Fated Shift: Rearmed

by Centurious the Azure

A Rewrite of Gundam SEED: Fated Shift with co-author Storm Wolf77415. Sometimes a small ripple can create a change. And a simple change can create a tsunami in destiny. Experience the new wave of Fated Shift: Rearmed. OC/Flay. Kira/Imported Character. Mu/Murrue.

13. A Quiet Moment With the Tiger pt1

Disclaimer: see Chapter 1

Fated Shift: Rearmed

Centurious the Azure and Storm Wolf77415

A Quiet Day With The Tiger Part 1

(EAS Archangel, African Community, February 19th, C.E. 71)

Kira stirred, feeling a heavy weight pressing down on his body. A part of him panicked but then remembered the previous night's events. He opened his eyes to see Yui still mounting him, gripping onto his shoulders. The Japanese beauty looked content in her slumber, not to mention absolutely sexy in her blue, skintight one-piece bathing suit, given how a certain part of his lower anatomy was reacting to a certain part of her upper anatomy rubbing against him.

Yui seemed to be enjoying herself subconsciously if the way she was blushing was any indication. "I'm really glad no one's here to see this." He said quietly, pushing her chocolate brown locks aside so he could run his fingers down the bare skin of her exposed back. "Then again, I was blessed to have such a beautiful creature be in love with me." He enjoyed watching her smile, content to let her sleep a little while longer.

It was then a soft moan that emanated from Yui's lips. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing those glittering purple orbs he loved looking into. "Good morning." She cooed in a soft voice, shifting her body to cuddle up against Kira, which in turn made her chest dig deeper into him. "Did you sleep well?" She asked, tightening her hold on the Strike's pilot.

"I did, what about you?" He asked, threading his fingers through her long, silky hair. Yui just nodded. Kira stroked her cheek, "I guess we got a busy day ahead of us. Never sure if ZAFT is going to come calling."

"Yeah, but we don't have to rush it. I'm content to lay here for a while longer." Yui put her arms around Kira's neck. "Commander Waltfeld can be considerate enough to let me have a few more minutes with the man I love so much." She tugged on her shoulder strap. "I may have to take this a size up, it's too tight on my chest."

"Even though you can't swim at all?" Kira said, this just got him a very cute pout from Yui. He kissed her on the forehead, and she hugged him even tighter. Her shampoo was a very pleasant odor, lavender, and bergamot. It was a welcome change from the smell of engine oil and propellent that normally permeated the Archangel's hangar. Kira hoped ZAFT was feeling lazy. This was all he wanted to do right now, given how Yui was lightly pressing down on him as she kissed him, the feeling was mutual!

(Desert Dawn Camp, Two Hours Later)

Murrue, Natarle, Mu, and Sharon were all in one of the many tents that compromised the Desert Dawn's main camp. A vital meeting was being held between the Archangel's senior staff and the leadership of the guerrilla cell. Thanks to Cagalli and the Sahaku brothers they knew of Colonel Ledonir Kisaka, but now had a face to go with the name. Kisaka was tall, and swarthy, not to mention a very imposing figure with arms that bulged so much Mu swore they were steel cables. But as gentle as could be when it came to Cagalli, Kuro, and Yukimasa. He was a trusted family friend who would have done whatever possible to keep them safe.

Sahib Ashman didn't have Kisaka's intimidating height, but he was solidly built with plenty of muscle. The man also held a commanding gleam in his eye. "I have to say that is quite the story, Captain Ramius. Not to mention I sympathize with the fact that you evaded Rau Le Creuset's clutches only to end up landing within the Tiger's lair." No one missed the vitriol in Ashman's final words, or the way his fist clenched. "He's certainly made life difficult for us the last few months. Those oversized metal cats of his aren't exactly easy to scratch with just RPGs and artillery trucks."

"You managed to do some harm to them when you showed up. A BuCUE's joints are pretty vulnerable if you can hit them." Sharon pointed out.

"Yeah, but only when we had you guys there to tank them for us. Regardless we're grateful for your arrival. Kisaka vouches for you, so we'll be willing to help you guys out in any way you can until you can make a break for Orb with your ship and the prototypes." Ashman replied, with true honesty in his voice. "Anything you need, we can provide for you. Food, water, weapons, and medical supplies. You name it and we can find it."

"Something tells me we'll need all the help we can get if we want to make it to the ocean in one piece," Mu stated, taking note of the map of the area, and the strip of blue that marked the beginning of the Indian Ocean. "But I doubt Commander Waltfeld going to be so nice as to just stand aside and let us go on our merry way. He was just feeling us out the other night, and he'll be even more relentless when he comes back for round two." The Hawk of Endymion cursed the fact that he didn't have more to rely on than just a Skygrasper. Even with their other allies, he hated being relegated to a bit player.

"You have that right." Kisaka's voice was deep, but at the same time very soft, just loud enough for people to hear him. "Andrew Waltfeld is a very formidable adversary. He is our mutual enemy for the moment, Captain La Flaga. He's the main impediment to your reaching Orb, the Desert Dawn, and all the other local cells who want him out of their territory for good. ZAFT purged many of the local politicians and replaced them with their own people, that or locals willing to collaborate with them by offering a considerable bribe."

"It's sick! They're exploiting the fact that our region had a fairly large sized Coordinator population. It's the same in Oceania. ZAFT came in, and said they would be willing to protect us from Blue Cosmos and other hate groups, and before we knew it. We were being occupied." Ashman shouted, pounding his fist into his other hand. "My older brother was the governor of this province, and when he wouldn't kowtow to the Supreme Council, they sent a hit team after them, and he was replaced with the Desert Tiger. He may be a great soldier, but he's just a flunky to that cad Patrick Zala. This whole thing is his idea!"

"What exactly does Zala intend to do with Earth?" Natarle asked, her chin in her hand dainty.

"He intends to reclaim the planet for Coordinators, there's been talk of terraforming the Sahara and colonizing it with people from the PLANTs." Despite his professional calm. The anger Kisaka radiated with was visible. "He said it was their right for all the suffering Coordinators have endured over the past sixty-five years. And that's just the beginning. Apparently, he also intends to spread out and take portions of Oceania and maybe even South America."

"I've heard something like that too, but I just figured they were rumors," Mu said, lifting a finger to suggest he had a point.

Kisaka shrugged carelessly. "It may just be rumors, but when it comes to that man. We leave nothing to chance. There are some among our ranks who sympathize with the PLANTs, but for many others, this is still their home. It's why we oppose ZAFT. To protect what we hold dear."

"How soon until you can get us the supplies we need?" Murrue asked thoughtfully, knowing it was of the most import.

"We'll reach out to our connections and get back to you. In the meantime, I suggest you and your crew rest up. I have the feeling you're going to need your strength in the days ahead." Ashman advised plainly. The meeting ended after that. The resistance leader was right, for once. This was a challenge they'd need to face together to come out the other side of this hellish desert

Cagalli was sulking about the camp, still smarting from her argument with Kuro the other day. "Why does he have to be so damn cynical all the time? Doesn't he understand what it means to believe in something anymore?" So engrossed in her sulking, Cagalli really wasn't watching where she was going. As such she didn't notice the blue and tan streak running in the opposite direction before it was too late, sending them both tumbling to the ground. "Hey!" She cried out as golden-colored eyes met brilliant green. A young boy her age in a blue zipped-up vest looked at her before springing to his feet, his face red.

"Uh, sorry about that!" He said quickly, helping Cagalli up to her feet. "I was in a hurry because Mr. Ashman needed me to run some errands and I lose track of where I'm going. You aren't hurt, are you?"

"I'm fine." She said, more annoyed than anything else, dusting herself off.

"Are you sure about that? You look bothered about something." The boy pointed out.

Cagalli grunted, rolling her eyes. "Maybe, a little bit. Just having some issues with a friend of mine. He's so apathetic to everything going on around him. What you guys are fighting for is something I sympathize with."

"Oh wow, thank you so much!" The boy said. "I just realized I haven't introduced myself. The name's Ahmed, Ahmed el-Hosn." He said, holding his hand out, which Cagalli accepted in an awkward handshake. "You came on the white ship, right?" He indicated to the Archangel, looking quite majestic against the morning sky. "The ship with the Gundams?" There was awe in his voice, and even a slight hint of fear with that final word.

"Cagalli Yula Attha, and yeah I came here from space on the Archangel." Ahmed became very nervous at those words. "What about it?"

"Your friend, does he pilot one of the Gundams?" Ahmed asked.

"Yeah, the Gundam Gravesend, one of the older models from the Reconstruction War. It's tall and kind of thin." Ahmed visibly flinched at that mention. "What? What are you so on pins and needles for?"

