Gundam SEED: Arbiter Forces
By: Shadow Chaser
An Alternate Universe to Entropy Rising
Story:
Phase Twelve – Operation Helio
It was later in the night when Patrick Zala entered the room Kira occupied. He walked over and sat down at the rickety chair that was in the room, the faint glow of the lights from the hallway casting a shadow over the boy's unconscious form. He marveled at how much the boy had grown since he had last saw him. Had it been so long since the Copernicus City?
"Kira, your Uncle Patrick is about to do something bad. I wish you were able to stop me," he started in a soft voice, "but I need you now more than ever." Reaching over, he brushed a few strands of hair away from his face with a fatherly gentleness.
"I also wish Athrun was here. The two of you were inseparable as children. Best of friends. What have you done now? If you were only brought to the PLANTs by your parents. What a life you would have had," he said, leaning back against the chair. "You could have been the best of all of ZAFT. You could have been part of FAITH.
"Why did you parents take you away? Why run to Heliopolis? There was no intention of hurting you or anyone else. All there was was the purpose to which you were created and born for. Your purpose Kira is to be the one that chooses the fate of humankind. Of Coordinators and of Naturals.
"So why did your parents run away? You could have thrived on the PLANTs. You could have been closer friends with Athrun. And when Lenore died, you could have helped my son through his grief. You could have been the brother he never had. You could have turned him from joining ZAFT and shedding unnecessary blood.
"But that blood should be shed, don't you think? What of the countless thousands of innocents who died to create this sense of peace? What are their say in the creation of nations, worlds, and countries? No…none of this should happen."
Patrick stood up from the chair and bent over Kira's unconscious form, "I will be doing something bad Kira; stop me, if you can." He abruptly spun around and walked out of the room, leaving the room in darkness once more.
"I will be doing something bad Katherine; stop me, if you can…"
"How dare you! Why Ulen, why!"
"Because it is the next step of mankind!"
A part of Kira knew that he was dreaming, but yet it was so vivid at the same time. He felt like he was watching the whole scene unfold as a third party; like a movie camera of sorts and he had no control over what scene was going to happen next.
"How many now, Ulen? How many more!"
"If you really want to know, dear Katherine, this will be the sixty-seventh time."
"Ulen…please, I'm begging you, stop."
With each word spoken Kira saw bits and pieces of flashed images through his head, all in different order. There was no chronological order to the images and he felt a bit confused. He understood what he was seeing was his biological father's research and the futile protests of his biological mother, but what he didn't get was why he was seeing this. He wasn't even born during the process.
"For this one, I think we'll make him into the likeness of you, don't you think Katherine?" Ulen sneered at his cowering wife who was sitting on the cool metallic floor of one of the labs, her hand over her stomach. "Fitting punishment for disobeying me all these years."
"Ulen, please…" Katherine whispered brokenly, staring at the syringe she had just jabbed into herself. It had contained a frozen embryo and she wanted to make herself pregnant just to show her husband that even a natural birthing process was more humane than his psychotic experiments.
Ulen ignored his wife as he tapped a few keys on the keyboard and transferred the embryo into the artificial womb in the next room over. He turned to one of the two assistants in the room. "Dr. Attha, start the process."
"Yes sir," Kira knew that if he was in a physical body, his jaw would have completely dropped open. The man sitting at one of the consoles was none other than a very young looking Uzumi Nara Attha, future leader of Orb.
"Dr. Kamiya, I'll need you to power the heat capacitors to keep it at level temperature and apply the calculations we've corrected since the last experiment," Uzumi said to the woman on the other side of Ulen.
"Its completed, Uzumi," Kira staggered in his dream as he saw his mother, very young-looking, sitting at the other console, tapping a few keys before the artificial womb started to glow a warm red.
Blackness started to fade into his vision and Kira watched as the blackness was replaced by a peaceful looking room. He vaguely recognized the room and tilted his head in confusion as he saw that Katherine Hibiki was holding two bundles. No, they weren't two bundles, they were two babies and he realized that one was him, the other his sister Cagalli.
"Katherine, hold them up! I want to have a picture of this!" Kanoko came bustling into his field of vision and Kira saw that she was dressed in civilian clothing, a camera hanging from her neck.
There was a flash of the picture being taken before Kanoko walked to the computer and plugged in the camera to develop the pictures. A few seconds later she walked back and handed Katherine the photo. "Here, sign their names!"
Katherine handed over her babies, Cagalli to Uzumi who had come to stand by her side, Kira to Kanoko who immediately began to fuss over the boy. She reached over and on the small table near her, she scrawled their names.
