Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Athrun's Recognition

Phase 08

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Durandill sat at his desk, a camera pointed at him.

"We have two fugitives on the run, traitor's to ZAFT and PLANT. They've stolen secret military data, but more importantly, they've kidnapped Lacus Cline," Durandill announced to the world. People all over were stunned by this event. How could someone kidnap Miss Cline? "Do you see now the desperation of Logos, their cruelty. They want to destroy the PLANTS, and they seek to cause as much pain while they do so."

"Someone kidnapped that fake Lacus?" Kira asked.

"Look's like it," Mu answered.

"We must continue to battle and defeat Logos, for the sake of the world, and for our beloved Miss Cline," Durandill ended.

"Archangel, do you read me?" Athrun asked into the radio.

"Captain, the Freedom's been spotted, as has another mobile suit," Miriallia said. "Athrun sent us a message."

"Well, let us hear it," Murrue said.

"This is Athrun Zala," Athrun started. "My friend and I have come to join your crew."

"Permission granted," Murrue answered with a smile.

Freedom and Destiny landed within the hangar and took two empty spots. Athrun's cockpit opened, and he lowered himself and Meer to the ground.

"So you brought back the Freedom," Murdoch said. "Glad to see it's still in one piece."

"Athrun Zala," Murrue said, finally approaching them. "And Lacus Cline?" she asked, seeing several differences in Meer's appearance from the real Lacus.

"My name is Meer, and Athrun saved me," Meer said. "I am made to look like Lacus, I've come to realize now that Durandill was only using me. But it's been a difficult choice."

"I'm glad you could escape," Murrue replied with a smile. She then turned back to Athrun. "So can we trust you to stay with us?" Murrue asked. "And what about your friend?" she nodded to Shinn lowering himself from his cockpit.

"I am not going to serve under Durandill ever again," Athrun said. "As for Shinn, he's shown me where his feelings are. Without him I might not have made it here alive."

"I am Shinn Asuka, ma'am," Shinn said, saluting her in the ZAFT method.

"I am Captain Murrue Ramius," she replied with a smile. "If Athrun trusts you then I can to."

"Thank you, Captain," Shinn said.

"Where are Cagalli and Kira?" Athrun asked.

"They've already landed at Orb," she said. "I could give you coordinates to get there. You could take the Freedom back to Kira." Athrun smirked.

"I don't know if I'm ready to give it up just yet," he laughed. "It's quite the machine."

"What should I do?" Shinn asked.

"While we're in Orb waters, you should be able to come with me," Athrun answered.

"I could apologize to Representative Atha for my words earlier," Shinn mused.

"I'm sure she's already forgiven you," Athrun said with a reassuring smile.

Freedom and Destiny landed in Orb's secret hangar where Kira and Cagalli waited with Kisaka. Athrun and Shinn both came down.

"So you've decided to betray ZAFT?" Kira began. "Are you sure you've chosen the right path?"

"I didn't betray ZAFT," Athrun replied. "Durandill betrayed me, and Shinn helped me escape." Kira turned to Shinn.

"Then I guess I have to thank you for not killing me and for saving Athrun," Kira said.

"I'm thankful you bothered to talk to an enemy," Shinn replied.

Cagalli and Athrun broke off from Kira and Shinn while they discussed.

"It's nice to see you again," Cagalli said with a weak smile. Athrun then grabbed her and kissed her on the mouth. Cagalli agreed, and both were somewhere else for just a few seconds.

"I'm done fooling around," Athrun said. "Will you marry me?" Cagalli was quite surprised at Athrun's sudden forwardness.

"Yes, Athrun, I will," she agreed. They both kissed again, while Athrun slipped a ring onto her finger.

"It was my mother's," Athrun said. "I want you to have it."

"So they finally moved forward," Kira said with a sigh. Shinn looked down as he began to think about Luna. "What's wrong?"

"There's still someone I care about on the Minerva," Shinn answered. "Actually, there are a lot of people I care about on the Minerva. I wish this war could just end. Can't Orb just give up Djibril?"

"Kisaka and Cagalli are already working on that," Kira began. "But that won't be enough. You know Durandill's true character, and you know that means we'll have to fight ZAFT. It's unfortunate but true. Durandill is bent on world domination. He'd eventually attack Orb even if it wasn't holding a member of Logos."

"Damn him," Shinn cursed. "How could I just be fooled like that?"

"He's fooled a lot of people, including Athrun, and almost myself," Kira admitted.

Aboard the Minerva, Rey delivered the bad news to Luna.

"How could they both betray us?" Luna questioned. "I just can't believe the could do that." Luna thought about her first kiss with Shinn. She thought about Athrun's brave leadership and his friendship towards her and the rest of the crew.

"You saw how Athrun could turn Shinn's ideas, how good he was at persuasion," Rey said.

"I don't believe you! I know Shinn and Athrun! They're my friends!" Luna protested. She ran off towards her room. Rey frowned.

"That could have gone better."

Somewhere in PLANT, Durandill, Yzak, and Dearka walked conversing.

"How could that bastard betray us again?" Yzak fumed. "If I could only ring his neck personally."

"That might be arranged," Durandill answered. "Are you both serious about bringing the world peace?" Durandill asked, not chancing a repeat of last time.

"I am," Dearka answered. Yzak nodded.

"Then I will grant you the power to do stop Athrun and bring the world peace," Durandill said. He flipped a switch and lights came onto shine over two Gundams.

"Freedom and Justice?" Dearka asked, very familiar with the two suits.

"They're their successors," Durandill corrected. "Yzak will pilot the Strike Freedom, while Dearka will use the Infinite Justice. Any questions?" Yzak could only smile.

