Chapter two: Yzak
Infinite Justice held on to Destiny and Impulse and was on his way back to the Eternal, both were quite limp anyway. Once great suits now reduced to a little more than scrap metal by him. He was a little guilty, but he did not regret is, for it was necessary at that point in time in orderto protect Orb. He connected with the Eternal and Meyrin's face came on the side screen, "Athrun? Is that …Shinn? Is…is my sister with you?" she asked, biting her lip,
she looks positively worried.
Athrun replied: "Yes, and I request landing permission for two enemy mobile suits, one casualty."
"Permission granted."
The link was close as Athrun noticed something, Strike freedom was flying back to the Eternal, his back turned towards the Zaft troops. So, Kira is safe…,for the mobile suit appeared undamaged. A bright point in the darkness of space caught his eye, A beam cannon! And apparently the cannon had target locked on to the cockpit of Strike Freedom.
Someone wants to take down Kira, but Kira doesn't seem to know. The weapon fired, and a focused beam of laser sliced through vacuum and towards Kira. Athrun jammed his thrusters forward; desperately trying to help his friend. But to no avail, even Justice's thrusters cannot hope to drag the combine weight of three mobile suits with sufficient velocity to get there in time. Helplessly he yelled at the top of his lungs "KIRA!"
A gleam of white shot forward in the path of the assault, acting as a shield for Strike Freedom…
"Kira Yamato! Behind you!" Kira heard the vaguely familiar voice blasting through the speakers. He turned, just in time to see the beam hitting the white mobile suit squarely in the face.
Yzak lifted the shield just in time to defect the first impact of the beam. He was thrown backwards as the blast hit the shield; in response, he jammed the thrusters to maximum to counter the force. Residue heat seared the side of his suit, sending red, hot, molten metal flying, thinning the layer of protection around the cockpit. He did not have time to worry about it now, no time for anything, and he might not have time for anything anymore… The shield started crumpling in the combined assault of the heat and force, Yzak let it go a mille-second before it exploded in space. Now that the protection of the shield is gone, he could only watch as the blinding glare of the beam filled his whole screen, advancing with inhumane speed towards him.
Something dragged him sideways in a sudden lurch, but not in time to prevent the beam from splicing the cockpit. A few somethings exploded overhead and to his left, enveloping him in a burst of orange flames. He was blasted towards his right side where he hit the wall of the narrow space at a velocity even coordinator bones were never meant to withstand. He heard a few somethings crack, right before he lost consciousness.
Kira reacted by dragging the white GOUF Ignited out of the path of the attack, he activated his own beam shield, something the GOUF was never blessed with, and dispersed the rest of the beam. The assault stopped as suddenly as it began, but Kira did not put the shield down. For it might still be dangerous. Instead, he activated the METEROR targeting system, little flashes of light reflected off the visor of his helmet as the system locked on to respective targets, aiming to disable. Thoughts was running through his mind,
Why did Yzak Jule do it?
It seemed terribly noble and certainly out of character of the silver hair youth who seemed ever angry from the brief acquaintance two years ago to throw himself in the path of the attack to save his enemy. Kira pulled the trigger; the job was clean and finished in the matter of seconds.Leaving their attackers disabled for at least the next few hours.
Now that Kira had time, he shouted into the intercom, "Yzak, its you is it not? Answer me!" All he heard in reply was static. Either he didn't reply, or he couldn't. A dull dread filled Kira as his eyes widened; he turned and flew back to the Eternal as quickly as he could, holding the white mobile suit. Understanding dawned upon Kira as he appoached the docking bay of the Eternal, Yzak could have just moved away from the beam, but if he did, the blast will hit the bridge of the Eternal. Yzakwasn't driven by chivalry and perhaps pure stupidity, but an inert sense of duty to carry out what he promised…
Lacus was utterly surprised, but not unpleasantly so, when the beam hit the white mobile suit. Strike Freedom was vulnerable at that point in time. A thousand thoughts were running through her confused mind,
Why are they fighting? Their flagship has already been taken down. Their forces are weakened to the point of defeat. Why are they fighting! What if the other ships also start firing?
She issued the order for broadcast communications and stood up, containing her fury. Already so many had been sacrificed because of the warped plan of one man, why must they continue fighting now that the threat is contained.
