Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Athrun's Recognition
Phase 05
Thanks for reviews!
"Our new targets are the men behind the great atrocities that have plagued this century. Logos!" Durandill announced.
The world was shocked at this announcement, some happy, some not so much. But Logos, and especially Djibril, were quaking in fear.
Meanwhile, as the Archangel cruised over the northern waters, everyone crowded around the med lab to get a glimpse of the rumor: Mu was alive and aboard.
"How could this be?" Murrue begged, tears welling up. "And how did this happen to him?" Mu's wounds had been cleaned but he was still in critical condition, with several broken bones and severe blood loss. Kira squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth. He had to tell the truth.
"I did this to him," Kira revealed. "I nearly killed Mu." Murrue turned hateful eyes towards Kira, and several more pairs of eyes glanced at him with questions.
"How could you?" Murrue demanded. Her composure was nearly lost completely. It had taken a long time for her to recover from losing Mu once, and now it seemed he was nearly gone again.
"He was piloting an enemy mobile suit. He tried to attack, and I turned suddenly with my sword drawn, and I accidentally stabbed his mobile suit's cockpit," Kira explained. "I'm sorry."
"No, Kira, I'm sorry," Murrue burst into another fountain of tears. She embraced Kira hard. "It's just so hard to see him again, and in such condition." Kira's mind spun. He had done this to Mu, he had killed that girl, and he had not stopped Orb from allying with the Earth Alliance. Maybe Athrun was right; maybe Kira was only causing more problems.
"Our new targets are the men behind the great atrocities that have plagued this century. Logos!" Durandill announced from a small screen in the med lab.
"What?" Cagalli wondered aloud at the announcement. "Logos has sway even in Orb. If Durandill really plans to destroy them, Orb could become a battlefield again!" Cagalli fumed. Kira made up his mind.
"Then we'll do what we should've been doing," Kira said. Murrue released her grip and stepped back. "We'll go back to Orb and fix things there. We'll remove the members of Logos, break our alliance with the Earth Alliance, and prepare to defend Orb if it comes to that." Murrue cleared her eyes and recuperated.
"We'll do just as Kira said. Everyone to their positions, prepare to leave for Orb!" Everyone scrambled to his or her positions, and Kira and Cagalli left for the hangar. Murrue began to leave and took a quick look back to Mu. "Please come back to us."
At a nearby ZAFT base, an alert was sounded. "Captain Willard, enemies detected over the ocean: It's the Archangel!"
"Good," Willard replied. "Send out all mobile suit forces, and contact the Minerva. If we do this right, Operation Angel Down will be successful."
Shinn, Athrun, Rey, and Luna all stood before Captain Gladys and Arthur. "The Archangel has been spotted," Gladys told them. "We've been ordered to destroy it and the Freedom. Shinn and Athrun, prepare to launch in Savior and Impulse. Rey, you will provide support in the Gaia if necessary. Luna will standby with her Zaku, though hopefully we won't have to launch a damaged mobile suit."
"Yes, Ma'am," they all replied. Rey and Luna moved to leave, but Athrun and Shinn stood still. Rey and Luna stopped to see what this was about.
"What is it, Athrun?" Gladys asked.
"As a member of FAITH," Athrun began, "I would like to attempt the capture of Freedom and its pilot as well as the surrender of the Archangel."
"Where do you stand on this, Shinn?" Gladys asked.
"I am willing to do all that is commanded of me, but I agree with Athrun that the capture of both Freedom and the Archangel would be more beneficial in the end," Shinn explained.
"You both are aware that Operation Angel Down was ordered directly by Chairman Durandill, correct?" Gladys asked. They nodded a positive. "Then you know that he specifically ordered the destruction of the Archangel and the Freedom." Athrun frowned.
"But why?" Athrun demanded. "To claim prisoners of war and reclaim ZAFT's stolen mobile suit would be much more valuable. I believe the Chairman would have to agree."
"So would I," Gladys returned. Athrun was actually shocked by this. "And as members of FAITH, Durandill chose us to judge things as we saw them to be. Therefore, I give you permission to capture the Freedom. But if anything should go wrong, I fully expect you all to carry out what must be done." Gladys stared intently into Athrun's eyes.
