-C.E. 75
Athrun squinted at the hot sun. It was sooo hot. Why did we have to move here, he thought. Of all the places to go, why did Cagalli have to choose New Zealand? Athrun could think of a million other places he'd rather be: Alaska, the PLANTS, the Lunar Base, the list was endless.
Just then, he heard the phone ringing from inside the house.
"I'll get it!", said Cagalli, running up to the screen door of their two-story apartment by the sea.
A few minutes later, Cagalli came out and beckoned for Athrun to come in.
"What is it now?", Athrun asked.
"It's for you, Athrun. It's Kira."
Kira, Athrun thought. He suddenly realized how long he hadn't spoken with Kira. It had been more than a year since he last talked with Kira and Lacus, even just on the phone. They moved to Arlington Heights in Chicago while Athrun and Cagalli settled in Auckland.
When he picked up the phone, he was surprised to hear absolutely no sound from the latest Haro that Athrun made for Lacus.
That Haro was a little different from all the other annoying little balls Athrun made. Whenever it bounced around, it made a rather cute squeaky sound because of a defect it had; and whenever he was on the phone with Lacus or Kira, it would always be there.
Athrun's thinking was interrupted by Kira's distressed tone of voice.
"Athrun..?", Kira asked.
"Yes, Kira..?"
"Another war could start. Lacus is at Moscow right now trying to negotiate with Eurasia to sign a treaty."
"Eurasia started a rebellion?", Athrun asked worryingly.
"I'm afraid so..", Kira replied.
Eurasia is such a powerful country, Athrun thought. If it sparked a war, half the world would be affected.
"We have to do something!", Athrun said.
"We will", Kira said. "Captain Ramius has arranged for you, me, Lacus and Cagalli, Dearka, Yzac, and Shinn to travel to Orb. She said Orb needed us as Special Forces Troops.", he added.
"That's why you called..?"
"Yes.."
"Damnit!" Athrun said. Not another war. He was fed up with all the fighting that had been going on for the past five years.
He could remember it just like yesterday. C.E. 71: The first war. Back then, he fought as a Z.A.F.T. soldier. CE. 73: The second. And now, a third one?
After saying goodbye and putting the phone down, Athrun went upstairs to his and Cagalli's room. He pulled out the bed that came out from under the other one and took the mattress off. There, under the planks lay Athrun's old battlesuit. Beside it lay an M-16 SMG.
"I guess I'll have to use this again…", Athrun said sadly.
Meanwhile, at Orb…Captain Murrue Ramius was looking through some old photos of the Earth Forces Archangel Crew. There was her, Lieutenant Natarle Badriguel, Major Andrew Neumann, and Mu La Flaga.
Oh Mu…, she thought to herself. If only you were still alive… Here with me…
Just then, the door opened and in stepped Yzac, Dearka, and Shinn.
"Lieutenant Yzac Joule, 2nd Lieutenant Dearka Elsman, and Lieutenant Shinn Asuka; welcome aboard the Archangel.", she said addressing them.
Shinn was first to speak up. "Captain…", he said, "Why has a rebellion started? Who's responsible?"
"As of now, the Russian Federation in Moscow is the one suspected of starting the rebellion against O.M.N.I.", said Yzac.
"Apparently, the Federal Base in Siberia contradicted to the orders from O.M.N.I., and that's what started It.", Dearka added.
"I didn't ask you!", Shinn snapped.
"Now, Shinn. They're right.", Murrue said. "That's why you were called in. No need to get hot-headed."
"Yes Ma'am…", said Shinn.
A few days later, Athrun and Cagalli arrived at the Orb Federation docks. Athrun spied Kira and Lacus, Dearka and Mirialia, Yzac, and Shinn, waiting for them.
"Athrun! Cagalli!", Lacus shouted.
They all hugged each other. "It's been such a long, long time since we've all been in the same place at once!", Mirialia chirped.
Later that day, they met up with the rest of the Special Forces team in the briefing room where the Captain was going address them.
