Chapter 19:Dusk
"Get off." Yzak commandeered as he pulled over in front of a boutique. Athrun took a long, long look at the name of the shop before asking weakly, "You said we have something important to do…and it's supposed to be shopping, for clothes?"
Yzak sighed and frowned, "You want to wear…"Yzak examined his clothes, green shirt, black pants, black jacket. "That to election!" And Yzak proceeded to drag him off the car, "It's today, FOR HEAVENS SAKE! I thought you have enough sense to dress up appropriately!" He yelled at him as they walked to the door, shoving him inside. Athrun looked at his own apparel as he walked, formal by informal standards but not quite there. And he didn't bring that many pieces of clothing to the PLANTs. "Alright."
They were greeted by a middle age couple whom Yzak appeared to have met before and Yzak deposited Athrun to them and went to look around.
"Another handsome young man," said the lady in delight as she measured Athrun, "What do you need?"
"Formal wear. Maybe a suit will do?"
"Hmm… I think I have a black set just your size…"
"Yzak," Athrun called as he watched the middle age lady lumbered off to the storeroom. "Don't you need anything?"
Yzak was gazing up the stairs with this most peculiar expression, he snapped out of it and yelled back irritably. "Worry about yourself. I'll be wearing my uniform."
As they were busy with Athrun, Yzak thought he'd take time off to go look for Sedna. They hadn't seen each other in four flat days and Yzak found himself thinking about her more and more, it was an unhealthy obsession, not that he mind. She was no longer Athrun's body guard as Yzak transferred her himself, and when she heard that Athrun needed clothes, she invited him to come. And he bought something for her…something that he hoped she'll like, he hid that something within his uniform, waiting for a chance to give it to her…
Standing at the base of the steps, he suddenly felt this terrible urge to run to her. Her father walked up beside him and Yzak greeted him; the man gave a hearty smile, which caused wrinkles to form on his brow. "Go up if you want, she's in."
Yzak blinked, her father spoke as though he read his mind. And after his quiet sentence, he turned and walked away and attended to another costumer who just walked in, as if leaving Yzak to decide for himself. Hesitantly, he laid a hand on the railing, hearing the sound of his own heartbeat throb in his ears. Taking a deep breath, he took the first step, and a second…
Halfway up the steps, he noticed this soft clicking sound issued from the space between two steps, must be an alarm clock or something…which served as a reminder that his time here was pathetically limited. He thought, and without further hesitation, he mounted the rest of the steps quickly.
He found himself in a living room, completed a television set and sofa. There were four doors linked to the living room, and two were closed, one her parents room, one the storeroom, Yzak reasoned. Meaning she must be in one of the two rooms, he took the one to his left first, and didn't find anyone after a quick look. He smiled inwardly, like a child who chanced upon a treasure, knowing Sedna awaited him in the last unexplored room. His hand circled the gift, ready to draw it out of his pocket. As he rounded the corner into the last room, he took a while to comprehend the sight before him…
Sedna was there, she was wearing t-shirt and shorts, and oddly enough, a ear piece. She was concentrating so hard that she didn't notice as Yzak approached her from behind, and she was holding a gun, it was aiming at the floor board. When Yzak looked close enough and saw a hole two centimeters wide, showing Athrun downstairs…
"This is a little large." Mrs Ileisus muttered as she stepped back to examine her handiwork, "Two sizes smaller will fit."
"Thank you…" Athrun began to say, and at that instant his sentence was punctured by a loud and sudden sound that pierced his ears and the next thing he knew, pain burned his shoulder, silent and intense. His mind was blank as he whipped around; just in time to see someone bolting out through the door, a metallic object in his right hand…
Mrs Ileisus was beside him in an instant and Mr Ileisus dialed the police hotline on the counter phone. Athrun watched them as if in slow motion, and slowly he placed a hand on his shoulder and wasn't surprised to see drabs of crimson liquid staining his fingers…
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At the moment when Sedna fired, Yzak threw himself forward and knocked her over, causing the flight path of the bullet to veer off course only by millimeters but it still made it through the tiny hole in the ground. Yzak got himself off the floor quickly and while still pinning Sedna down, he scrambled over to look into the hole.
