Chapter 9 is up so do the usual, R&R please and enjoy.
Hydra's legs quickly folded back in to it's skirt armour as the thrusters hidden within activated to allow atmospheric flight, the Gundam hovered in place as it changed to it's usual phase-shift colours.
"Only two DINN's and two GOOhNs, this shouldn't take long." Ryan stated confidently as the DINNs came into view, Hydra charged at them as one of the DINN's charged towards the ship, Hydra quickly intercepted the DINN and kicked it away hurtling towards the sea, Hydra fired it's beam rifle in quick succession and destroyed the DINN before it hit the sea. The second DINN was shooting at the Skygrasper, but the aircraft was too quick and was easily able to dodge the shots and shot back with the Agni cannon the DINN was able to avoid it in time.
"Hey Ryan how about you go down and take out the GOOhNs, I've got this guy." Mwu ordered as the Skygrasper fired another shot.
"Fine but don't blame me if you get shot down Mwu." Ryan replied the Hydra flying downwards to the sea.
"Hey I'm not Cagalli so don't worry." Mwu answered back humorously.
"And what is that suppose to mean?!" Cagalli shouted at Mwu through the bridges communications.
"Um…nothing." Mwu sheepishly replied
"I think I'll leave you two to argue." Ryan said smirking shutting off communications as Hydra hit the sea and dove under it. The Strike was already under water firing a bazooka at the GOOhNs, only for none of the shots to hit as the submarine mobile suits easily manoeuvre out of the way, one of the GOOhN's slams the Strike from behind making it drop it's bazooka, Hydra quickly dashed and grabbed the bazooka and fired at the GOOhN, but it dodged in time and fired it's torpedoes at Hydra the Gundam blocked them but was thrown back, the Strike took out it's armor Schneider and charged at the second GOOhN and tried to slice with the knife only to fail as the Strike was too slow, Hydra recovered and fired it's Gatling guns at the amphibious mobile suit, it easily dodged. Strike then appeared in front of it and grabbed onto the GOOhN and stabbed it with it's combat knife causing the GOOhN to crumble up and explode.
"No! Damn you!" The pilot of the surviving GOOhN shouted angrily at the Strike and swam towards it, Hydra went behind the swimming suit and fired the bazooka again, before the GOOhN was able to ram the Strike the bazooka hit destroying the GOOhN in front of the Strike, Hydra latched the bazooka on it's back and headed towards the surface.
"Kira you coming?" Ryan asked as he saw the Strike wasn't moving.
"Why did you threaten to kill Flay?" Kira replied back almost shouting
"She told you did she, all I said was if you didn't care about her then I would kill her, don't you realise she is probably using you?" Ryan explained stopping his ascent.
"She wouldn't do that!" Kira shouted in rage
"So you don't find it suspicious that one moment she is complaining non-stop about co-ordinators next she's going out with you." Ryan replied coldly but keeping his calm.
"Flay is not like that you just don't understand!"
"Fine have it your way, don't worry I won't kill Flay but don't blame me if it all goes wrong for you." Ryan said giving up on talking sense to him and continued ascending to the surface the Strike slowly following behind. Once Hydra reached the surface the Skygrasper was still fighting the DINN, Hydra's leg folded back in and charged towards the purple suit, the DINN continually fired its machine-gun at the aircraft Hydra rammed in to it knocking the gun out of its hands, Mwu took his chance and fired the Agni at the DINN, but it recovered quickly enough so it didn't score a direct hit but part of it's right wing was blown off and it retreated quickly, Hydra hovered until it was out of site then turned and headed back to the ship. When Ryan left the cockpit he heard someone scream angrily, it was Arli.
"Did you have to shout?" Ryan asked walking towards her.
"I feel useless I couldn't do anything!" Arli shouted, not directly at Ryan.
"You shouldn't let something like that get to you." Ryan replied folding his arms
"Yeah but Kira was below the sea, Mwu was able to fight because he could fly and your Hydra can fly and fight underwater." Arli complained, before Ryan could replied she walked off in anger at being 'useless'. Ryan sighed and walked out of the hangar he changed out of his pilot suit and went to the cafeteria, where he saw Cagalli and Arli chatting, what it was he didn't care and went to get a drink. As Ryan turned to leave Kira entered and both of them threw glares at each other, causing the two girls to look at them.
