Okay guys here we are close to 300, 000 words, I seriously did not think it would take this long, oh by the way it has been 45 days since I got a move on with this story. 9 chapters have been released since then and 45/9 is 5, I have got a chapter up on the average of 5 days wait. (I am a good or what, I'm what, dam it). A lot will happen this chapter but it is basically episode 40 and most of 41 of Gundam SEED or rather it covers that time and those events. (It is not the exact same for many reasons, read the story up until now to find out why)
GUYS and girls: I have put a Gundam wing OST as well as a link in the story to listen to while you read a segment of this chapter. Please do, it is really cool to imagine the scene with that music to it.
BTW looking for a BETA, but that might slow down the release dates.
Please Read and Review no flaming thank you.
Opening Song: Fight Together
Before the music starts the images of Anthony at the age of 14 is shown then it flashes to Anthony at the age of 19 and then Anthony at the age of 27.
The Music begins to play and the shadows of Anthony, Ayu, Kira, Cagalli, Mu, Murrue Athrun, Dearka and Yzak are seen walking through the centre of the sun.
Then the sun shines brightly and covers the screen in yellow light as the words Gundam Agito SEED come into view upon the yellow background.
"Yo ga akeru mae ni tabitatou." The Archangel now sits into space, not moving just on the right side of the screen.
"mada minu ashita wo mukae ni ikou." The thrusters of the Archangel now begin to fire up as it begins to move towards the left side of the screen.
"Sou kimeta koto kui wa nai." The scene now screen wipes now to the Agito Cadet manuel lying on a white desk in side the Archangel.
"Oh" The scene now shows Miriallia holding hands with Tolle, Flay beside Sai and Kuzzey before they were enlisted.
"I" The scene now shows the first encounter between Kira and Athrun in front of the Gundams.
"Know" The scene now shows Anthony's first clash with the Le Creuset team
"What I'm" The scene now shows the clash between the Desert Tiger, the Agito Zero and the Strike.
"Supposed" The scene now shows Anthony and Selene in the DSSD base shaking hands.
"To do" The scene now shows Anthony when he walked out on Lacus, Kira and Delilah.
"Donna shiren ga machiuketeyou to." The scene now shows the Agito Cadet Manuel on the desk but now shows Anthony standing up in front of it, with his head looking at it, his eyes are covered by his hair.
"Takanaru kodou tomerare wa shinai" The scene has Anthony reaching for the book then taking back his hand from it as if he was unsure if wanted to pick it up or not.
"Mezasu basho wa tada hitotsu" The scene now zooms in on Anthony and shows that in his other hand he had a picture of his family.
In the pause the screen zooms quickly into his eyes as the words "Fly to the light" are said.
"Tatakai no hate" As this is said, the MS Freedom is seen disabling mobile suits with it's beam sabres
"Ni eta kizuna." Cagalli is now seen jumping into the MS Delta Gundam and giving a nod to someone.
"Dare ni mo kizutsuke" The MS Buster is now seen turning around and fire all of it's guns off at a foe.
"Sase wa shinai" Athrun is now seen giving a nod to the MS Justice before he jumps into it.
"Nigirishimeta" Mu is now seen as he runs into the hangar and towards the MS Stirke
"te hirakeba" Murrue is now seen sitting in her Captains chair and closing her eyes.
"Soko ni" Tolle is now seen getting out of the med bay and giving the doctor the thumbs up.
"chikara ga yadoru" The Ms Agiot Zero is now shown avoiding enemy fire and then firing its Twin Buster Rife. As it does this the screen is engulfed by a vermilion light.
"Saa hajimeyou." A much younger Anthony is now seen running with his twin and younger boy with blue hair through a crowd towards a stadium.
"Atarashii sekai ga yondeiru." As they run all three of them seem to grow and began to walk futher away from each other, but as they do, each is joined by another person.
"Horo mite goran" All of them a good way a part, Anthony at the far right, his twin Keith on the far left, and the young man with blue hair in a uniform with a yellow jacket in the middle. Anthony wears a red pant with a black top and his brother wears a black pant with a red top.
"Ikutsu no umi hedateteita to shite mo." They all wave out to one another and smile. The young man with blue hair was beside a young woman in white and he is now wearing a white shirt. Beside Anthony is Ayu he fades out but the comes back and flies rather than walks beside him. His twin brother give both of them the thumbs up as they now run to the stadium.
"Itsu datte sasaeteriu." All of them arrive at the gate to the stadium give one hive fives and then enter it.
"Osorezu ni mae e, wasurenaide, we fight together." The three of them are joined by Sei Lori and Reiji as they now walking into the light of the stadium.
"Kegashita koto wa nai." The scene now shows Anthony when he was first speaking to Kira alone.
"Ano hi miageta." The scene now shows Anthony have a joke with Tolle back in the desert.
"Dokomatiemo taku" This scene is Anthony talking with Mu in the Cafeteria before they eat.
"Hiroi sora." Anthony is now talking to Lacus while she was on board the Archangel.
"Zuibun to tooku made kita" This scene is when Anthony and Andrew Waltfeld met for the first time in person.
"Sorezore no chikai no mune ni." This scene now shows Anthony and Cagalli sparring, in the MS Agito Zero and the MS Delta Gundam.
"Mayoi nado nai." This scene shows Anthony talking to Dearka while he was being held in a cell on board the Archangel.
"Seou mono gar aru." This scene now shows Anthony talking to Murrue in the officers lounge.
"Hi ga nobori." the scene now shows Anthony staring at the Agito Zero as if he is unsure of what to do.
"Kanashimi sae hitoshiku terasu." The scene now shows that Ayu is behind Anthony and she gives him a gentle push with her left hand and as he turns around gives him a sincere smile.
"Shinjiterun da, itsuka hitotsu ni tsunagaru mirai wo" Anthony is now looking at thin air, but he gives a smile turns around and makes to get into the MS Agito Zero.
"Isshou ni mitsuke ni ikou." As Anthony walks towards his suit for each words is said, Mu, Murrue, Athrun, Dearka and Cagalli flash by.
