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 7

He used to rather fond of ZAFT's elite uniform, it made him feel special, it represented other's recognition of his talents and ability. However, after two years, the uniform was suffocating him.

Tearing the collar apart, Rusty stuck both hands into his pockets and looked out, the wind blowing through his spiky red hair. He narrowed his clear blue eyes down at the chaotic situation he created a while ago, ambulances were rushing back and forth while fire trucks shot water at the fire created by the devices he had planted. He had to admit that the explosives Lain had given him were powerful.

Reaching into his uniform, he took out the pistol and threw it across the roof of the building he was standing on. He wasn't that professional after all. He hesitated, hesitated when the three of them were standing before him. He wanted to shoot, he was prepared to shoot and yet he didn't do it properly. He didn't kill them, not even one. He only shot Yzak in the arm and the bullet only brushed past his skin.

He should have seen this coming, he knew he'd have trouble with this. Sure, he had always been a loner during his academy days but there was still a special bond between them. When he looked at the three of them, the memories just came flooding back to him like a tidal wave, crashing into his mind.

'Snap out of it MacKenzie, you need to do this.' Rusty muttered to himself. There was no turning back, he had to kill them.

During the past two years, Rusty still sensed Herze's distrust towards him. He had his reasons, Rusty refused to do anything but kill people, no brothels, no narcotics, nothing. In order to gain the full trust of Herze van Ness, you had to do anything he ordered you and yet Rusty was really the first one to refuse him. He knew that Herze and Giles both consider him a threat to Nessar but unfortunately he was also the only one who could eliminate tricky enemies.

The recent project he'd given him was a true test of his loyalty. It happened four months ago, he hadn't done anything for almost a month and was just resting. He was suddenly called into the headquarters where only Giles, Herze and Novita were there, not even Quasim was present that day which was weird because he was Herze's most trusted son. He didn't bother to ask because he knew it would put him into more trouble if he knew more.

'How long have you worked for me?' Herze had asked, smoking on his cigar, like always.

'Two years.' Rusty replied promptly, sitting down.

'You've helped out a lot Russ, but we feel it's not enough.' Giles said, arms crossed. 'You're potential can get you much farther and higher. Why are you just willing to be a killer?'

'I want to live.' Rusty responded. 'If I touch anything that involves living people, there's a chance I'll be pulled into something I don't want to be in, so I only like dealing with people who will be dead.'

'He's a waste Herze, a real waste.' Giles muttered.

'We're really in need of people Russ.' Herze said, leaning forward. 'Are you sure you want to stay put where you are?'

Novita was silent all along, staring at him with her blue eyes. She had tried to persuade him again and again to take other work from Herze, mainly the sex trade that Nessar depended hugely on. Of course Rusty had refused repeatedly, saying he wasn't up to dealing with Nessar's underground business. Novita was not convinced, yet she found that Rusty MacKenzie had a set of principles himself, a set of subtle principles that he stuck up to. Just like her sister.

'This is your chance to soar Russ.' Novita flicked her cigarette. 'This is your last chance.'

Rusty smiled. 'The answer will still be no, I'm not the right person for Nessar, it's likely that I'd screw up everything in the end.'

'Fine.' Herze tossed a file across the desk forcefully. 'You're next targets.'

'Targets?' Rusty turned over the file cover and found his breath caught in his throat.

'This is your true test, I want to see loyalty in you Russ, or you know what will happen.' Herze's lips curved into a sly smile. 'You can do it right?'

Rusty had later stared at the photos before him at home, wondering if he could really do it. The targets were Yzak Jule, Athrun Zala and Dearka Elthman, his former comrades form the Heliopolis raid. They were all children of the senior councilors and Rusty had a vague suspicion that Nessar had received an order from another antagonistic political figure.

Athrun Zala had been on the top of the list and it just made it more complicated. The files gave a brief description of their current status, including Athrun's deflection, Yzak's situation in the council and Dearka's personal life.

He never thought he'd come face to face with his former comrades again. Rusty MacKenzie was literally dead, he was now Russ Enzia, a person who lived in the dark, in the shadows of other people. How could he kill them? He didn't know how and thought the situation extremely ironic. He was on the verge of giving up when Lain had walked into kitchen. Totally ignoring his presence, she walked to the same old spot where she poured herself water every time she came home.