"Um…Kira?" Cagalli murmured out.
"Ryan what is going on?" Arli asked Ryan who didn't answer, Ryan then smirked and walked past Kira, who turned to face him, still glaring.
"Kira don't bother, you know I can take you down easily besides sooner or later you'll see that I'm right. For someone so smart you can be incredibly stupid." Ryan said seriously before walking out, Arli ran out and followed him.
"Ryan what was that about?" Arli asked, slight distress in her voice.
"Oh Kira's angry that I supposedly threatened to kill Flay." Ryan replied casually
"What?!"
"Don't be surprised, you hate that girl as much as I do." Ryan said quickly
"I know but-"
"If you don't mind I would like to get some rest." Ryan interrupted, walking of to his quarters. Ryan laid on his bed and quickly fell asleep. He dreamed of the mobile suit again but could see it more clearly, it's head, legs, arms and head were black with red markings, the V-fin was also red but was jagged, the eyes shone blood red, its arms folded, six wings spread out behind; it all looked like that of a demon, spiked at the ends and were black with red edges. What was most striking about this suit was…
The alarms blared Ryan awake as the enemy launched another attack, Ryan quickly went to get his pilot suit on then went to the hangar.
"Hey Ryan we got the second Skygrasper fixed, thanks for the help!" Murdoch shouted at Ryan as he ran to Hydra's cockpit
"No problem, lets just hope Cagalli doesn't wreck it again." Ryan said back getting into the cockpit and turning on the main systems.
"Ryan we've got two DINNs, two GOOhNs and a ZnO." Mir informed as Ryan pulled down the visor and prepared for launch.
"Roger that Mir, Hydra launching!" Ryan replied as Hydra was trusted off the catapult and faced the DINNs the leg armour once again folding back into the skirt armour.
"Ryan, me and Cagalli are heading to take down the submarine that's carrying the suits, and Kiras under the water so good luck fighting the DINNs." Mwu told Ryan as the two Skygraspers flew past Hydra and the DINNs.
"Don't worry this shouldn't be a problem." Ryan replied Hydra charging to the other two suits as they opened fire with their machine-guns, Hydra dodged easily and impaled one of the DINNs with it's beam sword, destroying it. The second DINN moved back, the pilot shocked for a second before firing again, Hydra blocked again and sliced the gun in half, then grabbed the wings with it's shoulder claw cannons.
"Tell me what happens if I rip off a DINNs wings, can it still fly?" Ryan asked the pilot menacingly as Hydra pulled out the wings and kicked it in the chest, sending it hurtling towards the sea, the claws threw away the wings and fired, destroying the legs first before the torso. Guess not. The Archangel barrel rolled and fired the Gottfrieds at the GOOhNs destroying one while the second was able to submerge underwater and avoid being destroyed, the Archangel then finished it's barrel roll.
"Okay haven't seen that before…Arli you okay?" Ryan asked grinning as he saw the Combat clinging on to the ship.
"Fine, but I still feel useless and I feel like I'm gonna be sick." Arli replied angrily. Ryan stopped himself from laughing and headed underwater, as Hydra was under the surface the remaining GOOhN fired it's torpedoes at the suit, Hydra quickly dodged but was then rammed by the amphibious suit, the humanoid suit recovered and fired the bazooka at the GOOhN. It moved out of the way and fired the beam cannon on it's head at Hydra who blocked with it's shield and charged at the GOOhN, which did the same. At the last second Hydra moved upwards, above the GOOhN and fired the bazooka, the pilot had o time to react and the GOOhN was destroyed, Hydra put it's shield up to avoid being blown back from the explosion. Where's the Strike and ZnO. Hydra looked to see the ZnO grappling with the Strike which had lost it's striker sword, Hydra charged and rammed into the ZnO making it lose grip of the Strike.
"Kira you ok?" Ryan asked as Hydra fired a bazooka shell to prevent the larger amphibious suit from getting close.
