Ok next chapter up. I'll try to update as quick as I can. Sorry that it has been a long time, many reasons.
The Freedom and Hydra landed side by side on a small rocky island away from the remains of the Josh-a base, the Archangel docked nearby. Kira and Ryan both got out of their mobile suits, using the foot-rope to reach the ground, Kira the first to take off his helmet and give Ryan a greeting smile, Ryan also took off his helmet and started walking towards him smirking back, noticing Kira in the ZAFT red suit. As soon as Ryan was close enough he quickly moved forward and punched Kira in the cheek, making him stumble back before looking at Ryan, surprised.
"What was that for?" Kira asked straightening back up, annoyed, not knowing how he deserved that.
"For making me worried, I thought you were dead." Ryan answered, he looked at the Freedom then back to Kira "Are you going to tell me where you got that?"
"I'll explain later, lets see the others first." Kira said walking towards the warship, Ryan followed. They both saw most of the crew of the Archangel waiting for them, all in one big group, they had noticed them as their faces all held looks of surprise and disbelief.
"Kira! Ryan!" Mir called running over to the two, the other crew members also walked towards them and gathered around the pilots.
"So is it really you two?" Murrue inquired standing in front of them, managing to get in front of the group
"Yeah, we're both alive." Ryan answered for the both of them as Kira saw Sai and Kuzzey walk over to the crowd. "Where is Natarle?" Ryan asked after looking around the group.
"While we were at Alaska she was transferred along with Flay and Commander La Flaga." Murrue answered "However during the attack he came back, although the other two did not." Murrue continued taking a quick glance at Mwu. That's one less problem to deal with at least.
"So are you with ZAFT?" Mwu asked to Kira who had finished his conversation with Sai
"No, but I'm not with the Earth Forces anymore either." Kira answered, looking around to see surprised faces.
"That goes for me as well, never really planned to stay." Ryan stated after the crew recovered, although none seem surprised. Murrue turned her gaze to the Freedom and Hydra before turning back to the pilots.
"Where did you get that machine?" Murrue asked, which almost everyone else was thinking as well.
"It was entrusted to me by someone, don't worry about maintenance and re-supply as it is equipped with N-jammer canceller technology." The statement surprised everyone there, there were a few gasps and one crew member muttered 'Its powered by nuclear energy?' Kira raised his hand before anyone else could ask questions about it. "If you keep asking questions about it I'll have to leave."
"That goes for me as well, Hydra also has N-jammer canceller technology." Ryan added in, turning everyone's eyes towards him. "Its why I left it in Orb, the plans were in its database." Ryan briefly explained as if it was obvious, some of the crew nodding in response.
"Very well we'll leave the machines to you two, is that clear?" Murrue said looking behind her back to make sure everyone understood.
"So care to tell us what happened while we were away?" Ryan asked casually. "We can also figure out what to do next."
"Its going to be a long explanation, how about we talk about it in the bridge." Murrue suggested, everyone nodded in agreement and headed inside the Archangel.
"What do you think happened?" Dearka asked to no-one in particular after the sounds of the battle that had occurred had died down, lying down on the bed arms behind his back.
"It must've been the operation, I think it was to commence today." Yzak answered thoughtfully leaning back on his cell wall.
"It can't be, the legged ship was heading for the Josh-a base not Panama." Nicol said in disagreement, sitting on the bed. Yzak scowled slightly as he knew that Nicol was right.
"So did they win or not?" Dearka asked after a moment of silence.
"Of course they didn't otherwise this ship would've been destroyed taking us with it." Yzak answered, slightly agitated. Silence took over the three again.
"And that's what happened." Murrue finished, having explained what happened at Alaska, such as the court marshal and the transfer of Mwu, Flay and Natarle. "We had no idea that they had a Cyclops system under the base, there wasn't even a mention of it."
"It's pretty obvious that they knew that ZAFT were going to attack for some time, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to build it." Mwu added in standing beside Murrue, who was sitting in her chair.
