Again I'd like to thank those who have read or continue to read Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Renaissance. And also like to thank those who continue to review this story very favorably. Your kind words truly inspire a writer-wannabee like me to do well. A special mention for Magicalfoci for the long and satisfying review. I am honored that you guys think that I am doing my best in continuing with the Gundam SEED saga in my own words.
I find it easier to portray the characters in character, rather than deviating from it. I don't mean to bash those who try different but innovative ways to portray them, we all have our preferences and I respect each and every one of them. In fact I enjoy reading how people think the characters would act in non-canon stories. But I don't want to change things as much as possible. It'll make things simpler for me to write. Please forgive me for errors in grammar, because sometimes I forget to check for them.
This will be my longest chapter yet, so enjoy it please. I based the main action sequence to one of my favorite Gundam SEED battles. I've spent more time writing this, especially the fight scenes, which I hope will be fun for you, good readers. As in the last chapter, I'll be introducing some more OCs into the storyline, and they would be within the boundaries of canon. Some characters that would be debuting will radically change the dynamics of the story, and I just hope that I could make it work. I hope you can bear with me with my slow development of the new characters, in addition to the canon ones. I don't want to rush things, and end up with large gaps in the characters' personalities to fill later on. I'll try to continue to balance their involvement within the flow of the story, but rest assured most of them will have important parts to play.
So, until the Destiny OVA and the rumored third and last part of the Gundam SEED trilogy (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Eternity, according to the rumor mills) comes and makes this humble fan fiction AU, enjoy my simple tale. Don't forget to keep your eyes on your energy indicators. You don't want to be caught 'Phase Shift Down' with all the action your going to get.
SEED Mode On!
Disclaimers:
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED is owned and copyrighted to Hajime Yatate, the Sotsu Agency, Sunrise and BANDAI.
Phase Four: Dreams, Wishes And Nightmares
Cosmic Era, year 74. The Second Bloody Valentine War had just ended, and Earth and the PLANTs again struggle to rebuild. The leaders of the major powers, weary of the constant conflict, their countries struggling to survive the post-war world, unite to sign another treaty for peace. But dark forces lurking in the shadows strike forth, dragging back the world into the maelstrom of chaos and ushering a renaissance of violence and tears.
Royal Hospital of Oslo
Oslo City
Kingdom of Scandinavia
December 25, CE 74
Cagalli silently watched as Athrun softly read to her from the novel he was reading. She was so happy he was here, even after her long absence in his life. Cagalli blamed herself that they grew apart with the responsibilities of a countries leader took most of your waking hours, especially in a state of war. Cagalli tried to make up to him, starting when Kisaka-sama rescued him and Meyrin Hawke after their sudden flight from Gibraltar. Cagalli promised to herself that she would take care of him.
But ZAFT's attack on Orb derailed her plans. She had to concentrate on the defense of the homeland, and unwittingly left the care for him to Meyrin on the Archangel. This did not change when the Archangel left for Copernicus. Again Cagalli sought out Meyrin, asking her to take care of him, since she could not go with them. Athrun didn't say anything, for he understood her position then. Both of them hoped things would change when the war ended.
Unfortunate, things didn't change for them. Cagalli was caught up more in the rebuilding and peace negotiations, while Athrun toured the former frontlines with Kira and the rest, talking to people to ease the tension in the post war world. The time they spent grew lesser, and Cagalli felt that the gap between them widen immeasurably. Cagalli had accepted the fact that Fate was not kind to Athrun and her, and that whatever they were building for one another was crumbling away – until things changed that fateful night, when Death fell from the sky.
Cagalli felt lucky to be alive. She survived only because, by the stroke of fate, no large debris fell on them that proved fatal, although Yzak suffered a crushed left leg that had to be amputated. Yzak pushed Cagalli and Shiho away in safety, and bore the brunt of the falling timber.
They were lucky to be near an open doorway, so the three were rescued near the edge of the ruins of the Grand Hall. According to Shiho, who was conscious at the time, they were rushed immediately to this hospital, and Cagalli and Yzak were operated upon immediately.
Cagalli suffered badly from the piece of timber that pierced her side. She lost a lot of blood and had to be replaced. Her spleen was damaged and was removed. A large scar was left from the wound. Had rescue come not a lot sooner, she would have been dead.
Cagalli touched Athrun's arm. The blue haired pilot looked at her. "Hey."
Cagalli smiled weakly. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Athrun was confused.
Tears were welling in Cagalli's eyes. "For driving you away."
Athrun took her hand into his. "It wasn't your fault, Cagalli."
"It is," Cagalli answered. "I kept myself away from you. I didn't make time for you. Yet you never said a word."
Athrun ran his finger through her hair. "We're together now, aren't we? We can make a new start, something better."
"I don't know if I can, Athrun."
Athrun bowed his head, and kept silent for moments. "Then I'll wait."
The tears were falling now. "But it may take a long time."
"I don't care, Cagalli."
Cagalli nestled his hand on her cheeks. "Promise you'll wait for me?"
"Hai."
"Why?" She had to ask.
But Athrun expected that question. "You know why." He was blushing. "Sorry, but you know I don't have much in a way with words."
Cagalli giggled. "I know." I'm in love this kind, gentle, shy boy. "But sometimes I wish you'd say it to me."
"Yeah I will, someday. Once I have the guts to say, well, you-know-what."
Cagalli looked at him, mischief playing in her face. "Athrun Zala, my Coordinator prince, the heartthrob ace pilot of mobile suits, scared of a few words?"
Athrun hugged her tight. "Who said that I was a heartthrob?"
"Meyrin-kun did," Cagalli said, feigning jealousy. "I know she likes you, and her sister too. You know you really are an idiot," she grabbed and pulled on Athrun's nose. "You can't see when girls are swooning over you."
"I only have eyes for one stubborn girl."
Cagalli looked straight into his eyes. "Do I know her?"
"Hai."
But before Cagalli could ask, Athrun's cell phone began ringing. Annoyed, he excused himself, and went out of the room. He spent several minutes outside, before he came back into the room. "That was Waltfeld-san. He said that the Archangel maybe arriving by tomorrow at the earliest. He's asking me to come back as soon as possible." Athrun seemed reluctant. "I said I'd wait for you to come home."
Cagalli smiled and held his hand. "Iie. Go home to Orb. You're needed there."
"But-"
Cagalli put her finger to his lips. "I'll be fine. Mana is here to take care of me. And from what you said security is so tight around me that I'll be safe from harm. Go to Orb. Protect if for me."
Athrun still didn't look convinced. "Are you sure?"
"Hai."
He sighed. "All right them, if you insist. But I'll come back if I'm not really needed."
"You won't need too. I might be home by next week right? Wait for me there."
Athrun hesitated then nodded his assent to her request, and turned to leave. As he was about to close the door behind him, Cagalli called out. "Athrun, I-" she started, but the words failed her. "Be careful, okay?"
Athrun smiled. "I will," he said, disappearing into the corridor beyond the hospital room door.
Cagalli watched the door silently for a long time after Athrun left, and silently said a prayer for his safety.
Raider Base
Location Unknown
December 25, CE 74
She was running across a vast open field, framed under the deep blue sky. It was flat grassland, full of flowers swaying to the cool breeze blowing from the heavens. She felt the heat of the spring sun on her skin, and the tingling sensation that excited her senses. Robby and Jacob were running far ahead of her, shouting at her to run faster. She had to catch up to them. She wont allow them leave her behind.
She ran amongst the flowers, silently looking at the beauty and fragility of each one. The colors were ever changing, as if matching the mood the beholder wishes for. She could smell their sweet fragrance, so sensual, yet so familiar. Like the rest of the vast open field. It was so familiar.
I know this place - like I've been here before. She looked around, struggling to remember what this place meant to her, when she saw the girl.
She stood in front a lone tree in the middle of the field. The tree was bare, a lone image of autumn's twilight in this landscape of spring's dawning. The girl wore a gray cloak, a hood covering her face. The girl was slowly waving at her, as if calling her to come near.
She ran to the girl, Robby and Jacob forgotten. The run felt like it took a lifetime, as if Faith did not wish for her to reach the girl. The grasses grew taller, hampering her run as she stumbled through the field. The pain in her chest grew, as if pleading her to stop because of weariness. But she knew she had to reach the girl.
