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
Dust-in – I'm glad you pointed out the whole Athrun being whipped by Cagalli thing. He hurt her real bad and he'll have to spend the rest of his life making it up to her. Of course, the section to which you are likely referring was Luna's jaded interpretation of the AxC relationship. Naturally, she would exagerate things to make herself feel a little better about it.
As always, thanks for reading and reviewing.
Special thanks to DragonBlond, without whom this project would have derailed at part ten. This is only possible by her support and encouragement.
A/N End
Chapter 57
Playing a role. An actress in a play. On the stage, under the lights. No, that's not right.
She was searching for the appropriate analogy for herself.
Actress? More like a queen on a chess board. The white queen. Rey's white queen.
In the back of her mind, she knew that in some subtle way Rey had groomed her for this. But at the moment, she was playing the part of errand runner. Or would emissary be more accurate?
Yes. Emissary. To represent Rey's interests by delivering something to a man who was good with numbers. Someone who could help Rey find answers from the money trail.
In the end everything seemed to come down to money, to greed. Luna though the first Bloody Valentine War was about fear and hatred, and that was true to a certain extent. But Coordinators and Naturals are not so different. Everyone knew that, so why the fighting? Why go so far as to exterminate each other?
The answer is fairly obvious; because some wanted it that way. There was le Creuset who wanted to kill everyone off. But his black queen had been Muruta Azriel, a key player in the defense industry within the Atlantic Federation. His motivations were certainly not inspired by fear and hatred. At least, not in the beginning. Then there was Admiral Sutherland, the black bishop who wouldn't make a move without Azriel having first lined his pockets with hard currency. And now there was a new head of the Atlantic Federation, who also happened to have been a key player in the defense industry at one time. This guy, Dijibril, was also leading Blue Cosmos. But there was another group backing them. With money. And weaponry.
And then there's the Zala bozos. They were getting an awful lot of support from someplace. With money. And weaponry.
Could it be all one person? Or one group of people?
"Miss?" The waiter had come to take her empty glass and leave the check.
"Yes. Thank you," she accepted the offered data disk from under the waiter's serving tray. Now that she had completed the pickup, it was time for her to make the drop.
The Double Ships Alliance, as Rey had jokingly called it, was now in Southeast Asia. They were given grief whenever they tried to enter a port, but Captain Gladys's orders ensured them free passage through the ZAFT occupied territories. Gladys and Ramius were on their way to try and convince the Eurasian Federation to split with the Atlantic Federation. Unlikely, but it seemed to have a better chance of success than trying to make Orb independent again. Eurasia wanted to break those ties, shackles really, but they needed a little encouragement. Okay, a lot of encouragement.
Luna was forbidden to examine the data. It wasn't that hard to resist, but Rey had given her fair warning just in case. Any attempt to crack the encryption would result in shorting the disk. Only with the proper passkey could it be successfully used.
Rey. She believed in him, in what he was doing. He could put on many faces, but Luna knew that no one but her had seen under his layer of masks. He was one of the good guys. He had to be, right?
It was too late to argue such semantics now. Rey was intent on playing the game from the inside and confront the top guy head-on. Luna wasn't convinced of the wisdom of taking on the enemy on his home turf, but Rey seemed to be a master at this kind of activity.
Despite his actions and threats, he was a person who cared about his friends. He had few qualms about using them like chess pieces, but he also took care of them. Like her. Meyrin, Stellar, everyone had been right about Rey in some small way. Rey truly did care for Luna in his own way. She was not his pawn and he never planed for her to be. Luna was his queen. The most powerful piece on the board. The keeper of his arsenal. She was still a tool for him to use, and possibly be sacrificed, but such was what she had willingly asked to be.
And she loved every minute of it.
"Thank you, young lady." This was the last guy in the chain. He would take this to the numbers guy. The results would get back to Rey by a completely different route.
"No problem," Luna smiled. This task was done, and just as Rey had asked of her. She looked as if she was someone placing an order for medical supplies for a small family practice. In her dress, her manner, in everything really.
Luna wondered whether the others involved even had an idea of what they were holding in their hands. Probably not. Rey was like that. He would have a hundred people doing his tasks for him but letting them think they were doing something completely different. These guys likely thought they were handling data on guerrilla troop movements or munitions test data.
But Luna knew.
It was time to meet Rey. She had left the ship without permission and he was covering for her. He owed her big for all this and he knew it. He didn't need her to be his errand runner. No, his plans for her were much bigger. She was the white queen, after all.
Two
"How did it go?" Cagalli was surprisingly chipper today.
"Well. Captain Gladys seems to think that the mighty Athrun Zala deserves to ride in an appropriate mobile suit. Besides, Luna wants to go back to her Gunner ZAKU." Athrun cringed when he realized who's name he just dropped. "Sorry."
"It's fine. She's got a man of her own now." She muttered under her breath, "Thank God."
"Indeed," Athrun smiled.
"You won't be stationed over there will you?"
"No. The Savior is being loaded into the Archangel as we speak."
"Good," she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Would you have missed me?" Athrun took a seat on the other bed. There were two beds in each of the pilot quarters. Kira and Lacus shared one room, as did Athrun and Cagalli. Andy had a room to himself.
"Keep it up mister and you'll be sleeping on the couch we don't have anymore." Cagalli's voice trailed off into a whisper.
"Sorry," he gave her a hug. "This has been really hard on you."
"Thank you Captain Obvious." Despite the sarcasm, she did return his embrace. "At least we had a nice honeymoon."