"Well, it's just, if your friend pilots one of those Gundams, especially that scary white one. It's probably no surprise why he's the way he is. There's a big stigma attached to mobile suits called Gundams. I've heard stories of how Gundams twist their pilots, and screws up their minds real bad! They just become unfeeling engines of destruction. There's all kinds of horror stories from the Reconstruction War about their pilots leveling towns just because they feel like it" Ahmed shivered at the thought. "Your friend may not be all there, or he's become so inured to the killing it's all he knows. He can't see anything else."

"Kuro wouldn't be that way." Cagalli started out strongly, but then she recalled their argument when they first arrived at camp. And she had to reconsider it slightly. "I've known him for a long time. He always used to be a bit of joker, loved throwing out sarcastic remarks when he could. Kuro was fun to be around. Until he started piloting the Gravesend. After it was like nothing else mattered anymore but doing his job."

"See? The Gundam's curse got to him." Ahmed pointed out. "He's lost himself to that death machine. To us we're just coattail riders, or worse, pests to deal with when it's not convenient for him anymore." He thumped his chest proudly. That's why we need to prove how strong we really are. Not all of us have access to crazy weapons like that. At least that's how I see it." Ahmed's words had struck a chord with Cagalli. While Kuro had always been devoted to her, it was clear that she needed to rethink some things. Perhaps it was time to seek a new path.

"You know what, Ahmed? You're all right." The young guerilla's heart skipped a beat at Cagalli's smile. "It's about time I found someone with a little sanity around here. I never considered the history of the Gundams before. You clearly know more about the subject, perhaps you can enlighten me over some drinks?"

"Sure!" Ahmed said, and the two new partners went off.

(Tassil, African Community, Later That Day)

Tassil was a small village with barely three hundred people living there. Ashman and many of the Desert Dawn called it home, so Tassil was one of their strongest bastions. It was a quiet day regardless. People milling about doing their various chores. In all a fairly picturesque scene. The tranquility would then be shattered by the eerie sound of metal scraping in the distance, a very familiar sound to the people of the desert. A sense of dread grew in every villager's stomach at the dark shapes looming from the sands.

Sitting up on a sand dune about a mile outside of town, Andrew Waltfeld sat in a jeep with his ever-present cup of coffee in hand, flanked by a quartet of BuCUEs, including Dingo's custom model. "So this is the place, DaCosta?" He asked of Sergeant Martin DaCosta, his executive officer, currently looking at a tablet computer.

"Yes sir, according to our intelligence reports. This is where much of the senior leadership of the Desert Dawn resides." The beleaguered red-haired man spoke, even though he had served with the Desert Tiger for almost a year now, he couldn't believe the older man could remain so laid back about things. "They can't confirm if there's any kind of weapons or other supplies being kept here, but the likelihood is still very high." DaCosta looked worriedly at Waltfeld. "Sir, I understand the reason for our orders, but these are still innocent people. Do they need to suffer for our actions?"

Waltfeld just sipped his mug. "I suppose not. But if they are hiding any kind of provisions to be used by the local resistance. Then we have to deny them its usage." He sighed. "I suppose this comes with the face of ZAFT in the area. I'm the bad guy, but even bad guys can have principles. DaCosta, go into town and tell the citizens of what's going to happen. If they don't want to be casualties, then they best get out of the way while we work." DaCosta just nodded slightly, still looking at his tablet when it was wrenched out of his hand by his CO. "Well, what are you waiting for man? Get going! Chop! Chop!"

DaCosta sighed as he climbed into one of the other jeeps, praying that he wasn't gutted upon entering Tassil. He nodded to the driver, who looked understandably nervous as he drove down the dune toward the village, where a crowd had gathered. He could see the anger growing on their faces at the sight of his green ZAFT uniform. Mustering as much authority as he could, he spoke in his most commanding voice. "People of Tassil, my name is Sergeant Martin DaCosta, representing the Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty's Waltfeld Team, Andrew Waltfeld commanding. It's known this town has sympathies to the resistance group, Desert Dawn." He paused before setting his face in steel. "We have reason to believe you're hiding supplies and weapons for them."

His hand subconsciously went for his sidearm, just in case anyone got ideas to attack him or the driver. "As such, my superiors have ordered the threat it represents to be neutralized." DaCosta gave everyone a stern look. "We're being generous and giving you folks twenty minutes to gather whatever personal affects you have and vacate the village, after that it will be destroyed. I suggest you all be smart." With that, he made a signal to the driver, and they returned to the staging point. He looked to Waltfeld, giving a single nod. The Desert Tiger sipped his coffee, and made an idle gesture, three of the four BuCUEs they brought with them advanced toward Tassil in a menacing fashion.

A spray of missiles flew from one ZAFT machine, slamming into the center of town, an eruption of fire soon caused Tassil to start burning. The second BuCUE lumbered through, trampling everything under metallic foot while firing a burst from the railguns. Magnetically charged 450mm shells cut through the buildings, and the blaze grew evermore. Screams filled the night skies as the village of Tassil was razed.

"They supposedly hid supplies in the caves outside town. Be sure to get them too!" Dingo said, watching as the panicked denizens of Tassil ran from their burning homes. The Oceanian native sighed. This really wasn't doing anything to improve their reputation with the locals. "Well, it's war folks." He said, targeting the caves int the distance. "You don't always get what you want." He targeted the low rise of rocky hills west of the town. His central cannon sent a huge beam colored orange and rimmed by light blue arcing through the sky before it hit the hills dead center. Dingo smirked at the resulting explosion and fires rising into the sky. "Well, it appears the reports were accurate. They were hiding ammo there!"

Waltfeld watched with satisfaction. "Well, it looks like our objective has been achieved. I think we've proved our point. Let's RTB." The destruction of Tassil took less than ten minutes. There had been no casualties. But the flames consuming the village weren't the only thing about to burn. The survivors were already on their way to Desert Dawn's main camp, and they tell all of what happened to the place they called home. The inferno of vengeance would blaze in every one of them soon enough.

(Desert Dawn Camp, Just After Tassil Attack)

It had started innocuously enough. The camp had mostly settled down for the night, The only ones active were the ones currently on guard and a couple of people checking on weapons and equipment in anticipation of the next raid. But the calm and tranquility around the base was shattered when they heard the sound of voices approaching. The guards tensed up when they saw a huge line of people approaching them. People everyone in the camp was quite familiar with. No one wanted to believe their families had trekked all the way across the desert. But they had, and the message the guerrillas received made them see red.

The entire encampment sprung to life. The commotion brought the Archangel's senior officers out of the ship, taking in the sight of the whole of the Desert Dawn getting ready to war, hefting rocket launchers and anti-tank rifles as they prepped their various technicals. "What's going on here, Colonel Kisaka? Where is everyone going? What's happening here?" She stopped the large man, loading his assault rifle. Despite his usual stoic demeanor, anger was still present in his eyes.

"ZAFT happened, The Waltfeld Team burned Tassil to the ground and everyone's blood is up. They're going to hunt down the Tiger and make him pay, even if there is a huge disparity in our combat strength." Kisaka cocked his rifle, before checking on an RPG launcher. "I have the benefit of my training to keep my head clear, but the rest of them don't have that. They're driven by passion, and that doesn't always work."

"You can't convince them that trying to go after the Waltfeld team is a bad idea?" Sharon said.

"Like I said, Commander Heim, I can keep my head clear, but that doesn't mean I don't want payback myself," Kisaka replied. It was then a figure sprinted from the interior of the Archangel, one with a shock of brilliant daisy-hued hair. "Lady Cagalli?" He asked, just as a jeep driven by Ahmed rolled up. Cagalli, clad in desert-colored combat fatigues hopped into the passenger seat.

"Cagalli stop!" Kuro cried out, running from the ship, Alissa, and Yukimasa following closely on his heels. Cagalli gave him an angry scowl.

"I refuse to sit around and let anyone else suffer!" She snapped. "You may not have any passion, Kuroto Takeshi Sahaku, but I do! Ahmed, drive!" the boy nodded before sneering at Kuro and the vehicle was out of the camp, following the artillery trucks and other technicals.

"Fuck!" Kuro exclaimed. "That damned, stubborn, self-righteous!" He began cursing in Japanese.

"Oh, Haumea save that girl." Kisaka groaned. "Lord Uzumi will have our collective heads if even one scratch ends up on that girl!" He quickly hopped into a jeep. "I'll try to catch up to her. I understand if you feel this isn't your fight, Captain. But the firepower of your mobile suits may make all the difference."

"If Cagalli is involved then you know I'm going!" Kuro snapped, running back inside to prep the Gravesend for launch. Murrue just looked at her fellow officers. Mu just shrugged, following Kuro to gear up and take to the skies. Sharon shook her head before patting her friend on the shoulder.

"I'll get everyone woken up and to their duty stations." Natarle sighed, she looked at the busty pinkette. "Sharon, I think you know what I'm going to say."