"Alright team. Our mission will be to subdue the rebel forces in Russia, and then depart for space two weeks afterward. The details on our space mission are still unknown.", the Captain said. "Be prepared for departure tomorrow at 0'1300. That is all!"
Athrun hurriedly left for his room. He was still sleepy from Jet Lag. He lay down on his bed, and a few minutes later, drifted to sleep.
When Athrun awoke, he saw that Cagalli was lying down beside him, snuggled up like a little cat. Outside, he could hear the squeaky Haro bouncing around the corridor. He sat up, kissed Cagalli on the forehead, and left the room, heading for the deck.
A little while later, Athrun was sitting alone on the deck, pondering on some deep thoughts. He checked his watch: 1:00am. Only 12 hours left 'till departure, he thought.
Suddenly, the deafening roar of Helicopter Blades broke the silence around Athrun. He looked up to see a whole fleet of Military-issue Apache G-7192 Helicopters, armed to the teeth. They were coming from the direction of the Orb mainland.
Oh No…, Athrun thought. It's starting…
Hours Later…
The PA system sounded all over the Archangel.
"All personnel, get ready for departure. T-minus 5 minutes."
After a second announcement was made, all the crew hustled to finish all their duties before taking off, and five minutes later, they were heading for Russia.
On the bridge, Major Andy explained the modus operandi of the Orb SF to Athrun and the others.
"You will all be piloting GAT-0101 Duel Daggers. We scouted the enemy territory and heave deduced that you'll be fighting mostly ZGMF-600, ZGMF-1017 and ZGMF-1017M Ginns. You can handle that, can't you?", he said.
"Sir, Yes, Sir!", they all said.
A day later, they arrived on Russian soil. Athrun looked outside. The snowy linen ground was battle-scarred. Pieces of mecha were scattered everywhere.
"Alright, let's go!", Kira said.
A few minutes later, they were all in the snow, fighting off Ginns.
Athrun was in his XF-108 high above the ground, shooting down mobile suits before they came in range of the Archangel.
Suddenly, he heard a scream from below.
"Athrun!"
He looked down, and to his horror, saw Cagalli's mobile suit being attacked on all flanks.
"Cagalli! Get out of there!", Athrun screamed.
He shot down three of the Ginns and Cagalli finished the last one off. Athrun landed beside Cagalli and scolded her.
"Cagalli, How could you be so careless?"
"Athrun…"
"You scared me to death! What the hell were you thinking?"
Athrun got out of his machine, went in to Cagalli's, and hugged her tightly.
Cagalli had a puzzled look on her face. Why is Athrun suddenly so soft and fearful of my safety, she thought.
"Athrun, you don't have to be so worrying. Just because I'm pregnant…"
"I know, I know…"
A few hours later, they had subdued the rebels and the rest of them retreated. The SF team all went back to the Archangel. Athrun went back to his room, all shook up.
Meanwhile, Capt. Ramius, tired because of all the events that took place that day, decided to take a shower. She went to the bathroom, undressed, and turned the shower on.
She was almost done when she heard a knock on the door. Annoyed by the disturbance, she put her towel over her and opened the door.
Immediately, she found herself staring face-to-face with…
Mu La Flaga.
"Mu!"
The two kissed passionately. When they stopped to gasp for air, Murrue looked into Mu's deep, dark blue eyes.
"Oh, Mu… It's been so long…"
Mu put his finger over Murrue's lips, silencing her. They kissed again.
"Murrue… I'm back.", he said.
"But—how did you survive..?", Murrue asked.
"Nevermind that.", Mu said. "You look tired. Why don't we go to your room?"
"Alright…"
When they finally got to Murrue's room and she finished dressing, they sat down and talked.
"It's been so long. I can't believe it's been four whole years already…"
"I know… How have you been? Met any good men?"
"You're the only one I want…"
Mu blushed at those at those words.
He put his arms tightly around Murrue's waist.
Then, he lowered her to the bed.
Kira looked out the window of his and Lacus' room. Outside, he could see the snow starting to fall. He sighed.
