Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam

Here it is, the (hopefully) eagerly awaited update. This chapter we focus on Athrun and the friendship between him and Kira, and the conflict of friends being forced to fight. I took a few creative liberties with this one, creating a scene of my own to establish the friendship between these two characters.

Enjoy!

Gundam Seed Purpose Renew

Chapter 4: Silent run

I remember only one fond thing when I was sent to Copernicus, meeting Kira Yamato. We spent seven years at the prep school, getting up to mischief...alright we were good little boys. The rest of the world didn't bother us, when we were kids we didn't care about natural and coordinator differences back then. Mum got along great with Kira's parents, she'd baby sit sometime for whenever Kira's parents had business or just wanted to go out. It was during those times that we'd talk about our class work, video games, as we got older which girls we found cute and videogames. There was no real deep clichéd depth to our friendship, it was simple and ordinary. Sometimes friendship was just that simple, as simple as two people sharing the same interest in machines, the same philosophies, sometimes even finding the same girl cute. Being an only child and one of the few coordinators in the school, we could understand one another, we shared the same beliefs about conflict resolution, even if it wasn't always successful.

Copernicus, CE 67

The two boys were sprinting harder than they had before. Despite the desperation of their situation, the local gang running after them they couldn't help but smile.

"I still don't get it, we said they were better at sports than us, isn't complementing what they're good at enough?" Kira asked.

"I think it's more the fact that you followed it with a compliment about his girlfriend," Athrun said.

"It was a compliment!"

Athrun shook his head, grinning at the subtle and sarcastic whine in Kira's voice. The pair ran through a narrow alleyway, both looking behind them to see the school bullies.

"How did this whole thing start again?" Athrun asked.

"I outperformed them in science, maths and colonial architecture, they said I'm a coordinator, an insult to god, etc," Kira explained.

"And the kicker is they don't even share a class with us," the blue haired boy grinned.

He jumped off a bike rack and over the wall, just enough so that he could reach and grab Kira's hand.

"I thought the kicker was when you kicked their leader in the balls," Kira said.

Athrun laughed as he pulled Kira over the wall with him. Both landed in a heap on the other side of the wall. With sweat running down their faces they leant against the wall and began laughing.

"Seriously though Kira, they were desperate to pick a fight with you, I think the old 'we can understand each other' argument went out of the window," Athrun explained.

"It doesn't mean it shouldn't be made," Kira said.

"Yeah, I agree with you on that, especially when the stakes can be so high," Athrun sighed.

Kira lowered his head slightly as a silence hung over them. Lately, their conversations had always drifted into the territory every news channel covered, war. Violence between coordinators and naturals was beginning to grow worse than simple school yard brawls. Their parents tried to shelter them from it but they both knew that the deaths of coordinators became a common occurrence on Earth and there were a few 'near miss' skirmishes between Atlantic federation and ZAFT forces on the borders of the Plants. Athrun's father was the defence committee chairman of ZAFT, and everyday Kira saw the pain in Athrun's face whenever he saw him and his father together. Patrick Zala was no doubt a man who loved his family very much, yet he wasn't there enough in Kira's opinion.

"Still I think we should get back to our original point, why that red haired girl dates that guy I'll never know," he said, it was only thing Kira could think of to distract Athrun.

"Please Kira, don't date a shallow girl like that even if she is a red head," Athrun grinned.

"No, my parents were thinking of sending me to the Plants where I can have a wife picked out for me!"

Kira let his response hung over Athrun for a moment, and for that moment Athrun's frown showed how insulted he had been. In spite of that Kira couldn't stop himself from smiling and in time the two friends began laughing together. Later that day Athrun returned home where his mother was waiting. She was a wonderful and lovely woman, one could easily tell that she was Athrun's mother from her hair and eyes. That day however Lenore Zala wasn't smiling.

"Athrun," she called to her son.

"Yes mom?" the boy walked into the kitchen, looking at his mother in confusion.

"I just had a call from your father," she said.

A frown immediately spread across Athrun's face.

"What does he want?" he asked, barely hiding his animosity.

"Our situation is devolving, quite a few attacks against Coordinators have happened recently, I know you've gotten those bruises from kids at school," Lenore explained.