"I understand, Captain," Athrun replied.
"Kira Yamato, Freedom launching!" Freedom blasted out from the Archangel's hangar and flew into the air. From there, Kira targeted the many mobile suits approaching and unleashed the full power of Freedom. ZAFT mobile suits lost limbs and heads all over the terrain below. But more mobile suits charged still. Several flight type GINNs flew up to face Freedom, but Kira easily sliced them into pieces with his double beam saber. Freedom swooped down to the ground and began dismembering ground suits with his glowing blades.
"Kira! The Minerva is approaching!" Mirialia warned over the radio.
"Damn it," Kira swore. This time he couldn't afford to hold back on Athrun or the Impulse, but he had no more intention of fighting his friend. "I'll just have to do what need's to be done." Freedom flew high into the air, preparing for any approaching enemies.
"Archangel sighted!" Meyrin announced from her controls. "And the Freedom is already engaging local ZAFT units."
"Launch the Savior and Force Impulse!" Gladys commanded.
"Remember, we need to disable and capture the Freedom if we can," Athrun reminded Shinn.
"I will, Athrun," Shinn replied. "But don't forget who you're fighting for either." Athrun was quiet.
"Alright," Athrun replied.
"Savior and Impulse have been launched and are approaching your location, Kira," Mirialia said.
"Alright," Kira said.
"Kira, we have no intention of destroying you or the Archangel, but you must surrender," Athrun spoke over Kira's radio as the Savior and Force Impulse approached.
"I can't do that, Athrun," Kira replied. "We need to get to Orb, and that's all there is to it." Athrun switched his radio channel and groaned.
"If they're finally leaving for Orb, then we have no need to fight them," Athrun said to himself.
"Athrun, we can't let them help Orb. They're allied with the Earth Alliance, and Logos!" Shinn said. "We have to defeat them."
Athrun switched his radio channel back. "One last time Kira. Surrender or…"
"Or what? You can't destroy me and I can't destroy you. We can't let things end that way again," Kira spoke.
"But I can!" Shinn responded by opening fire on the Freedom. "Athrun, help me or let Freedom destroy us!"
"I'm sorry Kira, but I have no other choice," Athrun said sadly. Savior transformed into mobile suit form and began firing at Freedom as well.
"Then neither do I," Kira said. His eyes glowed as he turned into SEED mode. Freedom began dodging each shot easily, while firing its own rifle with incredible accuracy. Savior and Impulse were pushed to their limits dodging all of Freedom's attacks. Athrun was amazed at just how powerful Kira and that mobile suit was.
"Archangel, if you surrender now, than we can assure the safety of those aboard your vessel," Gladys proclaimed. Murrue and the bridge watched this announcement on screen.
"We are grateful for the concern, but we have no intention of surrendering this vessel. Our mission right now is too important," Murrue explained to Gladys.
"Then you accept the consequences of your decision," Gladys answered. "Fire at the Archangel, bring that ship down!"
"The Archangel!" Kira exclaimed when he saw the ship receive several hits from the Minerva. But this minor distraction was all that Athrun needed, and Savior charged into grab hold of Freedom. Kira turned and was surprised when Savior wrapped its arms around Freedom with Impulse aiming its rifle at Freedom's cockpit.
"Surrender!" Athrun demanded.
"Never!" Kira yelled back. Freedom broke Savior's grip and performed a backwards drop kick, nailing Savior right in the chest. Savior fell towards the icy rocks and collided with the terrain, bouncing Athrun painfully in his cockpit.
"Athrun!" Shinn yelled. Stellar and his sister's image ran through his mind. His eyes change as he entered SEED mode. "Don't fuck with my family!"
Impulse drew its swords and charged. Kira quickly blocked the blades with his sword, but Impulse used all of its strength to push back Freedom's guard and swiped at Freedom's unprotected chest. Kira worked the controls like a madman, barely dodging the brunt of the blow, but his left heat vent was sliced and the left shoulder was nicked. Freedom quickly kicked the Impulse in the face, sending Shinn back several meters through the air.
