Phase 19:

Chapter 25: Its time to Party

Chris, Aelan, and Nicola climb into their machines, as Meer's first Earthbound performance was about to begin. Nicola's machine kneeled down, to where Meer waited, and allowed the precious cargo to be allowed on her machines hand. Chris machine reverted his cannon to its hand, as both the Red Queen, and the black lightning, grabbed the Crimson blade by the waist. "You ready Meer?" Chris asked on his external speakers of his machine, as Meer kept her balance upon the palms of the Crimson blade, and gave a thumbs up to the machines.

"Ok, Meer, I'm going to be putting my machine's hand around you, to make sure you don't fall." Nicola warned her, as the hand Meer was standing on, became cupped around her, as the other hand covered her.

"Ok, time to go." Aelan told them, as both the Black Lightning, and Red Queen kicked in their thrusters, as Nicola kicked hers in as well, so that Meer wouldn't feel the whiplash in the hands as much. Once that was done, she began to cofigure her Phase Shift armor, as rather than being red, the Crimson Blade changed to a hot pink, with Various words of "Lacus'" name appeared on the armor of the machine. All three machines took off to the sky, as at that moment, the Minerva, and the Avalon were pulling into Port. As the two ships came into port, the Red Queen, Black Lightning, and a pink Crimson Blade came down from the sky. As the music for Meer's version of Quiet night came on, with her waving at the people below.

"Hello everyone! Its me Lacus Clyne!" Meer called down to the crowd below, as well as to the crowd outside the fence, that was keeping the civilians out of the base.

Minerva: Crews lounge

"Awesome!" Youlant called as he looked at the video of the live feed of what is going on outside. Everyone were surprised, but none more than Athrun.

Athrun backed away, as he got close to the wall, with Lunamaria looking at him wondering what he was doing. As everyone noticed the machines that 'Lacus' was performing on. They were the three mobile suits of the Avalon. "M. . ." he began as he put a hand over his mouth so no one could hear him. "Meer" he said to himself.

As outside, the concert began, as Chris and Nicola inside their machines began to bob their heads to the music. As Aelan sat back quietly listening to the music as well. As in the hand of the Crimson blade, Meer began to dance for the crowd. As the people below were cheering for the popstar. "On this quiet evening, I'm waiting for you," She sang, moving in certain ways, as though she was giving some emotion to the song, giving herself a self hug, then pointing at the crowd. As during various times, the people below were yelling 'hey' "Please come and retrieve the smile that you left behind, a little time has passed since then" As in the Crimson Blade, Nicola was having fun, even though in a machine of mass destruction, she was going along with the crowd, yelling 'Hey Hey Hey!' "The memories become Tender," as the crowd then yelled. "LACUS!" cheering her on, which Chris smiled, seeing the smile on Meer's face as she performed.

"Have fun Meer, you deserve it." Chris told himself, as he had his machines arm change back to its cannon, and had it go just below the hands of the Crimson Blade, so if Meer wished, she could dance upon such a dangerous weapon, which was put under a safety for today.

"At the place, where stars rain down!" Meer called, as she noticed the gesture of the Black Lightning, and jumped down onto the shield that was very well flat, and seemed to be like a stage for her. As the entire ZAFT forces and the civlians in the area gasped seeing such a feat. "I was always wishing, that you'll all be smiling, I hope that we will meet again!" She called out to the crowd.

However for Aelan, as she enjoyed the Music, she found the specs of a powered down machine she just detected. "A new prototype, for mass production." Aelan told herself as she went over what specs that her red queen could provide her with. "ZGMF-X2000 GOUF ignited, prototype to the ZGMF-2000 GOUF." Aelan told herself, as Meer continued to perform.