"Finally I'll defeat Athrun and put Yamato in his place," Yzak thought to himself. Dearka was a bit more hesitant, but he was indeed intrigued with being the Justice's pilot.

"Then you'll both head the inevitable attack on Heaven's Base," Durandill said.

"Yzak Joule, Strike Freedom launching!" Yzak announced. His new mobile suit launched and blazed through space faster than Yzak had ever traveled before. "So this is the speed and power of the Freedom?"

"Dearka Elsman, Infinite Justice launching!" Dearka proclaimed. Infinite launched right after Strike Freedom, easily catching up two its blue and white counterpart. "These suits will make fighting too easy," Dearka laughed.

"Heaven's Base won't fall easily though," Yzak replied. "So let's get to it!" Both suits shot off towards their destined battlefield.

Kira and Athrun stood in the Archangel hangar, now complemented with several new additions. In fact, the Archangel was getting pretty crowded. Thankfully, the majority of the Murasames had been transfered to Kisaka's fleet, allowing the new additions storage space.

"I suppose you'll be wanting Freedom back now," Athrun assumed. Kira looked Athrun in the eyes.

"No, you should use it," Kira replied. Athrun was surprised that Kira would so easily give up his favorite mobile suit. "Cagalli has entrusted the Akatsuki to me, and you've entrusted Justice to her. So I entrust Freedom to you."

"I was becoming rather fond of it," Athrun admitted.

Elsewhere, Shinn approached a busy Cagalli. She turned to see him and at first frowned, remembering her past impressions of the youth.

"What do you want?" she asked somewhat offensively.

"I only wanted to apologize for what I said before," Shinn said. Cagalli quickly resented her earlier tone. "I was holding onto something, and I let it out on you. I'm sorry." Shinn stared at the ground submissively.

"Apology accepted," Cagalli said in a cheerier mood. "And thank you for getting Athrun back here alive." Shinn looked up and smiled.

"My pleasure," Shinn replied.

Yzak and Dearka finally arrived at Heaven's Base. The battle had already begun, and it was a mess. Several Destroys had been launched, and they were easily causing havok on a grand scale, destroying numerous ships within the fleet.

"Let's see how this is done," Yzak mused, activating Strike Freedom's advanced targeting system. "Fire all weapons!" Strike Freedom unleashed its full arsenal; two beam rifles, two rail guns, a chest beam cannon, and eight DRAGOONS from where they were mmounted in the Freedom's wings, more than enough to instantly destroy a huge portion of the Earth Alliance forces. "Damn," Yzak swore in amazement.

Meanwhile, Dearka made quick work of enemy mobile suits with his many beam weapons, slicing several suits into pieces. The mere presence of these two suits suddenly shifted the entire battle.

One of the Destroys targeted Yzak and fired its many beam cannons, But Yzak easily dodged each shot with Strike Freedom's HiMAT mode. Yzak than combined both beam rifles and fired straight through the Destroy's cockpit, ending the battle instantly. Over the ocean, Infinite Justice his beam boomerang, slicing three Windams on each side in consecutive order until they returned to Dearka's grip. The battle thus continued on, with Yzak and Dearka taking the Earth Alliance by force.

"Heaven's Base had already been defeated?" Murrue questioned the news from Kisaka's on screen message.

"There were two ZAFT mobile suits that appeared and literally destroyed the entirety of the Earth forces," Kisaka replied. "The descriptions sound very similar to the Freedom and Justice. However, they sound to be even more powerful than the two we have."

"Then Orb's next in line to be attacked by ZAFT," Murrue said. "Thank you, Kisaka."

"Captain," Kisaka signed off.

"Ma'am, the Eternal is contacting us," Miriallia said.

"Put her on screen," Murrue answered. Lacus appeared on screen, and she appeared anxious.

"Please help us. The Eternal is under attack by a ZAFT fleet," Lacus began "We don't have the forces to fight them back. Please send Kira!" the screen closed.

"Kira!" Murrue yelled into the intercom.

"Captain?" Kira answered from the hangar.

"The Eternal is under attack! Launch right away!" Murrue ordered.

"Lacus! Yes Ma'am!" Kira responded. He sprinted to the Akatsuki and quickly moved it into launch position. "Take care of the Orb while I'm gone, Athrun," Kira said to his friend. The Akatsuki was armed with the Shiranui pack and launched towards the sky.

"Alright," Athrun agreed.

"Where's he going?" Shinn asked.

"He's going to go help the one he most cares about," Athrun smiled. He thought about Cagalli. "And so will I."

Mu looked over a new and improved Savior when Erica Simmons approached him with a clipboard in her arms.

"So the repairs are all done?" Mu asked.

"More than that," Simmons boasted. "We've added some new equipment as well as improved overall performance. It's mow been equipped with two additional beam blades in the feet, six remote guns to take advantage of your spatial awareness, and the two anti-ship swords that were stabbed into the suit have actually been integrated into the suit's armaments."

"Wow," Mu spoke. "I might just be able to keep up with the nuclear suits that way."

"For a battery powered suit, ZAFT has really outdone themselves this time," Simmons mused.

"You must just love this stuff," Mu laughed.

"You have no idea," Simmons admitted.

"Ms. Simmons, we need to prepare for battle!" a soldier warned as he ran up to the both of them. "ZAFT has already been sighted just outside our waters. They're demanding the surrender of Djibril, but Yuna is unlikely to cooperate."

"Damn that guy," Mu cursed. "I guess I'll get to try this puppy out sooner than I thought."

To be continued…

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