(AN): Thank you to all who reviewed.

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Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed or Destiny.

Chapter Forty Five

Confirmed Fate

Onogoro hanger Area

Lacus was then stopped as the machine once again exploded, it wasn't a nuclear blast but debris was sent up in the air again, as more fires were seen.

Lacus rushed faster over to the machine, and soon she arrived right at the machine, and…

Headquarters

Everything was seen from the final decent to the direct hit to the Armageddon sending it straight to the ground in a firing blaze.

From their vantage point this was by far one of the greatest victories in Orb's history, and they weren't even winning the battle taking place out in sea. Their goal however was now achieved, taking out Kira was the biggest blow Zaft could have suffered and now their big gun was down.

Talia was totally surprised; she never expected one little voice could have thrown that devil off by so much. He seemed as if he was fighting a different battle that entire engagement and to her who had seem Kira that was strange. Whatever happened however didn't really matter he was down and the earth now had a greater chance of survival.

With Cagalli

Cagalli was outside in her suit when she saw and got the word of what had taken place, all that misery seemed to be ended, her country avenged, and they had a much stronger chance of sending Zaft back to space.

Lacus deserved all the credit for this entire victory, it was a large risk and it worked out he wasn't just distracted or angered he completely lost it. The knowledge she knew about Kira was dead on, she remembered him having nightmares about Rau and even over the years from what she could remember saying that name set him off violently but when he heard the actual voice from what she heard him talking about over the com a few minutes ago made him think he was still in that battle with Rau at Yakin Due. Maybe he never truly left that battle, in his mind that battle could still have been raging, the pain, misery and the loss was just too much. Rau and war were always at the center point of his nightmares and misery and just maybe a few questions could be answered, but not this prematurely.

What happened actually proved one point that he never truly recovered from the first war and was just as unstable as he was four years ago as well as something else in which Cagalli was thinking up at the moment.

Cagalli was left in thoughts as she thought of the past and now future, she still didn't really have a clear reason as to why Kira did all this to begin with, sure she heard his rants but none of them really seemed like the brother she had known, but after what that battle had just proved she was left to wonder what that chairman had to do to him, or was that he was to screwed up from the last war that he truly changed into that beast. Those were questions that by the looks of things would never be answered.

Cagalli then received a call.

Armageddon's wreckage

Lacus started off walking fast but after the last large explosion she was now running towards that machine, why she did? She had no clue.

She avoided the burning debris as she arrived at what was left of the main body. Lacus was right in front of the body the machine was on its right side, it smashed straight into a large hanger which dropped some of its own debris on top of the already heavily damaged machine.

Both legs were still attached but one was torn to pieces from the damage, and the other was in shreds, most likely from the landing of the machine. She saw one arm off to the side no longer attached to the body and the other like the one leg it was just hanging shredded to the side.

Lacus looked around as she made her way to the right side, from what she saw here the lower torso area where the reactor was stored was in perfect condition, luckily so or they could have had a meltdown, it seemed Kira built that area well. However the armor plating around the area and the entire machine was about ninety percent gone. The once gold, silver lining was now all grey. Looking ahead Lacus noticed the head was missing about three fourths, likely from the damage and the crash.

Looking at the last area was the cockpit, Lacus could see it took heavy damage and some minor debris from the hanger was on top. One thing was for certain Lacus had to know, she had to see him.

Avoiding the debris and fires from the wreckage she began making her way towards the machine to check the cockpit, but something beat her to it as the cockpit was knocked open hard.

Lacus fell backwards a little as she was about fifty feet from the cockpit. That wasn't nearly as surprising as what she saw next, as something was emerging from that wreckage, and it didn't take a rocket scientist for her to figure out who it was going to be.

Lacus watched as Kira's body was coming into the picture as he was coming out.

Orb Waters

Orb Fleet

It was easy to say word was spreading to the captains; the one that destroyed their capitol has been shot down.