"Uzumi, Kanoko, there's something I wanted to tell you for a while," Katherine finished signing their names, but did not take her babies back. She looked up at them with solemn eyes.
"I was going to leave before all of this happened with Cagalli, but now, with Kira…" her eyes started to tear, "I want to escape from this hell hole. I don't want my children to grow up with such a madman as their father."
"We understand, Katherine and we'll be with you all the way," Kanoko said.
The scene faded into blackness once more and Kira briefly wondered when it would be over. It wasn't that he was impatient, it was that he found it both fascinating and horrifying at the same time. This was his past, his reason of existence…
"So what now, Uzumi?" Kanoko asked, a bit of dried blood running down from a cut on her forehead. Both of them looked worse for wear in the shuttle they used to escape from Colony Mendel. "Katherine's dead, the colony's in shambles. What do we do?"
"They'll be others looking for him. Especially Zala and LaFlaga. I overheard Ulen talking about them since they are the sponsors for this project. We need to hide," Uzumi said grimly, peeling a bandage from his shoulder and redressing the wound once more.
"What about the children?"
Uzumi stared at both little Kira and Cagalli, sleeping peacefully in a single crib. Kira had grabbed onto a tuft of Cagalli's hair and was sucking his thumb while Cagalli had latched herself onto her brother's arm and was refusing to let go.
"I'll take Kira-"
"No," Kanoko stopped him in mid-sentence, "I'll take Kira. I was the one watching him through the nine months he grew. Besides, it would be easier if you took Cagalli to grow up with both Naturals and Coordinators back in Orb. Ledonil can guard her well."
"Where will you go?"
"Not to the PLANTs. But I was thinking, if Orb could build a neutral colony for those who want to live in space…"
"Consider it done. I'll propose it to the current leader," Uzumi smiled grimly, "what about now?"
"I think I'll head to the CopernicusCity. They won't suspect anything over there," Kanoko stared at the two children. "We have to keep this a secret from them. They can't know, especially Kira." She turned to Uzumi, her eyes glistening with tears, "Promise me, Uzumi; promise me that we'll never meet again and never talk about this ever."
Uzumi was taken aback by her words, but nodded, "I promise. But that doesn't mean I won't keep an eye on you or Kira. You'll be protected from afar, Kanoko."
"Thank you, Uzumi," Kanoko said.
Kira's world faded into blackness once more before no more dreams came to him and he slept on, oblivious to what had transpired a few hours ago. However, the rage inside of him hadn't died down and was planning its revenge.
Patrick Zala reached his office and closed the door quietly behind him. He walked over to his desk and punched up a communications screen, the face of the man he had been talking to earlier came on. He still sat in the shadows and his breath was a bit wheezy.
"How is he?" the man in the shadows asked.
"He attempted to escape, but that was quelled by one of my people. He is as you had said, perfect in all forms. Though his mind is resistant to what we've been trying to do, it is on the part of that bitch Kamiya and Attha's dealings along with his exposure to other elements we couldn't control," Patrick replied.
"Have you talked with him?"
"Only once."
"What do you think, Patrick?"
"Kira is the Ultimate Coordinator. Have you ever dreamed of such a thing when you first showed the world that Coordinators existed?"
"No, but it was a dream of mine that was passed down through my kin. I am very pleased that it has worked out so well. Do you think I can visit him?"
"You may."
"Very well then. I look forward to talking with you in person, Patrick."
"And I too, George."
The communication ended and Patrick brought up an audio-only communication. "Begin Part Two of Operation Helio."
It was a general announcement that cut through all of the broadcasting stations on the PLANTs and on Earth. Everyone stared at the media screens, giant and small as they saw a face that they hadn't seen since the Battle of Jakin Due. It was a face many associated to be a dictator, evil-incarnate, and bigot, and those were the most pleasant of names many could think up.
"My name is Patrick Zala and I was the former Chairman of the Supreme Council on the PLANTs. Many of you believed me dead by the end of that battle, having fire Genesis and causing havoc and chaos among both the PLANT Supreme Council and the Earth's ruling forces. I am standing before you in an undisclosed location for my own safety to tell you that I did not die in that battle.
"That was my clone."
The image paused and as expected many gasped at the revelation while some other scoffed to whatever the image said.
"As I understand, cloning in this world is something that should never be tampered with. But I have, or had, a clone and he went insane from the madness and disease that myth had been associated with clones. He was the one that fired Genesis and took over the Supreme Council. I know some of you might be scoffing at the idea that perhaps it is I who is the clone or perhaps I am a body double who looks eerily like Patrick Zala, but I can prove to you that I am neither one of those.