"Kimi no kawari wa inai." As Anthony now climbs up his suit the faces of Kira, Lacus appear.
"Wasurenaide" Anthony now turns around and smiles as he sees the entire crew of the three shipped alliance.
"We fight together" Anthony now gives a smile and gets into the MS Agito Zero's cockpit
Chapter Twenty Eight
"Vision is not what your eyes see, but an image that your brain comprehends." Aozaki Touko (The Garden of Sinners)
Prior to the first invasion of ORB, Lord Uzumi had given his trusted friend Kisaka a disc.
The contents of it were only truly known to Lord Uzumi at the time.
In a way, this was his way of saying sorry to her for all of this.
Not that it was his fault alone, but he had been a part of it all, the lie that was her life, in the end she had no idea who she really was.
This was the only way to let her know it without having to see her cry and plead with him.
What he had to do was hard enough, his child's tears would only make it harder on both of them.
That is why it had to be like this and Lord Uzumi was grateful that Anthony did not try to talk to him about it.
It was true, he had not known Anthony for long, but what he did see of him, Lord Uzumi could tell that Anthony was a truly kind man or at least an echo of a kind man.
He was not sure for just how long Anthony would be around for.
But he felt that when the young man he just spoke to, gave his word, he kept it.
This world had to change, Lord Uzumi knew that Anthony had said to him "I can only say that if the path you walk leads straight to Oblivion, walk on if you wish to."
It can be seen as a way of saying that you death is certain, but Lord Uzumi saw it as a way to say "I have always followed my beliefs, I am not going to stop you from doing the same, that path leads to oblivion, but walk on it all the same."
With Anthony
had placed Cagalli down in the MS Agito Zero cockpit.
Before she got up he said "Look, I am real sorry about all of this, but there is a time in our lives where we know we can either live and throw away all that we hold dear to us or we can die as ourselves."
Anthony now placed her into the seat and said "I believe that your father is ready to die for his ideals, those who stand beside him are ready as well, in a way it would be a sin if he were ready to give the lives of his soldiers if he was not ready to give his own."
Anthony knew she could not hear him, and now exited the cockpit and began to close it, as he did this, he said to his suit "Agito Zero, back me up, but make sure she gets to space safe and if worst comes to pass, I ask that you fight full out, but do not show her the feed of the Zero System, she is too fragile for it this point."
His suit gave a flash of it's eyes in reply and Anthony gave it a nod "Yeah, just make sure she gets out of here, I'll also head out to fight now."
With that Anthony turned his back and moved to the MS Delta Gundam.
As he now looked at it, he gave a sigh "I guess the suit does stir my memories of home."
Now Anthony got into the cockpit, part of the deal he had with Erica was that he would have access at to the suit, within reason.
"It does feel nostalgic to sit in it once more, though the CE controls kind of ruin it for me."
That aside, it did feel like all those years ago, him in the Hyaku Shiki, in fact had he not used his own MSN -00100 Hyaku Shiki in order to show Tatsuya Yuuki a new Gunpla is not better than the old, it is the pilot inside that truly wins the battle.
Anthony now closed his eyes as he recalled the end of it, it had been truly fun for him, despite facing a kid 9 years his junior.
That was the thrill of Gunpla, it did not truly matter the age of your opponent, just what they were able to do and Tatsuya Yuuki was one hell of a kid.
Flashback
The Student Council President of Seiho Academy as well as the current Meijin Kawaguchi took off the set of shades that he was wearing.
The battle had come to an end, he had lost what's more he had not even been able to get a single hit on his opponent.
The Amazing Exia had put up a good fight, but in the end, his skills as a pilot were not as fine tuned as those of Anthony in his Hyaku Shiki.
"You are truly earned of the name Crimson Comet Yuuki, I think I have grown more from our match."
In reply to that the current Meijin said "I am glad that I got to face you today, I almost forgot that you were one of the people to beat Julian Ayer Mackennzie."
In reply to that Anthony gave a blink "Um, yeah I did, I try not to keep track of who I beat, if I do, it would only make me arrogant or that is my belief."
The 3rd Meijin gave him a nod "I can see what you mean, can I ask you Mr Hitoro, how did you beat me, I thought I had you on the run?"
In reply to that Anthony gave him a nod and said "You did in a sense, but think about it this way, you had me or the run or I wanted you to come after me?"
The 3rd Meijin gave a nod as he said "I see, so the entire fight, you were able to keep ahead of me in order to make me believe that I had you on the run, I did not expect you to pull off what you did?"
In reply to that Anthony just said "Think about it this way, I fight to adapt to the battle I am in, in my old suit, this Hyaku Shiki, I am able to avoid enemy fire as well as return it."
Tatsuya gave a nod and said "I see, you did not do that on purpose to lure me into a sense that you did not have to good far combat in your suit."
Anthony gave him a nod "That is true, but it is also true that I did not have that good ranged attacks, but as a pilot I was able to overcome this, as a pilot I beat, but that may be due to my years of experience."
At this point Yuuki offered his hand and Anthony took it and shook it "It was fun to face you and it reminded me what I truly enjoyed about Gunpla."
Yuuki gave him a smile and said "It is an honour to hear that from you Vermilion Bird, it is truly high praise from you, I will cherish what he this day."
Present
It was nice to think back to those days, though they were not so long ago, at this point, it felt as if all of that was a life time ago.
It was sad to look back on it now, to see days of a part of a person that no one else here knows of.
It was at this point that a voice now said to him "I guess you can look at it for just a bit more, but I came here to see why you had got into it and chose not to move it?"
It was the voice of Erica, in reply he gave a blink and just said "No, it is just a lot of old memories about a this suit, it is ok, I am alright to pilot this."
Erica at this point said "Do you, do you have any idea how to pilot that suit, I, I do not mean to come of rude, but can you pilot it, the controls made to fit our Natural standards and such?"
In reply to that Anthony gave a nod and said "I do, I know how to, what did you not know that I knew, in a way I thought you'd be able to guess that I did, it's not like I helped build this at all did I?"
