Declaimers: I do not own Gundam Seed.
Gundam World
Phase 3. Episode 2
Kira had found himself at a loss, the thing is, and he never had any type of interactions with girls before so now he was troubling as to what to wear or say. Throughout the whole day his body had been tense, tense like a spring, a spring wound so tight that he was practically going to burst any second. Even through all this stress, Kira was still looking forward to visiting the city of Gion.
On Earth, before he had joined the military, he had heard many stories about Gion, the fascinating and alluring metropolis on the Moon. Many ancient stories had told about the tale of a swan princess who had ascended to the moon, signifying man's desire to reach the skies. Even now on Earth, Gion seemed to many as a sacred place where the soil is to be kept clean and more precious than gold. Every so often, the East side of the moon, which Gion is located on, would face towards the Earth, if it were night time, and the moon was visible; people on the Earth would stare up at it in awe. Brilliant lights of many different colours would light up as the Moon faced away from the sun, if one had a large enough zoom on their telescope, he would be able to look through it, and for a few hours, see the faint details of the vast city in its full magnificence that spread through a small part of the East Lunar face.
Gion, named after a famous entertainment district in Kyoto during 19-20th century A.C., suggests the strong theme of mainly tourism and culture in the space city. Ever since the forming of the ZAFT, Earthlings had been unable to access the city through a Spatial blockade by the Space Alliance. But now, after the successful invasion of the Earth Alliance forces on the Ptolemaeus base on moon, Gion had become accessible again. Even the Earth Alliance, in its pursuit of total war, didn't give orders to harm the lunar city with its militia.
Kira felt anxious, in a mere few hours, he would be able to step onto the moon not as a soldier to fight, but as a tourist; to see the city that had fascinated the human race for over 200 years now ever since it's first erection in 2098 A.C. after the proposal of Spatial colonies by many of the major Earth government. He looked at his watch. It read 17:29.
"Half more hour," Kira muttered to himself and pushed himself up from his bed and headed out into the long corridor of the Majestic's living quarters. With the reduced gravity from the moon, Kira moved more freely than he had on the Earth, but this also meant that he had to perform vigorous trainings everyday to keep his body in shape. As the Strike pilot somewhat floated down the hall, his thoughts kept drifting back to that deadly battle in the Ptolemaeus base, the desperation and fear of that time had never left his thoughts.
He shook his head vigorously, trying to get rid of the thought as he spotted Captain Himura coming towards him from the opposite end of the corridor. Kira grabbed onto a handlebar and stopped himself.
"Good evening Captain." Kira said, saluting.
"Good evening Kira," the Captain turned his head slightly and smiled kindly. "I am glad to see that you are in good shape, I hope the mission hadn't shaken you up to much?" Kenshin asked rather politely.
"No sir, all is fine, I simply aim to perform my duties as a soldier as best as I am capable of."
"I'm glad to hear that," Kenshin paused briefly and continued again, "a soldier's career is to fight, other wise there is no use of them. An ancient proverb says: you keep an army for 100 years yet you may only use them for one day." Kira thought about these words, what was the Captain trying to say? "But Kira," Kenshin put a hand to the boy's stiff shoulders and smiled reassuringly such as a father would his son, "don't let yourself become consumed by battle, a soldier is a soldier, until he is engulfed in the need to kill and becomes a monster." The captain lifted his gentle hands from Kira's shoulder and waved before continuing his walk down the hall, "I'm glad I had a talk with you Ensign Yamato, and I wish you luck with Flay." Kira stopped, his mouth hanging open. He wouldn't be surprised if the whole ship now knew about the so-called "date."
"Yes sir, thank … you sir." Kira said slowly, his face turning a little red. After the captain had disappeared around the corner, Kira Shook his head and continued down the corridor, feeling a bit lighter, now that he knew someone cared about him.
OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Uzumi Yula Athha sat at his desk, looking troubled due to the lines that curved downwards around his solemn jaw. He was a great man, he had a head of dark, kingly mane that hung low down over his shoulders, and his eyes were sharp and silently took in anything of influence around him. Anyone that has ever laid eyes on Uzumi Yula Athha was instantly convinced that he must be the leader of a nation. In fact, he was, he was the Lord of Orb, also known as "the lion of Orb" due to his fierce nature and aggressive decision-making. He put down the paper that he was reading, and swung around in his large leather chair to face the huge windows behind him. He rubbed his sore temples, after a few relaxing circles, he gave a sigh.