Savior had finally stopped its slide down the mountain, and Athrun shook his head. His forehead was bleeding, and he saw that his helmet's visor had cracked and broken a little. Savior stood back up and he saw Shinn locked in deadly combat with Kira. "I need to keep Shinn from getting killed," he thought to himself. Then he saw Impulse's nice maneuver. "Or maybe keep him from killing Kira!" Savior once again took to the skies, ready to confront Freedom once more.
Meanwhile, Archangel was taking a beating from the Minerva.
"I don't know how much more this ship can take," Murdoch said to Murrue. The screen closed, and Murrue thought hard. "We must escape at all costs! Prepare to submerge into the ocean!"
"Captain, the Archangel is attempting to escape by going underwater," Meyrin said.
"Than keep them from doing that," Gladys replied. "Fire missiles!"
Kira was trying his hardest to fight the Impulse. The mobile suit had kicked up its game tremendously, and it took all of his concentration to avoid Impulse's saber attacks. He then spotted the Archangel trying to submerge. Then he spotted the missiles trailing it.
"Get out of the way!" Kira yelled, slicing off Impulse's arms and head before Shinn could attack with his sabers. Freedom blasted off towards the Archangel and stopped in front of the missiles. He fired all guns, destroying the impending attack.
"Damn it, Athrun, stop the Freedom!" Gladys yelled to Athrun.
Athrun ignored the words, but saw Impulse fall into pieces. "Shinn!" he yelled.
"Launch Chest Flyer and Blast Silhouette!" Shinn yelled to Meyrin. Shinn launched his current chest flyer right towards Freedom. Kira just had time enough to turn around, when Shinn fired his Core Splendor's missiles, detonating the chest flyer and Force Silhouette right on Freedom. "Take that you bastard!"
Kira gritted his teeth as he tried to bring Freedom upright after such a brutal attack. But when he was back up, Impulse had regained its top torso and a new weapons pack.
"I'll show you the power of the Impulse!" Shinn declared. Blast Impulse fired its missiles and then fired its rifle, rail cannons, and beam cannons.
"Damn it!" Kira cursed. Freedom fired all of its guns as well; even its Vulcan guns to destroy the approaching missiles. The missiles exploded, but both mobile suits' beams collided and were fighting for an advantage. Athrun was astounded by Shinn's display of skill, but Freedom still had the advantage. Savior flew behind Freedom and aimed all of his guns at Kira's back.
"Surrender, Kira!" Athrun ordered for the third time. Kira gasped when he saw Savior behind him on the radar. He saw the Minerva moving to finish off the Archangel. Kira calculated all options quickly, and was unhappy to realize there were few ways out of this situation.
"Athrun! I will surrender, but only under one condition," Kira answered.
"Hold your fire, both of you," Athrun ordered. Freedom and Impulse both stopped their fighting, but still held their guns ready. "What condition?"
Gladys listened in, as did Murrue. Their battle was temporarily halted.
"Allow the Archangel to return to Orb, and I will surrender myself," Kira said.
"Why should we?" Gladys asked Kira.
"Because Orb Representative Cagalli Yula Atha is aboard that ship, and she must be allowed to return peace to Orb."
"Kira!" Cagalli yelled.
"Orb Representative?" Gladys questioned. She mulled over Kira's demands. "Agreed." This surprised Kira and the Archangel.
"What's going on Gladys?" Willard demanded as he overheard this exchange.
"Open a completely secure channel, Meyrin," Gladys ordered. Meyrin got to work.
"Opened."
"Captain Ramius, we agree to these demands, however, we must make this look like we sunk your ship," Gladys explained.
"Then we will comply," Murrue replied.
"You're not serious, are you?" Cagalli begged.
"We have no other options. Kira is giving us the best chance right now, so we can't throw it away," Murrue told her sternly. Cagalli turned away in embarrassment, but also in a slight anger. "Launch several depth charges and detonate them, following up with our sinking," Murrue ordered the crew.
Athrun watched as an explosion went off and the Archangel slowly sank into the sea. "Thank you, Kira," Athrun said sadly.
"I had no other choice," Kira replied angrily.
To be continued…
Please review!