With a sigh, Erica had to concede that to him "I guess you might be able to, but where is Lord Uzumi's daughter, is she safe?"
In reply to her Anthony said "I gues she is safe, if this place were to blow, she would not die in it, I can say that much."
Erica was no fool and she now began to look to the Agito Zero, it was safe for her to say "I think you are a bit mad, but what you do, it does make a little bit of sense or at least you can pull it off."
In reply to that Anthony gave a wink at her as he said "I'll let you know that is not the only thing I can pull off."
Erica gave a blink in reply as she had no words to say or rather she was unable to find a word or any words to say to that, he had just hit on her.
Sure he was the same age as her, but Erica had a son who she was devoted to, a man was not going to help her, in a way it was that she was afraid to upset her son.
As Anthony was now about to get the Delta Gundam out of this place he said "I think it is about time that I showed all of you that, I can pilot more than just one MS, can't let it go to the kids heads that they may be or at least think they are better than me, can't let them prove it either."
That lie was so bad, Erica was able to see through it, what she did not was the true reason why he did this or what he planned to do.
But then again, no one did, even if he told all of them his intent or at least what he was going to do and why, no one was sure if it was just for that.
It was not him, it was the fact he knew so much as if he had seen all of this before or at lest knew of it.
It was this and this alone that made most people just a little bit uneasy with him.
"Relax ma'am, I can handle myself and I do have to add that you lot did a very good job with this, it is as if it were my own made by myself for myself.
Erica took that as praise, she did not hear it too often from Anthony so she took what she could.
She now in reply said "Just Erica, I think we can have a long chat over how many suits you have built over a glass of wine after we get to space."
In way it was a step, but since it was Anthony and his past unknown to her, it may just back fire on her very badly.
But in reply to her Anthony said "I think I can do that, but you give me some maple syrup, you keep them nasty wines."
It was in a way a yes, but it also told her that Anthony did not like wine and that he drank maple syrup.
"I think I will go now, I am sure that the Earth Forces will send out a team of MS to make on last attack at us or they may have gotten a new leader."
Anthony did not freeze as he said this, but he may have wanted to, he had not looked up the data of who would take Muruta's place or any of the data related to the launch of the Kusanagi or the Archangel.
"I guess I will have to do this the old way then, I guess it is high time to see if I can still pilot a suit all on my own."
With that said Anthony took in a deep breath and said "The Delta Gundam, launching!"
As he said this the area in front of him opened up and he was able to launch out into the skies above ORB.
Sure the controls on this thing was not what he was used to but Anthony found that he was able to understand them.
He gave a smile as he did one thing the Hyaku Shiki could never do.
With a few commands Anthony got the Delta Gundam to transform it's Wave rider Mode.
It felt really cool but as it did this Anthony took note that this was not his suit and that he had to keep an eye on his power.
"This is cool, I have always wanted to do this, but the limit sure is a pain in my ass, but then again, can't get too used to this, have to give it back to Cagalli and all after this."
Around Kaguya
The EA had indeed come back, but they had not come back in full force, just those 3 MS were here for now.
If any one had to guess, it was a last attempt to try and kill them before ORB was able to pull of the stunt it had planned.
But these 3 Gundams are they were, were not able to get to Kaguya yet, for a what looked like a golden plane of sorts was hounding them.
In fact it looked to be wining or at least just out of reach of the three EA MS.
To say it was a plane would be, well inaccurate, the plane was more than just a plane and did not look like a plane at all.
In fact, if one took the time to look at it, one could see that it had legs sticking out the rear of the plane.
But it was not until what was now known to be theMS Raider Gundam tried to transform and get the drop on the Golden Plane, was the nature of said plane shown to them.
(Play Music: Gundam Wing OST Wings of a boy that killed Adolescence) watch?v=DBrDAsKBZBY
In a flash of brilliant golden light that caused all 3 Boosted Men to stop and move away, a golden MS now appeared.
They had seen as well as fought this suit before, the pilot of the MS Forbidden who had got a hit in on this suit before said "It is just this one, not one of those three suits."
He now with his new scythe made a move to try and hit the golden MS, but he found that the suit was very different now.
Orga the pilot of the MS Calamity now yelled out "Hey it is moving better than it was the other day, it is really pissing me off!"
The MS Calamity now tried to fire it's shoulder mounted cannons, but he did not recall that they had not got those repaired yet.
In fact he had lost it to the black and red MS that went by the name of the MS Agito Zero.
"Dam it, my guns, I can't fire my guns!"
At this point he began to fire his chest cannon at the suit, but the golden speedster was too quick for me.
Orga now yelled "Stay still so I can kill you!"
At this point he began to fire more and more from his chest, but the golden suit was just always out of the way.
In fact he clipped the side of the MS Raider during his little spat and his ally in retaliation shot at him.
Clotho the pilot of the raider now shouted at his ally "Orga you bastard, I'll make you pay for that!"
While the two of them now began to fight one another, the golden suit was left to deal with Shani and the MS Forbidden.
"Those two idiots have no sense of time, I'll kill this suit myself it is not like I need them to take this one down, it is mine!"
He began to fire his cannons at it, but to no avail the suit was just to fast for him.
"Dam it, this suit, it really gets on my nerves, he is going to die, die now!"
At this point he tried to launch a charge at the suit, but the golden suit just dodged to the side, jinxed back now to the flank of the MS Forbidden, took out it's purple beam sabre that was just a tiny little bit bigger than a regular one and cut off one of the arms of the Forbidden Gundam.
The suit now gave the MS Forbidden a kick and then fired at it, pushing the pilot back.
Now the voice of the one in the cockpit of the golden suit could be heard.
"Yo, drug trio, did I ever tell you then definition of insanity?"
It was at this point the suit began to withdraw but as he did this he said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting shit to change, kind of like what you pricks are doing, I think I did say for all of you not to be doped up and high as fuck when you fought me if you wanted to win."
Orga now turned to the see the golden suit pulling back, Clotho did the same but he said "Hey you, where are you going, get back here so I can kill you, the game is not over yet!"