Finally she reached her. She fell on her knees, breathing hard, exhausted from the longest run in her life. She looked up, but girl said nothing. She stared at her for another lifetime, before the girl took off her hood and dropped her cloak.
She caught her breath, amazed and frightened at the vision she was beholding. The girl looked exactly like her, she was looking at herself. The girl had the same golden hair, the same eyes, the same face. She was naked, framed in an aura that was shining, the girl's body almost perfectly matching hers. A mirror, she thought, of my own self.
The girl smiled at her, a smile with a wisdom born from sacrifice. The girl reached out to her, and spoke in a voice she recognized as hers. We've finally found you. It's been a long time.
She took a step back, fear welling from deep inside her. What does this girl mean? Do I know her? "Who are you? What do you want from me?"
We've missed you so much, the girl said. Onee-chan would be happy to see you. We've all been separated far too long.
The girl's words were confusing her, and adding to her fear. "What do you mean? Tell me!"
The girl smiled and started to float away. The sun seemed to be falling, enveloping the girl in its blinding light. It's all right now. Do not fear. Someone will come for you. All will become clear when you meet him. He will help you see the rebirth of your soul. Then all will be well, and we will be together again.
"No! Don't go! Tell me who you are!" she pleaded but the light of the sun had completely blinded her, forcing her to shield her eyes with her hands, until at last to close them. She could no longer see the girl, now swallowed up by the blinding light that engulfed the world around her.
I must open my eyes! I must see her!
She slowly opened her eyes. The field was gone, so were her friends and the girl. All she saw were the cabin lights reflecting on the glass canopy that covered the optimization chamber she was lying in.
Solar Louisser woke up from her dream.
"Subject Louisser is awake. All of her body functions are normal. Brainwaves are optimized," the medtech reported. "Optimization process completed, Doctor Samson."
Delia Samson took a quick look at the monitor, checking the final status report on the just optimized Extended. Optimization was always delicate, since a single mistake could prove fatal to the subject being treated. This particular subject had proved more of a problem of late. The subject's last mission had put so much strain on her both physically and mentally, and had to undergo thrice as much time in the 'bubble', the name the optimization chamber was coined by her subordinates.
Apparently the trauma of her wingmen's death in combat had emotionally affected her, raising her mental and physical stress levels to dangerous heights. Louisser always had been a problem, but her superiors, like the man standing beside her, had insisted that Louisser was to be part of the strike team. So Delia didn't have much of choice but to follow her orders. But a strong-minded woman like could not be depended upon to keep her opinions to herself, and was known to share them frankly, to the irritation of other, specially the gray haired man beside her, who was the constant target for Delia's sharp remarks.
"Your girl's awake, Adam. She's perfectly fine." Delia told her companion.
The man named Adam nodded silently, as he watched Solar from the window of the split-level laboratory monitoring station above the optimization room. The blonde haired Extended sat up, and was shaking her head to rid her of the dizziness of her long slumber. Adam watched her intently, as if his purple eyes were assessing the current state of his ward. "I expect so."
Delia watched Adam, her gaze a measure of professional and personal pride of how this young man, who she knew so well, had become so strong and intelligent, but so driven with a deadly ambition that poisons his soul. "Is that all you could say? After all the emotional stress Solar went through, and all your worrying and fussing about her?"
Adam looked at her coldly. "I am not worrying or fussing. I am concerned for her safety, yes. But I am more concerned how the trauma would affect her performance. We have important things to do in the near future. And I need my pilots to be at their peak."
Delia feigned irritation. "You have no social grace whatsoever, Adam. You are as rude and impolite as ever. You never listened to what I told you. You even forgot to get me a Christmas present," she said sarcastically
A monitor came to life and a female communications tech's face appeared and started speaking. "Excuse me Taichou, but we've just received a coded transmission from the Enforcer. It reads 'The seraph is falling from Heaven.'"
"Very well, lieutenant. Reply, "Message received. Send her to the Abyss.' Confirm then report to me. Update me regularly," Adam commanded. He turned off the link and placed his hands on his back. "They're coming. And if the Enforcer can destroy them, victory would be my gift to you, mother."
Observation Deck
Archangel
Inbound Earth
December 25, CE 74
He found her here in this dark and silent place. Lacus floated by the large viewport of the observation deck, watching the moon shed its light. Kira floated just behind her. "Lacus," he said softly. Lacus looked briefly at him, a sad smile framed in her lips, before she looked back out into space.
"What's bothering you, Lacus," Kira asked gently. "Is there something wrong?" He tried to see Lacus' face, but she turned again and looked away.
"Nothing's wrong, Kira," she said quickly. "I just had to get away from the party."
Kira was not convinced. "Lacus, I know something's bothering you. You don't have to keep it from me."
But Lacus didn't speak to him, and just stared out of the viewport. Patiently Kira just stood there, watching her, waiting patiently for his partner to say something. They did not speak for several minutes, until Lacus broke the silence.
"Why must we do this? Why must we fight again? Why must you fight again?" She was looking at him now, fear evident in her face.
"Lacus, I -"
"I'm tired of this, Kira. I'm tired of having to fight for a world we wish for but others try to destroy with hate. I'm tired of having to carry this burden. And I -," Lacus hesitated, before continuing on.
"I'm scared, Kira. I'm scared when you go off and fight. I'm scared that there might be a day that you couldn't return to me. I'm sacred that you wouldn't come back and I'll be all alone."
Lacus flung herself at Kira, and buried her face in his chest. She started crying, her tears flowing down uncontrollably. "Sometimes I hate myself for giving you the Freedom. I hate myself for being was targeted in Orb and put the children in harm's way. I hate myself because you came on the Strike to save the Eternal. And I'll hate myself more if you don't return because of me."
She looked pleadingly into his purple eyes. "Please don't fight anymore. I don't want to lose you. I'll die without you." She slumped on his knees, exhaustion taking hold of her.
Kira held her close. He stroked her long pink her, and kissed her forehead. "I understand how you feel, Lacus. You don't have to fear."
She gently lifted her chin with his right hand, and looked at her lovingly. "Remember the time Cagalli went after Athrun after he decided to blow himself up in the Justice, to destroy the Genesis? Athrun told me once what she said, and how her words convinced him to come back with her."
"'To live is to fight' is what she said. Athrun wanted to die then, to escape the pain. But Cagalli's love for him won him over, and he has faced life with the same courage and wisdom he has when he fights."
"Kira…"
Kira kissed Lacus on the forehead once more. "I too, live to fight, but for a different reason. I fight to protect all those I love and cherish."
"Kira…"
"And you, Lacus, you are the most important person to me. I love you, Lacus Clyne. I love and cherish you more than anything in the universe because you are my life. You have given me back my life, Lacus. You saved my soul when I thought I couldn't be saved."
He touched the ring that hung on the silver necklace around Lacus' neck. "You gave me this ring once and asked me to give it back after I returned. At first I didn't understand what you meant, but since then I've understood completely. And I will always keep my promise to return to you, to always be at your side. Nothing can stop me from coming back to you. And I will protect you from all harm."
Kira reached for something inside his pocket and slowly took it out. He looked at Lacus once more a smile playing in his lips. "I'd wanted to give this to you for a long time. I wanted you to have it so that you'll know how much I care for you, how much I love you." Kira took her hand and placed the thing he was holding.
It was a ring made of platinum, similar to the one she wore in her necklace. But a single diamond was on its centerpiece, the gem shining under the light of the faraway moon. It glittered brightly, light dancing from its perfect facets. To Kira it was perfect when he saw it, perfect for the woman he knew and loved so much that he wanted her to have it and wear it, the evidence of a man and a woman's true love for one another.
"Kira…" Tears were again welling under Lacus eyes, but this time they were tears of great joy.
Kira knelt in space, holding Lacus' hands. He slowly slid the ring in her ring finger, as he spoke up lovingly. "Well? Do you?"
The most beautiful smile Kira had ever seen was now appearing on Lacus' radiant face, happiness banishing the fear and grief in her eyes. She embraced him tightly. "Yes, Kira, yes! You don't know how long I've waited for this. Oh, Kira!"
"I've always known you've waited for me to get up the courage to do this," Kira watched the stars glitter in Lacus' eyes. "But I was always scared you wouldn't accept me."