"So what do you plan on doing now then?" Ryan asked, leaning on the glass wall at the front of the bridge with Kira. The captain and the pilot exchanged glances before looking back at the two, both not having an answer.
"We could make the necessary repairs then head to Panama on our own." Neumann suggested, sitting in his usual seat.
"Not a good idea, they wouldn't be happy to see us and we know too much now." Mwu argued seriously
"They would probably say we abandoned the front lines and deserted in the face of the enemy, meaning we would get another court marshal." Murrue continued sighing in despair.
"And if me and Kira came along no doubt they would kill us on the spot." Ryan added in, not as serious as the others.
"What do you think we should be doing, Miss Murrue?" Kira asked solemnly. "What should we do to end all this? Who should we be fighting against?" Kira kept asking questions, as if prompting the captain.
"Well whatever you decide you might want to make it soon." Ryan said before leaning forward and walking to the bridges exit. "Before anyone asks I'm going to see the prisoners." Ryan quickly said cutting off anyone from asking, the door slid open and Ryan walked out and towards the cells. All three prisoners looked up from where they were to see the person who had entered.
"Somehow I figured you'd be alive." Nicol stated to Ryan with a small smile.
"Don't I always?" Ryan asked smiling back.
"So it is you." Yzak muttered loud enough to get everyone's attention "Why did you join the Earth Forces when you know what they did." Yzak continued his voice rising, however he kept his calm.
"Because I hoped I could get close enough to someone to kill them, I doubt that will happen now so I'm not with the Earth forces anymore, Yzak." Ryan answered, Yzak scowling as he called him by his name. "Anymore questions?" Ryan asked to all three of them.
"Yeah where is the ship heading now?" Dearka asked looking Ryan right in the eye, who shrugged
"I don't know they'll most likely head to Orb. Which means you might get a chance to see Arli again Dearka." Ryan guessed seeing Dearka's and Yzak's eyes brighten at the mention of Arli. With that Ryan turned to walk out, but before he did he turned his head to the side. "Oh and Yzak, the pilot of the Strike is still alive as well." Ryan said slyly. As he stepped out he thought he heard a dull thud, which was the sound of Yzak punching the wall in his cell, having lost his temper, again. That's going to leave a mark. Ryan looked to see Kira walking towards him, with a somewhat pleased look on his face.
"Miss Murrue said that the Archangel will be heading for Orb, so I'm going to put the Freedom in the hangar." Kira said, continuing to walk, Ryan followed.
"You never told me how you got that mobile suit." Ryan said after a moment of silence, apart from the sound of them walking.
"Well I was found by a reverend on the island, who brought me to the PLANTS, and I rested at Lacus's house." Kira started to explain.
"You don't mean the pink princess?" Ryan groaned more then asked, Kira ignored it.
"Yeah, after I found out that they would be attacking Alaska, from one of the council members telling Lacus's father, she helped me to steal the Freedom. So I could get to Earth and help the others." Kira finished explaining "What about you?"
"Isn't it obvious Orb found me, took me back I found out about the attack and used Hydra to get there." Ryan answered simply, thinking the question was pointless. "They also found Athrun." Kira slowed his pace when he heard and waited for Ryan to continue. "Once he got his senses back he got real miserable about killing you, or so he believed." Ryan explained, thinking about what Kira had said. "Lacus is an idiot." Ryan stated after a long pause of silence between the two, Kira looked at him questionably. "By helping you steal a nuclear powered machine there's no doubt that she and her father are being hunted, it's likely they'll be killed, after all Patrick Zala is the one ruling the PLANTS." Kira didn't respond to what his friend had said, although it did bother him. By the time they had finished talking they had left the ship and had returned to their mobile suits. After entering the cockpit and flipping several switches to turn the main system on Ryan contacted Kira. "Kira tell Murrue I won't be following them." Ryan said to Kira, who looked surprised.
"Why not?" Kira asked after getting over the shock.
"I have…an errand to deal with, don't worry I'll catch up to you at Orb later." Ryan answered as Hydra's phase shift activated. Kira simply nodded, the Freedom hovering above the ground before flying into the hangar. After a moment of silence Murrue contacted Ryan, who opened the channel.