It was at this point he felt a sudden pain in his head, in fact all of the drug trio felt it, if they did not want to lose or die, they had to get back right now.
"I see it now, you have limited time in which can fight, I guess I don't have to beat you, I can just out last you, if I have to I will kill you."
After these words were said the 3 Boosted Men in their MS fled from this battle.
(Stop Music)
With Anthony
As Anthony now pulled back, Kira contacted him on a line.
Anthony accept the call and Kira's face was now seen in a small box on the front screen of the MS Delta Gundam.
"Anthony is that really you in the Delta Gundam?"
With as much sarcasm as he could must Anthony said "No it is not me, this is my clone, he had I have been with you from the start, that is why we can be in two places at once."
Kira was at least able to pick up on the fact that was a joke and said "I'm, that is a bit funny if it were true and it might just make a little bit of sense, but I can't believe that."
Anthony in reply gave a nod and said "Good, this suit is low on power, Cagalli is in my suit back in Kaguya, I am going to go there, dock this suit in a ship then go into my suit, can you hold out until then?"
Kira in reply said "You just dealt with the only enemies so far, but I guess there may be more on their way here, I can do this, you go do what you have to."
It was at this point that the MS Justice came into view and Athrun made to contact Anthony to try to speak to him.
To say Athrun and him were not friends would be a fair statement, but so far neither did hate the other, yet.
With a sigh, Anthony let his link through as Athrun said "I saw you out there, Cagalli was able to use that suit well, but you were able to make it dance, you are one hell of a pilot."
In reply to that Anthony said "I am, you are in your own right, I'll be heading back, are you leaving now?"
It was not that Anthony did not know the answer to that, he just wanted to hear it from the mouth of Athrun himself.
With a shake of his head Athrun said "No I am not, I can't, I can't just let people who I care for die, I won't let them die, if I may, can I ask where is Cagalli?"
With a shrug Anthony said "We all have what we desire to protect, if it is her location you want, she is in my suit, no need to worry she is safe, just didn't want her to go off on her own and act rash after what her father said."
Athrun gave him a nod and said "Yeah I can see that, I mean to say that I can see her going off and acting rashly."
Anthony now said "If you are going to say, watch out for Kira, he may be good, but he is not immortal and his suit isn't either, I'll be along as soon as I can."
In reply to that Athrun said "I can do that for you, despite all you say, you are an even nicer guy than Kira is."
Anthony just cut the link and said "Where does a kid like him get off telling an adult like me about that."
Morgenroete
Erica was surprised that not only did Anthony come back in one piece, but he also did not have a scratch on the MS Delta Gundam.
In fact, it was more than a bit odd, for by all measures the 3 EA MS were in all theories, far ahead of the MS Delta Gundam.
Anthony saw the look on her face as he got out of the suit, so he said "I told you I can pull many things off, this is just one of them."
It took Erica to blink as well as say "Yeah, you told me" for her to come back to reality and say "Wait hold up, did you just go and face 3 MS alone, that gave Kira and the MS Freedom trouble in a suit that is not as advanced as that?"
All she got in reply was "Now you know it is not the suit but the pilot inside who wins the battle, even if I did not have as good a suit as they did, the result was the same, the means was not, but the result was, I win, all 3 of them lost, I go back here and get Cagalli, they go back and either die or get drugged."
It was a very sick way to put things, it also was a tad bit disturbing that Anthony knew what the EA was doing, but it was not unusual to say the least that he knew their plans.
"I take it you went out there in that suit to show all of us that you can pilot other MS?"
In reply to Erica, Anthony said "No I did this for myself."
As he now began to limber up, Anthony said "I think you should move that to your new ship, I will take Cagalli in the MS Agito Zero, that is unless all of you do not trust me?"
Erica did trust him, but not that so much, that she'd place her child's future in his hands.
"It is not that I don't trust you, but I would not give you my child to take care of, once I am gone."
In reply to that Anthony said "That is a fair remark, it is true as well, so you did not lie or at least you did your best not to sound rude."
He now gave her a nod, as he now began to walk to the MS Agito Zero.
He opened it up and Cagalli was awake and she now yelled "I, I hate you, why can't you let me speak to my father, why won't he come with us, what is up with you, I do not know when you and my father got along so well, why the hell are you doing this!"
In reply to all of this Anthony just said "I am doing it because your father wishes to stay true to the ideals he holds until the bitter end, I do not agree with this at all, but I know it is foolish to try and interfere with a man who intends to die."
She now got out of the suit ran at him and punched Anthony square in the face very hard.
He did not hit her, no he put his arms around her and gave her a hug as he said "I know what it is like to have to watch your loved die, but know this, your father, he is willing to give his life in order to pass on the torch to you, it is up to you to take it or to throw it away."
It was not that these words were very well said or were very moving.
But Cagalli felt the will to fight to run and find her father leave her as she now just broke down into tears.
"I just, I just don't wont him to die, we can, we can both leave, be can both live."
Anthony now pushed her out and held her by the shoulders as he looked into her eyes "Your father, he does not wish to force this upon any one else, he will not ask any one to do what he is not ready to do, that is why, he has chosen to stay back, but know this, all of it is not for nothing, you are his living legacy."
It was at this point that Kisaka came up to her and said "Your father is doing what he sees as right, but he also wishes for you to know about who you are."
Kisaka now held out a CD case to Cagalli "He said that this would make all things clear to you about who you are and just why he had to do this Cagalli."
Kisaka now turned to Anthony and gave him a nod, at this point Anthony took a step back from Cagalli as he let go of her shoulders "I have to go out and cover all of you, do what you want, but remember that it is the living who have to carry on the dreams of the dead."
With that Anthony now began to walk past her to get into his suit, when she caught the sleeve of his left arm.
"I'm, "I'm sorry, I should not have hit you in the face."
In reply to that Anthony gave a shrug "I've taken worse, it is no official, you really are a girl, you sure do punch like one."
Cagalli despite all of this gave a smile to that and said "You don't have to be a jerk you know."