"Get the coffee boiling," Sharon replied, shaking her bed before she went inside, muttering how rude the Desert Tiger was about spoiling her much-needed beauty sleep.

"We'll be ready to launch in ten minutes, Colonel." Murrue said to Kisaka. He inclined his head, and the jeep took off.

(EAS Archangel, Pilot Ready Room)

Kuro was spouting every cuss word he knew in every language knew as he suited up. "I can't believe the nerve of that woman! What is she thinking running off to join the locals in some foolish crusade?" He put the gloves on as he zipped up the night black garment. "I always knew Cagalli was idealistic and hotheaded, but I never thought she'd actually act on those feelings." His thoughts went back to their argument the other day, and the aftermath, and his attitude deflated a little. "Okay, maybe I can believe it."

Across the way, Yukimasa silently donned his own flight suit. He noticed his brother's uneasiness, and he understood why. On the one hand, Cagalli had always been the one most dedicated to the ideals which Orb stood for, keeping neutral in conflicts, and keeping to themselves. On the other hand, she was also the most headstrong of them, willing to join a fight in which she had no real stake in. That was Cagalli as well, reckless enough to jump in despite lacking the power to make a difference.

Cagalli probably justified it as not wanting to see people suffer, but Yukimasa agreed with his brother. Cagalli had gone over the line. Keijiro had finished suiting up and was already out the door, when Kira came in, looking extremely irritated. "Is it true what I heard? Cagalli raced out to join the guerrillas in attacking ZAFT?" He said, throwing open his locker.

"Unfortunately, yes!" Kuro snapped. "So hopefully we get there before she ends up dead!"

"She really went over the line this time. I don't see why we have to lift a finger to help that stubborn bitch." Keijiro huffed. "I say we go back to bed and let her deal with this on her own. Let her see what happens when no one is there to save her sorry ass."

"Do you really think you could do that to Cagalli, Kei?" Yukimasa said as they moved to the hangar. "I mean let's face it. If we let Cagalli die, we failed at our mission. That means Tatsuo will have our asses, and that means your pay gets docked or worse you get fired." Keijiro shuddered. "I don't think I need to tell you what that means. No more money for expensive retro video games and pricey takeout."

He grunted. "Well shit, got me on that one. Okay fine, you win this round, Masa. But I'm still reserving the right to tear Cagalli a new one for making me get out of bed. I had a really nice dream. Something tells me you two feel the same for ripping you away from the girls." He smirked at Kira and Yukimasa. "I can tell what you guys were up to in there, come on and admit it!"

"No comment!" They both replied. Everyone headed for their mobile suits. Skygrasper 1 was already launching. Kira decided to go with the Aile Pack. The Strike, Gravesend, and Masamune were soon hurtling over the dunes, praying their erstwhile allies hadn't been trampled by the advance of the Tiger. It wasn't hard to follow them, they just had to follow the tire tracks in the sand.

Sharon's face appeared on the screen. "We've managed to track the Waltfeld Team, they're about five minutes from your location. You need to get there fast and support the Desert Dawn. Their weapons won't do anything to the BuCUEs."

"We're working on it, toots! These walking tin cans may be marvels of engineering, but they aren't exactly speedy when traversing over open land like this." Keijiro said, ignoring the sour expression Sharon gave him.

With the convoy, Cagalli felt her blood racing with every beat of her heart. This would be her time to prove she was right. That there was still good in the world, and it was worth fighting for. Ahmed looked just as eager. She hefted the rocket launcher provided. She had seen what the guys had done last night. All they had to do was get close and hit the joints of metallic dogs, and they would shoot the mobile suit from right underneath them! The BuCUEs soon came into view. "Let's get them!" She said to Ahmed, wearing a feral grin and giving a nod.

Shouldering the heavy metal tube, the tip of the rocket gleamed ominously. "Let them fly!" Ahmed said, and Cagalli was more than willing to do so. But it was then their jeep hit a bump, and she stumbled, sending the missile flying off into the night. It was then the BuCUEs stopped and turned to face their attackers. One of the canine machines, equipped with a missile launcher, fired a single projectile and it plunged into the head of the Desert Dawn formation. A ball of fire flared upward, sending vehicles and bodies flying into the air.

Cagalli's eyes widened at the gruesome visage before her. Seeing an artillery truck get some very impressive hang time, spiraling end over end a few times in the air before slamming into a nearby dune with the sickening crunch of metal. She had seen the destruction at Heliopolis, but this was the first time the horrors of war had unfurled before her and in such a visceral manner. And then as an exclamation point, a meaty thunk battered against the jeep's windshield. "W-what is that?" That was a human arm, that was not attached to any shoulder, and blood still leaked out. She wanted to throw up. Ahmed DID throw up, leaning out the side of the jeep and painting the sand a lovely puke green.

"Uh, I think it's a good idea for us to get out of here!" Ahmed said after regaining his senses. Cagalli needed no further prompting to agree. Madly jerking the wheel, he tried to get away from the engagement. Even as the rest of the guerrillas continued despite the odds. Without the Archangel and her Gundams, the Desert Dawn was severely under matched. The missile launchers on Dingo's machine opened up, releasing a spray of missiles. To the two teenagers' horror, they disgorged a spray of smaller missiles, gutting the guerrilla formation.

The desert camo BuCUE bounded across the sand, putting itself in front of Cagalli and Ahmed's jeep, halting their escape. She craned upward, her golden eyes awash with fear as she looked square into the cold fire of the custom BuCUE's single orb, and the glowing barrel of the plasma cannon it carried, the muzzle with a wicked glint. She thought she knew how war worked, and figured she could deal with anything. But now it was apparent how outclassed she was, how outclassed everyone was. A spray of emerald lances forced Dingo's machine back, and the sleek form of the Masamune soared overhead.

"Cagalli get the fuck out of here!" Yukimasa's voice blared over his loudspeakers as he continued to lay down suppression fire, extending the blade to meet Dingo's double-beam saber. Ahmed smashed the pedal through the floor of the jeep and flew across the desert, watching as Alissa's mobile suit, the Absynthion, the Gravesend, The Hyperion, and the Strike whizzed by them. Both were very relieved to see the majestic form of the Archangel coast over the dunes. The jeep rolled up the aft ramp and both of them made straight for the bridge. Cagalli flinched at the angry glares thrown her way. But no one paid her any mind as they focused on the battle.

Meanwhile, Kira shot at a couple of the BuCUEs, trying to create an opening for the remainder of Ashman and Kisaka's men to escape. His gaze fell on the trashed remains of jeeps, artillery trucks, and the other technicals the Desert Dawn used, and the bodies scattered about. He thought the waste of life was senseless, but at the same time, he couldn't help but be annoyed they would be so willing to go off half-cocked like this. It was then one of the BuCUEs suddenly lunged at the Strike. Kira batted it aside with his shield. It attacked again, bearing down on the white and blue mobile suit with fierce abandon.

It didn't take long for Kira to understand why. "It's him!" His eyes narrowed. "So, he came for a rematch!" Indeed, the Desert Tiger had swapped out with one of his men to have another playdate with the Strike. The White Knight was happy to oblige. Squeezing off two more rounds from his rifle. He drew a saber and met the Tiger's fangs head-on. He let loose with the CIWS, 75mm shells taking chunks out of the quadruped mobile suit's armor. Another BuCUE joined the fray to back up his commander.

Kira gritted his teeth as the new arrival's beam saber took off the top of his beam shield. He tried to shoot at him, but the Tiger body checked him. He struggled to keep the Strike on its feet as it faced down the two machines. "INCOMING!" A familiar voice rang out as the Hyperion dropped like a rock, crushing one of the BuCUEs. "Ha ha! The Goomba Stomp triumphs again!" He fired the beam submachine gun at Waltfeld, who deftly evaded it. "Come on Yamato! You really need to lose the habit of standing and gawking when amazing shit is going on around you! Live a little dude!"

Kira rolled his eyes. He didn't indulge himself in this very often, but this was a golden opportunity to get back at the stoner. "Oh really, says the guy going through an eighteen-year dry spell!" He retorted, firing at the ever-moving BuCUE.

"Oh, fuck you, Yamato!" Keijiro whined, hurling one of the beam daggers at the Tiger's borrowed mobile suit. "Just for that, I'm not sharing my bacon sushi nachos with you later!"

"Where in the fuck did you find sushi in the middle of the desert?" Yukimasa's voice cut in, still fending off Dingo.

"I found them in Ashman's tent." Keijiro put up a shield to defend against the railgun strikes before firing his rifle a second time. "Say what you want about a bunch of guys squatting in the middle of nowhere, the man has good tastes."