"Ryan? Yeah I'm ok thanks." Kira replied a bit confused
"Good now hurry and get your sword I can't hold it off with shells for long." Ryan ordered as the ZnO charged to grab Hydra, the Strike moved to find it's sword as Hydra moved back from the ZnO's grasp latching the bazooka on its back and brought the Gatling guns forward and fired, forcing the ZnO to move back and avoid being hit, the Strike then came from behind and swung the sword at the amphibious suit, it swung it's claws, knocking the Strike out of the way and losing grip of it's sword the ZnO then kept thrashing at the Strike, Hydra stopped firing and grabbed the sword and thrust it down the ZnO's head going through it and the torso, Hydra took the sword out and moved back, it exploded seconds afterwards. Hydra threw the sword back to the Strike and moved up towards the surface.
"Ryan, why did you help me?" Kira asked as the Strike moved up as well
"Why? Because I didn't want to see you die to such a pathetic mobile suit, it was obvious you were losing." Ryan replied, the two suits continued to reach the surface with neither pilot speaking, the Strike entered the ship first, followed by Hydra.
"Ryan have you seen Cagalli?" Arli asked as Ryan got out of his cockpit, she sounded worried.
"Not seen we launched, why?" Ryan answered
"Because she hasn't returned to the ship yet." Arli said, even more worried
"Maybe she just got lost…Mwu have you seen Cagalli?" Ryan said shouting at Mwu who was with the mechanics.
"No, we lost contact with her." Mwu said back, Ryan saw Arli turn at the corner of his eye to head to the Combat and grabbed her arm.
"Let go of me!" Arli shouted at Ryan.
"The Combat can't do anything so I'll look for her." Ryan said calmly making Arli stop struggling.
"Thanks, but don't you need to re-supply."
"No, don't worry I'll find her." Ryan said reassuringly, Arli smiled a little
"Ryan if your going out to look for Cagalli you've got two hours, Kira's planning on searching as well, he's re-suppling first." Mwu said as Ryan was entering the cockpit.
"I should find her in two hours." Ryan said quietly as Hydra was launched and began looking for the missing Skygrasper. Hydra flew higher up and began searching seeing if the sky grasper was still in the air. Where is it, maybe she was smart and landed on an island nearby…but as for that mobile suit in my dreams, it does look a lot like Hydra but that's impossible. Hydra lowered altitude as it approached several islands, it's sensors then blared as a beam shot narrowly missed it
"What!?" Ryan moved the closer to see the image of the attacker. It was the mobile suit from his dreams hovering in the air, the beam shot coming from it's own buster rifle, Ryan stared in shock at the Gundam before returning fire with Hydra's beam rifle, the mysterious Gundam flapped it's demon wings and headed upwards avoiding the shots, then fired again with it's buster rifle, Hydra quickly blocked but was pushed back from the force, Hydra drew one of it beam swords and charged towards the black Gundam, who countered by bringing out it's own beam sword that was a black colour and held it In a defensive position, Hydra swung it's sword and it collided with the other's sword, who made no attempt to throw the attacking Gundam of balance and merely stood it's ground not budging, it suddenly broke the stand-off and kicked Hydra in the chest sending it falling downwards, the Hydra look-a-like then put it's beam sword back and took out a scythe from it's back, the sickle being a red colour and charged at the falling mobile suit, Hydra recovered and braced itself for the attack, the demon-winged Gundam crashed into Hydra and pushed it further down towards the islands below, Hydra attempted to push back but to no avail as it was overpowered and being pushed back onto one of the islands, the mystery suit broke from it's attack and kicked Hydra in the chest again sending it crashing onto the island, the Gundam placed the scythe on it's back and took off, leaving Ryan to stare in anger, disbelief, and fear.
"I can't believe that thing exists, what's worse I lost." Ryan checked the damage that was done to Hydra.Great the thrusters are damaged, which means I can't get back to the ship or find Cagalli, could this day get any worse.Ryan got out of the cockpit and began walking around the island, he noticed the missing Skygrasper on the shore, but no Cagalli. So she's here somewhere or the tide pushed her out to sea. Ryan continued searching until he saw a grey shape towering over the trees, the Aegis, he carefully approached the G-weapon, when he saw the footrope, he tried to get to the cockpit, but he heard a gunshot and turned to see a blue-haired boy standing nearby with a gun pointing at him, Ryan recognized him as one of Arli's friends.