Yet she still had not let go of his sleeve "Um, I can't go and pilot if you are going to keep holding on to me?"
In reply she said "At least, at least let me see what it is like to fight in your suit, is that too much to ask?"
Anthony gave a shrug and said "Sure why the hell not, it is not like they can shoot us down."
Kisaka was about to voice out why that was off the table but Erica gave him a hand sign that he was able grasp the meaning of. It was short and brief for it meant "Shut up."
Anthony now got into his suit and Cagalli followed.
As he closed the cockpit Anthony said "The CD you got has what he wants to say to you, but I think he should say it in person all the same, Agito Zero, get me a link to Lord Uzumi."
A moment later Lord Uzumi's face came on a screen "I see, I guess it is better that I say it this way after all."
Lord Uzumi took in a deep breath and said "Cagalli, open that case that you were given."
For a change she did as she was told and opened the case that she was given.
There was a CD in it, but there also was a picture of to children, one had blonde hair, one brown hair.
"Cagalli I am not your biological father, I am only the man who raised you, but know that even as we part you will not be alone, for you will be with your brother."
In his mind Anthony said "Lord Uzumi, I think you need to know, you just blew her mind as in, you blew it out of the water, into space and sent in flying into a star in a galaxy far far away."
He then added on "I think we get a visit form a Jedi or a Sith about us littering in their galaxy or some shit along those lines."
It was at this point that Cagalli flipped the picture over and saw the names of of Kira and her own written on it.
She now said "Kira, Kira's my brother."
Anthony in turn thought "I hate to do this to all of you, but folks we interrupt this program to bring you Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, gender flip edition."
Even though he thought this, it was only to draw his mind away from the fact that he was not able to stop Lord Uzumi from dying.
It did feel like he had let this world as well as Lord Uzumi down in a very big way.
"But my child that is all I can say to you, stay strong for me Cagalli and keep the light that I have lit alive in my place."
She now broke down into tears as she said "Father, you'll always be my father, I will, I will do it, I will keep the light alive in your place!"
As she now sobbed Anthony said "I'll clear the skies if any enemy MS arrive, good luck to you sir."
At this point Lord Uzumi said "Good luck to you pilot, keep my daughter safe and make sure the light I have kindled does not go out despite all those who will try to snuff it out, you will not be alone, you will be with your brother."
Anthony gave him a nod and said "It wouldn't be a Class Zero mission if it was even remotely possible."
Lord Uzumi gave a smile and then cut the line as Cagalli still gave sobs from where she held onto the chair Anthony was sitting in.
"Once they are all up in space we will go as well, hold on tight, if any enemy MS arrive, you might get a little shaken up."
In reply to that, Cagalli gave a sob as she now began to wipe her face "I have to, I have to be strong, I have to be strong for my father, I can't, I can't cry, I have to be strong, I can't cry if I do, if I do, then I am weak."
Anthony turned and looked her in the eyes and said "It is alright to cry, even the strongest and bravest must sometimes weep, it shows they have a great heart, one that can feel compassion for others."
He now said "That is from one of the stories I used to read when I was a child, it gives me strength and reminds me that it is alright to be who I am, just as you should be who you are, tears are part of what makes us human, if you feel the need to cry."
Cagalli now let the tears flow again as she said through the sobs "I am, I am afraid of what I will lose, I never did think that my father was going to die, right here."
In reply to that Anthony said "It is not up to us to try and figure out when our dears ones are going to die, it is up to us to enjoy the time we have had with them and recall all the good times we had with them, even if it does hurt to do so."
Cagalli now said "You know, you are a lot more mature than I thought you'd be."
In reply to that Anthony said "There is the moment to smile and laugh, in turn there are times when I have to step up and be the adult, this is one of those times."
Now Cagalli said softly "I have to, I have to say to you that I am grateful, grateful that you gave me the chance to speak with my father for this final time."
With a sigh Anthony said "I only did what I saw as right, the days ahead are going to be hard, know it is alright, to be strong know that it is alright to cry, but also get up, dry your tears and move on from there."
Cagalli gave a nod and she now saw in coming MS, Anthony moved to face them and picked up how she felt and said "Cagalli talk to me, tell me how you are going to be strong."
As he said this Anthony now began to disable the Strike Daggers, cutting of arms and legs as he dashed by.
Cagalli felt the tears come over her even more now as she said "I have to strong, I can cry, but, but I have to get up and live for all of those who cannot."
Anthony now gave out his left hand and said "Hold my left hand, grab it grip it tight."
She did this and held on as the Agito Zero took down a few more Strike Daggers with ease.
"Come on I need you to focus on my voice, take deep breaths in to get the oxygen in."
As he said this he got a call from Kisaka "Come back, if you don't know, it will be too late to get on board."
Anthony gave him a nod and said "Roger that, pull back to you now!"
With a burst of speed, the Agito Zero got to the ship the Kusangi in the blink of an eye or rather a few blinks.
Anthony had pulled off landing on it just as it was about to launch on the Mass Driver.
As they now launched up into the air Anthony felt the ship his suit was in leave the Mass Driver.
Anthony now said "Cagalli take in deep breath, breath don't hold in it!"
It was now that the entire of the Mass Driver was caught in an explosion and Cagalli screamed "Father!"
Kusanagi
At first they had to get out of the bit of the Kusanagi they were in to let the rest of it get put on piece by piece. It was quite the sight to see in fact.
Anthony had let Cagalli go and rest in her room, she needed it now, she had stopped crying, but she was still in that delicate stage.
Now on his way to the hangar Kisaka asked him "How is she, is she going to be alright?"
Anthony came to a halt and said "She just lost her father, right after he rocked her world, I can tell you that she is certainly not fine by any standards known to man."
That hit Kisaka right between his eyes and he said "She has to grow from this, right now none of us have the luxury to hide from the real world."
In reply to that Anthony said "She is but a child, who just lost the only family she knew up until this point, I know that this is not over, in fact it has only begun, but know this, she is still a child and all children have a right to mourn for their parents, give her time, she will come to you when she is ready."