"I have just released to the media outlets all throughout the PLANTs and Earth copies of my DNA and birth history that was verified by both PLANT and Earth doctors. Their numbers are attached so if the media gets suspicious and decides to call one of these doctors they may do so and realize the truth. I am Patrick Zala."
The image of Patrick paused once more as waves of murmuring ran throughout the places the people had stopped and watch him on the screen.
"I also know that many of you are wondering why I am doing this right now. I do this because of a crisis that has gripped the Earth and my beloved PLANTs. Many of you know that the recent bombing of the Senate was in Orb and many of our world's politicians and policy makers have sadly perished in this blast. Many of you know that it was a renegade group called the Talon who was behind this and that the Liberation Forces have put a stop to them by launching a small, but effective task force against their base.
"But what many of you don't know is who the mastermind behind all of this was. In my three years of hiding, I was able to find many corruptions everywhere. In my time of hiding from those who wish to kill me, I was able to find information and the Talon…the mastermind of the Talon is none other than Orb."
On Aprilius One, there was a resounding "WHAT!" from Athrun and shocked expressions from Lacus, Athrun, and Bartfield who were sitting in her office, discussing about the recent developments of Kira's whereabouts.
Back in Orb, the Senate had paused in its meeting to watch the live feed and when the announcement was dropped, each head turned to stare at Cagalli who was on the podium, telling the assembled Senators and delegates that the LF in cooperation with ZAFT had just caught the assassin who was trying to kill all the members of the Supreme Council. Cagalli had turned white as a sheet and was gripping the podium's sides in a death grip. A million thoughts were racing through her mind, each one of the screaming "NO!"
"The mastermind of the Talon is none other than Orb," Patrick Zala repeated and took a deep breath, "many of you won't believe what I am saying and you have that right. But this is the true side of the double-edged sword they are holding. There is their side, and the truth. Truth is, Orb created the Talon." He pressed a button showing the recent battle images of what the Talon had been terrorizing Panama and in Colony Mendel.
Over the images, he began to speak, "These images are the images of Orb's work. They are a country that promotes the unification of both Naturals and Coordinators and managed to garner the ire of the Earth Alliance during the war two years ago. Unfortunately their country destroyed itself and now, Princess Cagalli Attha, current leader, has created the Liberation Forces. The Liberation Forces claim to be keeping the peace between both Coordinators and Naturals, to prevent flare-ups from either side. But what they've been doing is nothing but terrorizing all of us to keep our guard up.
"You'll notice the similarities between the Talon Fleet and the Liberation Forces. Both used ships of ZAFT and Earth made so what is to stop them from plotting a take over with the two fleets by pitting them against each other and pretending that all of it is to keep the peace. In reality, the LF are the Talon and they've only just supposedly eliminated their own fleet."
Patrick pushed another button and a live feed image of the current battle between the Archangel and Babylon versus the Isis, Heracles, and Thoreau. "This is a current battle between what seems to be the LF versus the remnant Talon fleet. But in reality, they are holding such a mock battle to alert the others. Cagalli Attha has created the Liberation Forces to be a hindrance and hidden terror to the public. She has feared retaliation on her country since the Earth Alliance forced them to destroy themselves; feared it to the point where she decided she would create a task force in the guise of keeping peace, where they strike out against those that seek to destroy them.
Patrick's image returned to the screen and his eyes hardened, "And she had help. With the help of Lacus Clyne and her Clyne Faction."
In Lacus' office, all three had gone silent and Athrun had paled slightly while Lacus had no expression on her face. Andrew had dropped his coffee cup, spilling his latest coffee creation onto the carpeted ground.
"In the war two years ago my clone had advocated along with Ezalia Joule the denunciation of Lacus Clyne and while many of you believed him, there were those whose doubts were in the right place. One must ask, how could this sweet young pop star be part of the war? How can she advocate peace and why are others condemning her as being a puppet of the Earth Alliance.
"Those doubts were unfounded, but in the recent events those doubts must be brought up once more. The Clyne Faction was her creation and the Eternal her flagship. Her flagship had one purpose, to carry the weapons of mass destruction against those that stood at odds at them. They carried the METEOR weapon systems for two mobile suits, the Justice and the Freedom. While the Justice and Freedom with these destructive systems prevented the nuclear warheads from reaching PLANT they were also used to destroy so many countless innocent lives.
