Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY

The New Coordinate

Story:
AU of GSD. Xander Darklighter, a ZAFT ace pilot was thrown into a string of events that will test his skills, resolve, courage and determination. Which side will he choose to fight with? How will he deal with the events unfolding before him?

Notes:
Miaseedfan411/Mira: As I said in the first chap, do ignore my crappy 'grammer'. Well, still nice to see a new reader, anyway.

Warp: Give it a rest about the short chapters. I have my own reason in doing it.

Thanx for the reviews. Keep 'em coming!

I don't own GSD, their characters or anything else aside from Xander Darklighter, Claire Whitestar and Yvonne Norman.

Chapter 17: Doing Things My Way

The next day, Xander, Jess, Yvonne and Miriallia were having a drink at a cafe at the port of Tarcuius. The photos of yesterday's battle were scattered on the table.

"That was probably the most intense battle of this war so far." Jess commented.

Xander nods. "Aye. Just follow Minerva around and there are bound to be more battles."

"The sudden appearance of the Archangel just complicate things. Who do they think they are? World peacemaker?" Yvonne hissed.

"I...was with Archangel two years ago." Miriallia spoke up. The others stared at her in surprise.

"You were?" Jess asked. Miriallia nods.

"I think I understand why they did it."

Xander nods in agreement. "Same here. But the withdrawal demand was still crazy."

Then, a car cruised passed them. It stopped then reversed back. The driver got out. Xander and Miriallia recognized him.

"Miriallia Haww and...Xander?"

Xander gagged. "Oh, I'm busted. That's twice in three days. Hiya Athrun."

Athrun approached their table. "What are you two doing here? Especially you, Xander. Shouldn't you report back that you're no longer M.I.A.?"

Xander shook. "No way I'm going back to ZAFT. Besides, I'm really enjoying my life right now."

Athrun smiled. "I see. I thought we could get together again since I returned to ZAFT."

Xander blinked. Then, he laughed. "How ironic can that be? I won't question why did you do it, alright?"

Athrun turned to Jess and Yvonne. "And these are..?"

Jess stood up. "I'm Jess Rabble. A photographer."

Yvonne did the same but looked at Athrun skeptically. "Yvonne Norman."

Athrun nods. "Athrun Zala. A pleasure to meet both of you."

The five were at the pier with Miriallia setting up the equipment to send coded message to the Archangel.

Xander coughed. "Excuse me Miriallia, can you put in a word for me as well? I just wanna get some clarifications from Kira."

Miriallia nods as Athrun turned to Xander in surprise. "You know Kira?"

He nods. "Aye. And I know a whole lot more, mind you. I'll tell you later."

After sending the message, Miriallia turned to them. "Okay. All done. I'll give a word once the meeting is on."

Lunamaria doesn't like the task assigned to her. But it was the captain's order and she'd do best to obey it. She's been tailing Athrun since yesterday but nothing has happened until Athrun left the hotel and left with Savior for a small clearing near the ocean. From the higher ledge overlooking it, she was using a pair of binoculars and radio equipments to record his conversation between him, Cagalli, Kira and Miriallia.

"Who is the other one? The one who Mir described as the Dark Knight." Cagalli asked.

Before Miriallia could reply, the Dark Strike appeared from the sky and landed somewhere near Savior. To the shock of Lunamaria, Xander jumped out of the unit and approached the other four.

"Sorry for being late, guys."

Kira smiled at him. "Xander. It is really you. She was right all along."

Xander raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you mean the princess? But forget that for now. Who's gonna start?"

Cagalli glanced at him before turning to Athrun. "Athrun, why did you joined up with ZAFT again?"

"Cagalli, at the moment, this is the right decision to do for me and Orb." he replied then turned to Kira. "And Kira, why do you interfere in that battle? With you suddenly appear, you've caused many unnecessary deaths."

The atmosphere was tense but Kira calmly replied. "Unnecessary? Think about it. If that cannon was fired, there will be more casualties."

"That's because Orb had joined the Alliance!" Athrun yelled.

"So you think they deserved it? Tell me, now that you're a ZAFT, what will you do?" Kira asked.

"I want to stop both of you from doing stupid things! Cagalli, what should you do is to prevent the signing of the treaty! The Chairman is only trying to stop this war from escalating."

"Really? What's with that Lacus Clyne? The one that appears on television." Kira shot a killer of a question. Athrun gasped.

"Oh, that fake Lacus? She acts a little...bitchy from my view." Xander interjected. "But what's that got to do with anything?"

Kira turned to Xander. "Someone tried to assassinate Lacus in Orb and I was forced to use Freedom in order to save her. As long as I don't know who's behind it, I won't place my trust in PLANT."

Xander spitted on the ground. "Damn. Someone tried to kill the princess? Who would want to do that? The Chairman?"

"Stop it, Xander." Athrun said. "Don't jump to conclusions, both of you. There are many people with different views on PLANT. Like the terrorists at Junius Seven. Anyway, I'll investigate these things once I get back."

Xander glanced at Athrun and wondered what happened to him.

"You should go back to Orb and do something about the treaty with the Alliance." he added.

"You're not coming back?" Cagalli asked.

Athrun shook. "As long as Orb returns to the old ways, it will only lead to more chaos."

Kira looked at his friend. "So, you will fight the Alliance?"

"It can't be helped."

"Will you fight Orb?"

"I'd rather not."

"Athrun, fighting the Alliance is a lot more difficult than stopping Orb. Thing lost in war will never come back."

Athrun glared at Kira. "Stop saying such righteous words when you yourself killed so many of them."

"I know that and I won't deny that fact. If there is a choice, I'd rather not do these things anymore."

"I've had enough of this. I won't accept it even I understand it." Athrun paused and looked at Cagalli. Then, he turned around towards Savior. "Please, don't interfere from now on. Xander."

Xander turned to him. "Yeah?"

"Lunamaria is really worried about you."

"So I have been told. I want to see her but not under this circumstances. Please understand that, my friend."

"Yeah. I understand."

With that, he left with his unit. Xander looked at the red unit flew away.

"Xander, what will you do now?" Kira asked. "You can join the Archangel if you want. I'm sure Lacus, Sir Waltfeld and Miss Murrue will be delighted to see you."

Xander considered the offer then shook. "Thanks for the offer, Kira. But let me enjoy this freedom I'm having a little more. Being involved in some major war is the thing that I'm worried most."

"I see."

"Well, I'll be seeing you guys later. Miriallia, thanks for arranging this meeting."

Xander then turned around and left for his Strike unit. It raised into the air and disappeared into thin air.

Lunamaria didn't know what to do upon witnessing the meeting and the revelation of the pilot of the Dark Strike. She decided that she should tell the captain about this and left with a small chopper following the trails left by Savior. She remembered what Xander had said about him wanting to enjoy the freedom he's having.

(Xander, I'll wait for you...)

Xander was cruising inside his unit, thinking about his current situation and Lunamaria.

"This war will go out at a larger scale if it's go unchecked. And here I am, running away from it when I have the power to do something about it. Lunamaria, under these circumstances, how am I suppose to see you?"

Then, he came up with a decision.

"I'll do things my way until the need of taking sides arises. Till then Lunamaria, please hang in there. I'll see you no matter what."

Then, he accelerated further ahead with higher speed, smoothly cruising through the orange skies.

To Be Continued...