I apologize for taking so long. I was unhappy with Kira's initial characterization in this chapter and had to redo it.

In case it wasn't obvious, Melanie Eliarez is supposed to be the character "Elle" as seen in a couple choice episodes of Gundam SEED. I had forgotten the girl's name and instead of searching it out (aka the smart thing to do) I opted to make up my own name for her (aka the dumb thing to do). I apologize about that.

I hope the twists and turns keep coming. I'm glad there's so many readers right now. I hope you all continue to enjoy the story as it unfolds, and I hope the posting schedule returns to normal fairly soon.


Chapter Eighteen: The Missing Frame

Natarle Badgiruel is not the kind of woman you want to meet in any kind of enclosed space alone. Around other people, she blends in just well enough that you think she's at least a semi-normal person. But when it's just one on one with her, you become aware that her eyes are ice cold, that you are just a body to be used and discarded when you are no longer useful.

This case was a needless distraction to her. She wanted it cleared and out of the way so she could concentrate on other things. Like speaking to Admiral Halberton, most likely.

Her violet eyes gazed into my brown ones, and I knew that I was guilty until proven innocent. It was nothing personal with her. That was the way she operated. Probably had to operate that way her entire military career. Feminism is not what it was back in Anno Domini. It's much more difficult for women to move up in any of the three militaries, including Orb, creating a cutthroat atmosphere for them.

You can see the sexism in just some of the outfits that some of the women wear. Including on this very ship, actually. Flay and Miriallia's skirts are definitely not of the practical kind, they show off more than they probably should on a military vessel. Probably because I'm a GUNDAM pilot and thus in a "give her respect or we die" situation, I don't have to wear those. I wear normal-length skirts like Badgiruel and Captain Ramius. But among the rank and file, the sexism is there.

When you think about that, it makes Badgiruel's ruthlessness all the more understandable. That is, if that is the root cause of it. A couple of weeks stranded with her on a ship does not make me Badgiruel's shrink or anything like that.

Badgiruel just sighed when she saw me. "C'mon, let's get this over with. We've got better things to do right now."

Hearing her dismiss her own investigation was so bewildering I was too surprised to get angry. "What do you mean? A woman just got murdered onboard this ship!"

Badgiruel shook her head. "That's the tip of the iceberg. There's rumors of a ZAFT fleet approaching the Eighth Fleet, which we're about to link to. And then there is the civilian situation. Your precious prince won't obey his father's instructions to get the civilians off of this ship and onto a shuttle that's supposed to be prepared by the Menelaos."

The Menelaos was Admiral Halberton's flagship, that was the ship I was launching out of when doing training simulations on the Strike. It was one of the most powerful ships in the EA arsenal, but it could be beaten by the ZAFT. Any ship could.

Badgiruel leaned back in her chair, not to show carelessness but something resembling restlessness and frustration. "I have to keep the soldiers on full alert in case some of the more impulsive among you decide to start a riot. This murder investigation prevents me from keeping consistent contact with my troops. Plus, who knows when the ZAFT decide to attack us? The sooner this is over, the better off we will be."

I had my doubts about that, but I was in no position to argue that with her. I was on the wrong side of the table to be starting arguments.

Badgiruel looked at me then, her eyes cold once more. "Cagalli Yamato, where were you last night?"

"I was in bed in my room. Miriallia had the top bunk, and in the night Elle Eliarez, Dorothy Eliarez's daughter, came into the room and asked to sleep with me, and I said yes."

Badgiruel nodded slowly. "Well, that matches up with Elle Eliarez's account and Miriallia Haw's."

"You already asked her?"

"I'm the one asking the questions, Yamato, before you forget."

I guess none of my considerable questions were worth Badgiruel's precious time then.

Badgiruel sighed again. "In all honesty, Yamato, there's no way in hell you did it. You couldn't have done it without waking the daughter in the middle of the night."

I thought about Flay, about what I had thought was a small smile on her face. I could not shake the thought that it was her. But was Flay really capable of killing that woman? And why would she? There was no motive. Okay, she hated my guts and I was close to the Eliarez woman but . . .

