DISCLAIMER: 'Repercussion' is a story based on characters and situations from Kidou Senshi Gundam Seed which is a property of Sotsu Agency, SUNRISE and MBS. This work is non profited and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Unless specified, all materials in the web is work done by HERMIT JUNCTION. Please do not use without permission any text or artwork.

WARNING: Text and all related materials are rated R/M and may mild strong language, violence, cruelty, explicit adult content, rape, death and nudity unless otherwise stated. Please do not read if you are underage or maybe offended by such material. Spoilers for Gundam Seed.

NOTE: This fanfiction disregards the plotline of the original series' sequel Gundam Seed Destiny. Please go to gseedaftermath.hermitjunction. net for site hosting of this fic. For Dearka and Miriallia's story, please go to 'GS Aftermath Trilogy I: Rebound'.

Gseed Aftermath Trilogy II:
REPERCUSSION
a hermit junction project

Chapter 4

She could tell when he was having a bad dream, he'd roll onto her, gripping one of her arms, squeezing it and waking her in the process. They were dreams of people dying, people killed by him, the dead souls of Heliopolis. On the first night they had sex, he had held on to her so tightly she could barely breathed. She understood that fear, the fear of killing and the fear of darkness.

'It's okay.' Lain whispered, soothing the creases on his forehead. It was four in the morning and they just had sex a few hours ago. Sitting against the headboard, Rusty's head was leaned against her shoulder and she had one hand holding the side of his head, her fingers dug into his red spiky hair. Their bare limbs were basically entwined and the thin sheets were on the verge of sliding down the side of the bed.

It was hard to know whether or not Rusty was awake because he still had the gauze wrapped around his eyes. Whenever nightmares came, she would feel his heart beat accelerate and she'd coax him to sleep again, whispering against his ear. He'd calm down eventually but she never knew if he was awake or not.

He was vulnerable and lost.

'Lain.' Rusty's coarse voice rang beside her ear.

'Hmm?'

'You're freezing.' Rusty said, rubbing the side of her arms, trying to smooth the goosebumps.

'I'm okay, go to sleep.' Lain said in a low voice, looking up at the ceiling.

'Lie down.' Rusty ordered, sitting up. Complying, Lain let his arm wrap around her shoulder and pull her towards him. Blinking, she buried her face into his neck and felt him pull the sheets up, covering them to the chest. Closing her eyes, she felt his pulse.

He was gentle, too gentle. Maybe he was a cynical jerk that always found ways to piss her off, but he was gentle during their nights together. It was a gentleness that had the ability to melt her. For the past five months, she had never felt so vulnerable and in need of protection.

His touch was soft and his kisses were warm. He'd give her warmth she had never experienced before and she never wanted to let go. This was a bad idea, a very bad notion because she knew this would never happen. It wasn't just bad, it was also scary.

No strings attached, she promised herself.

'What are you thinking about?' Rusty asked, his chest vibrating from his voice.

Lain frowned. 'Nothing.'

'The Doc's coming tomorrow right?' Rusty asked.

Lain nodded. 'He said your gauze will be removed tomorrow and fingers crossed, you'll be able to see again.'

'Right.' Rusty said simply, leaning onto his side slightly.

At six o'clock, Lain opened her eyes automatically and found that Rusty was still in deep sleep, his arms wrapped around her. Brushing some of his spiky hair out of his face, she gently removed his arms from her and got up from the bed. Shivering at the morning breeze, she grabbed Rusty's shirt from the chair and draped it across her bare shoulders. Turning, she gazed at Rusty's peaceful figure and bit her lips.

She wanted to see his eyes. He was already gorgeous, every girl's dream. However perfect he was, there was still something missing, instinct told her that his eyes were his best feature.

Shaking her head, she stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her quietly. The sun was starting to come out and the hallway was bathed in dim light. Pushing the door open, she walked into her room and threw herself onto her own bed. Wrapping the shirt around her tightly, she inhaled Rusty's scent.

She promised herself no strings attached and for the zillionth time, she kicked herself for letting everything happen. The both of them were walking on thin ice, if something happened, everything will fall apart and Rusty might even lose his life.

