Disclaimer – Don't ask cause I don't own it.
A/N ok here's chapter 5 of the re-edit. Ok so the "Kira goes Junk Guild" fic didn't turn out at ALL how I wanted. Its way too rushed so I'll probably revise it, or just take it down until I can do so.
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed
Starlight
Chapter 5
Reunion
CE 71
Archangel
The arrival of Richard aboard the Archangel had caused a bit of a stir among the crew who knew Kira, especially the civilian volunteers. Of course seeing your friend arrive with an almost exact copy of himself would do that. The first order of business had been the paternity test, which was the reason for the visit to begin with. Blood samples were collected from Richard and Kira for analysis. Cagalli had given her own to be used as the control sample. Tests of this type were rather strait forward and took only a few moments so Richard, Kira and Cagalli along with Laura, Mu La Flaga and acting Captain Ramius decided it would be simpler to wait. They all sat in the waiting area in the ships infirmary while the ships onboard surgeon ran the tests.
Richard and Laura were impressed by the Archangel, as was Cagalli. Despite the fact Archangel was around as long as Olympus she wasn't quite as massive, but her available deck space had been optimized rather impressively. It would take the remainder of the day to transfer the supplies, consisting mostly of food stock, from Olympus over to Archangel and then the two ship crews would need to decide their next course.
Richard figured the two ships would skirt the debris belt and use it as cover while making for Earth Alliance territory, which would be most logical given the situation.
The Vesalius had pulled away and headed for the PLANTs, but the Gamow however was still tracking them. Which meant the Duel, Buster and Blitz were still behind them.
After a little while the ship's surgeon reappeared and motioned for acting Captain Ramius to follow him into his office. Richard sat forward in his seat and looked over to Laura who sat next to him, Cagalli and Kira sat across from the pair while Mu floated by the door.
"What's going on?"
Laura shook her head.
"I don't know"
After a moment Murrue rejoined the group, holding the results in her hand. Her face was a bit white as she handed the paper to Richard. Richard accepted the report and sat back to read, almost certain of what he would see. His face whitened, his eyes widened, and tears began to streak from his eyes as he read the results. His expectations had been shattered. With a single test his quest completed. Laura, who had been leaning over his shoulder reading, couldn't suppress a smile and pulled him into a tight hug.
After a moment she released him and he looked over to Kira and Cagalli. He closed his eyes and smiled as he handed the pair the results.
"Both of you read it"
As they read Kira closed his eyes and nodded, fully expecting what he saw He was Richard's identical brother. The other part however was a bit of a surprise and he smiled as he glanced back to Cagalli to see her reaction. Cagalli's eyes shot opened and her jaw dropped as she read.
"But I….I can't be…."
Richard moved over to the two, wrapped his arms around their shoulders, and pulled them both into a tight hug. Cagalli was stiff as a board, as was Kira at first. But the idea of having a brother was starting to grow on him and he slowly relaxed into the embrace and even returned it. Mu just looked on questioningly. He looked up to the captain who had a small smile on her face and was about to ask what was going on when Richard's broken voice answered his unspoken question.
"Brother…sister"
As the facts sank in Cagalli could do nothing more than return his embrace. What bothered her wasn't the fact she had 2 unknown siblings, she actually liked the idea, Richard and Kira were both good guys. No what bothered her was the annotation in the results.
That all 3 subjects were Coordinators.
Cagalli sat in the Archangel's cafeteria half an hour later brooding over the recent developments, a pouched chocolate drink in her hand. Her father had made it no secret she was adopted, but had never even let on that she had brothers; much less that she was a triplet. She had to wonder if he even knew. That also brought up the question.
Who were her real parents?
She knew Kira didn't know, he was almost a shocked as she was. Richard knew something, but either he didn't know much, or it was something bad and he wasn't ready to tell them yet. The one thing he had mentioned was that he knew that their parents, who ever they had been, were dead. His adopted father had been able to tell him that much.
Her musings stopped as the door opened; in the hall stood a girl about her age wearing a pink Earth Forces volunteer uniform. She had neck length brown hair that fanned out in the back a bit. The girl seemed a bit nervous seeing Cagalli sitting at the table. One of the mechanics had overheard the captain and Lt La Flaga talking about her, now everyone on the Archangel's crew knew who she was as well.
