Last Impression
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A/N:
Ah, another new year… welcome year 2007! I'd like to point out to the following people reading this story:
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one-village-idiot: Thank you for clarifying that nuclear reactors DON'T explode, only meltdown instead. It seemed I had nuclear reactors confused with nuclear warheads, whoops.
The AQM/E-X04 Gunbarrel Striker is capable of detaching from the Seraph and the Spawn Gundams, taking the pilots along with it; actually, it's not an original idea, but a similar concept I copied from the dock-in procedures of the Impulse Gundam from GUNDAM SEED DESTINY. The MA can also perform the same detachment from the GATX-105 Strike and the GAT-01A1 Dagger. Well, that's what I wanted the MA to do for this story anyway. So, kudos to the anime for the originality!
Yes, I also took time to read Solid Shark's stories. Thank you for the reference, and I agree with you there that they're exceptionally made. His stories also inspired me to start writing my remake of GUNDAM SEED (this story), followed possibly by a GUNDAM SEED DESTINY sequel in the works.
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Ominae: I checked out the latest update on your story Rebellion. Oh, I also posted a review there! Also, thank you for being the 100th reviewer for this story!
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Thomas Drovin: Yup, Kenji managed to save Nicol from the throes of death. Don't worry mate, Athrun and Eiji will soon realize that he's alive, and yeah, they will feel really rotten about it afterwards. Oh yes, Eiji and Kenji are going to spend some quality time together starting at this episode, so read on to find out.
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I thank the other readers for their time and patience in reading this story, your opinions do matter and help me keep this story up and running until the end!
I'm already hard at work re-writing my LOVE HINA story A Fragile Love, because I didn't like the format seen in all the chapters, so I decided to rewrite the entire story to save myself all the trouble in just simply correcting one chapter. To the readers and reviewers of that story, I ask for your patience. This story will be up and running starting this year 2007, I promise.
NOTICE: Attention readers and reviewers! I'm also interested in doing proofreading of your stories, along with proper format and the like! Don't worry if you're thinking I might tamper with your story, it'll still be your idea, so I'll just post my disclaimer of the proofreading and format instead. Anyone interested please notify me by my e-mail: lonelyavenger (at) fastmail.fm. Oh, and please spread this small notice to everyone! Remember, I'm doing this for my writing enjoyment, not for profit or any other ill-harbored feelings.
Happy new year to all!
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Episode 31: Lamentation for the Fallen
Legend
Word denotes character thought
Word denotes flashback speech
Word denotes com-link dialogue
Word denotes setting, time
-Word- denotes sound effect
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 17; +1830 hours
Location: Earth --- Marshall Islands; the Archangel
Inside the Archangel's CIC area, com-link lines from the Aile Strike, the Seraph, and Skygrasper-2 were suddenly cut off from the MS/MA operator's terminal, prompting her to re-establish contact with them.
"Kira…! Kenji…! Tolle…! Please, respond, any of you!" Miriallia desperately called out to her said comrades through her headset-mic as she monitored the MS/MA com-link lines displayed in her terminal. Her frantic calls garnered everyone's attention in the main bridge to her, as she continued her vain attempt.
After hearing her frantic calls several more times, Natarle swiveled her chair facing the MS/MA operator with her usual, earnest demeanor displayed outside. On the inside however, she couldn't help but worry for Kenji, fearing the worst scenario happening to him.
"Hey, stop it already. If they still cannot respond, then we must accept that the launched pilots are declared MIA, got that?" the Archangel second-in-command earnestly stated.
Kenji… no, that was a promise! Why did something happen to you right now, she inwardly frowned, remembering her last words given to the Seraph pilot during his recent sortie.
Miriallia could only hesitantly accept Natarle's statement with a resigned nod and shocked face as she blankly stared back at her terminal's display showing broken com-link contact with the Aile Strike, the Seraph, and Skygrasper-2.
Kira… Kenji… Tolle… you can't be gone…
"Miriallia…" Sai sadly uttered his friend's name, wanting to comfort her immediately.
