. She wanted him gone before she had the chance to break down and cry.
On his way out, he saw Miriallia giving a similar speech to Dearka. He decided to take another route through the palace to avoid disturbing their goodbyes.
"Athrun?"
He was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice he walked right past Lacus. "Hmm?"
"Have the arrangements been made?" She was still very pale, but there was a steely determination in her eyes. He hadn't seen her like this since she was in command of the Eternal.
"Yes. We'll be leaving soon." Athrun gave her a kind smile. She was a tough one, yet oddly vulnerable. Much like Cagalli.
"Very good. I am ready." Lacus took a deep breath. "Kira will be waiting for us in Carpenteria."
Athrun didn't question her intuition. He just accepted it.
Four
"That's new. When did you get that?" Cagalli cocked her head to look at Andy's new addition.
"I designed it, Erika helped me get it built. She called in some connections for the operation. It still hurts like hell, but at least it works." Andy lifted his robotic prosthetic arm, flexing it for Cagalli's benefit.
"Alright Andy, you've shown off enough. Take it easy with that thing." Turning to Cagalli, Murrue apologized. "He just got out of surgery a couple of days ago. He's not quite ready to be playing around with that thing yet."
"It's okay, Murrue. My rehabilitation is going well," he lied.
"Sure it is. Yesterday you couldn't even turn a doorknob. And I'd hate to see what would happen to anyone foolish enough to shake hands with you."
"Then it's a good thing I shake with my right hand instead of my left." Andy gave Cagalli a wink.
"Okay," Cagalli laughed. "If you two are done, I'd like to show you to your rooms."
While walking down the hallways, Andy and Cagalli made small talk.
Finally Murrue got around to asking, "So, have they gone after Kira yet?"
Cagalli stopped dead in her tracks. "Yes. They left about an hour ago. With luck, they'll find Kira by tomorrow evening."
Andy shot Murrue a look. "Let's not worry about it," he said. "Kira has proven quite adept at getting out of sticky circumstances before."
"Right," Cagalli brightened a bit. She had too many things going on to worry about it. There was still so much for her to do. Scheduling the order of reconstruction efforts, resuming normal government activities, restarting the schools – so much to do. Hopefully Athrun and the others would be back to her soon. She had to believe in that. The alternative was to be paralyzed by fear and doubt when her country needed her to be a leader.
Chapter 18
"You sure you're alright?"
"I'll be fine." Kira lay back against a tree.
They were in a small forest just outside Carpenteria. Asuka was trying to see if Kira was well. Yzak was off trying to plan an entry into the city. He was unsure if it would be wise to just walk in and start issuing orders.
But what alternatives were there? They were cold, wet, and hungry. They had exhausted their rations in the day's march to this point and they had been here a day. A long, cold, rainy day.
"Okay. You stay here. Yzak and I will be back soon." Asuka went off to join her commander and love. She found him at the edge of the tree line.
"Yamato still brooding?" Yzak didn't seem as gruff about it as he once would have been. Perhaps he could imagine himself in a similar situation; separated from someone important.
"No, I think he's gathering his strength. We may need it."
"I have an idea." Yzak lowered his digital binoculars.
"Let's hear it."
"We need to get some uniforms, but I'd like to avoid putting holes in the poor saps. Think we can handle it?"
"Sure. I don't feel comfortable killing our own either."
"Let's just hope that there are more of them on our side than otherwise." Yzak, with Asuka in tow, went back to let Kira in on the plan.
"Sounds good," Kira slowly rose to join them. They would likely need his assistance.
Without further delay, the three comrades made it into town. It didn't take long to find a few good candidates. A couple coming out of a bar and one lonely guy wandering down the wrong street at the wrong time of night. They left their prey tied up where they would be found soon, but not before they had a chance to make it deep into the government complex.
Yzak was a master at looking like he belonged. Asuka didn't do so bad either. Both were confident and resourceful career soldiers who knew how to play the game. No one bothered to give them a second glance.
Before long, the three of them stumbled across exactly what they were hoping for.
". . . tell me that you haven't found any bodies in the wreckage?" It was an unfamiliar voice.
The answer came over a communications channel, only partially distorted from the N-Jammer static. "No sir. And with last nights rain we're having trouble tracking them through the jungle. But at least we have confirmed that the aircraft was carrying Councilman Joule."
"Don't bother combing the jungle. They'll be coming here. Make sure they do not arrive in one piece." With that, the signal went silent.
Yzak took one side of the door, Asuka the other. They nodded at each other, making sure each knew the drill. Kira tried to lean against the wall nonchalantly while the others did their work.
Yzak burst through with Asuka close behind. "You need not look for me any longer. I am right here."
The room was full of communications personnel and a few guards. The one in charge was wearing a white commander's uniform. No one moved a muscle as Yzak trained his pistol on the commander.
"Why don't you fill us in on what you've been doing?" asked Yzak. "I'm sure I'll find it highly entertaining."
No response.
"Perhaps this will loosen your lips." Yzak shot the man in his right knee.
The guards made for their guns, but Asuka quickly dispatched them. There were only four.
"Would you like to lose another knee?" Yzak cocked an eye at his target. "Or perhaps we should just start cutting off your fingers?" He withdrew his knife. Now he had a gun in one hand, a knife in the other.
Yzak decided to make it another knee.
Screams of pain made the communications officers cringe. They were all female and not accustomed to the sight of blood, having never been near the front lines. And many were selected for their attractiveness, not their military prowess.
