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:
ChibiRulz: Your question will be answered here!

GodNo127: Glad to see you're still glued to this story.

The chapter title and lyrics were taken from the song Take Me To Your Heart by Rick Astley.

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

Chapter 22: Take Me To Your Heart

"Captain! We have lost the support from Captain Willard. His ship was left stranded." Meyrin informed Talia onboard Minerva.

"Was it because of that red Windam?" Talia wondered as she watched the Windam used its rail cannon to disable a line of mobile suits. Then, it disabled a few more within moments.

"No Naturals possess that kind of speed and reaction. Unless he is a CPU Extended or a Coordinator." she thought.

"Phew. That's the last of them." Xander heaved a sigh after dispatching the last of ZAFT's mobile suits. "Darklighter to Archangel. How is the situation over there?"

"Not good. Minerva is having us on the run." Miriallia replied.

Xander looked at the Archangel and was dismayed at the ship's damage. Then, the Minerva activated the Tannhäuser and prepared to fire at Archangel. Cursing, Xander quickly made his way towards Minerva to take out the cannon but it was too late. The devastating blast was fired but fortunately, the Archangel avoided the direct hit but that doesn't prevent it from sustaining further damage. It landed on the water and slowly sink.

"Dammit!" Xander cursed aloud took out the Tannhäuser with his beam rifle.

Lunamaria reeled upon the impact of the explosion from the destruction of the Tannhäuser. Then, she saw the Windam left for the Archangel. Suddenly, her instinct called out a name.

"XANDER!"

Xander was making his way towards Archangel when he felt a pain on his chest. Almost instantly, he knew the cause.

"This pain...ugh...Luna...maria..."

Then, he turned towards the battle and was shocked to see Impulse's anti ship sword penetrate Freedom's cockpit. Then, the well known mobile suit exploded.

"KIRAAAA!" he screamed.

Shinn was laughing to himself after he succeeded in destroying Freedom. Then, he detected a mobile suit right in front of him. He looked at Xander's red Windam floating in front of him. Xander then pointed his rail cannon at Shinn before the latter could move.

"Don't try it, Impulse Boy."

"You...Xander..." Shinn muttered.

"Yes. As you can see, I'm still alive. But I won't fight you at this time. At least not yet. I'm here just to pick some stuff. And do tell the Chairman that I'm no longer his toy in this game of his."

"A...game?"

"You know soon enough, kid. Be seeing ya."

With that, the red Windam left, holding something important in its hands.

Inside the mobile suit hangar of Archangel, Xander slowly lowered and opened his unit's hand to reveal Freedom's cockpit with Kira still alive in it. Cagalli rushed at Kira and called for medical team. Xander got out of his unit and approached the Princess of Orb.

"I kept my promise. Just do as you please."

Cagalli looked at him deeply in the eyes. She could see that beneath that beautiful blue eyes, there's an emptiness in it. Like a black hole. She could also see the sadness hidden within.

She nods. "Very well. Xander Darklighter, I just can't forgive you nor kill you but as a punishment for what you did, I'm assigning you to this ship as a mobile suit pilot."

Xander blinked his eyes upon hearing his 'sentence'. Then, he nods. "Very well, I accept this...punishment."

Cagalli turned around and made her way towards where the medical team brought Kira. Then, she smiled.

(Thank you, Xander...)

After putting on the Orb official uniform, Xander made his way towards the Captain's office. He pressed the button.

"Come in." a female voice echoed from the room.

Xander entered the room to see Murrue was waiting for him with a smile. He saluted her.

"Good to see you again, Murrue...I mean, Captain. Xander Darklighter reporting for duty."

"You can drop the formalities, Xander. How are you doing?"

"Still alive and kicking."

"It's been almost a year, is it?"

He nods and Murrue poured down a glass of wine and handed it to him. "You're legal, right?"

Xander grinned. "I'm 18. So, yeah..."

Xander took a sip. "Where's Andrew?"

"Sir Waltfeld is currently on Eternal with Miss Lacus. They have some matters to sort out."

"I see. Where are we heading, if I may ask?"

"We're going back to Orb. This ship is in need of some serious repair."

Murrue then stared at Xander for a short while. Xander blinked. "Is there anything wrong?"

