Yay I finally got my third review! Geez it always takes so long...so I'll get straight away to the thank yous. Oh, yeah, last chappie was about the halfway point in the series FYI, as I have all 21 of them written on microsoft word. Once we get there, it's up to the reviewers if I write an epilogue or not (if I even get there - and I have a feeling you'll want one). So on to the thank yous:

cynical.life: Yay my bestest friend loves my fic but hates my cliffies! Thanks for the support chrissy-poo!
ZGMF X-19A Infinite Justice: Thanks so much for the reviews, I am dedicating this chapter to you for all your support!
asucaginluv: Yeah, I really do. . Enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed. Boo...and warning because there will be drug reference and swearing (there was swearing in the last chappie) in this chapter and in chapters to come. If someone thinks I should raise my rating, let me know.

Oh, and if anyone wants a copy of nicol's piano theme (aka theme of tears - i think) just review and let me know!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN – AWAY FOR GOOD

Sinking…sinking…sinking…she was sinking, deeper and deeper…she was completely swallowed up by the water…explosions were ringing in her ears, mingled with the urgent voices of people yelling her name…Athrun, Cagalli, Mu, Dearka, and even Kira…

Then she heard the voice of her first teacher at the military school, Commander Johnson, and what he told her before she left:

"Don't be too rash. Make sure you think all your actions through before you follow through with them."

The reverend Malkio's voice followed suit:

"I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up being a bearer of the SEED. I believe you have the abilities to push yourself that far. Besides, you survived the big explosion, so you must have some special ability."

Athrun's voice came subsequent to the reverend's, when he was admiring her new mobile suit:

"It is really something, though. I think it might even be in the same class as the Freedom and the Justice. You pilot it really well."

Next, she heard Yzak's first comment upon meeting her:

"So, you must be pretty good for a girl to be assigned here. So just how good are you?"

After that, she heard Mu's voice:

"So young…and ZAFT let you into the military at such a young age?"

Yes, all of their comments made sense. She was an amazing pilot; from the moment she first stepped into the cockpit of a mobile suit everyone knew she'd be amazing. But still…she had blundered terribly. All because she hadn't thought about the consequences of her actions. She was so used to acting on instinct, and look where it got her. No wonder she was hearing flashes of the past. That's what happens to someone who was dying. Yes, she was dying. At such a young age, too. She was only fourteen. There were still many things left for her to do, and they would be left unfinished. She would never live to see the days of peace, or maybe go to prom, or even have a first love. Instead, she'd be one of those in the war that needn't have died. She'd be another one of the people who misjudged their situation and lost their lives. It was all over so fast…

And now she wouldn't be able to keep her promise to Nicol…

And then she was young again, reliving the days before boarding school, when she and Nicol lived at home together with their parents. During a time of temporary peace.

Crying. That was an understatement. There was no way that simple word could describe Rin's reaction to the pain of a broken arm ten years ago. She was positively howling, kicking and screaming at anyone who came near her as she lay on the ground in pain. She had tried to run up a slide without using her hands, lost her balance, and fell sideways off of the plastic yellow slide onto the grass, landing on her arm, which had promptly broken.

"Rin, don't cry, please," said a five-year-old Nicol in an attempt at a soothing voice. Rin only wailed louder and tried to kick her brother away. Nicol backed up just in time, but then moved forwards again, stroking her broken arm. "It's okay, sister, a doctor's coming. You'll be just fine. It'll be good as new when the doctor is finished. Okay? Don't cry, Rin…"

But Rin hated when Nicol was near. She kicked even harder, and this time her foot connected with Nicol's nose, and it started to bleed.

Nicol put a hand to his nose to try to stop the bleeding, and he still stayed right where he was. Rin was so amazed that he wasn't crying that she instantly stopped. There was no way she'd look weaker than her brother.

Nicol smiled, still gently stroking her. Rin then bit him, and he pulled his hand away, surprised. "I don't need your help," she said. "It doesn't hurt. I'm fine." And she stood up and walked away. When she took a peak behind her, Nicol was smiling again.

And now she was in blackness, sinking deeper and deeper, slowly dying. Once again, voices were talking. But this time it was different. There were three unfamiliar voices speaking this time, and they weren't talking to her.

"So, when do you think she's gonna wake up?" asked one of them.

"Doesn't look like it'll be anytime soon," answered a second. "Hey, Orga, what's her mobile suit like?"

"The darn thing put a lock on the system," the third one, called Orga, answered. "I can't open it."

"Pathetic," said the first one.

"Yeah, Shani's right," the second one agreed.

"Shut up, Clotho!" Orga said angrily. "Why don't you try to open it?"

"Nah, I'd rather play my video game," Clotho replied. "It's much more fun. I get to shoot tons of ships."

Orga, Shani, and Clotho. Who were these three people? That Orga's voice was slightly familiar, too. And then she remembered the insult the pilot of the Calamity had thrown at her when they'd been fighting a little while back. Could it have been him? And did that mean…?

