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
Props to you if you recognized some of the names I borrowed from the UC timeline in part eleven. I'm not going to point them out for you, though. Think of it as a treasure hunt.
As always, thanks for reading and reviewing.
And special thanks goes out to DragonBlond, who again provided invaluable assistance in keeping this story going.
A/N End
Chapter 45
Mobile suit training went well. Maneuvers were held twice daily in the vacuum of space outside Armory One. Shinn showed the most promise, so he was given charge of the Impulse. It's Silhouette packs added a flexibility that Shinn was rather adept at making use of.
Stellar took to the Gaia almost immediately. It seemed to suit her. The mobile armor mode was like a BuCUE, which was appropriate for Stellar. She fought like an animal, so it was only fitting for her mobile suit to take animal form.
Luna had a little trouble adjusting from her customized Gunner ZAKU Warrior to the Savior, but she eventually got the hang of it. Of course, she kept her ZAKU in storage on the Minerva just in case this didn't work out.
Rey was designated as squadron leader and given an upgraded ZAKU command unit. He led a team of six ZAKU Warriors. Rey's new suit was a white Blaze ZAKU Phantom.
One day when they were alone, Luna asked "Why white?"
"What else? Your white knight needs a white steed."
Luna was less than amused. "I told you to stop teasing me. I can never tell when you're joking about that."
"If you're not going to accept what little I can offer you, then stop sulking." Rey's voice was a little more cold than usual.
Perhaps Luna had insulted him a bit. Not that she cared. She would make it on her own. She would prove to everyone that she needed no one. If only she could prove it to herself.
These four companions were becoming closer and closer. Meyrin often hung out with them when they were all off duty together, but combat forms a special kind of bond. Not that Meyrin felt left out, of course.
"Have you guys heard?" Meyrin was enjoying lunch with the four pilots in the galley one day. "There are two more prototypes coming in for the Minerva sometime today. Looks like you might get one, Rey."
"I'm happy with my ZAKU," Rey responded. He never told the others, but Captain Gladys offered him first dibs on the Savior. He declined stating that red wasn't his color. And he enjoyed being squadron leader. The X-series pilots were an autonomous wing within the Minerva's compliment, almost like special forces within special forces. Rey enjoyed bossing around the peons who were left to fly the ZAKUs.
"That's not all," Meyrin continued. "It looks like we'll be getting orders soon. The bridge is all abuzz with the gossip on our first real assignment."
"That is big news," Luna admitted.
Shinn remained silent, though he reached out for Stellar's hand. He didn't like the idea of her going into combat, but he felt glad that Stellar would be the one covering his six. He made her promise early on that he would always take point while she provide cover. Stellar was very gifted and fiercely loyal to him, though he couldn't help but wonder how many risks she would take in real combat.
"Rey?" Luna was the first to notice something was up with their blond friend.
"When did you say those prototypes were arriving?" asked Rey.
"Today. Why?" Meyrin was about as puzzled as she could be.
"Trouble." Rey had a tingling in his head. One that went from the base of his neck straight to his forehead. "Big trouble." He got up to make his way to the armory. The others followed close behind, leaving their half eaten meals on the table.
Two
While Shinn and the others were trying to get used to their new mobile suits, Athrun and Andy were trying to get used to theirs. Instead of a Jegan, Andy insisted on using a customized Murasame. He liked the mobile armor mode, which turned the suit into a jet fighter. Andy even had it painted to match his tiger-striped flight suit.
Athrun, however, was enjoying his Jegan prototype. Kira had it painted red, which everyone knew was Athrun's color of choice.
After a couple days of them sparring, Cagalli thought it time to lay down the law. "Athrun Zala, I think it's a good idea for you to spend some quality time with your future wife."
"Yes ma'am," he saluted. He and Andy had just finished their last round anyway. Kira was helping them make final adjustments. Now they were combat ready.
"I'll take over from here," Kira placed a hand on Athrun's shoulder. "Take her home."
"Sure." Athrun wore a smile, in stark contrast to Cagalli's scowl. She had been working hard on the preparations for the wedding. Inviting politicians and foreign dignitaries, scheduling meetings with caterers, even fighting with her favorite tailor over adjustments to the wedding dress. Athrun knew she needed a little pampering right about now. Only three days left . . .
Andy joined Kira at the foot of his Murasame. "Think they'll be alright?"
"Yeah. It'll be a bumpy ride for them, but believe it or not they're actually happy like this." Kira had a weak smile. It was more of a strain on him than it was on either Athrun or Cagalli at this point. "I don't know what Cagalli would do if she didn't have something to fuss about every now and again."
"Ha! I know what that's like." Andy gave Kira a clap on the back.
"And just what are you two talking about?" It was a stern female voice from behind them.
Both guys froze. They had been caught. "Sorry Murrue," Kira apologized.
Murrue gave Kira a kind smile. "Well, no harm done. How does it look?" She was refering to the latest flight tests.
"Good. After we make the adjustments to the complement of Murasames and Jegans on board, the Archangel should be ready for anything."
"How many of these babies do we have anyway?" Andy preferred the Murasame to the Jegan. Jegans were better suited to space combat, Murasames to atmospheric. Andy had spent most of his combat career in the African front, so he couldn't imagine the usefulness of the Jegan. At least, not yet anyway.
"We've got five including yours," Kira answered. "Unfortunately we had to pack away a lot of the Jegans to make room. It's a good thing that the Archangel has a lot of spare room. And don't worry about a thing, Andy. Many of the parts are interchangeable between the Jegan and the Murasame. We can cannibalize the Jegans if necessary."
"Twenty mobile suits total, huh?" Andy didn't know where they found room for all that. The hangar could only hold ten, five on each side. He didn't know that Kira had to dismantle many of his precious works of art. It would take days to get them back together if the need ever arose.