Shaking off her stupor on hearing Natarle's declaration of Kira, Kenji, and Tolle as MIA, Murrue turned her attention on the current situation at hand. Pressing several buttons on her seat's right armrest, she then contacted Murdoch in the hangar bay for a damage report.
"Chief Murdoch, can you give me a damage report of the Archangel?" she inquired at the head mechanic/engineer's image appearing on the small com-link display located above the main screen. He pursed his lips coming up with a definite answer before replying.
"The damage isn't too bad as we dreaded. The "Igelstellungs" on both port sides of the ship are all damaged, with some destroyed by enemy fire from the recent battle. Fires have begun spreading to the lower decks, so I'm already having my crew split up and snuffing them out before they can cause more damage. The engines have been shot up bad, but I think we can get them up and running at 70 percent capacity. I estimate we need around 30 minutes for damage control, captain," Murdoch replied with a straight face.
Before Murrue could interject, radar activity was brewing in Sai's terminal, prompting the yellow-tinted spectacled teen to check up his radar, which had three incoming objects displayed and heading constantly towards the Archangel.
"Three bogeys are picked up by radar… they're MS! Running their IDs from the ship's database… they're confirmed as three DINNs! They'll arrive within 15 minutes, and are cruising fast towards us!" he reported.
"What… more enemy units…? We should immediately prepare for combat!" Murrue exclaimed with an outstretched right hand cutting the air.
"Captain, we can't possibly assume battle-stations again, since half of our weapons aren't even functioning properly from the recent battle!" Natarle interjected from her seat in the CIC area, getting Murrue's attention to her. Staring questioningly at the Archangel second-in-command/CIC head, Murrue then glanced back to spot Mwu motioning Murdoch aside displayed in the small com-link display of the main screen.
"Lieutenant La Flaga, can you launch immediately in Skygrasper-1?" she inquired anxiously.
"…I'm afraid I can't, because Skygrasper-1 was badly damaged from the recent battle. Its left wing was blown off completely, Murdoch notes that it'll take days to repair Skygrasper-1 again," Mwu replied, shaking his head in disagreement.
Murrue furrowed her eyebrows, looking for another option to consider. After several seconds of pondering, she couldn't find a possible one, and banged a right fist on her seat's right armrest in frustration.
"Captain…!" Natarle called out from her seat, awaiting further orders from the Archangel's captain along with the rest of the bridge crew, who glanced anxiously at her from their posts in the room.
"…All hands, prepare to move the ship! We'll begin withdrawal from the battlefield and resume our original course to Alaska now! Chief Murdoch, please speed up the repairs at once!" Murrue exclaimed resignedly, glancing first at the said chief mechanic/engineer and then around at the bridge crew.
"-Sigh- Alright, I'll get my crew to hurry up with the repairs right now, captain," Murdoch gruffly replied, before his image flickered off from the small com-link display.
"Yes ma'am!" the entire bridge crew replied in unison, complying with their captain's order and leaping into action from their posts.
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Meanwhile in one of the Archangel's corridors, Dearka was first being led to the medic bay with his hands bound and accompanied by two EA guards with their machine-guns poised ready and pointed at him from behind. A small cut on the right side of his forehead with blood trickling from within indicated a minor injury he sustained from the Buster's crash, and so it was decided that he was first brought to the medic bay for treatment. The Buster pilot had his ZAFT pilot suit zipped down to the waist, revealing a white undershirt worn beneath. As he continued walking, he suddenly tripped, before he managed to regain balance quickly thanks to his Coordinator reflexes. He next felt the prodding of a machine-gun muzzle behind him.
"Jeez, I get the point! I'm walking, I'm walking!" Dearka protested, taking a quick annoyed glance back at the two guards warily watching him with their machine guns ready in hand and pointing at him.
"Get a move on already!" one of the guards exclaimed with masked disgust for the Coordinator standing before him.
As the three people continued their way, several crew members of the Archangel passed by and stumbled upon them, before hurriedly stepping aside and letting them pass through. Pretty soon, loud mumbles of comments were exchanged amongst the crew passersby as they got a glimpse of the second ZAFT soldier taken in prisoner.