Again Lacus laid her head on his chest. "You jerk. You should know I would always accept you, no matter how you are or what you do." She looked up, and touched Kira's face with both hands. "And now I will stay with you forever, and live our lives as we truly should be."
She leaned over and kissed him, this time on his lips. The first one was short, sweet but tentative, as if probing the boundaries their passion was to allow. The next one was longer, more passionate, the love flowing between them, giving them life that was full and eternal. Gone were the inhibitions of before, for the promise of a eternal future together opened up their hearts for one another's true feelings, and love powered their way.
They didn't know how long the held each other close, nor how long they were locked in their passionate kisses, only that they wished this Christmas night, that the love they shared will last beyond their lives, and that peace will come and bless them forever.
If only peace could last forever. For in every good dream a man and a woman could wish for, a nightmare always lurked in the shadows.
Inbound Earth
December 25, CE 74
Mu La Flaga was out on patrol on the Akatsuki. Murrue wanted the course clear all the way to the Archangel's drop point for its atmosphere descent for Orb. He was flying formation with Gou, and they were on their return leg, heading for the ship, when four black shapes suddenly appeared to their one thousand meters to their front.
"What the hell-", Mu started, but had to cut it when missiles bloomed off the black shapes heading for them. Mu got the Akatsuki out of the way, but a missile caught Gou's wing and sent the Murasame out of control.
Mu pulled out of the way once when the black raider began peppering him with beam fire. He pulled into evasive maneuvers, then fired at raider diving in on Gou's damaged Murasame, which could not transform into its humanoid form.
The Akatsuki engaged the raider, which turned to face him. The raider thrust out at Mu with its beam saber, but Mu blocked it with his shield. Mu tried to hit back with his CIWS, but the bullets exploded harmlessly on the raider's beam shield. The raider slashed out once more with the saber, but Mu flew carefully away from its reach.
Mu caught a glimpse of more mobile suit cloaking, traveling in the general direction of the ship I've got to warn the Archangel. Mu opened his tacnet and shouted his warning at the unsuspecting ship.
Archangel
Inbound Earth
December 25, CE 74
Alarms began blaring around the entire ship. Kira and Lacus responded quickly, although startled from their intimate encounter at the observation deck. Just when they thought nothing bad could happen to spoil their Christmas, the worst did.
"What's going on, Murrue-san." Kira was asking via the ship's PA from the pilot's ready room. Murrue faced him. "We got a laser transmission from Mu. He and Gou had just been jumped by unidentified mobile suits with mirrage colloid capability. He said that other mobile suits as coming this way. Ikeya and Nishizawa are launching as we speak." Two loud rumbles shook the Archangel, as its two remaining Murasames shot out of the launch bays.
"I'm going out too," Kira decided. He started to get into his flightsuit.
"Okay," Murrue agreed. "I'll have the new unit prepped on cat-one."
"No. Have the chief ready the Strike Rouge instead. Prep it with the old Strike settings. The new one's not ready yet. Besides," Kira smiled at Murrue's image. "Its not meant for me."
"Roger that." Murrue's face vanished, as Kira locked the collar seal of his suit. Lacus looked at him intently.
"What?" Kira was afraid that Lacus was worrying again.
"Nothing," Lacus took his hands into hers. "I just wanted to say that I love you, and I trust that you'll be victorious. Just come back to me."
Kira kissed Lacus' hands. "I promise."
Murrue was ordering constant communication with the Akatsuki and the Murasames, who were now engaged with a unknown number of raiders. The black mobile suit's ability to cloak made an accurate count of the number of attackers, which Chandra approximated at twelve at least. It was then that the sensors officer shouted out his warning. "Two raiders decloaking at three o'clock, range four thousand! Missiles inbound!""Roll to port! Twenty degrees! Underside Igelstellung, track target and open fire!"
Neumann turned the wheel hard to the left, and the Archangel barrel-rolled out of the way of the missiles, most of which passed harmlessly, except for two that were intercepted by the Igelstellung CIWS.
With the barrel roll three fourths complete, Murrue began her counter attack. "Gottfried one, FIRE!" And the main beam cannon of the Murrue spewed deadly fire. The raiders broke off from the murderous riposte of the Archangel, and disappeared.
Murrue began her next move. "Load sulfur canister missiles to Corinthos launchers one through six and thirteen through eighteen. Launch for a three-sixty degree spread. Detonate them at distance one thousand. Fire!"
The medium ranged missile launchers fired its missiles, which stretched out around the ship for one thousand meters, before their warhead's open up. Steady streams of sulfur dust spread out from nozzles on the warheads around space, blanketing it in sulfuric cloud. The dust particles came in contact with the mirrage colloid of the cloaked raiders, shutting down the stealth system and making them visible.
Murrue contacted Chief Murdoch down at the hanger bay. "Get the Strike Rouge out now while we have a chance!"
Mu maneuvered the Akatsuki into a guard position once more, coming between the raiders and the damaged Murasame. One raider dove for him, beam saber slashing out, but Mu blocked this with his own saber. He tried to counterattack, but the raider countered with his own parry. The raider threw a power punch with its left at the Akatsuki's head, but Mu quickly ducked down. The raider lost control and lunged out of the way. Mu slashed once more with the saber, catching the raider in its backpack. The backpack blew up as the battery exploded.
The remaining three raiders fired their beam simultaneously at Mu, who faced the beams head on. The beam struck the Akatsuki, for a moment looking like they were absorbed by the golden armor, then the beams were reflected back, firing at an arc directly towards the raiders. The three black suits scattered, and Mu to the chance to breathe relief at the turn of events.
MOBILE SUIT OPERATION SYSTEM
/Version NV8-099ORB/
General
Unilateral
Neuro-link
Dispersive
Autonomic
Maneuver
G.U.N.D.A.M. Synthesis System
ORB
As the mobile suit's OS booted up, Kira began typing pre-flight adjustments to the system for his optimized use.
CPU settings complete. Linear linkage, ionic concentration, normal. Meta data processing, stable. Power flow from the ultra-compact energy battery, nominal. Battery extender, connected. All systems green. Strike Rouge online.
"I'm ready Murdoch-san!" Kira shouted over the loudspeakers. He felt the Strike Rouge sway, as its cradle gantry slowly slid towards the blast doors at Murdoch's controls. He heard Lacus' voice, as she spoke from the communications seat of the bridge.
"Commencing Strike Rouge launch sequence. Opening hanger bay doors. All non-essential personnel are to clear the area."
The massive blast doors opened, and the gantry position the mobile suit's feet over the catapult.
"Safety locks released. Catapult connected."
The feet of the mobile suit landed on the catapult, and the gantry returned into the main hanger bay.
"Blast doors securing. Launch bay doors opening. Catapult track clear."
The blast doors closed behind the Strike, as the massive launch bay hatch opened up to space.
"Aile Striker pack deployed. Connection to hard points, commencing."
The Aile Striker augmentation was lowered from its storage bay, and connected to the Strike Rouge's back. The beam rifle and the shield appeared from side storage bays and where placed on the hands and arms of the mobile suit.
"Weight to power ratio computation complete. Catapult power optimized. APU online."
Power output from the ultra-compact energy battery increased, and additional power from the auxiliary power unit was coursed for the catapult's use.
"Course clear. Systems, all green. Aile Strike Rouge, you are cleared for launch," Lacus finally said. "Be careful, Kira. Come back to me."
The catapult status indicator flashed the ready signal.
I'm ready now. "Kira Yamato, Strike Rouge. Launching!"
The Strike Rouge shot forward, the massive force of the catapult launching it with three seconds off the launch bay. Kira pulled hard a second upon clearing the edge of the bay, and pushed the button to activate the phase shift armor. The external colors of the Strike Rouge changed, taking on the red, white and blue color scheme of its legendary predecessor.
And not a moment too soon, for at that exact point in time, four missiles exploded upon the Strike Rouge's body, knocking it back and momentarily stunning its pilot.
From the bridge of the Archangel, one single cry from a pink-haired girl was heard, tearing through the void of space, "KIRA!"
Mu was scanning for more raiders, all the while protecting Gou's damaged unit. He hoped that the message he sent out reached the ship, and that they got ready in time. He saw flashes of light in the distance, being born and dying in an instant in the vacuum of space. The Akatsuki was turning to its direction when the raiders decloaked in front of him with a fury.