Now that was a far cry or at least a long shot if any had heard, but Kisaka did know that Lord Uzumi had left Cagalli in Anthony's care.
"I may say that you may want to at least speak to her, in a time like this, it is good to have a face that you know cares for you around."
Kisaka gave him a nod as he said "If I did not say it before, then I will do so now, there is no way in hell that you are just some cadet or what not."
In reply to that Anthony said "You're right, I'm not just a cadet, I am one of the Agito Cadets from Class Zero, the best of the best, the elite strike team who can go to hell and back, we do the missions that most can't do."
Kisaka gave a blink and then said "Okay, I can see now as you put it that way, it does fit with all that you have done so far."
On a side note Anthony said "I have to say, to put parts of the ship on in space after a launch like that, the crew must have nerves of steel."
In reply Kisaka gave a nod and said "Yes we do what we have to, just like you do what you have to or as you say, see as right."
Anthony then said "It does look a bit like the Archangel on the inside, I guess that is due to the fact that you lot built that ship as well as this."
Kisaka gave another nod and said "That is true, if it is alright with you, I will go see Cagalli now."
Anthony gave him a nod "You don't need to ask me to, you have to ask her to see her."
Kisaka gave him a nod "You know, I don't have it in me to stop her tear now.
"Anthony just said "Me thinks you doth protest to much, but if you do, that is your problem not mine."
It was at this point the voice of Kira Yamato was heard "Anthony, is it alright with you if we see Cagalli?"
Anthony turned to face him and said "I have to ask, why is the entire crew now asking me to see her, she has a voice you know, you can just go up and ask her."
Anthony saw that Athrun was with him and said "So you both came to check on her, how nice of the two of you."
He now said to Kisaka "It looks like you spot just got stolen, it is rather funny I think, for 2 young men to pay a lady a visit?"
Kira gave a sigh and said "This is not the time for some of your antics, can we see her or not."
In reply to that Anthony said "You lot don't need to ask me, you need to ask her, if she wants to let you in and speak to her, Kisaka do me a solid, take them to her for me will you, I need to get a bite to eat."
Kisaka looked at him and asked "A solid?"
In reply Anthony gave a wave as he walked away "It is just another word to use instead of favour in case you didn't know, oh wait, which way is it to the food, I don't know?"
Athrun now said "For a guy who seems to come of as a bit of a fool, he sure is able to pilot like a demon out of hell."
Kira shook his head as he said "It is only an act of his, to make us as well as himself feel a little at ease, that is all."
Kisaka now looked to Kira and asked "And who told you that, he may really not know his way around this place yet."
Kira gave him a nod and said "That may be true, but if it is Anthony, he can pull of things that no one else can, most of us on board the Archangel,have come to see that he is just like us, but it is the way he reacts to all that is going on, that makes him different."
It was at this point a Kisaka said "I should show you to Cagalli this way please."
Athrun and Kira both gave him a nod and walked down the path or rather held on to the side thing as they went.
Kira had no idea what he was in for, but the shock may be even bigger to Athrun, who at this time felt a slight throb in his chest.
It was after the trio left and all was clear Anthony gave a sigh of relief.
"To think that all of this is really taking it out of me, I forgot that when any one is emotional, it takes a lot of time as well as energy to just be reach out to them, let alone be in the same area as them."
He now said out loud "Poor child, to have her father taken away as well as a few things she does not understand thrust upon her, I do hope she is able to cope with all of this crap."
It was now that he let out another sigh as he stomach rumbled "I do need to eat, time to find the food, fast!"
With Anthony
Anthony had got himself a bowl of rice and some protein power, the rice he liked, the power, well it to say it tasted like shit would be an insult to shit.
If the Devil took a shit and then his shit took a shit, then that shit took a shit, then that is what this might taste like.
"I should have taken just the rice, all of this, I could have avoided."
He made a face as he now ate the rice and protein powder, it was food, well at least part of it was real food.
"I think that I did not think this out so well, I can tell that this is all that was in this ship, but seriously?"
He gave a sigh as he took in a spoon full of it and began to chew it and then swallow it.
"I think I may get use to this in time, well by use I mean that I will no longer be able to taste a thing, so in a way, what I said is true."
It was at this point, on of the Astray pilots came up to him, it was Asagi and she said "I think you should stop making a fuss, if you don't like the food we have, you can leave."
In reply to her Anthony gave a smirk and said "I will forgive you that, you have no idea who it is you speak to or the true consequences of what you just said to me, but know that even Pulse will take action if he is insulted a third time, run along now and play with your friends, as you can see, I am eating in here, shoo."
In reply to that Asagi said "Why you, don't tell me to shoo, what am I a kid?"
As if to mock her Anthony said "Let me check, you are 16 years old, 16 is smaller than 18 and 18 is the legal adult age in ORB so, I can call you a kid and tell you to shoo."
All Asagi could say in reply was "What an ass."
Be he did have a counter to that and said "If I get this right, I was here and then you came and spoke to me, if I recall, it was you who came and started things so you are the ass here, and I mean you as a person not the part of your body, by the way."
Asagi could not help but give a blush at that last part for the way he put it across, he had to state that last bit that he was not talking about her body.
"Hey just what did you say, did look at my ass!"
Anthony took in a spoon of rice and protein ate it and then said "No, I do not look a women in that way or rather I am unable to any more."
Asagi was able to pick up on the tone of his voice and she quickly said "I'm sorry, I'll leave you alone now."
With that she left Anthony to enjoy his food, she had got the feeling that the subject she did not mean to bring up not a good one for Anthony to recall to any one.
With Kira
Kira now knocked on the door to Cagalli's room as he said her name "Cagalli?"
She did not say a word, but Kira and Athrun could tell that she was crying in there.
With a quick glance to Athrun, Kira gave him a nod and then pushed on a button the opened the door.
As the door opened Kira went in, but Athrun now chose to stop in the doorway.
He was not sure if he should intrude or not, so he chose to stay out of the way for now.
Kira on the other hand now glided into the room and saw that Cagalli was sitting on her bed and crying.