"They were supposedly destroyed at the end of the war, but as you can see," the images of the Justice battling on Junius 7's Genesis appeared and a split image of the Freedom fighting at Panama also appeared. "They have not been destroyed. Why should weapons like these exist? They have N-Jammer Cancellation technology in them. Think of the destruction these two mobile suits could have on the populace if you do not submit to their will."
Patrick's image appeared once more and he had a hardened expression on his face, "I appear before you today because of recent political events. I am living in safety for the fear of retaliation from Orb and from the Clyne Faction. The person who has assassinated Eileen, whom I thought was a dear colleague of mine was nothing but a sham. She was part of the Clyne Faction and Lacus Clyne wanted everyone to think that the assassin was after her. I do not know where the assassin is at the moment, but I risk my own well-being to warn the populace.
"Your terrorists are the Talon, but in reality, they are the works of Orb's Liberation Forces and the Clyne Faction."
The transmission suddenly ended and almost everywhere, murmurings of what had just transpired erupted in full force. Even ZAFT and OMNI were shocked at the events and all the commanders were staring at one another before they scrambled to intercept the supposedly fighting forces at Colony Mendel.
Total chaos was at hand and sitting in the middle of it was Patrick Zala.
But that was only the beginning of Operation Helio.
As soon as the broadcast finished, Quinn Misali glanced at his second-in-command and nodded, giving her the signal to alert their troops. He had expected some kind of speech like that from Zala, and while he felt a bit angered at lumping him with the Clyne Faction and LF, it was probably one of Zala's most brilliant plans.
"Shadow Squad One, Two, and Three, you may execute your plan," his second-in-command spoke into the comm. with three groups of suicide troops that had already been stationed inside Colony Mendel. They had their job to do and Quinn had his. After all, it was only a job.
He pressed a button to bring up the communications screen to both the Heracles and Thoreau. "Hold the fort here. We're going to escort Mendel to its destination."
"Roger that," both captains replied before the comm. shut off.
Quinn turned to his radar officer, "What's the status of the Archangel and Babylon."
"They've retreated for the moment, but it looks like they're coming back for another round," his officer said.
"Hit them with everything we've got. Then bring us into the one of the bays of the Colony. I want to restock and refuel with supplies. We'll be expecting ZAFT and OMNI forces to head towards us. But they'll be too late to stop the next part of this plan."
"Aye sir," his second-in-command replied.
It's not over yet, Quinn thought to himself as he watched the battle screens so both the Babylon and Archangel headed back towards them.
As the speech went on, Murrue had gripped the arms of her chair tightly, her knuckles turning white. Everyone was silent on the bridge except when there was a few gasped outbursts at the ludicrous statements Zala was making. While Murrue was furious at how Zala painted a twisted picture of their attempt to stop Genesis at Jakin Due and placing the blame of the Talon on Orb and Clyne Faction, it was the first time she had seen the clone that had been hiding for so long.
The clone that had Quinn turned against them and kidnap Kira. The clone that was the mastermind behind all of this.
"We've got a problem," Ledonil's face suddenly appeared on the small screen next to her chair."
"We have to stop the Genesis on Mendel, but I think both ZAFT and OMNI forces would come looking for us by then," Murrue replied.
"I don't think at this stage, Zala would fire Genesis. Not right now when he's just announced our condemnation. We'll hit them one more time before retreating," Ledonil looked thoughtful.
"But we still have to destroy Genesis," Murrue pointed out.
"I know. We'll think of a plan," Kisaka replied. "But we can't go back to Orb or use one of the PLANTs as shelter."
Murrue brought up a small map of the Earth and its LaGrange points on the other small console next to her. She tapped a few buttons before a frown creased her face, "You're not going to like this, but…we can make a run to L3."
"Heliopolis!"
"The remnants might have some supplies we need at the moment and it's also out of the way of all the other LaGrange Points," she explained.
"Good point. All right, one last attack and we'll head towards Heliopolis," Kisaka replied before disconnecting the communication.
Murrue heaved a long sigh before turning to the rest of the crew, "We're going back into the battle. Prepare Valiants and Helldarts! Target the Isis!"
Author's Notes:
WAHAHAHAAHAH! Okie, I am planning evil thoughts in store for our characters. This chapter was made possible because of two contributing factors. My muses and the fact that SEED DESTINY has had two cool episodes in a row! I'd like to thank the readers so much for supporting me in this fic and you all will be credited when I finish this mini monster. After this fic, there will be two others, a prequel and a sequel to Entropy Rising. Remember, this is the AU-sequel. Oh yes, I'm also going to be working on other fanfic projects so please bear with me! Cheers!