The three black suits circled around the Akatsuki and its damaged ally. The seemed to be taunting him, waiting for him to leave his position so that they could pounce on him. Big mistake, Mu thought as he jumped back into action.
At Mu's command, seven DRAGOON pods fired off from the Shiranui Striker Pack and flew into position around the Akatsuki. With his incredible spatial awareness, Mu maneuvered the pods to engage the black suits that were caught off guard. Twenty-one beams leaped out of the pods' guns, lancing out to the raiders. The beams cut the raiders to bits, all of dying in massive explosions that lighted up the darkness of space.
Mu turned his attention to Gou. "Are you okay there, Gou-san?" The Murasame pilot sent his confirmation. Mu was thinking of what to do next, whether to bring Gou along back to battle now revolving around the Archangel, when he heard deep within his mind the anguished call of a girl who feared the lost of the one she loved. KIRA!
Something's wrong. Mu felt it in his mind. "I'm going back to the ship Gou. You stay put." The Akatsuki rocketed off in the direction of the Archangel.
"KIRA!"
Lacus' cry penetrated his soul. That fact that she was afraid that he was dead shook him into action. He didn't like the sound of Lacus' anguish cry, and resolve that he well never let anyone force sadness upon her ever again.
I will not allow you to defeat me. I will not allow you to destroy the Archangel. I will not allow you to shroud my peaceful world into the chaos you spread. I will not have you bring sadness back to Lacus' eyes. I will protect Lacus and our new and better life with all my power.
And Kira closed his eyes. For a moment there was complete darkness, and then the light of truth flared to life. Kira felt himself calming down, his body relaxing, his heartbeat becoming regular, his consciousness expanding. He felt himself rising to a new level of spirit, as the purple seed fell, exploding in the maelstrom of light right in front of his purple eyes.
He opened his eyes once more, the pupils shrinking, as the iris grew more dominant. He could feel the freedom again. The boundaries of the prison called humanity fall away, seeing where the spirit truly should lie. Kira fell in tune with the universe, as the power of the seed was reborn within one of its true children.
SEED mode. A state of mind and body where one sees the universe as it truly is, and embraces it. A human's consciousness is opened to all, and his physical boundaries are broken. One's capacity to accumulate and process different brain activity is increased, his senses sharpens to extraordinary levels. Never really accepted by most intellectuals, branded as nothing else but a fanciful legend connected to berserkers, the truth is there in a few, advanced individuals.
Although one can never truly grasp it's meaning, nor truly recognize and feel it, extraordinary beings can exist in this advance state, urged by mental and emotional extremes, whether by great trauma that wounds one soul, or strong determination to fight and protect, or the darkness of anger fueled by vengeance. Kira Yamato was one of these chosen beings, and with the seed he was reborn.
Four more missiles came into Kira's view, the raider's coup de grace upon him. But Kira, enhanced with the seed was faster now than Death itself. He thumbed the trigger for the head mounted Iglestellungs, which raked the missiles with a spray of seventy-five millimeter rounds. The missiles detonated as Kira banked away from them.
A black raider decloaked to his right, and swung its beam saber down towards the Rouge's head. Kira dodged it by inches, and hit the raider by swinging the beam rifle at him. The rifle's body struck the one of the left dragon wings, snapping a portion of it off. The raider flew out of control for a section, before it cloaked and vanished.
Two more raiders appeared beneath him, and fired multiple beam blasts. Kira pulled a back flip, barely avoiding the beams, then returned fire with his rifle. His beams caught one raider, vaporizing the raider's rifle. The other fired two slugs from its rail guns, one of them catching the Strike Rouge's striker pack. The striker pack's left bottom wing was destroyed, along with the bottom thruster pod.
Kira barely regained control, when two more raiders materialized to his right, and there beam fire caught the right arm of Strike Rouge at the elbow, blowing it off. The five raiders regrouped together in the distance, then cloaked, preparing for a new attack on him and the ship.
Kira glanced at his targeting radar, and assessed the tactical situation in a split second. With just one arm the Strike Rouge's capabilities was hampered severely. He opened a line to the Archangel over the tacnet. "Murrue-san. I have a plan." Kira told her quickly.
Murrue's confused face came on the MFD. "It's too risky. The raiders are just too close."
"Trust me, Kanchou. I can do it." Kira was already maneuvering the Strike Rouge to the bow of the Archangel.
Murrue nodded. "Give us a minute." Murrue she called up Murdoch down at the hanger bay and told him Kira's plan.
Murdoch didn't like the plan. "But Kanchou, its too dangerous. Tell the kid to think of another way."
"I already did, Chief, but he won't listen. So just do it," Murrue ordered. The chief just nodded assent. "Transfer catapult control to me." She looked over to the sensors station. "Mister Chandra, you'll handle the laser designator." It took less than a minute, and finally Murdoch reported in that everything was ready.
Kira was dodging another barrage of beams when the go signal from the ship was transmitted. As per his plan he flew on a far arc, luring the decloaked raiders to him. They ended up to the rear of the Archangel. He flew a little farther then turned into the chasing raiders. He flew aggressively passed them, breaking up their formation. He juiced every little amount of power he could from his undamaged thrusters, and the Strike Rouge rocketed pass the ship.
As soon as Kira passed clear, the Archangel opened up with its Valiant rail cannons and Helldart missiles at the pursuing raiders, catching one its path and destroying it. The others avoided the deadly barrage and started attacking the ship with missiles. CIWS turrets on the Archangel roared into life, intercepting the massive volley.
Kira flew to the front of Archangel, positioning himself in line with the second launch bay. The laser designator for the Archangel's catapult locked onto the Strike Rouge. "Laser designator locked on!" Chandra reported. Murrue waited till the Strike was three thousand meters away, then pressed the firing button. The catapult on bay two rushed forward.
The Integrated Weapons Striker Pack cleared the launch bay doors seconds later, launching itself on a near parallel course with the Strike Rouge, closing in on the mobile suit as it was guided via the laser designator. At two thousand meters, Kira ejected the damaged Aile Striker Pack, and the phase shift armor shut down. The approaching IWSP closed in at Mach six, and the Strike Rouge slowed to let it close.
Suddenly two of the raiders appeared above and to the rear of the IWSP, and fired its rail guns. Four super-velocity slugs flew at extreme Mach speeds for the IWSP, and Kira knew that the Striker Pack would be destroyed before it could link up with him, until a streak of gold flashed behind the IWSP.
A massive explosion blanketed space, as four rail slugs exploded upon the beam shield emitted by three drones of Akatsuki's DRAGOON system. The golden Orb mobile suit fired its beam rifle at the pursuers, and held them at bay. "You're all clear, kid. Do it now, Kira!" Mu shouted over the tacnet.
Kira edged the Strike Rouge over to the IWSP's flight path. The striker pack gently connected with the hard points on the Strike Rouge, and fresh energy coursed back into the mobile suit. Kira reactivated the phase shift armor, and flew back towards the fight.
Kira saw Ikeya and Nishizawa fly at his wings. "Go after those two to the left." The Murasame's banked left and accelerated away. Kira saw four raiders diving for the Archangel. He looked around for the Akatsuki, but Mu-san was engaged in a fight with two more. Kira opened up with his twin one hundred five millimeter cannons, which tore into the head of one raider and scattered the rest.
He knew that the raiders were hit bad but still dangerous, and that they were coming back for another attack, and with the Strike Rouge so close to the Archangel, the ship was sure to be caught in the fire. He positioned the Strike Rouge five hundred meters in front, and opened the line to Archangel again.
"Fire a volley of sulfur and armor piercing missiles at my location on my command."
Once more Murrue's face scowled back at him on the MFD. "But you'll get hit by the fire Kira-kun. Its too dangerous."
Once more Kira cut her off. "Just trust me and fire when I say so. I'll take care of the rest." He fired wild bursts from the one hundred five millimeter cannons and his shield's Gatling cannon, hoping to draw in the cloaked raiders to him.
It worked. Six raiders decloaked to his left and started their attack with a volley of beam fire. Kira blocked them with his shield, and was satisfied to see that the raiders will still coming, beam sabers coming to life from their arms. They continued to bridge the distance between them, as Kira timed his move right. This is going to cut close. Just a little closer, a little more… "Now Murrue-san. NOW!"