Really, was that enough to make her kill someone? Just to get back at me? Seemed to be a little overboard.

But nothing else made any sense to me.

Badgiruel continued on. "But that fails to exempt the majority of the crew. Including your friend Miriallia, who could have left that room without awakening you or the girl."

I found the idea of Miriallia killing Dorothy Eliarez completely ludicrous. "Right, and who saw Miriallia leave the room?"

"Flay Allster claims she did."

Of course Flay would claim that my best friend committed the murder. That just pointed the finger more in her direction.

But before I could talk, Badgiruel spoke. And, hauntingly, it felt like she had read my mind. "Flay Allster has an alibi, she was with one of your friends, Sai Argyle. He confirmed Allster's alibi, as does another of your friends, Kuzzey Buskirk."

If it had just been Sai, I'd be willing to think he was covering for Flay. He and Flay seemed to be getting pretty close. After all, they did have an arranged marriage of sorts going on, though how likely it would be after the death of Flay's father . . . yeah.

But Kuzzey too? Maybe it wasn't Flay. I don't think Kuzzey particularly liked or disliked Flay. Why would he lie?

My thoughts turned to Miriallia. Could it really have been her?

I just couldn't think of my best friend as a murderer.

Badgiruel sighed. "Actually, it wasn't just Allster. Multiple people saw Miriallia skulking around the ship by herself, though no one actually saw her in sick bay. But right now your friend is a suspect, and probably the closest to a primary one at that."

"She's not that kind of person. There's no motive, even," I said.

"It doesn't change the fact that she was spotted by multiple people, alone, and close to sick bay. Now, granted, many of those accounts are people who are under suspicion themselves so they're being taken with a grain of salt. But Miriallia did herself admit she was alone on the ship last night, claiming to be getting a drink of water."

"Did anyone see her get water?"

"No," Badgiruel said, with finalty. "So that just shines the spotlight on her more."

"Why are you telling me this?"

Badgiruel's eyes narrowed. "Tell me everything you know about Miriallia Haw. Every single scrap of information you've kept in that pristine Coordinator brain of yours."

I could tell there was no way I'd be able to sneak anything past her. Badgiruel was too smart, and too "bad cop" to be messed with.

Problem is, I didn't know as much about Miriallia as I thought. I mean, I didn't even know until yesterday that she lived on New Guinea, which was pretty much the western edge of Orb territory.

The dark part of my mind said that Miriallia told me so I could have something to tell Badgiruel. But I couldn't believe it. If I did I'd lose hope in just about everyone I knew, because it meant that I had no friends, just people using me and then stabbing me in the back.

After I told Badgiruel what I knew, she nodded and told me to leave. As I left, I felt incredibly sick, overwhelmed by a nausea that wanted to make my head explode and my stomach erupt all at once. And it wasn't from spacesickness.

It was the thought, however unlikely, that my best friend was anything but.


I got desperate as the hours went by. Elle was too distraught to see anyone, or so the nurses told me, and the closer we got to the Menelaos the more restless the civilians were getting. By now the rumors were widespread and everyone wanted to confront Prince Kira over his apparent rebellion against his own father.

I needed to take my mind off of Miriallia and the murder, and as Elle wasn't available, that meant Kira had to serve as my stress relief.

Poor bastard.

Problem is, when a significant portion of the ship is furious with somebody it's hard to find that somebody. After all, who wants to face an angry mob? But at least searching for him kept my mind and body occupied.

It didn't take as long to find Kira as I expected. After a few minutes aimlessly wandering the corridors, I realized there was a spot that civilians weren't allowed to access. The Archangel's launch bay crew was composed entirely of Earth Alliance military personnel. Most of the civilians were helping in auxiliary or medical positions, or in the guns and cannons.

So the safest and most isolated place Kira would be was most likely the cockpit of the Strike GUNDAM.

