Chapter 2: Beyond destiny
Kira Yamato couldn't believe it, victory was theirs, none of the pilots were injured in the process and casualty rate had been minimized. They fulfilled their mission and were able to protect Orb's ideals at all cost. Messiah base has fallen along with the rouge Genesis, Athrun and Mwu did a thorough job with the Requiem cannon. More importantly, the Eternal has been defended, along with the particular person on it…Images flooded through his mind with the intensity of water through a broken dam. The battle between him and the clone of Rau Le Crusade, the boy named Rey. Along with the menacing Dullindal and the final wish of Captain Gladys, followed by the destruction of Messiah. Victory was crisp and swift, but Kira found this odd void in his soul. "There is no joy in war." A voice in him reminded him quietly
The Zaft troops didn't put up much of a fight because they no longer believe in what they were fighting for.
Unlike him and Athrun. Some even defected in the midst of the confusion; Yzak and Dearka are strangely enough, on their side…
At this point he allowed himself the luxury of a small giggle, Yzak came halfway across the galaxy just to scold Athrun for "shamelessly showing up on the battlefield". He doubt Yzak cared if his little speech was broadcast on open channel, half the battlefield could hear him berating Athrun.
The Eternal came into view on Kira's screen, along with the white suit stationed near its bridge, the black suit must have ran off to find a certain classmate of his on the Archangel, he smiled genuinely at the prospect of returning to the pink hair princess as promised…
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Athrun Zala sighed; the remains of the Requiem became space dust and floated lazily across the screen. The battle may have ended, but the real one starts now. Orb had gone into battle hastily and without the general consensus of the other nations, if enough people supported the destiny plan, they would be all over the Archangel about now. Possibly, the other nations might be neutral about the plan and just choose to stand on the victor's side. The easy way out, a win-win situation for both…
Another problem was Zaft, Kira did a brilliant job of destroying the Messiah and Neo-genesis before it hits anything else. However, what would the remaining Zaft troops do now that their control center in gone? Will they fight to avenge their fallen Chairman? If not, knowing a little about politics by observing Patrick and Cagalli, Yzak will be a very busy person in the next few months.
His thoughts drifted onto Dearka and Yzak, whose assistance proved valuable. If not for them, the Eternal would have been blown to smithereens by Neo-Genesis, along with the people in it…He thought of Cagalli then, and was surprised at how much he missed her. The times they spent in each other's company were relaxing, but occasionally hindered by each of their own sense of duty. In his quiet moments, he wished that they could just leave everything behind them and cherish each other…
Mwu interrupted his thoughts by saying over the intercom : "Hey Zaft kid, I'm returning to the Archangel. If you are smart enough you wouldn't come back in the next few hours, would you?"
Athrun was startled for the moment, than smiled weakly; Kira's commander had a way of driving his point across. "No, I wouldn't." he promised. The pilots were supposed to rendezvous on the Eternal anyway, and he had other matters to attend to. He left the flight route of the Atasuki and flew towards the remains of the Impulse and Destiny…
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Shinn Asuka sniffled, at the height of the moment, he chose to slump in Lunamaria's embrace and cried his heart out. Now that's he has calmed down a little, he realized the atrocity of what he just did.
Which man will allow himself to be seen crying in front of his girlfriend?
Luna however, seemed to have no qualms with the issue, she simply hugged him tightly and didn't say a word. Silence enveloped the two of them, in the vast vacuum of space; the moment they shared became immeasurably valuable. It felt as if time had stopped just for the two of them. Shinn felt relaxed and fatigue overtook him as he drifted into silent slumber.
Infinite Justice landed on the moon surface, the pilot got out of the mobile suit and knelt down beside the duo. A rush of static was heard in the communication as Athrun heaved a sigh of relief. "Are the two of you alright?" Luna nodded, and quickly said: "I'm positively alright. But I think Shinn is injured. Destiny's cockpit was partially destroyed when I found him…" Athrun looked away, guilt shown on his features. It was never his will to fight his comrades, much less hurt them, especially Shinn. He looked at the boy's helmeted face, he was apparently asleep peacefully. Athrun understood why the boy lost, it was because he was misguided for so long that he no longer knew what he was fighting for. So much like himself in the past…Than he looked up at the vast darkness, wondering where could Minerva be after the battle.
Athrun considered his current course of action, the Minerva is good as sunk. Archangel has more casualties and the orders were to return to the Eternal. "Luna, come with me to the Eternal." he hesitated, and said "Meyrin's there…Take the Impulse. I'll let Shinn ride in Justice's cockpit." Luna hesitated, Athrun said playfully "Or would you rather take Shinn in Impulse's cockpit?" The prospect made her blush, and she quickly shook her head.
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Murrue drifted towards the golden mobile suit, which's the cockpit is opening up. Mwu poked his face out first and gave her his trade-mark I-just-made-the-impossible-possible smirk. She smiled, relieved. Mwu grabbed her by the waist and anchored her when she was close enough, the two shared a hug.
"Then, I thought…I thought I lost you again…"she whispered, her voice muffled as her head was buried in his chest. She could hear his heartbeat quicken as he replied, "How can I bear to leave you behind?" He shifted position, looking at her with those charming blue eyes, and they kissed…
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Yzak Jule wasn't in a good mood, Dearka was teasing away about protecting the Eternal using the excuse "It's a Zaft ship." But the primary reason that constituted to his foul demeanor was the prospect of being buried in paper work for the next week or so, and subsequently with the administration of electing a new chairman. Everyone saw how Messiah had fallen, and there was no chance Dulliundal can survive that.
The Eternal was closest to the now-motionless Zaft frontline, a beeping sound issued from the panel in front of him, indicating the approach of another mobile suit. Yzak looked up, and was relieved to see that it was Strike freedom returning from combat.
"Commander!" shouted his vice captain through the communication system. Yzak snapped: "I can hear you, there's no need to shout." His subordinate remained unperturbed and sounded flustered when he next spoke. "The high council wants to speak to you!" The screen changed to a woman in purple uniform, one of the Council members who is about forty. "Senator Jule, greetings. I would spend more time introducing myself but your presence is urgently requested at Aprillus. The senators are being recalled for a post mortem meeting."
So quickly?
Thought the surprised youth. Then he remembered his current standing, "Does it matter whose side I am on?" he ask skeptically. The woman's answer was more shocking still "The PLANTS now need politicians, not war criminals. You have full assurance that you will not be charged. Furthermore, our chairman has perished. Who is there to charge you? The rest of Zaft are being recalled all the same and hopefully this can be settled." Yzak considered her words, but something else caught his attention. Strike Freedom was passing him by at the moment and beyond… was a Nazca class powering up the main cannon…
"Please return to the Voltaire, we will send a shuttle to the vessel to pick up…" she went on, but Yzak wasn't listening at all. Without thinking, he launched the GOUF Ignited forward, right in between the path of the beam and Strike Freedom as the beam weapon fired…
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More excitement, less of Yzak's yelling.