The empty streets, the ruined structures, the silence, the distant tremor. All these are the product of one of the worst battles the world had ever seen in a decade. ZAFT-aligned Ottawa was the first major city to fall in EAF's sudden and recent conquest to purge ZAFT off the North America. They had been successful so far in catching ZAFT off guard through rapid advances and strategic planning in addition to their sheer strength in numbers. In just half a month since Ottowa, EAF had swept down from Alaska and planted full grip on both the American continents.
Their unexpected effectiveness and strength threw ZAFT control on the Western Hemisphere off balance. Even in space, large numbers of ships have been reported leaving Eurasia's L3 Artemis fortress and inbound to the lunar Ptolemaeus base. In response to that, ZAFT amasses their forces at Boaz. EAF's new offensive sent the world into chaos just like it first did 10 years ago. Many people had thought the war is dying out in the last years, but this short 12 days proved them wrong. The anti-race hatred that had resulted in many losses has been rekindled.
Tensions are mounting on the eastern shoreline of the Altantic after reports of EAF crossing the ocean to reinforce their Victoria base for the next conquest. As a result Europe, with ZAFT bases at Belfast, Gibraltar and Copenhagen expecting invasion, reduces all civilian activities. Therefore the Institute was closed down as Belfast is just beyond its border in addition to the Davos valley scandal, where 2 elementary children, 3 high schoolers, and 3 university students are seriously injured, killed, and missing respectively.
Recurring Sorrow
In the middle of a dimly-lit room, footages and recording of the Davos valley incident are projected in the middle of a roundtable occupied by 5 figures.
"I have never expected it to be this serious…I apologize for not answering to your call sooner" said one of the figures right after the projection ends and the table lights switch on.
"We are aware of your strict schedule given the current situation," followed Waltfeld, "I must thank all of you for allowing time for this meeting"
"It's our responsibility too" said Attha, one of DARTH's administrators together with Siegel Clyne, Admiral Lewis Halberton, and Reverend Malchio. Except for Malchio, who most of DARTH personnel identify as the founder, the identities of the other 3 supervisors are kept in dark to all except Waltfeld. This is done so as to prevent conflict for DARTH is created after the apparent truce of the war 10 years ago. If their involvements in DARTH were to go public, it would lead up to complications by extremists who will not accept peace between Naturals and Coordinators, such as Blue Cosmos. Accusations, such as the three manipulating the events that had happened through the years, will surface.
"I do presume Ms. Clyne and Ms. Athha are safe?" asked Waltfeld to which both fathers nod. He then presses a button to switch the light back off again.
A few moments later, following the whirring of an elevator, Rusty, guided by a stage light, walks into the darkroom. "Operator no. 1008, Rusty McKenzie, reporting, sir" he saluted, stopping where the light stops.
Waltfeld's voice came from behind the shadows, "Rusty, I want you to tell me what happened during the mission"
He paused for a moment before proceeding, "Right after the drop-off, Miguel detected a weak DARTH signal originating away from the mission area. Kira, Faye, and I were sent to verify it. A cave was the source of the signal, and Kira detonated an explosive to open the frozen cave mouth. We found Martin and some lower elementary children trapped. Although all of them are found to be alive, Clyne is still unaccounted for. Kira led the search after I left a homing beacon for the rescue team. I myself am not sure how he can pinpoint her location in the long and deep crevasse which she had fallen into. He was in there for approximately 2 minutes before signaling to us. He came out without his helmet and gave his body armor to the target. Then, we suddenly received hostile fire sourcing from the fallen cable cars area to the northwest. The first shot barely missed Kira, and while we were running for cover, the second shot missed Clyne. By that time, we have passed the scheduled rendezvous time, and pinned down under our cover. Kira decided to meet the threat instead. He left Clyne behind a boulder before joining us. It is clear that the three were engaged were not normal soldiers. They withstood several bullet wounds, such that no one without proper conditioning could endure. Faye received wounds from a surprise move, followed by Kira. I suggested for him to escape, taking Faye with him, while I provide cover, but he forced me to go instead. I refused leaving him alone, but his determination convinced me. Soon after, however, I caught a glimpse of him dropping his gun. That's the last I saw of him. I reached the ZAFT extraction zone about 10 minutes later and informed one of the search and rescue officers about Martin and Kira. Faye and I were then taken in for medical attendance…I'm, I'm at fault for running away and leaving my comrade behind. I will gladly suffer the consequences"
"….you did the right thing, my boy. First priority is to obey your commanding officer, and you did that. Better for one to survive rather than all to die" Waltfeld replied.
