Chapter 9: Freedom and Destiny
Hitomi-san: thanks for the review I hope you enjoy the rest of the story
Asga, Angel of Dreams, Chaos Dragon, LodisLord: Thanks heaps. I don't know what I would do without you guys, my regular reviewers...
A/N: There will probably by a bit of OOCness for Lacus, but I think that this makes the story more 'fun' to read and plus I rather see Lacus as someone who is nice to everyone but she has a hidden strength that comes out…just a bit of tongue and cheek by me. Some MillixDearka, AthrunxCagalli. I'm actually in the middle of doing a major storyline change...I decided to lengthen the story some more. Remeber to review this!
Stellar's Gaia ran overland as Shinn flew over in Destiny, headed somewhere, away from the JP Jones which they had just escaped. "Are you alright, Stellar?" Shinn asked over the comm.
"I'm fine, but let's get somewhere safe," Stellar replied as Gaia bounded over the plains in Northern Africa, little knowing the storm they would walk into near Victoria base.
Minerva's mobile suits joined in the attack in two flights of three, lead by Athrun and Yzak. Between the nine mobile suits and the two battleships, the left front of the Earth Alliance fleet was in the process of being decimated. The power of the pilots of Jachin Due proved telling as the allied forces cut through Earth Alliance lines, raining plasma on the enemy battleships, destroying them, making them explode.
Athrun's Saviour landed within the Archangel's hold, as was agreed in the terms of the temporary alliance. Kira greeted him as he alighted from the Saviour, "I think that you had better go see Cagalli before you see Murrue and Andy, I'll with you there, we can catch up," Kira said as Athrun followed him out of the hangar.
Athrun and Kira walked through the hallways, "I heard that you kidnapped Cagalli from her wedding," Athrun quipped, secretly happy that Cagalli was still free to be his.
"Yes, I couldn't let her marry Yuuna when she obviously loved you with all her heart," Kira replied, "I had to do something," changing the topic he continued, "I think that you should be prepared, I think that Cagalli will be quite hurt and angry at your engagement to that fake Lacus." By now, they had reached the stateroom, "well I think that I should leave you alone with Cagalli right now, and get back to the bridge, don't take too long," Kira said as he left Athrun by the door.
Athrun entered the stateroom, but waiting for him was not only Cagalli, but an annoyed Lacus as well. Athrun gulped. "How could you be engaged to that tramp who's trying to pass herself off as me?" Lacus asked, angrier than she had ever been, "that tramp flaunts herself like a prostitute. Did you know that Dullindal tried to have me killed?" she demanded, quite angry.
"Some of the people on the Minerva seem to like the new more edgier you," Athrun tried to joke, but that only made Lacus more angry. She threw up her hands in disgust, "we'll talk later, but when I get my hands on that wench," Lacus said as she left, "I think Cagalli has even more to say to you."
Cagalli took the cue from Lacus as she left, "What is this engagement to 'Lacus', you proposed to me before you left for ZAFT, don't tell me you have changed so much," she demanded, angry that Athrun had allowed the pretence that he had engaged to 'Lacus' last so long.
"It's only a political ploy by Dullindal, I don't really trust him anymore, especially after what Lacus accused him of doing," Athrun explained, "He seemed really genuine at the time and he did offer me Saviour. He needed someone to unite PLANT and since Lacus did such an effective job last time, he just used her, but covering his tracks by having the real Lacus killed I'm not one hundred percent sure it was him, even though it seems that he would be the only one to gain from her death and everything to lose if she stays alive. But I think that right now, that is unimportant, what is important is that I'm with you again," Athrun said, embracing Cagalli in a hug, giving her a kiss, "I see that you are still wearing my ring."
"I've been waiting for you too; I understand that Lacus has a right to be annoyed with Chairman Dullindal but you are right, what is most important is that we have some time together, and I want to tell you that I accept, when this is over, I will marry you, Athrun," Cagalli said as they kissed again this time for longer, more passionate than before. Happy that Cagalli had accepted him Athrun said, "Well I think that we should celebrate and tell everyone else, don't you think." They exited the stateroom, towards the briefing room, as he entered he saw Millaria, "Millaria, you are here, I know that Dearka's been thinking of you everyday, he's over on the Minerva," Athrun said, he saw Murrue, Andy, Kira and Lacus as well. Lacus looked a lot calmer now then she had been ten minutes ago, "Captain Ramius, Waltfield-san, Kira, Lacus," he greeted them as he settled into a chair next to Cagalli. They held each other's hands. "Cagalli and I have some news," he said, "we're going to marry," Athrun said, announcing the happy news, "at the end of the war, when I don't have to be engaged to that fake Lacus anymore."
Everyone else in the room broke out in congratulations for the happy couple, Kira shook Athrun's hand and gave Cagalli a small kiss on the cheek, "I'm walking you down the aisle at your wedding, little sister," Kira said, "then I'll give you to the man of your dreams." After a short celebration, and a few drinks of water, they had still to negotiate an alliance.