Morale was definitely raised but they were still down on the left.

Todaka ordered the reinforcements as they still had a battle to fight.

With Athrun

Athrun was attacking from what he could when he got the word from headquarters. He had just stabbed an Assh type suit when word came in.

"The Armageddon is down, I repeat the monster has been shot down," an officer told him.

Athrun stared up, that had to mean one thing Kira was gone.

"The Akatsuki and Freedom?" Athrun asked.

"Freedom is down, pilot is okay, Akatsuki was never engaged," the officer reported.

To Athrun that was a sigh of relief, but like with Cagalli he was now having mixed feelings.

"I will head in as soon as I am finished," Athrun said as he spotted something heading this way fast and it flew right by him, that couldn't be good, he moved to intercept but was engaged by several other suits surrounding him, he had to back off.

Zaft Fleet

With the orders from the chairman they were pushing hard to break through that line and give the left whole more protection so the chairman could get what he wanted done by the ones assigned assignment.

With Shinn

After receiving his orders Shinn joined up with a few Babi's that were going to make sure he could complete what he had to do as they contacted him quickly.

"Do you understand the directive?" one asked.

Shinn looked back, he was still low on juice but this was a chance to make a name for himself in his mind, "I will finish the job, just make sure you people don't screw up," Shinn said as they sighed off.

They flew up towards the left and right past Athrun, they also had another small escort of a few other machines that just moved down to intercept Athrun so these guys now had pretty much a free stretch straight up the left flank, as they flew on towards their target without delay.

Space Orbital Satellites

With Ryu

Watching what he could on satellite feed Ryu was aware his number one was down, but for some reason he wasn't really surprised.

"Distance?" Ryu asked.

"They are about ten minutes to destination sir," one officer said quickly.

Ryu looked back at the monitor, "Once its done I will descend to the surface."

"Yes sir," another officer replied as Ryu now watched.

Archangel

Sending out a team to recover Neo the medical team picked him up as they brought him back in and to the infirmary; some of the crew was not with the ship after the first war so they didn't recognize the man they had just brought in.

Placing him down, the doctor they had knew that face immediately.

"Something wrong sir?" one asked.

The doctor shook his head, "Dismissed, I will take care of him for now," the doctor said as the crew left.

Bridge

Murrue had to focus on their orders but she couldn't get the image of Neo out of her mind, something was driving her forward in the matter.

She immediately contacted the infirmary.

Infirmary

The doctor immediately stabilized him as now he had to confirm something else, taking a blood sample he had to check it with the files he had stored inside the Archangels database.

"What is the status?" Murrue on the com asked.

The doctor looked up, this was something he didn't want to say prematurely, "He is stable for the moment, I will contact you with any change."

"Keep me informed," Murrue said signing off.

The doctor dodged that as he went to work.

Onogoro Headquarters

With Cagalli

Cagalli took the call as it was coming from Kisaka.

"Do we have conformation yet?" Cagalli asked.

"Not yet, the surrounding units were taken out by his last assault, I am sending in more personal as we speak," Kisaka told her.

"What about Lacus is their any word?" Cagalli asked concerned.

"Ever since she gave the command to begin we have heard nothing," Kisaka replied.

"We have surveillance all over that area, have you picked her up on any of them?" Cagalli asked again.

"Most cameras in that area were destroyed when crashed, but we did get one of them, it showed her," Kisaka told her.

Cagalli sighed in relief, but something didn't feel right, "Why am I getting the feeling there is more to it then that?"

"She was headed in the direction of the Armageddon," Kisaka replied.

That didn't make her feel better, "Are you sure he is down?"

"The suit took massive damage Lady Cagalli, there is practically no chance of survival," Kisaka replied again.

"That was what they said when the Strike was destroyed but things turned out differently didn't they?" Cagalli asked with anger and concern.

"Our teams are on the way, but Zaft forces are breaking through our left flank and more have had go in as reinforcements, it will take some time," Kisaka said.