"Yeah, when we include the Freedom, the Strike Rouge and Athrun's Jegan." Kira turned to Murrue, "You want to try some of Andy's latest brew?"
"Not really, but I don't exactly have anything better to do." Murrue winked at Andy.
"Captains shouldn't fraternize with their pilots." Andy's one eye watched Murrue closely.
"You're the one who insisted on being a pilot."
"Because this is your ship," Andy explained for the umpteenth time.
"Whatever." Murrue followed Andy as he made of toward the secret hangar that housed the Archangel. They were hiding her in the secret facility where the Archangel received repairs during the Bloody Valentine War.
Before Kira joined them, he wanted to check one last thing on Andy's Murasame. He didn't really have anything against it. Kira just preferred his own design. Kira always believed that variable configuration mobile suits were a bad concept. Changing to mobile armor mode and back during combat placed extreme stress on the suit's joints. That was always the weak point of Athrun's old Aegis, though he managed to hide it well. And just by making it a variable configuration suit there were far too many joints to worry about. Maintenance would be a bear.
But then Andy was more experienced. Perhaps it was best if he chose his mobile suit based on personal preference rather than pure statistics. In any case, Kira took it upon himself to double check everything. Andy was too important to lose. Too important to the crew, too important as a friend, and too important to Murrue.
Lacus interrupted his pensive introspection. "Kira? Chief Murdoch will think you're trying to take his job."
Kira smiled, but then Lacus could always draw a smile from him. "Sorry. I can't help but want to help out."
"That soon?" Lacus knew what Kira was thinking. She could sense it too, but not on her own. Her sensitivity to these things only came through Kira.
His smile faded. "Yes. I just hope we'll have time to make it through the wedding. If it gets interrupted, Cagalli will have quite a fit."
Lacus let out a tee-hee at Kira's joke. "Probably so. Come. Andy is waiting for us."
"Of course."
Three
"We're not going to make it are we?" Mir couldn't help but be disappointed.
"No, I'm afraid not. Even if we left today on the fastest shuttle and made a straight shot to Earth, we'd still be a day late. I'm sorry." He was by her side, pretending to watch television with her on the couch.
"It's okay, Dearka. I'm sure Cagalli will understand."
"Maybe we can see them once the honeymoon's over." Dearka was trying his best to cheer Miriallia up. She had been sulking all week.
Stellar was gone, now being stationed on the Minerva. Yzak and Shiho were incredibly busy trying to turn Yzak's temporary seat into a full one on the Council. Dearka had to make a lot of appearances with his father to do the same. Mir had no doubts that they would win, as they were virtually unopposed. No one wanted to face off against Yzak and both boys were decorated war heroes by now.
"I'm glad we can still spend some time together every day." Dearka put his arm around her, hoping he wasn't being too presumptuous. "You know, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."
"No." Mir was polite, but firm with her man.
"I haven't even asked yet."
"You don't have to. Shiho's been bugging me about it nearly every day. I'm not ready to get engaged. Can't we just enjoy this time as boyfriend and girlfriend?"
"Um, that's not what I was going to ask." He was thinking about it, sure. But Dearka knew full well that Mir wanted to move slow. It suited him just fine. He was new to this whole serious relationship thing anyway.
"Sorry," Mir blushed. "There I go making assumptions," she tried to laugh it off.
"That's alright." Dearka took his arm away, though. He felt like he was invading her personal space or something. "I wanted to ask if we could spend a little vacation time together once the election was over. There'll be a week of Council sessions and then a summer recess of about a month."
"The two of us? Alone?"
"Um . . . yeah. Too pushy?" Now Dearka slid away a few inches.
"No," Mir smiled. "I'd love to. But wherever you book this getaway, we'd better have separate beds." Mir was making him fight for every inch of intimacy.
Dearka knew it and still wore a smile. He had never wanted to rush her into anything. "I thought you might say that, so I booked us separate rooms."
"You didn't have to go that far. Will they at least be connected? I'd hate to have to go out into the hall every time I wanted to see you."
"Yes, it's a two room suite a couple colonies away from here. It's known for its romantic vacation spots."
"How long will we be able to stay there?"
"A month at the most," Dearka crept a little closer thinking he would be safe now.
It was. Miriallia rewarded Dearka's thoughtfulness with a smooch. "I hope we'll get all that time to ourselves.
"Me too."
Four
"What is it?"
"I don't know."
"Rey, talk to me." Luna stayed with Rey. The others had gone to the Minerva to check on the mobile suits in the ship's hangar.
"I said I don't know. If you want to tag along, do it quietly. Got it?" His glare made her take a step back. Or maybe it was the fact that he drew his pistol.
Either way, Luna knew it was time to back off.
Rey closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "It is him. Damn."
Luna thought it might be time to take our her gun as well. Rounding the corner they saw to unfamiliar ZAFT soldiers milling about two very unusual mobile suits. They were in flight suits.
Rey demanded, "Name. Rank."
"You must be the XO," one stuck out a hand. "It's a pleasure."
Instead of accepting the offered hand, Rey decided to duck. It was a good thing too as a bullet whizzed by his head.
Rey and Luna returned fire in the direction of the attack, taking cover behind a pallet of . . . very dangerous explosives.
"Not good," Luna commented.
"You have a penchant for stating the painfully obvious," Rey whispered.
During the confusion, the mobile suits were activated by the two intruders. As if it wasn't perfectly clear by now, this was an Earth Forces attempt to steal the two prototypes codenamed Chaos and Abyss.
"Time to go!" Rey grabbed Luna and began running back toward the docks.
True to his prediction, the suits began blasting an exit for themselves. It was quite messy as there wasn't supposed to be any exits in the route they took. If Rey didn't get Luna out of there quick, they would both be exposed to vacuum. Not good for the complexion. Or survival.