"I'm not going to ask what you were doing in his tent, but good job anyway since I've come to not like these guys very much. They were a really bad influence on Cagalli." Kuro huffed, driving away the third BuCUE. It was then the lead BuCUE suddenly broke off, and the two remaining machines followed it. They all stopped on the crest of the ridge, looking back at them before disappearing over the dunes. "I guess they decided enough was enough for today."

"Perhaps they didn't want to know what bacon sushi nachos tasted like." Yukimasa sighed, glad this whole mess was over, but there were still other loose ends to tie up. "Let's RTB. We need to have some words with Cagalli. I swear that woman is going to be the death of us. She really thought joining the Desert Dawn in this stupid raid was a good idea." The golden elephant in the room. Everyone had seen Orb's princess run off with the guerrillas for whatever reason she thought it was needed.

Keijiro snorted. "Our resident Lioness is cockier than a guy with six cocks if she thought joining with these losers was a good idea. Which it wasn't I might add!" It was telling when the most reckless member of their squad said it was the pinnacle of stupidity.

"I almost hope Kisaka tears her a new one." Kuro knew the older man would have no compunctions reading his young charge the riot act. "I can hear it now." He cleared his throat, doing what he thought was a good impression of Kisaka. "I cannot begin to say how disappointed I am in you, young lady. We don't see each other for months and already you're making trouble. What would Lord Uzumi say if he heard how reckless you've been? I have half a mind to take you over my knee and spank you myself for being so naughty."

This got laughs from the other boys. "You know, that's actually a halfway decent impression of him," Yukimasa remarked.

Keijiro laughed. "Ha, yeah, they do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but are you sure you don't wanna put her over your knee and do the spanking instead?"

In the Strike, Kira just shook his head. "Do you have to put that image in my head? Why in Haumea did I end up as the most normal guy on this crew?" Everyone soon returned to the Archangel. Kira was hoping Yui was ready to pick up where they left off. He needed it badly! It wasn't long before everyone was back aboard the ship. Yukimasa, Kuro, Keijiro, and Kira were in the Archangel's little-used conference room, facing down Cagalli and Ahmed.

"So, tell me, did you learn anything from your little adventure tonight?" Yukimasa glowered at Cagalli, who had regained some of her initial bluster. She held his gaze defiantly without flinching, to her credit. "I mean seriously, Cagalli. Of all the reckless, idiotic, and just plain stupid ideas you've had over the years this goes up there at the very top! You could have died, Cagalli, and for what? A bunch of wannabe freedom fighters with a few assault rifles and RPG launchers scurrying about the wastes?" He paid little mind to the scowl Ahmed gave him.

Keijiro nudged Yukimasa, mockingly muttering loudly to his friend, "…Aw, the little desert rat was trying to act tough in front of his crush, how cute!"

Something which Yukimasa sniggered at. Ahmed turned his angry gaze at them. Yukimasa, and Keijiro flipped him off in concert. Something Ahmed answered back with a double middle finger. Still, he dare not go any further when Keijiro placed a hand on the pistol visibly tucked in his waistband. Something he kept specifically for wise-ass punks like Ahmed.

"At least they were fighting for what they believed in! They had the passion to put it all on the line!" Cagalli argued back, clenching her gloved fist. "Their homes were destroyed, and their families were left destitute, Yukimasa! You can't tell me you would be the same way if Orb was leveled, would you?"

"Yeah, and look at what happened to them, Cagalli! How many of them aren't going to see their families and loved ones because they ran off to get their precious payback?" Kuro snapped, wanting nothing more than to smack the blonde upside the head. "And that was just against four BuCUEs! What had happened if Waltfeld's entire platoon had been there, Cagalli? All three of their land battleships, a few dozen ZuOOTs, and all those BuCUEs? Do you think the Desert Dawn would have survived long against those kinds of odds with some secondhand rocket launchers and a few cheap machine guns on pickup trucks?"

"Answer, not in a million years, sweetheart!" Keijiro jeered, a foul, mocking grin on his face. "Passion doesn't mean a fucking thing if you have no strength to back it up! Besides, where did this whole desire to help these guys come from, Miss 'Orb won't get involved in other people's fights? You're nothing but a damn hypocrite Cagalli! It's laughable at best."

"Who do you guys think you are?" Ahmed spoke up, finally getting in the boys' faces. "You think you're superior just because you have those fancy Gundams of yours? I bet you're nothing without them! We have our pride in our homes! It may not be much, but it's ours! Can any of you say the same thing? Is there anything you would be willing to die for?" He looked at each of them in return. Only for Kira to step forward, giving him a rough shove back, and a death gaze neither Keijiro nor either of the Sahaku brothers thought he was capable of.

"What's the point of fighting if the only weapon you have are your feelings?" The Archangel's one and only White Knight gave Cagalli a look oozing contempt. "If you guys will excuse me, I'm going back to my quarters to get a shower. I've had enough for one night." He turned on his heel and marched out of the room.

Soon after that, Kuro stalked out in disgust. He was also followed by his older brother, throwing one more glare at Ahmed before he vacated. Cagalli also stomped off, yelling obscenities at her presumed friends. Keijiro stood there for a long moment, putting a finger between his belt loop. He rested his gaze on the younger, much smaller boy with contempt in them.

"Piece of advice, Ahmed," He said softly, very cooly since it was simply them now. "If something happens to Cagalli on your watch, you're gonna answer with your life. If not from Kuro, you're going to get it from me. And I assure you, I will not make it quick, boy. And I mean "Boy" in the most diminutive sense possible because I bet your dick is tiny like a mouse."

Ahmed opened his mouth, and he suddenly stopped himself. Seeing Keijiro's hand once more on the gun tucked in his pants. He looked a shade or two paler at the sight.

Keijiro smiled horridly, knowing he'd made his point made. He winked at the young man, shooting a finger gun at him playfully before exiting.

Ahmed el-Hosn fumed silently, feeling completely emasculated. He muttered curses underneath his breath, feeling he wouldn't win without a fight. And he stalked off, having something grim in mind for them all.

(Gibraltar Base, African Community, February 18th, C.E. 71)

It was a gorgeous day on ZAFT's largest terrestrial base. Ezra certainly thought so. He was on a mission for Yzak to the base hospital. He needed more of the medicated cream he had been prescribed for his scar. The man slathered it on like it was a cheap moisturizer, but then again, he did complain about how itchy it could get at times. But this worked just fine for the pilot of the Thunderbolt, for it dovetailed nicely with his other reason for being at the hospital. Ezra remembered the pilot of the Spearhead that had been brought it. He was curious as to just who that person was. Carrying the jar of cream in hand, he walked up to the reception desk, gently rapping his knuckles on the counter.

"Excuse me, the enemy pilot that was brought in the other day. My friends and I saw that whole drama, and I wanted to investigate further. What exactly happened to them?" He asked the nurse at the counter. A part of him was really glad Felecia was out running some errands of her own. He didn't want to deal with any jealousy on her part.

"Oh, that poor girl they fished out of the ocean?" Ezra cocked an eyebrow at the mention it was a girl. Now he was doubly grateful Felecia was around! "Yeah, she was in real bad shape when they brought her in. I'm pretty sure she would have died if the medics had been just a little bit slower." She gave him a gentle smile. "You're the first person outside the doctors and intelligence officers who have asked about her. I'm sure she would welcome a friendly face."

"What is her name and where exactly is she right now? I certainly wouldn't mind talking to her." The nurse checked her computer for a few seconds. The monitor was flipped around to his view with the flick of the nurse's risk, revealing the face of a young woman Ezra's age with brilliant red hair the color of blood that flowed past her shoulders and molten gold eyes. Her face was also flecked with a strategic number of cute freckles. Somehow, the sharp glint in those golden-hued eyes and the playfully menacing toothy grin she wore was somehow disconcerting. Yet, something about the implication of danger told him to come hither.

"Her name is Nena Trinity, and her room is on the third floor, but she normally spends most of her time in the courtyard garden. I get the impression she's relishing her freedom." She pointed down the south hall. "Just follow the corridor and take the first left. You can't miss it!" Ezra gave her a jaunty wave and set out to meet this girl, Nena.

The courtyard was a gorgeous place. Smooth granite benches arrayed under the tall elm trees provided plenty of shade for patients and guests alike. Ezra didn't have to look long to find Nena, That brilliant head of red hair was sitting on a bench, taking in an array of colorful wildflowers that had been planted to give atmosphere to the courtyard. Mustering his courage, he walked over to her, not sure how to approach her. While he had been initially drawn by her hair, Ezra's gaze went lower, namely to the long pale legs sticking out of the dark blue bathrobe and white hospital gown she was currently sporting.

"Do you like the view?" Nena drawled, turning to look right at him with those big golden eyes. Somehow, the way the light hit them made those orbs look even more vivid. Akin to the sun. "If you're worried about paying a fee. You don't have to worry." She stood up and sauntered over to him. "I don't charge for looking at my legs. In fact, my usual clothes show off way more skin than this!" She winked at him, flashing him a big grin like in the photo. She gave him a flick of her lustrous crimson hair as if to emphasize her point. She was fabulous and she knew it! "Give me a few more days and you'll have the show of a lifetime!"