"I hope that we'll meet again!, I don't know how, my smile became so empty, would it break down because of that mistake!" She sang as she twirled on the poistron cannon of Chris', as the Minerva Crew finally arrived, with Youlant and Vino trying to get as close as possible as they could get as at the same time, Alexis, and Asriel watched from afar seeing the woman that his commanders were good friends with. "Turning precious things into the light, with the strength to cross distant skys!" As the Minerva crew, Shinn watched the concert with great interest, as Lunamaria, and Meyrin both were clinged to Athrun. "Lets go to the place, where the stars rain down, I want to reach you whom I always think of, and that I'll always be by your side." Meer called over the crowd. "We are each other in life!"

"So that is her?" Asriel asked his friend, as Aingeal came up behind him, as he put her infront of him, wrapping his arms around her.

"Yeah, thats the one, amazing how much they do look alike." Alexis commented, as no one around them noticed, keeping their attention on the performance.

As at the same time Athrun watched the girl who was a friend of his, putting on a performance under the name of Lacus Clyne, and the three mobile suits, helping out with the performance. "Were you not aware of her coming here?" Lunamaria asked him.

"W-well, somewhat yeah, I also wondered where those three machines went to, guess I got my answer." Athrun told her.

"Well, I guess neither of you would have had time to contact each other." Luna told him, refering to him, and 'Lacus'.

"Y-yeah,. . . well. . . umm" Athrun stuggled so he would not tell her the truth behind the girl up there. That was when someone bumped into Meyrin, making her cling to Athrun's arm.

"I-I'm so sorry, someone bumped into me." She told him, as Luna got an O geesh look.

"Hmm, this place isn't safe, lets go over there." Athrun told the two, as he took the two girls somewhere a bit safer than in the open.

"Are you okay, with not watching?" Shinn asked Athrun, as Meer continued to sing upon the stage.

"W-well yeah. . ." Athrun replied, as Meer was coming to a close in her song. As not far, Arthur was dancing to the beat of Meer's music, with Talia looking at him strangely.

"Wow, we sure are lucky!" Arthur called, as though he was one of those fan boys or girls.

"Oh Geez" Talia said shaking her head, as she left the vice captain. With that, the singing stop, as Meer caught a bouquet of flowers from the crowd, which gave Nicola a smile seeing this.

"Thank you!" Meer called to the crowd, as Chris machine slowly lowered to the ground, allowing the people to hear her better. "I'm really happy to have been able to meet all of you" She called, as the crowd cheered for her, "All of you courageous soldiers of ZAFT! For the sake of peace, I thank every single one of you!" She told them, with a smile on her face, as Chris nodded inside his machine. Meer turned to the people who gather to the fences near by. "And to all the people from the city of Diocvia as well!" She called to them with a wave. "I'm also hoping that the war will come to an end with a peaceful ending as soon as possible!" Meer called to the people. "For when that day comes, let us all work hard together!" She called to them, as she looked at the Black lighting and nodded, which took her up to the Crimson blades hands.

As back to Athrun, Luna, and Meyrin, who spoke first out of the three. "Lacus sure has changed, hasn't she?" Meyrin asked Athrun, who would know her better than the others.

This caught Athrun by surprise, as he did not practice on calling Meer, Lacus that much. "Well, that's. . . yeah. . ." He answered. As unknown to them, the pilots of the Gaia, Chaos, and Abyss also watched the concert, and left within a car, as also in the crowd, was Miriallia Haww, taking pictures of the concert, knowing that the woman singing was not Lacus Clyne, however, did not want to cause a stir because of this.

"Something seems to be troubleing you." Came a calm erie female voice behind Miriallia. She turned to see the Raven haired Starlene behind her.

"Uh." Mir began not knowing who she was talking to. "I guess you could say that." she replied.

"A clouded mind troubles only what you use for judgement." Starlene told her as Aeul stood up in the car to see Starlene.

"Starlene, come on, This concert bores me!" Aeul called down to her.

"As it does for me, good bye troubled one." Starlene told Mir as she walked away.