I wondered how long it would be before some of the other civilians came up with that logical deduction. It wouldn't be long, though it would help that Kira's habits of maintaining the Strike GUNDAM weren't common knowledge. But how long before someone who did know about Kira's trips to the launch bay wound up blabbing about it?

I could have anywhere from the entire day to a matter of minutes before all hell breaks loose.

Again, not like I blame people for being angry at their prince. They want to go home, and so do I. But would they really start a riot or something onboard the ship just to force Kira to give in? Orb is supposed to be a pacifistic nation, as are its citizens.

How would violence solve anything?

Just as I expected, I found Kira sitting in my cockpit, he was holding some kind of device that was plugged into the Strike's main console.

"What are you doing?"

"Relieving stress," Kira replied.

"Seriously."

Kira sighed. "I'm making a copy of the O.S. you're using. The console's going to need to be wiped because Naturals can't use it, but I'm hoping that I can modify this copy to ultimately make an improved O.S. that Naturals can use."

"What, this isn't the ZAFT O.S. anymore?" I asked.

"No. I think this could be even better than theirs," Kira said as his eyes moved back and forth, watching the screen.

I peeked at the long lines of code, as well as the progress bar. This was a big program, taking everything from the simulations to simple operating mechanisms and copying them all to the external drive Kira was using. And the external drive, for such a small, diminutive thing smaller than my thumb, had a ton of space. Roughly 500 GB of it, actually.

And even a drive of 500 GB could barely contain the Strike's O.S. I could scarcely imagine how much of a nightmare it was to modify this bloated program.

Kira had to be very good at what he did in order to keep everything straight, much less change it.

Unfortunately, one thing he wasn't good at was people, apparently. Otherwise, his citizens onboard this ship wouldn't be on the verge of rioting.

I tried to be tactful. "Kira, there's been rumors you're arguing with your father over the civilians. Is this true?"

Kira sighed. "Yes, they're true, Cagalli."

"Why?"

Kira couldn't quite meet my gaze. "My father's a good man. In most situations his decision would be the right one. But he isn't up here. He and the rest of the staff aren't aware what it is like to deal with a foe like Rau Le Creuset. They only know that ZAFT is coming, and the perception is there that the Earth Alliance is using Orb civilians as human shields."

"That's not true," I said. "If it weren't for the civilians the Archangel would hardly be functioning. We'd be dead if the civilians weren't here to help with so much."

"Most likely ZAFT operatives are putting pressure on my father and the council," Kira said. "My father wouldn't say it, but I say there's a decent change that PLANT has become aware I'm onboard the Archangel. The hawks have been eyeing Orb for a while, we hold a strategic location. Killing me will either draw Orb into the conflict, or if that fails, at least create the pretense for a ZAFT strike."

Patrick Zala, Athrun's father, came to mind. He was the leader of the hawks. Was he aware that I'm on this ship, too? Athrun had to have told him by now, wouldn't he?

Or was that just wishful thinking?

Kira yanked the drive then, and pocketed it. "I think chances are incredibly strong that Le Creuset's forces will launch an attack on Admiral Halberton to get at us."

I wanted to agree, but Le Creuset only had three ships that I knew of. I just couldn't believe that Le Creuset would have the audacity to attack an entire fleet with just three ships, though if anyone could pull it off I wouldn't be surprised if it was Le Creuset. After everything else the man already did, like lead a strike on Heliopolis and destroy it with merely a small task force.

"But Le Creuset's outnumbered. Even with superior equipment and troops they couldn't beat the EA . . . could they?" I asked.

"Le Creuset will most likely get some reinforcements, but yeah, he would still be outnumbered." But then Kira shook his head. "But it doesn't matter. He holds the game breakers, four of the five GUNDAMs. Those four GUNDAMs will cause a lot of damage and more than equalize the battle . . . they'd probably shift the battle in favor of Le Creuset. I hate to say this, but I think Admiral Halberton is a dead man."

I had never expected to hear such strong, stark words by Kira in any situation, ever. This was a young man who had been shaking like it was below zero when he had stepped in front of me to protect me from the Archangel guards, right when this all began.