Athrun's still alive; the bullet had left a deep gash on his right shoulder and otherwise left him relatively umharmed. Mrs Ileisus didn't panic, she got the dazed Athrun to sit down before running to get a first aid kit and was attending to the wound. Something moving beyond the windows caught his attention and he turned to look. Out of the window, he could see a man, whom he recognized as the supposed costumer ran out of the shop as if expecting someone to pursue him. A decoy… Yzak realized in horror and he turned around to confront Sedna.
Before he could say anything, she already responded by whacking him hard in the temples with the handle of her gun, knocking him over onto the floor. A bout of pain and an odd paralyzing sensation hit him and he found that he couldn't get up, not in time to stop her. He had no choice, he threw himself over the hole on the ground…
Sedna took aim, aiming at the center of the injured target's torso. But just as she was about to pull the trigger a second time, something white washed over the supposed target. She blinked a few times only to glare myopically at Yzak, who rests stubbornly in her way. He was panting and bruised and looked like he was trying hard not to lose consciousness. "Stop it, I won't let you kill him…"
"I'm an assassin, I'll just kill you as well!" she yelled as she took aim again, this time she pointed at Yzak's heart.
"Try. Kill me."
"I WILL!" she screamed as she gripped the gun so hard her hands were quaking.
"Don't lie to yourself…" Yzak told her quietly, as he closed his eyes, losing the battle. Sedna watched him unblinkingly, knowing he had no way of stopping her now. But, slowly, her grip began to loosen round the weapon, until the gun dropped to the ground with a thud… She reached a hand out and poked his cheek absentmindedly, trying to check if he was really unconscious. He didn't respond the slightest, he just laid there on the floor of her room, lying there and breathing. "I'm sorry…" she whispered, sifting through his hair to reveal the mark left by her gun handle, an ugly blue black had began to spread across his temples. "Why do you have to be right…?" she reprimanded him, "…I really cannot bring myself to kill you…Not you…Anyone…but you."
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Yzak's eyes snapped open, he found himself looking at blue sky and more blue sky, and the sky was moving. "Sedna…?" he asked, trying to get his bearings. He was greeted by of all people, Athrun Zala's voice. "Awake? She carried you downstairs saying you tripped and knocked yourself on the edge of a table. And we are late, so she tossed you into the backseat and off we are, sorry."
Yzak got up and felt wind worm through his hair, his hand gingerly touched the bruise and he grimaced at the pain. Not a dream then… "Driving with one hand?" He asked Athrun, recognizing the way to city central. Athrun replied without looking at him, "Safe enough."
Once they got to the place, they met with one other fifty year old man wearing a suit like Athrun but looking much less glam. They were briefed by a man in white uniform, "First, you three gentlemen are going to meet the citizens of PLANTs, there will be a float procession through the main streets of Aprilius, and it will transport you to designated area for the speech. Then, ready thy speeches and blow them away, here's the exact timing of all the proceedings. Each of you will be accompanied by two faith members throughout the session, voting takes place after all the speeches and results will be released tomorrow morning, All clear?"
They nodded, Yzak stayed to glaring menacingly at the poor guy, who cleared his throat nervously and continued, "Here is the order of things…Mr Clinton will go first, followed by Mr…" he chanced a look at Yzak, "Mr Jule, and then Mr Zala."
As they were ushered onto the floats in darkness, Yzak fumed. The look on his face was enough to scare all the people around him. Sedna was still trying to kill Athrun, meaning her orders didn't change... Which in turn indicate that the Supreme Council did not believe Yzak will win after all. And if his ruse didn't work, he had to think of something else fast. Among the two faith members, Sedna might be one following Athrun, or even him, he must improvise, and quickly. He swept his gaze around, examining each guard wearing sunglasses surrounding him on military vehicles, none of them looked like Sedna. Selecting Dearka's number on his mobile phone, he left a message consisting of two words, "Take positions."