"Ryan are you absolutely sure about what you are doing?" Murrue asked, preferring not leaving one of her crew behind.
"Yes, I'll return soon anyway so I'll see you at Orb, Murrue." Ryan answered, Murrue sighed before nodding and closing the channel. A few minutes later the Archangel's engines came to life as the ship headed towards it destination. Hydra remained rooted to the spot, until Ryan was sure they were out of the radars range before changing link to the international channel and saying. "You can come out now." As if on queue Hydra's twin phased in from the air and landed in front of it, wings folding behind it's back.
"How did you know I was there?" Ryan's dad asked, showing no surprise.
"A lucky guess, plus we didn't finish our talk." Ryan answered flatly.
"So do you really plan on joining Orb, if it wasn't for them Heliopolis wouldn't have been destroyed." He asked sternly, trying to stop his son from making a mistake.
"I know that, but it wasn't Uzumi's fault, and in answer to your question I am going to join Orb." Ryan answered seriously, staring right at his father. "And don't think you can change my mind I have to do this."
"You can't we can't trust Uzumi or anyone else!" Ryan dad quickly retorted anger rising in his voice. "We were hunted and killed like wild animals with no escape, have you forgotten that!"
"You're the last person I thought would give in to rage!" Ryan shouted back "I won't abandon my friends." Ran's dad grimaced at what his son said. "Besides what have you been doing since I last saw you?" Ryan asked, alhtough he had a feeling he knew the answer, but he wanted to here it from his father.
"I've been getting our revenge on them, everyone." He answered darkly, eyes narrowing.
"Did that include killing civilians?" Ryan yelled, his dad's face looking surprised for a breif moment before becoming a stern face.
"Of course it did. Now stop asking such silly quesitons and come with me." Ryan's dad said, becoming more agitated.
"You expect me to go with you after what you did!" Ryan shouted back
"If you won't come with me willingly then I'll drag you." He stated, the Demon Hydra crouching slightly, preparing to attack. Hydra attacked first, in one swift move closing the gap between the two and slashing at it with it's beam sword, the twin quickly blocking it with it's own. Demon Hydra broke the struggle between the two, pushing Hydra back before sheathing it's beam sword, then stretching it's arms out, three black claws shooting out of its wrists, two appearing on each foot. Hydra stepped back, before taking to the skies, Demon Hydra following and quickly taking the lead, it stopped and attempted to kick the Hydra with it's foot however the black and white gundam stopped it's flight and moved to the side, the beam claw passing beside it harmlessly, Hydra then countered with it's own kick to it's twin's head, making it stagger back, before recovering and evading a stab from both of Hydra's beam swords. Demon Hydra quickly took off in one direction, Hydra following it as they circled each other in the air, taking a chance of slashing at each other, only for the attack to miss or for the claw and blade to collide briefly, sparks dancing around the collision.
"Captain there are two mobile suits fighting behind us." Sai informed Murrue, sitting in her usual seat, Mwu beside her.
"Do we know who they are?" Murrue asked quickly.
"One of them is the Hydra captain, the other is unknown." Sai answered quickly, not showing much concern.
"Should we have the kid help out?" Mwu asked, worried about the unknown mobile suit.
"Just to be on the safe side." Murrue decided after a moment of thinking, moments later the Freedom launched turning around and flying off in the other direction.
The two suits both fired their buster rifles at each other, having given up on close combat, the beams colliding and exploding between them, making both suit move away slightly. This is pointless, I'll have to convince him somehow. Ryan thought as both Hydras stayed where they are, as if the pilot of the other Hydra was thinking the same. Hoping to catch him off guard Hydra quickly pulled out it's other buster rifle and fired both, only for the beam to bend away from the Demon Hydra, the EMF shielding in effect. The counter-part then closed the distance between them with a flap of its metallic wings and tried to swipe it with it's scythe, Hydra quickly rose so the blade passed beneath it and placed the rifles back to bring out it's orange sabres and slashed down at it, the demonic gundam quickly disappeared before the blades touched down on its target. Hydra quickly moved in random directions before stopping, trying to prevent a sneak attack. Demon Hydra appeared several feet behind it, making no move to show it's presence.