"You can't be serious," I said.

"I am serious. And launching a defenseless shuttle when Admiral Halberton's a sitting duck is asking for a humanitarian disaster," Kira said. "I don't want the civilians released until we land in Alaska. Then I can make arrangements for a shuttle to come, pick us all up, and fly us back to Orb."

"Land in Alaska?" I asked.

"There's a fortified Earth Alliance base there," Kira said. "Good place to land as any. I think Halberton will be meeting with the officers soon to hash it out officially but that's what Lieutenant Ramius seems to be leaning towards, or so she told me, anyway."

Kira's words made sense. But they came with a horrifying undertone. Not only did it mean that we were going to be stuck on this military vessel for longer than we all thought, but . . .

"I'm going to have to fight again, aren't I?" I asked.

Kira smiled. "I hope not. I hope we'll escape before Le Creuset tears his way through the fleet."

"Then why aren't you letting us get onboard the shuttles and get out of here?" I asked.

"Because I don't think we will escape in time. Le Creuset has to know this is his last, best chance to get us. And if I'm wrong . . . then I lose a few popularity points. What matters is that we get home the safest way possible. And a defenseless shuttle is not it."

"Then instead of telling me this, why don't you tell your people?" I asked.

Kira blinked.

"Tell your people why you want them to stay on the ship for a little longer, to head down to Earth in the Archangel instead of in the shuttle."

Kira made a "tch" noise and shook his head. "I already know what they're thinking. They're mad as hell. They won't listen to me."

"Who says they won't? They'll ignore you only if you ignore them, which is what you're doing," I said. "Look, the situation's going to boil over before we descend into the atmosphere. Tell everyone why you're making this decision. You have to do this. You're a politician, not just a mechanic. Talk to your people."

"But-"

"I'm the political science major, Kira. You are committing a basic fundamental blunder by not communicating with your people. Now tell your people that you want to meet them somewhere, even if it's right here in the launch bay, and you'll explain your decision to them and answer all of their questions and concerns."

"Uh . . ."

"You know I'm right, Kira."

Kira gave me an uneasy smile. "Remind me to hire you as my political adviser once you graduate."

That just made me laugh. "I wish. Good luck to me in that area. I don't think I'm going back home."

Kira raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"You really think the Earth Alliance is going to let me, a Coordinator, slip through? What if I use Orb as a waypoint to get to ZAFT so I can fight them? They don't trust me at all."

Kira put a hand on my shoulder. "That will not happen. You're one of my citizens too. I'll make sure you get home."

"You sure about that?"

Kira smiled. "Yeah. I'll make the big speech and make sure you come home with us, but only if you promise to graduate so you can become my adviser."

"Do I get a choice?"

"I'm the son of the Lion of Orb. You decide that for yourself. You think there is a choice?"

I peered into his violet eyes, and I realized I truly could not read this guy. "I have no idea if you're joking or being serious."

Kira laughed. "So, I finally got you at something!"

"Oh, shut up."

He just laughed again.


I didn't hang around while Kira made his big speech towards all of the Orb civilians onboard. I knew people weren't going to be happy and he was going to be bombarded with hostile, accusatory questions and comments. At this point, I wanted to be alone, and try to think.

I managed to get a brief encounter with Mu La Flaga, who seemed to be in a rush. He said "We're linked with Halberton's main force. He's boarding his ship to meet with us privately. I'm sorry, I can't really say anything more."

I let him go, but now I felt oddly alone.

Would Kira's authority really be enough to keep me from the Earth Alliance's grasp? It wasn't Ramius who was the problem, or La Flaga, or even Admiral Halberton. Halberton had a reputation of being an honorable, upstanding individual, though that could be just a persona he put on. But I couldn't find anything to contradict that reputation.

The person I was worried about was Natarle Badgiruel. She was the cold, calculating one. She's the one who practically directed me into the GUNDAM's seat in the first place. And she had shown that she would directly rebel against her commander's orders to do what she felt was the sensible thing, regardless of personal feelings or emotions.