Cagalli looked over at the girl, who looked like she was trying to figure out what to say.
"I don't bite you know"
Her comment shook the girl from her thoughts.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm Miriallia Haw"
The girl paused for a moment trying to figure out what to say.
"Umm…are you really Representative Athha's daughter"
Cagalli let her forehead drop to the table top; this seemed to be a recurring question now.
"Yes"
Mir could see the other girl was agitated by her question.
"I'm sorry if I upset you, I was just curious"
Cagalli sighed and went back to her drink.
"It's alright; I'm just tired of everyone making a big deal out of it"
"Oh"
Mir went to the cooler and retrieved an orange flavored drink for herself and went back to Cagalli's table.
"Do you mind if I sit here"
Cagalli just shook her head, obviously deep in though. Mir sat down across from her.
"Have a lot to think about?"
Cagalli nodded.
"I just found out I have 2 brothers, I just don't know what I should do or think"
Mir nodded.
"I can't imagine what you're going through, I don't have any siblings. You know, you're nothing like what I expected a princess to be like"
Cagalli looked up.
"Don't call me princess, alright"
Mir nodded. The pair sat and talked for a little while. Covering things from Cagalli asking about Kira, to Mir asking her what life on the other side was like, or what it was like finding out you're a Coordinator.
All the while neither knew a certain red head was sitting in the hall listening.
CE 71
Aprilius One
Siegel Cline, Supreme Council Chairman of PLANT, walked through the general headquarters building of ZAFT on his way to a meeting with Defense Committee Chairman Patrick Zala. He had a good idea of what this was about. His daughter, Lacus, had gone to inspect the remains of Junius 7 for the coming one year anniversary of the Bloody Valentine in a few days time. A report from her ship, the Silverwind, was 4 hours overdue.
He was waived on through into the Defense Committee Chairman's office as soon as he arrived and found him sitting at his desk on the phone.
"…prepare to dispatch a ship for recon; I want the Silverwind located immediately"
Zala hung up the phone and turned to Chairman Cline.
"I'm certain you already know the Silverwind is late in reporting in"
Cline nodded and took a seat at Zala's desk.
"Yes, I see your dispatching a ship"
"Of course, I'll be going myself. The "Legged Ship" and the unknown "Gray Ship" were sighted in the region"
Cline sat back in his seat.
"You believe they're responsible for the disappearance, that there could have been an attack?"
Zala shook his head.
"Quite the contrary, if there is a rescue to be preformed, the "Gray Ship" will most likely be the one to perform it. Here is a communications intercept between the "Legged Ship" and the "Gray Ship". Of note should be the name of one of its pilots"
He handed Cline the report contained in a small tan folder. As the Chairman read his eyes stopped on a single name, Richard Arin, a young man he knew very well. He visibly relaxed as he closed the folder.
"So Commander Conrad is aboard, where are they now?"
"If they hold their current course they'll walk right upon the Silverwind's last known location in a few hours"
Cline breathed a sigh of relief.
"If he is aboard that ship, then he'll find her. Also if he is one of their pilots, then there is an excellent chance that Athrun is alive"
Zala nodded.
"That is true, oh you may wish to turn around and ready yourself. Would you please come in dear?"
Cline turned in his seat to face the door, and then promptly fell out of it. There in the door stood a woman in her mid to late 30s, with shoulder length purple hair and dark green eyes. Cline could do nothing but stare at the woman, her right arm in a sling.
"But you…"
Lenore Zala smiled and shook her head as she walked in.
"Died, I should have. No one remembers how or where I was found but I ended up in intensive care unit on Junius 5. Once I woke up and they confirmed my identity they contacted Patrick"
She walked over and stood next to her husband who stood and pulled her into a tight embrace. The pair stood holding one another, neither moving nor even wanting to. Cline could see that whatever disposition Zala held toward Naturals would soon be taken care of…or his wife would beat it out of him.
CE 71
Archangel/Olympus
Debris Belt
The Archangel and Olympus skirted the outer fringes of the Debris Belt, hoping that the junk accumulated over the course of human space travel would shield them from detection by the still pursuing Gamow. Richard and Kira had deployed in the Nemesis and Strike respectively to scout ahead. The Mobile Suits, like their pilots, were almost identical. Strike, this time out, was equipped with its Aile Striker pack.