"I hope that's not all we'll have to say about our marriage."
"Neither do I." Cagalli pushed off his chest. "You do want kids, right?"
"Now? This minute?"
"Well, they kind of take about nine months so no, not right now this minute," Cagalli chuckled.
"When this is over, yeah. I want kids," Athrun grinned. "Two. One boy one girl. Two years apart."
"What if they come at once?"
"Then we'll lose twice as much sleep trying to change all those diapers, I guess."
"Somehow, I think Kira will be having the twins. He can handle it. And Lacus has the patience of a saint," Cagalli giggled.
"So you can predict the future now?"
"Might as well," she shrugged her shoulders. After a few seconds of silence, it suddenly clicked that Athrun had made a misstep. "You still haven't told them that your name is Athrun Athha?"
"Sorry. Must have slipped my mind," he lied.
"You unbelievable jerk. You said you liked my name."
"I am proud to be Athrun Athha. Want to come with me as I shout it from the deck?"
She called his bluff. "Yes, I'd like to come with you. And I want everyone to be within earshot, got it?"
"Yes ma'am."
Three
"Miss me?"
"Every second," Rey whispered.
"They're finally getting rid of that thing?" Luna stood by Rey watching the Savior being moved. "I never liked it anyway. Who's driving?"
"That Kira guy. I don't like him." Rey made a face that resembled a scowl.
"He means well," Luna stated. Truthfully, she didn't like him that much either. They kind of got off on the wrong foot, with her trying to steal his sister's fiancée and all. That's never a good icebreaker.
"I know he means well, and that's why I don't trust him. He'll get in my way."
"Rey," Luna whined. "We've been over this."
He sighed, "I promise I won't kill that purple guy unless he tries to kill me first, alright?"
"Good. The last thing we need is to tick off the only ally we know we've got on this planet." Luna knew something was going on within ZAFT, but and there was no way of knowing who was a Zala and who was on their side. At this point, the Archangel was more trustworthy than any of the alternatives.
"I can tell you're deriving an inordinate pleasure from our . . . relationship."
"Indeed I am. Thanks." Luna stole his hand for a few moments.
"Don't thank me just yet, Luna." Rey led her off toward the lounge.
"Even if this is what I want?" She decided to forgo the alcohol for today and get herself and Rey a cola.
"Thanks." Rey was done talking for a while. He had nothing left to say that he would care for others to overhear.
It didn't matter. Luna was content to sit in silence.
Four
"Captain."
"Captain."
Talia and Murrue often greeted each other this way. They were on a first name basis now, but then they were always talking business. It seemed more professional to use their titles.
Captain Gladys handed her newfound ally a data pad. "I've arranged for passage through this route. We can make our way over the Middle East and enter Eurasia through Turkey's airspace."
"Of course, getting to Berlin will be a problem," Murrue admitted.
"We can get word to Gibraltar and have them try to make contact with Berlin, but that's about as likely to work as flying right into Berlin itself."
"Tell me of that blue ship," requested Murrue.
"They were responsible for the attack on the PLANTs and the theft of two prototypes. We were sent to hunt them down, but now the hunters have become the hunted. They're likely following us and waiting for their opportunity to strike."
Five
"We need to find a new way of tracking them. Any suggestions?"
"I could go down and try to infiltrate Tyco City." The two of them were having a private conference away from the rest of the crew.
Yzak had numerous reservations about this. "No."
"Please, Yzak." Shiho all but begged to be assigned this task.
"I refuse. That is final."
"Because I am you wife, that makes me less expendable?" Okay, now she was begging.
Yzak saw where this is leading. "You can't use that logic on me. You never were a common soldier and I will not risk you on something as questionable as this."
Shiho remained defiant. "But I'm better than anyone you've got. That includes Sarah Rosami and you."
Yzak couldn't argue with that. "Shiho," his voice softened.
She smiled thinking she was getting through to him.
"The answer is still no. You lost your entire family. Remember what that feels like? Imagine how I would feel if I lost you." Yzak still felt the sting of loss he experienced while watching her seemingly lifeless body being carted off into surgery.
"I swear by all that I hold dear, I will not die on you."
"I'll send Sarah. She can get the job done." Yzak knew she was angry. She was likely more furious at him than she had ever been at anything in her entire life.
She was so angry in fact that she couldn't speak. To do so would mean saying things she would regret.
"Stop this now, Shiho." Yzak placed his hands on her shoulders. "I will not have you behaving this way. There are more important things I need you to do."
"Like what?" Shiho relaxed. "Be your housewife?"
Yzak's eyes narrowed. "I have never hit you before. Keep pressing my buttons and I will start today."
"Forgive me," Shiho lowered her head.
"Don't worry about it." Yzak raised her chin so their eyes could meet once more. "Have you forgotten where we are and what we're trying to do?"
"No."
"We still don't know who has been after me or what all of this has been about."
Shiho lowered her head again, dejected. The tag-along housewife. Her life would be in service to him.
"I have something I want you to do that may be more important than all of this."
That caught her attention.
"There are some things being held in Jachine Diue under the tightest security. I want you to go there for me. See if we have anything that uses mirage colloid. Bring back everything of value. We'll likely need it."
"Of course." Now she was suddenly afraid. He was sending her from his side to someplace far away. He had never done that before.
"Come back with Dearka. Miriallia as well, if she insists. But you must bring Dearka. We will try and hold this position until your return." Yzak gave her a kiss before leaving her alone in their quarters.