They barely made it in time to board the Minerva. She had been scrambled for immediate combat. There were two Atlantic Federation ships approaching fast, with a fleet off in the distance. Maybe more than half a dozen ships in total.
The Impulse and Gaia were scrambled first. Then Rey's ZAKU team, then the Savior dead last. Unfortunately, they were too late from preventing the escape of the two mobile suit hijackers. They made straight for an Archangel class vessel in the rear line.
Shinn and Stellar were busy tangling with three oddly shaped mobile suits. Shinn was very familiar with them as they used to haunt his worst nightmares. Calamity, Forbidden and Raider class GAT series. The same types as those that were directly responsible for the death of his family. Though he still harbored a silent hatred for the Orb forces for not preventing it, he also recognized that they were not really at fault. They tried their best. It still didn't help his disposition to know that their best wasn't good enough.
"Shinn, I think these guys are a bit much for us," Stellar reported.
"Just hang in there. Luna will back us up." Shinn hoped Luna could turn the tide. These guys were so intense it was ridiculous. Shinn was constantly on the defensive. If it wasn't for Stellar's own intensity, they might have made mincemeat of him.
Shinn and Stellar made a great team. They could read each other's moves, attacking and withdrawing in near perfect harmony.
Rey's team wasn't much help. They were entangled with an equal force of Windams and holding their own. Rey himself was up against a custom Windam. A purple one for which it seemed Rey had a personal grudge. Long range attacks were useless, so the Windam rushed with two beam sabers to get right in Rey's face.
Rey responded with his beam tomahawks, one from each of his two shields. Their fight took them out of support range of their respective comrades.
And just as quickly as it had all started it was over. The custom Windam retreated having scored a small victory over Rey. In shame, Rey returned missing a leg on his precious ZAKU.
"Luna . . ." Shinn was pissed. Luna was too late to help.
"Sorry. I don't have an excuse." Actually, she had a very good excuse. One of Rey's ZAKU team was blocking her from the catapult. That's why she couldn't get out there in time to turn a stalemate into a victory.
"Take it easy, Shinn." It took Stellar to control his temper, for a change. "Arguing about it now can't help matters any."
"Right." Shinn gave it up and floated off to the lounge. Stellar followed close after.
Luna waited around on Rey. "You going to tell me what's going on?"
"Someone gave me a headache. That's all." Rey had never felt this way before. Someone he knew to be a mortal enemy was out there. It was inexplicable.
Five
"I've had to accelerate matters a bit. I must apologize for having you ship out with out more notice."
"That's quite alright, Councilman. I figured as much." Captain Gladys was to find the stolen prototypes. Either recover or destroy them.
"To make matters easier, your team will be an autonomous unit codenamed FAITH." Dullindal handed her a packet with all the necessary documentation and relevant intelligence reports.
"Of course, sir. What about our two pilots?"
Dullindal knew the two of which she was referring. "I spoke with Commander Joule about it the other day. He's sending them to keep an eye on things, but says they're forbidden to interfere with your mission. There should be no conflict of interest. So long as your orders are legal, of course."
"Yes, Commander Joule spoke to me as well." Yzak had tried to put the fear of God in her, and not without some measure of success. They are my friends, and I will hear of it if they are ill treated. That's what he had told her.
"It doesn't matter. You are permitted to do anything to keep full-scale war from breaking out. The Joule and Elsman families will support me in this."
"Your confidence has convinced me, sir." Gladys saluted before returning to her ship.
Chapter 46
"Excited?" Lacus was helping fluff the poofs in the dress.
"Are you kidding? I've waited my whole life for this. If anybody screws it up I'll kill them." Cagalli wasn't joking. Not at all.
Lacus giggled anyway. She could sympathize somewhat. She wanted her big day to go perfect as well. "I wish Andy and Murrue could be here to see this."
"Me too. But they'll just have to watch the video." Cagalli let out a sigh. Both had said they didn't want to be in the lime-light. There would be some representatives from the Atlantic and Eurasian Federations as well as some from the ZAFT occupied Earth territories. In the unlikely event someone recognized Andy or Murrue there would be trouble.
So to keep themselves busy, Andy and Murrue had volunteered to stay with the Archangel and get her ready for launch. They were fitting her with the Kusanagi's spare boosters again, just in case. Of course, getting the Archangel to a mass driver might become a problem. The Archangel was considered a stolen ship and could not be moved so openly, even within Orb.
"I believe Athrun is nervous as well," Lacus informed her future sister-in-law.
"I don't know why. All he has to do is stand there and look cute." Cagalli had already gotten on his case about it. She had to deal with this dress while Athrun got off easy. Looking good in a tux takes absolutely no effort.
"It's time," some attendant called into the room.
"Right." Cagalli took a deep breath as Lacus went to take her position.
Lacus would be the last of the bride's maids to walk the aisle, being the maid of honor. Then Athrun would come out. Then Cagalli.
Kira had to give Cagalli a pep talk this morning. She needed it. Second thoughts, doubts . . . and she was still more than a little upset over Athrun's past behavior. But if they were ever going to get together it had to be now. Her wedding was a political event, and Cagalli hated it.
To delay would show weakness. To separate with Athrun, even for a short period, would show the chaos within the House of Athha. The dam was about to break anyway. The weight of running a country was crushing her. And deep down, Cagalli knew her actions would have ramifications far beyond the borders of the Orb Union. Kira had convinced her that the Atlantic Federation was about to make its move. Could she handle this? Getting married under these conditions?
But then, this is what Cagalli wanted for herself. Athrun said he wanted it too. Such was the life they had chosen; to make a difference, in whatever way they could. "God help us all," she whispered in silent prayer.
Two
"I'm afraid they've gone already. Dullindal sent them to track down the thieves. The Retribution will be departing as soon as the elections are over."
