Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam SEED
Hey everyone! I just want to say a big thank you to all the reviewers! I love you guys! Anyway, on with Chapter five.
The shuttle touched down in ZAFT's earth territory. Jo felt incredibly heavy. She would never get used to the earth's gravity. She stood up and made to exit. Of course, she tripped going down the steps. Athrun tried to grab her, but missed. This was going to hurt in the morning. But the ground never came. Instead, she found herself in someone's arms.
Looking up, she saw Yzak's ice-blue eyes. She felt her face burn scarlet. 'S...sorry.' she muttered, and straightened. Yzak was scarlet as well. The other three started sniggering. Yzak spun round. 'What are you laughing at? You'd have caught her as well!' Jo couldn't help smiling. Yzak Jule was such a child sometimes, that's why she liked him.
Rau watched his young team assemble. Jo flashed him a smile, and stood next to Yzak. Her face was scared for life, eyes didn't grow back. Yzak was hanging onto his scar because he had promised the death of Strike's pilot by it. This was proof, he had a psychotic youth on his hands. He smiled at them. 'Welcome to earth. The Legged ship is now on its way to Alaska. I'll be very busy with "Operation Spitbreak", so I'm leaving its destruction up to you.'
He glanced at each of them. Nicol was too passive to be a leader, Yzak was too violent, Dearka would just follow Yzak and Jo wasn't ready. Don't be stupid! You know she's ready. You're just making excuses to be protective! a voice in his head muttered. He ignored it, and looked at Athrun. 'Athrun, you're in charge.'
The boy stopped examining the floor tiles at once. His face was completely bewildered. 'M...me?' he stammered. Rau stared at him, Athrun really had no faith in himself. 'Yes, you. And I'd suggest you start by moving out to the Carpentaria base.' Athrun nodded and managed a shaky 'Yes sir.' Rau nodded, and left.
'So, it's come to this, lets hope he doesn't kill us all.' Dearka laughed. 'Dearka!' Nicol growled, gesturing at Athrun. He looked in serious need of a hug. 'Zala, shouldn't we get movin' towards Carpintaria?' Athrun nodded numbly.
The rules about uncomfortable seats seemed to extend to transport planes. Jo groaned and crossed her legs. After about 15 minutes, she began to hum softly. The pilot of the transport plane sighed, most of the soldiers he'd seen were only teenagers. Why did the army take them? The were to young to understand what being a soldier ment. Ensign Wheeler, "ZAFTs Bloodstained angel", a small, broken child, lost to a raging war.
'Hey! On your left!' an urgent voice sounded. He twisted the wheel, and managed to dodge the shot. The ship behind him wasn't so lucky. It took a hit to its left wing. Wheeler was already moving. 'Let me launch!' she shouted. 'Caliber can't fly! An airborne attack is useless!' he yelled back. They both watced in horror as the ship exploded, and the Aegis went down, taking the EA battleship with him.
Jo stepped off her transport plane. This whole team seemed to take it in turns to go missing. She wondered when it was her turn. OK, enough with the paranoid thoughts, Jo. Yzak seemed to think himself second in command, he was currently explaining that their search for Athrun would have to wait until morning. She stroked Luch absently, wondering why Yzak and Dearka seemed to find the fact Athrun was missing so funny. 'Now, I think we should get some sleep,' Yzak finished.
Jo couldn't sleep. The faces of the dead always came at night. EA soldiers she'd killed, people she'd lost. Tonight, however, a new face was added. The face of a teenager she didn't know. A boy, with messy brown hair and light purple eyes. He was clad in an EA flight suit. No way, in hell, was she going to find sleep tonight.
She climbed out of bed, pulled on her uniform trowsers and left the room. The minute she was outside, she regretted not bringing her jacket. Nights on earth were way colder. 'Little Lady? What are you doing out here?' She looked around, and saw Yzak standing a few feet away. 'Couldn't sleep. You?' she replyed, walking over. He shrugged.