"I was helping out Kira, I didn't want to fight them", Athrun said.

"This isn't about you getting into fights Athrun, your father and I are proud that you're protecting your friend."

"Are you? Is he? Does father even know Kira's name? Does he know Kira's about the only friend I've made here, the only person who doesn't give a crap that my father is Patrick Zala?"

"Athrun please watch your mouth," the woman chided, without raising her voice.

"What does he know about the colony and how we live here? He sent us here and how often has he visited? If we move is he even going to meet us at the port or will he have his secretary do it?"

"Athrun!"

"We're fine here mom, nothing bad is going to happen if we stay here, I can finish my studies and then get an engineering job for a colonial development company," Athrun explained.

"Athrun!"

"Or if you really want to go to the Plants maybe I could go wherever Kira intends to study, he's brilliant so he'll obviously go for a technical college."

"ATHRUN ZALA!" Lenore yelled.

Athrun looked at his mother in shock, her cheeks were red in embarrassment. But that quickly faded as she looked at her son with a serious expression, one of concern and a need. It was a need to protect her son no matter the conflict.

"Your father is doing everything he can for us Athrun, I know he's away but he cares very much about us and you especially," Lenora explained.

"Yeah right," Athrun huffed.

"When we're talking, we spend just a few minutes talking about the day, he asks about you all the time. I'm sure he knows exactly what your friend's name is, and just how much you care about him, because it's the same way Patrick cares about Siegel," Lenora touched Athrun's cheek as she smiled. "Your father and Siegel have spent most of their lives thinking about hot to create a better world for people like us, a world where we can be free to live our full potential!"

"What about Earth?" Athrun asked.

"Earth?" Lenore looked at her son as if he had said the word for the first time. "The truth is Athrun, I don't think Earth is ready to accept us yet, the Plants is the best place for any coordinator."

"Do you believe that because it's what dad told you?"

"Yes, you'll understand one day Athrun, what it's like to trust someone so explicitly that you'll believe what they say even if it's not true," again Lenore smiled as she hugged her son.

I couldn't say no, not to Mum, not to Dad either. As much as I complained I wanted to please him, to this day I still do. Coincidentally Kira's parents had the same idea, but this time they aimed for any colony that was far away from Earth. Kira probably didn't complain as much as he told me he did, I can't see him defying his parents but then again he'd probably say the same about me. In the end we both wanted to be with our parents, to feel that sense of safety we've always felt with them. But our friendship was still so strong, we knew it would be difficult but we decided to stay in touch whenever we could. Kira spent that last week hanging out with me whenever he could, studying the Plant's brochures and what little information had been made public. Towards that last day I made something to always remind Kira of me, just so he wouldn't forget about me.

"Birdy!"

Kira looked at the green robotic bird in wonder. It perched in the palm of his hands, tilting its head like most birds did. Athrun stood in front of Kira, wearing the uniform his father expected him to wear.

"It's incredible," Kira said in awe.

"I know you've never been fond of this aspect of my engineering skills, but its good company, it reacts to your emotional state so it'll stay close if you're sad and it'll back off if you're angry and it responds to your commands too," Athrun explained.

"This is incredible, seriously Athrun you need to make toys," Kira grinned as Athrun rubbed his head bashfully.

"It's an idea I suppose, but I want to focus on something that'll help the Plants, maybe engineering," Athrun said.

"Same here, the technical college I'll be going to is top notch, I'm surprised my parents were able to get me a place," Kira said.

"Good luck then Kira, we'll have to meet again after all this tension between the Alliance and ZAFT is over," Athrun smiled as he offered Kira his hand.

Kira smiled back before shaking his friend's hand.

I said there would be nothing to worry about, that before we knew it we would see each other again. How wrong I turned out to be the day Junius Seven was shattered, the day my mum died and my father started falling into darkness.

Athrun looked upon the destruction of Heliopolis, the floating wreckage and even the water that froze upon contact with space. It was both an inspiring and terrifying sight, a marvel of the power mobile suits had and the tragic truth of that power's results. The Ion cannon that had fired the destructive shot floated away from its Ginn. Miguel looked at the results of his anger, his rookie mistake and for a moment felt like weeping. But then the anger returned and he looked into the debris field, hoping to find some trace of the damned mercenary who tricked him.