They lived together for almost a year and slept together for five months. During this time, they did everything a couple did. She'd be the biggest idiot in the world if she denied the fact that she didn't care about him. She cared about him too much and the thought of him getting hurt pained her. She was getting too attached and with her background, it would only generate trouble for him.

He'd see again tomorrow and she had to end everything. She couldn't and wouldn't let Rusty get involved, it was too dangerous, for him and for her.

Sitting up, she brushed her long black locks back and turned, staring at a pistol hung on the rack. Standing up with weak knees, she padded across the cold wooden floor barefoot and took it down. Fingering the barrel, she frowned and held it up, pointing it at herself in the mirror before her. She had found this pistol in his suit the day she dragged him back to her apartment. She still had his spacesuit stashed away in her wardrobe.

Glaring at her reflection, Lain pulled the trigger. Although nothing happened, she could hear the sound of the gunshot ring in her mind.

Lowering the pistol, she tossed it on her bed. Leaving the room, she walked down the hallway and opened the second wooden door to the right. It led to a small room that had a separator, a barcalounger and a small desk. If it were someone normal, they'd think that this was an ordinary den. Removing the separator, Lain pushed away the curtains, revealing an iron door. Punching in the code, she placed her hand on the identification scanner and said her name. Hearing the familiar click, she pushed the heavy door open and walked into the chamber. The lights turned on automatically along with a string of computers lined up on the desk.

Shivering, she suddenly remembered that she was in nothing but Rusty thin shirt. Shrugging, she buttoned it up and plopped herself on the chair. Breaking a few codes, she established a connection and waited. Picking up the sniper rifle she had been working on last night, she looked into the sights, frowning at the adjustments.

Once the connection was established, Jevo's face appeared in the screen.

'Miss Lain.' Jevo greeted.

Lain paused for a second before pointing the rifle at him, much to Jevo's surprise.

'Morning Jevo.' Lain said, looking up from the sights. 'Nice boy isn't it?'

'Seems to be, you know I'm not that of a pro when it comes to rifles.' Jevo said weakly.

'If you were, then Nesser wouldn't need me.' Lain said flatly. Placing the rifle aside, she leaned back and looked at her sidekick. 'What time?'

'Twenty-three hours.' Jevo said.

Lain smiled. 'Great.' She paused and stared at Jevo in the eye, noting his fidgeting form. 'Are you okay Jevo?'

'Me? I'm great Miss.' Jevo replied.

Lain leaned forward. 'How long have you followed me?'

'I don't know, two years?' Jevo shrugged.

'You're very loyal, for an agent of Nessar.' Lain said, lowering her eyebrows slightly.

'Thank you.' Jevo murmured.

'I'll see you then.' Lain said curtly then without another word, she cut the connection. Reaching for the remote, she pointed it behind her. The iron shelf that displayed a series of pistols and revolvers moved aside, revealing a huge portrait.

Standing up, she leaned against the edge of the desk and picked up a TRC-555 pistol, loading it. Reaching behind her, she located a silencer and put it on the muzzle of the barrel. Raising the pistol, she pointed it at the portrait and fired without hesitation, burning a hole into the man's forehead as if it were an everyday routine, like eating breakfast.

'I'm going to make you pay.' She whispered, lowering her pistol, narrowing her amber orbs. 'You're going be in pain, a pain worse than death, Herze van Ness.'

Rusty's ears perked up at the door clicking open. Frowning, he uncrossed his arms and sat up straight.

'Doc?'

Nargent shook his head and sat down on the stool beside the bed. 'You'll live without your eyes, really.'

'What time is it?' Rusty asked, turning his head slightly.

'Eight in the morning.' Nargent said, opening his bag. 'You excited?'

'Excited about what?' Rusty asked blankly.

Nargent rolled his eyes. 'Don't tell me you like being blind. Today's the day you get your eyes back you idiot.'

'Today?' Rusty repeated, the nodded. 'Oh yes, Lain mentioned it to me yesterday.'

'Come on, let's see how it looks.' Nargent stood up.

