Huh, what do you know, my chapters are getting shorter again. Ah, well. The next ones will lengthen out, I promise. The last chapters are about five pages each, unlike these ones. Yeah, and I know the last chapter wasn't all that super, but every story needs a chapter like that, you know? Five reviews and I update!
Thank yous:
asucagainluv: Wow...your hyperness amazes me. I was so hyper yesterday during school around lunch and I was laughing almost hysterically for five minutes straight. It really scared my friends.
Merffles: Yeah, actually, I am building up for an ending. Thanks for reviewing!
Spellcasterz: Uh, possible pairings between Rin and Athrun or Rin and Kira. I've got every single detail for this story figured out, except for that. Why? I don't know. Maybe I'll make it a triangle, heh...no, I really don't know yet.
RainPure: Thank you for your switch to review-ism! And to answer your question (which you answered partially correct anyways), when you're feeling as helpless as Rin is, it's kind of hard to think of good solutions. But yeah.
cynical.life: I know, I know, but I needed that chapter anyways. Hope ya like this one better.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed. Thank you and enjoy this chapter.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION
Rin scanned the battlefield. All around her were ZAFT mobile armors, surrounding their territory and firing beams to keep their intruders away. Rin made simple dodges and struck one of them dead-on with her sword. Then, not pausing to watch what happened to it, she zoomed away and attacked another machine, explosions ringing out in her ears. As long as she couldn't see herself hurting her own kind, she'd be okay. Her stomach was churning painfully, but she ignored it and pushed herself to keep fighting.
I have to keep fighting, she told herself. The hardest battle is to stay alive…and this is what I have to do to make it so.
"Athrun Zala, Justice launching!"
"Kira Yamato, Freedom, let's do it!"
Athrun and Kira launched ahead of the Eternal. There was still a bit of distance to cover before they got close enough to help Boaz, but they could see it up ahead. It seemed to be holding up okay. If they could just hold up a bit longer, everything would work out.
Those were Kira's thoughts. But all Athrun could think was, Rin, are you there fighting?
Rin fought hard, but at the same time, she hid her hesitation. She wasn't just hesitating because she was fighting and killing her own kind, but because she didn't want to lose control this time. She couldn't release the SEED again. Last time, it had been terrible. She never wanted to feel that way again.
Soon after, she got word from the Dominion to clear the path for the peacemaker force. Rin hesitated. The peacemaker force carried the nukes. It was all part of the strategy. She had followed her instructions carefully so far, but…
"I can't do it," she whispered to herself, tears coming to her eyes. "I just can't."
Azrael's sudden voice in the communicator made her jump in her seat. "Rin, what are you waiting for?" he yelled. "Don't chicken out and disappoint me now! Help clear the path or else you're going to get it big time!"
Rin closed her eyes and shook herself over. Then she hurried after the boys to clear the path.
"Almost there," Kira said to Athrun. They were nearing firing range, and could see what was going on perfectly.
"Yeah," Athrun agreed.
"Athrun?"
"Yeah?"
"Forget about her."
"What!" Athrun yelled.
"Forget about Rin," Kira advised. "We have to protect Boaz. That's our priority right now."
"But I can't leave her!" Athrun protested. "Who knows what she's going through?"
"I'm worried about her, too!" Kira exclaimed angrily, surprising Athrun. He took a calmer tone. "But we have to concentrate on the task at hand – no!"
"What?" asked Athrun, but he already knew.
The nukes were heading for Boaz.
The path was clear. There were still a large amount of ZAFT soldiers around the base, protecting it, but there was a clear pathway for the nukes to hit. They were launched, and Rin saw them get closer and closer to Boaz…closer and closer to bringing out destruction…
A ZAFT soldier in a GINN flew at her, firing beams. Rin dodged, not really focusing on the battle. She saw the nukes getting closer and closer until…
"RIN!"
Rin looked to see the Justice and the Freedom zooming towards the base. They fired beams, trying to destroy the nukes before they hit, but…
"THE NUKES!" she screamed.
