Chapter 20: Darkness
Athrun just stared at the screen as he watched Yzak collapsed. At this moment the screen changed abruptly to a news report, the lady on screen uttered something about an emergency war declaration coming from Blue Cosmos and the screen changed again. This time showing a forty year old man sitting in front of a microphone, he looked positively evil and spoke haughtily, "Greetings, Coordinators." He spat the word out as if he found it an abomination. "I'm the new leader of Blue Cosmos. Nicholae Calputhir, you have one hour exactly to surrender. The whole Senate and the three chairman candidates. Oh… I see that one had been done away with…" he smiled in amusement as a report was handed to him, "I'm a generous man, two will do. The result of resistance…" and he paused to let the effect of the words sink in.
"…will be total annihilation. Just like Junius Seven four years ago…" And he laughed, the sound a hundred times more sinister than his person.
Cagalli was watching from space, and her first thought was, He's a snobbish idiot…No self respecting world leader would dare to speak out against PLANTs like that, he was asking for trouble and digging his own grave.
But he continued calmly, a smile playing about his lips, "We developed a cannon with the power of the renowned Genesis, and the firing range of Requiem. Do consider your options properly, you sub-human species who call yourselves intelligent… If you are as smart as you consider yourselves to be, you should be able to make a decision in half an hour…"
Athrun was thinking the same thing as Cagalli, and this time he thought, Another stupid mistake, the man was leaking military secrets with every sentence, it told him that the charging time of the cannon he spoke of was probably half an hour, round about. And he was probably going to test it out on a test target just to decrease their morale… And the test target will likely be…
Before he could finish his thought, two ushers came to him and one pinned a tiny wireless mic to his suit and he was ushered to the veil, where another two carried Yzak out on a stretcher, copious amounts of blood draining down his uniform. "Yzak! Wake up…" He pleaded, not knowing what else to say. "Isn't there supposed to be an hour before I'm going? Let go of me! What are you guys going to do? Stand there and ignore the war declaration?" The usher was unperturbed, "Mr Zala, please cooperate and improvise. What we need to do now is to calm the people, please step out and act as if you are going according to schedule."
"But Yzak…"
"We'll ensure Mr Jule gets medical attention as soon as possible. We'll do our job and you do yours, now please step forward." At this moment the veil lifted and Athrun stepped through hesitantly, casting one look behind before the veil dropped, isolating him onto the podium. He looked down to find general mayhem; the crowd was in hysteria, trying to get away from the central square by stepping over each other, as if it will do any good. He realized he probably had no business on the speech stand unlike Yzak just ten minutes ago.
"Calm down…" he muttered, but there was no effect. He didn't know why, but he found himself growing angry, and he shouted this time, his voice amplified by the microphone on his collar, "CALM DOWN!"
He was surprised to hear his own voice reverberate round the whole square, and the masses came to a standstill all of a sudden. Like someone pressed the pause button on a remote, he took the chance to speak, "Zaft military men, remove yourself from the crowd and make your way to the periphery of the square, report to your battle stations immediately. You have a war to fight." He knew of the emergency plan if things like that ever happened in PLANTs, that's why he was able to calmly issue a command like that out of the blue. "Those who drive cabs, or own an automobile of any sort, please ferry these men to their respective battle stations. Non military citizens, stay put, don't move."
Amazingly, every one out of ten people began to siphon out of the crowd like filter paper residue. Their movements riddled with organization and unexpectedly, grace and speed. After five minutes, when Athrun was sure no one else was speeding off, he addressed the rest. "Ladies, gentlemen, children, and the elderly, I know some of you just send your brothers, husbands, sons off to fight. Please remain here for it might well be the safest place, there are a lot of things that we cannot be sure of. But…"
He paused, not knowing what else to say. He was very confused all of a sudden, not knowing what he wanted to do, what he hoped to accomplish now by prattling non stop. He was helpless…
Yzak had been shot by mysterious assassins, and the same could very well happen to him in an instant he was least aware… The thought made him sigh and he looked down to the uncountable pairs of eyes looking at him, and he realized what the people needed now… They were looking up to him, for assurance, for leadership, there was no room for him to be confused or perceived weak, there was only room for decision.
Athrun took a deep breath, closing his eyes, and started to ask himself inwardly, What if the one who was fatally wounded was him instead of Yzak? Would he still have chosen this path? And if not a single person around him encouraged, nor believed him, will he still be doing what he was doing now? If the whole world deserted him…will he still believe in what he had always believed…?And stand strong in his belief till the last moments?
And amazingly, he felt that could tell himself the sure answer, Yes.
He opened his eyes now, having made up his mind. Having gotten out of, and rid of his dilemma, he suddenly felt much lighter…
---
The control room was in turmoil, the lines were kept busy by calls that come raining in from the media and from the public who demanded to know what happened. First the council candidate withdrawing without warning then came the bullet out of nowhere that wounded Yzak Jule. Next came the war declaration by the idiot in a suit. It was almost enough to make Yulie Amarfi tear his hair out.