"Fine. I'll talk. The Zala Contingent is after you in particular. More so than any of the others on the council. You're a wild card, a loose cannon they don't know how to deal with. We received word that you would be arriving by a flight from Orb and sent fighters to shoot you down."
"Excellent. How many others are there in your little organization? No need to make a lengthy list just yet. Let's start with the ones in Carpenteria."
"Enough to make sure you never leave this city alive." His smart comment ensured the loss of a little finger.
"I'm growing bored with this game," Yzak began to adjust his victim to take off a more sensitive body part. Something in the crotch area.
"Okay, okay," the man blubbered. "There are only a few commanders. I'll call them here."
"You do that." Yzak put the knife away, but not the gun. "Hey, Yamato. Anything we need to know about out there?"
Kira poked his head through the door. "Yeah. It's gotten a lot more quiet. Something is up."
"Good." Yzak gave his captive a frightening grin. "Let them come. Let them all come. You're in my world now."
"You still don't stand a chance . . ." began the frightened commander.
"No. It's they who don't stand a chance. I'm taking over this little town and I have no qualms about killing anyone who gets in my way. Those who oppose me will live in fear of the name Yzak Joule." The silver haired councilman decided to lay it on a bit thick, just to get the message across to the communications officers. They would spread the word like wildfire throughout Carpenteria, and likely the other occupied Earth territories. Yzak was the one person they wouldn't want to cross.
"Yzak. I think we're going to have company!" Kira's voice rang out from the hall.
Things were certainly going to get busy.
Two
"We're almost there."
"You sure about this?" Lacus had faith in Athrun, but it seemed like they had been walking in circles for hours.
"He's right. It's just up ahead."
Two against one now. Athrun and Dearka had been here before, so Lacus deferred to their experience.
"See, here we are." Athrun pointed at the city.
Carpenteria. It had every look of a city under occupation. The few civilians around were scurrying out of the way of the military. And soldiers were everywhere. It seemed like they had just missed some party. Everyone was rushing about, making sure things were in order. Athrun hadn't seen something like this since he had gone with his father to give a full military inspection of some mobile suit factories in the PLANTs.
"What do you think is going on?" asked Dearka.
"I think everything will be just fine," Lacus smiled. "We are expected."
Making their way into town, no one questioned them. As they approached the central command center two guards ushered them into the building without a word. They were taken directly to the communications room on the fifteenth floor.
"Wondered when you guys would show up." Yzak didn't even turn around. He was in the commander's chair, wearing a commanders uniform, studying everything that scrolled across the monitors. It was like he had his fingers on the pulse of the entire occupied Asian territories.
Asuka was by his side, ever vigilant against an attack on her master. She wore the blue on purple of a councilman's staff member.
Kira quickly got to his feet at the sight of Lacus. Rushing over to hug the love of his life, he was summarily decked. The unexpected assault would leave Kira with a black eye. All were taken aback by this sudden assault by Lacus, of all people.
Lacus kept him on the floor by applying pressure to his chest with her right knee. "Kira Yamato, if you ever leave like this without telling me, so help me God you will have nothing to come home to."
Unable to contain it any longer she began to weep. Slumping down into Kira's arms she whispered, "Don't you dare leave me again. From now on we go together."
"I promise." He kissed the top of her head.
All was well, now. The lovers had made their peace. The display over, everyone got back to what they were doing.
"So, you mind telling me what's going on?" asked Dearka.
Yzak answered, "Not at all. I just had to kick a little ass on our arrival."
Asuka told them, "Yzak has taken control over Carpenteria."
"Looks like you didn't need our help after all," Athrun commented.
"Quite the contrary. I will need you guys to help me complete my mission." Yzak watched in amusement as his friends took in his sudden change of heart on the subject. "At least until we can make it to Gibraltar."
"Like you said earlier, next time you'll be in command." Athrun gave a crisp salute to Yzak.
That brought a laugh from Yzak. "So I did. Shall I contact Orb and express our sincerest wishes to continue peaceful dialogs?"
"That would be a great relief to Lady Cagalli, I'm sure." Athrun knew Yzak was being both helpful and diplomatic. It was hard for him to imagine Yzak as a successful politician. He always struck Athrun as the type to prefer to face enemies openly. But if he could take control of Carpenteria in a day, he would have little trouble getting his way on the Council.
"Great. Open a channel," Yzak ordered. Turning back to Athrun, he whispered "You might want to get a little closer so she can see you're alright."
Yzak and Cagalli exchanged political niceties long enough to give Athrun and Cagalli a good chance to look each other over. When it was all said and done, Cagalli gave permission for her bodyguard to stay for a little visit.
Yzak informed Athrun and Dearka that their status as fugitives had been lifted. Their crime of desertion was dismissed, since in doing so they actually helped to save the PLANTs. Yzak told Dearka, "As a matter of fact, your father has begun a campaign to get you elected to the council next term."
Dearka was a little surprised, but pleased to know that he could now return home. The only problem would be Miriallia.
"If you're worried about your girl," Yzak began, "you can always take her with you."
"I'm not sure she'll go for that, but we've got plenty of time to discuss it later." Dearka and the others turned to see Lacus napping on Kira in the middle of the floor. It was enough of a scene to attract the attention of the communications girls, who promptly went back to work after a stern glance from Yzak.
"She hasn't slept since word came about your flight," Athrun explained.
Very carefully, Kira maneuvered himself out from under her. Then gingerly picking her up, he took her to his temporary quarters. Yzak motioned one of the guards to show Athrun and the others to their rooms as well.