"I see," Mir couldn't help but be a bit disappointed. Stellar had to leave without saying goodbye. Now Shiho would be leaving too. Soon it would just be Mir and Dearka, but at least they'd have a little vacation time to themselves.
"Don't worry about it. Hopefully we'll be back soon," Shiho tried to cheer her up.
"Thanks," Mir put on a smile.
"Do you regret coming to the PLANTs?" Shiho was beginning to wonder.
"It's not that," Mir shook her head. "At least, I don't think it's that." Mir took a deep breath, hoping Dearka wasn't listening on the other side of the door. "I miss my friends and family, but I'm sticking by my decision to be here. I knew from the beginning that it would be lonely at times."
"I know what it means to be alone." Shiho still wore her polite smile, but Mir could see the sadness in her eyes.
"You never told me what happened to your family."
"It was a shuttle accident just a few months after my seventh birthday. My family was going to the moon for something. I can't remember why, but it's not important now. I had broken my ankle playing with friends, so I stayed home. Being paranoid, I went into hiding after my parents' deaths thinking someone was after me. Living from day to day in homeless shelters or on the street wasn't the highlight of my life. When the war broke out I immediately enlisted. Ezaria took me in and treated me like a daughter."
"I see." Mir knew what it was like to have a hard life, though she had gotten off a lot easier than Shiho. Her childhood was perfect until the attack on Heliopolis.
"It all worked out," Shiho's smile widened a bit. "I now have everything I ever wanted out of life."
"That's what's important," Mir agreed.
"I hear Dearka is taking you to the Capella resort. I'm a bit envious."
"Yeah. I'm looking forward to it. I hope you guys will be back by the time we return."
"I wouldn't hold my breath. I think this mission is going to be a lot bigger than anyone expects." Not that Shiho had any inside information on the subject, but somebody had a lot of balls to steal two mobile suits from the heart of the PLANTs. Maybe it was payback for doing some damage to the GenoTech lab.
Three
"Is Shinn still mad at me?"
"No," Stellar shook her head. "He was never mad at you. It was those three guys we were fighting. They were the same kind that led the Atlantic Federation's invasion of Orb."
Luna was glad to have Stellar as her roommate. Meyrin could bug the crap out of her at times. Especially after that scene in the Silver Bullet.
"Maybe I should go and talk to him about it," Luna pondered.
Stellar informed her, "I think he'll come to talk to you if you give him enough time." She had a talk with Shinn about it that morning, insisting that he make friendly.
Luna wanted to get this behind her. She wasn't an effective pilot when she was having emotional problems, and her situation with Rey was more than enough for her to deal with.
"How are you and Rey getting along?" Stellar had often thought of it, but this was the first time that she had worked up the courage to ask.
"Fine. He's a good friend, nothing more." Luna's eyes narrowed. Rey really had been trying to treat her more like what she wanted, but there was something holding her back from accepting it. Perhaps because she knew that he was doing it out of friendship and didn't really want anything more from her.
"That's a shame," Stellar admitted. "I think he likes you, in an oddly cold and nearly emotionless way."
"Yeah. Maybe I'll start cutting him some slack." But probably not, Luna smiled.
"Think we'll catch up to those guys soon?" Stellar's question was answered by a yeoman.
Orders blared over the speakers, "All hands, level one battle stations. All hands, level one battle stations."
Four
"It was perfect!" Lacus clapped her hands together in sheer glee.
Kira matched his fiancé's smile. "Indeed it was, though I'm kind of glad ours will be much smaller." They were sharing a glass of punch during a lovely reception. Non-alcoholic punch, of course.
"It's not over yet, guys." Athrun came to join them.
"Where's Cagalli?" Kira was a little surprised to find Athrun without her.
"We were mingling with some Eurasian officials when some Atlantic guys came over to press for more extensive ties. Something about joint training exercises and other 'minor' military things. Then some politician from Carpenteria overheard the discussion and tried to join in by offering economic aid in the construction of a new Orb space colony. The Atlantic guys got into it with the PLANT guy over exactly how much money had actually changed hands after the Treaty of Junius. Everybody knows full well that Orb hasn't seen a dime from either side." Athrun took a moment to catch his breath after that long winded explanation. "Now Cagalli is hiding in the bathroom."
"Maybe you two should sneak out before the reception is over," Kira suggested.
"Cagalli and I already thought of that. And we also made sure that all the foreign dignitaries knew that they were not exactly welcome to stay the night. Their flights out of Orb have already been arranged."
"Good to know," Kira stated. "I wonder what our friends are up to out there."
"That's a good question, but it's best we not drop too many names out here. It might make matters worse," Athrun looked around to see reporters crawling everywhere. Every juicy tidbit of political gossip would be all over the headlines in the Sunday papers. If it got out that he and Cagalli were personal friends of a few PLANT Supreme Council members . . .
It's funny. With all the technological advancement over the centuries, there were still daily newspapers. Wireless laptop connections hadn't really made much of a dent in the printed media, though survey after survey indicated that more people got their news through online networks than any other source. Kira always watched the news on his laptop back in Heliopolis. Still, there was just something about the tactile contact with ink and paper that kept printers in business. At least everything was recycled now. Forests didn't have to suffer as much for human vanity these days.
Cagalli wandered around looking for her husband. "Athrun!"
"Yes dear?" Athrun quickly went to her side.
"All those foreigners left," Cagalli informed him.
Kira and Lacus looked around. The crowd was thinning out a bit. "You think they would have gone home early?" Lacus thought it highly suspicious but didn't say so. She left that to Kira.
"Maybe it's time we think of leaving as well," Kira suggested.
Five
"Where's the fleet? It's only two ships." Shinn was ready to take them all on.
One of the Earth Forces Nelson class battleships and the one Archangel class. That's all there were. Could the other ships have split off from these two? Or were they lying in wait to trap the Minerva?
"Keep an eye out," Luna suggested.