The whole council was now trying to sort the issue out, calling all soldiers to report, putting in place security measures for the two Chairman candidates. His primary concern now was…
Ezaria Jule was beside him, and was screaming as she gripped his collar, "DIDN'T You promise Yzak's safety if I manage to convince him to join the alliance! HUH? Where did that go now!"
"Calm down, Ezaria. I'm calling the security department upstairs now!"
"How's he…!" Ezaria asked, her voice trembling slightly now. Yulie Amarfi frowned as he listened to Athrun's voice sound over the broadcast.
"Calm down…CALM DOWN! Zaft military men, remove yourself from the crowd and make your way to the periphery of the square, report to your battle stations immediately. You have a war to fight… Those who drive cabs, or own an automobile of any sort, please ferry these men to their respective battle stations. Non military citizens, stay put, don't move…
Yulie Amarfi breathed a sigh of relief. Athrun's reaction was timely and prevented a lot of people from dying, first by a mass stampeding exercise and second via massacre of the defenseless nation whose army are stuck in the crowd. But didn't he order the security to protect Athrun and Mr Clinton? So what is he doing on the speech podium?
"Hello," he almost yelled as someone picked up on the other end, "I want an explanation. First, the current status of Mr Jule… Second, what is Mr Zala doing out there when I thought my orders were clear enough!"
"Mr Amarfi," the guy on the other end sounded slightly flustered, "I thought you meant to keep the people appeased and safe when you gave your order… so I ushered Mr Zala out. It worked…didn't it?"
Yulie Amarfi wanted to strangle somebody, and it doesn't happen very often. "What of Mr Jule?"
"Injured, shot by a long range rifle…"
"I KNOW! I mean how injured!"
Shiho Hahnefuss glanced behind her, where Dearka was cupping a piece of chloroform stained cloth over Mr Clinton's nose and mouth. Knocking him out the smelly way, then gave her a grin and a thumbs up. Yzak sat up on the stretcher and watch Dearka drag the unconscious man to somewher more inconspicuos. She deepened her voice and replied,
"Not very much, we sent him to the military hospital in city central…"
Ezaria steadied herself and bolted out of the exit as she heard that statement… Back upstairs, Yzak made a face of disgust at the maroon patch and swiped at the stain on his uniform, an unavoidable sacrifice nevertheless …
"Good call." He told Shiho as she put down the walkie talkie.
"Thank you, sir." She said as she looked around her, they had disposed of all the guards in that room the same way, it was almost too easy… Yzak got up as Athrun began addressing the crowd, "Ladies, gentlemen, children, and the elderly, I know some of you just send your brothers, husbands, sons off to fight. Please remain here for it might well be the safest place, there are a lot of things that we cannot be sure of. But…" He paused at this point, and Yzak grunted irritably. After all the show he put up, Athrun is still unsure about his standing. And that lack of conviction may be just the thing that will cause everything he did till now to be rendered null and void. He should have treated him more harshly… Dearka glanced at the sleeping men around him, then at Yzak. "I still don't understand? Why all this?"
"All this… was just to force that idiot to make up his mind." Yzak explained patiently, which was unlike himself. "Absolution is necessary at times. Enough about him, let's go." He ordered as he retrieved a gun from his belt and loaded it… Five others appeared from behind the curtains and they did the same, Yzak went on, "Remember, if any of you get shot, just lie as still as possible until help arrives, moving will only make you die faster. I'm not going to sign death certificates..."
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The Kusanagi, also the flag ship, launched into action the moment the announcement came, speed was vital if they want to be of any help at all in the coming operation. With the Archangel in the ranks of their army… The cannon will likely be aiming for Orb, for the EAF felt that it was a disgrace for a country to join and quit. They would want to get rid of this disgrace by destroying all evidence…
Similarly, the Eternal blasted off in the opposite direction, Lacus smiled, knowing they were already one step ahead of their enemy. Shinn and Lunamaria should have found the place the moment the broadcast signal was sent out…
---
Back in the Octum control room, one person in particular was in a bad mood but trying hard not to show it. He had underestimated Yzak Jule, he wasn't just a little boy anymore… All his efforts, all his plans and aspirations, all destroyed in the kid's hands at that one moment… And to think that he celebrated his little victories, and all the while they've been playing right into Yzak's hands. He had yet been able to verify if Yzak had been killed by the assassination attempt, but he thought something's…fishy. That's about to change very, very soon…for now, he wanted Yzak dead and gone… for real. And even find someone to blame for the whole thing in the proccess…
He kept a straight face as Yulie Amarfi came to report and ask him about the situation, he replied slowly, "Keep the people in the central square, it's likely to be the safest. Provide some refreshments, We'll observe what this Nicolea Calputhir, if he has the technology to create a cannon with both the attributes of Genesis and Requiem, he wouldn't have waited till now to use it. I seriously doubt if he has enough sense to fill a teacup. We'll see who will be surrendering after that…" He hissed as he squeezed the air as if it was Calputhir's throat. "Let Zala's son prattle on, he's the scapegoat now anyway…"
"What of Yzak?" Yulie Amarfi asked in obvious shock, and hated the way Mr Elthman smiled……
---
Kira Yamato came face to face with this moon base which Lacus pointed out was unnaturally heavily guarded, she reckons that the cannon will fire from there. Kira's job…To bring it down.