"o. . . kay. . ." Was all she replied to the woman. "What a strange person, even weirder than snake." Mir told herself, as she saw the four people drive away in the car. "Must of been her friends." she commented, as she took further pictures of the mobile suit among the three gundams she knew. "So, what does this mean of Aelan?" Mir wondered, as she has not been in touch with anyone from the Archangel crew, or of Orb for days. As in the extended car, Sting was driving, as Aeul and Starlene shared the back, with Stellar, in shotgun.

"Seriously. They all seem to be having so much fun, those ZAFT soldiers." Aeul commented, as Starlene layed back staying silent. "Who was that woman you were speaking to Star?" he asked her.

"I have no idea who she was, but I have this feeling, she knows someone that I am intended to take out." Starlene answered him.

"I see, so will we continue chasing those two ships?" Aeul asked all three, as Stellar was in her own little world, with Starlene looking like she was going to go to sleep. And she was nearly doing so, as to her, all this peace is boring.

"Probably, well, I bet thats what Neo wants to do, especially that ZAFT ship." Sting replied to him, as they drove across a river. "However, whats really important for us, isn't the outcome of this war, and for Starlene. Its whether well get them, or get us. . ." he explained to his group, as Starlene, slept with her hair falling infront of her face. "That's all there is to it." He told them.

"You have that completely right." Starlene told him, listening in on his conversation.

"I guess." Aeul commented, as Stellar began to look at the ocean they drove beside. As they go through the town.

"But even then, we've been failing continually, these days when it comes to those ships." Sting continued, as the girl beside him was in her own world again, watching the ocean infront of her.

"It's not like we lost!" Aeul shot back to his green haired comrade.

"If we don't win, that is no different from losing, we just better be glad that were no like those three two years ago." Starlene commented.

"Ahh, those three, such pathetic losers." Aeul commented as Starlene looked at him from the corner of her eye.

"Well, they faught those mobile suits that were stronger than we are, well, until we face them ourselves." Starlene commented.

"Well, we need to be able to do it. You understand that right?" Sting asked the three of them, as the two in the rear nodded.

"Yeah. . ." Aeul replied, surprised from the question.

Stellar continued to watch the waters, as Starlene smirked. "Within the Earth Forces, failure is not tolerated, especially within the Phantom Pain" she informed them as she continued to relax within the vehicle.

A few hours later, the captains, and commanders of the two ships were at a manor, that the Chairman himself was at, waiting upon them. "Really, you are a man of many surprises." Talia mentioned, as Rey, Dullindal, and her, were on a balcony, where you could see the town, and a orange GOUF mobile suit. As all three of the Nexus Gundams, were also able to be seen in the distance.

Dullindal turned around, as he laughed at the comment. He spread out his arms, as he turned to his guests. "Did I surprise you?" he asked the Captain, and commander of the Minerva.

"Yes, you certainly surprised me." she told him, as both Rey, and her saluted to the Chairman. "Well, it's not like this is the first time or anything." she commented.

"You seem to be doing well." Gilbert commented, to a woman he had a romantic relationship with so long ago. "I've heard of your accomplishments, ever since you left Orb, even with Legends Rising alongside you." he remarked. He turned to the ZAFT red beside her. "And yours as well, Rey." He complimented.

"Gil. . ." was all Rey could say to him.

"It's been a while since we've been able to see each other at leisure like this." Gilbert informed the young man. As all of a sudden Rey, lunged himself at the man, and then hugged the chairman, like a child seeing his father the first time, in a long while. A Limo arrived, as it let Alexis, and Asriel of the Avalon, as Shinn, Athrun, and Lunamaria from the Minerva.

"But what is this about?" Talia asked him, as the two sat at the table, with Rey leaving the two alone, at a large table, as Dullindal looked at her questionably. "Have there been movements in the Atlantic Federation?" She questioned. "If there wasn't, you wouldn't come out all this way on your own." She told him, as the man just smiled. As Rey returned, sitting in one of the seats. Leaving many other seats around the table.