"Get away from my machine." The boy ordered Ryan who turned towards him.
"Make me." Ryan said back pulling his gun out and fired at him, the ZAFT pilot moved out of the way and shot back, Ryan went behind the Aegis's leg to avoid being hit. Ryan turned to fire again and saw Cagalli at the mouth of a cave.
"Cagalli?" Ryan said forgetting about the gunfight, the other gunner took his chance and shot Ryan, grazing his left shoulder, Ryan flinched in pain and the ZAFT pilot ran up to him and put a curved knife to Ryan's neck.
"Drop your gun or I'll kill you." The soldier threatened, Ryan dropped his gun and put his hands behind his back, the blue-haired boy then tied his hands up with rope then made him walk to cave where Cagalliwas, wrapped in a blanket from the rain earlier, her clothes hung above a fire.
"You had to get shot down didn't you." Ryan said to Cagalli, annoyed
"It wasn't my fault." Cagalli said back at him angrily.
"How isn't it?" Ryan asked sitting down opposite to where Cagalli and the ZAFT pilot was, who had sat down near Cagalli.
"Well…" Cagalli started but looked away from Ryan, not able to think of an answer.
"So mind telling me who you are?" Ryan asked his captor, glaring at him.
"I'm the one who should be asking the questions, who are you and how did you get here?" The soldier replied glaring back
"Tell me your name then I'll tell you what you want to know." Ryan said back
"Fine, my name is Athrun." Athrun said keeping his glare
"Athrun?"
"…Zala."
"The son of that bastard Patrick Zala, I feel sorry for you." Ryan said smirking slightly, Athrun narrowed his eyes at the comment.
"Now tell me, who are you?" Athrun demanded
"I'm Ryan, and I got here by my mobile suit, but the thrusters malfunctioned so I crashed here." Ryan explained not saying what really happened, Cagalli looked at him questionably.
"I presume your the pilot of that other suit from the Archangel." Athrun stated, Ryan just nodded.
"And I know your one of Arli's friends." Ryan told Athrun receiving a shocked look from him. "She showed me a picture of her team and you were on there, so was Nicol."
"Wait, you know Nicol?" Athrun asked surprised by this.
"Yeah, part of my life was at the PLANT's so I met Nicol there and we became friends, of course now we're fighting each other, unfortunately." Ryan answered, Cagalli was listening closely, trying to find out more about Athrun and Ryan.
"Same here." Athrun whispered.
"What do you mean by that?" Ryan asked raising an eyebrow.
"The pilot of the Strike, Kira, we were close friends." Athrun answered
"Were?" Both Ryan and Cagalli asked at the same time.
"Well, he joined the Earth Forces and I'm with ZAFT can't see how we can be friends if we fight each other." Athrun explained saddened by it. Ryan looked at the Son of Patrick Zala, and almost sympathized with him.
"Well, this has been an interesting talk but if you two don't mind I would like to get some sleep." Ryan said as he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, and slowly and carefully taking out his dagger to cut the rope, but kept his ears open to what the other two were talking about.
"He's a weird one." Athrun noted
"Well he is that half-natural half co-ordinator that was thought to be dead." Cagalli told him matter of factly.
"What?!"
"It's true Arli told me she read his mind and saw it was the truth." Cagalli explained
"That's Arli for you, but then again that's how the council made her, she hates them for it."
"She she doesn't like the way she is?" Cagalli asked curiously
"No she doesn't it's because both sides want her allegiance." Athrun answered sadly. She's not the only one, only both sides wanted me dead. Ryan thought trying hard not to change his expression, and concentrated on slowly and silently cutting the rope.
"So why would she join the Earth Forces?"
"It's because she doesn't follow logic, she follows what her heart say's and what she thinks is right." Athrun answered, there was a brief moment of silence, why Ryan couldn't tell.
