Disclaimer: Cat-owners don't have time to own anything else, so I don't own gundam seed.

Warning: Despite my friend's repeated insistence, this is NOT yaoi or shounen-ai! Geez, all they're doing is talking! No real action in this chapter, sorry. Also, I thought this was much longer when it was in Word, but it's really not that long. is no longer proud :( I'll try harder on the next chapter.

COOKIES :D-Leebat, reckless-rage, choclatbandit, and of course, Prince-in-Disguise and thegreatwhitewolf all get cookies! If I didn't send you your cookie, send a message telling me to cough up, and i will :) (been absentminded lately. Can't remember if i sent all of you cookies or not)

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Chapter 3: Welcome Aboard

Kira floated outside of the Archangel, helping the maintenance crews repair the hull of the ship. Muww had requested he do it because "they needed to make sure the mechanics were safe". Kira, however, knew that it was just a ploy to keep him away from the Aegis. To keep him from seeing the horror of the incident that had occurred. AthrunHe knew that Athrun was an enemy. He knew that everyone aboard that ship needed him. But still... He tossed his head from side to side, trying to shake the awful feelings welling up inside him. He heard a soft click, and looked up. Muww La Flaga's face had appeared on the right hand screen. "Kid? Hey, nice job on helping the maintenance crews! You really sped things up! You can return now." Muww emphasized the command by waving his arms in a forward motion. Kira looked straight into Muww's eyes, his own amethyst ones showing dull sadness. "That pilot, is he..."

"Kira..."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry we put you through all this. I just wanted to say that we really appreciate it."

"You're avoiding the question."

Muww sighed.

"He's injured badly. I have received the Captain's orders to have him treated and kept as a prisoner and possibly a hostage."

Kira couldn't imagine his childhood friend injured. Athrun had always been a strong individual, not afraid to fall out of trees or climb the craggy cliffs when they lived on the moon. How could he be?

Muww was looking at Kira, obviously concerned. Kira turned away from the monitor. He didn't understand why these things were happening. The Athrun he knew was kind. The Athrun he knew was compassionate.

"I already lost my mom at the Bloody Valentine. That's why..." (1)

Why did he have to go and change all of a sudden? The death of his mother? The sorrow that followed? What had made Athrun Zala bitter enough to join ZAFT?

"You'll eventually come to the PLANTS too, right Kira?" (2)

"Kira?" Muww sounded uncertain over the intercom, "It wasn't your fault! You had to protect this vessel! You had no other choice! The pilot isn't even dead!" Yet.Kira and Muww's miserable thoughts echoed each other. Kira grunted in reply. "Yet still, that other pilot. I killed that one. Just because someone isn't dead, doesn't mean that I didn't pull a trigger." (3)

Athrun opened his eyes again, and found a total change of surroundings. It was still very bright, but it didn't seem to be as piercing as it was before. The strange shadowed man was gone, and he had a vague sensation on his upper back that suggested he was lying down. Everything tingled, and he still couldn't really focus his eyes. There was a tall stand with what seemed to be a bag of red liquid at the top. Where am I? He tried to figure out if he had regained any motor control. He could wiggle his fingers and shift his arms, but there seemed to be something across his chest that was preventing him from moving. He tried to lift his neck to take a better look, but found that it was strapped down too. The only way he could look over in that direction at all was by lowering his lashes as far as they could go. From the restricted and some-what blurry view that he had, he could see that there were numerous things stuck in his legs. They all looked like a massive blue and grey blob, but he could see faint contour lines that suggested the shape of tubes. He started to panic, and clenched his fists. A beeping sound that seemed like it was only white noise before sped up and sounded louder. As if responding to the noise, a door slide open and admitted three men, two in white coats, and one in what seemed to be a pink jumpsuit. Athrun squinted at them as they came closer, thinking that he recognized one of them. As they got within his focus range, he could here the pink man say something to him. "Athrun Zala?" He let out a small gasp. The man in the pink suit was the man he had seen before. The man with sapphire eyes.

Muww would never forget the look on the pilot's face when he lifted his chin. Two cloudy emerald eyes alight with pure terror, nearly filled with tears. Such a young man.Too young to be fighting battles like this. Just like Kira The teen had actually nearly screamed when Muww reached his hand towards him. A Coordinator, a genetically enhanced super-being, was afraid of him. It sure gave a different view on things. He himself had helped move the boy onto a stretcher and carried him down to the infirmary. "That pilot has lost a lot of blood," one of the doctors informed Muww, "If he wasn't a Coordinator, I would have declared him lost already." When they had torn off the boy's flight suit, they had discovered many things. On the rank tag in the front, it had said Athrun Zala, Rau Le Cresuet Team, Red Suit Elite. That would make him the son of Patrick Zala, a Chairman of the PLANTS. It would mean that they could use him as a hostage against ZAFT. However, it could also mean that he was a very dangerous high-trained individual who would probably escape with ease at the first possible chance. Muww proceeded into the room carefully, along with two medics, trying not to make to much noise. As he turned his eyes onto the bed where they had placed the kid, he noticed that he was awake.

The teen was looking at the straps in confusion, and had clenched his hands into fists. His eyes were shimmering pools of green, reflecting fear and sadness. Muww was unsure of what he should do. Now that the pilot was awake, it was a sure danger that he could escape. But on looking at the slightly trembling figure tied down to the bed, Muww seriously doubted that this person was able to do anything right now. Hesitantly, he walked over the cot. "Athrun Zala?" The boys face turned, and he let out a small gasp. Muww could see recognition click in the mind of the soldier. He remembers me."That is your name, right?" The boy's eyes narrowed. He nodded, his neck strained by the strap reaching across it. Muww felt his breath catch. It seems nametags don't lie. "Do you know where you are?" Athrun glared at him, nodding again. Muww felt a flash of amusement. I have to admire this kid's attitude. Captured and bleeding and still able to shoot dirty looks. Smirking, La Flaga leaned in a bit closer, his eyebrows shifting. "One more question, are ya mute?" Athrun looked greatly offended and shocked by the sudden playfulness of Muww. "No!" he protested loudly, then looked surprised at his own outburst. The youth scowled and stared at the ceiling, obviously resorting to the "I'm ignoring you" approach. Muww stifled a snigger. At least he managed to lighten the mood a bit. "I'm Muww La Flaga. Welcome aboard the Archangel, ZAFT pilot."

Kira paced the main deck above the mobile suits. The work crews were still hauling the broken pieces of the Aegis into arrangement, deciding exactly what to do with each piece. Captain Rameus had said that she wanted all the equipment they had as functional as they could get it. Even if it had been in possession of ZAFT, it was still an Earth Forces machine. He sighed. There was no way they could put it back together. Thinking that they could was woefully optimistic. He leaned on the metal railings, letting it cool his hot skin. Athrun, why you? He looked at the broken parts of the Aegis that were put in a pile, the parts that couldn't be fixed. Can I fix you, Athrun? Or are parts of you beyond repair as well?

1-Quote from Phase 05: "Phase Shift Down"

2-Quote from Phase 01: "False Peace"

3-This is referring to Miguel, who he shot a boomerang at. (don't say he didn't use a trigger, because he probably did, cuz' it's inside a mobile suit. I just can't quite remember.)

The nametags don't lie thing is a weird quote from the story that is my life. :D Just random fact!

Wowness, for once I had real author's notes. I have one question. After reading this over, I'm wondering, was La Flaga a little OOC? Just wondering...