"Soldiers of ZAFT, hear what I, Lacus Clyne have to say." The remaining forces seemed to come to a standstill, as if intending on listening to every word that leaves the mouth of the pink hair lady. Lacus Clyne continued: "Messiah has fallen, so has the weapons called Neo-genesis and Requiem. Weapons that seek only to steal, to kill and to destroy. Now that these weapons are destroyed, shouldn't we put down the weapons in our own hands?" she paused, letting the effect of the words sink in.
On the Minerva, Arthur gazed in the direction of the Eternal as Lacus Clyne continued: "We represent Orb, and oppose the destiny plan. We were once oblivious to the deaths and suffering that the proposal brought, and perhaps the plan itself. But when we found out, we chose to fight. Aren't we all the same? We all chose to be here, we all chose to fight. Not all of us are soldiers, but we chose to commit to what we believe in. The very nature of the destiny plan takes away that choice, the essence that defines us all humans. The manipulative purpose of the plan will rob us of that choice, who decide who is to be born a soldier? Having to fight with or without one's consent, being thrust into the battlefield without knowing why. Valiance and honour comes from the strength of one's fighting spirit, and the will to honour one's promise…"
Athrun pushed past the crowd to his former comrade in the landing bay. He had already sent Shinn and Luna to the medics. Kira laid the unconscious youth on the stretcher, the visor of his ZAFT helmet was shattered and blood was pouring down the right side of his face, staining his silvery hair in drabs of crimson. "YZAK!" Athrun exclaimed, suddenly afraid for his friend's life. The usually invincible Yzak Jule is bleeding profusely from various wounds where shrapnel had cut through the tough layer of the pilot suit. Blood was evenstreaming out of his mouth in rivulets, suggesting he was broken inside as well."Yzak!" Kira called, shaking Yzak's shoulders, but he did not stir.
The medics took off with the fair-haired youth,headingtowards the infirmary. Athrun took a deep breath to steady himself, and felt a light pat on his shoulders. Kira looked at him with enormous amounts of courage, butdidn't managehide the fact that he was quite shaken himself. Together, they proceeded to the bridge.
"An army without a goal is one that perishes. A person without a choice should not be here at all. Honorable Army of ZAFT, hear me and hear me well. Would you like your genes to decide whom to fight and when to fight? Would you like a script to be written for you in life and your sole role is to play it out? With one's last shred of dignity, whether as a soldier or a person, wouldn't one live out his life to the utmost fullest? It is not letting self interest overtake general interest. Conversely, it is not allowing humanity to be overwritten by fear. Fear that birthed forth this plan…that is why we fight." She finished gracefully. It occurred to Athrun not for the first time the tremendous amount of influence this eighteen-year-old girl carry, and the burden of representing Orb, a born politician through and through.
Lacus turned around and gave Athrun a meaningful look, Athrun was caught by surprise when Kira pushed him forward into the view of the camera. Athrun looked at his friend, who just gave him a thumbs up and a smile that's meant to reassure him. He felt betrayed.
"What do you expect me to do? I am a soldier, not a speech-maker…" whispered Athrun in a low voice. Lacus just smiled and replied calmly: "I need you to talk to this army, tell your side of the story to the world. Don't be afraid…" "But Lacus…!" "Just pretend you are talking to yourself, it's important, trust me." She stood behind him, motioning him to start speaking. He raised an eyebrow in awe,
how did I get myself into this mess? He thought to himself
By doing nothing. An equally smug voice in him told him.
He took a deep breath, than looked up and introduced himself. "I am Athrun Zala, once member of the ZAFT army, the FAITH squad."
Dearka grabbed the earpiece from the Miriallia, he hollered into the mouthpiece: "What do you mean by HE's SHOT? I know he's shot! But i want to know how is he…is he still alive?" Meyrin cowered in spite of herself, why is there a red uniform pilot on board the archangel? Kira's face appeared on the side of the screen, and took the earpiece from Meyrin. "Dearka, Yzak's alive. At least he's still breathing when we got to him…" he said uncertainly. That's when Athrun's voice sounded on the broadcast channel.
"I am Athrun Zala, once member of the ZAFT army, the FAITH squad…"