"Why do you fight?" They both asked at the same time surprising each other.
"You first." Athrun offered
"To be honest I don't know." Cagalli answered
"Same here, but what do you think he fights for?" Athrun said, motioning towards Ryan.
"I'm not sure, Arli said he told her he was avenging his family by killing the ones responsible."
"But from what I heard both ZAFT and Earth Force leaders decided they should die, so why join the Earth Forces." Athrun stated.
"I'm not sure…but I think it's to get closer to Arli, I think he has a crush on her." Cagalli said, a little more cheerfully. That stupid girl and her mouth.
"What makes you say that?" Athrun asked looking from Ryan to Cagalli.
"It's because he's nicer to her then everyone else on the ship, but I don't know if Arli has seen that yet." Cagalli answered thoughtfully
"She probably does, unless she hasn't looked that far into his mind." Athrun stated. Ryan stopped listening as intent at that point to concentrate on finishing cutting the rope, as the other two talked about each other more, mainly about what hapend at Heliopolis and the war. By the time Ryan had finished cutting off the rope Cagalli and Athrun were asleep, the fire just smouldering. Ryan stood up and rubbed his wrists putting his dagger back in his back pocket of his pilot suit. What to do I could just bring out my other gun and kill him, but it would be better not to. I could just leave and return to the Archangel, or ditch my first plan and just find Azrael on my own and end his life. The other thing I could do is just until we're found and just continue as planned. But that mobile suit I lost to, what was it? And who was piloting it? I hope I don't have to face it again but I'll probably have to. If I do, I need to find a way to beat it. The sun started to rise and Ryan heard a beeping sound, Athrun suddenly woke up and ran to the Aegis, not noticing Ryan. Ryan waited for the ZAFT pilot to come out, his hands behind his back, when he did he came down and woke Cagalli up.
"Well, what was it?" Ryan asked looking at Athrun as he shook Cagalli awake.
"There's a transport heading this way, and there's another vessel coming, it looks like it's heading for her aircraft." Athrun answered, Cagalli awake enough to hear it as well.
"Guess that means we need to get out of here." Ryan said walking over to Aegis and picking his gun that was left there since last night, when Athrun noticed his hands weren't tied he made to get his gun. "Don't worry I'm not going to shoot you, now that I got to know you a bit, I'd rather not fight you." Ryan quickly said putting his gun back giving Athrun a somewhat kind expression.
"But how-?" Athrun but then saw Ryan take out his dagger and put it back to show him.
"We need to get going, Cagalli you ready?" Ryan said starting to turn his back
"Yeah just wait." Cagalli said before turning to Athrun. "Thanks for everything you've done." She said kindly
"Uh...No problem I should get to hiding my machine I don't want to turn this place into a battlefield." Athrun replied slowly turning to walk to the Aegis, Cagalli ran to catch up to Ryan who was walking to the Skygrasper and Hydra.
"You seem to get along well with Athrun." Ryan said teasingly, seeing Cagalli blush a little. "And I also heard that little discussion you had with him."
"What you weren't asleep?" Cagalli asked unbelieving, Ryan nodded "Sorry about that." Cagalli said embarrassed
"Don't worry about it, what's that?" Ryan said pointing to the sea, the water bobbed then the Strikes' head surfaced.
"KIRA!" Cagalli shouted running to the shore, Ryan turned and went into Hydra's cockpit and turned on communications.
"Ryan are you ok?" Kira asked a little worried
"Yeah the thrusters malfunctioned so I crashed on the island but I'm fine." Ryan answered, yawning.
"Good everyone was worried about you two, especially Arli." Ryan looked a little surprised at this.
"Ah there was nothing to be worried about, Kira your gonna have to drag me back to the ship I got no sleep last night, so I'm getting some now." Ryan and closed his eyes and quickly went to sleep, not hearing Kira's protests.
High above the island out of detection, the Gundam that looked like Hydra was staring down at them with it's arms crossed, hovering in place, before taking off into the distance, the black armour and demon-like wings sparkling in the sunlight.
Sorry but I couldn't figure a way out to end it better, please R&R.