Scouting just a short distance away were the Ares and the Hermes, which itself was under its Mirage Colloid. Richard wasn't really paying the other 2 suits much mind, he knew they knew what they were doing. No, his mind was on the Strike being piloted by his identical brother Kira Yamato and the machine following them, the RGX-X079 Astraea piloted by his triplet sister Cagalli Yula Athha. She had come a long way in the past week, a tribute to the fact that she was a Coordinator. Were she a Natural it would have taken her months to progress this far.
"How you holding up back there sis?"
Cagalli gave a groan as she swatted away another piece of junk with the Astraea's shield.
"Fine, I can barely see a thing with all this junk and will you guys wait up"
As some of the debris cleared Cagalli could see the Strike and Nemesis standing on a rock outcropping just ahead. She dropped the Astraea next to them and gasped at what she saw, before them stretched what looked like a small continent.
"What is this?"
On her monitor two small screens opened showing her brother's faces. Kira just looked out at what lay before them.
"It looks like the inside of a PLANT'
Richard responded, his voice broken, with tears forming in his eyes. Was he crying?
"That's what it is"
Cagalli thought for a moment.
"What do you mean that's….oh god, this isn't, is it?"
"243,721 killed in one of the worst crimes in human history"
Richard hung his head, and let the tears come. Like his brother, he was prone to be overly emotional at times. But then again, he had seen this evil deed first hand. Cagalli looked out at the remains.
"So this is…"
Richard nodded.
"Junius 7, the place we failed to protect"
Cagalli looked questioningly at her brother while Kira just looked out at the remains, shocked and horrified didn't begin to express what he felt. After a moment Cagalli spoke again.
"Richard, what do you mean "we failed to protect"
Richard sighed and looked up again; he had hoped he wouldn't have to tell them this part at least for a little while longer.
"Let's head back to the Olympus, I'll tell you once we get back. Kira you come over too and have Captain Ramius and Lt La Flaga come over as well"
"Right"
Richard keyed in is communications from Strike and Astraea over to Hermes and Ares.
"Kale you and Sara have watch for now, I have to tell them"
An image of Kale appeared on his screen where he offered a Zaft salute.
"Then I wish you luck, commander"
"Thanks, guess I should have known I would have to face the music some time"
Laura, Murrue, Cagalli and Kira sat in the galley aboard Olympus waiting for Richard to arrive; Mu La Flaga had also come along. What ever it was he needed to tell them the group could tell Laura already knew.
Richard for his part stood in his quarters straitening his ZAFT uniform, in top gun cut, which bore the distinctive black with gold trim colors of the Black Knights. He knew the moment he walked into the galley Mu would recognize him as would Murrue. Mu specifically since the two had fought it out at Nova, GINN High Maneuver to Moebius Zero. Also considering the rather public display his fiancé put on the night of her performance after the first Battle of Jachin Due almost everyone would recognize him in this uniform.
"I may as well go all out, after this there's no going back. James Conrad and Richard Arin will forever be the same person, no more hiding behind this"
He looked down at the visor like mask in his hands and then gently put it on. Checking again to make sure everything was strait he slipped his long sword, with 28 inch blade, into the sheath that hung on his left hip and walked out of his quarters toward the galley.
As expected the groups reactions were mixed when he walked in. Mu and Murrue's jaws met the deck, Kira and Cagalli just starred at him dumbfounded and Laura looked on with a knowing gaze. Mu shook his head and chuckled to himself as Richard moved over between his siblings. He drew his long sword and sat it on the table before sitting between them.
"Guess I have some questions to answer?"
After recovering her voice Cagalli nodded.
"That puts it mildly, why the hell are you wearing that"
Richard reached up and removed the visor like mask that covered his eyes and tossed it aside.
"Well I guess I should start from the beginning. Like I told you and Kira, Cagalli, I was kidnapped by the Eurasian Federation right after I was born and rescued by an Orb Spec Ops team. By the time they found me our parents were dead so the three of us were put up for adoption and Trithila Arin took me in and became my father, this you all know"
Everyone at the table nodded.
"Well, what I'm about to say is classified in both Orb and PLANT, only the crew of this ship, my old team, and a young woman who is very special to me know the full truth. It was almost inevitable that this would get out so there's no point denying it anymore"
Everyone waited patiently as he continued.
