Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Athrun's Recognition

Phase 04

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Snow fell upon the destroyed remains of Berlin. Destroy was dead, but the people who lived here will never be the same again. Kira sat in Freedom, catching his breath from the tough battle earlier. He'd been forced to kill again, and he didn't like the feeling it left in his stomach. Kira looked up at the sound of gears, and saw the Savior land in front of him. The cockpit opened, and Athrun stepped out. Kira did the same, meeting a cold stare from Athrun.

"I've got nothing to say to you, Athrun," Kira said, hoping to avoid another fruitless argument.

"Well I've got something to say to you," Athrun replied angrily. "I'm not angry about Stellar; she was an enemy soldier, and she had already cost hundreds of lives alone. But what you did to Shinn was uncalled for. And you killed that other soldier. You have no right; you're not fighting for any side." Kira frowned.

"The Impulse had already attacked me more than once. I couldn't trust any motives of his. As for the Windam pilot, that was an accident. I had no intention to kill him," Kira explained.

"And yet, you did. Your continued intervention in this conflict has got to stop. The next time I meet you, I will fight back," Athrun warned Kira. Kira was hurt.

"You have defied Orb, fought against its soldiers, and destroyed many of its forces," Kira answered loudly.

"I'm glad," Athrun said back. "They're merely a puppet of the Earth Alliance now, and I'm thankful to not be a part of that. You yourself have fought them; you're nothing but a hypocrite," Athrun said solemnly. "I'm leaving."

Athrun reentered his cockpit and took off.

Meanwhile, Shinn jumped out from his dismembered Impulse and ran towards the Destroy. He climbed up the large machine and made his way to the cockpit. Stellar had opened it, probably to get some air, and Shinn climbed. Stellar was badly wounded, with large cuts and gashes all over her body.

"You were so beautiful. You still are," Shinn cried. He knelt next to Stellar. "Why did I have to fail you… like I have everyone else. I was defeated by Freedom's cowardice. But it was my own weakness that let you die."

"Shinn…" Stellar whispered in pain. Shinn opened his tear filled eyes and looked on her face. "You said you would… protect Stellar," She continued. "Protect… me." Her head rolled onto its side, and she breathed no more. Shinn's eyes grew large, tears streaming freely now. Flashbacks of his family, their deaths, flashed through his mind. His friends, Athrun, Rey, Meyrin, and… Luna.

"AUGH!"

Kira was unsure of what to do. That Windam ran through his mind. "Something's not right," Kira said to himself. His extra senses continually reacted to something, but Kira couldn't figure it out. Freedom powered back on and flew over to the Windam. Kira was compelled to open that mobile suit's cockpit. Kira lowered himself to the ground and pried open the damaged cockpit door. What Kira saw nearly sent him into a coma. "Mu…" There before him sat Mu La Flaga, drenched in blood. "I killed Mu?" Kira questioned. But then he sensed a pulse, breath, and saw slight movement. "There's still a chance!"

Kira rushed away in Freedom with Mu in his arms.

Back at the Minerva, Athrun looked at the severely damaged Impulse. He couldn't understand Kira at all anymore. What was he thinking? And poor Shinn. To lose the girl he'd spent so many hours checking on, the girl he even risked death to save. It had all been thrown away.

Shinn worked ceaselessly on the computer, scanning all statistics and battle records pertaining to the Freedom. "I'll get my revenge," Shinn vowed. Rey watched on, when Athrun entered the room.

"What are you doing?" Athrun asked, immediately noticing the Freedom on Shinn's monitor.

"Shinn's studying how to defeat the Freedom," Rey answered for his busy comrade.

"I'll defeat that machine, and its pilot," Shinn said, not even turning to face Athrun when he spoke.

"But the Freedom…" Athrun hesitated. Shinn turned, a scowl on his face.

"I'm doing this to protect this ship… my family," Shinn said with a small tear running down his cheek. But he quickly wiped it away. He turned back to his work. "I was too weak to protect Stellar. I'll never make that mistake again." Athrun didn't know what to say. His trust in Kira had been shaken. His concern and care for the Minerva had become his top priority, and Freedom and the Archangel now threatened that. Perhaps he'd replaced his family, just as Shinn had done.

"Durandill has ordered the Minerva to destroy the Archangel and the Freedom," Rey told Athrun. Athrun frowned, but he understood. "If you could help us train to fight Freedom, we would appreciate it." Athrun was quiet.

"I'll help you defeat him, but I won't help you kill him," Athrun responded. "If we could capture him instead, than we would gain a prisoner and reclaim ZAFT's stolen mobile suit." Shinn turned to face Athrun again.

"If you lead, I'll follow," Shinn said with a smirk.

To be continued…

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