"Oh God, Yzak." Now she felt the twinge of fear she knew she had inflicted on him moments earlier. He could be in danger and she would have no way of knowing, no way of helping. This is exactly how he would have felt with her out there trying to infiltrate an enemy base alone.
Chapter 58
"Everyone set?"
"Yes sir," Austin reported.
"Good," Rey dismissed Austin. Rey wore his usual smirk. Now Luna was in his squad and Rey would make further use of her. She was always best at long-range support tactics anyway.
Austin was an unwitting pawn. He enjoyed being Rey's number two, but had no clue that he was much farther down the line than that. Luna was the real number two. Austin probably believed that he was an independent member of the informal network of spies that crisscrossed the Earth and the PLANTs.
The two ships were now over the Indian Ocean making toward the Middle East, and had been making the trip for a week now. They had been followed all the way from Panama, though their one skirmish took place before they made it back to Carpenteria. Many doubted whether their pursuers were still there, but Rey knew. And so did Kira. They could feel his presence.
Rey smirked. Luna placed a hand on his shoulder. They were in flight suits, ready to go. Today would be the day.
Kira wasn't one of those that "Al" had warned him of. Perhaps we should just start calling him Rau le Creuset, for that's exactly who Rey's benefactor had been. Rau's mask was solely to cover the horror he had inflicted on himself in a maddened rage, though Rey had always seen him without it. No, Kira wasn't necessarily his enemy. But this man in the purple Windam was another story. They were mortal enemies, and despite Kira's desire for them to make friendly it was pretty clear that wasn't going to be the case.
"Is it time?" asked Luna.
"Yes. Stay back and cover the rest of the team. Ignore Shinn and Stellar. They will go too far out for cover anyway. And don't worry about covering those from the Archangel. They are not your responsibility."
Luna didn't question his intuition or his order.
"When we arrive at our destination, there is something I want you to do for me."
Luna smiled. He never had to ask. "Anything, Rey."
"It should make our task in Berlin much easier. We should be landing in southern Arabia. You'll do it there." The area was technically Eurasian, but it was very ZAFT friendly. It would be the perfect place for Luna to set the pieces on the board for the next match.
"Understood," she nodded.
"Get in your ZAKU. It's time."
He was right. The walls were too thick on the Minerva for Rey to hear, but they had just been pinged by active sonar. Two attack submarines were about to launch torpedoes. Rey strapped himself into his ZAKU just before the Minerva and Archangel surfaced to escape the first salvo.
Rey's team was out first and met by the squad of Windams. Naturally, their favorite hijackers were there. Kira and Athrun went after them. Andy went for the subs while Shinn and Stellar went after the fancy new warship.
Luna stayed on the Minerva's deck and provided cover for the sea battle.
Kira tried to blast away with his rail cannons while Athrun strafed in the Savior. The Chaos and Abyss ended up pressing them back through high-low attack combinations. The only alternative for Kira was to go close range with beam sabers. Athrun followed his friend's lead.
It seemed that the advantage was going to the Archangel and Minerva, but their enemies hadn't yet played their hand.
A Calamity exited one of the submarines, followed by more Windams. The purple suit came out. The tide had turned.
Sorely outnumbered, Rey's group was forced to fall back. Luna provided what cover she could but it wasn't enough. The ZAKUs were forced to fall back. Rey lost one of his pilots.
"Now would be a good time for you to go down!" Shinn flew back into the mix with Stellar not far behind. They went straight for the Calamity which was on top of one submarine providing cover for the Windams. Between Shinn's fury and Stellar's inner demons, the Calamity didn't stand a chance.
Rey's grudge didn't have to be put on hold. The purple Windam came straight for him. "Now you're mine," he whispered. Luna provided the necessary cover to keep the other suits away while Rey did his thing. Kira was too busy to interfere. Rey went straight for the jugular.
His cold laughter was matched by the silent rage within his opponent. They were so evenly matched that it was difficult for either side to find an advantage. The Windam's beam sabers slashed. Rey's beam tomahawks chopped. They were going to kill each other then and there.
"Rey!" screamed Luna.
The Chaos closed behind Rey to take him out. He would die pressed on one side by the Windam and the other by the Chaos. Luna couldn't lay down covering fire without hitting Rey.
Athrun's Savior flew in to the Chaos, knocking it into the sea. Kira's Freedom took off the legs of the Windam before kicking the crippled mobile suit toward the Archangel.
Two
"I can't say, really."
"You're not very helpful."
"My apologies, captain." The doctor left the infirmary, leaving it Murrue and Kira. And their prisoner.
"He could be a clone, he could be the real thing," Kira pondered aloud. "Oh, sorry Murrue."
"It's alright, Kira. I was thinking the same thing."
Their prisoner was severely wounded. He had yet to regain consciousness. There was a good chance he might not make it.
"I wonder what he'll say. If it'll be something Mu would have said." Murrue wrung her hands in her lap. Andy wanted to be here, but Murrue had refused. Only Kira.
"You won't have to wait long," Kira informed her.
Murrue caressed the injured man's cheek. The left side of his face was scarred. She couldn't help but wonder if that was from injuries sustained in the Battle of Jachine Diue when Mu had tried to save the Archangel from a Lohengrin blast. But there was very little left of his mobile suit out there. There was no sign of a body within the wreckage either.
At her touch, the man stirred. "Who are you, beautiful?"
"You don't remember?" asked Murrue. Kira took a few steps back to give them a little more space to themselves.
"Can't say that we've ever met. It's a shame too." The man looked over his situation. "Is it bad, nurse? It looks pretty bad. If I have to die, at least there's an angel to escort my soul on its way."