They walked together in silence for some time. Neither of them saw any reason to break the stillness of the night. Jo could guess Yzak also suffered from insomnia. Only someone who did could understand the need to be quiet. She smiled softly, and moved closer to him.
Yzak started as Jo's arm brushed his. The wind blew her long purple hair all over the place, until it covered both their faces. He pushed it away, going slightly pink. She pulled it behind her head, smiling sheepishly. He noticed slight tremors running through her body. 'Hey, you're shivering!' he said, slipping off his jacket and wrapping it 'round her. She started, then blushed and muttered 'Thank you.'
On the walk back, the distance between them was almost non-existant.
Nicol found Athrun the next morning. He wouldn't tell them anything about his night on the island. It was obvious that he had not been alone, unless he'd decided to shoot himself.
Jo hit the wall when the battle alert sounded. Why-oh-why couldn't that ship just CRASH or something? They met in the hanger, all agreeing on one thing, the Legged Ship was going down today!
Luch sat on her shoulder, his tiny claws digging into the material of her flight suit. Battles never scared her now. They used to, but now they were almost routine. Knowing you could die was old as well. Everybody had die sometime. 'This is Ensign Joffie Wheeler on Caliber, launching!'
'Jo, Nicol, you go straight for the Legged Ship! The rest of us will cover you!' Athrun yelled. He really didn't sound to well. 'Got ya!' she answered, and followed Nicol towards the Legged Ship. The huge bulk of the engines provided a lot of power, but they were too big a target. The first slash of her sabre didn't do much damage. She sighed, this was going to take a while.
'JO! BEHIND YOU!' she heard Nicol scream. She barely managed to dodge Strike's shot. 'Athrun! Start watching my back or else!' she shouted angrily. Dearka moved in and attacked Strike. 'Sorry I'm late, Little Lady!' he yelled. She shook her head and turned back to the Legged Ship.
'Attention all ZAFT and Earth Alliance fleets, you are heading towards Orb territory. If you cross into our waters, you will be removed by force!' Jo stopped momentarly, then continued her attack. In its condition, the Legged Ship wouldn't reach Orb waters. 'How can you say that? The Archangel was made by Orb! Let us cross, Do not attack!' a young female voice sounded. That couldn't be Archangel's captain, could it? She sounded far too young.
'Put my father on the line! Let Uzumi Nara Attha talk to me! I'm his daughter, Cagalli Yula Attha!' 'Cagalli?' Jo heard Athrun mutter. How the hell did he know the Orb prime minister's daughter? At that instant, the Orb fleet opened fire. Jo barely managed to pull back in time. 'Athrun?' She heard Nicol ask as Athrun tried to continue the attack, but was knocked back. 'We've no choice, pull back!' he answered bitterly, watching as the Legged Ship entered Orb territory.
'Meeting, guys!' Athrun stated as they got changed. They nodded. He could see how angry they were. For himself, he was unsure as to whether he should be angry too, or relieved that Kira had gotten away. The report still annoyed him, though, and he knew it would definitely annoy the others.
'What? You expect me to just accept this?' Yzak screamed angrily. Jo glared at the report, fully understanding his sentiments. 'The Archangel has already left Orb,' Athrun stated. 'This is insulting!' Jo snarled. 'I may have lost an eye, but that doesn't make me blind or stupid! I saw them enter, and still Orb has the nerve to say they've left already?' The others nodded emphatically. Athrun stared at them expressionlessly.
'Why don't we just attack the damn country?' Yzak shouted. 'Because then the mainland would get involved, and we'd have a political crisis on our hands.' Athrun retorted calmly. 'So why don't we just sneak in?' Jo asked, hand on hip. The others stared at her, Athrun thoughtfully. 'Alright,' he said after a few moments. 'All in favour of sneaking in?' Four hands were raised high. 'Right. Lets go!'