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"Hurry up loading the Buster inside! We don't have all day here!" Murdoch bellowed earnestly to his crew in the hangar bay, hurrying them up to haul in a damaged Buster Gundam laid and bound on a MS trailer driven by one mechanic/engineer. The chief mechanic/engineer scratched his head with his gloved right hand as he sighed tiredly watching the Buster being constantly loaded onto one free parking spot of the MS hangar.
"First the Blitz, and now the Buster… I guess it was wrong to presume those stolen Gundams to be invincible from the start," he commented to himself with reassurance.
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As Murrue had requested, a small portion of repairs was quickly done by Murdoch and his mechanic/engineer crew. Within minutes, power was constantly restored throughout the EA legged-warship. Back in the Archangel's main bridge, the bridge crew systematically began take-off procedures.
"Main and auxiliary power has been restored. Initiating engine start-up at t-minus 20 seconds," Arnold reported from his post, as he activated the engine ignition of the Archangel with a small countdown.
"…20."
"Fire control systems are on-line. All decks are cleared of fire, along with all bulkheads opened," Romero reported from his post after doing routine fire control check-ups in his terminal.
"…15."
"Radar and sensors are on-line. Running routine diagnostics on heat, sonar, and normal radar modes… complete," Jackie reported from his post after doing routine radar check-ups in his terminal.
"Half of our weapons systems are ready and utilized," Dalida reported from his post after doing routine weapon systems check-ups in his terminal.
"…10."
"…5."
"…Engines start-up initiated… thrusters are activated, and we can begin with take-off procedures at once!" Arnold reported from his post, as he grabbed the steering wheel firmly and slowly began pulling it up to motion the Archangel into taking off from its current position on ocean water. With power restored, the EA legged-warship quickly flew away from the battlefield, before a small group of 3 ZAFT DINNs were approaching, arriving at the battlefield a few minutes late.
"Whew… that was close," Sai muttered to himself seated in his post as he monitored his radar displaying three blips representing the 3 ZAFT DINNs being constantly left behind by the Archangel.
Murrue glanced back at Natarle with a concerned look from her seat, "Natarle, have a message sent to the Orb Union containing the last known coordinates of Kenji, Kira, and Tolle. We'll ask them to search for their whereabouts in our stead; I'll take full responsibility for this action."
Usually, Natarle would object to such an order given to her by the Archangel Captain. Before she could protest, her concern for her newfound love, the Seraph pilot, swelled in her suddenly, making her forget her natural impulse to object to Murrue's order. Instead, she understandably nodded in reply, disregarding her sense to military procedures for once.
"Right away, Captain, I'll have a message sent to the Orb Union with our pilots' last known coordinates right away."
Startled slightly at the Archangel second-in-command's acceptance of her order, Murrue assumed an awed look on her face.
Huh…it's funny how she didn't object to my command this time…
She dismissed the thought with a solemn shake of her head.
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In the Archangel's hangar bay, a distraught Miriallia slowly approached the MA simulator lain on a corner of the room. As she laid her hands on the edge of the simulator's seat, her pent-up emotions of grief, sadness, and shock couldn't be held back longer, prompting her to cry them out instead. In the midst of her stifled crying, she felt a hand rested on her left shoulder, making her glance back to see Mwu, who also was dismayed in hearing the declared MIA status of Kenji, Kira, and Tolle as well.
Taking several seconds helplessly staring at Miriallia's teary-eyed face, Mwu wanted to console her, deciding to hug her. Before he could so, he hesitated and pulled back, before suddenly right-punching the wall behind her instead.
"Damn it… they were still young… why now?" he uttered angrily to himself.
Several of Murdoch's mechanic/engineer crew could only stand by and watch on the scene dejectedly from the backgrounds.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 17; +1840 hours
Location: Earth --- Marshall Islands; the Cousteau
"What do you mean contact was lost from them?!" Yzak bellowed angrily at the vice-captain in the ZAFT Vosgulov-class submarine's deck, who cringed inwardly at the tone of his voice.