From the bridge Murrue waited for Kira's command as the raiders closed on him, and was ready as Kira's voice cut into the tacnet. "Corinthos, FIRE!"
Kira jerked the stick back and slammed down hard on the thrusters, as the Strike Rouge climbed fast, as the Archangel's launched its sulfur canister missiles. The raiders, caught unawares by the Strike's sudden move couldn't react quickly enough, and was pummeled by sulfur particles as the canister sprayed them. The sulfur canisters bathed the raiders in red dust, which filtered into the mirrage colloid dispensers, rendering them useless. Two more were pummeled by the follow up volley of armor piercing missiles.
Kira exploited the turn of events. He fired one last long burst from the shield mounted Gatling gun then tossed the shield away. He drew one of his 9.1-meter beam swords and flared his thrusters for his charging attack. The raiders began evasive maneuvers, but one blocked the sword with its own saber. Kinetic lightning crackled as beam saber met sword, and the two titans of war struggled to gain the advantage over the other.
Suddenly his radiation alarm blared, as a blinding flash was engulfing space to his right, and the light was growing rapidly. The flash became more pronounced, as it formed into a massive stream of positron energy that completely disintegrated two raiders in its path. Kira barely got the Strike Rouge out of the way, as the beam continued forward, the impact of collision did not lessen the force of its power.
Kira turned to the direction of the positron beam, and found him staring in disbelief, as the massive arrowhead shape of the ZAFT battleship Minerva loomed in the distance. She was accelerating towards them, her twin primary beam turrets spewing fire, its green beams lancing forth at the remaining black mobile suits, scattering them in all directions.
Murrue watched in shock at the sudden appearance of the ZAFT battleship. She knew so well of the history between the Archangel and the Minerva, how the two had fought either side by side or against one another in the war. Murrue was concerned that the Minerva would fire on her ship even though a peace treaty was signed between the countries they served. But the Minerva oriented itself to face the raiders, much to Murrue's relief. Chandra's voice confirmed her thoughts. "The Minerva is engaging the raiders, Kanchou."
She turned to the officer manning the weapons station. "Cover the Minerva. Don't let her be hit by the raiders."
Small lights began flying out of Minerva's two ventral launch bays, as a ZAFT mobile suit team rocketed forth to join the battle. And then her central bay opened, and Kira saw four smaller shapes fly out to join its allies.
The lead of the four, a small fighter craft, underwent a radical transformation, as its cockpit nose bent downward, folding up with the rest of the fuselage. Docking lasers connected it to beacons on the leg flyer, as the two components combined. The components docked next with the chest flyer, and the left are folded out, deploying the anti beam shield, and revealing the mobile suit's multi-antennae head. Finally, the Force Silhouette augmentation pack detached from its flyer, and docked with the mobiles suit's back. Its eyes lighted up, and the gray coloring of the body changed into a multicolored design as the energy battery powered up and the variable phase armor came online. The shield expanded, and the ZGMF-X56S Force Impulse blasted off to get into the middle of the fray.
The raiders reoriented themselves to meet the new threat, but the ZAFT units struck first. A black Gouf lashed out at a raider with its Slayer Whip heat rod, enveloping the black suit's right hand. The extreme heat melting into the arm, and the arm ripped away from the beleaguered raider. A yellow ZAKU Phantom angrily launched a volley of missile, which blanketed the damaged raider with multiple explosions. Finally the Impulse struck, a single beam blast from its rifle coring the raider, ending its existence.
The raider facing Kira fired its beam rifle again at the Strike Rouge, hoping to kill its opponent before the fresh enemy comes to challenge it. Kira was bringing up his shield to parry the strike, but was surprised as the beam missed, it's source's aim thrown off balance as another beam pierced through its head, killing its sensors and rendering the mobile suit mortally damaged.
Kira saw another ZAKU Phantom, the source of the accurate beam shot, this one amazingly colored in pink, slammed its foot down on the cored head of the raider, totally crushing it with sheer force of impact. The ZAKU flew away before the doomed raider was destroyed by internal explosions. The ZAKU paused to scowl at the Strike Rouge, as if dismayed at its performance in the battle, before it jetted off to join its companions.
Kira could now see that his side was now winning the battle. The arrival of the Minerva changed the tide dramatically in their favor. The raiders were taking heavy losses, and probably running low on energy. And the fresh ZAFT mobile suits, together with the Akatsuki and the Murasames were beginning to overwhelm them.
Hitomi looked over the red, white and blue mobile suit that was fending off the raiders. She recognized it as the Strike, a legendary mobile suit that was the boogeyman of ZAFT forces in the latter parts of the first war. She thought that it was destroyed at the end of that war, but realized that its operators probably rebuilt it. She noted the damage it had taken, and the stupidity of the pilot to think that he could take on multiple enemies all by himself. Hitomi angled the ZAKU to her left, and moved into her wing position behind the Impulse.
"Fan out in two's," Hawke-Taichou was commanding over the net. "Madison and Rena, cover the Minerva. Don't let those black suits get near her. Hitomi you're with me." The Impulse headed for the Orb battleship Archangel, which was about to be beset again by a couple of regrouping raiders, but were ably fighting them off with a golden mobile suit in support. Hitomi followed, firing off four of her missiles in two flights of twos.
The raiders dodged their fire, and turned to face them. One went after the Impulse while its trailer focused his attention at Hitomi. She deftly dodged the high velocity rounds of the raider's rail cannons, before she returned the complement with more missiles.
She looked over and saw her Taichou locked in the dance of death with the other black suit. They danced together in space, trading and avoiding fire, seemingly effortlessly. The raider tried to gain an advantage on the Impulse, but the infamous ZAFT mobile suit blocked its every attempt, all the while gaining an advantageous angle of attack on its enemy. Finally the Taichou gained a decisive advantage, and took the initiative, drawing her beam saber and slashed out to the raider. The saber's edge caught the raider at its hips, and the Impulse continued its deadly stroke, slashing upwards, cutting the raider in half.
Madison and Rena were also taking advantage of their counterparts. The support fire coming from the secondary batteries of the Minerva was keeping three black mobile suits busy, allowing her two friends to flank them. Madison skewered one with her beam sword, while Rena pushed the other two back with multiple blast from her beam gun.
Madison grabbed the impaled raider on its head, and thrust her sword deeper, until the raider's battery lines where cut in the violent attack. The raider slumped as power went out. Madison left her sword with the raider's remains, as it now floated powerless in the void of space.
Rena combined fire with the Minerva, peppering the two other raiders relentlessly, not allowing them to fire at the ship. The raiders saw their wingman's death via the Gouf's attack, and realized that the tide of the battle had changed decisively against them. They regrouped and veered away, with other raiders on their tails.
The last raider was still locked in combat with Hitomi, who was succeeding in blocking its attacks but nothing else. The raider kicked out, hitting the pink ZAKU with a glancing blow, but enough in the zero-G environment of space to throw Hitomi spinning out of control. Her main power shorted out with the violence of the impact, and warning claxons began blaring from the internal speakers.
Seeing his prey in trouble, the black suit lunged forward, twin sabers lengthening out, and began its final attack. But high velocity streams of metal slugs chain-sawed both arms of the raider cleanly off, knocking it back and forcing it to retreat with the rest of his allies, with the Orb Murasames in pursuit.
Hitomi found the damaged Strike flying off to her side. The Strike grabbed her ZAKU and stopped her uncontrolled spin. A helmeted face appeared on her MFD, looking at her with mesmerizing purple eyes staring threw the visor. "Are you alright?"
Regaining her focus, Hitomi replied. "Uhmm, yeah, thanks." She tried to reactivate the energy battery, but the power chargers were damaged and did not respond.
The Strike's pilot nodded. "I guess we're even then. Thanks for the backup. But you shouldn't have gone one-on-one with that last one up close. Better to have taken him on with your ranged weapons. Here, let me help you back to your ship." The line went dead, as the pilot cut his link.
"Hey!" Hitomi shouted. "Who the hell do you think you are you jerk? Who are you to critique my fighting skills?" Hitomi fumed, but the pilot didn't respond, content to carry her pink ZAKU back to the Minerva, much to Hitomi's chagrin and embarrassment.