"Get comfortable," Yzak told them. "It won't be safe for any of us to make flights out of here until I've brought this territory under full control."
Dearka was the first to nod and go, Athrun following afterward. Just as they had taken time for Cagalli to get Orb in order, perhaps it was time to Yzak to clean house.
When their friends were gone, Asuka asked Yzak quietly "Have you been able to contact your mother yet?"
"No. I think the council is still in turmoil. If it was any semblance of order in the PLANTs, there's no way I could have staged a coup here in a single day."
"I suppose not." Asuka thought about it for a moment. "I just wish we had some way of knowing what was going on up there."
"Perhaps they can get their act together soon. All we can do is hope for the best."
Three
She slept peacefully on his lap for hours. Kira didn't close his eyes for more than a blink, unwilling to miss a second of this precious time with her. He found her beautiful; breathtaking really. With one hand he grasped one of hers, with the other he stroked her long pink hair. When she had come in it was done up, but Kira had let it out so she could sleep unencumbered.
Lacus's eyes began to open, bringing out Kira's best smile. "I love you, Lacus Clyne."
She smiled, saying "I still haven't forgiven you."
"I know." His smile shifted to a sad one. He had gotten on her bad side, and he didn't quite know how to take it.
A part of her was still very angry. Not so much at him, but just because he made a decision that ended up in their separation. When she was like this he felt alone again. He couldn't read her at all. And it frightened him.
"I'm sorry, Lacus." Kira carefully lifted her head so that he could get up out of the bed. Perhaps I should go for a walk and leave her alone for a bit.
He was stopped at the door by two arms wrapping around his waist. "Kira, don't go." She clenched her fists on his shirt, ruffling the borrowed ZAFT uniform.
"Sure, Lacus." Kira turned around in her embrace. "I'll never leave if you ask me to stay."
"Thank you. I love you too, Kira." Lacus stood on her toes to kiss him. "Stay with me forever."
"I feel so far away from you right now," he admitted. The sadness in his voice was evident.
"So do I, and it makes me very uncomfortable." Lacus pushed back on his chest to give them a few inches of space. "Our first fight."
"If your right hooks are any indication, our fights will not go well for me at all." Kira's little joke brought out a weak giggle. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
"Actually, there is."
"Name it."
"Make out with me?" Lacus bit her lip in anticipation. She knew this face was one Kira found absolutely irresistible.
"I would love to." Kira began to comply, feeling her mind coming into his. Their tension faded as they became one of soul again.
After a few moments together on the bed, Lacus pushed back on his chest again. "Wait. You need a bath."
Kira cocked his head a little. "That's an unusual request." He didn't smell or anything. As a matter of fact, he hadn't broken a sweat since his shower that morning.
Lacus shook her head. "You can be so dense, Kira Yamato." Lacus went over to her duffel bag to retrieve the small bottle she had obtained in Tassel. Bath salts, for them to bathe together. It was going to be a gift to him.
Kira turned bright red.
"If you feel that way about it, then consider it your punishment and my reward." She took him by the hand. "Either way, this is how I choose for you to make it up to me."
"Then I can't refuse." His comment stopped Lacus dead in her tracks.
He doesn't want to? she thought.
To relieve her fears, he kissed one of her spots on the neck. "Not that I would ever refuse such a request."
That brought back her smile.
Indeed this was somewhat of a punishment for Kira and a reward for Lacus. Kira was the only one in the tub while Lacus washed his back. She remained fully clothed and dry, much to his disappointment.
Four
"Sir, we finally got a satellite relay through," announced one of the communications officers.
"Good." Yzak stood up, ready to address his mother.
"Good evening son. It is good to see that you are well."
There was a lot of static, but at least they had visual. It took a series of ships and satellites to make a connection to the PLANTs working, so they had to make this quick before the transmission was interrupted. They also had to keep the conversation light to avoid dropping critical information to their enemies within.
"It is good to see you as well, mother. How are things in the PLANTs?"
"Well. The Council has settled down. You and your friends will be able to return home soon."
"Excellent. Things are going well here also. I have secured Carpenteria and plan on making a trip to Gibraltar in the near future." He was rewarded with a warm smile from his mother.
"The Council chose well when they gave you a temporary seat. How do you like your personal staff?" She wouldn't ask outright. Ezaria was just as curious as Asuka as to how well the name game was coming.
"She has done a superb job, mother. You would be proud of her." Behind Yzak, Asuka gave a slight bow to her former boss.
"Treat her well, Yzak. I put a lot of time and effort into selecting her for this mission."
"I will do that."
"How are your other matters progressing?" It was a subtle reference to the assassination mission.
"I intend to take care of that in Gibraltar. Unfortunately there wasn't the opportunity to handle it sooner."
"I see." Ezaria was evidently disappointed, but not discouraged.
"Mother, please send down the surviving members of the Joule Team and some reinforcements that you trust. It may be necessary to aggressively negotiate our way into Gibraltar."
"It will be done. Take care, Yzak. I hope to see you soon."
Chapter 19
"Good morning," Asuka awoke her lover with a kiss. Yzak had relaxed his restrictions on who initiated what, but only within the privacy of their quarters. He strictly held to the rule that there would be no affection in public. Ever.
"Yeah." He was unusually moody this morning. Perhaps it was because he would be meeting new recruits today. He had been here a week, taking care of administrative duties. What he really needed was some skilled idiots to join him on this mission. Perhaps those he would be meeting with today would have the right mix of talent and foolhardiness.