"May I speak, sir?"
"Go on"
"I wanted to let you know that Kira said the same phrase you did. And, and I heard about how his bullet killed my fellow operatives, but I would vouch my life that it's not him. He was up on the mountain slope the whole time, or at least I think he was…"
"Don't worry. I will get to the bottom of it. You just focus on getting well," he said.
Rusty salutes before turning to leave. Then, the whirring of another elevator brings another person with a right shoulder support restraint replaces him in the light spot.
"Operator no. 0093, Athrun, reporting, sir" he saluted with his left hand.
"How are feeling?" came Waltfeld's voice.
"I'm fine, sir. Thank you"
"Good. I want you to recollect about what happened that day in Graubünden"
"At around 0800 hrs after breakfast, Cag-, excuse me, Attha dragged me into a snow ball game. At around that time was also the last I saw DaCosta and Clyne. At around 1100hrs the weather started to change. We were then advised to stay inside. It was not until a few more hours, that EAF soldiers occupied the place. Athha and I were kept hostage in the main building's lobby along with other students. Then, approaching midnight, an officer and one of the guards drew her away by mentioning her father's name. I tried to break out when the power suddenly went out, and aided my attempt. The other students also rebelled against the guards and quickly suppressed all 6 of them, excluding the two I had neutralized. In the chaos, I managed to seize the guards' weapons and attempted to escape, but was hindered by Arnold's and Julie's flashbangs. Their action, however, managed to calm the commotion down. They quickly briefed the current situation before we move to join up with Ahmed's team. By that time, ZAFT and Orb commando units had infiltrated the area as gunfire could be heard faintly. Then, the three of us were sniped on our way to Ahmed's presumed location. The sniper clearly isn't skilled enough to deal the lethal blow at the first shot. It took him another shot each to take down Julie and Arnold. I managed to evade his 2nd shot, but I lost my footing soon after but Nicol saved me in the nick of time and pulled me away towards cover behind an overturned jeep. Then I saw the unconscious Attha. A bullet had grazed her skull, but she is still alive. Nicol then informed of Ahmed's and Edward's deaths; told me of Miguel's report of Kira's sniping support; and showed me the 6.29 mm bullet casing. 3 Orb commandos joined us just a few minutes before the signal flare is fired. However, as we are escaping the hot zone, the sniper killed Nicol while he is helping me move. The 3 commandos were crushed under a Strike Dagger propelled by an explosion nearby the 4 transport planes. Attha survived all this. After suppressing the sniper, I decided to board the mobile suit to escape. It seems the enemy had 3 unique mobile suits at their disposal. I managed to get a glimpse of them before retreating towards the nearest extraction zone, and then waking up in an Orb hospital"
"So you think Kira is the sniper?"
"…Yes and no. Yes because the ammo is reserved for his ID code only. No because another .43 cal was reported taken out of the armory" he paused, "and because of he's my friend. I trust him"
"Thank you"
He salutes and leaves before another person into the room.
"Operator no. 0403, Martin DaCosta, sir"
"I have asked you this before, but I will ask you again on the record this time. Could you tell me what happened in Davos?"
"Yes, sir," he replied, "The students are up early Christmas Eve enjoying the snow. Attha had forced Athrun to participate in a snow ball war, so we separate at around 0800hrs. Clyne seemed uncomfortable being followed around, and she requested to be left alone while she and some younger elementary students ride the cable car up to mountain. I followed her about 3 cars behind. Hardly anyone rides the car, I presume, because it was so early in the morning. We went about halfway the mountain side while the sky darkens, until the cars stopped due to an apparent power outage. We were left suspended for a few hours before the severe winds weaken the support towers and our cars collapse. I tried signaling for help, but interference is too great. Then, the fiberglass of my car starts to crack under the extreme cold, and figures it would be the same case as Clyne's too. Remembering the map of my briefing, I decided to evacuate Clyne and the kids into a cave to the southeast of our present location. The move was going well until the trip back to the cave after collecting the children from the second car. I had not realized it until a little girl noticed Clyne's disappearance. I attempted to go back out but the sudden change in wind direction sealed the cave's mouth, therefore trapping us in. There was no way out except by the mouth. We waited for about 4 hours and oxygen is running low until I was alerted of help. Then, an explosion blew the frozen cave entrance down. I relieved to see Kira's, Faye's, and Rusty's faces. After telling him about Clyne, Kira immediately left. I blacked out again until ZAFT rescue teams found us."