Captain Ramius lead the negotiations, "I think that this should only be a loose alliance, we don't want to wed ourselves to ZAFT, we still think that Dullindal was behind the attempted assassination of Lacus, but I agree that we need to work together to prevent the Earth Alliance from conquering neutral countries. However, if we do, then no one mentions a word about Lacus Clyne to anyone on the Minerva."
Athrun considered his next words carefully, "I think that the Minerva and the Archangel can work together, but if what you say about Dullindal is true, then he may order us to destroy you, in which case, we could end up fighting one another. Even though I think that most of the mobile suit pilots would balk at the order, it is still a direct order and some on the ship may be inclined to obey it, especially those who weren't at Jachin Due. Perhaps I should send Dearka over to you as assurance of our alliance," Athrun suggested, knowing that it would make them happy, and also solve a little problem just in case.
"We understand the difficult situation that you would be in, we shall keep this alliance a secret from Dullindal, you don't necessarily have to tell him that we are allied, we're just helping the local resistance around the world, and so are you," Murrue said. Athrun agreed with the crew of the Archangel, the alliance would have to be kept secret from Dullindal. Technically, since he was a member of FAITH, which reported only to Dullindal, he didn't have to tell anyone on the Minerva and didn't have to make reports to Dullindal that often, but it would only be a matter of time before someone realised that they were allied. Athrun and the command of the Archangel discussed the terms of the alliance, when they had concluded; Milliaria asked Athrun if he could take her with him to the Minerva, she wanted to see Dearka again.
Athrun was more than happy to oblige Milliaria, so they exited the hangar of the Archangel bound back to the Minerva. Athrun opened a comm. channel without video feed to the Minerva, "I'm coming back in, prepare for landing," he said as Meyrin acknowledged. Milliaria had asked him not to mention her presence, she wanted to surprise Dearka. The Saviour landed back in the hold of the Minerva. The repair crew were surprised to see a brunette girl alight along with Athrun. Athrun told them to mind their own business, she was a visitor from the Archangel. He lead her quietly down towards Dearka's room, careful to avoid running into people who were inclined to ask questions.
When they arrived, he knocked on the door, "Dearka," Athrun said, "I have a surprise for you from the Archangel."
"Come in," the reply came, as the door opened.
"Surprise, Dearka, it's Milliaria," Milli said in a really happy tone, as she stepped out from behind Athrun. Dearka was shocked, last he had heard Milliaria had been discharged from the army and worked as a photographer.
"I suppose that I should leave you two alone to catch up," Athrun stated, as he left. Milliaria and Dearka entered into his room, the door shutting behind them.
"Milliaria, it is so good to see you again," Dearka exclaimed, "You don't know how long I've been waiting to see you again."
"Me too, but now we're here, together, I think that I'm ready to give us a try," Milliaria replied, sitting Dearka down, she kissed him on the lips, his hands holding her head, her hands around his waist. They kissed for a good minute before they let go, "how was that?" Milliaria asked.
"That was really good," Dearka replied, blushing slightly, as he realised that the girl he had wanted ever since he had laid eyes on her wanted him too, just as badly as he wanted her. They kissed again, tongues entwined, enjoying every blissful moment of the ecstasy that they enjoyed, being together. Every moment that they had together was savoured. They talked about life after Jachin Due, the events that had lead to this second war. Milliaria recounted how Kira had saved her from death when her helicopter had been destroyed. The shared their hopes and fears with each other.
"Mobile suits detected, it's the Gaia and an unknown suit, Condition Red," Meyrin's voice rang over the Minerva's comm. system, interrupting Dearka and Milliaria's time together, "I have to go," Dearka said, "I'll see if I can get you back to the Archangel before we have to fight." Dearka and Milliaria headed towards the hangar of the Minerva, seeing the other pilots hurry towards the hangar as well. "Yzak," Dearka called, "I'm going to have to return Milliaria to the Archangel first."
"Hurry back, Dearka," Yzak's crisp reply came, as they entered the hangar.
"Hailing all ZAFT forces, this is Shinn Asuka, we are friendly, I repeat do not fire on the Gaia, she's a friendly, do not fire at us, we've escaped from the Earth Alliance forces and I think we are being pursued," Shinn's voice rang over ZAFT frequencies and the Minerva.
Meanwhile on the Archangel they were at full battle alert, "Freedom ready to launch, all systems green," Lacus's voice came over the comm. system.
"Kira Yamato, Freedom, away," Kira said as the Freedom came out the hold.
"Put the pilots on standby to launch but don't launch. Put the message on full video," Talia ordered on the Minerva, as the two suits came closer but didn't fire. Shinn's face showed up on the screen, "Shinn, we thought that you were dead," Talia said, shocked.
"Message from Minerva, they say that the two unknown suits are friendlies, repeat, do not engage them," Milliaria's voice came over the comm.
"Recall the Freedom," Murrue ordered.