Furutaka District
Orb City
Orb Union
December 25, CE 74
He silently stood there, on the street, looking at the house he grew up in all those years before, but now bereft of life or the spirit of his family, with him as the last to carry on their legacy. Shinn looked at its simple architecture, its blue paint cracking in places, the windows boarded up in its vacancy. He notice the garden in their front lawn looked like it was still tended, his mother's flower patch still full of the dandelions she loved.
Shinn's heart ached as he looked over this place he once called home. He unconsciously played with the pink cell phone he had in his pocket, the last reminder of his loved and lost sister, Mayu. She died with their parents when a stray beam struck them as Shinn's family was escaping the carnage in Onogoro during the Atlantic Federation's failed invasion in CE 71. Shinn was the only survivor of the tragedy, only because he was farther away from his family, trying to pickup this cell phone when Mayu dropped it. Shinn managed to evacuate from the battlefront, but witnessed the gruesome death of his loved ones, a memory that forever haunts his wounded soul.
Shinn eventually ended up in the PLANTs, where he entered the ZAFT Academy as a scholar, with the recommendation and support of then Colonel Todaka of the Orb military, who took care of the heartbroken orphan after the flight from Orb. Shinn graduated and became a military officer in ZAFT, and the greatest mobile suit ace of the Second Bloody Valentine War. Although Shinn returned to Orb during the early phase of the conflict, he never returned to his house, nor did he after the life changing events in the Battle of Messiah. This was the first time he came back, and was feeling reluctant to stay, the memories overwhelming him.
He was about to leave, when someone called out his name. He turned towards the sound, and saw and elderly, stooped woman watching him from the gate of the house beside his. She was a kind lady, her face wizened with age. She was part of his Shinn's life growing in this place. "Is it really you, Shinn Asuka?" she asked.
Shinn walked over and bowed respectfully. "Hello, Mrs. Hizayakawa. A Merry Christmas to you. I'm glad you still recognize me."
She nodded. "How could I forget you, my boy. You and your sister were always making that racket over by your house. Always fighting and chasing one another. It's hard not to hear you two," Mrs. Hizayakawa smiled, reminiscing the days when life dwelled within the walls of Shinn's place. "So how are you and your sister? Are you doing well?"
The pain of heartache again filled Shinn. "No. She's dead. She died while we were evacuating three years ago. She died along with my parents."
Sadness and concern faced Shinn from the wizened woman. "I see. So you just came back. Well come along." She started to go inside his house, beckoning Shinn to follow. Shinn hesitated, not really wanting to go inside his old home, lest the ghosts of his lost haunt him. But his neighbor looked over her shoulder. "Come on now. I haven't much time you know."
They reached the doorway, and Mrs. Hizayakawa took out a bundle of keys. "I still have the keys to your place your mother left me," she said, as she looked for the appropriate one. She eventually found it, and opened the door. "I've seen to it that your place is clean. No electricity though, the power company cut the lines years ago. But I've tended to your mother's garden as if it was my own."
Shinn stepped through the door and went into his living room. As expected, the ghosts began to haunt him, feeling him with a great feeling of lost and grief. But he kept himself in check, not wanting to cry in front of the kind old lady.
"You miss them do you?" his neighbor said softly.
Shinn couldn't hold back the tears anymore. "Hai. I miss them so much."
She nodded knowingly. "Come. I will make you some tea. I'll start boiling some water first on the stove. Then we can talk."
They spent a good portion of an hour conversing, talking about how their lives changed after the fateful day in Onogoro. Mrs. Hizayakawa talked about how she lost her only son, who was a tank officer with the Orb's defense forces. She lived alone now, although the children of her surviving daughters visit her, and spend the weekends with her. She kept herself well by having a simple lifestyle, eating the right food and doing light exercise. She said she still felt lonely at times, mostly at night as she slept alone in the house. She wasn't concerned for her safety since their suburb was relatively quiet and crime-free. But to a widow who had outlived her husband and son, and with the rest of her children living their own lives, life was sure lonely.
Shinn related his story after he left for the PLANTs. He told how Todaka helped him enter the Academy, his years studying and training, the friends like Rey and Luna that he met, and how he served in the militia after graduation. He omitted certain parts of the story like his participation in the raid on Orb and the battle of Messiah. He also told her of his erstwhile new life in Germany, how he lived that secluded life. When the old woman asked him why he only returned just now, he told her he wasn't ready before. He didn't say anything else, and a uncomfortable pause crept into their conversation.
The silence was broken by the ringing from Mayu's cell phone. Shinn started using it when he arrived on Orb a few days ago, trying to make contact with Athrun, Meyrin or anyone of their friends. He eventually got to talk to Luna's younger sister, who wasn't particularly happy to speak to him. Even though the sisters were living separate lives in faraway places, they remained close, not allowing the events late in the war to affect them. Meyrin just didn't want to return to the PLANTs anymore, to avoid the awkwardness after being falsely accused of being a traitor. And Luna thought that Shinn would stay in the militia, so she agreed to retain her commission with ZAFT. But that was before Shinn suddenly left her to be in Germany. Meyrin eventually found out about it, and she was obviously feeling hurt for her sister.
So Shinn wasn't surprised that it was Meyrin who was calling, she promised to call if she got the preparations done for him. Shinn excused himself from Mrs. Hizayakawa and answered the call. "Hello, Meyrin."
"Hello Shinn," she replied blandly. "I've made the arrangements for you. We're waiting for you right now. So if you can get here as quickly as you can the better."
That was fast, Shinn thought. She must really want to get rid of me quickly. "Okay. Where should I meet you?" Shinn listened to Meyrin as she gave instructions to get to where she was. "Okay, I got it. I'll be there within the hour." He waited for Meyrin to hang up, before he spoke once more. "I'm sorry Mrs. Hizayakawa, but I have to go. I have an appointment to keep."
The old woman nodded and stood up from her chair. As they began to go out of the house, she held Shinn's arm and stopped him. "Before you leave Shinn, I think you should have this back." She handed him the keys she kept.
Shinn studied the keys on his hand. "I don't know, Mrs. Hizayakawa, if I should take it right now. I'm not sure when I'll be back."
The old woman smiled at him. "I know that, Shinn. But this way you'll know that you always have a place to come home too. This will always be you home. Your family would have wanted it this way."
Shinn could feel the wetness in his eyes, and shook them away. "Arigato. Mrs. Hizayakawa. I would like that very much."
Main Hanger Bay
Minerva
Geosynchronus Orbit Over Earth
December 25, CE 74
Hitomi was still fuming as she waited with Hawke-Taichou for the Strike's pilot to come out of the mobile suit. The Strike landed on the Minerva, which had ended operations and was now orbiting beside the Archangel, while carrying her shut down ZAKU with its remaining limb. It was ironic that the two battleships, mortal enemies during the last war, were now side by side, fighting a common enemy. Whether or not this new alliance was temporary or not, only time would tell.
Hitomi wanted to give the Strike's pilot a piece of her mind, and she didn't care what her superiors or crewmates would do or say to her. She felt embarrassed and insulted that someone beside her commanders had the nerve to patronize her.
Her friends were walking up to her, mischievous smiles framed on their faces. Madison ruffled her hair, and playfully punched her in the shoulder. "I heard you were saved by your knight in shining, red, white and blue armor," she teased, indicating the now gray Strike. Rena swooned beside her. "Isn't it romantic, Hitomi? Your hero risked his life and limb, literally," Rena pointed at the Strike's limbless arm, "to save you, his princess!"
Hitomi turned on them. "First of all he is not my knight-in-whatever-color-armor and I am not his princess!" she insisted. "Whoever that bastard is, I saved him first! He's no Prince Charming for me, that's for sure!"
"Cut that racket, the lot of you," Hawke-Taichou scolded, as the cockpit of the Strike opened, and its pilot began to go down on the lift cable.
Taisa Devereux and Chusa Arthur Trine, the Minerva's first officer since its maiden voyage a year ago, walked towards them, Chu-I Abi Windsor and Chu-I Mad Abes, the chief tech of the Minerva, trailing from behind. "I've come to talk to him too, Lunamaria," the Kanchou spoke. The Taichou nodded, and joined the commanding officer's party.
The pilot had now stepped off the lift cable and was walking over to the waiting group. He was definitely a man, not so tall, with a trim physique, evident in his blue, orange and white ODF-style flightsuit. He walked confidently, as if knowing that no one in the hanger had the ability to take him on. Well he hasn't met me yet. Hitomi thought evilly.