"Miguel," he heard Athrun call over the radio.

"I'm...I'm all right," Miguel said.

"We have to return to the ship, the legged ship is still out there and right now if we attack we'll be at a disadvantage," Athrun explained.

Miguel hesitantly nodded his head and turned his Ginn around. The Aegis was already in front, weaving smoothly between pieces of debris. As Miguel expected, Athrun's piloting skills hadn't diminished because of the shock they had experienced. Nor did he seem to be affected by his comrade's deaths. In terms of his demeanour and pure potential, Miguel envied Athrun. The Ginn looked back, its singular eye seemingly meeting the glowing eyes of another mobile suit. For a moment Miguel, and Athrun ahead of him could've sworn they saw that white suit's eyes.

I know what Miguel was thinking, the way he attacked that mercenaries suit was a dead giveaway. Most in ZAFT and probably the EA call them 'dogs of war' and for a moment I wondered if Kira had become one. But why? What could possibly have happened to get him in that mobile suit let alone part of a mercenary company? Was he like me, did he go into his intended field of study, engineering but then find out he had a better talent for fighting. How ironic, I hated the idea of conflict before, but as soon as I got into a mobile suit I felt more at home that I did wearing a tool belt. Was that the same feeling you had Kira?

The remains of Heliopolis reflected off of the Purpose's eyes. It was as if the machine itself was staring at the sight of the destruction. Kira found himself looking at the Purpose as much as he looked at the wreckage. Lost in the shock of it all, fear and anticipation took over as Kira wondered several things. Where his parents were? Would the enemy attack again? Did the Strike's power play any part in the colony's destruction? He kept remembering the moment he fired the Agni cannon, the first bit of crippling damage to the colony.

'Athrun,' then his thoughts returned to his old friend.

Part of him knew that Athrun was in that suit, the Aegis. As well as wondering whether Athrun survived, Kira also thought about the situation. He thought about his destroyed home and the ship that was the only shelter he and his friends had left. There was nowhere else to go, and Kira hoped he wouldn't have to fight again. But reality set in and he realised he was the only defence the ship had. Or at least the only defence that cared about more than a pay cheque.

'How can that guy be Yamato's son?' Kira wondered, looking towards the Purpose.

His gaze extended past the Purpose, towards an object floating past it. Kira widened his eyes slightly at its drift pattern, it didn't have propulsion thrusters for adjusting its course, but it definitely wasn't debris. The Purpose looked at it for a moment, regarding it curiously like an animal would its toy.

"A life boat," Kira said, placing the Strike's sword onto its shoulder unit.

The Strike flew towards the pod, grabbing each side. Again the Purpose kept its eyes on the mobile suit as it began floating past with the pod in its arms. Inside the machine however, Gekido looked at the debris of Heliopolis with a frown. He removed his right hand from the control sticks and looked at it. His fingers were shaking but his heart was calm and clear of any signs of fear, except for the fear of not knowing why the event had affected him. Gekido quickly gripped his head as an image flashed before his eyes.

"Are you all right pilot Jaeger?" Biggs asked.

"That image, a colony, but not a ZAFT designed one and not Orb either, what's happening to me?" Gekido mused as if he hadn't heard Biggs.

"You can't accept it? What do you mean you can't accept it?"

The desperation in Kira's voice was enough to draw Gekido's curiosity. He turned the Purpose towards the Strike and flew it towards the mobile suit.

"The propulsion system is broken, its drifting out of control. Are you telling me to leave it out there again, you've already got people who've evacuated," Kira explained.

"Reinforcements will be here right away but the Archangel is in the middle of a battle, there's no way we can accept refugees at this time!" Natarle said over the radio.

"All right then, you'd better get Kira and his friends on this boat too then," Gekido cut in.

He linked his radio with the Archangel's, bringing his face onto the main screen of the bridge and vice versa. He could see Murrue sitting on the captain's chair, slightly uncomfortable so obviously she had been elected and hadn't volunteered. Natarle was by her side with a disciplined look, though nervous too and understandably so. The Strike was the only shield they had, but Natarle still had that stubborn mind that only thought of her regulations.

