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: More Xan-Luna fluffiness will come. Especially on the epilogue chapter soon.

NukeDawg: Yes. Xander and Crystal will have the same reaction as Mwu-Rau. About the existence of another clone, you're spot on.

Shinigami Keitaro: Dude, it's not what you think, actually...''

GodNo127: Stay tuned for the battle of the century. Riiiiight.

Centurious: Woot. Another new reader. Thanx for the comment. Glad you like the story so far.

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

Chapter 30: First Meeting

Xander, Athrun, Lunamaria and Yvonne were among the crew that gathered to hear Cagalli's address. Yesterday's battle belonged to ZAFT. With Lord Djibril had been killed, The Chairman of PLANT Gilbert Dullindal was now the most influential figure in the world.

"Remember, Orb wants peace but that doesn't mean we have to surrender. I also formally declared that the Archangel is now part of Orb's forces."

Murrue then stepped forward. "The Archangel will be heading to Copernicus for a recon operation. I want the crew to get ready at their respective positions. Dismissed!"

As the crew returned to their assignments, Athrun approached Xander. "Xander, I've heard that you are now a general. Congratulations."

The latter sighed. "Oh, man. Hey. Stop with this nonsense about me being a general. I swear I'm gonna get back to Andrew soon."

Athrun grinned. "Pity. General Darklighter does have a nice ring to it."

Yvonne and Lunamaria chipped in. "I have to agree, Xan." the Impulse pilot said while Yvonne nods in agreement.

"Aww, Maria. Not you too."

After submitting her report to Talia, Crystal headed towards the hangar. On the way, she passed the shooting range where Shinn and Rey were target shooting. She decided to drop by. Shinn noticed her and stopped. A while later, Rey did the same.

"I heard that you're leaving the ship." he said.

Crystal nods. "My assignment had been completed. I'm heading to Copernicus for some...personal business."

"I...I see..."

Crystal shrugged then smiled. "The final battle is coming soon. We might meet each other again. Who knows?"

Shinn nods.

"Well, I have to go now. I'll see you two soon." Crystal did a salute.

Rey thanked her before she left. "Thank you for your help."

A day later, the Archangel already docked inside the city of Copernicus. Xander donned a black trenchcoat to cover the sword attached to his hip. He then got out to join Athrun, Kira, Lacus and the Hawke sisters. Seeing them all in casual clothes, Xander couldn't help to hide his smile.

"Is this really a recon op? Looks more like a picnic to me."

Kira grinned. "Who knows?"

Athrun load his gun and put it away. "Define recon, Xander."

Xander rubbed his chin, trying to come up with the best possible answer. Lunamaria smiled at him.

"Looks like he doesn't even know what that word is."

The others laughed.

Xander glared at his girlfriend. "Very funny, Maria. Very funny."

"It's been a while since I went on shopping anyway. Let's have some fun while we're at it, okay?" Lacus said, cheerfully.

"How about Yvonne? She's not coming?" Athrun asked.

"She said she'll be staying here. She'll back us up if there's anything." Xander replied.

"We'll be okay, right?" Meyrin asked. Xander nods.

"We'll have to be on alert at all times. Who knows what will happen."

After saying goodbye to Murrue, two cars left the dock with Xander and Lunamaria in one of them while the others were in another.

"Aaah. It's been a while since I can drive this freely..." Xander said as he breathed in the soft breeze. Lunamaria stared at Xander. She watched him closely as his silvery hair flowed gently with the wind. Xander noticed it and pulled her close.

"Maria, I'm gonna push the gas further. Hold on tight, okay?"

Lunamaria held his waist and nods. "I trust you."

"Thanks." He then yelled at Kira. "Hey Kira! How about a race until the city centre?"

Kira and Athrun blinked. "But what about the speed limit..."

"Oh come on! Fine, I'll leave you behind!"

With that, Xander pushed the pedal harder, leaving Kira and the others behind. Athrun managed a smile.

"He sure doesn't change since the academy days."

Leaving his friends behind, Xander let out a scream. "WOOOO-HOOO!"

Crystal was watching Xander from the cliff above the roadside, holding a katana in one hand.

"I've found you, Darklighter..."

At the music store in the city centre, Lacus and Meyrin were listening to some music samples with Kira, Athrun and Lunamaria on the lookout. Surprisingly, Xander too was having his ears covered up by earphones. Loud thumping music could be heard from it as Xander immersed himself in the tune he was listening. Athrun sighed, smiling wryly at his friend's antique.

"Xander..."

Xander heard him and pulled his earphones. "Come on, Athrun. You ought to hear some of this. Rock 'n roll and heavy metal are just the right thing to fire us up for the battles ahead."

He then forcefully put them on Athrun and the latter jolted and quickly pulled it out and handed them back to Xander. Kira and the girls laughed.

"Aww. You should loosen up, my friend." Xander then turned to Lunamaria. "Wanna try?"

"Eh, umm...I think I'll pass..."

"You sure? Oh well. I'm buying this CD and will be rockin' to it on the way back."

Not far from the music store, Crystal was watching Xander silently. Gripping her katana tightly, she bit her lips as she tried to resist the urge to attack. Then, she decided to left.

At the clothes boutique, Lacus and Lunamaria were trying out different outfits with the others warily looked around them. Lacus got out of the fitting room first.

"Kira, how do I look in this one?"

Kira nods. "It looks fine."

Lacus narrowed her eyes at him. "You've been saying that a dozen times already. You just don't care, don't you?"

"Eh, no. It's not like that..." Kira tried to form an explanation with Athrun and Meyrin chuckled. Then, he turned to Xander who was standing in front of the fitting room where Lunamaria was.

"Hey Xander. A little help here?"

Xander shook. "No can do, K-man. I'm trying to come up the best possible answer for the same problem here..."