The pilot stopped in front of them, and took off his helmet. Hitomi saw for the first time his serious but handsome face, framed under a mass of long brown hair. The pilot looked each of them over once and smiled at them, and Hitomi sensed a great power and wisdom emanating from those purple eyes that caught her under its magical spell while he spoke to her in the ZAKU. The pilot saluted Taisa Devereux. "Thank you for granting me permission to come aboard, Kanchou," he spoke in a soft voice.
The Kanchou returned the salute, and extended a hand over to the Strike's pilot. "It's the least I could do for saving the life of one of my pilots, Shousho." Hitomi felt his cheeks burn, and frowned at Rena, who was failing miserably from keeping herself from giggling. Madison promptly shut her up by stepping on Rena's feet.
If Devereux heard their antics, the blue haired officer showed no sign of noticing. "I'm Taisa Jane Devereux, the captain of the Minerva. I welcome you to our ship, Shousho Yamato. You've met my exec, I believe," she indicated Chusa Trine.
The pilot nodded. "Hai. I met Chusa Trine after the fighting on the moon." Trine, for his part, kept silent. The exec had a look of animosity for the pilot, which Hitomi didn't understand.
Devereux gestured for Hawke-Taichou to come forward. "And I know you know my mobile suit team commander."
The pilot smiled broadly at her Taichou. "Hai. Her sister and I are good friends. Its nice to see you again, Luna."
Returning his friendliness with a smile of her own, the Taichou shook the proffered hand. "Likewise, Kira-san. I guess my sister's doing well. Is she with you on the Archangel?" she asked.
"Iie. Meyrin is back in Orb. She's so busy with the Foundation that she didn't go with us to Copernicus. But she's well and doing fine."
Hawke-Taichou nodded satisfactorily. "That's good to know. I'm surprised to find out you were flying the Strike, Kira-san."
The man named Kira Yamato grinned. "It was the only one available at the time," he said, not revealing anything else. He spoke to the Kanchou and Taichou some more, before the Taichou called Hitomi over. It was at that exact point that Hitomi realized just who the pilot was.
Kira Yamato? His name is Kira Yamato? Hitomi stopped, her eyes growing wide with astonishment and awe. She was so irritated and angry at him that name did not register immediately to her brain. Oh my god! That's Kira Yamato! The legendary pilot of the equally legendary Freedom and Strike Freedom! He's the pilot of the Strike? Why isn't he flying that new mobile suit, the Strike Freedom?
Fear and awe swept into Hitomi as she suddenly remembered all the stories she heard in the Academy about this man. He was supposed to be the most fearsome mobile suit pilot in recent history. Piloting the Freedom, Kira Yamato fought both the Earth Alliance and ZAFT, as a member of Orb and the infamous Terminal, at the side of Lacus Clyne.
If Hitomi believed what little she heard from the grapevine and what she gleaned from her Taichou's stories, this man's skill with a mobile suit was almost god-like. It was said that when Yamato fights, especially with the Freedom, he was almost untouchable, and all who stood in his way would fall by wayside. His flying skills was said to be unmatched, and his uncanny aim allowed him to disable all of his targets but leave their pilots unharmed.
Hitomi heard the story of the legendary duel Yamato had with Athrun Zala, the son of former Chairman Patrick Zala and another famed pilot and ZAFT ace. She also knew that her Taichou knew and fancied Zala, who at one time was the Minerva's mobile suit team commander, before he left ZAFT as a supposed traitor, taking the Taichou's sister along with him. Zala and Yamato were best of friends, but were forced to fight to the death, when Yamato fought with the OMNI Enforcer in the first war.
Zala supposedly killed Yamato, destroying the Strike, but he mysteriously came back to life, flying the Freedom, and helped end the Battle of JOSH-A during the failed Operation Spit Break, saving the lives of many ZAFT soldiers who fell into the trap laid out by the EA. He then joined forces with Zala in defeating the invasion of Orb, and eventually fought to end the first war at the Second Battle of Jachin Due, the two warriors intercepting the nuclear missiles fired at the PLANTs, again saving millions of Coordinator lives.
Yamato was also said to almost single-handedly defeat the famed ZAFT ace Rau La Crueset at the Jachin Due, and then he disappeared. He reappeared a year ago, saving the Minerva from his Orb allies in Dardanelles and Crete. When Shinn Asuka, the Minerva's former resident mobile suit ace and the Taichou's lover, supposedly defeated and killed Yamato when Asuka destroyed the Freedom, again Yamato returned to defeat Asuka with his new mobile suit, the Strike Freedom, during ZAFT's raid on Orb.
At the last battle of the second war, Yamato led the Terminal in defeating the ZAFT forces loyal to Chairman Dullindal, and helped destroy the Messiah. And there was also a rumor that he faced down Dullindal as the Messiah was burning down, and escaped the collapsing fortress only seconds before it exploded into a small supernova.
Of all the mobile suit heroes and aces she heard of, she held Kira Yamato in her pedestal for the best. She admired everything about him, and though he never saw any pictures and images or him, she still fancied him in a way. But she never dreamt of meeting him personally. It was like a Christmas wish come true, if she ever dared to wish for it. And now here he was, standing in front of her, in the flesh, and on Christmas Day of all days.
And here I am about to call him a jerk! Hitomi's train of thought was cut off as Kira Yamato extended his hand to her. "I'm glad to meet you, Shou-I," looking at her with those captivating purple eyes.
Feeling heat from her cheeks, Hitomi didn't know whether to shake his hand or not. She was at a lost at what to do. She resisted the temptation to look at her friends for help, but she realized that they'd probably be smiling back at her mischievously, Rena especially. Seeing the reprimanding glare from Hawke-Taichou, she decided to the salute instead. "Shou-I Hitomi Minamoto, sir! Its an honor to meet you, sir!" she shouted out like a new fresh-faced cadet.
Yamato was taken aback, as if uncomfortable with being addressed in the way due to his rank. He held up his hands. "No need to salute, Shou-I. At ease." He smiled genuinely, as if talking to a long lost friend. She felt the warmth of his touch as he took her hand and brought it down from her salute. "You did very well out there. I'm so glad you're not hurt. Thank you for taking out that raider for me."
"I-its m-my p-pleasure, sir," Hitomi stammered. At her back, Rena was giggling uncontrollably now. Madison eyes where closed in exasperation. Taisa Devereux cleared her throat, and spoke to Yamato once more.
"I've spoken to Ramius-Kanchou on the Archangel, Shousho, and she explained your journey back to Orb, when those raiders jumped you. From what she said those were most likely the same ones that hit Orb and Oslo days ago."
A serious look hardened Yamato's handsome features. "Hai. We've had intelligence reports from the Orb attack. The black mobile suits matched the description from the data we've gathered from the raiders Orb shot down. They're we'll armed and flown by skilled pilots. You saw how hard it was for us to fight them off. If you hadn't come to help us, well," Yamato didn't finish.
The Kanchou raised her right hand. "It was our pleasure, Shousho. Ramius-Kanchou inquired about you, asking if you were all right. We told her you landed safely on our ship and we'll resupply you here. We don't have replacement parts for you mobile suit though, but we could charge your energy battery for you."
Yamato bowed. "Arigato, Devereux-sama, but it would not be required. I've got enough power left to get over to the Archangel. I believe she is alongside the Minerva, ne?"
The Kanchou confirmed this with a nod. "She is currently recovering your other mobile suits. It looks like one of your Murasames was badly damaged, but Ramius-Kanchou indicated that the pilot was banged up, but generally unharmed."
Yamato looked over to a corner of the hanger, where the wreckage of a raider mobile suit lay prone, the hole made by Madison's sword gaping through. "I see you salvaged that thing."
The Kanchou nodded once more. "Better to get it and study it than leave it to a Junk Guild scavenger. We need to gather all the date from it that we could." She ran her eyes along the lines of the salvaged raider. "I'm not sure if I could, but I am willing to share with you whatever data we find out."
"Thank you, Devereux-Kanchou, but I guess we need to go through the proper channels for that. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the offer."
Chu-I Windsor put her hand to her earpiece and spoke to the Kanchou. "Message from the Archangel, Kanchou. They have completed recovery operations and preparing for their atmospheric descent for Orb. Taisa Ramius is requesting Shousho Yamato to return immediately."