Kira now leaned towards her and said her name once more "Cagalli."
She now looked up to as well as at him.
Tears still in her eyes still forming in her eyes she looked at him for a bout 3 seconds, then she pushed herself to his chest, in the zero gravity, she pushed him back as well.
She did not say a word, she only whimpered as she cried into his chest.
Kira now began to stroke her head in order to comfort her.
Athrun now looked on at them, he knew what it was like to lose his mother, but he had no idea what it must have been like for Cagalli to lose her father like that and be left an orphan of this war.
It was a sad sight, but Athrun felt as if the two of them in this scene could be lovers, no it was more like siblings.
Kira now said "You need to get cleaned up, I hear you went in the Agito Zero with Anthony into space, so that is the 2nd time he has let you into his suit."
She gave him a nod and then said "I can, I can clean up on my own, but if you want to wait here, that, that would be nice."
As she now moved for the bath room in her cabin Kira asked her "Is it alright if Athrun waits in here too?"
Cagalli gave him a nod and said "It is, we can't have him standing in a doorway all day like that."
She gave a nod and Athrun entered the room, now Cagalli closed the door and began to wash her face and get into some clothes that were not so, well formal and more suited to her.
As she now washed her face Kira now said to Athrun "This is what I wish to fight against, I don't want to see any of my friends in tears Athrun."
Athrun gave a nod "I think, I think I know how you feel."
Kira then said "All this time that we have lost to this war as well as the people we have lost to it, I just, I just don't want anyone else to go through it."
Athrun gave him a nod "I know what you mean, but it is just no possible, not for you or me." Kira now said "What if it was not just us Athrun?"
With Mu
Mu and Murrue had now come to the Kusanagi and Kisaka came to greet them as well as escort them to the bridge.
He now told them about this ship "We originally used Kusanagi to maintain contact with Heliopolis, I suppose it is a capable enough MS transport system, with adequate armour, but it doesn't really compare to the Archangel."
As the three of them moved along, they now saw the three pilot of the MS Astrays and what looked like a little kid with them.
Mu now said "So it is divided into 5 compartments and the people on board travel between them by a way of the central areas, very efficient."
The three of them now came on to the bridge and Murrue now said "This is just like the Archangel's."
Kisaka in reply said "Or rather the Archangel's is just like this, after all they were both created by Morgenroete."
It was true and as both Mu and Murrue took a quick look around, Kisaka now asked "Can you bring up a map of this region of space."
The voice of Erica Simmons now said in an upbeat manner "You got it."
She turned and gave a smile to them and Mu had to say "Well Chief Erica Simmons."
In reply to that she said "Nice to see you too Commander, you're using M1's in the unfamiliar environment of space, how would you guys ever manage with out me."
After she said this she now pulled up the map that Kisaka had asked her to.
She did not expect the voice of Anthony Hitoro to say "Dot check your vector, there seems to be no signs of intelligent life in this area."
He said this with a hand to his ear and then as the four sets of eyes fell on him he said "What, I can't go and lie on a top tier report now can I?"
All in the room got that he had just made a bad joke at Erica and they all gave a cringe at this joke.
"Ego aside, I think you were about to say a few things, Kisaka?"
In reply to this Kisaka said "Remind me not to stroke my ego in front of you or I will have to hear a bad joke like that again."
Anthony at this point said "What a bad joke, like the MS you lot have?"
All of them gave a cringe one more time and Murrue said "Anthony can you do us all a favour and lay off the jokes for now."
Anthony gave a shrug and then looked at her and Mu and said "I guess I can for now at least."
Kisaka now said "This is our present position, as you are aware the PLANTS are at L5 while Artemis is at L3."
It was at this point Anthony said "If we need to get supplies, we should head for the L4 area, I believe there was a bunch of colonies in that area that you can gather supplies from."
As if she did not expect Anthony to give his input Murrue turned to face him and said "Head for the L4 Colony group?"
Kisaka now said "Niether the Kusanagi or the Archangel will have to worry about resupplying for a while, but that doesn't mean that the supplies that they'll last indefinitely."
This was true, as well as it was a big pain in the ass to most people.
In the end, it does not matter how good your army is, if it does not have food, you are by all means screwed.
Kisaka now whent on to say "Water in particular will become a real issue real soon a group of colonies at L4 were damaged and abandoned after the start of the war, they may be empty, but they'll be useful as water sources."
As he had said this, Cagalli, Kira and Athrun had now come onto the bridge and had heard the issue at hand.
Murrue did not like the idea of it and said "This sound awfully familiar."
Mu turned his head to her and said "It'll be alright, this is different from Junius Seven."
Athrun at this point said "You know I am pretty sure that there are some still functioning colonies at L4."
All eyes turned to look at him after he said this, as if to ask how did he know of this.
To answer this he said "ZAFT investigated the area after receiving reports a suspicious group hold up there."
He then added "However this was quite a long time ago, although no one really lives there any more, I am sure that some of the colonies have functioning facilities."
Kira gave his friend a smile and said "That sounds perfect for us."
Kira now gave a pause and turned to Anthony "Is there any thing we should know about these places before we go there, Anthony?"
As if to reply to this Anthony said "I know of the place Mendel Colony, I believe it was deserted due to a viral outbreak of an origin that I have no data on, I do know that a man by the name Dr Ulen Hibiki had a lab on this, from what the Agito Zero has shown me, the man was a leader in genetics and things like that."
Anthony gave a slight smile to Kira and Cagalli as if the three of them were all in on some awful secret.
Kisaka at this point said "If what I know is true, it was Blue Cosmos who killed Ulen Hibiki and his wife Via."
Kisaka now looked at Anthony and said "You knew it was not a viral outbreak, but you said that all the same so we can find our own answer."
In retort to that Anthony just shook his head "No I know he was killed in his home by a fire, I did not think he died in his lab, at least I am sure that it was not Blue Cosmos who started the fire that brunt down his mansion."
Anthony now gave a sigh "But that is just from the data I have, any knew data and all that I said can and may just be obsolete."