It wasn't that long ago since he was one and he knew just how green they could be. They come in thinking they already know it all, but they really know less than nothing.
Shower, shave, dress. Same old routine. He was still used to it, despite these past several weeks away from the military. Asuka was outside waiting for him.
"Perhaps we should bring Dearka and Athrun along," she suggested.
"Fine."
Asuka punched the request into her data pad while the two of them walked to his new office.
"At ease." Yzak told them. They were waiting in his office when he got there. Three of them. Yzak read their names from Asuka's data pad. "Shinn Asuka, Lunamaria Hawke, Meyrin Hawke." Shinn and Lunamaria were in the red coats of elite pilots.
"Sir!" They all saluted.
"Says here you're from Orb, Shinn." Yzak eyed the boy closely.
"Yes sir."
"Orb has a perfectly good military of its own. Why are you here?"
"I do not agree with the Athha ideals." Shinn bristled under the scrutiny. He was evidently one who disliked authority.
"Peace and neutrality is an admirable goal. To believe otherwise is to invite war."
"Perhaps so, but their foolishness led to the death of my family when Orb was invaded."
"You do of course realize that Orb would have been invaded anyway."
"How can you be so certain?" Shinn cocked an eye.
"Because we were there," Dearka entered the room, followed by Athrun. "The Atlantic Federation had no intention of negotiating for Orb's surrender. It was planned to be slaughter from the beginning."
"Whatever," Shinn rolled his eyes.
"Looks like you need to be taken down a peg." Dearka made an advance.
"It's alright, Dearka. He'll get it soon enough." Yzak turned to Lunamaria. "You and Shinn are pilots. Top of you class." Turning to Meyrin, "And the little sister is an aspiring bridge officer. Communications. Hmm."
"Please call me Luna." The sisters were admiring Athrun.
"Take it easy girls," Dearka stated flatly. "Going after him could cause an international incident."
"Pardon?" asked Luna.
"He means I'm taken," sighed Athrun.
Luna showed a little disappointment, Meyrin not so much. Shinn was slightly miffed that Luna seemed more interested in Athrun than himself. They were casually dating.
Yzak had had enough of this. "If you guys are done chitchatting, I'd like to consider you three for a highly classified mission."
"Sir!" All three saluted.
Two
"How are you holding up?"
Cagalli answered, "Fine. How about you, Mir?"
"Fine."
"We're both lying, aren't we?"
"Yep."
"Thought so."
Both let out a sigh. They were keeping each other company in the rare moments when Cagalli actually had free time. Sai came by to visit as often as he could, occasionally bringing former classmate Kuzzey Buskirk. At the moment it was just Cagalli and Miriallia, sharing tea while Murrue and Andy were off taking care of other things.
After a moment of reflection, Miriallia asked her daily question. "Any word on them?"
"Not since last week. Yzak hinted that they would all try and take on whatever foolhardy mission he's come up with." Cagalli sat back to look up at the ceiling mosaic. "I get the feeling that they won't be back for a while."
"I'll never forgive Dearka for this. The waiting is unbearable."
"I know. I feel the same way."
"But we have to keep it together as long as we can. I'd hate for them to come home to nothing."
"I know what you mean. There are times I think that if he came home right this minute I'd deck him. And then there are others when I think I'd throw myself at him and never let him go."
"Dearka and I aren't at that point yet."
"You can't fool me, Mir. I know there's something there."
"We haven't had the time to let it develop far beyond friendship. And if he doesn't make it back here soon . . ." she trailed off.
"Don't think that way. They'll be back soon enough. Kira will look after them."
"Time to stop the guy-missing talk. Murrue is coming."
As she sat down, Murrue let them in on something. "You know, you don't have to stop on my account. It's alright."
"How have you and Andy been getting along?" Mir had always wanted to know, but never gotten around to asking.
"We're doing well, and no we are not dating."
"I wasn't going to ask that, but thanks for sharing." Miriallia gave her former captain a playful pat on the arm.
"If I may be so bold, how do you feel about him then?" Now that the door was opened, Cagalli wanted to know. Murrue brought it up anyway so it was fair game, right?
"I like him a lot, but I don't want anything romantic at this point." Murrue was being perfectly honest and the other girls could sense it.
"How does he feel about you?" asked Mir.
"You could ask him yourself. He'll be over in a few moments." Murrue leaned back in the comfortable chair, letting it absorb her.
"Is his rehab going alright?" Cagalli didn't feel like continuing the current line of discussion with Andy coming, so she veered it away.
Murrue answered, "He is still in pain, but he can now pick up an egg without breaking it."
"Why does it hurt him so much?" asked Mir.
"The circuitry is attached to the nerve endings, as well as muscles, bones and tendons. He had already gotten used to not having an arm, which is painful enough. Now he has to retrain his body to think he's got the old arm back and not some mechanical monstrosity."
"Talking about me behind my back, huh?" Andy grinned as he joined the discussion. "What did I miss? Lots of juicy gossip I hope." He laughed as he took a sip of his new blend of coffee. Mixing unusual coffee blends was still a hobby of his.
"Murrue was just telling us intimate details of your love life." Mir sounded dead serious, causing Andy to spew coffee across the table at Murrue.
"Andy!" Murrue began wiping herself off with a nearby napkin.
"What did you tell them, Murrue?"
"Nothing at all. They asked and I said you were too cute for words." Murrue enjoyed watching his face change a few shades at that comment.
"That's not funny," he said.
"It is to everyone but you," she retorted.
"Do you like her?" interrupted Mir.