Before he could finish, the door opened and Lunamaria came out. "I heard that, Xan." She then pulled him by the collar.

"Ack. Maria..."

"Let me hear this 'best possible' answer from you then."

"Eh...you see..."

Xander then whispered something to Lunamaria. Whatever he told her, it was certainly embarrassing from the blush appeared on her. She then stomped her foot on Xander's. The latter yelped in pain. He clenched his foot in pain while he was hopping around with the uninjured leg.

"Pervert!" she said, still blushing.

"Hey! That was the best answer I can come up with!"

"What did you tell her?" Athrun asked.

"I told her that she actually looks good in..."

Lunamaria cut his reply short. "You don't want your head to be blown off, don't you?"

"Errh. No. Of course not. Hahaha."

Suddenly, a red Haro hopped into the scene. "Haro! Haro!" it chirped. Xander blinked as he picked it up. He then gave it to Lacus.

"Umm...this one is not yours, right?"

Lacus shook. "No. Mine is the pink one here."

Lacus' pink Haro appeared from behind. Lacus then took off a note attached to the red one and it then jumped down. The two Haros then had their own little chat. Everyone gathered around Lacus as she read the note;

I was asked to kill Miss Lacus. Please help me! - Meer Campbell

"Meer?" Kira asked.

"That is the Chairman's Lacus real name." Athrun explained.

"A trap?" Xander speculated.

"Could be." Lunamaria said. Meyrin nods.

"But we couldn't leave her alone. She might really need our help." Athrun said before he went on. "Kira, take Lacus back to the ship. I'll go with Xander on this one."

Lacus shook. "No, I won't. I want to meet her."

Everyone looked at her and Athrun sighed. "Guess you all will be coming along, huh?"

Suddenly, Xander felt a tingling sensation and he turned towards Crystal who was standing across the street. She then turned around, disappearing herself in the crowd. He blinked his eyes.

(Who...is she? She feels familiar. And that intense killing aura...)

The group reached a ruined stadium from the map provided by Meer's Haro. As they made their way towards the arena, Xander felt it again. The same feeling he felt during the earlier incident.

(Is she...calling me?)

Lunamaria touched his hand. By now, they were the only one left behind. "Xan, what's wrong?"

He turned to her. "Maria, can you go with the others? I...have something to do."

Lunamaria looked at him solemnly then kissed his cheek. "Be careful, okay?"

Xander gave a wink. "Will do, cutie." Then, he left in another direction.

Xander made his way up and reached the roof to see Meer was sitting alone at the center of the arena.

"So you have come, Xander Darklighter." a chilling female voice said from behind.

He turned around to see Crystal approaching him with her katana seemed ready to be released from its sheath. The killing aura from her became much more intense as she walked.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"If you survived this battle, I will tell you all about it."

Without much waiting, Crystal pulled out her weapon and leapt at him, intending to strike a killing blow to the head. Xander calmly took off his coat and unsheathed his Wolf's Blade from its scabbard and the two ancient weapons clashed. Fiery sparks could be seen as the two then exchanged attacks with each other.

After having a short discussion with Meer, Athrun intended to take her to safety when he heard Kira's bird engine Torii chirped from a sniping afar. He instantly sensed danger and ducked from the sniping shot. Then, a few more gunman appeared and attacked. With Meer, the group took cover back into the hallway.

"How many of them?" Kira asked.

"About a dozen, I suppose." Athrun replied.

"Don't worry. All will be fine." Lacus said to Meer and the latter nods.

Lunamaria loaded her gun. "This will be a good target practice." she said.

Athrun smiled at her. "You're starting to sound like Xander."

Xander and Crystal were equally matched as far as this battle went. He already heard the sounds of gunshot but he knew that he have to deal with this before he could do anything.

Crystal leapt at him. "DIE!"

Xander backflipped and was about to regain his footing when Crystal ran at him, attempting another overhead slash. He gripped the hilt of his weapon tight and the tip of the blade ignited with fire. With one slash, he batted his opponent's weapon away. He then jumped and dished out a powerful punch to her abdomen. Blood sputtered as Crystal was thrown all the way back. She lied there for a few moments before she picked herself up, wiping the blood on her lips. Xander sheathed his weapon.

"Now tell me who you REALLY are." he demanded again.

Crystal picked up her sword and smirked. "You think I'm already beaten? Think again. I'll get back to you soon. Remember that."

With that, she quickly left the area and the intense aura disappeared. Xander sighed in relief.

The Akatsuki piloted by Neo was already at the arena by the time Xander reached there. Lunamaria turned to him and hugged.

"Are you alright? I've heard a battle from above. I'm assuming it was you."

Xander smiled and caressed her face. "I'm okay. Thanks, Maria. I see you handled the situation here pretty well."

Lacus was about to board on the palm of Akatsuki when a shot was heard. The others watched the situation in horror as Meer took the shot intended for Lacus. Lacus caught her as she collapsed and Kira and Athrun took out the woman who fired the shot.

"Miss Meer!" Lacus shouted.

Xander could see that the bullet punctured her heart and there was certainly no way to save her. Meer pulled out a photo from her handbag and gave it to Lacus.

"I'm sorry...Miss...Lacus...but please...remember me...my song..."

Lacus looked at the photo of a red haired girl. "Is this...the real you?"

Meer nods and Lacus smiled. "Such gentle and carefree face. It's beautiful..."

"Meer!" Athrun called her with tears flowing down his face.

Meer turned to him. "I wish...that I could have meet all of you sooner..."

With that parting words, she died in the arms of the one she idolized. And suddenly the atmosphere turned gloom. Xander looked away from the scene as he remembered the deaths of Claire, Rina and his father. Tears then started to roll out from his eyes.

To Be Continued...