Athrun grimaced as the float jerked forward, pain shooting up his shoulder, the wound was deep but fortunately the bleeding had stopped. He had no time to go to a hospital, so Mrs Ileisus helped him wrap it up.
The float continued forward at snail pace, up ahead, he could make out Yzak's silhouette against the blinding glare of the morning sun, and once his float was outside, a deafening applause echoed within the space around him and he told himself, this is it…
The float sped up to running pace and Athrun was greeted with an innumerable cheering crowd, who broke into applause as he lifted a hand weakly in greeting. He felt awkward with what he was doing and chanced a look ahead to see what the other two are doing; the civillian candidate waved his hands high over his head in a large arch while Yzak merely stood there like a statue and looked cool. It won't do for me… Athrun thought.
Suddenly something Cagalli told him struck him. She once asked him as they sat together doing nothing in her house garden, Athrun, do you know what is the part about you that is most…charming? He didn't know then, so as she cuddled beside him at dawn, she smiled cheekily, and cupped his face in her hands and told him, look at me, and smile.
Athrun looked around, looking for white mice to try it out on. And in a distance, he spotted a banner which says Welcome Back, Prince of ZAFT, and had his sixteen year old picture enlarged and placed next to those words. Holding the banner was a group of screaming high school girls, and one of them even sent him a fly kiss.
If he wasn't so in need for someone to try it on, he wouldn't have attempted to hide his disgust. Instead, he caught the gaze of the one who send him the fly kiss, looking directly into her black eyes with his emerald green ones and he smiled, as if Cagalli was there instructing him…The girl screamed so loudly that it was audible over the din of the crowd, and fainted.
The high pitch sound was enough to send a shiver up his spine and goose bumps crawling across his skin. Abandon strategy…
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On the Kusanagi, broadcast of the Election are showing on all screens, and Cagalli and her crew watched, Lacus's face appeared on a little side screen and asked Cagalli cheekily, "Watching?" Cagalli tore her gaze away from Athrun's smiling face and answered, "Yeah, I'm waiting for something to happen too. So don't say I'm not being alert."
Lacus laughed, it was forced and slightly nervous, "Mr Jule told us twenty minutes, someone is still after him, and that someone almost succeeded this morning." Cagalli bit her lip, trying to hide her worries, "Almost?"
"He was shot but the wound's not fatal."
"That idiot, he's always like that!" Cagalli almost screamed, standing up, but she realized there was nothing she could do for him. She had a good mind to dock at PLANTs now and knock some sense into him with a frying pan or something, and that would be even more idiotic. Frustrated, she sat down again and remained silent. Lacus tried to take her mind off the issue, "Elections sure is hot this year…I didn't remember as many screaming school girls when my father was up for elections." Cagalli smiled after a while, "Your father wasn't eighteen when he went for elections."
"True," Lacus replied, "but I think the crowd teaser is actually Mr Jule, majority on the Eternal says their votes go to him."
Cagalli was startled, "But…Why would anyone in the right mind vote for that foul-mouthed, hot-headed person for chairman!"
"With the whole council… buttressing him, I don't see why not. But on my side, they don't have such political reasons."
"Then why?"
"They say 'Cause he's young and has straight platinum hair,'" Lacus replied, trying to hold back a chortle. Cagalli laughed, it suddenly feels as if the citizens were voting for pop stars and not Chairmans.
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In the military headquarters, PLANTs, Yulie Amarfi gazed at the report. More than half of Orb's military power had been sent out into space for no apparent reason, and it was rumoured that the Orb representative was among the fleet as well. The information worried him, what is the Orb army doing all the way out in space? To finish PLANTs off while they still lack leadership? No, that will be unlike the princess. But he cannot simply ignore the possibility, he told the soldier to keep an open channel on the status of the Orb fleet as he walked outside to receive the candidates.