Shinn was on point with Stellar on his right, Luna on his left.
"How's this for a plan? You three take out the ships while my team handles the mobile suits." Rey knew that the quickest way to end this was to go for the jugular. Destroy the ships and everything else would be a mop-up operation.
The Minerva was laying down covering fire. Lohengrin cannon and anti-ship warheads zipped past the ZAFT suits toward their targets. All were misses. The Earth ships returned fire. Also all misses.
Rey's team began to tangle with the Windams flooding out of the lesser of the two warships. There was no sign of the unit he had such a problem with earlier.
Shinn and Stellar went straight for the Calamity as it was drawing a defensive line in front of the Archangel class. There was no sign of the Forbidden or the Raider just yet. Shinn and Stellar would keep this guy busy while leaving Luna to take on the warships by herself.
"Go for the bridge," Shinn ordered.
"Roger." Luna transformed her Savior into its mobile armor mode; a fighter. Perfect for high-speed strafing runs.
"Something is very wrong with all of this," Shinn said. He didn't have a long wait to find out what it was either. "Luna!"
Too late. His premonition was correct. It was a trap. Luna's first shots toward the Archangel class caused a massive explosion. The ship was an inflatable dummy. Or more precisely, an inflated version of an Archangel with a mine in the center.
Luna's Savior was adrift in space. Listing, her phase shift was down. Out of nowhere, the Raider appeared to finish her off. Shinn moved to help first, but was tagged with a heavy blast from behind. It was the Calamity.
As Stellar made a move to save Luna, a white streak zipped from under her Gaia to carry Luna's Savior out of the battle. Rey's calm voice sent out the order for Austin to take the command over the ZAKU Warriors.
But this left Shinn with another problem. As he was recovering from the whiplash given him by the Calamity, the Raider had found a new target: Stellar. The Raider had her pinned from behind while the Forbidden was about to show her a close personal view of his beam scythe. He was aiming for her cockpit.
Her terrified scream filled his mind. Not his ears, but his mind. That's when it all went crazy. Something within him snapped. He went berserk.
Shinn's first victim was the Forbidden. He slashed away at the scythe before finally managing to cut the mobile suit itself in half. Shinn then pressed the Raider backward toward the Gaia, where it was taken out by Stellar in the confusion. The Calamity retreated with the Windams on the Nelson class carrier.
Make no mistake, this was no victory. The Earth Forces were highly successful in getting away with the prototypes in the confusion. This had all been a diversion. While they were engaged against the Nelson class the remainder of the fleet had made a clean getaway. There was no hope of catching up with them now.
Chapter 47
"What a wonderful idea. Who all will go?"
"Everyone that was on the Kusanagi during the fighting plus a few more that I trust. Mostly our Morgenroete insiders, but also a few officers that were under Kisaka's command. Planning on going with them?" Cagalli was hoping he would say no.
"Not really," Kira smiled.
After the reception, Cagalli was given an unusual wedding gift. Kisaka had seen fit to let Cagalli in on a little family secret. A secret about an old Morgenroete research satellite out close to Mars that had been abandoned for years. But the kicker was that it wasn't owned by Morgenroete, but by Lord Uzumi. Two or three generations ago someone in the Athha family had been a founding member of Morgenroete, and it isn't uncommon to have co-mingled assets in the early stages of a business. The ownership of the satellite remained in the Athha family, so technically it was now Cagalli's.
It was Lord Uzumi's wish that Heliopolis be rebuilt someday. The necessary raw materials would have to be mined from an asteroid and then put together near a safe-haven like this old satellite. The satellite, coincidentally, was a huge asteroid itself. Its name was Aries. Cagalli was sending the Kusanagi on a survey mission. First stop would be the ruins of Heliopolis. Then over to the satellite.
"Who will lead the expedition?" Athrun thought it was a little early to be throwing resources at a new space colony, but then he didn't call the shots.
"Captain Jameson. I just hope that everything still works up there." Cagalli leaned back in her chair, chewing on a piece of candy.
"Looks like it might be possible for you to get your Jupitress after all," Athrun chuckled.
"Huh?" Cagalli wasn't privy to the details of Kira's little hobby.
Athrun informed his wife, "Kira wants to take a colony ship and settle in Jupiter orbit someday."
Cagalli eyed her little brother closely. "That's pretty far out there. Desperate to get away from me already?"
Lacus smiled. "Haven't you ever wanted to get away from it all?"
"Every single day," Cagalli sighed. She asked Kira, "Mind if I take a look at your stuff someday?"
"Sure. It'll be expensive. And take a lot of people." Kira always thought of this as a pipe dream. Something that he could fantasize about without having to worry about actually pulling it off. He didn't really want that kind of responsibility. But with Cagalli's support, just maybe . . .
Their little discussion was interrupted by a phone call.
Cagalli answered. "Yeah . . . Uh huh . . . Shit." She hung up the phone and placed her head on the desk. Only Athrun was close enough to see the silent tears she was shedding.
"What happened?" Athrun rubbed Cagalli's back between the shoulder blades.
"It's Kisaka. He's been murdered."
Two
"I'm so tired." Stellar slumped on Shinn.
He was exhausted too, but not so much that he couldn't look after the love of his life. He had to support her as they walked down the hall together. "Let's get some sleep."
Right after the battle, they were asked to go to an excruciatingly long debriefing with Captain Gladys. She could be such a stickler for regulations at times. Rey was present, though he was a little late from seeing to Luna.
Luna was laid up in the infirmary at the moment. After the meeting, Rey's first destination was the infirmary. Naturally.
Instead of making it to their separate rooms, Stellar decided to invade Shinn and Rey's room and make herself at home in her fiancé's bed. Heck, they were practically married anyway, right?
"What happened out there?" Stellar had asked him that when they were getting out of their flight suits, but she didn't exactly receive a satisfactory answer.
