Disclaimer: Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny does not belong to me.
A/N: Let's go on to the story.
Phase
18: The Fated Meeting
Archangel
"Athrun-san, what do you think of having the War Gazers to help us out?" Murrue asked while reading the battle data of them compiled by Rey.
"I don't have the problem with that but I don't see the need." Athrun answered in response. He just didn't feel right especially with someone like Rey around in their party.
"Honestly, the data they had given me gave me a lot of insight. They can even actually go through the extent to record all the battle data that occurred caused by URANUS." Murrue commented while looking at the data.
"Look at this." Murrue passed Athrun his battle data with Asterisk which was in full detail. Nothing was left out. That impressed Athrun a lot.
"They were watching us all along which is why I don't think I can trust them. Who knows they may be analyzing our weaknesses and wipe us out using the data one day."
"Just because of Rey Za Barrel? I heard of him from Meyrin-san." Murrue smiled.
"No, not really…"
"Mwu said he can sense him. He believed in what they said. Even during the first war, he said he could sense Rau, a clone of his father."
"What?" Athrun was shocked to hear that Rau Le Cruset was actually a clone. He did not believe that a clone would really exist. "Rey… he said he's a clone." Athrun stammered.
"Which is why I believe what they said. In fact not only Mwu is a newtype. I believe there's another one. If not, Mwu won't be here." Murrue smiled sadly. Murrue more or less could confirm that Kira was one of their kinds too.
"But, I didn't see any battle data involving Kira-kun with the URANUS." Murrue said prudently. Athrun took the whole of the data off Murrue and started scanning through. He would want to make sure. They were sure that the Strike Freedom was defeated. But why wasn't there a single data on that.
Feeling lost, Athrun staggered onto a seat to balance himself. How was Kira defeated by the URANUS? That was the answer he wanted to know. Clenching his fist in fury he rushed to the base before Murrue could say anything else.
Underground Base
"Tell another of the fellow pilot of yours, he stand no chance against the Zeus if he wants to fight him now." Rey shouted at Mwu who was leaving.
"So?" Mwu challenged. "We'll make the impossible possible." Mwu turned and left.
"Oh my! You guys don't seem to be on talking term." Kazuki commented slapping his face. Rey just looked on to the direction where Mwu left.
URANUS Base in Suez
Lunamaria started her sewing job in the military base of the URANUS. She tried to act as her normal self while working to sew the uniforms of the soldiers of the URANUS who was in ZAFT uniform. She was familiar with all the strings and the sewing tactics used. A girl was staring at Lunamaria smiling sweetly which caused Lunamaria almost fell off her chair.
"May I know is there anything matter?" Lunamaria asked worried that her identity had been exposed.
"I see that you are pretty good at sewing the uniform of ZAFT." The girl commented smiling.
"That's…" Lunamaria tried to cover up.
"Can you come with me?" The girl asked. Lunamaria was reluctant but it could be a chance for her to learn more about URANUS and so she agreed.
"What's your name oneechan? The girl asked.
"Luna." Lunamaria hoped that her name was not too well-known.
"That's a very nice name just like the moon." The girl said smiling while holding her hand.
"I'm Mayu." She introduced herself. Lunamaria smiled at her innocence. On the other hand, she was wondering why in the world a teenage girl like her was in the military.
Mayu bought some snacks while they walked down the streets. She was eating happily jumping due to heat. "It's hot!" She handed Lunamaria a piece of kebab. Smiling Lunamaria took it.
Although she was my enemy, she was not a bad girl. Lunamaria thought while eating it. "It's so spicy!" Lunamaria almost jumped while Mayu laughed.
"I added too much chili so I gave it to you since I can't eat it." Mayu smiled. "Luna-neechan is kawaii!" Lunamaria pouted. She pinched Mayu on her nose. Mayu ran around waiting for Lunamaria to catch her. They were enjoying themselves until a guy with spiky blonde hair came over.
"Mayu-chan, we got to go." The man said. Lunamaria's eyes widened in shock as she covered her face in a hood.
"He's"
"Why? It's still early." Mayu replied reluctantly. She didn't want to go back.
