Yo! The only reason why I'm putting this chappie up before three reviews is because I'm going on vacation for two weeks and I wanted to put one more thing up before I left. So this chapter had better get at least three reviews before I get back!
To the people who reviewed:
Sword of the soul: Thanks so much for your support! It's making me feel really good. Hope you like this chappie - it's for you for being so great!
ShadowFox777: Do you always review like that? And is "that" a good thing?
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed or the characters except for Rin, the Harmony, and this random Smith dude who will make a one-chapter appearance today. That is all. On with the story!
CHAPTERSEVEN – FREEDOM AND HARMONY, SIDE BY SIDE
Rin received her first mission as a soldier of Orb not long after her arrival, and with it surprising news. The special operation ZAFT had been planning, operation Spitbreak, had failed, and almost all of the ZAFT soldiers involved in the attack on Alaska had been killed. To top that off, the Earth Alliance had even tried to sacrifice their own ship, the Archangel, during the fight, but the ship had escaped the battlefield. "How could they go so low as to kill their own people?" was her angered reaction upon hearing this, despite the fact that the Archangel had once been her enemy. But not anymore. The legged ship, now considered a runaway ship, had sustained major damage and needed help. They were currently headed for Orb territory, but they were being pursued by ZAFT. Managing to escape from Alaska was a major feat, but there was almost no way the ship would arrive safely without further backup. And so Rin was assigned to help them.
Having already taken the Harmony for a test-drive (during which everyone witnessed her phenomenal abilities), Rin was very confident that her mobile suit would get the job done, whatever it may be. Her mobile suit was mainly a light shade of blue, with a darker blue shield and other random parts of that same color, including wing-like contraptions. It was truly a phenomenal machine.
As she was preparing to board the Archangel, Cagalli arrived to see her off. "Be careful, okay?" she said. Rin nodded. "Please Rin," Cagalli added. "We've given the Archangel shelter before. I've even been aboard the ship. The crew members are all kind people. Don't let them die. Please."
Rin gave her a kind smile. "I won't let that happen," she said determinedly. "Don't worry. The ship is no longer my enemy. I'm going to help them the best I can." And in her head, she said, It's what you would want me to do, right, Nicol? To help others. And I'm gonna do it. I'll make you proud.
She left Orb with quite a few warships, and though these ships were strong and would provide the Archangel with good protection, they were also not as fast as Rin had hoped. She wondered whether or not they'd make it in time at the speed they were going. She contacted Lieutenant Smith, who was in charge of one of the ships she was accompanying to get the necessary information.
"Lieutenant Smith, this is Rin in the Harmony, sir," she said. "Do you copy? I have a few questions to ask."
"Ah, Rin, what can I do for you? Do you need some coordinates?" he asked wisely, somehow knowing exactly what she'd wanted.
"Yes, please, sir, if it's not too much trouble," Rin answered. "I'd like to know how far from us the legged ship is and how close their pursuers are as well."
"I'm on it," he said, and moments later he had the necessary information, which he transferred to her immediately.
Rin studied the speeds of the ships and the distances between them. There were also quite a few pursuers in mobile armors, and it seemed that they would be reaching the Archangel within five minutes. To top that off, at this rate, there was no way the warships would make it in time.
"Can you speed things up at all?" Rin asked the Lt.
"Sorry, Rin, we're already going at full speed," was the answer. "What's eating you?"
"There's no way we'll make it in time, sir," she informed him. "These warships just aren't fast enough. Their pursuers are already practically on top of them."
Lieutenant Smith sighed. "I know, but there's nothing we can do about that but pray that the Archangel can hold out until we get there."
"Hmm." This got Rin thinking hard. She had already tested out the Harmony's abilities and made her own upgrades so that it would be even stronger against multiple opponents. Mobile armors, she figured, would be especially easy to get rid of. Perhaps she could…
"Lt. Smith, sir, I'm going ahead to provide the Archangel with backup," she said. "With my speed, I should be able to reach them shortly after they engage the enemy. I'm sure I can hold them off until the rest of you get there."
There was a short moment of silence, but the Lt. agreed. "Very well," he said. "Be careful."
"I will." And with that, Rin switched to full speed and zoomed towards the location of the Archangel, confidant that she would be able to provide the runaway ship with great assistance.