"If you leave that boat out there it won't have anything to help it avoid all this debris, it'll crash or worse, it'll scrape against something that might take out its life support systems. Then the people inside will slowly suffocate before relief forces get here. The Atlantic Federation has already been party to the destruction of their homes, the least you can do is get the people who aren't safe to safety," Gekido explained.

"The Archangel will be fighting," Natarle argued.

"What would you rather be in during a fight Ensign? A giant battleship with guns enough to sink a Nazca class or a drifting life pod? They have a better chance at survival in the Archangel then they do out here, or do you not want our Gundams to fight with you?"

Natarle narrowed her eyes at Gekido, truly hating the man's blunt and confusing nature.

"I authorise it," Murrue said.

"Captain?"

"We don't have time to argue about it Ensign, I'm aware of the situation but I have no intention of surrendering or allowing ZAFT to take all of the G-Weapons," Murrue explained.

"I'm glad we have an understanding of our priorities 'captain'," Gekido huffed before cutting the line.

Mu let out a whistle, chuckling as he crossed his arms.

"So he's an extortionist as well as a mercenary, I'm betting he'll move onto black mail at some point," he said.

"I admit we need the Strike captain, but why that man?" Natarle asked.

"You heard what he said when he came back, someone in the Alliance wants him to help this ship, if we reject that help..."

"Then we'll have two powerful machines against us," Mu finished Murrue's explanation, both remembered the black version of the Purpose with dread.

The Purpose was even more mysterious, but part of Murrue hoped it was just as powerful. They needed something to stand against the raw fire power the Massacre was capable of. The Purpose and its arc armour was the most capable suit.

Kira? Why are you with them? Why are we fighting? Why have we crossed lines we know that the naturals would? So many questions, but too few answers, before I used to think we were in the right. That somehow we were fighting for a form of justice, for both us and the people of Earth. The Federations are no alliance, they fight with each other in politics and in the arms race. There was no inner conflict in the Plants, or so I thought, we were all united by the tragedy of one of our homes being shattered. We were all united by the cruel results of unchecked power. I never once imagined that we would come close to repeating that tragedy.

Athrun looked out of the window of the Vesalius, past the intimidating sight of the Argos and through the debris field. He imagined the Archangel there, its crew plotting their next course, manipulating Kira or the destruction of the colony to fit their own ends. Ironically it was exactly what was happening on his side. For whilst most on the bridge of the Vesalius were shocked by what they saw, Rau still kept his calm look.

"The council will not look upon this lightly, our own pilot responsible, the destruction of a neutral colony," Ades said.

"How can a colony be called neutral when they were making weapons, and I hope you aren't suggesting we somehow place blame on Miguel," Rau explained.

"This came as a result of our actions, Thanos recommended a stealth strike but we chose an option that has resulted in mass destruction."

"The people were able to evacuate, its nowhere near as devastating...as the Bloody Valentine tragedy!"

There was a smugness in the masked man's words. Ades had no counter argument, and that amused Creuscet in a way. Most in ZAFT were silenced at the mention of Junius Seven's destruction. It was a grim reminder of failures, and a call to action. Even the most reasonable of men could be driven towards aggression when a past tragedy was strong enough.

"Right now our priority should still be stopping the legged ship, are we able to track it?" Rau asked the radar operator.

"No sir, all of the debris is interfering with our sensors, it's likely they are facing the same situation though," the young man said.

"Indeed, contact Thanos," Rau said, floating to his chair.

Thanos's face appeared on screen, leaning his chin against his fist as if he was sitting on some kind of throne.

"Le Creuscet, I believe the Archangel will try to reach Artemis," the man said.

"I believe so too, perhaps we could split our forces, one pursues the inevitable decoy they release and another intercepts them at any possible escape route through the debris," Rau explained.

"I've already calculated several locations, all are within good distance of one another, so long as one can cut off the legged ship's escape they'll be able to buy enough time for another ship to join the fight," Thanos was a good commander, but an even better fighter.

Rau knew that Thanos was better than him in a mobile suit. But he refused to accept that he was a better strategist.

