Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY

The New Coordinate

Story:
AU of GSD. Xander Darklighter, a pilot with attitude problem was just assigned to Minerva when three new mobile suits were stolen from Armory One. What will happen when he decided to take that path in front of him?

Notes:
Thanx for the reviews, guys. I appreciate 'em a lot.

I don't own GSD, their characters or anything else aside from Xander Darklighter.

Chapter 7: The Last Assignment

Minerva finally docked into Orb in Onogoro Island. Xander looked outside the window to see the whole bunch of Orb's top leader were waiting for Cagalli.

(Why do all politicians give that annoying feeling whenever I see them? Hypocrite bastards. Neutral as they may be, I'm sure some of them can be swayed to change sides easily. It's a sad fact, really...)

"Xander."

He turned to Athrun. "Yeah?" The former ZAFT pilot extends his right hand.

"I have to go now. It's great to see you after all these years."

Xander shook his hand firmly. "Same here, my friend. I hope to see you again soon."

Athrun smiled. "I'm sure we will. I'll stay in touch."

Xander nods. "I'll do the same. Wish you all the best."

"Me too."

With that, Athrun left. Xander sighed.

"Orb. I'm home, I guess..."

Shinn was taking some fresh air outside on the ship's upper deck when Xander took a position next to him. "Hey Shinn."

No reply. "I'm sorry for what I did earlier. I'm just snapped when you said that bastard's name."

Shinn turned to him "You mean, Patrick..."

"Hush. Don't say it. It will only bring back bad memories."

Xander looked up and closed his eyes. Shinn could see some tears forming at the corner of his eyes.

"...I'm sorry."

"It's okay. But I think you have the right to know why I hate him."

Shinn stared at him.

"My girlfriend and the rest of my team. They were perished at Jachin Due because of GENESIS. That's why I..." Xander said with utter sadness in his voice.

Shinn didn't reply as he too, remembered something painful to him. Xander wiped away his tears. "Ah, I'm going back inside. Thanks Shinn. I feel a little better now."

Shinn watched him left. He never thought that beneath that carefree, rebellious exterior, hidden so much sadness in him. Silently, he forgive him.

Xander was at the lounge, standing silently at the corner with his eyes closed. So far, he managed to make himself ignorable. Earlier, he had heard from Meyrin and Vino that a permission to disembark would be issued soon. But there is just one person who couldn't leave him alone.

"Xander."

He opened his eyes to see Lunamaria in front of him. "Yeah?"

"The Captain wants to see you right away."

"Oh, okay. Thanks. Guess I'll be going then."

He was about to leave when she stopped him. "Xander."

"Hm?"

Lunamaria founds herself unable to say what she wants to say. Xander tilts his head. "Hey, make it fast."

"Are you...going out when we get the permission to leave?"

Xander nods. "Yeah. Orb was my home after all. I have someone I wanna meet."

"I...I see..."

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

"Y...yeah. Of course."

With that, Xander left for the Captain's office.

Xander entered the office and saw Talia was talking to Arthur. When the two turned to him, he salutes.

"Xander Darklighter, reporting in."

Talia and Arthur did the same. "I'm the Captain Talia Gladys."

"I'm Arthur Trine, executive officer."

Xander nods and handed them the disc containing his assignment. Talia ran through it from the terminal on her desk.

"It says here that your assignment will be over when we reached Carpentaria."

"Yes sir. I'll be leaving ZAFT upon completing this assignment."

Talia stared at him. "Can you tell us why are you leaving?"

"I...I'm tired of all this fighting, sir. I just want to live as long as I can. I promised someone for that."

Knowing that there is no way to make Xander change his mind, she sighed. "I see. Very well, please assist us until then."

"Yes sir."

"You're dismissed."

Xander salutes and left. Talia turned to her assistant. "What do you think?"

"Eh? Well, he looks fine to me and his skills are more or less comparable to Athrun. It will be a loss for us to let him leave."

"I know, Arthur. But you have to remember. Like Athrun, he was at Jachin Due and suffered the loss of his teammates. That alone is reason enough for him to leave."