"Excuse us." A orange haired mail informed everyone, as the diner guests had arrived. "These are the other people that you called for." The man told them, giving a salute to the all mighty surperior.

"Ah, it's been a while, Athrun." the chairman told them, standing up, as he looked among them. "Ahh, lady scythe, former member of Hibiki's Ironwall squad." He announced looking at the former ZAFT soldier.

"Its been a while chairman, ever since we met on the Minerva during those unfortunate days." She replied, as the three ZAFT pilots gave a salute to their chairman, as Asriel nodded. "Chairman, this is Asriel Albert, captain of the Avalon, and vice command when Chris and the others are not commanding the troops." She told him, as the Chairman looked at the captain.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Alberts, I've heard much about you from Talia's reports." He commented, as he looked at Athrun. "And its good to see you again Athrun." the chairman told him, as he shook the young mans hand. "And you are?" the chairman asked looking at Lunamaria.

"I am Lunamaria Hawke." She told him, gladly as she was meeting her leader.

"I am, Sh-Shinn Asuka!" Shinn told him, trying to be polite meeting this political leader.

"Ahh, Miss Hawke, please let me give you my respect, theres nothing fair for who lives and who dies, I feel sorry for your sister." He told her, referring to Lunamaria's older sister, Erica Hawke, a member of the Abaddon project. "And Shinn, I remember you well." he told the Impulse pilot. "I've heard you've been performing great lately." The chairman commented, extending his hand to the pilot. "There was even a motion for decorating you." He told him, as Shinn looked at the chairman with anticipation. "The results of that motion, should be reaching your hands soon." as both Lunamaria, and Athrun looked on with shock as Alexis smirked.

"Thank you very much!" Shinn told him.

"Now come, take a seat." he told them as the five came over, with that, he turned his head towards Alexis, and Asriel. "So where are Chris and the others?" He asked.

"They are with miss Clyne, she hired them for the day." Alexis answered him.

"I see." he said sitting down.

"Tell me sir, why did you make Aelan a member of FAITH?" Athrun asked.

"Ahh, I gave her the position, because she is someone who can be trusted, and of her past." The chairman answered as Lunamaria looked at him. "She survived the destruciton of the Abaddon squad, and the first war, I trust that with her powers and her past, she is a liable comrade to have." He told him, as Athrun looked at him, as Luna looked down, thinking, if Erica was alive would she be a member of FAITH as well? "Well, Shinn, I hear you performed spectacularyly at the Lohengrin gate." He commented, as a maid poored each of the pilots some tea, and the captain of the Avalon.

"It was nothing." Shinn told him, as Gilbert smirked.

"Even though I hear that your launch at Armory One, was your first battle, it's impressive that you've come this far." the chairman commented on Shinn, as Shinn nodded.

"It was Commander Zala's, and Commander Stratos' great judgements on the battlefield." Shinn told him. "I. . . I was just following their orders." He told him.

"Indeed, this town, also has you all to thank, for with the destuction there, the liberation stays in effect." Dullindal told them, as Lunamaria smiled. "All of you really did a good job."

"Thank you very much sir." Lunamaria told him.

"Indeed, and miss Alexander, when will Chris and their job be finished, I have some information for each of them." The chairman told her.

"Alright, if I see them before you, I will inform them." With that, the group ate the diner provided.

As meanwhile, Chris, Aelan, Nicola, and Meer sat in a Limo as it drove towards the Manor as Meer waved to Lacus' fans. "It's good to see you this happy." Chris commented, as he sat beside her, with Nicola on the other side, as Aelan sat on one of the side seats of the limo.

"Yeah." She turned to him, as bouquets of flowers were behind her, within the back window. "I've never had so much fun!" she told them as Aelan smirked, taking a drink of rum, and orange juice from the drink cabnit. "Aelan have you found that man you want to take out yet?" Meer asked her.

"No, I haven't seen him for weeks," Aelan answered, as Meer layed back, peering at so many of her fans.