"I heard you scream and I guess I snapped." He joined her on the bed.
Stellar took his head and let him rest it on her breast. "But that's just it. I didn't scream."
"Does it really matter?"
"No, I suppose not." Stellar kissed the top of his head. "Thanks. For saving me."
"Not a problem." He fell asleep first, leaving Stellar to think on things.
She had never seen anyone fight as wild and frantic as he had just then. And now he was completely drained. Even when she pushed the edge of her sanity in ZAKU simulators and Gaia training she hadn't reached that intensity. Closer than anyone else she had seen, but not quite on the same level as Shinn had just been.
I love you, Shinn. You have taken such good care of me. Now it's my turn. All the days of my life, I will belong to you. She thought this over and over, like she was chanting an incantation in her mind. Each repetition brought the warmth in her skull up a small notch. Deep down, Stellar knew she was getting through to him.
She hadn't screamed for him verbally out there. She didn't have time to say anything, only think it. That's how she knew now that her thoughts would, on at least some small level, reach him.
Much to her delight, a smile brushed across his tired face.
I love you, Shinn . . .
Three
She awoke cold. Everything seemed to hurt. Except her feet. Those were fine. Trying to sit up was decidedly unsuccessful. Looking around she noticed why she was so cold and why everything, except her feet, hurt. She was covered in burns and scrapes. A few patches looked quite bad, but they weren't really. She saw them quite clearly as there wasn't much to obstruct the view. Someone had taken her out of her flight suit, but neglected to cover her with anything. She was just lying there on a cot in nothing but panties and a tank top that didn't come down near enough to her navel to be of any use at the moment. Damn med staff perverts. "Hey, anybody want to help out here?"
"Hmm?"
"Oh, sorry to wake you up, Rey." Actually, Luna wasn't a bit sorry. "Get your sorry butt over here and cover me up."
"Sure." He pulled a thin sheet up over her. His smirk didn't help her disposition any.
"How's my suit?"
"Fine. There was a little fire in the cockpit, as you've undoubtedly discovered. To be honest, the damage to you was more than to the Saviour. The maintenance crews are probably finished working on it by now. You were just knocked out by the concussion from the mine blast."
"How much did you see?" Luna had let Rey know more than once that he was skating on thin ice these past few days. This was about to be the final straw.
"I saw it all. The doctor asked that I be the one to put this on you since I was here anyway," Rey held up a bottle of some burn medicine. "Something about how he thought we were an item and how he didn't want to be thrown out an airlock for sexual harassment. With our captain being a woman, and all."
"I hope you had fun because I'm going to kill you." Luna failed to sit up again. "As soon as I can move again."
Rey's cold laughter filled the small room. "I'll bet you will, Luna. I'll bet you will."
Luna was shocked at what happened next.
Rey bent down to kiss her. A brief, fleeting kiss. Their lips barely brushed, making Luna wonder if they had actually touched. The mesmerizing gaze from his ice blue eyes kept Luna from closing hers. He whispered, "Go back to sleep. I'll be here for you to yell at when you wake up."
"You suck, Rey."
"I seem to remember hearing that before." Rey caressed her cheek before taking his seat again. "At least you didn't damage that pretty face of yours."
This time Luna smiled. Maybe she would accept what little Rey was offering her. At least for now.
Rey also smiled, watching her settle into her bedding for a nice long rest. Of course, he lied about giving her a rubdown. He lied about all of it. Some nurse threw him out as soon has he came through the door to check on her. He was only allowed back in once they were finished and she was clothed again. Well, as clothed as she was at the moment. Luckily for Rey, Luna's burns were not that bad or they would have wrapped her up like a mummy. He was thankful; both for her being alright and for the view.
Chapter 48
"How are you today, big sis?"
"Good, Meyrin. I'm good." Luna was up and about the following day, though she still hadn't been cleared to go back on duty. They probably wouldn't need her today. The Minerva was going toward Earth, hoping to catch the thieves in orbit before their descent. Assuming they even went that way, of course.
"I see Rey's been hanging out with you more often."
Luna dropped her fork on the tray. It's a good thing they were sitting alone or Luna might die of embarrassment. "I swear, Meyrin. You don't know when to let it alone, do you?" Meyrin had just stopped bugging her over Athrun and that Joule Team pilot. Now Meyrin had found something new to harp about.
"I think he really does like you. In that totally cool and nonchalant kind of way." Meyrin was happy for her sister. Rey was the kind of man that made Luna's heart go THUMP.
"Alright, Meyrin. I give up. What do you want to know?"
Meyrin wore the grin of unadulterated joy. "I want everything. All the details."
"He offered to look after me, but not be my boyfriend. And yesterday he gave me a fully body rubdown and a light kiss. That's all."
Meyrin's jaw dropped. "He felt you up? In the infirmary?"
"So he says. I was out cold and in my underwear." It felt good to let that get out in the open. Now hopefully Meyrin would leave her alone long enough to finish eating. Or rather, start eating.
"I don't believe it." Meyrin had yet to recover from the shock. Rey? Making advances? It was just so . . . surreal.
"Whatever."
"I'm going to ask him about it, you know." Meyrin would, but then she knew full well that Rey would tell her to buzz off.
Luna shrugged her shoulders. "Go ahead. Here he comes."
Sure enough, a trio of pilots entered the galley together. Shinn and Stellar, followed by Rey.
"You feeling alright?" asked Shinn. "I came to check on you, but you were gone by the time I woke up."
"I'm fine," Luna smiled.
"So tell me about that rubdown you gave Luna," Meyrin grinned at Rey.
"Buzz off," Rey responded. His voice was characteristically calm and measured, but it also betrayed his amusement. As long as Luna believed it he didn't care. She hadn't attacked him yet and he felt that she secretly enjoyed the thought of having his attention.