Rusty crossed his arms again while Nargent started unwrapping his gauze. His mind wondered off, thinking about Lain. She had left the bed yesterday morning before he woke up, something that had never happened during the last five months. When he woke up, he had walked around the whole apartment but couldn't find her. Confused, he had sat back on his bed and waited until now, not realizing that he hadn't slept for the whole night.

'Where's Lain?' Rusty asked curtly while Narget dabbed something on his eyelids with cotton balls.

'For you a patient, shouldn't you be asking about your eyes?' Nargent asked absently.

'Where is she?' Rusty demanded, grabbing him by the collar.

Nargent winced at his strength. 'Jeez, let go!' He coughed when Rusty let go. 'I have no idea. She gave me her keys yesterday, saying that she wouldn't be around when I came and told me to help myself.'

'Yesterday?' Rusty frowned. 'Where did she go?'

'How in the world would I know?' Nargent cried. 'She's a big girl, don't worry.'

As if I could. Rusty thought. He had an initial gut feeling that something was wrong, really wrong. She wasn't going to just leave him here right?

'Okay, open up.' Nargent said.

'What?' Rusty asked blankly.

'For the love of God open your eyes!' Nargent cried, throwing his hands up. 'I don't know why I bother at all.'

His eyebrows furrowing, Rusty opened his eyes slowly, wincing at the stingy feeling. His vision a bit dazed, he waited until they focused and found himself staring at pair of dull brown eyes.

'You're one old piece of shit.' Rusty said, smirking.

'Get stuffed.' Nargent said coarsely, shoving him. At that, Rusty held his head, feeling a bit dizzy. 'It's going to be like that for a while, you have to get use to it.'

Standing up, Rusty looked around, surveying the room he had stayed in for the past year.

'I know your not going to say thank you so you're welcome.' Nargent said flatly, taking off his plastic gloves.

Rusty eyes stopped at the green shoulder bag lying beside the night table. 'What's that?'

Nargent shrugged. 'I don't know, your old stuff?'

Kneeling down, Rusty opened the bag and found his spacesuit inside it. Frowning, he took it out, a pistol falling out as well. Picking it up, he stared down at it.

'You okay there?' Nargent asked.

'Yeah.' Rusty murmured, fingering the pistol. The message was obvious, she wanted him to leave.

Reaching into the bag, he wasn't surprised to find his dog tag. Taking it out, he put it on. Standing up again, he pulled open the drapes and stared out the window.

Nargent shook his head. 'I don't know why Lain bothers at all.'

Rusty narrowed his eyes at the scenery before him. The apartment looked over the park he and Lain had first strolled in five months ago. He could clearly see the clock tower reading eight thirty two.

'The least you could do is say thank you…' Nargent continued. 'I mean…'

Rusty's ears perked at some footsteps. Looking up, his eyes widened at something shining in the sunlight. The next second, he found himself kneeling down, the glass window shattering. Grabbing the gun in the bag, he quickly loaded it.

'What the hell happened?' Nargent yelled, throwing himself on the floor at another shot.

'Shit.' Rusty cursed. The target was obviously him. He hated when he was under the scope.

Rushing forward, Rusty grabbed Nargent by the collar and burst the door open. He stopped at a gun pointed at his forehead. Staring down the barrel, Rusty let go of Nargent.

'Thank you Nargent, your job is done here.' Novita van Ness smiled. Nodding, Nargent slipped behind her, shaking.

'Now get out.' One of her sidekicks said.

Gripping his pistol, Rusty glared at the woman before him. 'Who the hell are?'

'Novita van Ness.' Novita said promptly. 'Daughter of Herze van Ness. And who the hell are you?'

Rusty glared at her for a while, tightening his grip on his gun. 'I don't know.'

Novita raised her eyebrows slightly then smiled and pulled the trigger. Rusty started at her, unfazed. He knew the gun wasn't loaded.

'You do have the guts.' Novita murmured, lowering her gun. Taking a step forward, she reached out one hand and touched his dog tag. Her lips curving into a sly smile, she fingered the two pieces of metal. 'Rusty MacKenzie, code 053342, Team Klueze.' She looked up and stared into Rusty's light blue eyes. 'You're a ZAFT soldier. A red elite?'