"I am Supreme Councilor Yulie Amarfi, Mr Clinton, Mr Jule, Mr Zala, welcome. This way please." He said as he greeted them with a smile, he led them into the headquarters. Each of them was accompanied by two people as they went into an glass elevator. "This is the ZAFT military headquarters located in central Aprilius, Octum. This will take us to the waiting room on the fifteenth floor, and the balcony on the north-west will be the site where the speech presentation will take place. The order will be the same as the float processions." There was a 'dink' as the display showed that they have arrived, and the door slid open quietly. They were ushered out and Mr Amarfi told them, "This is the waiting room. Make yourselves comfortable, Mr Clinton goes up in fifteen minutes, the ushers will direct you from here." And he took his leave, giving Athrun a look.
Yzak studied the room, it was an octagon, with large velvet curtains and two guards blocking each of the four exits and sofa sets and refreshment tables on the other four sides alternately. There was a silver fountain twice was high as Yzak, and the statue of what was presumably, the goddess Artemis, holding a fabric that sprouted water from one end.
No good for a gun fight…Yzak thought as he frowned.
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In the space fortress Ephraim, there was an atmosphere of anticipation in the dark control room. Computer screens with rapidly changing displays danced about, in expectation of the swift victory ahead.
A man smiled slowly in the most sinister manner; he wasn't just any man, he represented the blue cosmo now. For the moment his leadership is in name, but it will be different tomorrow…His position will be established in the alliance, when he breaks the PLANTs…
"Sir, we're all set, awaiting orders." The soldier came to report to him and saluted. He didn't turn as he replied, pleased, "Then let it begin…"
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Mr Clinton had finished speaking and Yzak was ushered on next after an hour's break, he gave Athrun a look of enmity before he walked on confidently.
By now Athrun has decided what to do, if Yzak is not going to stand by him, he'll do his best to win by himself. He nodded to acknowledge the competition and deliberately tried to irritate Yzak, "Good luck, Mr Jule." Yzak hated it when people wished him luck, he thinks it's reserved for losers who needs it. Yzak growled threateningly as he stepped through the veil, being escorted by two Faith members.
Athrun sat down and looked at the live telecast of Yzak's piece, the screen was made up of sixteen little ones and resultantly the image was large and puzzle-like. Yzak addressed the crowd confidently from the fifteen floor high podium, talking about this thing and that, discussing the issues in PLANTs and made it clear that these problems must be addressed. He hinted that a good Chairman was needed and discreetly suggested he was probably the most knowledgeable and hence the right person. Athrun had to admit, he was good. But more importantly, can he best that?
Towards the end, he said "Having recounted and analyzed all the challenges that PLANTs will be facing from this day forth, I hereby urge every single one of you to cast your votes with care, for your votes will decide which paths Plants will take from this day onwards. What challenges we will continue facing? And I hope that the world that our progeny will be living in, will be one desirable and peaceful." A thunderous applause sounded at this point in time, and Yzak continued, "I represent the Supreme Council, the representatives of all twelve sets of PLANTs, and the Zaft military forces, the pride of our nation. And I officially announce…" People cheered louder still and drowned out Yzak's voice, Athrun's heartbeat quickened, in anticipation of the moment he'll start rallying for the collective authority of the Supreme Council.
But to his surprise when the crowd died down enough to be heard, he announced "I will withdraw from the elections…" And a dreadful silence befell the masses below, where a lot of people stared at him with wide gaping mouths. Athrun thought he'd gone mad as well, but Yzak continued after the pause. "Never for a moment have I believed that power should converge into the hands of one party. But one man, and the person is not me…However, if anyone, the person should be someone we all should know about..." Athrun couldn't believe what Yzak was suggesting. "In the name of the Supreme Council of PLANTs, I hereby confer all support towards Mr…"
And at this historical moment, the unmistakable sound of a rifle went off, echoing within the vast hollow of the central square. Athrun stood up as he watched the images on the screen, as if in slow motion. Yzak's eyes widened in surprise for an instant, as if unable to register what just happened, right before he collapsed on the floor.
"Y…Yzak?" Athrun asked in disbelief, and yelled, "YZAK!"
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What's happening? Why was it Yzak's turn to get assassinated? Find out in the next chapter. I hope all of you don't mind it being a little long. End of build up phase, now let the action begin…