Right then and there, Rusty had asked her to help him aside from providing him with the necessary weapons. It was the first time he ever asked her to accompany him and he saw the prominent surprise on her face. She had paused before agreeing hesitantly. She didn't really comment on the case though she knew who the targets were, she had, after all, done the intelligence work. Three days later, she came out of her workshop with two cases of guns and one laptop computer, ready to go whenever he was.

He never expected Marni to come with him, it was out of pure coincidence. During the last two years, Madge had asked him to train her son whenever he had the time, which was a lot. His work was mainly by piece and he usually had enough rest before another job was sent to him. Marni had helped in limited cases and he thought it wouldn't mind that he'd help him, he needed it anyway, unlike any other mission. Lain didn't have anything to say about Marni coming with him though she had always disagreed Marni's desire to become an assassin.

'If you really want to be a killer of Nessar, then come, if not, then stay home with your Mom.' Was all Lain had said.

His first target was only Athrun, but it so happened that Dearka was there too so he had decided to make a double attack. Things were easier with Marni around but he still didn't have one hundred percent confidence that things were going to go the way he wanted it to.

His premonitions came true when Marni was shot and caught by Orb authorities. Even with Lain inside the banquet, nothing could be done and three days later, the news of Marni's suicide had hit hard.

He was dead, really dead. He wasn't particularly friends with anyone in Nessar but he had really formed a bond with Marni. Marni was proud to have him as a mentor and somehow it made Rusty feel good. Even Lain had commented on how different he was when he was training Marni which was rare because she usually ignored him whenever she could.

After the news of Marni's suicide had hit him, Rusty had stayed inside the rented apartment in an abandoned area of Orb for two months. He wasn't exactly mourning yet he was no where feeling good and comfortable. Surprisingly enough, Lain had stayed by his side, slept with him, held him close when the accumulating nightmares ate him at night.

Marni's death had thrown everything off guard for Rusty and he had to do some serious planning. Lain had somehow found information on Miriallia Haww, the person who shot Marni and Rusty was surprised that she was Dearka's girl. Out of curiosity, Rusty did a deeper investigation and found out more about Miriallia and Dearka, including their abrupt separation a week after his first assassination attempt on Athrun and Dearka.

After two months of mulling in the rented apartment, Rusty figured he'd have to change the sequence. Athrun would have to wait and he had yet to report to Nessar because his deadline had already passed and Marni was dead. He had returned to Aprilius One and things hadn't gone well. Herze's suspicion was obvious yet Rusty still promised to get the job done, he just needed a little more time. Ignoring Gile's protests, Herze had agreed to give him two more months.

One had passed and nothing had happened, he was truly walking on thin ice and his regressing situation with Lain didn't make things that much better for him. When they returned to PLANT, everything went back to square one. Lain had gone back into that fucking shell of hers, had gone back to ignoring his presence whenever possible. In retaliation, he had started spending nights with Novita again, a habit he had picked up whenever things between him and his wife turned bad. He was pathetic.

When Lain had told him Miriallia Haww was coming to Aprillius One for a press conference, the first thing that ran through Rusty's head was sweet revenge. He wasn't going to kill her though, he didn't intend on doing so because Marni had killed himself. He had the feeling that Miriallia Haww had a nose for trouble and he felt it was his duty to do a little warning.

'You're walking on thin ice Russ Enzia.' Lain had said, finding him. No one could do it but her.

The use of his alias was quiet a sting when it came from her and Rusty couldn't help but retort back.

'And you're walking on this piece of thin ice with me honey.'

He was walking on thin ice, it had already become a life and death situation for him. He was putting his life on the line and it felt more interesting to give the other side a little hint.

Now what? He had given enough hints yet he found it hard to pull the trigger and aim properly. One wrong step and he might fall off this unreliable tightrope and the worst part was, someone else he cared too much for might die with him.

Everything was for her, everything.

Stepping out of the car, Rusty put on his shades to block out the sunlight. The cemetery was empty and very quiet, rows and rows of graves lined up before him, all ZAFT soldiers who had died during the war, him included.

Stopping at his own grave, he couldn't help but shake his head. Turning to the graves marked 'Miguel Ayman' and 'Nicol Armafi', he slowly raised his hand up in a salute.