Rusty frowned and gave the chain a rough pull, the two pieces of metal slipping from Novita's fingers. 'I take that you knew the trivial before this little meeting.' He said sarcastically.

Novita stared at him briefly before grabbing his collar. Narrowing his eyes, Rusty felt himself pulled forward and watched Novita crush her lips onto his in a rough kiss. Closing his eyes, he pushed her away and took a step backwards, watching as Novita looked at him like a prey.

'You really are a slut.' Rusty commented, smirking.

Smirking at his comment, Novita licked her lips. 'I get that you know me pretty well.'

Rusty shrugged. 'No, I don't, but I overhear your sister's phone calls.'

Novita snickered. 'No wonder that bitch saved you and kept you inside her apartment for so long.'

Rusty's eyebrows furrowed. 'I knew someone was keeping tabs on her.'

Dropping her smile, Novita reached into her leather jacket and pulled out a loaded pistol. 'I'm sorry, but you're going to have to come with me.'

To her surprise, Rusty just smirked and raised his hands in the air.

'Love to.'

'Sorry Madge, but strict orders from Mr. Van Ness, there's no way I can let you in.'

Lain jerked her head at the sound outside her locked room. Her eyes furrowed as she sat back in the easy chair.

'I don't care about that asshole's strict orders, I say I'm going in.'

'Don't put me in this shit Madge, you know what will happen if I let you in.'

'Get out of my way.'

'Madge!'

'Don't make me shoot you pal.'

Lain crossed her arms and looked away at the sudden flood of light when the door opened. Closing the door behind her, Madge Peregrane raised her eyebrows at her niece. 'No resentment?'

'Why should I? It's not the first time anyway.' Lain said, looking up at her with a small smile, her features barely visible in the limited moonlight that shone into the large room. 'What brings you here?'

Madge threw herself on the sofa and took out a packet of cigarettes. 'I wanted to see if you're dead yet.'

'Not yet.' Lain reassured sarcastically, watching Madge light one, her face glowing briefly under the fire. She winced at the heavy make-up she had on, her lips and nails a matching blood red.

'Want a drag?' Madge asked, holding out the box.

'No.' Lain said shortly. 'You stink.'

Madge just shrugged at the comment. 'I do.' She breathed out the smoke, sighing in content before tapping the cigarette above the ash tray. 'It's been longer than usual, what did you do this time? I heard Jevo sold you out.'

'I knew that beforehand Madge, I'm not stupid.' Lain muttered. 'It's not the first time anyway, hasn't it always been this long Madge?'

Madge shook her head. 'If memory serves me right, you haven't been guarded over by one of Herze's people, or are they Novita's?'

'Who knows?' Lain muttered, resting her chin on her palm.

'I hear your Father flipping out at what you did, you know how much credit you have. You're like next to being a traitor.' Madge said, taking another drag. 'You keep this on and you'll find yourself in big shit, big fucking shit.'

Lain shrugged. 'Either way, I'm stuck here and I'm not going to waste my time and energy breaking out, even if I can.'

Madge stared at her sister's daughter for a few moments before sighing, grinding the half burnt cigarette into the ash tray. 'God girl, give me some passion! You're like the living dead for the fucking love of God.'

'I like that description, the living dead.' Lain said sarcastically. 'I'm close to being dead and I'm practically invisible.'

'Tell me, what did you do?' Madge said seriously, crossing her legs.

'Why should I tell you?' Lain shot back, looking at Madge straight in the eye with her amber orbs that shone in the moonlight.

'Not even me, not even your aunt?' Madge said softly. 'After all these years?'

'Don't even start with me.' Lain said flatly, standing up. 'You know I don't trust anyone, not you, not Marni, not even my stupid Mother.'

'You leave Lacia out of this! You know she didn't have a choice.' Madge snapped, standing up as well. They stood in the dark, glaring at each other, the tension rising until the door opened. Madge raised one hand over her eyes, trying to block out the light form the torch.