"Alright, in CE 68, right after the Mendel Colony incident, elements from both Orb and PLANT collaborated in the formation of a unit made up of exchange personnel from Orb. Some of them came from the military, some from the civilian sector. I was part of the program. In order to keep Orb's involvement to a minimum the Supreme Council gave each program member an alias, though some of us didn't use them. I was given the alias James Tiberius Conrad"
Murrue nodded, finally putting the pieces together. The visor, the sword, the uniform, it all fell into place now
"So you're the "Angel of Junius" and commander of the Black Knights. You lead the charge against the alliance fleet when the blockade was broken at Junius in 69"
Richard nodded.
"Yeah that's me, Kale use to be in my unit as well, he was from the exchange program like I was. ZAFT disbanded the unit once the program ended and we all left the PLANTs"
Mu chuckled.
"Should have figured I'd run into you again, especially after Nova"
Richard gave Mu a pointed look.
"Hey, that was not my fault! I wasn't the one who got knocked half way across the asteroid now was I?"
Both stopped and chuckled at the memory. Mu looked back across the table at his former adversary.
"Ya know even though it was a war zone there were some good times"
Richard nodded.
"Yeah a few, anything but Endymion"
Both pilots visibly shuttered as they remembered that particular horror.
"That was absolute hell. My Knights and I went into that battle at 15 strong, only 7 of us came back"
Mu nodded.
"Yeah you guys were lucky; some whole battalions were wiped out, on our own side no less"
Still wanting some more answers Cagalli looked to her sibling.
"Why didn't you tell us before now?"
Richard looked to his sister who sat to his right.
"What was I suppose to say "oh hi I'm your brother, oh and guess what I use to be commander of one of ZAFT's best units" you wouldn't have believed me. Plus I wasn't exactly ready to tell you yet"
Kira looked over to his identical sibling.
"Why not"
Richard looked to the table in front of him, suddenly finding it interesting as he was over taken by a serious blush.
"Because I promised someone very special to me that once I found my brother and sister and told them the truth that I wouldn't try to hide who I use to be anymore. At times I use to consider James Conrad and Richard Arin to be separate people. Now I can't do that anymore"
Suddenly one of the consoles nearby beeped an incoming call. Laura floated over to answer and then a moment later motioned for Richard to come over He loved Zero-G sometimes and seemed to take great pleasure in simply floating as he made his way over. He arrived to find Kale's face on the screen.
"Sorry Richard I tried to stop her, we found her life pod and brought it onboard, but once she found out you were here she demanded to know where you were and then took off"
"Kale slow down, who are you talking about"
Before Kale could answer the door to the galley opened, in the doorway stood a young woman around Richard, Kira and Cagalli's age. She had long pink hair and wore a rather puffy dress with a small pink robotic ball floating next to her, flapping two small covers on its sides.
Before anyone could react she launched herself across the room and into Richard's arms and, by all witness accounts, tried to shove her tongue down his throat. The pair parted after a moment, both with tears gleaming in their eyes. The pair wrapped their arms around one another and simply floated in place. They just looked into each others eyes for a moment before the pink haired girl spoke.
"I missed you"
Richard brought his hand up and caressed her cheek.
"I missed you too, my princess"
He leaned in again and kissed her, not paying the others much mind. Cagalli and Kira were stunned by the boldness of what this girl had just done, though it seemed as if they knew each other well. Mu watched with a slight smirk and Laura watched the couple with a knowing smile as she moved back to her seat. But it was Murrue who finally made the connection.
"Wait if he's…. then this is…."
The pair finally turned back to the table where Richard gestured to the group.
"Sweetheart this is acting captain Murrue Ramius of Archangel and Lt Mu La Flaga also from Archangel"
The girl nodded. While she had never heard of Murrue, Mu was well known to her. Richard then moved on to the others.
"This is an old friend of mine and captain of this ship Laura Reeve, and last but certainly not least, my brother and sister Kira and Cagalli"
The girls face lit up; obviously she knew he had been searching for them and how important this was to him.
"Really?"
"Yep'
He then turned back to the group and dropped a bombshell that only Laura was ready for and Murrue and Mu had an inkling of.
"Everyone, I'd like you all to meet my fiancé, Lacus Cline"
A/N not much here to do either. I merely reworded some things, nothing to actually add yet.