"Just think Meer, were off to see Athrun again!" Nicola told her with a smile as Meer just nodded at her, as back at the manor, they continued to eat.

"The world is in a really complicated situation right now." The chairman told everyone.

"How are the things in space?" Talia asked as Gilbert took a drink of his drink. "The Earth Alliances force on the moon for instance." she told him.

"Nothing has changed, Occasionally, we do have some small-scale battles, but that's all." he answerd her. "However, I have no idea about what is going on down here on earth. For instance, there are many other places such as this city who resist the alliance, and ask us for help." he told the group. "What in the world are we doing?" he asked.

"Are there no motions towards ending this war?" Talia asked.

"Unfortunately, no, none as of yet." he told her, as Asriel shook his head.

"Senseless bloodshed, thats all this is, I wonder what the true reasons are." Asriel wondered.

"The Alliance isn't backing down a step." The chairman informed everyone, "Although I Don't want to be in a war, with things like them, there's nothing we can do." he told them, as he remembered who he was speaking to. "Well, although this might not be someting to talk about with soldiers like you all, finding a way to solve our problems without fighting is far more difficult than making the decision to fight." He told the group, as Athrun who has been quiet the whole time, continued to look down upon the clothe of the table.

"But. . ." Shinn began, as everyone at the table looked upon him. "I'm sorry." he apologized for interrupting them.

"It's okay, I don't mind." Gilbert told his guest. "If there's something on your mind, please don't hesitate to tell me." He told him, as the guests were all quiet. "The opinions of all of you, who fight on the front line, are valuable to me." He told him. "More or less, I asked for all of you to come here because I wanted to hear them." they were informed. "So please continue."

"Like you said sir, I believe finding a way not to fight is important, But, it can't be helped when theres an enemy threat." Shinn told him, as he thought of the Earth Forces attack on Orb two years ago. "We need to fight, when there is the need to, the need to protect." Shinn told him. "Or else, you wouldn't even be able to protect yourself." Shinn told them, as he was begining to speak like Aelan does according to Athrun. "We are obligated to protect those people who are living normal, peaceful lives!" Shinn raised his voice.

"However." Athrun cut in. "If you believe that." Athrun began, as he remembered what Cagalli told him, back when he was found after he self destructed the Aegis. "Kill, because someone got killed, and killed because of killing. Will, this really bring about peace in the end?" Athrun asked them. "I was asked this once, I was unable to answer that question back then, And once again, I'm on the battlefield, still unable to find that answer." Athrun told them.

With that, everyone at the table took the words Athrun spoke of to thought. "That's right. That's where the problem lies." Giblert told them. As he stood up, walking towards where the Orange Gouf could be seen behind him. "Why do we continue fighting? Why won't wars go away?" He asked as he walked. "Even though, people in any era have always screamed that they do not wish for a war." He continued, as he turned back to his guests. "Why do you think that is, Shinn?" he asked.

Shinn, was hesitant to answer, but he didn't know why, if it was to answer correctly, or just who was asking him. "That's because in any era, there are always the selfish, and stupid people, like Blue Cosmos, and the Atlantic Federation." Shinn answered him. "Am I wrong?" Shinn asked.

"Well, no. Not exactly." Dullindal answered. "There is some truth to what you say. You want what other people have. That which is different from yourself." he told them. "You hate them, fear them, and believe that they are mistaken." he continued. "It's true that mankind has continually fought for these reasons." Gilbert continued explaining what he was getting to. "However, there is also a more pathetic, hopeless side to wars. Take that unit for example." He said turning towards the machine. "The ZGMF-X2000 Gouf Ignited." As the orange haired male that was with them turned, as the unit was his. "It just rolled out earlier from the military plant, this is because we're in times of war." he continued. "New units like this are produced, one after another. On the battlefield, Missiles are fired, and mobile weapons are destroyed, Various things are destroyed, " he told them, as some gasps were heard from the new generation of soldiers. "Therefore, the factories create unit after unit, manufacture new missiles, and send them into the battlefield, This applies to both sides." he continued. "The production lines are in such high demand, that the manufacturing isn't keeping up with it."