The war is beginning
"Father, is something troubling you?" The voice of his 16-year-old daughter, the Princess of Orb, Cagalli Yula Athha, came from behind him. This brought a slight smile to his lips, not that his daughter could see it. But as Uzumi turned around to face the Princess, he was frowning again.
"Cagalli, how many times must I tell you to not disturb me while I am doing important work." Uzumi sat tall and stared down at his daughter, his guards certainly were rendered useless as their Princess decided to bust into the office of the Lord of Orb.
"Ah daddy, stop patronizing me," Cagalli shook her blonde head as if in disapproval, "I am capable, just as you, to handle some decision for the nation now am I not?"
"A teenager like you will make rash decisions based on your own passions, and that is not what Orb needs in these troubled times," Uzumi searched the deep, amber eyes of his daughter as if willing her to understand.
"Father! I am not a rash teen! I have been raised, from birth, to one day be the ruler of Orb, and I will be a good Queen when that time comes!" Cagalli said passionately, her fists gripping together on either side of her.
Uzumi stared for a moment. "That's just the thing, I have trouble seeing any of the subtle things that they would normally teach you as a princess in you." He laughed good-naturedly at the expense, and anger of his passionate daughter, who all but stamped her feet in frustration. "You are a spirited girl Cagalli, and a good daughter, but the time has not yet come for you to be granted power. I'm sure one day, when times are peaceful, your eccentricity and energy will be able to push Orb further than I could ever do as an aging old man."
Cagalli laughed lightly.
"Orb is the only neutral nation within the whole human race, the rest have been divided into either the Earth Alliance or the ZAFT by now. We are a small nation of islands located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but our advanced technology makes us a power to be reckoned with even then." He sighed again, as if thinking of a particularly stressful thought, "We have a mass driver and wouldn't allow the Earth Alliance to use it, we have the technology to build more powerful mobile suits, yet we will not aid either the Earth or Space, do you see it now? We are walking a thin line, even one miss step could destroy our nation and our pacifist beliefs."
"Father! You are saying that I will make a mistake!"
"I am not," Uzumi said seriously, "but I am saying that you will not always make the RIGHT decision, part of reason being that you still have a limited knowledge of anything outside of our peaceful nation. If you were to see the horrors of the war for yourself and all the suffering of the people, you would understand why I am so reluctant to let you make some of the decisions yet." Uzumi said solemnly. Cagalli looked hurt.
"Fine then, if you think that I am naïve and inexperienced, I will become strong and mature for you! Farewell Father, I cannot sit in this luxury and enjoy life as it passes by any longer!" She pointed her clenched fist towards her father, "I will depart tomorrow from Orb, and I won't come back until I know what it means to be a great leader!" With that, Cagalli stomped out of the office. After the door had slammed shut, Uzumi shook his head and laughed a little. He pressed a white button on his heavy, oak desk, and heard the voice of the operator at the other end.
"Uzumi sir, may I help you?" A girl's voice sounded from the tiny speaker.
"Yes, could you get colonel Kisaka into my office?"
"Yes sir."
A few minutes later, the doors to his office opened. A tall, muscular man who looked like to be in his 20s walked in, he was wearing a camouflage uniform, his long hair was slightly messy and there were traces of dirt on his broad face.
"Uzumi Sir, you needed my assistance?" He said in his deep voice.
Uzumi stood up from his desk, "Kisaka, I see you are training as hard as ever," that may have sounded like a joke, but no smile came from either men. "As of tomorrow, I want you to accompany my troublesome daughter, Cagalli, as she leaves Orb, to see things for herself."
Kisaka was taken aback, "what? Lord Uzumi, you don't mean that Cagalli means to leave Orb?"
"That is exactly what I am saying, and I want you to protect her while she may just as well get herself into dangerous situations."
"But sir, isn't letting princess Cagalli leave a rather dangerous decision, although I can protect her, but what if the impossible becomes possible? What if she is hurt or is damaged mentally at the things which she might see?"
"Kisaka, Cagalli and I have just had a talk, I can see that she is ready to take power, yet her knowledge of the world is limited. I want her travels to arm her with a clear understanding of the world outside of Orb." Uzumi sat back down at his desk and became silent while staring into Kisaka's dark orbs with his penetrating eyes. Kisaka, taking this as an end to the conversation, began to leave.
"Yes sir, I will do my best even if my life is lost, to protect princess Cagalli." With that, he left. Uzumi sighed, the parting with his daughter had finally come; he had dreaded this day ever since the moment she was born.
OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Captain Kenshin Himura of the flagship Majestic went and took a seat before the large monitor inside his own living quarters. He looked at his watch. He was scheduled to have a secreted talk with Hiko Seijurou, the Chairman of the Earth Alliance and 17: 30. After talking to Kira, Kenshin had walked into his quarters with only 5 minutes till the talk was to begin. While he waited, the captain poured some tea, which was prepared for him, into a cup and began taking sips after blowing on it to cool it off.
The monitor suddenly turned on and from it appeared the sharp and broad face of Hiko Seijurou.
"It's good to see you, Kenshin, how is my idiot apprentice doing?" Hiko's face lit up with an arrogant smirk.
"It's good to see you too, master." Kenshin replied with a slightly bored face. An outsider might not have known, but Kenshin Himura was actually an apprentice of Hiko's as he was little. Hiko had been a fatherly figure to Kenshin after the boy's family had died from a terrible disease. Hiko had taught the young boy an ancient and deadly sword style that can be hardly be used in the modern day world. But Kenshin had none the less grown an unsurpassed admiration and bond with the very man that was giving him orders now.
"I see that my teachings have not been wasted on your idiotic head, I congratulate you and the eighth fleet on the success on the Ptolemaeus base." Hiko said as the smirk only grew wider.
"Thank you Hiko, the newly developed Gundams have done great amount of damage to the enemy and saved many of our soldier's lives."
"I see," Hiko said, taking in this information carefully, "who are the pilots? I know La Flaga is piloting the Burning Gundam, but who did you pick to be the pilot of the Strike?"
Kenshin laughed as he predicted the reaction of his master, he plugged an electronic device into the monitor and instantly, information was sent to Hiko with the stats and information about a boy named Kira Yamato.
Hiko read the information that appeared on the monitor and smirked his arrogant smirk again, not seeming the least bit surprised. "So you picked a boy as the pilot of our most powerful mobile suit? Why didn't you pick a more… suitable candidate? This 'Kira' hasn't even finished his M.S. training yet, and he's only 15!"
Kenshin didn't reply immediately, but sipped at his tea before it completely cooled down as more information was sent to Hiko. After reading the data collected in the Strike during the battle on the moon, the chairman looked a little surprised. Now, surprising Hiko was almost impossible; he was a man that was feared even by the highest commands of the ZAFT.
"This boy performs much more efficiently than any of our standard pilots it seems," Chairman Seijurou took a second to scan through some more information. "He even thought of detonating his own jet pack while focusing all the energy on his phase shift armour, you certainly made a good choice." Kenshin laughed at the last comment.
"Now now, when was the last time that I heard a compliment from you master?"
"Okay," Hiko had finally finished reading all the data, and looked up, "now let's talk about your next mission." Kenshin put down his cup of tea and sat straight in his seat as if concentrating. The chairman continued darkly, "three more Gundams will be sent to you within the next week, they are code named Buster, Duel and Blitz, I have already picked pilots for these units so you don't have to worry."
"Sir," Kenshin suddenly began speaking in a formal way, like a soldier would speak to his commander, "the Eighth Fleet and the Majestic is enough to defend the moon base, do you mean to say that we will be attacking another ZAFT location soon?"
"Precisely, our intelligence has gathered a large amount of ZAFT military activity on the otherwise civilian star of Heliopolis. We have reason to believe that they, just like us, are designing and building advanced types of mobile suits there. We can't let them have Gundams also, if they do, they are certainly to be mass-produced, and that would lead to even more collateral damage." Hiko's suddenly solemn face became dark and almost scary as shadows played across his broad and handsome features.
"I see," Kenshin frowned, "we mustn't allow that to happen, after all, our goal is to end the war quickly and unify all of the solar system again. If the ZAFT now have weapons like Gundams, then we are in for an ugly and undoubtedly savage war." Hiko sighed in the monitor as his and Kenshin's thoughts matched almost exactly, well he did teach the Majestic's captain all that he knew after all.
"Kenshin, I wish you the best of luck, even though you are not that bright, I hope you succeed, for a unified brotherhood of man."
"I will Chairman Seijurou, I will do my best."
"Well, good bye for now." And the communication was cut and the large monitor turned off.
"For a unified brotherhood of man…" Kenshin played the phrase over his tongue, and decided that he liked it.
To Be Continued
Author's notes: Now now, I still have that interaction between Kira and the other teens to write about, so look for that in the next chapters. This one is a prelude to what's to come and a defining of the goals of the EA. If you liked it, leave a review; if you didn't like the dialogue or any other parts of this chapter, tell me why.
Till next time!