Ezra cleared his throat awkwardly, flushing slightly. "Uh, I was more entranced by the color of your hair. It's really pretty. I've always had a certain fondness for redheads." This provoked an amused titter from Nena, getting ever closer to him, letting his gaze fully in those topaz eyes.

"Oh really?" There was something about the way Nena drew those two words out that both terrified and excited Ezra. "And what is your name, exactly?"

"Lieutenant Ezra Kanitz," He replied after a long moment, giving her a salute. "assigned to the Le Creuset Team, Miss."

She whistled, visibly impressed. "Wow, the White Meteor's crew!" Giggling as she leaned in further, eyes sparkling with all the brilliance of the sun. "You must really know your stuff if you managed to make it into an outfit like his. He only accepts the very best."

Bolstered by her words, Ezra sat up a little straighter. "Well yeah, he is one of the most elite teams in all of ZAFT, and I like to think I did well to earn my spot. Your name is Nena, right?" Her grin further stretched from ear to ear, and Ezra couldn't be happier to see it.

"The one and only Nena Trinity!" Her grin faded a little, sitting back down on the bench. "Of course, these days I'm just a trinity of one." A vicious scowl vaporized the grin as she clenched her hand into a fist. "My brothers and I tried to escape our handlers and they bought me time to steal a fighter. I don't know what's happened to them. I'm not too worried about Johan, he was always the most level-headed of us, but Michael was always so reckless. I fear he could have been shot."

"I feel for you on that last one." Ezra instantly thought of Yzak before clearing his throat. "But tell me, how exactly did you end up in that fighter? That was going to be my next question." He didn't notice the way Nena shifted uncomfortably on the bench. He sat down next to her, much to her surprise. Making a little startled noise, she noted the way he looked at her with a great amount of compassion. Somehow, that eased her sense of discomfort. "I ask because we saw the ambulance carrying you to the hospital. I was concerned about you." Nena started blushing as red as her hair, feeling a great amount of warmth in her chest at it. It was a nice, if funny, feeling. "If you don't want to talk about it, then I understand completely. But it may help your mental health improve if you share it with someone." This seemed to placate Nena, the smile returned which was a plus in Ezra's eyes.

"The three of us were Coordinators forced to fight for the Earth Forces under duress, that's all I'm willing to say at this point." She smirked a little, placing a flirty hand on his arm. "But if you're nice to me and take me out on a date. I might tell you more."

He felt the heat on his face rise to his cheeks. He quickly pushed it down, knowing the game well enough from his days at the academy. It was now Ezra's turn to smirk. "Oh, that's how we're going to play it then, huh? Well, either way, I feel for your situation. I understand fully what it's like to be dragged into something against your will." His fist clenched tightly, he looked to the sky. "If I had to be totally honest with you, being bonded with a Gundam isn't easy." Nena's eyes widened at that word. "Let's face it they do have a pretty nasty reputation, being associated with terror and destruction and whatnot."

"No shit," She laughed brightly in pleasant astonishment, "you have a Gundam? Oh, I would love to see that!" Nena exclaimed, her topaz-like eyes glimmering enthusiastically. "Michael would probably orgasm at the sight of it. If I had one of those monsters, then I could have escaped with no problem at all. No one would have messed with me. Let me tell you the escape was a rough one."

"Probably didn't take the storm into account, huh?" Ezra offered, frowning thoughtfully. He processed her reaction, knowing it wasn't normal. Gundam normally struck fear into the very souls of those who heard the word as if hit by a spike of cold air. Clearly, this girl wasn't simply anybody. He apologized silently to Felecia. Ezra had to know more.

"Oh, trust me," She shook her head, her little pigtails bouncing about. "the storm was the least of my worries. I hadn't gotten very far, maybe about ten minutes out, when I got jumped by a whole squadron's worth of Spearheads. One of them flew right at me, freaked me out. And then another got me from behind and I went down into the drink." Nena's shoulders shrank down a little, clearly, the memories of her defeat were still fresh. He bet it stung quite a bit, knowing the amount of pride he had in his flying skills. He would also be angst for weeks if he was shot down. "They were good, really good. At least on the same level as one of your redcoats, those are your elite guys right?"

Ezra nodded in further thought, tapping his finger on the stone of the bench with an audible noise. "The guys in red tend to be a cut above the rest. So not your average grunts then. Did you get a good look their fighters?" He faced Nena with striking seriousness, his mind whirred at a thousand miles a minute. Nena leaned back with wide eyes, looking like she was taken aback. "Did they have any special identifying markers? A specific color scheme? It might help to narrow it down which squadron it was."

"Oh yeah, I got a real look at them." It took her a moment to regain her façade of cocky coolness. She cocked her head, idly twirling her hair. "They were black with gold stripes on the wings, and a real fancy-looking golden cross on the tail. I won't ever forget it as long as I live." Ezra paled at those words. "Do you know who they are?"

"Yes, and I'll just say for now that you were extremely lucky you survived an encounter with them." His voice grew cold, and he stood up. "I'll tell you what, Miss Trinity, once you're out of the hospital. I'll see about getting you assigned to our team. I'm sure Commander Le Creuset won't object to another pilot. As for the ones who shot you down. Let me make a few phone calls. Because I dare say this won't be the last time, we encounter them. You have a nice day." He promptly left, swearing under his breath the whole way out of the hospital.

Nena beamed mirthfully, playing with the fine tresses of her blood-red hair as she watched him leave with a great deal of happiness for multiple reasons. "Oh, my…" She muttered to herself, letting out a small giggle. "It looks like I'm not the only one with secrets. You're an intriguing guy, Ezra… I'm going to enjoy working on you quite…. A. Bit."

Arriving in a nearby park, Ezra stopped and let out a mad tirade. "Fuck! The Schwarze Kreuzen Squadron? It had to be the Black Cross?" He plopped on a bench, his face now in his hands. "Just what I didn't need!"

He sat there, taking in the day on the base. He wondered if things were just going to get more complicated than they needed to. He gave some thought, thinking it was best to warn his friends of how their next operation might become more than anticipated.

Ezra couldn't help feeling a deep pit in his stomach. He decided it was due time to give a call to Commander Le Creuset. And tell him about Nena, they were going to need all the help they could get!

His mind drifted to his friends from the academy in the PLANTs. Knowing they needed to hear this as well. They were separated right now by a vast distance. It had been a little bit since he'd last contacted them, but they'd simply need to forgive him. This was some urgent shit.

(Aprilius One Colony, L5, February 19th, C.E. 71)

Despite being a mere approximation of the marbled, blue, green, and brown world visible through the mammoth glass wall, the artificial environment of the PLANTs or any orbital space colony was still beautiful in its own way. Athrun certainly thought so as he drove down the mountain highway that overlooked the capital of the Coordinator homeland. Since returning home to speak to the Supreme Council was using some of his shore leave time to have some words with his future father-in-law about a matter troubling him.

Now that time had passed since parting ways with Kira, the Red Knight had really let everything that happened sink in. The fact that the White Knight was so insistent on protecting his friends, not to mention the fact he had a girlfriend, really made sense to Athrun. It was the only thing that made sense. He understood why, and hoped that there was still a way to get Kira to see reason and come over to their side, and if possible, bring Yui and the others along with him. Athrun didn't want his best friend or those he cared about to die. He just wasn't sure how to make it happen, and perhaps Siegel would be able to do so.

He soon arrived at the Clyne Estate, a simple two-story mansion with expansive grounds and a high fence, not to mention many security cameras that covered practically every inch of the grounds. Nothing but the best for the Supreme Chairman of the PLANTs. Athrun stopped his car at the gate, holding up his ZAFT Military ID Card for the camera "Lieutenant Athrun Zala with the Le Creuset Team, ID Number 285002. I'm here to see the Chairman."

"He's been waiting for you, Lieutenant Zala, Welcome." The guard's voice said over the loudspeaker. The heavy, iron-wrought gate slowly rolled open and Athrun drove his car inside. Drawing on his long red overcoat, he strolled inside to find the Clyne family butler, Darwin, standing at the doorway.

"Welcome Master Athrun, it's always a pleasure to see you. May I take your coat?" He bowed slightly, as the Red Knight offered the butler the garment. "Master Siegel is in his office on a conference call. He should almost be finished. So if you will wait in the living room, he will see you then."

"Of course, Darwin. Where is Lacus?" He asked following him into the living room. Despite the lofty position Siegel occupied in the PLANT government, their family home was modestly furnished. A reflection of the Clynes themselves, neither father nor daughter felt the need to show off lavish furnishings.