"Chairman." Athrun said, as Alexis turned to the chairman.

"Sir, what are you getting at?" Alexis asked him.

"Please, think about the costs associated with just one of these machines." The chairman began. "If you were to think the war as an industry, nothing else in the world would be as efficient and profitable."

"Chairman, such talk is. . ." Talia began.

"But that is. . .!" Shinn began.

"That's right. As long as we're at war, such a thing is obvious and can't be helped." Giblert continued. "However, it's human nature to think the opposite when you realize that it's profitable. This also cannot be helped."

"The opposite. . .?" Shinn asked them.

"Once the war ends, weapons will not longer be needed, that will not be profitable, but once war starts again, you could profit again." The chairman continued to tell them. "Then, for people like that, isn't war something that they would definitely want us to be doing?" He asked everyone.

"But that's!" Shinn blurted out.

"They are dangerous enemies, for us. Let's fight them." Gilbert quoted from someone in the past. "We were fired upon. We can't fogive them. Lets Fight" he quoted another person, as he quoted people of the people who killed innocents, because of their genes. Alexis thought of Mora, who lost her mother in one of these attacks and Mora joined the fight because of it. "In the history of mankind, there have always been those who shout that to the people to initiate wars and use it for their commerce." He continued. "For the sake of their own profits." He told them taking a breath. "They, the Logos, are without a doubt behind this war also." With that, everyone looked at him, never hearing of that orgnization before. "They are also the base for the Blue Cosmos."

"No way." Asriel commented.

"That's. . .!" Shinn said shocked.

"Logos. . .?" Athrun wondered.

"And that's where the difficulty lies. As long as we continue to be used as pawns by them." Gilbert commented to them. "The PLANTs will continue fighting in the future." He told them, as everyone of his guests looked upon each other. "If at all possible, I would personally, like to do something about that. But that is turly the most difficult."

That finished the dinner, as down below, the Limo pulled up, as Nicola, Aelan, Chris and then Meer all climb out of the Limo. "Wow, this is an entirely amazing!" Nicola called, as she looked at the manor that was being guarded by various mobile suits.

"Yeah, the chairman knows style." Meer told them.

"The Chairman?" Chris asked.

"Yeah, he's here today, come on, we have to find them." She told them, as she lead the three anti destroyers. Meer went running into the building, as Chris just shrugged, and chased after her, as Nicola did as well. While Aelan rolled her eyes, and just walked into the building.

"Lacus hold on!" Chris called, as he slid into a wall, trying to turn around a corner.

"Oh my Chris are you alright?" Meer asked him, as she forgot what he was, as he continued after her sliding infront of her. The three continued, as they turned around the corner.

"You and Shinn are the aces on the Minerva commander, and as Lunamaria is female, it would make sense the three of you stay here tonight." Rey told them, as Meer rounded the corner, holding her dress.

"Athrun!" She called down the hall, as Chris came around the corner, with Nicola right behind her.

"M-Mee. . .!" Athrun began, as Chris stopped, and began to walk with Nicola.

"Ahh, Miss Clyne, good of you to make it. And you as well Mr. Nexus, and you miss Stratos." The chairman telling them one by one looking at everyone.

"Thank you very much." Meer told him, bowing her head, as Chris nodded to the Chairman. Meer then pushed her way through the crowd to Athrun. "I came back right away once I heard you'd came here Athrun!" Meer told them, acting like she was engaged to the young man. As with that, Aelan came walking down the hall.

"La. . . Mee. . ." Athrun said confused, forgetting Meer was even around here.

"Did you watch my performance today with Chris and the others?" She asked him.

"Huh? Well yes. . ." Athrun answered bewildered.