'Mr. Van Ness wants to see you.' The guard said, gripping his shotgun. Another guard tossed her the case she brought with her the day before.

'What's this, a new development?' Madge spat.

'I wouldn't say a new development.' Lain murmured.

Madge shook her head. 'You're putting yourself in trouble Lain, and this time, I have a feeling you're not going to get away with it that easily.'

'When have I ever gotten away easily?' Lain asked, raising her eyebrows as she stepped into the huge hallway.

'Lain.' Madge jumped in front of her. 'I'm telling you, Herze is really pissed off, you may die.'

Lain stared at her aunt before sighing. She gave Madge a pat on the shoulder. 'Relax.'

'Get going!' The guard said roughly, pushing her by the back.

Giving Madge a small nod, she walked down the hallway and disappeared through a door, her hand gripping the long case tightly. As the door closed behind her, she met complete darkness. She heard the guard punch in some codes on the number pad before the lift she was in started to descend. When they hit the bottom, the door of the lift opened and she found herself staring at her Father, Herze Van Ness.

Stepping into the room, she stood there, glaring at her Father through narrowed eyes, standing still in front of the long table, other senior members of Nessar sitting around it.

'Nice to see you again Lain.' Herze's sidekick Colton Daire smiled. A balding man in his forties, he was constantly seen in a neat white suit, in charge of most of the important underground affairs that generated almost sixty percent of Nessar's income.

Lain returned Daire's sly smile. 'It's been a long time Daire, especially since I was locked in that room before.'

'Standard procedures, I'm sure you'll understand Lain.' Daire said.

'Oh I do.' Lain murmured.

'Have you completed it?' Herze Van Ness asked, a cigar between his fingers. 'You know the consequences of being late Lain.'

'Of course I do Father.' Lain said, bowing her head slightly. Hauling the long black case onto the long table, she paused before unlocking the case. Narrowing her eyes, she lifted the newly constructed sniper rifle and set it down on the shiny marble table before taking the case away.

The people at the table looked at each other, obviously curious to what she had developed.

'NSX-550.' Lain said curtly, lifting it up. 'A capacity of ten rounds with a 2000 meter range. Equipped with an electronic scope and a high performance muffler that can tone it down by at least seventy percent.' She ran her hand over the barrel. 'I've enhanced it's stability so the shooter will get a much better accuracy.'

'Who should I give it to?' Herze asked, narrowing his eyes as he leaned forward. For a man in his late forties, Herze Van Ness certainly was a man no one could mess with easily. As creator and ruler of Nessar, he was richer than anyone on PLANT and had a knack for extreme brutality when it came to destroying his enemies and purging betrayers in Nessar. It was dangerous to work for Nessar, but the stakes were also high.

'Anyone you want.' Lain said shortly, putting the sniper rifle down. 'It's none of my business. All I do is make the weapons, who you give my weapons to is your business.'

'Really.' Herze raised his eyebrows and leaned back into his chair. 'You really don't have anyone in mind.'

Lain looked at him in the eye briefly, her hand in a fist. 'No, I don't have anyone in mind nor do I understand why you're asking me this question.'

'You really have no idea what's going on in Nessar, you have no clue to how we really use your weapons?' Herze asked suspiciously.

'I don't plan on knowing.' Lain said flatly.

'I've never trusted you Lain, not me, not anyone in this room.' Herze said. 'You know why?'

'I don't want to know why.' Lain answered, lowering her amber eyes. 'Father.'

Grinding his teeth at her words, Herze snapped his fingers in the air.

'Father.' Novita stepped into the dark room from another door at Herze's far left with Vail and Anja behind her, hauling Rusty who had his eyes covered with a black cloth.

'Quasim.' Herze motioned a young man in blue wash jeans and a loose black shirt. Nodding, Quasim Van Ness walked forward.

Lain watched as Quasim raised his fist. Having analyzing the situation and the surroundings through his extremely sensitive ears, Rusty broke off the arms that were holding him in place and dodged. Grabbing Quasim's arm, he flipped him over and pressed him onto the floor.