"Miss Lacus is still asleep. She spent all of yesterday in the studio recording for her latest album. Understandably, she was quite exhausted when it was all done. So I figured it was best to leave her undisturbed. She works so hard for the people. But even she deserves some rest from time to time."

"Isn't that the truth?" Athrun took a seat on the leather couch, pulling out his phone to look at some emails while he waited. Before long he heard the sound of the door opening and soon Siegel Clyne entered. The resident of Scandinavia looked every bit the statesmen, resplendent in the blue suit that indicated his status as a member of the Supreme Council.

"Ah, welcome Athrun." The Supreme Chairman's voice was always a soothing balm to the young redcoat. It was a far cry from his actual father's voice, always so cold and edged with steel. Of course, if Patrick ever talked to him would be an improvement. The Defense Committee Chairman had become so aloof in the past year. Athrun reached out to shake his hand, only for Siegel to give him a light hug. The younger man was stunned for a minute, but readily accepted the gesture. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting. But I've got meetings upon meetings, and everyone wants my time. Just when I think I'm finally done, here comes someone else."

"Oh, it's no problem, believe me. I know better than anyone how busy you can get." Athrun said, following Siegel into his office. Like the rest of the house, it was moderately furnished. Siegel's antique desk, and some slightly worn old chairs sat in front of it. All of The walls lined with bookshelves, filled with many old volumes, was the sole way Siegel flaunted his wealth and status, the books being first editions and very expensive. "I'm just grateful you're taking the time to listen to my problem. It's been bugging me ever since Heliopolis."

"Your situation with Mr. Yamato. An unfortunate turn of events if there ever was one. It is a truly sad thing you two have ended up on opposite sides of this conflict. It probably shattered your heart every time you sortied, knowing he was piloting the one prototype that got away." Siegel removed his reading glasses as he stood behind the desk. The pained grimace Athrun gave him was all the answer he needed. "Have a seat, Athrun. Lacus told me all about her time on the legged ship, although I suppose I should call it the Archangel, give that is its proper name. I have a pretty good grasp on everything, but given that you and Mr. Yamato are such good friends, perhaps you fill in the blanks."

"Of course. We attended the same prep school at Copernicus, we were roommates. When things started getting bad, I was called back here." He scoffed. "Ironically, I told him there would be no war. Talk about wishful thinking. Kira and his family were supposed to join us, but they never came." Athrun shook his head. "It was the worst experience finding him at that colony. Whenever we encountered each other on the battlefield, he kept going on about how he had to protect his friends. That he couldn't come back with me. I couldn't fathom why Kira would even think to join the Earth Alliance, knowing how they treat our kind. To me it seemed like he was just being used until they decided to get rid of him. The others wouldn't have cared about my friendship with him, they'd probably call him a traitor. Yzak would have taken little issue with blowing the Strike into scrap."

Siegel chuckled as he swirled his tea. "Ah yes, the infamous Joule temper. The apple certainly did not fall far from the tree on that one. I recall Ezalia nearly punching a particularly bothersome reporter in the jaw once because he wouldn't shut up about the more questionable policies Zala and his people have implemented. He was lucky Tad and Yuri were able to calm her down, being a member of the Supreme Council does not come with immunity to prosecution. She has a mean right hook." He chuckled again, and Athrun quirked a smile before the talk became serious again. "You're afraid if Mr. Yamato doesn't join our side soon, someone is going to get lucky and shoot him down, is that what's been gnawing away at you?"

"Yes sir. As I said before, I couldn't fathom why Kira would willingly join the Earth Alliance, until I met his girlfriend. He mentioned that during one of our skirmishes. I couldn't believe my ears, and then I actually saw her with my own eyes when I retrieved Lacus from the Archangel." The image of Yui was still quite clear in his memory. "She was beautiful, no doubt about that. Long brown hair, not to mention a killer body. Although she gave me a rather icy reception, but the way Kira looked at her was so genuine. That was when I realized what Kira meant, it made sense. It was the only thing that made sense. I can tell they really do love each other."

"Just as you and my daughter are? Because I really need to see a few more public displays of affection." Siegel snickered at the apoplectic glare his future son-in-law gave him. "I mean let's face it, Athrun. I'm not getting any younger and I really do want those grandkids."

"You are incorrigible!" Athrun groaned, his head meeting the desk.

"I'm only trying to keep the mood light," Siegel replied, patting Athrun on the shoulder. "Let's get back on topic. Mr. Yamato's girlfriend. Does she have a name?"

"Yui, Yui Takamura." Athrun didn't miss how Siegel sat up, straighter. His onyx black eyes gleaming. "Yeah, I told Miguel that and he had the exact same reaction. Said her father was a very influential figure in the East Asian and wider Earth Alliance government. Is that true?"

"Indeed, it is. The Takamuras are a very old family, nobility even. They can trace their lineage well before the Reconstruction War. As for Masatada Takamura himself, he is a modern-day renaissance man. He served in the military for almost twenty years, before he switched over to research and development. I believe he has a doctorate in robotics. He then went into politics and was elected to the House of Councilors back in 53. I believe his first daughter, Ayami, was already born by then. Yui was born two years after that. Both of them were made into Coordinators."

"Kira told me she was a Natural." Athrun frowned in response, recalling recalled during the battle with the Advance Fleet.

"Perhaps she never told him that." Siegel offered, getting up to look out the window. He thoughtfully stared out the window, knowing that the situation was going to become more complex from here on.

"Still, if she is a Coordinator, then perhaps this could work in our favor. She's a Coordinator like us. Certainly, that must mean she'll be sympathetic to our plight." Athrun suggested.

Siegel just shook his head, turning back to the young man. "Oh Athrun," He said in a dubious tone, seeming to pity his naivety. "Do you really think it's that cut and dried? There are many Coordinators who don't agree with us. They probably feel we're the aggressors for not following the directives laid out by the sponsor nations. We have Naturals that support us, and even serve in ZAFT. You don't think there are Coordinators who don't support the Earth Alliance and serve among the Earth Forces? They may have to hide what they are, but they are still patriots. It's a two-way street Athrun."

"Yes sir." Athrun sighed, looking down at his lap. "So then the chances of Kira joining us are slim to none?"

"I never said that now, did I? If anything, this certainly does make for an interesting turn." Sigel cracked a comforting smile. Athrun peered up at him in response, looking hopeful once more. "Peace talks have stagnated, and I was afraid I had used up all my goodwill with the Earth Alliance General Assembly. Perhaps Mr. Takamura might provide a fresh avenue to help get the talks back on track and we can end this war quickly. We've lost enough good young men and women to this war. I don't relish the idea of any more losing their lives." His gaze fell on a wooden picture frame at the edge of his desk. curious, Athrun turned it around to look at it himself. His eyes widened in shock at the image contained.

It was of a younger Athrun, along with Lacus, Ezra, and Kira! All four of them appeared to be about middle school age, their parents standing behind them. Siegel and Patrick were of course easy to recognize. It was strange seeing the elder Zala with a warm smile on his face. These days there was nothing but a cold scowl at his best time. The distinct blue locks of Caridad Yamato were also a dead giveaway, Athrun knew that all too well. He was going to guess the woman with the long raven hair behind Ezra was his mother.

The Red Knight looked at the photo intently. He recognized the buildings in the background as being of the Lunar City Copernicus, it appeared to be a political rally of some kind. He couldn't recall which one, given he had been to so many in his life. "That's Kira! And is that Ezra too?" Athrun felt his whole world spinning. "H-How can that be? When was it we met?"

"To paraphrase a certain song, "the world is a small place"," Siegel smirked, walking to the desk to place a hand on the frame for emphasis. "You and Lacus were about twelve years old when that picture was taken. We ran into the boys, and you all hit it off quite nicely. We even took a picture together. To think all of you would come together like this. It wasn't by chance Ezra was accepted into The Le Creuset Team. Like the rest of you, he's the son of an important player in Zala's camp. Yesenia Kanitz, the CEO of Maius Military Industries. Lieutenant Kanitz was the best pilot in his class. He beat many of his contemporaries in Keystone's sanctioned duels." He let out a tired, long-suffering sigh, a shadow covering his face now. He looked at least a few decades older in the lighting. "The curse of the Gundam even extends to our military educational centers now."

"What?" Athrun sputtered, looking on in wide-eyed terror. He shuddered visibly at the implications. "Gundams at the Academy? Duels? That never happened when I was there!"

Siegel pulled moved to the bookshelf, pulling a couple of books off the shelf. One of them was titled on the spine, "Shadows of the Reconstruction War: the Demonic Profile of Gundam". "Things got very complex politically after you and the others shipped out. That semester the Council decided to use actual Gundams to test out weapons. They were pulled from mothballs and givens to capable individuals, such as Ezra. He was very compatible with the Thunderbolt's systems. It's why your father let Maius and Yesenia have it to do with as they pleased. I was against it from the very beginning, but I was overruled. She was so eager to use her own son as test fodder. I don't need to tell you what Gundams invariably do their pilots."