"We must strike at the legged ship as soon as possible, your plan has its virtues but I believe if we face it in ship to ship combat then we'll fail as opposed to intercepting them we can pursue them, slowing their course with mobile suits."

"Mobile suits we don't have right now, unless you're willing to send out rookies," Thanos looked at Rau sceptically.

"The survivors of my mobile suit team are sufficient, if anything I believe they'll last longer than our more experienced crew did," Rau said.

Dagger caught the hidden meanings of Rau's words. The man was acknowledging the skill of his crew, but stating that death was an inevitability with them. Thanos didn't believe in inevitable outcomes, only possibilities bought on by the information in front of him. Rau's plan had its merits, it would test both the speed of ZAFT ships in comparison to next gen Earth Alliance ones and would allow them to strike at the Archangel the best way possible. All ships were at their most vulnerable from the back.

"We don't have any mobile suits," Ades cut in.

"Why we have five that are more than enough," Rau smirked.

"The prototypes?"

"We've extracted all the necessary data," Rau said before looking towards Thanos.

"It would test both the pilots and the suits in combat situations, I've seen their test scores they're the best of their class, the Aegis on the other hand hasn't had enough time to be studied," Dagger explained.

"True, but I have faith that Athrun can survive!"

"Really Le Creuscet? Athrun's performance so far doesn't match the data from his training, he recklessly threw himself into that fight and risked a new resource. I suggest you get to the bottom of Zala's behaviour and remind him that it doesn't matter who his father is," there was an anger in Thanos's voice, another difference between him and Rau.

"I assure you commander, Athrun will be disciplined, and politics never influence my decisions," for a moment Rau showed the anger in his voice.

I've always detected an animosity between my commander and Dagger Thanos. It's the one thing Le Creuscet can't seem to hide, how much he hates Thanos. Thanos on the other hand doesn't hide his impressions of people. He met my father and Siegel once and didn't show any etiquette, he wasn't out right rude but he clearly respected Lacus's father more than mine. But Dagger and Rau, you can almost feel a pressure emanating from the two of them. Every time they meet it's as if they're fighting one another, but it never shows on the battlefield. Some people say that if Thanos and Le Creuscet overcome their differences our victory in this war would be assured. I couldn't help but think the same of me and Kira. Would this war be better if we were fighting on the same side? We were supposed to be on the same side right?

The hanger crew of the Archangel looked up at the two machines in awe. One was their own, the other was an unconfirmed ally. The Purpose was every bit as intimidating as the Strike, but more so because word had already gotten out on who the pilot was.

"The kid was right, I wouldn't have wanted to be in this pod," Murdoch said as he accessed the life boat's hatch mechanism.

He looked towards the Purpose as its cockpit opened. Gekido emerged, carrying his duffle bag and fixing his pistol to its holster. For a moment the young man looked at his new surroundings, taking in where guards were positioned and the numbers of the crew. Murdoch spotted the smirk on Gekido's face, though not an opportunists smile as one would expect. Gekido appeared to be genuinely amused by the lack of crew.

"The captain is on her way down," Murdoch said, approaching the young man.

"Good, I need to know our next move in order to properly prepare," Gekido said.

"If your suit gets damaged and you need repairs you can borrow from our spare parts, only if you reimburse us though we're not a charity," Murdoch explained.

"Evidence to the contrary," Gekido muttered, looking over at the life boat. "It's fair enough chief, leave maintenance to me!"

Murdoch blinked in confusion as Gekido floated away. He seemed much more reasonable than he did on Heliopolis. Kira meanwhile climbed out of the Strike, just as the life boat was opened. When he saw the first of the boat's occupants climb out his heart skipped a beat. She wore a pink dress and had beautiful red hair. Her fearful look faded as she saw him.

"Kira Yamato, you're Sai's friend," she said.

Kira gasped as she suddenly flew at him, gripping his waist firmly.

"Flay Alster, you were in that boat?"

'Way to state the obvious,' Gekido thought, looking over at the touching scene and grunting in disgust.

"The colony, what happened to it?" Flay asked.

"It, it..."