Murrue couldn't help but cry. That really is the flirty kind of comment Mu would have come up with. "You really don't know who I am?"
"No. Do you know who I am?"
"I thought I did."
"Neo. My name is Neo." He didn't see any reason to tell her more than that. In apology, the man reached for her hand and kissed it. "And you?"
"Captain Murrue Ramius, Archangel, formerly of the 8th Lunar Fleet." Murrue watched as his expression turned rather sour. "Neo, huh? Fitting."
"How so?" He was a little less friendly now that he knew he was a prisoner aboard a ship of traitors.
"It means new."
"Is there something new about me?"
Murrue nodded. "What unit are you with?"
"82nd Mobile Battalion."
"I see," Murrue continued crying unabated. At least her voice hadn't started shaking yet. "You remind me of a friend."
"Close friend?"
"I was going to spend the rest of my life with him. At least, that's what we liked to tell ourselves."
"Was? Things didn't work out?"
"No. He died so that I might live. You look so much like him."
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Neo closed his eyes and swallowed hard.
"I've heard that before," Murrue whispered.
"The Gospel of John." Neo had yet to open his eyes. "What will you do with me?"
"We'll keep you here," Murrue responded. "We're trying to keep the war from spiraling out of control. Actually, we were trying to stop it in the first place."
"You failed miserably."
"That's not for you to say, Mu la Flagga." Kira had spoken for the first time. The feeling was unshakable. It was him. Or at least, the same shell.
Neo didn't even know he was in the room. "My name is not Mu."
"Really? Tell me of your childhood. Your father. What was his name? Did you get along? Tell me about your mother. How did she make you feel? About your days in school. About how you joined the Atlantic Federation. Why you joined. Who did you first serve with? Who's the last girl you dated? What brand of shampoo did you use as a teenager? Anything. Tell me anything to make me believe that your memories have not been manufactured." Kira was absolutely convinced now. The more Neo spoke, the more clear it became that he was a blank slate. Much like Stellar had been when they found her.
"And I assume that you know more of me than I do myself?"
"As impossible as it may sound, yes we do." Kira handed this 'Neo' a copy of the same items he had given Rey earlier. "This is your father, Al da Flagga. This is your mother. This was from your days in the academy." Kira pulled out another picture, one that was made in Libya during the war. "And this is all of us. You may not remember, but this was a good friend of ours. He died over the Marshal Islands." Kira was pointing at Tolle. "And this was someone very special to me." Now he was pointing at Fllay.
"Get out." Neo swallowed hard again. "Get out now."
Kira left the pictures by the bed. Murrue stayed. "Do you want me to leave as well?"
"Yes, but you're welcome to visit later."
Three
"Oh, man. That was rough."
"Yeah, but we made it." Shinn let Stellar sink into him. They were hanging out in the lounge.
"You think that guy's alright?" Stellar didn't really care. She had lost a friend. Well, not really a friend. It was just that guy that wasn't quite so mean on her first day aboard the Minerva. She didn't even know his name.
"He's badly wounded," Rey informed them. Luna leaned against him much like Stellar was with Shinn, but she remained silent. She knew that Rey wasn't happy about it. If he had to die, it should have been by Rey's hand.
"Do you know the guy?" asked Shinn.
Rey shook his head.
"Maybe Ramius will let you see him," suggested Stellar.
"That is for certain." Rey stood up and left, leaving Luna behind.
"Aren't you going to go with him?"
Luna shook her head.
Stellar reached out for Luna's hand across the table. "What's the matter, Luna? You haven't been very talkative lately. Is it something I did?" Stellar really didn't know. All she knew was that her roommate hadn't been much of a friend.
"Stellar, you've done nothing wrong. I've just had a lot on my mind. You're still one of my best friends, so don't let me scare you off. I . . ." she trailed off.
"You're worried about Rey," Stellar finished for her. "Is there anything I can do?"
"No," Luna was polite, but firm. "It's alright."
"Okay," Stellar gave up. She didn't really know what to do for Luna anyway. "How are things with you and Rey?"
"Fabulous," Luna smiled. "I better go and get some sleep."
Shinn and Stellar watched as she left. Now the two of them were alone.
"I'm worried." Stellar tried to sink into Shinn a little further.
"Yeah," was the response.
"But there's nothing we can do, is there?"
"Nope."
"How depressing."
Four
"What are you planning?"
"Nothing at the moment. I would like a little silence, please." He reached out for her hand in silent apology.
She knew he didn't mean anything by it. As a matter of fact, she led him off to her quarters so he could ponder the day's events uninterrupted. Luna had noticed that it was a habit of his. He analyzed every moment of the battle after it was over.
Another habit he was developing had something to do with her hair. She often let Rey run his fingers through it. Truthfully, she loved the attention.
And she had her own set of things to think about. Oh, Rey. Luna had truly found herself. This was where she wanted to be. Where she needed to be. It also happened to be where she had no choice but to be.
Rey was still a mystery to her. He had revealed much of himself but each layer revealed more and more questions. It was an endless puzzle which she would love to spend the rest of her existence trying to learn.
"You enjoy this, don't you?" Rey's question interrupted her train of thought.
"Yes." Luna pulled him to her. "I enjoy it very much."
"Good."
Five
"Should we be doing this?"
"What's the matter? Never done it before?" Mir enjoyed watching him turn red as a beet. It looked odd on his tanned skin.
"Well, yeah but not . . ." Dearka felt all the blood rush to his head. So much so that he thought his head might explode.
