Disclaimer: We've been through this, I don't own!

Hey, an update! Yeah! Thanks to the reviewers and I hope y'all enjoy chapter 12!

Lacus was happy. Her father was home. Because of their work, they rarely got the chance to be with each other. Just to sit down and drink tea together. Although, the last time they had, Jo had been there. Her stomach clenched, and her good mood dropped. Though of her friend was painful. After all, the younger girl could be lying dead somewhere down on earth. She bit her lip and glanced at Kira. He looked back, forcing a smile. The ringing of the telephone startled them all.

Siguel answered it and a young woman's face appeared on the screen. 'Chairman Clyne? This is Eileen Craver. Patrick tricked us. Panama is not the attack sight of Operation Spitbreak. The attack is focused on Alaska!' 'WHAT?' Lacus winced at the volume of her father's voice. Her head whipped round at the sound of breaking china. Kira glanced at the two of them, tears filling his violet orbs. 'The Archangel is in Alaska, if I don't do something, my friends will die. I'm going back to earth.' She blinked, then rose and, after a curt nod from her father, touched his arm.

'If that's the case, then follow me Kira.'

Kira stood alone in the spare room, a ZAFT uniform lying on the bed. One of Athrun's spares, apperently. But, if that was the case, then why'd it look so small? Athrun was a few centimeters taller than him, and though he was slightly thinner, there was no way this would be big enough for him. Unless, the uniform looked smaller than it was.

No, this definitely wasn't Athrun's. The trousers stopped just below his knees and refused to close, the white boots were several sizes too small, and the tee-shirt wouldn't even fit over his head. 'Hey Lacus! Has Athrun shrunk and gone on a diet?' he shouted. The pink haired girl came in. 'No, wh...Oh...' She stood staring at him for several minutes in utter shock, before collapsing in giggles and pointing to the wall behind his head. He turned and saw a picture hanging on the wall.

A young, purple-haired girl in a ZAFT uniform stood next to Lacus outside a large building. He stared at it and then gasped in shock. 'S...she leaves her uniforms here as well. She's got nowhere else to leave them. I'm very sorry Kira.' Lacus gasped, staggering out of the room and returning seconds later with another uniform. 'This is one of Athrun's. I'm really very sorry.' He shook his head and pulled off the trousers.

The halls of the ZAFT base were dully coloured. Kira wondered vaguely how Athrun had stuck them for so long. Lacus was leading him towards a hanger. I trust there's a reason she knows all these secert codes. I mean, Cagalli knew that code on Helipolis and she's the princess of Orb. Did she design all these GUNDAMs? He snapped out of his thoughts at the sight of a rather spectacular MS.

'This is ZGMF X10A Freedom GUNDAM. It is ZAFTs newest mobile weaponry. But my father and I feel that neither ZAFT nor the EA deserve to have such power. As you only wish to end the war, we feel you need power. That is why we want you to have the Freedom.' Lacus whispered. He stared at her. 'I..I don't know. It's a really big decision...' She smiled at him. 'Kira, sometimes inteligence alone isn't enough, sometimes power alone isn't enough either. Sometimes, you need both.'

He stared at her, repeating her words softly, then smiled. 'Who are you?' She returned the smile. 'I am Lacus Clyne, Kira Yamato.' He nodded and changed into Athrun's spare flight suit. The Freedom radiated sheer power when activated. Lacus appeared on the screen. 'Kira, if you see Caliber again...please don't shoot it down. Tell the pilot to get out of there. Tell the pilot that message is from me. Please?' He nodded and launched, flying by a small shuttle. Is Caliber's pilot the owner of that uniform? Is she your friend? The girl in your picture? If so, I'm sorry for hurting her.

Jo sat in the hanger of the sub, trying her hardest to look like she was not sulking and merely observing the final repairs to the Caliber. The childish pout on her lips told otherwise. Yzak walked up to her, his helmet under his arm. 'You might wanna stop pouting. It ruins your strong image, Little Lady.' He muttered. She smiled faintly and punched him in the arm with her good hand. 'I don't see why I can't go. My arm's out of the sling and the cut on my cheek is all but healed.' Yzak smiled at how childish she sounded.