Athrun and Kira fired as many beams and missiles as they could at the same time, destroying as many nukes as they could. But if even one nuclear missile hit…
That was when Rin screamed, and they knew instantly why.
They'd missed one. One nuke, and that was all it took. Boaz exploded in a shower of neon lights and loud bangs. It was almost like fireworks, in a way. But these ones weren't the kinds for show. It was a symbol of how many people had just met a terrible end.
"No," gasped Kira, staring in shock.
Athrun, too, was shocked, but he shook it over and replaced wide eyes with determined ones. Rin. And he flew forwards, leaving a surprised Kira behind.
"Athrun, don't!"
"NO!"
Rin cried out as she saw the last nuke hit Boaz. Everything exploded in a mixture of crazy neon lights and smoke, completely destroying everything. She could hear Shani's admiration of the pretty lights, but she was far too shocked.
"Too late…they were too late…" Rin floated in disbelief. Tears stung her eyes, and her vision darkened at the edges. She felt her eyes closing.
"Rin, look out!" she heard Athrun yell.
And the ZAFT GINN she had previously been fighting landed a clean blow, just missing the cockpit and slicing off the lower half of her machine. Then, before she could react, the head of the Harmony was blasted off.
"AAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" she screamed. Everything shook horribly, and she felt herself lurch forward and then back again, her head smashing against the controls and the hard back of her seat.
The world went pitch black.
Pain had become her universe. Not the kind of pain Azrael inflicted on her, but the pain of battle wounds, though nothing seemed broken, but she couldn't be sure. After a quick inward check, she realized she was really okay. Rin slowly opened her eyes. Her vision swam before her and her head hurt a little, and she couldn't make out anything. Then, very slowly, things started to clear, and she found herself staring into Athrun's worried face.
"A…Athrun?" she croaked in disbelief.
His face broke into a smile. "Rin, you're all right. Thank goodness."
Rin sat bolt upright in the Eternal's infirmary, causing her head to swim so much she nearly fainted. Athrun caught her and gently lowered her.
SMACK!
Rin had slapped him across the face. Athrun jumped back in surprise. "What was that for?" he demanded.
Rin felt tears in her eyes again. "Take me back! I have to get back to Azrael!" She was beginning to panic. Depending on how long she'd been unconscious, she'd start feeling the pain again sometime soon. She had to avoid that. She needed her water!
"Azrael can't hurt you here," Athrun soothed. "We'll protect you with our lives. Don't worry. He won't get his hands on you again."
"Yes he can!" she shrieked, having completely lost control. She was crying, too, which only made the situation worse for her. "I need to get back – I need my water!"
"We have water," Athrun told her calmly, trying to restrain her. "I'll get you a glass –"
"No, you don't understand!" she screamed. "It's not regular water I need – it's – it's –"
Athrun realized how much she was trembling, and how scared she was, and that there really was something wrong here, and asked, trying to becalm and understanding,"What? Please tell me."
"My drugged water," she choked out, coughing and sobbing openly. "He drugged me, Athrun… He…he's the only one that can help me now… I have to go back…please…"
Athrun helped her sit up, but he did not do anything else. He was terribly surprised, but he did not help her out of bed. He merely said, "Listen, Rin, everything we'll be okay. We'll get our doctors to – Rin? Rin, what's wrong?"
Rin had started to shudder uncontrollably. Her muscles clenched and she clutched at the bed sheets, breathing hard and gasping in pain. Her face went white.
She looked at him with wide, pleading eyes. "Please –"
"RIN!" Athrun caught her just before she hit the sheets.
Kira came running in. "Is everything okay? I heard screaming…" Then he saw Rin's motionless form in Athrun's arms.
"She fainted," Athrun said, and he explained the situation.
"Do we take her back?" Kira asked, genuinely worried.
But Athrun shook his head. "Get the doctors," he said in a resolute tone. "We're gonna get that drug out of her system."