A sudden rush of envy washed through him. At least they were dead, really dead and for a cause, for war, for PLANT. What was he? A person who's dead to the world, living in the dark. He was basically the living dead, a shadow. He will never live in the light ever again.

Rusty's eyes narrowed behind his shades at the click of a pistol.

'What are you doing here?' Dearka pointed his gun at Rusty's back.

'It's been two years, I've never had a chance to come here.' Rusty said calmly, lowering his hand.

'Because of you, Yzak's in the hospital.' Dearka spat.

'Because of me, Yzak's head's not blown off yet.' Rusty snarled, turning around.

'It's really you.' Athrun said quietly, looking at him in the eye.

'So it is.' Rusty said nonchalantly.

'What happened? Why? Just… why?' Athrun shook his head in confusion. 'It doesn't make sense at all Rusty, you're alive?'

'You saw that bullet fly through my head right?' Rusty smirked.

Athrun eyed him. 'It did and even if you didn't die from that bullet, you should have died in the fire.'

'It didn't hit me in the head.' Rusty said quietly. 'And I was saved from the factory by someone else.'

'Someone from Nessar?' Dearka asked promptly.

'Yeah.'

'And this is why you've switched sides?' Athrun glared at him. 'Do you realize what you're putting yourself through Rusty? You're living in the dark!'

'I've lived like this for two years already and I've gotten pretty damn good at it.' Rusty snapped.

'You could have come back Rusty.' Athrun said quietly. 'Why didn't you do that?'

'You really want to know?' Rusty raised his eyebrows. 'I didn't die from that bullet, but it blinded me, satisfied? When I finally got my vision back, the war was over, there was no use returning back to ZAFT, there was no meaning either.'

'This is just an excuse you're giving yourself.' Dearka sneered. 'Even so, it doesn't justify you joining Nessar! You're killing for a paycheck Rusty! You're not killing for justice, for PLANT and not for ZAFT!'

'That's what they teach us at the academy.' Rusty gave himself a bitter laugh and looked away. 'The academy…'

'Rusty – '

'My name is no longer Rusty.' Rusty cut him off curtly, glaring at Athrun. 'Rusty MacKenzie has died and is buried under that grave. I'm Russ Enzia, Nessar's trump card assassin.'

'What are you planning to do?' Athrun asked quietly.

'I'm planning on killing you.' Rusty said promptly, narrowing his eyes. 'I've been ordered to kill you, Dearka and Yzak.'

Dearka widened his eyes. 'Why?'

Rusty shrugged. 'I don't know and I don't want to know. That's my order and I only follow them.'

'What about Miriallia?' Dearka demanded, tightening his grip on the pistol. 'Why did you shoot her.'

'That lover of yours has a nose for trouble Dearka.' Rusty said sharply. 'That was a warning, tell her to stay away from my business.'

'Why are you doing this?' Athrun demanded.

'You're not stupid, I know that. Just promise to watch over her. She's not brash yet she has the tendency to hurt herself without thinking through things clearly.'

'There's no pleasing you Athrun Zala.' Smirking, Rusty turned around and took a step forward.

'Rusty!' Athrun narrowed his eyes.

'Just, try to protect her, okay?'

'There really is no pleasing you.' Rusty murmured, stopping in his tracks. 'If you really need to know, it's for someone. If I don't continue on with this life and finish the job I've been given, I'll die and so will she. I've sworn to myself that I'll protect her no matter what because she was put into this situation because of me.'

'Who is it?' Athrun asked softly.

Taking a deep breath looked over his shoulder, holding his left hand out at the same time.

'My wife.'

'Gods Novita, you stink smoking like that.' Quasim exclaimed, entering the lounge.

'Fuck off, you smoke cigars too.' Novita snarled. Crushing a cigarette butt into the ashtray, she lit another one, taking a long shaky drag from it.

'Someone's not in a good mood.' Quasim commented, taking an auto magazine from the rack.

'Get stuffed.' Novita muttered.

'Thinking about Russ again I suppose.' Quasim said absently, flipping through the magazine.

'How unbelievably annoying can you get?' Novita sneered, pointing her cigarette at him.

'Yeah, I can be quite annoying sis.' Quasim snarled back, closing the magazine shut. 'You do know what shit your doing now right?'