I was nothing but a weapon to her. A weapon slipping from her grasp. She had practically made that clear to me during her quick interrogation. She didn't give a damn about me personally, she just wanted me cleared so I could fight again. She wants me in the EA military for the long haul.

I didn't want to believe that. But that perception haunted me. I wanted to find out where the meeting was being held so I could try to eavesdrop, but I had no clue where that was.

I became so bored and nervous at the same time that I decided I was going to set out and try to find the meeting room. I retraced La Flaga's path, and took wild guesses where to go.

Ramius was not a traditional commander. During our meetings on the bridge she never had guards posted outside to block people. I guess by making people assemble in unguarded areas she assumed people would skip the area and go elsewhere. I found it an unresponsible, rookie mistake, but then again what do I know? I'm not majoring in military affairs and operations. I'm not a soldier.

But as I floated through the hallways, my hand firmly on the railing, I saw a figure that was all too familiar to me.

Next to a kind-looking female officer was the little girl I had spent the night with. Elle Eliarez, the daughter of the recently deceased Dorothy Eliarez.

I thought about turning away and trying to hide, but I chose not to. That would be the cowardly thing to do. Why hide in shame, and act like I'm guilty? I did not kill her mother and there was no way for me to prevent her death. If someone onboard truly did want to kill her, there was nothing I could have done to stop her. There was no way I could have known she was in danger.

How would I?

Why would someone hate her so much that they would kill her? Or was it because that someone hated me?

Whatever the cause, that someone had ripped Elle's life to shreds. The girl, for all practical purposes, was an orphan, unless her father was somewhere. I had never asked if she had a father.

But if she did have a father, he was not onboard this ship.

Then who would take responsibility for this child?

I knew the answer to that before I even finished asking the question. Melanie was already partially my responsibility. Now I had to take full responsibility. I stood no chance of replacing her mother and filling that void, but she needed some kind of guidance. Someone watching over her so she wasn't alone.

So, after my brief moment of indecision, I approached the female officer and Melanie in the hallway.

The female officer smiled sadly at me. "Elle here's been looking for you for a while now. No one knew where you ran off too, Cagalli."

I felt weird that she knew my name but I didn't know hers. "Uh, thanks. I was . . . just in the launch bay."

"No wonder we couldn't find you." The female officer rubbed Melanie's shoulder softly. "Here's Cagalli, Elle. Is there anything you want to say, or are you okay?"

"I'm okay," Melanie said softly.

I bent down in front of her. Her head was down, her eyes hidden by her bangs. I couldn't tell whether she was going to break down and cry or attack me. The fact that I couldn't tell the difference was unnerving. I closed my eyes and braced myself for Melanie slapping me, pulling my hair, punching me somewhere . . . anything that resembled physical abuse.

But none of that happened.

Elle quietly, gently, put her arms around me and leaned against my shoulder. She began to sniff, began to cry softly. I realized that Elle wasn't going to do anything to hurt me, and it took me a moment to return her embrace.

"I'm here," I whispered, having no idea what else to say. "I'm here."

"Don't leave me too," Elle quietly sobbed. "Please."

"I won't," I said. "I won't. I'll bring you home, Elle."

She didn't answer me. In a way, I felt guilty, Elle just seemed incredibly, impossibly, forgiving for what had happened to her mother. She was just a child. How could she know enough not to blame me for what happened to her?

Maybe she just didn't want to be alone and was afraid that if she blamed me that would be her fate.

I knew then my place wasn't eavesdropping on the meeting with Admiral Halberton, wherever it was. I had taken on responsibility, and now I had to see it through. My own desires and questions needed to be set aside in favor of this young girl.

But that didn't mean that I wasn't unhappy. I needed my questions answered. I needed to know what Badgiruel truly thought of me. I needed to know if I was thought of as a person, or as a thing, by the Earth Alliance.

It was small comfort that Elle Eliarez thought of me as a person.

But it was comforting nevertheless.

I did not let myself leave her side as the ship came to rest in lower Earth orbit.