"Then I better be getting back," Yamato bowed to the Kanchou once more. "I thank you again for your hospitality. Devereux-Kanchou. And it's good to see you again, Luna-san."
The Taichou bowed back with Devereux-Kanchou. "Please say hello to my sister for me, okay?"
"Hai. I will." Yamato started to leave, but stopped in front of Hitomi. "Good luck, Hitomi-san," he said, giving her the friendliest smile she had ever seen. "I would like to meet you again when all this trouble is over - oh and a Merry Christmas too you."
Blushing as pink as her ZAKU, Hitomi tried to hide this by bowing. "Arigato, Yamato-sama. Merry Christmas to you too. It has been my honor to have met you." Yamato bowed back and began to walk towards his dormant mobile suit. He was about to step on the lift cable when the Kanchou spoke up again.
"You are going to look for them, aren't you, Yamato-sama," the Kanchou said. It wasn't a question, more like a statement of fact. "The Archangel is going to look for the raiders."
When Yamato looked over his back, supreme resolve and determination filled his face. "We have to act, Devereux-Kanchou. We can't just let the chaos cast a shadow at our new peace again." And Yamato started to go up to his mobile suit's cockpit, with Hitomi watching him until he disappeared within the Strike.
Later, in their quarters, as her friends slept soundly and peacefully, Hitomi lay awake, thinking of the new dreams she will have in the future - dreams of a brown haired pilot, looking at her with enchanting purple eyes.
Kuzzey's Koffee Korner
Orb City
Orb Union
December 25, CE 74
Shinn arrived at the designated place. It was in the middle of Orb City's sidewalk café district, filled with people of all walks of life enjoying a leisurely drink or meal in the different establishments that lined the streets. Students were chatting and debating things, businessmen were still negotiating deals, couples cozying up to each other, lone folks quietly reading or playing with digital devices, and families were relaxing in their free time together, all enjoying drinks or sumptuous meals, celebrating the Christmas holiday of the year.
Shinn walked for a few minutes through the crowd walking along the boulevard on this holiday, until he found the place he was looking for. It was a cozy little place, filled with college students lounging in its comfortable chairs. Kuzzey's Koffee Korner had the look of comfortable welcome for those who enjoy its ambience and caffeine drinks.
He found Meyrin sitting on one of the sidewalk tables, under a colorful outdoor umbrella. She wore her long red hair in her favorite way - that of twin ponytails on the sides of her head. She was wearing a beige spaghetti strap blouse, and a blue pair of shorts, with flip-flops adorned by her tiny feet. She was sipping was looked to be mango juice, and looked like she was enjoying her cold drink on this warm day. Shinn noticed that she hadn't change, and was looking a lot like her sister - including the frown Meyrin wore as she saw him approach.
Her two companions did not move as he approached. Both were male, and both looked to be competent and formidable. The younger one, about his age, had a bored look in his face, and had his hands behind his ruffled blonde hair. He wore a green, island shirt, and drawstring pants. He was biting on a small umbrella toothpick that he took from his empty glass. He eyed Shinn as he walked over to them, and Shinn felt that he knew this person, and met him somewhere.
The other person seemed to be the only one really enjoying himself. He was the oldest of the group, by the bulk of his body. He also wore an island shirt - this one in a very loud yellow - and beige shorts and sandals. He hid his eyes under dark shades, under a ridiculous looking straw hat. A wooden cane stood leaning on one side of his chair. The man was the only one drinking a hot one, this time coffee, on a mug with a tiger cartoon drawn on it. Shinn didn't recognize him, but felt an aura of danger emanating from this individual.
Shinn was still looking at him when he stopped in front of their table. He nodded at Meyrin and greeted her. "Hello Meyrin."
Meyrin didn't say anything but turned to the older man, who in turn spoke to the younger one. "I told you that he'd come right away after Meyrin called. You owe me five bucks, Elsman." The younger man grimaced as he handed over some bills to the older. The older man smiled at Shinn.
"I guess you're interested in Athrun's offer, Shinn Asuka?"
Shinn felt his anger grow at the man's arrogance. "I wont speak to someone I don't know."
The one called Elsman laughed. Meyrin tensed. The older man smiled more broadly as he took off his hat and shades, revealing the scar the cut into his right eye, closing it forever. "Then let me introduce ourselves. You already know Meyrin, of course. The young happy fellow over there is Dearka Elsman. And I am Andrew Waltfeld."
Shinn recognize the names instantly. Andrew Waltfeld. The Tiger of the Desert! ZAFT's former desert forces commander and now a primary mover of the Terminal. And Elsman's one of those who stole the prototype mobile suits from the EA in that infamous raid on the ill-fated Heliopolis colony. If he was here, that meant that Dearka Elsman was also a member of the Terminal. These guys were serious players.
Waltfeld gestured for Shinn to sit down in an empty chair. Shinn slid silently into it, keeping locked in eye contact with the Desert Tiger. Waltfeld leaned back into his chair before he spoke up once more. "Something to drink, Mr. Asuka? Don't worry about paying. Its compliments of Elsman here," Waltfeld said, waving the money Elsman lost in their bet.
When Shinn said nothing, Waltfeld chuckled. "I see that you're the uber-serious type. Well then. Let's get to business." Waltfeld leaned forward. "What can we do for you?"
Shinn inhaled deeply. "I want in."
Waltfeld's left eyebrow shot up. "In on what?"
"Whatever Athrun offered me. I want to help."
Waltfeld sat back once more, his arms planted upon the armrests, his fingers touching each other. "Then we have a problem, Mr. Asuka."
Shinn looked confused. Not waiting for his reply, Waltfeld spoke on. "I am not privy to what Athrun-san said to you. So I cannot offer what he has. Unless you are willing to wait for him - he is currently out of the country."
Shinn felt his exasperation growing as he was getting tired of the by-play. "Mr. Waltfeld, I'm sorry if I sound rude. But I've had about enough of your bullshit. Zala offered me a chance to be part of whatever you are doing. He said I had a place in it all if I wanted. But if you're just going to give me the go-around and have me wait, then I'll just leave."
Waltfeld's one good eye hardened and stared into Shinn's eyes. Shinn held his gaze, and eventually stared the wily ZAFT commander down. "Tell me why I should help you," he commanded.
Shinn tossed the picture and copy of the email on the table. "This email was sent to me a few days ago. It shows this picture," Shinn pointed to it, "with that woman encircled in red shooting at the speaker. I know that woman. She looks a lot like Stellar Louisser, an Extended pilot who died in the last war. She was the pilot of the first Destroy that ravaged Berlin." Shinn took a quick look at Meyrin, who recognized the person as the pilot they captured after Dardanelles, and Shinn freed - the woman who Shinn loved before he turned his attentions to her sister, Lunamaria. "She's been dead for several months now. I know 'cause I buried her." Shinn let his last statement sink in. "But this picture was taken less than two months ago. That can't be."
Waltfeld considered the picture. "Are you sure it's not a digitized fake?" Shinn shrugged. "What does this picture mean to us?"
Shinn was ready for his question. "I think it's connected to the attacks you've suffered."
"And you think we're doing something about it? How can you be so sure?"
"I'm not really sure," Shinn sighed. "But I know you're going to do something. At least knowing Zala, he would." Meyrin looked sad upon hearing Shinn's last words. "And I want in." Shinn stiffened, and said the words he thought he could never say to people he wanted to despise. "I'm begging you to let me join you."
Waltfeld smiled. "Now you're talking. Humility will get you anywhere." Again the anger flared within Shinn, but again Waltfeld beat him to the punch by talking first. "All right, you're in, for Athrun's sake at least. If Athrun-san thinks you can be of help, then I trust his judgement." He waggled a finger at Shinn. "But only in the condition that you would do whatever we say to you. This is still a military outfit, and we're not a democracy. I don't want your excuses about slacking off because you don't want to. In our group everyone pulls his weight and follows orders. Understood?"
Shinn nodded. "Hai."
Waltfeld smiled once more, and offered his hand to Shinn. "Then welcome aboard, Shinn Asuka. May you not curse the day you ever got involve in our crazy troubles! After all, Terminal has the knack attracting more trouble than any of us ever wished for."