Rin opened her eyes, and the sinking sensation instantly stopped. She was lying in a bed in a medical room that reminded her of the one in the Archangel. Three boys no older than Athrun were watching her. One had bright green hair, another had red hair, and the last had light green hair that covered one side of his face. Orga, Clotho, and Shani, judging by the positions of their voices. But where was she? And what was she doing where she was? And why were those people there? And were they the pilots of the three mobile armors of the Earth Alliance?

"Huh, so you're awake," Shani said. "About time."

Rin sat up slowly, and her head swam painfully. She fought it off and soon her vision cleared. She seemed very much alive and healthy, nowhere near death. "How long was I asleep for?" she asked.

"A couple of days," answered Clotho,his fingers jabbing atbuttons on his portable video game player. "Now shut up and let me concentrate."

Orga left the room. Rin frowned at Clotho. Just who was he to talk like that? But she kept her mouth shut. If she really was on board an EA ship, then she'd have to be careful.

A minute later, a woman entered the room. She was tall with short black hair and bright purple eyes not unlike Kira's. Instantly Rin knew that she was a strict woman, and she wore a captain's uniform. Shani and Clotho left the room.

"So, you're the girl who pilots the mobile suit known as the Harmony," the woman said in a business-like voice. "A coordinator, aren't you?"

"Yes, ma'am," Rin answered dully. If she was a hostage, she'd have to be obedient. And if they really had her mobile suit with them, then she'd have to make sure it stayed safe. This was a way to try and guarantee that.

"So, girl, tell me your name and the unit you were with," the captain said.

"My name is Rin Amarfi, and I'm a soldier of Orb," she answered. "I was with the ships known as the Kusanagi and the Archangel."

The woman was surprised upon hearing the latter. "The Archangel, you say?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Hmm." The woman looked thoughtful. She was about to ask another question when the door opened and a man entered. He wore a light blue suit and had blond hair. Rin had heard of this man back at the PLANTS and at Orb. Unless she was mistaken, he was Muruta Azrael, the leader of Blue Cosmos.

"Miss Captain, I'll take over from here," he said. "You may leave."

"Yes, Director Azrael," the woman answered, leaving, and Rin's suspicions were confirmed.

Azrael went over to a pitcher of water on the desk and poured some into a glass. "Would you like some, pilot?"

Rin nodded. "Yes, please." She had only just realized how thirsty and hungry she was.

The man handed Rin the glass of water, and she drank gratefully.

"I overhead some of your conversation, girl, and I must say that you cooperated rather well," Azrael said. "So, let me tell you of our plans. You are currently aboard the Dominion, an Archangel-class ship, and the ship is on our lunar base. We rescued your mobile suit and brought it into space with us. We will be trying to capture or destroy the Freedom and the Justice. So, Rin, will you lend us your assistance?"

Rin gasped when she realized how forward he was being, as if he expected her to agree. But…that would mean fighting Athrun. Rin couldn't do that. There was no way she could! And she promised Nicol that she wouldn't try to hurt Kira, either.

"No," she answered flatly. "I will not let you hurt my friends."

"I don't think you have a choice in the matter," Azrael said with a twisted smile.

And suddenly Rin was in pain. Terrible, terrible pain. She gasped for breath, clutching at the bed sheets, shaking madly. It was almost unbearable. She felt like she was going to die, for real this time…

"What did you put in my water?" she gasped at the leader of Blue Cosmos.

"Something that will assure me of your cooperation," he answered simply with a small smile.

"You –" But Rin couldn't finish her sentence. The pain was too great; she couldn't take it anymore–

Azrael handed her a new glass of water, and this time, didn't make a point of hiding the fact that he was putting something in it. "If you want it to stop, drink."

She'd have to drink it. She wanted to refuse him, but she knew that things couldn't get any worse. With shaking hands, she took the glass and drank. Almost instantly, the pain vanished.

She stared at Azrael in shock. "What did you – what did you do to me?"

"While you were still unconscious, we injected a drug into your system," Azrael informed her. "We had to give you heavy amounts since you showed no signs of previously taking it. So now we've got you addicted. And if you don't take the drug – which I've just placed in your water – every few hours, you'll be in far greater pain than you were just in. And I'm the one who keeps the drug. So if you don't obey me, you'll suffer." He chuckled. "And there was nothing in the water the first time. I was merely showing you some hospitality."

"Some hospitality this is," Rin muttered with a shudder. She was starting to feel a little panicked. There was a drug in her system. A drug! And at her age! What would happen to her? Would she be forced to take it for the rest of her life until the day she'd die?

Azrael continued, "So, I will ask you again: will you help me?"

Rin glared at him. How could this happen to her? But she had to answer him. If she didn't, she'd be tortured for the rest of her life. That pain had been so terrible…she didn't want to feel like that ever again.

"Yes," she answered, "I will."