"Do you really think killing me will do anything?" Ryan asked through all frequencies so it reached his fathers ears.
"You're leaving me no choice, just come with me." His dad replied, although there wasn't a speck of pleading in his voice.
"I'm not about to give up everything just to go back with someone who's given in to hatred." Ryan snapped back, his father's eyes widened at what he said, and was nearly hit by a beam shot had he not moved out of the way in time. The beam shot did not come from Hydra.
"Ryan look out!" Kira yelled as the Freedom soared toward the two rapidly firing the beam rifle at the Demon Hydra.
"Kira this doesn't concern you!" Ryan shouted, Hydra turning around, not the least bit grateful for the save. "I'll handle this, its personal!" Hydra rushed towards the Freedom to stop it. Demon Hydra repeatedly dodged the shots from the Freedom and fired it's shoulder cannons at the gundam. Freedom dodged the shots and entered HiMAT mode firing all its' beam weapons at once on the enemy. Demon Hydra's EMF shielding protected it from the blast, it quickly moved back and phased into thin air. That's ZAFT's new model, how the hell did it get here? Ryan's dad thought as the invisible gundam left the battlefield. Hydra and Feedom hovered side by side watching the spot where it disappeared.
"Ryan what was that? How did it look like your gundam?" Kira asked. The reply was a beam slash that would've sliced the Fredom in half had it not blocked with it's shield. "What are you doing!?"
"I told you to back off, it was my fight!" Ryan shouted back, Hydra moving away from the Freedom, who lowered it's shield.
"You could've gotten kil-"
"I know that!" Ryan cut Kira off, Hydra flying away towards where the ship left, Freedom following closely behind. Neither said a word to each other as they returned to the ship, which had made progress since Freedom launched. Hydra entered first, walking to it's place in the hangar as Freedom entered the ship. As Ryan left the cockpit Mwu was waiting outside, a slightly worried look on his face.
"Hey you okay, we kinda heard your little argument with Kira. What was that about?" Mwu asked, sounding concerned as he looked at Ryan.
"I don't want to talk about it." Ryan answered grimly, narrowing his eyes at Mwu before stalking off. Mwu looked on and sighed, knowing the Captain wasn't going to like this.
"Did you get anything from him? Kira asked walking up to Mwu
"Not a thing, who ever the pilot of that machine that attacked him was, the guy had done something to get on his nerves." Mwu said sighing again, scratching his head in thought. "We could always get Arli to find out for us, once we reach Orb that is." Mwu suggested, Kira nodded.
"I'll try later see if I can get anything out of him." Kira said as he walked past Mwu and walked out of the hangar, Mwu following a moment later. Ryan wondered the corridors of the ship, in his shirt and jeans, leaving his pilot suit in his room. He found himself in the bridge, he had been thinking about what had happened. The usual crew were in the bridge, apart from Mir and Sai.
"How far are we from Orb?" Ryan asked to Murrue who looked to her side to look at him, trying to look professional, although she was concerned for him.
"We're about a day away from Onogoro island. Do you know the mobile suit you were in combat with?" Murrue asked, slightly hesitant. Ryan nodded but said nothing else. "Get some rest, you look like you had a tough battle." Murrue said, it wasn't an order.
"What are we going to do with the prisoners?" Ryan asked, as if he hadn't heard Murrues' request.
"We'll have to sort that out once we reach Orb, until then we can't do much, but I guess we'll have to release them since Orb doesn't normally keep prisoners." Murrue replied, Ryan nodded in thanks and left, heading straight for the prison hold. Shortly after Ryan had exit the bridge Mwu came in and stood beside the Captain's chair. Both smiled at each other, then Murrue's turned into a frown. "I guess you couldn't anything out of him." Murrue stated more then asked.