Mir giggled, "Oh my. You haven't!"
"Yes, I have. Just not like this."
"Come on, Dearka. Drop the towel and get in." Mir had been making a lot of advances over the past several days. Actually, their vacation was half over and she hadn't been in her own room for more than a few short hours at a time.
She had slept in the same bed with Dearka every night, which made him extremely uncomfortable. She could barely get him to make out. It's like he thought he would be taking advantage of her.
At the moment she was trying to get him into the hot tub. Without a bathing suit. "You'd think you've never been with a girl before."
"Um, well, I'd prefer not to talk about it." Dearka took the towel with him into the hot tub.
Mir snatched it from under the water and threw it over the railing hoping the wet towel didn't land on anyone below. "How shy can a guy get? I thought you used to be quite a lady's man. That's how Yzak always made it sound."
"In the academy, yeah. But that was different. It wasn't like this."
"Okay, I can believe you've never gone skinny dipping, but you've never made love to a girl either?"
"Not one I cared for," Dearka admitted. "Oops. That was really insensitive, wasn't it?" Oh God, please don't be mad at me.
Mir just laughed it off. "You know, I'm not a virgin either."
Now Dearka was really uncomfortable. "I wasn't going to ask."
"It's alright, Dearka."
"No Mir, it's not. I don't want to hear what all you did with . . ." Dearka hid his face.
"Dearka . . ."
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring that up." He reached out to touch her shoulder.
"You're a jerk, Dearka Elsman."
"I can think of many other adjectives that would also be appropriate. Many of them are inappropriate for minors."
Mir reached out to hug his neck, pressing her naked body to his. "Please be good to me."
"Always. I'll always do my absolute best."
"Then why the heck won't you lighten up? We're in the most romantic place I have ever been and you won't even . . ."
"It's not that I don't want to . . ."
"Just let me take the lead," Mir suggested. "We want to spend the rest of our lives together, right?"
"Yeah," Dearka admitted. "But I didn't want to rush things."
"We're not rushing if it's both what we want and we're both ready for it." Mir began kissing his neck while telling him the most appropriate analogy she could think of. "A flower only opens its petals only when the time is right."
Dearka still wasn't convinced. It was about seven or eight months since Tolle was killed. And now he was dating her. Seriously dating. She had made it perfectly clear just a couple of weeks ago that she wasn't ready to be engaged, and yet now she wanted to get physical all the sudden? "Mir."
"Dearka, please. I'll never forgive you if you make me beg."
"I haven't even given you a promise ring yet."
"Don't worry about it. I don't want to get married for at least two years. Rings can wait a while." Mir kissed him.
"And this can't wait?"
"If you reject me now, you're never ever going to get this opportunity again," she warned him. "Ever. Do you understand me?"
"Yes ma'am." He closed his eyes and awaited the inevitable.
"I love you, Dearka . . ."
Chapter 59
"Kira?"
"Hmm?" He couldn't sleep. And he just realized that by playing with Lacus's pink hair, he was preventing her from sleeping as well.
"Is it really Mu?"
"Yes it is. They've warped him, much like how they did with Stellar. He'll never be the same." Kira held her tight to his chest, still playing with her long pink hair.
"What of Murrue?"
"Her heart is breaking all over again. And I don't think Andy will be able to help her through this one."
"And of the other? Luna's friend?" Lacus could feel it. There was something . . . unusual going on.
"I don't know. I'm sure he'd like to see Mu in person, but I don't know what will happen." Kira kissed the top of her head. "It may not matter if they don't speak soon. I not sure that Mu will make it."
"Kira . . ."
"It was hard to see him go once."
"Can we change the subject?" Lacus was feeling ill with this talk. Being depressed was something Lacus wasn't very good at and she refused to get started now.
"Sure. Let's talk about our wedding."
"That's a good topic. I can't wait," Lacus beamed.
It was dark, but Kira thought he could make out the expression on her face. "I hope we can make it. It doesn't look good."
"Kira," Lacus whined.
"Sorry. Maybe I should just stop talking."
"I agree, Mr. Yamato." Lacus took a deep breath. "We rarely catch a break."
"Yeah." Kira tried his best to stop fidgeting with her hair. He laid perfectly still for a long while, but his mind kept racing.
"Kira, you need to stop." She had to take his hands with hers.
"Sorry." To allow her some sleep, Kira decided to just get out of the bed. "How about I just stay up and watch you sleep?"
"I'm too tired to argue." Sure enough, Lacus was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
Kira couldn't help but smile at his love, despite his melancholy thoughts. So beautiful. It's a shame we'll miss our own wedding. Midsummer is fast approaching and we're stuck all the way out here with no hope of getting back in time. Assuming we can ever go back.
Lacus was having contented dreams. Kira thought he could see them, and perhaps he could. A home on the beach. Two children running out to meet him. Lacus waiting in the doorway. That's what he saw. It was his fantasy, really. Coming home to a loving wife and kids. He had envisioned this happiness for a long time, though admittedly he would paste a picture of his current love interest over the face of the woman. It was Fllay for a long while, as Kira had the biggest crush on her while they were in school.
Kira's smile widened as he played through the scene again in his mind. It seemed so fitting to have Lacus there. It was like putting on that perfectly sized glove for the first time. It was just so . . . right. So natural. So perfect.
Kira watched as she blinked. "I thought you were going to sleep?"
A single tear wet her face. Kira always thought that crying seemed so out of place on her. He liked to have died when she wept for the passing of her father. Now she was weeping for . . . what? She motioned for him to join her.