'Get off my case.' Novita waved her hand in the air. 'He's going to be mine sooner or later, you wait and see.'

Quasim snorted. 'Oh I'd like to see that day come Novita.'

'What is it with you and your sarcasm Quasim.' Novita demanded, glaring at him.

Quasim stared at her for a moment before tossing the magazine onto the coffee table. 'You're playing with fire Novita and I'm warning you, Lain is no piece of cake.'

'You think I'll lose to a bitch like her?' Novita exclaimed incredulously. 'You've got to get your eyes checked, she is so way out of Russ' league.'

'You're intimidated by her Novita.' Quasim said flatly. 'That's why you got such a big reaction. Face it, you've lost two years when Father decided to marry Russ to her.'

'It's not over.' Novita declared. 'Do you know how many nights he spends with me? He spent his wedding night with me Quasim, me! That just shows how much he's falling for me. It hasn't changed one bit in the past two years, I'm the only women who can satisfy him, the only one.'

'You have serious security issues girl.' Quasim muttered, crossing his legs.

'Fuck off Quasim.'

'The guy's walking a pretty dangerous piece of thin ice Novita.' Quasim continued. 'It's already been, what? Three months and the three targets are still alive. You know how sensitive his targets are, Father and those old coots are already questioning his loyalty which is pretty questionable by the way.'

'He can take care of it.' Novita muttered. 'Trust me.'

'No one can be trusted around here Novita.' Quasim muttered. 'That's the rule of survival in Nessar.'

'He's the best assassin we've ever had, he's going to finish those three fuckers off.' Novita said in an insistent voice. 'He's a professional.'

'I hope that's the case Novita.' Quasim sighed. 'I sincerely hope that's the case.'

'If you ask me, Lain's loyalty is more of a big question mark.' Novita spat.

Quasim looked up. 'How's that?'

'Please.' Novita rolled her eyes. 'We're talking about Lain van Ness here! Sure, she's done her job well but no one trusts her! Not even Father! She gathers all intelligence for Nessar and she can keep tabs on anything she wants. She hasn't been exactly that cooperative in the past Quasim, it's dangerous, she's dangerous. One move and Nessar might be turned upside down. Who knows what her real intentions are.'

'Agreed, it is pretty dangerous, but I don't think there's anything bad she's doing Novita.' Quasim shook his head. 'She's done a decent job and being a loner is her choice of living.'

'I still think it's dangerous, she can be a nightmare if she wants to.' Novita frowned. 'I don't know what Father thinks of her, I really don't.'

'If he's for you to figure out, then he won't be Herze van Ness, the notorious founder of Nessar.' Quasim snarled. 'If you ask me, he should be aware of the regressing situation inside Nessar because there's a bigger threat.'

Novita narrowed her eyes at him. 'What do you mean?'

Quasim leaned forward. 'You really don't seem that ignorant Novita. You don't know?'

Flicking her cigarette, Novita looked up. 'It's real then? There's a split?'

Quasim shrugged. 'I don't know, but there's this tendency.' Smirking, he stood up. 'But you know, it's going to be sooner or later with this rapid expansion.'

'Where are you going?' Novita asked.

'I need some fresh air.' Quasim said, opening the door. 'I have a big trade going on in a few days and I'm being watched over tightly by LF. I don't want to fuck this whole thing up, it's worth one sixth of Nessar's income.'

'Sex or drugs?' Novita asked absently.

Quasim raised his eyebrows at her. 'Maybe a little bit of both.'

Novita stared at the close door. Grinding the cigarette butt into the ashtray again, she suddenly picked it up and threw it into the wall, watching it scattering into pieces.

'You have serious security issues Novita.'

'I do not.' Novita said through clenched teeth. 'Just wait and see, Lain van Ness is going down, I'll make her go down if it's the last thing I do.'

Climbing up the fire escape of the building, Rusty entered the apartment through the balcony, his trench coat slightly moist from the light rain outside. Taking it off while sliding the balcony doors shut, he ran his hand through his hair, frowning at the moist feeling. Walking out of the kitchen, he strolled down the hallway and entered the master bedroom at the very end. Hanging his trench coat up, he sat himself on the easy chair and stared into space for a while before he took off his shoes.