Andy was starting to get extremely uncomfortable. "What kind of game are you girls playing?"
"It's just a question, Andy. Nothing to get upset about," Cagalli joined in.
"The answer is yes, I like Murrue very much. She's been a good friend, even if she is a bit of a flirt and a prankster." Andy took a sip of his coffee. "At least it gives her something to do when she's not out saving the universe."
That got a good laugh. These four had gotten a lot closer over the past week. They were becoming fast friends.
Three
"Everything is set to go, sir."
"Excellent, Meyrin." Yzak came a little closer to whisper, "Relax. You're doing fine."
It sounded odd coming from him, and not because they she gotten used to his abrasive nature. He was mellowing out a little now that he had become a commander. No, the reason it seemed so odd was because everyone in Carpenteria had been terrified of his very presence. He had ruled with an iron fist, subduing the entire Asian occupied territories within hours.
Currently, Yzak and company were aboard a submarine headed around Africa on their way to Gibraltar to pick up final supplies before proceeding to Ireland. Meyrin was in charge of ship's communications.
The others were off attending to the contingent of mobile suits on board. The Joule Team members that survived Jachine Diue were there, in addition to Kira, Lacus, Athrun, Dearka, Shinn, and Luna. Luna was sticking to Athrun like glue for some inexplicable reason. It seemed to make Kira and Lacus far more uncomfortable than it did Athrun.
Yzak didn't have time to worry about it. He and Asuka were too busy trying to plan an operation with a bunch of inexperienced soldiers and non-ZAFT personnel. "What a nightmare."
"Hmm?" asked Asuka.
"Nothing. Just thinking aloud." Yzak ordered Meyrin to signal go.
"Sir."
With that, the submarine carrier surfaced. The Joule Team, plus Shinn and Luna, went out on maneuvers in the upgraded DINNs. It was the best suits they could manage under the circumstances, and their aerial capabilities might come in handy.
Mobile suits were a bit much for this operation given its covert nature, but Yzak wanted to see if his new pilots were all that their reports said they would be.
Luna struggled at first, but she eventually outpaced many of the Joule Team members. Shinn, on the other hand, clearly stood out the whole time.
Kira took this moment to have a little talk with Athrun in the rear of the bridge.
"So, how are things between you and Cagalli?"
"Great. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious. You seem to be hitting it off with someone else is all."
"You mean Luna? I wouldn't worry about it. I think it's just hero worship or something."
"You should tell her you're not interested." Kira waited to see if that sparked a reaction. It didn't. "Unless of course, you are interested."
"I'm not going to cheat on Cagalli. You don't have to worry about that."
"Listen Athrun, if you don't tell Luna then you'll just end up hurting her. And what will you tell Cagalli if she finds out? Even if you weren't doing anything, will she understand that?" Kira shook his head, sighing at his unresponsive friend. "I just hope you know what your doing."
"I don't need a lecture from you."
"No, you don't." Kira left, with Lacus in tow.
Perhaps I don't know what I'm feeling right now, thought Athrun. I love Cagalli more than anything, but I just don't know if it can really work between us. She's got a country to run and hardly has time to spend with me anyway. Maybe I should take this opportunity to disappear and get out of her life.
Four
"Say, you're a pretty good pilot." Kira tried to congratulate Shinn.
"And who are you?"
"My name's Kira." he offered a hand.
Shinn didn't accept it. "Thanks for the praise. Are you a pilot too?"
"I was one during the war."
"I noticed you're not wearing a uniform. Who did you fight with?"
"Originally the Earth Forces 8th Lunar Fleet, but that was out of necessity. My friends and I were trapped on Heliopolis and we had to fight our way out. After the JOSH-A incident we all defected to Orb to help in its defense. Even some ZAFT pilots helped out. Later I fought with the Triple Ships Alliance."
The very mention of the Orb invasion brought a cold look from Shinn.
"Look, Shinn. We can't harbor grudges forever."
"And why not." Shinn was indignant.
"Because in the end it'll make us no better than the ones who caused all these tragedies. And it'll only result in the next round of conflict."
Kira's comment only angered him further. "How dare you belittle my loss."
"That's not what he's doing," Dearka joined in. "Who do you think you are that your loss is more important than ours?"
It was now Lacus's turn. "We have all lost friends and family in the Bloody Valentine War. It is too bad that some, like yourself, are so self centered that you cannot see past the nose on your face and recognize that fact. Such people are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past."
They left Shinn to think about that. He really wasn't such a bad guy. Shinn just didn't know how to cope with the death of his family. It wasn't that long ago since their torn and mangled bodies lay right in front of him. Visions of the scene still haunted his dreams.
Chapter 20
In casing out the facility, they left Shinn to his own devices. He was still being terribly difficult to get along with. Even his semi-girlfriend Luna would have little to do with him. Besides, she was focusing her attentions on Athrun Zala.
Riding a motorcycle through Ireland was a moderately enjoyable experience. When it wasn't raining, that is. Such didn't happen often during the spring of the year. It is said that the weather of the British Isles is never agreeable to outdoor activities, and zero-visibility fog is said to be good weather. Perhaps today Shinn was very fortunate to be riding in the dry and clear.
He was fortunate in another way as well.
Riding near the shoreline, there was a sidewalk with a spectacular ocean view of the sunset. A rail kept passers by from tumbling over the cliff into the sea. Half an hour of daylight left and today there would be an unobstructed view of the sun setting.
As Shinn reached his appointed position he suddenly felt a little strange. A tingling sensation, starting from the base of the skull and moving to the forehead. Someone else felt it as well.