"Good for you," Stellar cheered. She kind of hoped that the whole girl-girl thing was a phase. Stellar had no clue that it had all been an accident anyway.
"If you guys aren't going to shut up about it, then I'm going to leave," Luna threatened.
"That sounds like an excellent idea. You and Rey can go off and have breakfast together in your room," Meyrin suggested.
Rey lifted an eyebrow to indicate further amusement.
"Fine. I think I will. Come on, Rey." Luna waited for him to protest.
Rey called her bluff. "As you wish."
Once they were gone, the three remaining were all abuzz with the situation. "Holy crap. You think they're an item?" Meyrin still couldn't believe it.
"Who cares?" Shinn didn't like the looks of this. Romance among pilots? Bad idea. And he wasn't making an exception for himself either. Shinn knew full well that he would risk even the most important mission to save Stellar. If a squad leader . . . No. It's best not to go there.
"Shinn!" Stellar popped her man in the arm.
"It's not that I wouldn't be happy for them," Shinn explained. "Luna's a bit . . . fragile at the moment. And Rey isn't the most sensitive and caring of people. Besides, I think Meyrin is making a bigger deal out of this than it should be."
"True." Meyrin was the first to admit her overzealous attitude toward this. "I was just bugging her and all the sudden she opened up. She never did that when you two were dating, nor when she was chasing Athrun. I think something's up."
"I think she told you a bunch of crap and Rey called her on it," Shinn laughed. "Sounds like something they would do."
Meyrin sighed. "Unfortunately, you're probably right."
Two
"Feeling well this morning?" Rey thought he would start off the conversation since Luna didn't offer.
"Much better, thank you." Luna took him to her room. Rey was sitting on Stellar's bed, Luna on her own. She knew Stellar wouldn't disturb them. After all, Luna always showed Stellar that courtesy whenever Shinn was trapped in here.
"Glad to hear it." Rey was setting a record; most words spoken to a girl in her room alone.
"You owe me big, Rey."
"I'm sure I do," he smiled. If only she knew . . .
"How do you intend to make it up to me?"
"I don't know. I could give you another rubdown."
Luna's glare indicated her distinct lack of approval. "Not funny."
"Fine. You should determine my punishment, then."
"Rey," Luna's voice softened. Then her face and eyes.
Rey didn't quite know how to take that.
"Do you . . . never mind." Luna wouldn't let her guard down again. Not after last time.
"Go ahead and ask it."
"Is there any chance of us getting together?"
Rey's amusement vanished. "What if I told you yes?" Before she could answer, he asked another question. "What if I told you no? Luna, you must ask yourself what you really want out of this life and then go for it. It shouldn't matter what I think or feel as long as you give it your all. That is the only way you will find fulfillment."
Luna thought about that a moment. "Then I'm going for it."
"Be my guest," Rey's amused look returned.
"Now." Luna set her tray off to the side.
"Okay." Again, Rey was calling her bluff.
"This very minute."
"I'm waiting." Rey now set his tray to the side, not exactly knowing what to expect.
"You suck, Rey." She made an advance.
"I seem . . ." Rey's lips were stopped with Luna's. It was nothing passionate, just a tender pressing of the lips.
She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of having more than that.
Three
"It doesn't matter now." Cagalli didn't have time to grieve. She barely had time to eat and sleep these days. Athrun was a great help to her. Except for right this moment. Now he was beginning to bug her.
"Tell me what I can do," Athrun requested.
Cagalli was trying hard to work on a speech. Athrun had been trying even harder to distract her from it all day. Well, that was not his intention, but it was certainly the result. Lacus had the decency to leave Cagalli to her work, though she was worried as well.
"Athrun, if you don't leave this study right now we might just have one of the shortest marriages on record." Cagalli showed him a weak smile. "I hope you know that was a joke."
Athrun chuckled. She had never bother to point out when she was joking before. Now he knew that she was starting to lose it. "You're exhausted. Take a nap. Something. Anything."
"I have to finish this." Cagalli had given up on playing the insider's game. Now she would go straight to the citizens of Orb. It was her last hope, really. There was no hope of her ever enjoying a majority in the Senate or in the military. She had pissed off too many people by splitting with, and then causing the death of, the Seirans. Not that they were all loyal to the Seirans by any means, but greed and power lust can often outweigh love of queen and country. If she was ever going to win she would need the common man on her side. Cagalli always won the popularity contest, so now she just had to make use of that.
Athrun knew it was time to give it up. Taking his favorite position he watched her carefully. It was a miracle she could stay awake after all that had happened. She got no sleep their wedding night, though not for the normal newlywed reasons. Kisaka had been murdered. It was a message that the gloves were now off. Funny, Athrun thought. I thought the gloves were off the whole time. Cagalli hadn't slept well since then either. Maybe tonight she could get some real rest.
"There," Cagalli slumped back in her cushy chair. "Could you look over it for me?"
"Sure." Athrun read over the speech on the data pad. It was pretty good, but not without the occasional spelling error. A quick spell-check fixed that. "When were you going to deliver it?"
"Tonight. It has to be tonight." Exhaustion was beginning to consume her.
"Maybe you should get some sleep first."
Cagalli shook her head. "I've got to make some calls. Then you have to help me pick out a dress."
Athrun knew that meant he would do the picking. Cagalli never liked dressing up. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, Athrun had more of a fashion sense than Cagalli when it came to formal wear.
"If you don't get some rest you're going to collapse. Or have a nervous breakdown."
"Then you'd better take good care of me," Cagalli smirked.
"I'll pamper you and treat you like a princess."
"Damn straight," she yawned. "Where's Kira?" It suddenly occurred to Cagalli that she hadn't seen her little brother all day.
"After triple-checking the palace security, I guess he went over to Morgenroete."
"The Archangel's still there? I thought Murrue was moving her."
"She did, but Kira wanted to say goodbye to Erika and a few others."