"The kid is going to try later, if that doesn't work hopefully Arli will get through to him." Mwu said back, he didn't sound too confident. "Kira has changed a lot."
"He sure has, in a good way, he seems to know what he wants." Murrue stated, looking back out over the ocean. "I'm worried for Ryan, whoever was the pilot must've said something to him to get him upset, but I can't figure out what it could be."
"Well find out soon, hopefully." Mwu said encouragingly, feeling the same as Murrue did.
"Good news, looks like you won't be in here for much longer." Ryan stated, in a monotone to the three prisoners.
"The quicker we're out of here the better." Yzak said arrogantly, looking straight at Ryan.
"Did you punch the wall that hard?" Ryan asked seeing the red mark on Yzak's knuckles on his right hand.
"He sure did, I wouldn't be too surprised if you find a crack in the wall." Dearka answered jokingly, earning a glare from Yzak.
"Are you okay?" Nicol asked seeing that Ryan looked troubled "Did something happen?"
"Nothing." Ryan muttered in reply before turning away slightly. Yzak and Dearka only blinked in confusion. "We'll arrive in Orb tomorrow, then you'll be released, after that you can do what you want." Ryan said, then left and headed for his room. Kira wondered through the corridors of the ship to find Ryan, and spotted him heading into his room.
"Hey Ryan." Kira called out, walking into Ryan's room, where he was looking straight at him, looking annoyed. "Miss Murrue said you knew the pilot of the mobile suit that attacked you." Ryan nodded at that but didn't say anything else. "Who was it?" Kira persisted, trying to get him to talk.
"None of your concern." Ryan replied flatly, his eyes narrowing. "Now get out, I need some rest."
"Not until you tell me who the pilot was." Kira said firmly, ignoring Ryan's last statement.
"Why is it so important to you!" Ryan shouted, clenching his fists tightly.
"Because whoever the pilot was, must've said something to get you to be like this, everyone's worried." Kira explained, remaining calm, despite the fact Ryan might punch him at any minute.
"Fine you want to know! The pilot of that other Hydra is my dad!" Ryan shouted out to the point that he might burst, eyes wide open in rage.
"Your dad, but I thought you said he was dead." Kira said, visibly shocked, both at who it was and Ryan's outburst, who was taking deep breaths.
"Yeah well, so did I, turned out he was alive after all." Ryan said, calming down slightly "He even had the nerve to tell me to follow him."
"Why didn't you?" Kira asked curiously
"Kira, he had been killing civilians, innocent people to get what he wanted, that's why, the dad I knew wouldn't do that. I guess he completely gave in to his anger, although I can't really blame him." Ryan explained staring blankly at the wall, Kira stood away from him, taking in what he had revealed.
"You should get some rest, you've had a tough day." Kira said turning to leave, Ryan didn't even acknowledge him, as if he hadn't heard what he said, Kira sighed and walked out heading for the bridge. When Kira had entered the bridge the captains and Mwu's head turned round to see who it was.
"Did you have any luck?" Mwu asked ahead of Murrue, both looked slightly anxious.
"Yeah but it isn't good. Turns out the pilot of that mobile suit is Ryan's dad." Kira answered, and quickly raised a hand before anyone could talk. "He thought he was dead as well." Kira quickly said, knowing what the others would say.
"That's why he didn't want to tell us." Murrue stated, looking concerned for the teenager. "Although I don't understand why he would fight his own father."
"I think your better asking him that Miss Murrue." Kira said, looking out at the now night sky.
"Poor kid, he must be really down." Mwu said to break the silence. "We're probably better off giving him some space for now."
"Kira you can go and get some rest." Murrue said to Kira who nodded and left.
"The captain should go and get some rest too. We'll be arriving at Orb in the morning." Mwu said, smiling slightly. Murrue smiled back before standing and leaving the bridge also.
Within his room, Ryan remained where he was when Kira left, staring down at the floor, with tears silently falling down his face.
Sorry that the chapter isn't as long as more recent ones, and that it's been a while since I've updated. Anyway please review.