The Chairman opened up the books, showing images of Gundams engaged in combat during the Reconstruction War. Two of them he recognized as At that moment, Athrun could see so much weariness on Siegel Clyne's shoulders. He looked so drained, so out of it. Tired of it all at heart, "Gundams were symbols of destruction during the Reconstruction War, mayhem and death followed in their wake. Just uttering the name is considered the highest of taboos. When the war was over, those malevolent creatures of steel and titanium were all sealed away, never to see the light of day again. At least until I foolishly broke that seal, all in the name of freedom for our people." He put his hand on the bookshelf. "It's because of me that things have become so distorted."

"That's not true!" Athrun stood up from his seat, protesting. "You've always been a man of peace; you've been working around the clock on the peace talks." It was then Siegel held his hand up, silencing the teenage pilot.

"Oh Athrun, how wrong you are. This whole thing is my fault, and that includes what's become of your father, a man I once called my dearest friend." Siegel seemed pained as he steadied himself on the shelf. "We both had the same dream. Freedom for all Coordinators." He looked out the massive picture window at the sprawling landscape of Aprilus One, plaintively seeming as if he was seeing the shadow of the grave of a loved one. "Even if our genes have been altered, we're still human. Even if many of our kind have never set foot on terra firms. Mother Earth is as much home to every Coordinator. The PLANTs are looked at as the pinnacle of modern technology, but to me, it's just a ghetto made of space age steel and glass. A gilded cage we were forced into because our ancestors were the losing side of the Reconstruction War."

Athrun frowned deeply, nodding as he reflected on the elder man's words. "I know this story, after the oligarchs took control, they forced our forefathers off the planet to live on the Moon and set up the first space colonies. Some even traveled as far as Mars. The first Coordinators came about because of the rigors of living in space. George Glenn revealed himself and hoped that would be the bridge back to Earth. The dream of freedom and not having to be constrained by gravity. But the oligarchs took offense to that, didn't want to lose their control over the colonies, and forced us to live here in the PLANTs. We couldn't take any more oppression and we rose up."

"Yes, that is all very true, Athrun," Sigel affirmed hollowly, knowing it was all true. All because it was the truth, he fought to show all these years. Deep inside, though, he felt as if he failed at everything he ever set out to accomplish. "There's only so much time one can keep a person under their boot before it's thrown off. Patrick and I both believed in the same means to bring about peace. Yes, I believed in revolution and created ZAFT as a way to protect our homeland. However, I made a fatal mistake, I left him in charge of building our new militia while I focused on getting the civilian government off the ground. I was so immersed in my work; I didn't realize Patrick was slowly becoming radicalized. He was always very passionate about the cause, no one believed in it more than he did, but he was being influenced by the wrong people, and it was there, lurking beneath the surface. Lenore's death was the final push he needed to go flying into a dark pit of hatred."

"Since that day I feel I've been locked in an unending maze, slowly filling with blood and the corpses of the dead, Athrun. If we don't find the way out, then I fear all of us will be lost in that deep crimson tide. I really thought the answer to change was a revolution." The man continued, distantly. Gazing out the window for a long time, longingly as if he wished he could have made a different decision. "I blew open those grave, unforgiving walls. Hoping it was an exit, but I just unleashed something far worse upon the world. An endless deluge of viscera, bleached bones, and corpses piled to the stars themselves. I fear Athrun that I laid a much heavier burden upon the shoulders of your generation than was intended. You shouldn't have been forced to fight. Now before you say this was your choice. I will point out that I was the one who pulled the trigger. I hope you and Lacus can forgive the folly of this old man."

The Red Knight had no words for the Statesmen. Siegel stood up, walking around the desk to Athrun, putting his hands on his shoulder. "I can't make any promises on this front, but I will see about reaching out to Councilor Takamura, and see if I can't get a dialogue going on with him. But I can't promise it will mean anything will happen to get Kira removed from the battlefield. If it comes down to it, you're going to have to handle that yourself. But in the meantime, keep telling him you're his friend. Let him know that. If anything, else comes up, I will let you know."

"Thank you, sir," Athrun said gratefully, excusing himself from the office. His mind was buzzing, his conversation with Siegel didn't have the result he was hoping for. Yet it still gave him a lot of food for thought. He was about to the hall when he heard a door open upstairs, and Lacus came out. Athrun's jaw dropped at the sight of his fiancée, clad in a simple sleeveless, pink nightgown, her hair, usually so silky and fine, was frizzy and sticking out in all directions. Her face was pale and haggard, with deep circles under her eyes.

"Ah, good morning, Darwin." She said in a drowsy voice, clearly still half asleep.

"Athrun! Athrun!" Mr. Pink said, hopping from behind her. A plethora of similar-sounding voices chimed in as a multitude of colored bouncing balls began hopping about, excited at the sight of their creator, chanting his name over and over. It took her a few minutes to realize it, but then Clyne OS XP finally fully booted up, and those blue eyes widened in shock and fear as Lacus realized that Athrun was there, and had seen her in such a vulnerable state.

"P-pardon me for a minute!" Lacus quickly ran to the bathroom to clean herself up as the Haros followed behind her, twittering on as normal. Athrun looked up at the spot vacated by his fiancée. He wasn't sure how he'd feel about seeing Lacus before she had put on the mask of the songstress, looking like the perfect lady she projected to the world. It wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.

He even smiled a little, his worries lifting a slight bit. "Wow, Lacus is pretty cute, even when she's not looking perfect." The visit hadn't been a total loss after all.

(Banadiya, African Community, Earth, February 20th, C.E. 71)

A small convoy consisting of a pair of covered jeeps and a large truck rolled across the desert. Ashman had come through, one of his contacts willing to get the crew of the Archangel the supplies they would need for the next step of their journey. Kisaka was driving the first jeep with Alissa riding shotgun. The younger members of the crew were eager to see what the town had to offer, and just stretch their legs after being cramped in the ship for so long. Yukimasa idly watched the eighteenth sand dune pass by the window. He felt someone take hold of his hand, Yukimasa didn't need to look to know it was Flay. He knew her palm like his own. "What's on your mind?" The redhead whispered to him, resting against his shoulder.

"Nothing but sand and rocks out to the horizon." He muttered, quietly relishing the feel of her skin. Yukimasa side-eyed Flay, wearing the pink dress she had on when they were still at Heliopolis. "I'm so glad Keijiro is riding with Ensign Badgiruel and the other adults. He'd insist on playing 'I Spy' the whole way. I remember we took a road trip across the Atlantic Federation as kids. All we had was grass and wheat when we were driving through Kansas. That was a very long trip as I recall. It's a miracle I didn't chuck him out the window. This is turning out the same way." Flay giggled as she rested her head against his shoulder. Well, at least one thing about the ride was good.

In the farthest back seat, Kira and Yui were cuddled up together. The Strike's pilot couldn't deny how fine his girl looked in something besides her uniform. Yui wore a simple white sundress that fit her body perfectly, It wasn't the same as her swimsuit, but it certainly did a good job of showing off her curves, not to mention her ample chest. Something that Kira never got enough of. For Yui herself, she certainly was happy that her man was looking at her so much.

An awkward silence permeated the second jeep. Natarle was in the passenger seat, while Ashman was driving. She peeked backward at Cagalli and Kuro. The two of them were still on the outs with each other, the two of them looking awkwardly away from each other. Keijiro could have cared less. He had the entire back seat to himself, and he was sprawled out, enjoying the space. He had his precious green in his mouth, and life was good. The convoy arrived in the town, letting the three couples out. Yui pulled out a white sunhat, and placed it on her head. This was the final point of charm for Kira.

"You kids have fun now!" Keijiro drawled, airily gesturing to the dark-haired lieutenant. "Ol' Natty and I have our little shopping trip to take care of. We'll be back to pick you up in a couple of hours." Natarle rolled her eyes as Ashman did his best to stifle a laugh. The jeep and the truck rolled on, letting the kids take in the sights of the town. Flay was quick to take Yukimasa's hand, and Yui mirrored the gesture, shyly taking Kira's hand. Kuro and Cagalli just averted their eyes from each other. It was still very awkward between them.

"So, is there anything specific you're looking for today?" Yukimasa asked Flay as they strolled along the various stalls. The redhead pulled her sunglasses down, her eyes scanning what was on sale. She gave a light shake of the head, making a disappointed whimper.