"But why does it take almost two years for him to make the decision?"

"From what I've heard, he was at the brink of insanity until a sargeant at the academy sent him to Orb for treatment. He recovered since then but he chose to remain at the academy while his fellow graduates like Commander Jule and Elthmann were promoted."

"I see. Guess we couldn't blame him. He is carrying too much of a burden."

Talia nods. "I'm sure he will be able to free himself from it."

Later that day, Xander was lying on the sand along the beach, looking at the skies above.

(Did I make a right choice on leaving ZAFT? Ah, whatever it is, it beats the hell than fighting in a mobile suit. Life. This is the way I want to live...)

Then, he heard children's laughter not far from him. He sat up and saw a group of children were playing on the beach. They were accompanied by a woman with long, flowing pink hair. Suddenly, one of the children spotted him.

"Hey look! It's Xan!"

"It's really him!"

"Come on, let's go!"

With that, Xander was mobbed by them. "Whoa, kids! Take it easy. Aaaaaaah!"

"Sir Xander."

He turned to the woman. Her expression, her slender figure, the way she moves. She truly embodies the word beautiful. She was smiling. Xander smiled back in return.

"Miss Lacus. It's been a while."

Lacus nods. "Yes it is. A year if I remember correctly."

"I was thinking about visiting the orphanage later."

The children grew silent upon hearing that. Xander blinked. "Don't tell me..."

Lacus nods sadly. "Yes, Sir Xander. That place is gone but everyone's okay."

"Oh, that's great then. Where's the priest now?"

Lacus chuckled. "Still calling him that? He's at that mansion you used to stay when he treated you."

"I see. I take it that Andrew is staying there as well?"

"Your mind is sharp as always, Sir Xander."

"Haha. You can say that. Where's Kira then?"

"I think he's at the cliff above us."

"Oh? The memorial dedicated to those who died two years ago?"

Lacus nods. "Sir Xander, can you take care of the children for a while? I'll take Kira to see you. I'm sure he'll be happy."

"Yeah sure. Why not? So, kids. Can you tell me your names? I kinda forget about them..."

The children moaned.

Xander was chasing the children around when Lacus brought young man with her. His expression is still the same as Xander remembered a year ago. That unique shine in his eyes. The look of the one who had seen so much in life. Xander stopped to catch his breath and turned to the couple. "Hey, just what did you two feed these kids with? They run faster than I thought."

Both of them smiled. "You're doing fine, it seems." Kira said.

Xander approached him. "Yeah. I see you're doing the same too, Kira."

"Are you still with ZAFT?"

Xander nods. "Yeah. But once I reached Carpentaria, I'm no longer one of them."

"You're leaving then?"

Xander shrugs. "More or less. I made up my mind. I'm tired of all this. I want to live as long as I can. For Claire's sake..."

"Sir Xander..." Lacus muttered.

He turned to Lacus. "Oh. Don't worry, Miss Lacus. I won't attempt suicide like I did a year ago. I'll probably be a journeyman instead. I want to help people. But not inside a mobile suit."

"I see..." Kira said.

"Sir Xander, how about a dinner with us? I'm sure Father Malchio will be happy to see you." Lacus suggested.

Xander smiled. "Well, yeah. I would like to meet that priest as well. And I think I left something there too. Please, lead the way."

Lacus gathered the children and went ahead, leaving Xander and Kira behind.

"By the way, I met Athrun on the way here." Xander said.

Kira turned to him. "Oh? I met him too."

"Hah. Really? You didn't tell him that we have met, right?"

"Trust me, I didn't say a word about it. I still remember how shocked you were when you learned that Athrun is staying here in Orb."

Xander laughed. "Haha. Yeah. It's good that he was away with the Chief Representative during my stay here. Hate to see him looking at my condition back then."

"Kira! Sir Xander! Hurry up!" Lacus called out to them. Kira smiled. "Let's go, Xander."

Xander nods. "Aye. Hate to disappoint the Princess."

To Be Continued...