"Really? What did you think of it?" She asked him. As Gilbert and Chris smirked at the two, with Nicola holding onto his arm.

"Uh, well, yes. . ." Athrun began, still wondering what the heck is going on.

"Ahh, Miss Clyne, Chris, Aelan, Nicola I just got finished telling them to stay and relax here tonight." Gilbert began. "Please, take this opportunity to dine together for once." he told the two, as Lunamaria was jealous. "And Chris you and your group, please, stay with them, catch up on old times." The chairman told them as Chris nodded.

"Of course, I thank you for your hospitatlity." Chris told him, as Nicola nodded.

"Yes, thank you sir, we appreciate this very much." Nicola told him, as Aelan nodded in agreement.

"Wow, this is so great, my old friends, and my Fiancee all under one roof!" Meer squealed, as four people in the hall had no idea who she really was. "Please, Athrun, Chris, Nicola, Aelan, lets go eat immediately." Meer told them.

"Ahh, before that miss Clyne. Athrun, Chris, Aelan, Nicola, could I speak with all of you for a minute?" The chairman asked them, as Chris nodded. A while later, the six of them were in the courtyard, with Nicola and Meer playing with Meer's Red Haro over by a bench, as Chris, Aelan, Athrun, and Gilbert went into a conversation.

"Athrun, Aelan, I liked to speak with you two concerning the Archangel." The chairman began.

"I'm sure the both of you know about it already, right?" He asked them.

"Yes." The two replied at the same time.

"We are all wondering where that ship went after leaving Orb." The Chairman told the two of them. As they are the closest thing to the Archangel the ZAFT army had. "I thought that perhaps one of you two might know." He commented.

"No. Although it has been on my mind this whole time, I do not konw either." Athrun told him.

"I haven't any Idea either, I haven't seen them since they fleed the Orb navy." Aelan answered.

"I've been meaning to ask you about this as well sir." Athrun told him, as Chris was taking this information in.

"I see. . ." Gilbert began. "Well, I figured that if the Archangel, Sturmfalke, and the Freedom all left Orb, I thought the real Lacus Clyne would be with them. . ." He told the three as Aelan and Chris peered over to Meer for a second, knowing how much their friend is to them. As they saw her and Nicola playing happily with the Haro on the bench.

"Yes, I don't think there's any doubt about that." Athrun told him. "If Kevin and Kira. . ." Athrun began as he stopped after speaking the pilot of the freedom. "Ah, no. If that ship is departing, there's no way they would leave Lacus behind." Athrun answered him.

"Given the current situation." The chairman began. "I had been searching for her this whole time, to see if she would return to PLANT for us." Giblert told him. "But could it be that she's given up on us, who'd continue to repeat these foolish mistakes?" He asked.

"Haro Haro!" The red machine called, bouncing over to Athrun.

"I'm sorry about that." The chairman told his loyal member. "However, in the future, if that ship is to contact, either you Aelan, or you Athrun, will you both please let me know?" The chairman asked.

"Yes of course." The two answered. "I understand." Athrun finished. "And please chairman, let me ask the same of you sir." Athrun told him, as the Chairman nodded.

"Of course. I will do that" Dullindal replied. "And Chris, that data you gave me, four machines were within it, with interesting tech, and the machines along with a ship are being built for you, it will be ready in a few months." Gilbert told him.

"Alright, thanks" Chris told him. As he looked up at the window to see Shinn, and then looked over to Meer, and shook his head. Which she then got up, and went over to Athrun, as though she was with him. "Come on you two love birds, lets go and well relax." Chris told them.

"Yeah, I would like that." Meer told him, as each of them left the courtyard. "This feels so great to have all my closest, infact my only friends with me." Meer told them, as Chris got between her and Nicola, and wrapped his arms around both girls.

"Exactly, with us around, your friends are all around you." Chris told her, as she smiled at him, and then at Athrun who seemed to be preoccupied did not even look at her.