Looking out the window, the sun was starting to set. Deciding against a shower, he untied the scarf around his neck and took off his black top. Unzipping his creased trousers while looking at his clock, he slipped them off and tossed the pile of clothes into the hamper. Throwing on a pair of shorts and a jersey, he walked out of the room barefoot and poured himself a glass of water in the kitchen. Gulping down the cool liquid, he opened the fridge door and peered in, seeing that Lain indeed had stocked up.

She needed to do a better job though.

'Does she drink anything besides distilled water?' Rusty muttered, putting the glass down on the counter. Kneeling down, he pulled out the chill drawer from below and saw some vegetables and fruits, mostly apples. He noticed there was also cheese, onions and a carton of milk. A loaf of bread was also sitting in the basket beside the fridge.

'She may be a pain in the ass sometimes but she marks her words.' Rusty murmured to himself, running his hand over the wrapped loaf of bread. This was Lain van Ness, always doing things in the dark, slowly penetrating into people's lives, his life.

Sitting down at the dinner table, he grabbed the cell phone he had tossed carelessly a few moments ago while picking up the air pistol Lain had left behind. Pressing a few buttons on the cell while loading the pistol, he aimed it at the bulls eye that was pinned on the board in front of him. A few seconds later, a voice rang from the other end.

'You were looking for me?' Rusty asked, sitting on the table with half a butt while looking closely at the pistol.

'Yeah.' Quasim said on the other line.

'What is it? You've never called me before.' Rusty said flatly, raising the pistol to his eyelevel.

'You free on Thursday night?' Quasim asked.

'Why?'

'I want to see you in person.'

Rusty snorted. 'Even if I say no, you wouldn't let it go.'

'That's not a friendly speculation.' Quasim murmured.

'It's not surprising, considering the sister you've got.' Rusty said dryly. 'She never takes no for an answer.'

This time, it was Quasim's turn to smirk. 'Twenty-three thirty, Beatrix, you know where it is.'

'I'll be looking forward to what you've got for me.' Rusty said curtly, then cut the connection. Looking down at the phone, he couldn't help but frown. Just the thought of Quasim wanting to see him made him want to frown even deeper.

Taking a deep breath, he dropped the phone on the table and walked out the door. Stopping at the door opposite the kitchen, he placed one hand on it. It had been three days since he'd seen Lain. Right after their conversation in the kitchen after he picked her up from the headquarters, she had locked herself inside her workshop. She didn't even give the explosives to him in person, just put them on the kitchen table, something you didn't find in an ordinary couple's house.

They definitely weren't an ordinary couple despite his desire to be one.

Narrowing his eyes, he pushed open the door and walked around the separator. Placing his hand on the pad, he said his name and the door clicked open. Rusty was still surprised that Lain didn't know he had broken the security codes and entered his data. However, he wasn't that surprised to find Lain leaning face down on the table, her hands beneath her head. Surrounding her were rifle parts while the screensaver was flying through her monitor.

It was obvious that she hadn't slept in days, finishing work her Father had given her, struggling to meet his stupid deadlines.

Sometimes he wondered if he had made the right decision, stepping back into her life. She was in pain, he could see it and feel it.

Stepping forward, he placed one palm on the top of her head and ruffled her hair gently.

'She's not brash yet she has the tendency to hurt herself without thinking through things clearly.'

She did hurt herself and it made his heart wrench. She was protecting and hurting herself at the very same time. She would literally build walls around herself, grab a knife and without hesitation, grind it right into her own flesh.

Every time…

Taking the knit sweater off the back of her chair, Rusty draped it across Lain's shoulders. Stirring, she turned her face sideways. For a moment, he thought she'd open her fierce amber eyes.

Reaching out one hand, he barely brushed it over her cheek. Narrowing his clear blue eyes, he looked up at the monitor, the screensaver gone because Lain had given the mouse a move by accident.

'You should be more careful Lain.' Rusty whispered, looking down at her again. 'You'll get in trouble if anyone sees this data.'

Leaning over her, he flipped the monitor off. Looking down at the picture frame that was lied face down beside Lain, he picked it up and glanced at it. Taking a deep breath, he took the picture out and placed the blank frame right in front of her face so that when she opened her eyes, it would be the first thing she saw. Giving her one more look, he dimmed the lights and stepped out of the cold workshop, closing the door soundlessly behind him.

End of Chapter 7
Next Update: 19th September, 2005