"My friends and I, we were shopping and talking our plans for next year when all hell broke loss. I was separated from Misha and Jessica in all the chaos, then that...monster appeared," tears welled up in her eyes as she relived the trauma.

"Monster?" Kira looked at her with a mixture of sympathy and confusion.

"It looked like that and that," Flay pointed at the two mobile suits, then widened her eyes in fear. "We're on a ZAFT ship, what's going to happen to us?"

"No this is an Earth Alliance ship, those suits, or at least of them belong to them," Kira said.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Flay asked.

"It's a long story, but we saw that monster too."

Flay's description of the Massacre, felt right to Kira. In both its appearance and the 'aura' it generated both literally and in a way spiritually, though Kira didn't often associate that word with machines. Except for Birdy, the little robotic bird seemed to decorate the scene by flying around him and Flay. Though it was only a punch in the gut for Kira, he knew Flay was clinging to something familiar.

"Sai and Miriallia are here, I can take you to them," he said and he nearly dropped his smile when her eyes lit up.

"Friend zoned," Gekido chanted, loud enough for Kira to hear.

He smirked as the two floated out of view, joining the rest of the refugees in registering with the EA forces. It was for both a list of the occupants and survivors and so that they could possibly recruit volunteers. If there were mechanics and medical staff they could fill the unoccupied spots on the crew roster. Self interest would inevitably take over, Gekido knew that much about people. For all Kira's whining he was a decent guy, which meant he would choose to protect the ship simply because he cared about the people on board more than he did.

"Or maybe because he cares about specific people in particular," Gekido said to himself.

"Who met your price?"

Gekido frowned as he turned to the two officers, Natarle and Murrue.

"A representative of one of the numerous companies owned by Muruta Azrael," Gekido said. "Obvious the bastard himself hired me, once we reach Luna base we're done though."

"We aren't going to Luna base, we're going to Artemis," Natarle said.

"Hmm, the Umbrella shield right? Makes sense, it would take an invisible enemy to impregnate the bitch," Gekido explained.

"Please no foul language," Murrue said.

"Yes Miss Ramias," Gekido grinned.

"Hated it when students did that, listen from what I understand your family is on this ship, don't you want to protect them?" Murrue asked.

"Mercenaries are neutral until they've been paid, unlike Orb we don't go against our code, in spite of personal feelings. You need soldiers to fight, I can do that for you, but I won't take orders like a uniformed soldier," Gekido explained.

"Will you follow our plans though?" Natarle asked.

"If they make sense yes," he said.

"Then welcome to the Archangel Mr Jaeger!"

Gekido raised his hand into a salute as he walked past Murrue and Natarle. Both were shocked to see Yamato standing at the elevator, looking at his adopted son with a frown.

"Azrael? Muruta Azrael? Do you know how many people have died because of him and Blue Cosmos?" Yamato asked.

"It's just a job," Gekido retorted.

"Its blood money that's what it is," Yamato said.

"And how much blood do you think is on your money? You're ridiculously rich Yamato, you're lying if you say you've made that through charity and helping the world. Now I agreed to protect this ship and you're acting like I'm already his flunky, I'm my own master old man," Gekido snarled as he barged past Yamato.

Sometimes we tell ourselves that we've made our choices, that we walk into a situation with our eyes closed aware of the consequences. Other times we claim ignorance and innocence, that we were just following orders, that we had left consequences in the hands of our superiors. Soldiers sometime take that stance, other times they say that they've made their choice, between their enemy and the brothers in arms they are trying to kill. Yzak, Dearka, Nichol and Miguel, they're my friends but so is Kira. How do you decide between the friend you made in peace, and the friends you've made in war?

I used to think that after the war I could apply myself to something other than piloting, that I could be a civilian contractor like him. That in some ways we could be like father and Siegel Clyne, two friends working together to achieve something great. But even the ideal doesn't work out, my father pushes for an end to this war, whilst Siegel compromises for peace. Like father like son, we've both been set against our friends in different ways.

"Athrun Zala, reporting for debriefing!"

"Come in Athrun," Rau said calmly.

Athrun saluted the commander as he entered his office. Rau had been typing at his computer, probably composing a report for the council. He looked up at Athrun, not smiling but he didn't quite appear angry either.