"It's an order."
"Ok.. Sorry, Luna-neechan, I'll play with you next time. Oniichan came for me." Mayu ran waving goodbye to Lunamaria who waved back with a smile.
How can an innocent girl like her be our enemy? Lunamaria shrugged and returned to her position.
But it looks like she was one of the higher-ups Lunamaria saw Mayu in the Red ZAFT uniform just like the guy with spiky blonde hair. He was the one who annihilated the surviving extended in the facility days before and he almost killed Shinn.
Lunamaria decided that she would make friends with Mayu and tried to gain some information from her as she observed that Mayu was very close to the spiky blonde hair guy.
Minerva
Looking up at his Liberate Destiny, Shinn felt so useless. He actually let someone whom he wanted to protect to risk her life in the enemy territory while he was standing here.
He went up to the cockpit and touched the console in the machine. Lacus was standing below the Liberate Destiny feeling guilty. She didn't know if she was right not to let Shinn stayed by Lunamaria's side. She felt so selfish. Her main purpose was to let Shinn become stronger not physically but emotionally as well. He needed to believe in Lunamaria more. He should not let himself carry all the burden as Lunamaria could share the burden with him. He was not alone but Lacus was.
Lacus left the hangar feeling her way following the voice of her Haro. Shinn laid by the side of his seat sadly. Shinn fell asleep soon after. He dreamt of himself standing on a cliff. He saw a girl clinging on a branch by the cliff. He realized the seriousness of it that he ran and caught her hand.
"Keep trying." Shinn struggled to pull her up but the wind was getting stronger increasing the difficulty of him pulling the girl up from danger.
"Argh!" His hand was going to slip. Another hand appeared from behind helped him up. Together they pulled the girl up.
"Thank you for saving me." The girl thanked them and disappeared into the thin air.
"Hey." Shinn waved his hand on the spot where the girl vanished.
"Shinn, believe in your friends more. Don't bear all the burden alone." Shinn turned to where the voice came from. It was then he woke up almost falling off his cockpit from the height.
"I will, Kira-san." Shinn whispered. Deep down, he felt that as long as he was in the cockpit, he could feel presence of Kira. Jumping off from his seat, he ran to Yzak's office waiting for Lunamaria's report from the transport crew.
"Luna, we are counting on you." He mumbled running down the corridor.
Underground Base
Athrun slammed open the door in the base startling Kazuki who was receiving data from his fellow friends using their own War Gazer NewType linkage system despite that all the communication links were down due to the disruption.
"You startled me!" Kazuki grumbled.
"Tell me one thing. Do you know how Kira was defeated by them?" Athrun asked panting. Putting down his headphone, Kazuki eyed him seriously.
"You really want to know?" He asked Athrun in serious tone.
"Yes! I believe in you and your NewType theory. So please." Athrun pleaded desperately.
"Rey just told your fellow pilot regarding the Zeus." Kazuki pressed his remote control. A huge screen appeared showing the black with white stripe Gundam. Athrun was getting frustrated.
"If you want to rattle on on your theory, forget it, I'll ask Rey." Athrun said while he was about to take off.
"Don't you want to know about the mobile suit that took down your friend?" Kazuki raised the question. Athrun stayed in the spot.
"Strike Freedom was taken out too easily by that even I was surprised. It appeared that the pilot was already mortally wounded before he was even piloting the Strike Freedom going on his rampage. The Zeus took this as an advantage and defeated it once and for all." Kazuki explained. Rey who stood behind in the room overheard everything. Kazuki showed Athrun the clip of Zeus impaling the cockpit of the Strike Freedom from the back without any warning destroying it killing Kira with it.
"By the time we got to him, it was too late. My life detector was unable to sense any life sign from him. I'm sorry. It was regretful." Kazuki looked at Athrun sadly.
Athrun who was unable to control his sadness and feeling of loss any longer, he kneeled on the ground and cried in despondence. Kazuki headed to his room believing that he should be left alone for now.
"Rey, keep an eye on him." Kazuki instructed.
A/N: Please R&R. Next chapter, Nicol arrived at the Kingdom of Scandinavia. See you soon!