"I'm sorry guys, I'm going to bed." Athrun told them, as Meer came up to him.

"Oh, then I will see you in the morning then, and don't be to surprised to see me in the room when you awaken." She told him, as Chris nodded, and left with the three other girls. As the four friends, went to the indoor spa of the area.

The four of them came into the building, meeting the orange haired male, the pilot of the Gouf. "Well well, so this is Miss Clyne, hanging out with her friends." He mentioned as Chris looked, and saw the FAITH symbol on his collar.

"Oh, an you are?" Aelan asked, glimsping the emblem, as the young pilot saw hers as well.

"FAITH Member Heine Westenfluss, at your sevice mam." Heine told her as he bowed to the girls, as Chris and Heine shook hands.

"I'm Aelan Stratos, of the Legends Rising, this is Chris Nexus, the leader, Nicola Stratos, my little sister, and vice leader of the group. And who doesn't know miss Clyne." Aelan introduced him to everyone.

"My, my, elegant as usual are you miss Clyne?" Heine asked the pink haired woman.

"Well, yeah." Meer replied with a smile, as Chris looked at the young man.

"Come on, it was nice to meet you Mr, West." Nicola told him, as she dragged Chris to the hotspring.

"Hey wait for me!" Meer called running behind them, as Aelan just sighed.

"Interesting friends you have Red." Heine told her.

"You know me?" Aelan asked him as he nodded.

"Yes, I saw your machine during the last war, it was quite amazing seeing so much power, and now to see it with us again, at lady Clynes concert no less." Heine said impressed as Aelan nodded.

"I saw yours as well, the GOUF, I saw it at the performance, when the Red Queen was stationary." Aelan told him, as the two talked for a while during the night, as the other three were at the hotsprings, with a border between male and females. Chris sat against the wall, as on the otherside, Nicola and Meer were both doing the same.

"Ahh, this feels great!" Nicola called out, as she relaxed in the pool, with only a towel around her, as did Meer beside her.

"You can say that again Nic." Chris commented, as he lowered the rest of his back into the water.

"So, M, just to tell you, I've been working on more songs for you." Nicola told her, as Meer looked at her surprised.

"You haven't done that in so long!" Meer commented to her.

"Yeah, but she is saying the truth M. Nicola has been working hard on them." Chris told her, almost in a sleep like state.

"Wow, thanks guys, I sure did miss everything we did back then." Meer told them, as Nicola nodded.

"Yeah same here, I and today, I just loved hearing you sing." Nicola told her as Meer smiled as she then saw her Haro on the side bouncing.

'I'm so glad to have friends like these' Meer thought to herself, as she looked to the ceiling. That was when she felt something rubbing against her back, something like a finger. "AHH!" She called out as Chris laughed behind them. "CHRIS!" Meer yelled almost mad, as she stood up in the water, clinging her towel to her.

"Hahahaha, I guess the need to repair this thing, I just found a hole my finger could easily fit through, heck I could peer through it." Chris told them, as he turned to see the hole. "Guess there are some pervs around here huh?" Chris asked, as Meer and Nicola were almost angry.

"You are so going to get it you pervert!" Meer pleaded to him, as Nicola laughed at this, as they heard Chris falling into the water.

"Hey, I didn't do a thing, besides stick my finger through it!" Chris called back trying to regain balance in the spring. With that, Nicola and Meer both just laughed, as they heard the splashing of water, as Shinn appeared.

"What's going on here?" Shinn asked, as Chris looked to see Shinn coming into the water.

"Nothing!" Nicola called back to them, as she sat infront of the hole, with her back right at the hole, like Meer's was.

"Nothing Shinn, just having a good old time, with Lacus again" Chris told him, as he got his towel back around himself and left. "Have a good time, you deserve it." Chris told the young pilot of the Impulse, with his hand on the shoulder.

"Uh, yeah sure." Shinn replied, as on the otherside, both Meer and Nicola left as well, hearing Chris leave.