"Why do people continue to fight..?", he asked himself.
He looked back to C.E. 71. He was just a civilian then, when he was forced to pilot the Strike…
Then he had to fight Athrun…
And in C.E. 73 he had to fight Shinn…
He couldn't understand. Why did people always fight for stupid reasons? He looked at Lacus, sleeping peacefully with her Haros.
"Lucky Girl…", Kira thought. "You can sleep without a worry…"
Then he lay down beside her, and hugging her, went to sleep.
One week later…
Cagalli woke up to a sharp pain in her left leg.
Must be from all that fighting this past week, she thought.
"OUCH!"
Athrun woke up with a start, and looked at Cagalli.
"What's wrong?", Athrun asked. "You got a cramp?"
"I think so…", Cagalli said.
"OW!"
"CAGALLI!"
Just then, Dearka and Mirialia came in, accompanied by their one year-old son, Mark.
"We heard Cagalli's scream from our room!", Mirialia said.
"I—I think the baby…"
"OOOUCH!"
"Don't kick me!"
Chaos and panic filled the room. Cagalli kept kicking Athrun while Dearka, Mirialia, and Mark ran around in circles. Athrun told Dearka to call the doctor and Mirialia to look after Cagalli. Then, HE ran around in circles.
When the doctor finally came, he checked Cagalli. "Well…", said the doctor, "It looks like Cagalli's having twins."
Everyone gaped.
"T-twins..?", Athrun choked.
"Yes.", said the doctor. "Now I suggest you leave. Cagalli's water bag just ruptured."
Everyone had a vacant expression on their faces.
The doctor shrugged. "It means, the bag around her uteral wall that holds the babies just popped, and she's about to give birth!"
"Oh…"
"…"
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get out!"
"Sorry!"
Hours later, Athrun went into their room. He looked at Cagalli. She was holding two babies, a boy and a girl.
"Athrun, meet Jay and Yumi."
"…Jay…Yumi…?"
"Yeah.", Cagalli said. "Jay is short for Athrun Jr. and Yumi is short for Yumina."
"Athrun Zala Jr. and Yumina Zala..?"
"You got a problem with my names for them?"
"Oh, No, Not at all…"
Meanwhile, on the bridge, Capt. Ramius and Mu were exchanging gossip when the vid-screen turned on.
Commander Röm Scherbatsköv of the O.M.N.I. German Force was on the line. Murrue and Mu both saluted.
"Good morning, Capt. Murrue Ramius. Lieutenant Mu La Flaga; nice to see you alive and well."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Now, I called to tell you about the details of your space mission…"
A few minutes later…
The PA system sounded off again.
"All personnel, please exit the Archangel. We will be boarding a new ship for our space mission."
A new ship.., Athrun thought.
In a few minutes, everything was transferred from the Archangel to the new ship. Athrun looked at it in awe.
It was at least four times bigger than the Archangel, and it looked so beautiful. Athrun immediately fell in love with it.
Once they had all finished boarding, the Captain announced a message on the PA.
"Welcome to the Colonia, everyone. This is an Orb German Colony ship designed for both space and land, as well as undersea and air travel. It can fit up to 50,000 people, has 500 rooms for personnel, and can store up to 1,000 mobile suits or 5,000 normal mecha. It is fully equipped with all the latest in weaponry, including four large-scale Helldart pin missile ports, six Wombat and Eagle Stellon missile tubes, eight machine cannons, eight Vulcan turrets, four exits for anti-beam depth charges or anti-missile chaffs. It is also equipped with four Valiant Linear cannons and two Godfrey Beam Cannons, as well as two Lohengrin Positron Cannons.
As for the deep space mission, Commander Scherbatscöv said that we are to depart for Jachin Duo tomorrow. Our Central Intelligence has reason to believe that the rebels are planning a revolt in that part of space. Murrue Ramius, signing off."
The next day, they fired up the engines of the Colonia, and were set to go to space. As the countdown begun, Athrun wondered what adventures awaited him in space.
3……2……1…… Blast Off.