Shinn slowed to a stop as this other person locked their eyes with his. A girl. Blond and beautiful, with brown eyes. She stood just a little shorter than he.
"Hi," she said.
"Um, hello," was all he could think to say.
"Nice view, isn't it?" The lady turned back to watch the seas crash against the small cliff side below.
"It is." Shinn wasn't looking at the sea or the sun, just this girl.
The girl smiled, still looking over the rail and down at the sea. "You don't have to stare. I'm not going to disappear any time soon."
He didn't think he was being so obvious, but apparently he was. "Sorry." Shinn followed the lead of his neighbor and looked out over the sea as well.
"No need to be sorry. I find you quite attractive as well." The girl turned to admire the raven-haired gentleman that was so kind to keep her company. Staring deep into his vibrant red eyes she asked, "What's your name?"
"Shinn. Shinn Asuka. You?"
"Stellar Loussier." Stellar turned to point at a small island about three hundred meters away to the northwest. "I live in that hospital over there."
Shinn knew it wasn't a hospital. It was their target: a research facility. He was here to observe it from a distance. "Are you sick? You sure don't look it."
"Yes." Stellar turned back to smile at her companion. "Though I don't know what's wrong with me."
"What do you mean?"
"That's just it. I can't remember. All I do is go through these tests. They're more like training exercises, but I remember so little after it's all done."
"Do they allow visitors at this hospital?"
"My, you sure are a flirt." Stellar enjoyed seeing him blush. "It's alright. I don't mind. But to answer your question, I don't really know. No one's ever tried to visit."
"No family or friends?"
"Not that I can remember." She shook her head. "I've been told that I was born in the American Midwest, but I don't remember anything before coming here. All the friends I have are inside. A few doctors, some of the trainers and a couple other patients. They're military guys."
"Doesn't is seem a little strange that there are military personnel in a hospital?"
"It is? Well, perhaps it is a military hospital then. That would make sense, since I am an ensign."
Shinn's jaw dropped. "You're a what?"
"You think I'm not cut out for it? Sometimes I think that as well." Stellar sighed, pushing off the rails. "I've already said too much, but it doesn't matter. I'm not even supposed to be out here, though they tell me I keep coming anyway. They will punish me and I'll remember none of this tomorrow. I hope I do not forget you Shinn Asuka."
Shinn took her hand before she could walk away. "Do you have to go just yet?"
"Yes. I really should get back. Perhaps we will meet again."
"At least let me give you a ride back." Shinn motioned at the motorcycle. "If you've got to go, go in style."
"Sure." Stellar gave him a wide smile as she followed him to their ride.
It was a cool evening and they enjoyed each other's warmth during the ride. Running her hands over his chest she placed an ear to his back, feeling his heart race through his leather jacket. She almost thought she could hear it over the rumble of the motorcycle engine.
As the reached the pier, there were a couple of brawny guys waiting for them. "You're late again. Why do you always do this?" asked the first brute.
"Sorry. I'm not sure myself, but this gentleman was kind enough to bring me back."
The second brute thanked Shinn before ushering Stellar onto the boat.
"Good night, sweet prince." Stellar waved as she disappeared, followed by the two goons.
"And may flights of angels wing thee to thy rest." Shinn had only read Hamlet once, and a very long time ago, but he remembered these final lines. It referred to the final fate of Prince Hamlet; the eternal slumber of his death. She was saying goodbye in a final way, like she never expected to see him again. Like he was about to be dead to her. Or just dead.
Two
"Why exactly are you here?" Athrun was quite curious about his new shadow. She had clung to him like glue in their three days of casing the area for the planned assault.
"Is there something wrong with me being here? You did invite me to dinner." Luna just smiled.
"So I did. What exactly is your interest in me?" They had just started their main course and Athrun was beating around the bush, so to speak. Trying to figure her out. And trying to figure out his own level of interest in her.
"I like you. I don't know why, so don't bother asking that. This all started as a ploy to get Shinn jealous, but that didn't seem to work. Now I'm here just because I want to be." Luna took a sip of water. "Don't you want me here?"
"You know I'm spoken for."
Luna nodded.
"I'm actually engaged."
"You're not married yet, so that means you're still fair game. And I take it that your invitation tonight is a sign of your infidelity." Luna was hoping against hope that her affection wasn't unrequited.
He looked down at his partially eaten food, as if to avoid her penetrating gaze. "No. I love Cagalli very much." He let the name slip without thinking.
"Cagalli? As in Cagalli Yula Athha? No wonder that guy said going after you would cause an international incident." Luna rolled her eyes at Athrun. What a total bastard.
Athrun looked up to meet her gaze. "Yes. I love her very much," he stated with more determination.
"Then why did you invite me here?" asked Luna. "Was it just so you could shoot me down in public?" Her eyes began to water. "Or maybe you don't think things will work out between you and Lady Cagalli, is that it? You need me as your backup plan?"
"I guess this was my way of saying that I'm sorry because I can't see anything more than friendship between us," he lied. "And no, I don't think things will work out between me and Cagalli. I'd only get in her way."
"How can you say that? Look, I would kill to be in her position right now. I mean, you're the guy of my dreams, and I'm sure she feels the same way. How can you possibly say that you would get in her way? She would have to be a fool to let someone like you go." Luna began to rise.
"Where are you going? You haven't finished your dinner yet." Though he had completely blown her off, he didn't really want her to leave.
"I've suddenly lost my appetite." She threw her napkin down on the plate.