"This isn't safe, Shinn, I'm scared," Stellar's voice came over panicked through the comm. as they approached the Minerva. I'll make it safe for you, Stellar. It was then Shinn saw the Freedom, memories came rushing back, his family running away from the fighting, his sister dropping her mobile phone down the valley, he rushed to get it, then the big explosion and then the images of severed limbs and the dead bodies of his parents. Shinn felt something snap inside him, a calm rage, a certain serenity as he entered Seed mode, in his mind he vowed that he would destroy the Freedom to make it safe, safe for Stellar.
Athrun panicked when he saw Shinn's mobile suit head straight for the Freedom, all guns blazing, Athrun commed the bridge, "launch the Saviour right now, I have to stop them." He ran for the hangar and swung up into the pilot's chair, frustrated that Shinn would attack the Freedom. "Athrun Zala, Saviour launching," he said as clearance was given, he flicked on the Archangel's comm. frequency, "Archangel, this is not a severance of the alliance, Shinn has something personal against the Freedom, I repeat, this is not a severance of the alliance." Athrun rushed towards the battle between the Freedom and the Destiny.
On the bridge of the Archangel Cagalli recognised the name that Athrun had given. She remembered the troubled Shinn, from her time on the Archangel and how he had lost his entire family on Orb. "Murrue, the alliance is still active, I believe Athrun, this kid Shinn has something deep against Orb and the Freedom. His family died on Orb when it was attacked in the last war and he can't get over it, I'm sure that Kira can take care of him" Cagalli explained.
"But we shall keep weapons and mobile suits ready, you should go, Cagalli," Murrue said, quietly confident that Kira could win without killing Shinn. The Gaia just continued to run away from the two ships hiding a comfortable distance away.
Kira saw the unknown mobile suit head right towards him, firing, he had heard Athrun's explanation. It brought back some of the old pain from before but he steeled himself, knowing that he didn't want to kill Shinn, he calmed himself and entered Seed Mode. As the Destiny blazed in, the Freedom responded dodging and returning fire, forcing Shinn to block.
The two Gundams danced around, firing in the dance of death, both pilots being in Seed Mode, a furiously paced battle as they both performed manoeuvres on the wrong side of impossible. Athrun felt helpless as he approached the fight, the Gundams were flying blurs as they clashed releasing a spectacular light show. He opened the ZAFT frequency, "Shinn, stop it, stop fighting, this is going to solve nothing. You are fighting the wrong enemy. Shinn destroying the Freedom won't bring anything for you but more pain. I can't let you destroy the Freedom, both as a superior officer and more importantly as a friend. Destroying the Freedom would only create more pain, and then I would be forced to attack you and possibly kill you," Athrun said.
Kira dodged the Destiny's attack, and fired, hitting the Destiny on the arm, a glancing blow but it damaged the arm of the Destiny. I have to finish this soon, Kira knew that he would have to disable the Destiny, otherwise other people could get hurt and the Gaia was still out there, it could attack at any time. Kira wheeled his Freedom around, parrying the Destiny's attack, his deadly calm operating at the full capacity of the Ultimate Coordinator, he brought his full will to bear, possible strategies and tactics evaluated and rejected in his head until he found the right one. He drew the Freedom's beam saber and charged towards the Destiny.
Shinn was in the fight off his life, the pilot of the Freedom was an expert, Shinn cursed mentally as he saw that the Freedom had damaged his new Gundam. Damn that pilot is good! And his Gundam is as good as mine too. But Shinn knew he had to do something to keep Stellar safe, he heard Athrun's voice, so distant, "I can't let you destroy the Freedom, both as a superior officer and as a friend," he missed the next bit but then he heard, "I would be forced to attack you and possibly kill you." No way! We are on the same side, I can't make him fight me. He's right. That snapped Shinn back into reality. He quickly boosted his suit backwards away from the Freedom and peeled off down towards the Gaia. He saw that the Freedom had not followed him, but had also withdrawn its weapons. He spoke through the comm. to Athrun, "You're right, destroying the Freedom won't bring back my family but why did you say you would be forced to destroy me?"
"Because," the words came through the comm. from Athrun, "Because the pilot of the Freedom is my best friend, a brother to me. And the crew of the Archangel are also my very close friends. They are all veterans of Jachin Due."
Shinn opened a comm. channel to Stellar, "Stellar," he said, "it is okay, they are all friends. You can come with me to the Minerva, we'll keep you safe." As the Destiny went towards the Gaia, Freedom flew back into the Archangel's hold and Milliaria returned to the Archangel, her see-you-later kiss for Dearka lasting about five minutes before he departed. They promised to see each other again soon, as both the Archangel and the Minerva headed towards the refuelling station and shore leave.
A/N: Well, looks like the Archangel and Minerva are friendly towards each other for now at least. Shore leave should be fun. Anyway, read the next Chapter: A Promise Fulfilled...so you guys should all be able to at least guess what happens. LOL. And I loved writing the scene between Athrun, Cagalli and Lacus.