Murrue shook. "No. But I can tell from the look in your eyes that you have went through so many things since the last time I see you."

Xander shrugged. "Well, yeah. More or less."

Kira slowly woke up as he regained his consciousness. Cagalli happened to be entering the room with Miriallia, bringing some food for him and the captive from the Alliance, Neo.

"Are you alright?" she asked as he put down the tray next to the bed. Kira smiled and nods.

"Yeah. Pretty much."

"You have to thank Xander. He was the one that saved you."

Kira turned to Xander who was standing at the entrance. "Yo."

"Thanks, Xander."

"Hey now. It's just a human nature to save others, right?"

"Glad you didn't suffer any fatal injuries." Cagalli informed.

"Yeah. But I just lost Freedom. I just can't believe it..." Kira lamented.

"Kid, you deserved that for underestimating the Impulse pilot." Neo interjected from across the room. "Unlike others that I encountered, he is an aggressive pilot and he keeps improving as the war went on."

(Ouch. That's gotta hurt, Kira.) Xander thought.

Neo turned to Xander. "You're the one that used that black Strike, right?"

Xander nods. "The one and the same. Xander Darklighter, pleasure to meet you."

"Colonel Neo Lorrnoke. Well, the title means nothing now anyway."

"Nope. You're still a colonel even if you're a prisoner here. To me, at least."

At the hangar, Xander was preparing to get into his Windam when Cagalli called him.

"Xander, where are you going?"

"I...have to see someone. She is the only one I care right now." He then smiled. "Don't worry, I'll return ASAP."

"You better."

"Yeah."

The catapult deck has been opened. Xander sent a message to the bridge. "Captain, I'm heading out."

"Go ahead. But please be careful." Murrue replied.

"I will. Xander Darklighter. Windam, heading out!" Then, he pushed forward and flew into the sky.

At the ZAFT base of Gibraltar, Lunamaria was alone in her room and was about to take off her uniform when she heard a knock on the window. Feeling suspicious, she cautiously approached the window and opened it. Then, she peeked outside to see a figure clad in black cloak standing in the rain in the dark of night.

"Who are you?" she shouted as she scrambled for her gun. The figure slowly took off his cloak to reveal himself.

"Lunamaria, it's me."

Lunamaria was stunned. "Xan...der..."

After getting inside her room, Xander and Lunamaria just stared at each other, not sure how to start. Lunamaria decided to start things.

"Why...are you here..?"

"That's...uh...I just came over to see you."

Lunamaria turned beet red. "That's..."

"Really. I came over to see you. Nothing else."

"Xander...to tell the truth, I want to see you too..."

"I know. I kinda felt it."

Then, the silence continued. This time, Xander spoke up.

"Lunamaria, I...have something to say..."

"What is it?"

Xander approached her slowly the stopped. "Lunamaria Hawke, I...love you..."

She gasped.

"I've spent many times wondering about this feeling I have for you and realized that it was the same feeling when I fell for Claire..."

"Xander..."

"Well, I just said my piece. I have to go now."

With that, Xander opened the window and prepared to left. Suddenly, Lunamaria hugged him from behind.

"Lunamaria..?"

"How could you be so mean? Running away without hearing of what I have to say?"

Xander smiled. "I'm sorry. Maybe I'm just a coward..."

Burying her face at Xander's back, Lunamaria whispered that was loud enough for Xander to hear.

"Xander Daklighter, I love you too. So please, don't leave me. I don't want to be alone..."

Take me to your heart
Never let me go
If you knew what I'm feeling
You would not say no

Xander touched her hand, smiling.

"Lunamaria, I'm so happy. But I don't think I can be by your side at the moment..."

"Then take me with you! I don't care where!"

Xander turned around and hugged her. "I'm sorry. I just can't."

"Xander, you're cruel..." Lunamaria sobbed.

Xander thought for a while before he replied. "Alright. I'll be with you for tonight, okay?"

Lunamaria nods and kissed him. Xander accepted and the two fell on the bed, still embracing each other, pouring out their feelings that were kept for so long.

(Lunamaria...I love you.)

(I love you too...)

(When this war is over, we'll be together...always...)

Take me to your heart
Never let me go
For your love, for your love
Is all I need to know

To Be Continued...