"Wait." Athrun took her wrist, but didn't force her to turn around. "I really am sorry about all this."
"Don't be. I don't need your pity or your sympathy date." She was calm, rigid. But her reddish purple hair didn't hide enough of her face to keep Athrun from seeing a single tear slide down her cheek. She whispered, "I don't need anything from you, Athrun Zala."
After wrenching her wrist free, the sad girl left Athrun to his melancholy thoughts.
I am such a fool. And I should never have come with them on this mission.
Three
Shinn didn't see the mystery girl the next day. Or the day after that, though not from lack of trying. There was something about her . . .
Anyway, Shinn's encounter with Stellar caused a subtle shift in his behavior that did not go unnoticed by the others. Yzak and Asuka were ashore, as were Kira, Lacus, Athrun and Luna. Dearka and the others had been left behind to provide support as necessary from the submarine carrier.
At the moment, everyone was having a meeting in a hotel room.
"So the operation is tonight?" Shinn was looking forward to watching the sunset with his mystery girl this afternoon. If she would just show up, that is.
"Yes, tonight. Are you ready?" asked Yzak.
"Yes sir." Shinn had to be cautious and keep an eye out for Stellar. They were planning to raid the place and steal what research data they could. Hopefully their two targets would be inside.
"Good. You will go in with Kira and Athrun to find whatever you can. Lacus and Luna will keep our escape route clear. And we'll go after our primary targets." Of course, 'we' meant Asuka would tag along with him. "Approaching by boat, we can sneak in under cover of darkness. On our way out, we take the boat out to see and call in the sub. Then we can sink the boat and get back to Carpenteria."
"When do we leave?" Kira was anxious to get this over with. Lacus agreed. The two of them likely wouldn't have a chance for quality time until they got all the way back to Orb. Maybe not even then.
Asuka answered. "Within the hour. Get suited up."
By "suited up" she meant loaded with weapons and ammo. They would all wear black from head to toe.
Lacus had two low-slung pistol holsters strapped to each thigh. Though she hated fighting, thanks to Kira's guidance she knew how to handle herself in battle. However, this would be her first time as a participant rather than a commander. She was understandably nervous.
The others were arrayed similarly, with the exception of Yzak and Asuka.
Asuka naturally brought a pistol along with her kunais. Yzak brought out the automatic pistols and as much ammo as he could carry. Both wore light body armor. The two looked ready to storm a fortress by themselves, which was their original intention anyway. Besides, they had tried to plan this so that they would be the only two involved in any heavy fighting.
All their weapons were equipped with silencers. It seemed like a good idea if they wanted to avoid attracting undue attention.
Slowly approaching by sea, the group went completely unnoticed in their large rubber raft. They cut the engines from very far out and let the boat coast in to the island's shore, unaware that they had just tripped underwater sensors.
Lacus and Luna sat in an uncomfortable silence while they waited. Earlier in the day, Luna approached Lacus about Athrun.
"He and I were once engaged," Lacus had said.
"Really? It didn't work out, huh?" Luna was still harboring a little hope that his current engagement wouldn't work out either.
"No. There was never anything there. It was just something arranged by our parents. Besides, I fell for Kira and he for Kira's sister."
"He loves her very much, doesn't he?" Luna was quite sad about it.
"I know you have feelings for Athrun, but please do not confuse him further. He is normally a very determined individual, but when it comes to matters of the heart he is quite dumb and indecisive. I know he is frightened of the commitment he made to her, but it is something he must face on his own. If he likes you, he'll come around. Let him work out his problems with his fiancée by himself."
"Sorry. It wasn't my intention to interfere. I'll stay away from him, then."
Lacus knew Luna had developed quite a crush on Athrun in the past couple of weeks. And Lacus also knew that her friend and future sister-in-law was at home worried sick about Athrun. To make matters worse, it seemed Athrun was enjoying the attention of not only Luna, but also Meyrin!
Yes, the silence between them this night was quite uncomfortable indeed.
Yzak and Asuka had gone in one direction, while Kira, Athrun, and Shinn in another. Sneaking into the facility was easy. Too easy in fact, but no one complained about it. They worked in silence.
Making their way into the computer room, Shinn was a bit surprised to see it unguarded. Kira and Athrun quickly set to work in bypassing the security lockouts and backing up the research database. They placed Shinn on lookout duty, though his eyes kept darting back to the computer screens hoping for a glimpse of information on Stellar.
He didn't see any by the time they were finished, so he decided to ask about it instead.
Kira blinked at Shinn in rapid succession.
Athrun stated coolly, "Of all the times to tell us you know someone inside, it had to be now."
"Sorry," Shinn matched Athrun's angry eyes. "I didn't think it was any of your business."
"Well, if Yzak goes to plan B she'll be dead," Kira told him.
"Plan B?" This was the first Shinn had heard of a plan B.
"B for blow the place up," Kira answered.
"Look, she's a friend of mine and I would like to get her out of this refuge for mad scientists. Are you guys going to help me or am I going to have to do this on my own?"
"I'll help," Kira volunteered. "I know what it's like to have a friend on the opposite side." Of course Athrun knew what it was like too, as he was the friend to which Kira was referring.
"It's a bad idea, but I can't leave you two alone." Placing a hand on Kira's shoulder, Athrun continued "Just don't forget that each extra moment we spend in here puts Lacus in even greater danger."
"Understood," Kira nodded. He didn't need the reminder. Kira could sense the apprehension within Lacus.