"Alright, thank you, DaCosta. You may go"
The lights came on again after the room is cleared.
"Their testimonies seemed to go along with their helmet recording. Only Kira's and Miguel's are missing" started Waltfeld, "whatever the case, I fear the enemy has penetrated DARTH deeper than we had expected"
"I have discussed this with Uzumi and Lewis earlier on. Given the current events, which DARTH is created to avoid, it may be time to wrap this up before the situation gets any worst" said Clyne reluctantly.
"What are you implying?"
"What we are implying, Andrew, that we may have outlived our duty" said Halberton, "whoever is behind this must know the relation DARTH is keeping behind its curtains. That's why all three of us is involved in this. EAF's chain of command has started to change from a year ago. My right-hand man, Major Mu la Flaga, confirms Blue Cosmos leader, Mureta Azrael, is behind this attack. Flaga went undercover to check up on conspiracy within the Dublin Institution. He had suspicions on Creuset but was unable to uncover any evidence"
Clyne remained quiet.
"All these are ruining our alliance. It would best to call for a truce and freeze DARTH activity for the time being…until the smoke clears" added Attha.
By this time Waltfeld is boiling in irritation. He sprung up from his seat, "5 agents are dead! 2 of my best are missing! All because of what? Protecting your precious daughters from a threat? A threat that had been unknown?" he paused, "And now you are doing this? Instead of banding together you want to back away? What more are you hiding from me?"
"The fact is that two of your best are the prime suspects of this whole matter! This failure leads up to this renewed chaos. We should be asking you that question. What are you planning and hiding from us?" retorted Halberton.
"Gentlemen! Calm down!" interrupted Malchio, "the enemy wants us to break apart. We mustn't let them have this" After both of them sit back down, he resumes, "we must go through this step by step. First, Admiral, you mentioned about the changes in EAF's chain of command. Would you mind filling us in?"
Halberton explains that EAF had been dependent on many private industrial contractors in order to match the rapid advancements in ZAFT's technology. Though there are many anti-Coordinator sentiments within the ranks, it had not been obvious until a year ago when the High Command accepts the leader of Azreal Industries into the board. From then on, the Command starts to become aggressively ambitious. Doings within the higher levels were kept away from the lower ranks. He himself is unaware of the mass-production activity in JOSH-A until EAF's newest offensive.
"So Blue Cosmos is likely influencing EAF" said Malchio, "now, Siegel nominated Creuset because he is capable enough for the responsibility. Why do you suspect him of treason?"
"While he was holding the post, EAF somehow managed to archive the information in the Institution's database. I decided to send him in to investigate on it. Then Flaga reported seeing a number of EAF personnel infiltrating the Institution grounds. Further, Azrael and Creuset met with each other just a month ago at the same time a batch of modified Hypnochronomorphine, secretly developed by EAF as a form of stimulant for soldiers, was reported missing. Then your agent is exposed to that drug, which seemed to have an inverse effect on the boy"
"Siegel, what do you say to that?"
"I will look into it. If he is guilty, then he will face justice"
"Motive" Attha continued, "what common target was they aiming for? I have been noticing that only after the two agents came into the picture that attempts on Lacus' and Cagalli's lives have been made. Even if their plan is to expose us, why hadn't they?"
"So they had been aiming at them?" asked Waltfeld, "but that's ridiculous. How could such manpower is dedicated to four children alone?"
"Gentlemen, perhaps it's the right time I reveal this" Malchio sighed, "Those four are SEEDs" That surprises and keeps them silent until blind man resumes, "This threat is targeting them. They might or might not know if they are still alive, and would definitely go after them again. I'm not sure about that fact, but I'm inclined to protect the rest of them to the best of my abilities"
"That might be the case. However, the purpose of DARTH is not to protect children" Attha replied, "I'm certain Siegel agrees with me that our own country is capable enough to handle that responsibility now that they have returned."