"I'm sorry for my actions sir," Athrun said.

"It's all right, I'm not angry with you, it was just so out of character for you Athrun, I do expect an explanation," Rau said.

"Well sir, I was too shocked to add it in the report sir, the pilot of the fifth prototype, the Strike, his name is Kira Yamato, he attended the same prep school I did when I lived on the moon," Athrun explained.

Rau bought his head back, seemingly shocked by the news. Though part of him wondered where he had heard the name before?

"I see, I imagine you were quite close to this friend," Rau stood up and walked over to Athrun, gauging the conflict in his eyes.

"Yes we were," he lowered his head slightly.

"You wouldn't want to point a gun at such a valuable friend, and I don't want to force you to. Even if he was your friend, we must shoot him if he's now an enemy, I believe Miguel would make a valid replacement for the Aegis," Rau suggested.

Athrun's eyes immediately shot up.

When you make a difficult choice, you immediately come up with a justification. Letting Miguel fight would have been easier. But what if he killed Kira? What if Kira killed him? There'd be no other option than to make him my enemy. I'll never want that, that's why if ever we're in conflict, I have to be the voice of reason. Kira's always led by his emotions, I've told myself that I'm not led by mine. I've told myself that I'm trying to protect everyone important to me. I had to, I couldn't let anyone important to me die again.

"Kira...he's being used by the naturals!" Athrun said. "He's brilliant but also absent minded and good natured, so he fails to see that he's being taken advantage of. That's why I want to persuade him, he's a coordinator, I know he'll understand what we have to say!"

"I understand how you feel, but...what if he won't be persuaded?" Rau asked.

"If that should happen...then I'll shoot him myself!"

Did I believe that I was saying? Probably not, I just hoped so much that I wouldn't have to cross that line, for Kira's sake and mine.

Gekido stood on the bridge, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. They were on their way to Artemis, with Rau's ship and the Nazca following. The Argos had taken a short distance away, either to cover a possible escape route or Rau had deliberately fed false information. Either way if the Argos caught up it would be to finish the Archangel off. Listening to the chatter amongst the crew, Gekido was able learn enough about the situation to know what he needed to do. The Vesalius pulled off a sharp spin, to block any path to Artemis. If the Archangel used their main thrusters, the Gamow and Argos would attack. Then again they would detect the heat from their weapons anyway.

He remained silent as the crew chatted amongst themselves. Occasionally he'd see their eyes judging him. He found it ironic that the people who worked for an organisation Azrael was a leading man in would find his decision immoral. Even when the call to battle was made and Murrue's voice echoed through the ships, some on the bridge still looked at Gekido as if he was a filthy dog. It was a look he had gotten used to when he was homeless and being looked down upon by Orb's upper class. Of course it turned out if you become a mercenary and take money from a man as disgusting as Azrael, you become worth less than a hobo.

'And yet you are lesser now than you have ever been,' Gekido inwardly chuckled.

"Level one battle stations, all military personnel get to your positions at once," One of the crew members repeated Murrue's orders over the intercom.

Gekido imagined all of the refugees sitting huddle together in the rooms of the Archangel. Luckily it wasn't fully staffed, and luckily it could operate with a bare minimum crew. But there was still that desperation. Those who couldn't do anything were afraid, and they gripped their loved ones like safety nets. The very thought of it filled Gekido with envy and anger.

'They have loved ones that have been put in danger, and the only thing standing between them and death, are two people who don't know who they are,' Gekido's thoughts drifted to Kira.

He kept thinking of the Aegis and the way it and the Strike just flew around one another, not attacking each other. Mu had convinced Kira, yet Kira still seemed doubtful. Gekido could see that it wasn't the fear of dying, or the fear of failing or even the fear of killing. It was something more intimate than that.

'Son of a bitch, he knows the pilot,' Gekido thought.

"Captain, the students from Heliopolis, they're offering to help with the operating of the ship," he heard 'the glasses guy' Chandra report.

'You may be uncertain Kira Yamato, but at least your friends know enough to back you up,' Gekido turned to the doorway and left before Murrue or Natarle gave him the order.