"What is it, Lacus?"
"That dream. It was that dream. I've had it all my life, but this was the first time I got a good look at the face. It was you the whole time." She wept uncontrollably, burying her face into his bare chest.
"I've often had that dream too," he admitted. "Since I was little. Even when I thought all girls were infected with cooties." Kira succeeded in drawing a weak chuckle from his love.
"I love you so much, Kira Yamato. I'm not whole without you. Promise me we'll stay together."
"I promise." Kira had to lift her chin to seal it with a kiss. "Don't cry."
"Okay. Now you go to sleep, too." Lacus settled on his chest like a kitten curling up for a nap. I love you, Kira Yamato.
And I love you, Lacus Clyne.
Two
Athrun was still in the doghouse, but that's how he honestly expected to spend most of his life. It's not that he thought he wasn't good enough. It was more like he never expected Cagalli to forgive him. Sure she had said she did and she got married to him anyway, but their relationship was constantly on the rocks.
"Are you even listening to what I'm saying?"
"No," he answered honestly. He had learned the hard way that lying to her was a very bad idea. Very bad.
"Athrun!" She was in her panties and tank top, very similar to the undergarments she wore that first night they met. The night they almost killed each other.
"I think you look very nice in those. I'm not sure I ever told you that." Athrun knew he was making it worse, but he couldn't help it. It would just get worse anyway. His only hope was that she would run out of steam soon.
"I can't believe you!" She rewarded his flattery by flinging a pillow at him. She had learned her lesson about throwing hard objects.
Athrun didn't turn his head, he just caught the pillow by what little movement he saw out of the corner of his eye. "And I love you very much, Cagalli Yula Athha."
"Well, at least I got you to correct everyone on your name Mr. Athha!" She was starting to lighten up.
"Thank goodness," he whispered to himself.
"What was that?"
Oh God. Not again.
"Athrun, why don't you try and be good to me?" Cagalli slumped down onto her bed. That's right, her bed. She had Athrun sleeping in the other bed. Not a good sign for newlyweds.
"Do you seriously believe I haven't been good to you?" Athrun encroached on her territory to sit on her bed. And give her a hug.
"No, you've been surprisingly wonderful."
"Surprisingly?"
"Well, there was that one thing that I'll never let you forget," Cagalli reminded him.
"Yes. I'll spend the rest of my life suffering for that."
"Indeed you will," Cagalli laughed. "On the bright side, I didn't get rid of you."
At times like these, Athrun wondered why. To torment him? Herself? "Yes, Cagalli."
"Okay, Athrun. I'm don't torturing you for a while."
"Does that mean you won't send me over there?" Athrun pointed toward his lonesome bed.
"I guess you can stay, but you'd better be on your best behavior."
"I'll do my best not to let you down." Athrun took a deep breath before making the plunge. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah. I can see that there's no longer anything between the two of you. But I swear to God . . ."
"You'll have me castrated. Yeah, I know." Athrun buried his face in her pillow.
"It really hurt, you know." Cagalli hugged her knees close while keeping an eye on her husband. He had yet to remove his face from the pillow. "With all the other stuff that was going on, I was so busy. It was my fault. I all but pushed the two of you together."
No reaction.
"You know, I thought about killing myself."
That got his attention. "Cagalli?"
"It's true," she wiped away one of her tears. "One of us was going to die. Either me or you. And I don't think I could hurt you. At least, not in any premeditated way."
"Oh, Cagalli. I'm so sorry." Athrun sat up to hold her as she cried.
"I just wanted to die. It's like I wasn't good enough. Like everyone hated me including the person I loved most in this world. And then all the stuff with Yuna and the Senate, and then they killed Kisaka." She let it all out. She cried for hours just like that. In his arms. On her bed.
She cried herself to sleep that night. It wasn't the first time she had done that. Athrun had a feeling that it wouldn't be the last time either.
Three
"Rey?"
"What?"
"May I ask what it is you'd like me to do when we set down?" Luna had succeeded in getting him to lie with her. She had him trapped in a semi-intimate position.
He was resting with his head on her chest. "You're going to turn this series of skirmishes into a full-scale war."
"Um . . ." Luna waited a moment, then resumed playing with his long blond hair.
"Not like that. Our victory will not come through open confrontation on the battlefield. We must split the alliance. Of course, Captains Gladys and Ramius are clueless when it comes to how. You must do it for them."
"I see."
"Only by creating outrage among their allies will we be able to cause the Eurasians to separate from their Atlantic brethren. It will also generate a lot of sympathy for the PLANTs here on Earth."
"What kind of dirt are you going to make public?"
"Those that are behind all of this and the proof to that effect. I would rather not go into specifics."
Luna took the hint. That was his way of politely saying 'shut up'.
Rising up, he locked her into his gaze. He did so often, knowing that it simultaneously frightened her and excited her. "Now I have a question or two for you, Luna."
"Anything."
"What did you think of me touching you in the infirmary?"
She couldn't look away. She couldn't lie or he would know. "At first I was very angry. Then I guess I was kind of glad to have someone's attention. After thinking about it, I was relieved that it was you and not someone else."
Rey laughed. "I thought that might be the case." Of course, he wasn't going to tell her the truth of the matter. Not after Luna's admission of secretly enjoying it.
"And I regretted being unconscious." She held her breath. Hoping. Waiting.
"And you expect me to do something about it?" He was toying with her.