"While I'd like to replace the cosmetics I lost at Heliopolis, something tells me we're not going to find them out here. So, I'll just have to settle for a little window shopping." The look of disappointment was replaced by the smile Yukimasa treasured so much. "But I suppose it's not so bad since we're together." Yukimasa patted her head, running his hand gently through her hair. Something Flay tittered at as she looked up at him amorously. The two of them stopped at one of the stalls and started poking around. Flay looked at Yui's sunhat with want. "On the other hand, perhaps I should invest in a new hat." She led her man to a stall with headwear by the hand. "If we're walking under that hot desert sun all day, I don't want to get sunburned." Yukimasa nodded in agreement as Flay started trying on different hats.

She was engrossed in modeling the ones on sale. Yukimasa knew Flay had a very good fashion sense. He grimaced as the heat made his vision blur. He began sweating heavily, tugging at his collar. "Oh great. What a time for this to happen!" Luckily Flay saw this and quickly grabbed onto him. He could barely make out her asking if he was okay. He gave a weak nod, and she led him over to a building with a canopy where he could sit down in the shade. Recognizing the pill, she pushed it into his hand. He took some water and downed it with a singular gulp. "Thanks, just what I needed, at least I can explain it away as heat stroke."

"Yeah, but you're still not looking so great." Flay stroked his cheek, noting how pale he was. She looked in the bottle and paled herself. There were only three tablets left. She put the cap back on the bottle and stuffed it into his pocket with an affectionate pat on the arm. "We're really scraping the bottom of the barrel with this medication. Even if we split it into halves, I doubt you have more than just a couple of days left."

Yukimasa pushed the water bottle against his forehead, relishing the cool sensation against his sweaty skin. "Not to worry about that dear. It's on Keijiro's shopping list. He'll pull through." Flay was not assured by this, the redhead just got paler.

"Really? You're entrusting something as delicate as that to the likes of him?" Flay sat down next to Yukimasa, holding his hand tighter than normal. It didn't take a genius to see just how worried she really was for her boyfriend's safety and well-being. "Does Keijiro even know what prescription you need? The idea he's responsible for your very life just does not sit right with me at all. Letting him handle anything besides a hookah pipe or a bong sounds totally beyond him." She pulled a paper fan from her purse and began waving it in front of his face, trying her best to make sure he wasn't suffering from heat stroke. Yukimasa simply relished the cool, and the feeling of his girl looking after him.

He let out a weak laugh. "Of course, he does. The medication I require is very rare to find in the wild, that's how few people in the world suffer from this little condition, Natural or Coordinator." He put an emphasis on that last part. "Keijiro may have a billion screws loose, but he is very resourceful when needs to be. He's a masterful scrounger if he can't find it here. Odds are he'll find someone who does know and then he'll probably decide to beat them up and take it, while also stealing anything not nailed down." Flay rolled her eyes, of course, he would do that!

Kira meanwhile had found a stall that captured his heart, filled with all kinds of electronic components of varying ages. Yui watched on in amusement as he rifled the contents. He inspected an old CRT monitor for a few moments before shaking his head, and looking at something else. "Someone is having a good time." She remarked, her arms folded as she watched him pick up an old processor, looking at it with the same kind of careful intent an artist put into a great masterpiece. "You like to tinker?"

"Yeah, it was something Athrun and I both did as kids. The school we went to on Copernicus had all kinds of old computers and monitors and other busted equipment they just tossed aside in the storeroom. We would play around with them and try to get them to work. He's actually a little better at it than I am. Building hardware was his specialty; I was more focused on programming and writing code." He said, putting the processing unit aside and focusing on an old motherboard. "It was a shared hobby of ours. I haven't had much chance to do it since we left the colony." He paused for a minute, smiling sadly. "I guess I was just looking for something to occupy my time that didn't involve flight simulations or working on the Strike."

Yui rested her hand on his. "That's okay, I'm glad you're thinking of your mental health. We need you at your best." She whispered, planting a light kiss on his cheek. "And I need you to stay alive." Kira forgot about all of his worries for a few seconds, a silent prayer going up to Haumea for bringing this angel into his life.

Kuro and Cagalli were still standing apart in awkward silence. Neither of them was sure what to say. "We should probably get out of the road. It is rude to just stand in the way of other people." He finally said. Cagalli huffed and they moved to the side. He slid over to one of the stalls, all the while looking at his blonde-haired charge, currently engrossed in one of the storefronts. He sighed, wondering how long this gulf would last. He hated being this way, but Cagalli's actions had put them there. He just hoped it wasn't too late to mend fences.

(Across Town)

"Oh yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" Keijiro's grin was a mile wide, as he looked over the variety of weaponry laid out before him. He liked his weed, he liked his vintage video games, and he definitely liked money, whether it was paper or metal like silver and gold, but Keijiro also liked his heavy metal, iron, and steel. He and the rest of their retinue were at a small compound on the far side of Banadiya, racks of small arms lined the walls of the office building, and outside sat a bevy of different military vehicles.

Ashman's seller was a member of what was known as "The Water Mafia" in these parts. A very heavyset man in a very expensive three-piece suit with gold chains hanging around his neck. "I'm glad you find the merchandise to your liking Mr. Mishima." He spoke in an accented voice. "I am a businessman, and my business is to provide the buyer with what he needs." The man paused for a second, and pulled out a handkerchief from his vest pocket, wiping away his sweat-covered face, which didn't make much sense to anyone since the building was air-conditioned. "Turn it down more why don't you?" He whined to one of his men standing at the door. "This is why I hate the desert so much, it's always so blasted hot!"

"Losing some weight might help," Keijiro muttered under his breath.

A mocking laugh echoed in his head. "You got that right! It's probably not all water weight either. I really do wonder how much he drinks. The man is the size of a small water tower." Keijiro tried to ignore the voice as he took an interest in a series of assault rifles on display.

His face now clean, the dealer resumed speaking. "I have no issues with doing business with whoever makes me money, and I'll gladly bow my head to make sure the buyer gets what they want. Commander Waltfeld would agree with me. He's one of my biggest customers. I'll deal with anyone who pays well because that's how business works you see."

"Blah! Blah! Blah! Blah! Ugh, can this guy's sales pitch get any more pretentious?" Koji's voice echoed in his head, even as the arms merchant continued to prattle on. "He must practice this every day because it's clearly not the first time he's said it. I hate listening to these kinds of people. It's just an empty facade they put on. There's no loyalty or honor to their words at all."

"And you're such an expert on loyalty and honor?" Keijiro shot back to his spectral visitor.

"The appearance of both is more important than actually believing in it. I mean look at our friend here. He hammers on about his lack of it like it's supposed to impress the customer. I mean, sure, the facade does give a little bit of faith in the customer. He may as well be saying, 'Hey, I might be selling you my shit, but expect a gun at your back through the entire shopping experience, so please give me a good review on Yelp.' It's just so obvious, don't you think bro?"

Keijiro thought about it for a second. "For once, you might actually be on to something." It wasn't often the two agreed on anything, but this was the rare exception. "All right, Waterboy!" He finally said, ignoring the incensed glare the fat supplier gave him. "You have a good knack for business, we get it! Quit wasting our time and show us the goods." He pulled out a slip of paper, containing a series of numbers. "Besides the usual shit, I want to be sure you get us this." He passed it to the merchant. "I need it for a friend and fast!"

"Hm, interesting." The large man mused aloud. "Whomever your friend is must be in a very bad way if he needs this particular medication. It's hard to find, especially in this part of the world. It will cost you more. This could take me a couple of extra days to find it, but I'm sure we can work something out."

"Then quit dragging your feet and get to it! You have the connections, use them!" Keijiro snapped.

The rest of the entourage wasn't impressed either. Ashman and Natarle just exchanged irritated glances with each other while Kisaka stood in the background, giving a stern glare. "He makes a valid point. Waterboy." He finally spoke, making the merchant step back further. "We're on a very strict timetable here and Mr. Ashman said you're discrete with your customers. We don't have time to listen to your rantings on good business decisions."

"The fact that you're naming the Desert Tiger as one of your best customers doesn't give us much confidence that you can deliver on your promises," Alissa added, her eyes narrowing slightly. "How do we know this whole thing isn't a setup and you're going to sell us up the river?"

Immediately the dealer's bodyguards stepped forward to make a wall around their boss, their assault rifles still pointed at the ground, but the message was clear. "Why should I pretend about whom I do business with?" The man sounded defensive. "I have nothing to hide in that regard."

"Why indeed?" Another voice, commanding and authoritarian spoke. Everyone followed the sound of heavy booted feet coming from a suspended walkway. It wasn't the Desert Tiger, but someone completely different. "As our mutual friend here has said, He is a businessman, and there is no written rule stopping him from choosing his customers." He fingered the elaborate handlebar mustache as he spoke. "I can personally attest that the Waterboy, as you have come to call him, is quite reliable and his prices are affordable as well." His eyes were hidden by orange-tinted wrap-around sunglasses as he lit a cigarette. "But I'm afraid there's a price that you can pay to relieve your sins. Judgment time has come!"