The best strategy, will be lightning warfare. He activated all his thrusters at one go and signaled his troops (from the Clyne faction) to follow him, together the sliced through the ranks of the frontline forces and had infiltrated their air field before they knew it. Kira assumed they weren't prepared for intruders to find their way in so soon. The only possibility is that if the intruders have a blueprint, and that's what they did have. Thanks to a helpful little boy named Spencer Gladys…
And now that the EAF troops realize they did have intruders in their midst, Kira can begin firing…
---
Sedna gasped as she received her orders,
Kill Athrun Zala at the last possible moment, then proceed to PLANTs central Military hospital and get rid of Yzak Jule...
It told her firstly, that Yzak's probably badly injured, and secondly she'll finally have an open shot at Athrun Zala. It was her last chance, if she fails once again… She shook herself, not wanting to think of what will happen if she fails. There was no failure to speak of, only Mr Zala will die today…
She flipped down her visor on her sleek black helmet and switched to infra, gesturing to her comrades to move out. The whole team of twelve was dressed in black, normal apparel with inhumane weaponry crinkling under every loose fold of clothing. People within their line call it the MME-murder made easy-uniform, equipped with weapons that emit zero sound, silent shots and someone drops dead…
They made their way through the dark maze of piping waterway, boots splashing noisily with every step. And finally Sedna found the four hatches where water was draining through, she gestured at one of them, two of her man came forward and one lifted the other to key in a code in a mixture of letters and numbers. And the hatch fell open… And each of them made their way through.
There was no abnormality at the site, six guards stood blocking the entrances. The men behind her spread out to hide themselves behind the curtains, and three stayed with her. In the event Sedna misses and Athrun Zala realizes something is wrong, they will finish up the job.
The room was pitch dark, Sedna switching her helmet settings to heat sensor, nothing was indicated except for the vending machines and the statue of Artemis which they came from. The last one was Athrun's form. Sedna looked in that direction, a red hot spot separated from where she was only by a thin veil, a piece of useless fabric. A person behind her probed her softy, "Commander…Do it."
Athrun had started speaking again after the pause, I stand before the citizens of PLANTs, as a native. This is the nation that I grew up in, which I believed in and cherished…This is the nation that gave birth to me...
And this is thenation that killed you...Sedna though as she lifted her gun, she took aim…
And at this moment, one men fell to her right soundlessly and she broke away from her intent and stared in horror as each pair of supposed guards wrestled members of her team using the same tactics, they wrapped the velvet curtains around their head and threw them inside each of the four rooms before stepping through themselves. The two left around her reacted immediately, chasing through the doorways right before she heard a distinct locking sound from each of the four doors… She was left alone but still, she had a mission to complete…She took aim again…
I'm proud to tell people where I'm born, because PLANTs is a splendid place. Home to the best of the best, engineers, specialists, doctors, lawyers, scientists. A place where almost everyone gets educated, nearly everybody gets a chance to excel. People are pleasant, happy, and lead peaceful and productive lives. And who exist to retain that peace? ZAFT.
People outside cheered, and as Sedna focused on the reddest spot which kept thumping in the middle of Athrun's torso, a figure jumped down and blocked her heat image of Athrun. She stepped backwards to steady herself, and readied her gun, out to kill the intruder. He was apparently equipped with a gun as well, meaning he had been hiding out perched atop the statue, waiting for them to come. First she had to kill him…and then take Athrun…She didn't have time to wonder who in the right mind will still want to help Athrun Zala now, but she allowed the notion to pass, focusing on killing the intruder as soon as possible instead.
ZAFT exist only to protect our nation, it's the pride of our country, but as we are facing a war declaration, what are they to do? Ask them to stand between the beam and our nation! Having a strong army does not make us stronger, our lives are like mere candle flames. Whether we live or die, can be by the decision of just one person. What are we fighting for? Soldiers of ZAFT? We are not out there to sacrifice for our country…
Sedna fired and the intruder dove low and lunged forward, reaching upwards to twist her wrist, causing the gun to fall out of her hands, But when her hands are free, she in turn grabbed his hand and spun around to kick his right hand, causing his weapon to fly into the wall. He seemed ready for it as he produced a dagger out of nowhere and plunged it in Sedna's direction, she had no time to reach for her weapon so she stepped back and attempted to slam into him headfirst. He avoided her by dropping his stance altogether and kicked her feet off the ground, she jumped and did a flip in the air, her palms touch ground and she took the instant to snatch the dagger out of his hands. She did a complete flip and landed on her feet over the hatch in the fountain, and spun around for the kill.
She was shock that she recognized his voice as he gasped in surprise; at the very last moment before she stabbed him in his chest…
Sacrifices are necessary at times, even if it's painful…it hurts, to see the people we love die around us…Like Junius seven…four years ago. And the same thing will happen again…
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Here ends chapter 20.