He floated through the corridors of the ship, past Kira's friends and his siblings.

"Gekido, is what dad said true?" Tachi asked.

"It's not true is it brother, please tell me it's not true," Kisagi said.

"Ask me after you've taken off the damn uniform," Gekido snarled back.

There it was, the judgement again. Again Gekido ignored them as best he could. He floated into the pilot's locker room and began dressing into his flight suit. He would not wear an Earth Alliance uniform or even an Alliance flight suit. Zipping up the padded suit, Gekido turned to Kira as he entered.

"Your friends are good people Kira," Gekido said.

"I know that," Kira turned away from Gekido and opened his locker, finding a blue and white suit inside.

"Then you should know if you really appreciate what they're doing, then you have to fight damn hard to repay them. No matter who's on the side of the enemy," Kira widened his eyes as Gekido turned to the door.

"I..." but Gekido was already gone, and Kira was left only with more fear. "I have the power to help," he reminded himself.

Gekido put his helmet on and slid down his black face plate. He gave the mechanics a two fingered salute as he entered his machine.

"Welcome pilot Jaeger, ready for today's combat operation?" Biggs asked.

"Link with the Archangel, give me visual data concerning its hull integrity and any time its weapons fire, flag the Strike as an ally and the other five prototypes as enemies," Gekido commanded.

"Yes indeed, the Purpose heard what you said to Murrue and Natarle," Biggs said.

Gekido looked at the AI's avatar curiously. It was certainly an odd statement, as opposed to the AI saying he heard what had been said to the officers.

"What about it?" Gekido asked.

"You gave them false information," Biggs said.

"I lied!"

"Exactly, you lied about Azrael being the one to hire you, why will you not tell them who truly hired you?" Biggs asked.

"It doesn't matter, focus on the fight," Gekido narrowed his eyes as he gripped the control sticks.

As he expected, the Moebius Zero was launched first. Then his machine was bought up onto the catapult, he grabbed his shield and rifle on the way.

"Gekido," Miriallia's face appeared on the screen.

"So you're the communications officer!"

"It comes with being a student in communications and broadcasting, Chandra just reported two suits have launched from the Nazca class ship, more are expected to come from the Laurasia class ship," Mirillia explained.

"Which suits are they?" Gekido asked.

"Two of the prototypes, the Aegis and the Massacre," Mirillia said.

"Excellent," Gekido grinned, his voice nearly feral.

The launch hatch opened and Gekido looked out into deep space. He wasn't as impressed by the sight as he had been the first time. But what did excite him was the sight of the two silhouettes from the Nazca class ship.

"Gekido Jaeger, Purpose launching!"

The Purpose slid across the catapult, its eyes flashing as it engaged its rockets. Gekido performed a twirl in midair as he moved at full speed. Inside the Aegis, Athrun widened his eyes as the Purpose approached him.

That mobile suit, that...Gundam, it felt like it wanted me dead. I actually felt dread, more concern for my own life than I initially had for Kira. But then the Massacre appeared, I hadn't even noticed it flying beside me before.

The Massacre spread its wings and released an aura of red particles. It ignited two red beam sabres and slammed them into the Purpose's shield. Gekido widened his eyes as his shield was split in half. He ignited his wrist sabre and parried the Massacre's second strike.

"Good to see you again, Gekido," a voice said over the radio.

"What the hell?" Gekido looked at the suit in confusion.

Pushing the Purpose back, the Massacre swung around and viciously slashed the Purpose across the head. Athrun, Kira and the crew of the Archangel looked at the scene in shock. The Massacre opened its chest and fired a beam straight into the front of the Purpose. Thrown back by the energy, a part of the Purpose exploded, and energy leaked out of its chest.

"BROTHER!" Kisagi screamed.

The fight of the Massacre and the Purpose wasn't just about light and dark. Kira and I weren't the only friends forced apart by this horrible war.

Next Chapter 5: Arc breached, phase shift down

You didn't think Gekido would have it easy did you? :)

Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter, not a lot of action I grant it but next update we get to the best part of any Gundam story.

"Deep characters and exploration of actual moral and political issues in war?"

No, mechs shooting and slicing the hell out of each other :)