She knew it and didn't care. Luna nodded her consent. Rey's hollow laughter filled her soul. A soul she had sold to him. She felt like she had sold her soul to the devil, but she knew better than that. She was her own woman, now and forever. She was here because she willed it to be so. It just so happened that Rey had also willed it to be so, and probably long before she did. He had guided her into this and she had little choice in the matter. But then again, this is exactly what she wanted. It would be pointless to argue whose willpower was the most influential in the matter. She was here. Rey's white queen.
Luna handed Rey a bottle of her favorite body lotion. "I expect you to do something about it right now."
She enjoyed it immensely, taking in every moment. His hands were like sensual magic working her over in a delicate massage.
"Oh, that was great." Luna had never felt so good in her entire life. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." Rey wore a smirk. Of course, he enjoyed it too.
"Mmm." Now she settled down onto his chest. I am sooo content right now.
Four
"How are you feeling?"
"Why do you keep coming here? Don't you have a ship to run?"
"Because I didn't get a good enough look at you the last time you asked me that." Murrue ran a finger down each of Neo's facial scars.
He insisted on being called Neo. "Well, I suppose attractive company is better than none."
"Thank you." Murrue bowed slightly, causing a jingle.
Neo reached out to claim her coffin-shaped locket. "Who's this?" He opened it to find his own picture. "I see."
"His name was Mu la Flagga, a lieutenant commander in the 7th Orbital Fleet. They used to call him the Hawk of Endymion because he shot down five GINNs in an early battle. They made the Moebius Zero for pilots like him. There are only a few that are capable of handling gunbarrels." Murrue knew she was rambling, but she felt compelled to tell him about her dearest love.
"I used to fly a mobile armor." Neo's brow furrowed in thought. He still thought that Kira had spoken a bunch of nonsense. And yet, he could not deny the remarkable likeness in the pictures. Nor could he explain much of his own past.
"It's alright, Neo. Just concentrate on getting better." Murrue placed a gentle hand on his chest and felt his breath rattle within. "Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?"
"No," he shook his head. After a few moments, he commented "It's a shame that fate has placed us as enemies."
"We are not enemies unless you wish it to be so."
"Life isn't that simple."
"Sometimes it is." Murrue thought it time to explain the Archangel's situation. "You see, we were faithful soldiers until the Battle of JOSH-A. We were betrayed by our own forces. They were going to kill us along with the Eurasian fleet just to get us out of their way. They didn't want it to get out that a Coordinator was the pilot of the Strike. He was an inspiration to everyone and if that came out, it would only serve to kill morale. He was gone by then, but they wanted to kill us just because we knew the truth."
"So you went to fight with the enemy," Neo scoffed.
"No. We fought both sides. We found allies in Orb after the Atlantic Federation's unprovoked attacks. We found allies in the PLANTs because there were many who didn't want to inflict the same suffering on us as we had on them."
"Does it really matter?"
"It did to Mu. The Bloody Valentine was a horrible tragedy. It should never have happened and it should never be allowed to happen again."
Neo placed a hand over hers. "I suppose not." After a few moments he continued, "You want to level with me?"
"You were hurt pretty badly. Lots of shrapnel. The doctor did what he could, but . . ."
"I see."
"I believe you can make it if you have the will."
"You mean if I have a reason. Well, I have a good reason."
Chapter 60
"Are you going to see him?"
"Yes. I think it's time we faced each other. Coming?"
"Of course." Luna put on her overcoat.
Rey only had one day before they entered port. Now would be the opportune time to have his little confrontation. He didn't know that his nemesis already had company. "Captain Ramius," Rey nodded.
"How can I help you, Rey?" Murrue arose but did not leave Neo's side.
"I'd like a word with your friend." Rey could see how upset she was at the mere thought of a quarrel breaking out. It would be a lie to say that he didn't enjoy seeing her squirm.
"If it isn't the nosy kid," commented Neo.
Rey laughed. Though younger, he was the father. Or rather, another imperfect clone of this man's father. "Shall I kill you now or can we call a truce? I have important business to attend to and you are, shall we say, an unwelcome distraction." Rey patiently waited for an answer.
"Yeah, whatever." Neo could barely move, let alone do anything.
Murrue informed Rey, "He is not feeling well. Please leave him alone."
Rey laughed his famous bone-chilling chuckle. "Very well. Keep an eye on your lover while you can." Rey came very close to Neo. His face was mere inches from his enemy. "Take my advice and stay here. If we meet again in battle, one of us will certainly die."
"I know," said Neo. "I look forward to seeing you again, kid."
Two
"How is she?"
"You really should ask her that yourself, Andy." Kira was keeping Andy company while he was running the ship. Murrue had taken leave of her responsibilities in order to attend to Neo.
"I'd rather not get in her way. Just tell me how she's doing," Andy requested again.
"Not well." Kira watched his friend's reaction closely. "I think he'll make it, though."
"I'm not worried about him, I'm worried about her."
"You shouldn't be," Murrue interrupted. "Andy, I'd like a word with you. Alone."
Sai shrank back into the CIC chair sensing the captain's fury. Even Kira took a step back.
"Sure," Andy left the bridge to Kira. Andy accompanied her to her briefing room. "What can I do for you, Murrue?"
"You can butt out for starters." She was shaking with rage.
"Do you remember when we first sat down together? The first time I tried one of my concoctions on you?"
Murrue sat in her chair, letting the fury escape through a sigh. "Yes."
Andy decided to tell the story anyway. "I asked you when you decided to become such a flirt. You told me that was how Mu had been with you, while you always played it straight. Whenever we were together, you took it upon yourself to take his role while I played yours. Remember that?"