"Then I will go myself," Cagalli replied.

"That is unacceptable Lady Cagalli, if they do breach the island you will be needed to help pull them back, if we lose the headquarters or any hangers our country is truly finished, this is all we have left, Lady Lacus knew the risks and she can take care of herself you must stay put," Kisaka ordered.

Cagalli was about to protest when the explosions were getting stronger on the left side, Kisaka was right if the island was breached they would lose control. It was easy to celebrate Kira's downfall but they couldn't forget that there was still a battle going on and Orb was still in danger.

Looking over in the direction Lacus was in Cagalli hoped she would hold her own, the chances for survival were very slim, but this was Kira they were talking about.

Cagalli remained.

Armageddon's Wreckage

Armageddon

Blinking control panels, light smoke and small fires were all of what was seen inside the cockpit. Strapped in the chair was the pilot, glass busted out of the helmet, flight suit ripped to shreds, the once proud colors of the uniform was now stained red.

The impact knocked Kira completely out cold especially when the debris tore into his flesh. Large gashes in his face and forehead were draining his blood down, his arms and legs were still in tact but cuts and gashes were evident all over the place with minor debris sticking out. His body however took a great beating. Especially the large metal fragment that looked as big as a pole was impaled straight into left side and other one in his right shoulder.

Stirring Kira's eyes were now opening, one of which the damage didn't effect. Pain immediately shot threw his body but physical pain was nothing to the mental pain over the years.

Looking at his body and situation he saw the cockpit half open and bent, there was debris from the hanger right on top but it looked nothing to serious.

Trying to move his arm pain flowed threw his body, Kira reached over with his left hand ignoring all the other pain as he placed his hand on the fragment it was almost through if not through the other side. It wasn't that thick but it still did a lot of damage.

Even touching the rod sent shockwaves through his body, but with one quick pull with what strength he had left the fragment came right out, holding in his pain he couldn't help but groan loudly he then noticed the one to his side, that one was a little larger but looked in their only a few inches.

Kira wasn't really thinking about anything right now, his state of mind was very much unknown.

Looking up he saw the debris as he mustered maneuvered himself to be able to give it a large kick.

His body was burning in pain but this was something he had to do. With groans he managed to give the debris blocking the opening in the cockpit a hard kick sending the debris off and the little power left sent the cockpit all the way open.

With Lacus

Lacus watched as she saw an arm come out and start pulling the rest of the body up. Taking a look at him he wasn't in that great of shape, his uniform was practically died red and she didn't remember him having a red uniform. His face was covered in blood.

She saw as he pulled his body out and there was still a metal fragment stuck in his left side. As he got himself fully out his legs were just as damaged but he still looked as if he could walk fine.

As soon as Kira got up he wasn't focusing on anything as he tried moving around but lost his strength as he fell off the body, he slammed on a piece of debris and hit the ground in a sitting position.

Lacus at first moved forward when he fell but then stood back, their was something in her own flight suit as she was packing her own gun, but she thought of placing her hand on it but then backed off, he didn't look in any condition to fight.

One thing she didn't know was his mental state, she didn't know whether he was still thinking he was fighting Rau, or whether he was back in full control and would pull his own weapons and shoot her, she had no clue. He was right in front of her not focused on her at all; she could tell he was in pain.

For four years she had wanted this moment and now it was here, but things never truly work out for how anyone wants them to, this was reality and now she had to deal with it, their was just a part of her that didn't want to, maybe a little naive natural that still believed in the chance.

Lacus now slowly advanced forward as she noticed his eyes then locked straight on her.

To be continued...

(A\N): This chapter had to be short and done like the way I did it for what I mentioned above. I will not keep the wait any further as they go face to face next chapter. This chapter is also the cut off chapter that will split the story into two story paths. For the dark one head to the next chapter. If you want the other path skip to chapter eighty. Bye for now.