"That's right," Cagalli rubbed her eyes as she sank further into the chair. "The Kusanagi is launching in the morning."
"Why don't you let me make the calls while you take a nap?"
Cagalli didn't argue. Probably because she was no longer conscious.
Four
"Woo!" Meyrin was waiting on them.
Luna came out with her head held high. Nothing had happened, really. But Luna knew perfectly well that Meyrin was lying in wait outside the door hoping to catch them in the act. So what if Meyrin got the wrong idea?
"Hear anything exciting?" Rey cocked an eye towards Meyrin. He didn't really care about this. He figured it was just a game between the Hawke sisters anyway.
"So you two really are an item?" asked Stellar. Meyrin had her involved in this little trap too.
"Yes. If you must know, my good friend and I were going at each other like animals in there. On your bed." Luna's comment drew such laughter as she hadn't heard in a while.
Stellar was blushing, but also clutching her stomach with sidesplitting laughter. "With your burns? Oh, that's rich!"
"Come on, Rey. Let's find somewhere else to be." Luna took her non-boyfriend by the hand and made toward the lounge. She needed a stiff drink after putting up with all this crap in one morning.
"It's a little early in the day for that stuff," Rey commented.
"Whatever," Luna pushed him down into a seat. "You said next time we'd be drinking alone. This is the next time."
"This isn't exactly what I had in mind." Rey put an arm around her, letting her rest her head on his shoulder. "But at least we are alone."
"Hoping to catch me making out with some random girl again?"
"I wouldn't mind that a bit." Rey's cool attitude drew a smile from his companion.
"Easy with that hand." Luna winced as Rey made a movement in the wrong direction. His movements were not toward anything inappropriate, he just happened to touch a burn.
"Sorry." Rey tried to remove his arm, but Luna prevented such actions.
"It's alright, Rey. We're still just friends." Luna drained her liquor glass. "For now."
"For now," Rey matched her smile. He poured her another glass but did not partake himself. He was going on duty soon.
"You better not feel me up when I pass out," Luna warned.
"Me? Never."
Luna chuckled, "Meyrin almost peed her pants when I told her what you did in the infirmary. Or uniform skirt. Whatever."
"I'll bet." If only you knew.
"Too bad I was asleep," she muttered.
"Hmm?" Rey thought he heard it right.
"Nothing." Luna placed the glass back on the table. "Another."
"Affirmative." Rey watched as Luna drank herself into a stupor, then carried her back to her quarters after she passed out.
Rey left her in Stellar's care until he was off duty again six hours later.
"Where am I?"
"Where do you think you are?"
"That you, Rey?"
"Yep. Ready for another drink? Or do you have a sufficient hangover for the middle afternoon?"
"Shut up. There's no afternoon in space." Actually, she was just fine. Until she started to move, that is. Then she recognized that most of her body was on fire. She had to get to her feet slowly and carefully.
"Here." Rey tossed her the burn cream she was supposed to be using. "I think you missed the last couple of scheduled doses."
"You mean you didn't take care of that while I was out cold?" Luna smirked. "What kind of pervert are you to pass up such a golden opportunity?"
"The kind that just got off duty." Rey was highly amused with this banter. And where it was leading. "Want me to call Meyrin?"
Luna shook her head. "I want you to get out, you jerk." Rey stood up but Luna blocked the exit. "But not until after you do my back. I can't reach it," she explained.
Five
"We'll be in high orbit tomorrow. Think we'll catch up to them?" Stellar was enjoying a moment with her fiancée in the rec room while on duty. Both wore their flight suits, ready for trouble.
"Depends on where they want to reenter the atmosphere. Of course, that's assuming that they're not going to Tyco City on the Moon."
After the destruction of the Ptolemeus Crater in the final days of the Bloody Valentine War, the Atlantic Federation had set up a temporary space fleet HQ in the civilian city of Tyco on the opposite side of the Moon. The residents were none too pleased at the intrusion, but all signs indicated that it was temporary. Another space fortress was being built, but Shinn didn't know where it would be or when it would be operational.
"You know, I'm glad I can be here with you." Stellar passed Shinn a cola.
"I still don't like the idea of you fighting," Shinn frowned.
"Too bad. I don't like the idea of you fighting either. If you must, then so must I." Stellar still wore a smile.
"You are pretty good," he had to admit.
"Thanks. I did take care of that Raider."
Shinn lightened up a bit, smiling back at her. "Yeah. They're not so tough when they don't outnumber you. Each one has a weakness and it takes them working as a team to be effective."
"Do you think Luna will be alright?"
Shinn nodded, "She should be fine in a day or two. She's scheduled for combat duty starting late tomorrow."
"That's not exactly what I meant," Stellar placed a hand on his cheek.
"You mean Rey. That I don't know," he shook his head. "He always wanted to be friends. Nothing more. I can't tell if he's changed his mind, or if he's toying with Luna, or if the both of them are toying with us."
"I think the latter is most likely," Stellar commented. "I always thought Rey to be sincere. Perhaps too sincere to mess with Luna's feelings like that."
"Probably so." Shinn wasn't so sure. He had known Rey about as long as he knew anyone living, but Rey was an enigma to everyone.
Stellar informed him, "They're together now, you know. He went straight to my room after he got off duty. Luna was still out cold."
"That's nice."
End Part Twelve
A/N
It has recently come to my attention that Rey may possibly be a female in SEED Destiny (given the fact that he apparently has some of the equipment). I do not have any plans to make use of that information at this time, so please don't ask if I'm going to do a yuri thing between Rey and Luna.
I do not intend to go the way of Destiny (since I don't know much about it and I wouldn't want to do a remake anyway) so you can rest easy about Stellar dying off as well. Or can you? Mu hu ha ha ha (evil laugh). No really, don't worry about it. Just enjoy the story for what it is.
End A/N