By the time Rin reached the Archangel five minutes later, they were already under attack by fifteen ZAFT mobile armors. Before jumping into the fray, Rin took a quick moment to analyze how things were going. The Archangel was in terrible condition – she took a rough guess that it had lost about 75 of its power thanks to all the damage it had taken – and it could barely defend itself. To make matters worse, there were only two machines helping it: an unfamiliar mobile suit and a sky grasper. She instantly recognized the sky grasper as the one Dearka had been fighting – come to think of it, she had no idea what had happened to him or Yzak, but from the looks of things, the sky grasper had definitely survived its battle. She wondered vaguely if Dearka had been shot down. And as for the mobile suit, well, she'd never seen it before, and it looked marvelous. Rin identified it as a machine called the Freedom, and with a quick analysis, she figured that it probably had a lot of the same abilities as the Harmony. They seemed to be of the same make, which would mean it would have excellent abilities. Still, it would prove hard for a natural to ward off over a dozen mobile armors.
The sky grasper was spiralling through the air and shooting beams, dodging blows from three mobile armors at once. The pilot was indeed exceptional, and inflicted more damage than it sustained, though if it got too damaged it wouldn't be able to last long. Its power levels had to be low, seeing as it was fighting in Alaska as well. With the sky grasper battling three mobile armors, it was leaving the mobile suit to defend the Archangel from the other twelve: a nearly impossible task for a natural. It seemed to be putting up quite a struggle, and the damaged Archangel was of no help to it, but it was eventually able to shoot two of the twelve down. Ten more to go. With the three the sky grasper was taking on, thirteen. Rin's analysis was complete. It was time for her to step in.
She was not a second too late, because suddenly the sky grasper found itself in a situation with no escape, and the enemy mobile armors each shot two beams at it, all which were bound to hit the control booth. Rin launched herself over there just in time to block all six beams headed its way. Then she through her shield like a boomerang, and it slid through all three of the mobile armors, causing them to explode. Then the shield came back to meet her, and she caught it. Rin marvelled at her machine's amazing techniques, though she already knew them all. This was working out even better than she was planning. "This is Rin Amarfi, soldier of Orb!" she said through the communicator to the sky grasper's pilot, as well as to the Freedom and the Archangel. "Reinforcements are on the way. They should be here soon. Until then, I'm here to protect you."
"Sounds good to me," the sky grasper pilot replied, and Rin saw his face on her screen. He was a man, unlike her, and had blond hair and a determined look to his face. He gave a carefree smile. "You sure are good, though!"
"Save the compliments and introductions for later," Rin said, business-like. "We'd better help your friend in the mobile suit."
"You got it!" And the two of them zoomed over to help the Freedom. All of the enemy mobile armors shot for the mobile suit, but Rin quickly shot a green beam that curved as it flew, knocking aside all shots going for it. Then, with some pretty cool rapid fire, Rin shot down three more mobile armors. Seven left.
The sky grasper took on two more mobile armors and succeeded in taking them down. In the meantime, Rin, along with the Freedom, fought together, covering each other's backs and taking down the mobile armors together, making short work of four of them.
"Mission accomplished," Rin said proudly to herself as she watched the ZAFT ships explode with satisfaction.
Suddenly, she heard the voice of the sky grasper's pilot: "RIN, BEHIND YOU!"
Rin turned just in time to see the last mobile armor – one she had completely forgotten was there – charging straight for her, sword ready to strike, and even though she quickly tried to bring out her shield, she knew that it would not be enough, and though her mobile suit was fast, it would not be fast enough. This is the end…so soon? She shut her eyes tightly.
An explosion took place right in front of her. Then, when it cleared, the Freedom was there, having just fired a couple of beams. It had evidently blocked the shot and destroyed the last enemy. She was saved. Rin sighed in relief. But before she had time to thank the pilot for the save, it returned to the Archangel and she lost sight of it. The captain of the ship, Murrue Ramius, then invited her on board to take a break.
"There won't be a need," Rin replied to the ship, looking behind her to see just what she was looking for. "The reinforcements are here. You're all safe." And she returned to Orb with the ships and the Archangel, proud of her work. And too right she should be. She received much praise upon her arrival back at Orb.
However, one thing stuck on her mind. The pilot of the Freedom…he was extraordinary. After seeing him fight, Rin was positive that he was no natural. There was no way someone with such instincts could not be one of her kind. And his abilities could probably surpass her own. But what bothered Rin was that he had said nothing to her, that whole time that they were fighting together. She would have liked to thank him, too, but he left before she had the chance. Oh, well, she decided. I'm sure we'll cross paths again. And maybe I'll be able to thank him in person.