Murrue hid her face so Andy wouldn't see the tears.
He didn't have to see them. "You said that in this way he could live on in you."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Andy made them some coffee. "You know, Aisha was a bit of a flirt as well. She always did whatever she could to turn my head. And it always worked."
Murrue sat in silence. He had never told her of his former lover.
"She had this thing she did with her hair. The way she flicked it out of her eyes, it was like she was baiting me. Her eyes always said 'come hither young man'," Andy laughed. "She was quite a girl. Oh, she wasn't easy. No, I had to chase her for a couple of years but it was worth it. She enjoyed it, like it was a game. I enjoyed it too. The thrill of the hunt we used to call it. She would bait, I would chase. She was the first to call me 'Tiger'. You can see that it stuck. My men added the Desert part in Libya."
"I didn't know. I'm sorry." Murrue felt a little bad now. That's exactly what she had done with him, though he wasn't exactly intent on doing much chasing. Murrue was beginning to realize that in trying to take her mind off Mu she was only reminding Andy of Aisha more and more.
"It's alright. She's still with me here," Andy placed a hand over his heart. "That's what counts."
"My situation is a little different now."
"Is it? You think you can just pick up where you left off?" Andy lifted the eyebrow above his good eye inquisitively.
"No," Murrue shook her head. "But I have to try and help him."
"He's not the guy you used to know," Andy reminded her.
"What do you want me to do, Andy?"
"I want you to be alright. Look Murrue, I care for you a lot. I'd be lying if I told you that I wasn't upset about this. But remember that we've got a job to do here. I can't take your place indefinitely. I'm a pilot and this is your ship. I don't know how to make use of her strengths or cover her weaknesses," Andy placed his good hand on her shoulder. "If you don't snap out of it, there's going to be a lot more at stake than our friendship."
Murrue froze. Andy had laid it out like it was. By going after Neo she was not only endangering her crew, but she was also throwing away a valued friend. Someone she cared for very deeply. They had both hoped for more than friendship, and Andy knew that there would only be room for one man in her life. Murrue had to choose: Andy or Neo.
Three
"It's time. Are you ready?" Rey looked over his protégé.
"Yes, Rey. I am ready." Luna stole a passionate kiss before going on her merry way. She was going to cause a riot and quite possibly get a lot of innocent people killed in the process. She would get the results of the information that they had left behind in Asia, go over it, and then make sure that it fell into the right hands. Rey's network would take it from there.
She smiled. It would be a shame that some would get hurt, but then she wasn't the one pulling the trigger. She would inform the public. The riots that should ensue from these revelations would bring swift wrath down upon the populace. Eurasia was likely the first place where this would take hold. Then Orb. Those were the two biggest. Of course, there would also be popular outrage in the Atlantic Federation and probably even in the PLANTs.
But this had to be done. The alternative would be to sit and wait for the Atlantic Federation to swallow everything. And then the extermination of Coordinators would begin. That would be followed by ZAFT attempting to exterminate all Naturals. No, this way was better.
And she was the one who would push the button. A part of her said that this was wrong. Causing an uprising? It didn't seem right. But she had faith in Rey, in what he was trying to do. Maybe there were better ways of going about it, but she knew deep down that this way would work.
"Luna?"
She was stopped in her tracks by Kira. Luna requested, "Please leave me alone, Kira."
"I just wanted to talk a minute." Kira had managed to catch up to her before she had left the docks.
"Make it fast." She crossed her arms and didn't bother trying to hide her impatience.
"It's about Rey. I'd like to know what you two are up to." His eyes showed genuine concern. Not about what they were planning, but about her.
"It's something important to us all. If you're so concerned with Rey, then why don't you go and ask him about it yourself." Luna stalked off. She didn't have time for this. She knew he meant well, but still. He should mind his own business.
But Kira was a persistent fellow. Catching her by the arm, he spun her around to look into his eyes. "I have a pretty good idea of what's going on already. Just remember that this can work both ways. He'll use you, but if you want to save him you'll have to bend him to your will when the time is right." Having delivered his message, Kira let her go.
Luna watched as the young Freedom pilot began the short trek back to the Archangel. She thought she could make out Lacus waiting for him in the distance. Kira had given Luna something to think about.
Four
"Is everything alright?"
Kira greeted his fiancée by taking her hand. "Lacus, you know better than to ask that."
"Tell me," she requested.
"You have the most beautiful blue eyes. Have I told you that lately?"
"Nearly every day. Along with my hair and my button nose. Now start talking, Kira Yamato."
Kira took a deep breath as he escorted her back to their quarters. "Rey has some big scheme going on and Luna is playing a major role. I don't know about this."
"Will it turn out for the best?" Lacus was ever the optimist.
"Maybe." Kira's brow was etched in worry.
"Let's go see Cagalli," Lacus suggested. "She and Athrun should know about this."
"Yeah."
End Part Fifteen
A/N
I must apologize for any lack of fluff from your favorite couplings (KxL is my fav!). I'd like to get on with the plot, which unfortunately does not require an even spread of character screen time. Rey and Luna have been big players in recent chapters because they're driving rather important events. All characters move in and out of prominence as I need them to either tell the story or distract from it. My whole purpose was to actually tell a story, so please forgive my oversight in this matter. I'll pay better attention in the future and try to make it more even but I'm afraid I can't make any promises.
But relax. Fluff will come later, I hope. And likely in massive quantities.
A/N End