Everyone in the room gasped while Anja and Vail pulled their pistols out, pointing them at Rusty's head. Kneading Quasim in the back with one knee, Rusty ripped off the black cloth that had covered his eyes ever since the car got off the highway. 'Sorry, bad day for you pal.' He smirked, eyeing Quasim's struggling form.

'Get off me.' Quasim muttered, narrowing his eyes. Shrugging, Rusty he let go.

'I don't think this is a grand welcoming for me.' Rusty said sarcastically, staring up at Herze who puffed smoke out of his mouth.

'What do you have to do with my daughter?' Herze asked in his silky voice, crossing his legs.

'Your daughter?' Rusty raised his eyebrows and stood up, the two guns still pointed at his head. He turned and found himself staring into amber eyes of a girl with long black hair. Breaking off the stare abruptly, he shrugged and crossed his arms at Herze. 'I don't know her.'

'Don't know her…' Herze repeated. Standing up slowly, he suddenly took out the pistol from his great coat and fired, the bullet barely missing Rusty's ear. He smirked as Rusty stared back at him, unfazed while Vail and Anja had jumped back in shock. Impressed, Herze placed the pistol on the table with steady hands.

'Likewise.' Rusty smirked.

'Having the guts to screw my daughter, you're not someone I should look down.' Herze continued, sitting down again. He motioned his head towards the end of the table. 'You know how to use that?'

Strolling down the long room as if he were in the park across Lain's apartment, he picked up the heavy rifle and looked into the scope before examining it briefly, totally ignoring Lain. At that, Novita wanted to both smirk and frown.

Loading it, Rusty stepped back and pointed the barrel at Lain, looking at her through the blurry scope. 'Piece of cake.' He looked up, giving Lain a brief look before turning to Herze. 'Who do you want dead?'

'Karim Persach.' Herze said, crossing his arms.

Rusty nodded, pointing the rifle down. 'Consider it done.'

Herze raised his eyebrows. 'You sure you can do it? He's not an easy guy to close on.'

Lain frowned as she watched Rusty snicker, placing one hand on the shiny table. 'This guy must be tough if you need someone you don't know a single fuck about do the job.' He raised his eyebrows and cocked his head. 'Am I right Mr. Van Ness.'

Lain saw Quasim narrow his eyes at Rusty's words while Novita raised one finger to her lips and licked it.

'You have forty-eight hours.' Herze finally said. Standing up, he left through the door Rusty was hauled in from with Daire and a team of bodyguards following him. The rest of the senior members followed suit. Seeing the last of the crowd leave, Novita looked over her shoulder at her two sidekicks, eyeing them briefly before she walked up to Rusty, her hips swaying slightly.

'You want some help gorgeous?' She asked, placing one hand on his shoulder. 'You know he's a tough guy.'

'Thanks, but no thanks.' Rusty replied, smiling down at her. 'I can handle it.'

'Handle it?' Novita raised her eyebrows and shot Lain a glance before turning. 'Hope you can handle it, but if you don't, you're dead.'

'I'm kind of familiar with the rules Miss Novita, thanks for the warning though.' Rusty smirked.

'Any time.' Novita purred, blowing him a kiss before disappearing through the door with Anja and Vail following her.

'Nothing to say to me?' Rusty asked after a few moments of silence.

Lain turned her back to him.

Rusty shrugged and looked down at the sniper rifle. 'This baby ought to do the job, don't you think?'

Lain pursed her lips, determined to stay quiet. Knowing he wouldn't get her mouth open any time, he decided to not waste time. He did only have forty-eight hours.

Lain felt her knees weaken as she heard the door close shut, darkness engulfing her. Swallowing hard, she gripped her fist tightly, her nails digging into her palm. No strings attached, she promised herself.

No strings attached.


End of Chapter 4
Next update: 21st August, 2005

A/N: The R/M warning is there for a reason, it does offend me when people don't read warnings and complain to me about something that disturbs them. May I remind readers that responsibility is with you. Enjoy, long AN will be postedday afterbecause it will be the last update in two weeks the least.