'The commander has his reasons. Your arm is not fully...' 'Oh don't say it. Onii-chan already gave me this speech.' He winced at the way she refered to Rau. 'Yes, well, the commander is...?' He stopped in shock as her hands cupped his face and she stood on tiptoes. Her lips met his in a soft kiss. 'Don't die on me, y'hear? I wanted to go out so I could back you and Onii-chan up. I don't want to lose you two, I can't bear the thought of being alone. And I love ye too much to let this war take ye. So please, I'm begging ye not to die!'

He smiled. 'I won't, and le Creuset won't either. OK?' She nodded and he kissed her one more time. 'I love you too.'

Rau stared at them. I wish I didn't have to do this to you now, but I have to. I'm so sorry. 'Yzak! Into your cockpit, now! We're launching!' The silver haired teen nodded, jamming on his helmet and climbing into the Duel. Jo retreated slightly, the ridiculous purple mouse Athrun had made her sitting on her shoulder(AN: Y'all remember Luch? He hasn't appeared for so long, I just had to bring him back in. After all, he'll play a really big part soon...). He sighed and climbed into his DINN. Please forgive me for what I'm about to do to you.

The Alaskan base was huge. Rau landed his MS in the recently abandoned control booth. The Cyclops System? Yes, this should do nicely. Most of the forces situated here would be destroyed. His sub was situated far enough back so Jo would not get hurt. He would have to kill her...but only after he'd explained. It was the least he could do, after all she'd done for him. You're really going to kill her? You're her "Onii-chan" you selfish bastard! She trusts you! a voice in his head shouted, at the same time a sense of La Flaga's presence flashed.

He grabbed his gun and fired. The other man dodged the shot and squeezed off one of his own. Rau ducked. 'I'm sorry, Mu. I don't have time to play with you,' he hissed and strode out of the room via another door. I gotta get out of here. First off, contact Jule. Secondly, get back to the sub. Thirdly, get the gun off the redhead blocking my path.

The girl held the gun in shaky hands. Not the way Jo would. Jo would've held it steady, and have been confident about her aim. She wouldn't look so frightened. He smiled at the young girl. 'Give me that,' he said softly. His voice seemed to startle her, giving him time to knock her out. She collapsed in his arms and he carried her to his DINN.

'Commander?' Yzak's face filled the screen. 'We've already broken through the gates. If we keep this up, Alaska is ours!' Yzak sounded so confident. Pity about this. Jo would hate him, but he had to do this. 'The Archangel is on the field, Yzak. I need you to help take them down.' The boy's eyes sparkled. Revenge, payback for the two comrades he'd lost. It was stupid. Nothing would bring them back. Life ended so fast, never to be rekindled. A life ended felt no pain...a life left behind was forever tortured. That is why I must do this to you all. I'm so very sorry. Please Jo, at least try to understand.

With a sigh, he started up the MS and left towards the sub.

Jo watched her commander dock. He climbed out of his suit, a young girl in his arms. She raised her eyebrows. 'Onii-chan, isn't she a bit young?' He stared at her, a faint blush spreading across his features. She smiled. 'Who is she? A PoW?' He nodded, watching her carefully. She looked worried, and was smiling to cover it up. Just like she always did. So strong, and yet so fragile...

Suddenly, the ship rocked from a far off explosian. Jo gasped and staggered sideways. 'What was that?' she yelled. Rau stared at her. 'The cyclops bomb. The EA planted it at the base. Anyone in there is dead by now.' Her breath hitched in her throat and she whispered, 'But Yzak is in there...' 'Yes. He was attacking the Archangel on my order.' 'But you were in the base, why didn't you call him? Why didn't you tell him to pull back? Didn't you find the data?' He looked away, at the redhead being carried away on a stretcher. 'Yes, I did find it...' 'Then why...' She stopped as realization dawned on her. 'You...YOU SET HIM UP TO DIE!'

Well? Was it alright? Please R&R.