He gave Murrue a nod and then said "But in the end it is up to you lost to decide what to do."
Murrue then said "That is true, but I am sure all of us know that it is better to consult with all of our allies, before we take action."
Anthony gave her a nod and now said "I'll be at my suit, tell me if you plan to move."
As Anthony now left the bridge "I can see you have a few things to get clear, do as you see fit, but know most things that we see are not the way they appear to be."
That was cryptic to say the least, but it also did alert Mu to what it was that Anthony meant as well as what he had to ask.
Athrun on the other hand was only able to think "He is some guy, he can insult you as well as compliment you or he can do both or one and mean the other, not only that he was able to jump into ORB's new suit and pilot it as if he were meant to, if I have learned anything, it is that he quite the guy."
This was all true but he did not expect Mu to now say to him "There is one thing I have to ask, are you okay with this?"
With Anthony
Some time had passed since he had been on the bridge, mostly he had been in his suit just taking a nap.
Now as he came out and was about to pass the area to go from the hangar to the rest of the ship he saw a seen he knew all to well.
It was also a scene that he did not wish to be a part of, but it was too late now.
Cagalli had taken out the photo her father had left for her and now gave it to Kira.
She was not sure if she wanted to show Kira this, but after about a half a second. She now said "It's this?"
Kira took the photo in his hand and looked at it, he was not too sure why he had been given it.
So he looked up at Cagalli and asked her "A photo, of who?"
Cagalli at this point had her face looking to the ground as Athrun now came over to see the photo.
All Cagalli said was "Other side?"
Kira at this point flipped it over with Athrun now looking on from over his shoulder.
The names Kira and Cagalli were written there as if to say it was the 2 of them in the photo.
Kira now in shock said "Huh, Cagalli?"
Kira now looked up at her and Athrun as did too as soon as he got what was going on.
Cagalli did not meet their eyes at first, her eyes were on the floor.
She now turned her head slightly to her right as she said "My father gave me this photo, it was in a CD that I was told would explain all of this, he said that I wouldn't be alone, I would be with my brother."
Both Kira and Athrun were taken aback in shock, Cagalli's face now began to scrunch up as tears formed in her eyes.
As she tried to hold back her tears, her arms found their way to Athrun as she held on to him, much to his own surprise.
Kira in turn was just shocked and had returned to look at the picture, it was as he was doing this that Cagalli asked "What is all of this supposed to mean?"
Kira now just said "I don't know, I honestly don't have a clue."
It was at this point that Kira then recalled what Anthony had said to them just as he left the bridge.
"But know most things that we see are not the way they appear to be."
In a way, it was as if he had alluded to this, sure he knew of it."
Athrun now looked at Kira and then back to Cagalli and said "Huh, twins?"
Kira now said "Wait, is this part of what Anthony meant with what he said back on the bridge, how did he know?"
Cagalli now said "He was with me, or rather I was in his suit with him when my father told me this, but it was he who hailed my father to speak to me, if I had to say, it is as if he knew about this all along?"
Kira gave a nod "That is a good idea, but what will he tell us if we do."
Anthony at this point said "I did know in a way, or at least I was able to see that the two of you had the a very similar if not the same smile."
It was true in a way, the two of them did have the same smile, but it was also true that not many would notice such a thing.
Kira now asked him "Wait, if you did know why did you not tell us?"
In reply to that Anthony said "Take a guess why I did not, I did not keep it from you to harm you."
Athrun was able to pick up on what Anthony was saying and said "I take it you kept it from the two of them, due to the fact that it was none of your business?"
Anthony gave him a nod "That is it, it is not for me to say that two of you are siblings, in fact I am sure the two of you would had just said I was mad if I did."
Kira now gave a nod "That does make sense, but if what I think is true or more like if this feeling I have in my gut is right, you know who the lady in the picture is?"
Anthony took in a deep breath as he gave a nod and said "That I do not know?"
In reply to that Cagalli said "Wait, what do you mean you do not know, you knew about all us being siblings?"
Anthony now lied as he said "No, I am sorry, I do not know who she is, believe it or not, but I do not pry into your person lives nor is it my wish, the woman in that photo, I do not know who she is sorry."
In reply to that Kira gave a nod "I am partly glad that you do not, well thanks for being open with us."
In his head though Anthony thought "I'm sorry, that was a half truth, while I did not pry into your lives, I do know who she is, just it is not for me to tell you."
It was at this point Athrun noticed something about Anthony and asked "Did you just go out there like that with no spacesuit on?"
In reply to that Anthony said "The doors out there are shut, as well as the fact that the area out there is pressurised so I don't really need a suit, why do I not wear a suit, that is because I am fully committed to not dying in battle."
In reply to that Athrun said "You know that my just come back to bite you in the ass one of these days?"
In reply to him Anthony just said "This is my way of life, the path I have chosen to walk."
Okay first off, I am sorry that I took my own sweet time to get this out to all of you, it would have been out just a few hours (Cough 6 to 9 hours earlier) if my niece had not been over (age 11 months). I will address the flash back, it will have been before the Semi finals in the tournament in Build fighters. Why did I put it in, well I just wanted you all to see that Anthony was a really good Gunpla player and he still has it. Yeah I made his most used suit the Hyaku Shiki, why because I like it and I like Quattro. Now that Anthony is awakening or rather is a Newtype, it is even easier for him to pilot suits. Also I might add that he will have piloted Cosmic Era Suits before for naturals, that is why he knows how to pilot them. He also has faced the Raider, the Forbidden and the Calamity back in Gunpla, sure it is not the same thing, but they do treat it (Or he does) as close to life and death as he could. Why was Anthony being a bit of a dick to Asagi, well he was still bit annoyed at Lord Uzumi for dying and all, he accepted it, but it does not mean he liked it. Why did he not tell Kira and Cagalli who the lady was well, it would look like he was a freak who researched all the people he was around (He does not, he did though when he was back home and he was not in SEED). Did anyone notice that Anthony used the quote at the start of the story hmm?
Please review and let me know what you think and till next time WE ARE GUNDAMS!