Seeing the three men's implied agreement, Waltfeld just keeps quiet because he knows he had no authority in this no matter how much he hates it. "I guess DARTH will be disbanded?"
"Commander, whether or not DARTH will be dissolved, it's your and Father Malchio's choice. What Siegel, Uzumi, and I are saying is that we will no longer be supporting this organization" Halberton said, standing up.
"It's easier to take action if we are not involved with one another" Athha explained further, leaving his seat.
The lights fully switch on following his phrase, revealing a similar Victorian style design to Waltfeld's office. Clyne reluctantly gets on his feet, followed by Waltfeld, and Malchio, who sighed before joining the standing club. They then offer each other uneasy handshakes and starts to head out of the room.
"Don't tell anyone about him please, Daddy" Clyne flashbacked. "Commander, may I speak to you in private?" he stopped him while the other 3 descents. "I feel guilty about some affairs. I wish you would accept this," he hands him a MOS disk before continuing, "The M1s, GuAIZs, and the X09A. It would be our way of apologizing…"
"Azrael actually proved useful" Creuset said as he skims through a message on his laptop computer screen in the unlighted room. "My way is finally free of disturbances" Then his screen switches to the profile and picture of the brown haired boy. "I have to admit you are a tough nut to crack, boy. The kitchen accident didn't kill you, the girl didn't kill you, but now I finally got you-" he was suddenly interrupted.
Peeking out of the window blinds, he notices a number of figures moving in cover of darkness. His edge of his lips curls as he types a command into his laptop and a countdown commences. He then grabs his cloak; a device, an earpiece, and a gun beside the laptop before leaving the room.
"Target is in room 813. He must be taken alive. Approach cautiously, do not alarm the other occupants" said a voice over his earpiece.
He took advantage of that awareness to their movements to make his escape from the 8th floor of the apartment in Cork. On the 4th floor, however, his route has all been sealed off, yet he confidently moves on even though one of his would-be captors is rounding the corner he is approaching. Each stares into the barrel of the other's weapon the moment they meet, except the soldier then grants him passage.
"The northwest stairs is the fastest way to go" informed the soldier. However, as Creuset walks past, he fires his gun on the soldier's face.
"Foolish Coordinator. How pitiful…" he sighed, leaving the unlucky defector dead.
When the soldiers finally reach room 813, all they found was a middle finger pointing at them on the monitor of the laptop. Creuset, who is already outside, smiles slightly before clicking on a button of the device he was holding. The soldiers, realizing the fact, starts to flee but several explosions throughout the whole building sealed their fates together with the innocent occupants as the whole structure comes crumbling down.
The first color he sees upon opening his eyes is black; then grey; then a tint of pink, but later reverts to, and remains in, darkness. He feels small puffs of breath in front of him, causing to back away. Just finger span away from his nose is Lacus looking down worriedly at him.
"Kira?" she breathed out. Hardly any words could describe the next moment. Kira suddenly panics, throws the sheets onto Lacus, attempts to get off the bed but loses his footing and falls over. When Lacus managed to get the sheet away, Kira is sitting on the floor with his back on the glass wall, and panting while hugging his pillow, acting like a frightened little child.
Lacus slowly approaches him, making him tense up again. His eyes move wildly as he utters indiscernible sounds such that a toddler would. Lacus kneels down and starts to wave, but his eyes didn't respond. She changes her stance and starts to hum a tune while slowly moving forward towards him until the tip of her middle right finger barely touches his cheek. His grip on the pillow tightens as Lacus brushes her entire right hand on his cheek. Feeling him ease up, she follows with her left hand. He is slowly lulled into sleep at her soft touch and voice.
A/N: I would understand if this is boring, but I planned it to serve as explanations. I thought Kira getting his mind reverted to a 2 year-old, being blind, and taken care of Lacus might be interesting since that's mostly I see in the series. Guardian-patient relation. Let's have a moment of silence for the fall of Freedom. I hope Kira dies….just joking. Thanks for the reviews…