"Then we'll do this real quick-like." Shinn's voice dripped with sarcasm. He took over the computer screen to do a search. Kira took over another terminal to try to erase their tracks and avoid setting off every alarm in the building.
"Hurry it up, guys. We can't keep this lucky streak going for much longer." It's not that Athrun was unsympathetic . . . Well, maybe he was just a little bit.
"You're assuming that they don't already know we're here." Kira whispered.
"Found it. Let's go." Shinn was disturbed by what he found. Stellar was a second generation human CPU for mobile suits. She was listed as equipment, not personnel. A plaything for scientists and engineers disguised as medical doctors.
It was little wonder why she had such a poor memory. She was the victim of repeated brainwashing and drug enhancement to make her the perfect killing machine.
When they arrived, she was wrapping up another treatment along with several other would-be pilots.
"There are intruders in the complex," they were told by someone in a lab coat. "Kill them."
"Sir!" All of them saluted.
The doctor had them split up. Two would go to guard the VIPs. Stellar and the others would individually search for the two groups of intruders.
Perhaps Shinn was getting lucky. Or perhaps not.
Shinn, Kira, and Athrun backed off to wait for their prey. They couldn't play this game for long. Guards were probably already swarming the place if the doctors knew there were intruders in the building.
"Psst. Stellar," Shinn called through a doorway.
Stellar entered the darkened room cautiously with a knife in one hand, a pistol in the other. She brushed her wrist by her belt, barley depressing a call button to alert the security forces.
Athrun jumped first, barely succeeding in taking away her gun. It earned him a nasty gash between the ribs from her knife. Shinn flipped on the lights, only to be rushed by the wild animal he barely recognized as Stellar. It was the same girl, but the look in her eyes was that of an enraged berserker.
Shinn grabbed her wrists and avoided a lethal knife wound, but had the breath knocked out of him with one of her knees. She had him pinned against the wall, almost ready to slit his throat. Stellar would bathe in his blood, enjoying the kill.
Kira slammed the butt of his pistol down on her back, trying to knock her unconscious. It only made matters worse.
With his comrades temporarily out of the fight, it was Kira all alone. Shinn would be fine in a few minutes and his eyes begged Kira not to hurt her. Athrun was desperately trying to slow his bleeding. Kira's pupils shrank to pinpricks as his senses heightened and muscles grew stronger. With all his uncanny abilities, would this Ultimate Coordinator be a match for her? He always had problems against the three enhanced Naturals he encountered before, but then he was outnumbered. Stellar was a second generation unit. How much stronger, faster, more terrifying would she be?
She lunged with the knife. Kira grabbed her wrist and elbow, slinging Stellar over his head. As she hit the wall flat on her back, Kira slammed his fist into her stomach with all his might. Aiming just below her diaphragm, he made sure she wouldn't be able to breathe effectively for a few minutes. Despite having the wind knocked from her sails, she still fought furiously for half a minute before finally passing out from lack of oxygen.
Shinn managed to get out between gasps, "What the hell did you do to her?"
"The same thing she just did to you, only a little harder. If you want to get your friend out of here, I suggest you carry her." Kira went over to help Athrun to his feet. "How bad is it?" he asked his best friend.
Athrun answered, "I'll be fine. As long as we can manage to get out of here."
Four
"I have a very bad feeling about this."
"I know." If Yzak didn't have guns in both hands he would have patted Asuka on the shoulder for encouragement. She didn't need it, he knew. It might have made him feel better, though.
They stalked the rest of the way in silence, with little hope of success in finding their prey. They planted plastic explosives in a few out of the way areas; the kind of explosives that the Eurasian Federation was fond of using. They also planted a few other subtle clues to point toward the Eurasians, but it was questionable whether any of it would actually work. As long as it wasn't blatantly obvious that it was a ZAFT attack they would be fine.
When they heard a commotion around the corner, Yzak didn't quite know what to do. Asuka pulled him into a darkened room to look for a way into the air ducts or some other immediate fix.
Instead, they stumbled into the sleeping quarters of the chief researcher.
They closed the door behind them, waiting until the guards had passed before turning on the lights.
"So glad you could join us." It was a thin teenager, maybe fifteen or sixteen. Reddish orange hair was all disheveled and the young man had a wicked grin. His eyes, though, were what let them know they were in trouble. Silver eyes, bloodshot, betrayed utter madness.
"Take care of them, Diego." The order was issued by the chief researcher.
The action began with everyone moving at once. Asuka flung a kunai at the scientist only to have Diego catch it and fling it into one of Yzak's hands. Yzak let the gun from the injured hand drop and opened fire with the other. Unfortunately, he couldn't get a shot off at their target before the researcher ducked behind a mahogany desk.
Diego sprang into the air at Asuka and stabbed at her with the second kunai she threw. Her body armor saved her from being disemboweled, but the pressure of his attack almost knocked the wind out of her. Yzak shot at the lunatic hitting him several times but he kept on coming.
When it was finally over, Yzak and Asuka lay bleeding and exhausted in the floor. It took a shot to the head to finally stop this Diego.
Summoning his remaining strength, Yzak completed this part of the mission. The scientists died whimpering.
"Let's go. We've done enough," Yzak helped his companion to her feet.
Now that the place was fully alert to their presence, they would have to fight their way out. There was no hope of them living long enough to finding the second target.
End Part Five
A/N
I'm glad one of these parts finally worked out to have a little cliffhanger at the end.
If you blinked, then you may have missed the infamous bottle. (Chapter 18, section 3)
End A/N