"The com-link operators have tried locating the last known signals of Commander Zala and Officer Elsman of your team, but to no avail. Also, according to the recent transmission from the Isadora, Commander Shinonome, Officer Katsuragi, and Officer Walters are also missing. Commander Shinonome's remaining team members, Officers Sanada and Lenore, confirmed that they witnessed the Officer Elsman's surrender to the EA legged-warship, along with Officer Walters shot down by one of the enemy MS, reported to resemble Commander Shinonome's MS, the Spawn Gundam," the Cousteau's vice-captain reported.
"I-Impossible… all five of them…! Damn it, Dearka's captured by the enemy, Barry shot down, while Athrun, Eiji, and Ryu are missing... how the hell did things end up like this?" Yzak cursed grimly, laying his right hand on his face to cover up his dismay before retracting it a second or two later to glance back at the Cousteau's vice-captain, "We have to search for their whereabouts right now!"
Before the vice-captain could reply, one of the com-link operators suddenly interjected with an instant report from his post, "Captain, we've received a recall order from Commander Creuset immediately!"
"Already…? -Sigh- What timing," the vice-captain commented sarcastically to himself before turning attention to Yzak standing before him, "Unfortunately, we can't begin to initiate search and rescue operations for the missing members of your team and Commander Shinonome's, now that we received a recall order from Commander Creuset. We'll have to return back to the Carpentaria Base at once."
"But, vice-captain…! We can't just leave and head back to base!"
"Officer Joule, with all due respect, orders are orders! We're soldiers, and it's our duty to obey them with no hesitation whatsoever. From the way you're speaking to me, you're stemming with personal feelings for the missing members of your team and Commander Shinonome's. I'm afraid there's no room for that! Do I make myself clear?"
Gritting his teeth in frustration, Yzak allowed a resigned sigh escape his lips before glancing downwards to the metal floor beneath his feet, unable to look at the vice-captain in the eye.
"…Yes, I understand you clearly…"
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 18; +1300 hours
Location: Earth --- Marshall Islands
Meanwhile, three rescue planes launched from the Orb Union arrived at the Marshall Islands, proceeding to the last known coordinates of the Aile Strike Gundam, the Seraph Gundam, and Skygrasper-2 sent by the Archangel. Inside one of the planes, Cagalli and Kisaka watched on worriedly at one of the many small islands below, which apparently were littered with wreckage of the Aegis Gundam on the beachfront. As the three rescue planes landed near the island, the wreckage of the Aegis was more apparent up close, along with the heavily-damaged Aile Strike Gundam nearby. The small rescue party from the Orb Union exited their transportation and began immediate inspection of the said two Gundams' wreckage.
"How horrible…" Kisaka commented to himself, shocked at what he saw before him now. He then went over to one of the rescue crew, "I want all nearby islands aside from this one thoroughly searched for the missing pilots of the Aegis, the Aile Strike, the Seraph, and Skygrasper-2. Also, check for the wreckage of the Blitz as well. According to the Archangel, the Blitz was reported to have been destroyed somewhere near here. Gather one group of eight people to look for the Blitz's wreckage, while the rest will start searching this island."
The Orb rescue party officer nodded in reply, complying with the given task by Kisaka, and began calling out several of the rescue party to form a group tasked to find the Blitz's wreckage.
Upon seeing the Aile Strike's wreckage, Cagalli instantly broke off into a sprint, rushing towards it, despite two Orb rescue party officers struggling to break open the Aile Strike's cockpit with some tools they carried along with them.
"Cagalli, wait!" Kisaka called after his young charge, upon noticing her hurried figure approaching the Aile Strike's wreckage. Fearing for the worst, he didn't want Cagalli to at least see a horrible picture of Kira's corpse.
"Out of the way, so move it!" the Orb princess exclaimed, pushing aside the two Orb rescue party officers after they finally cracked open the Aile Strike's cockpit with an axe and crowbar. Her eyes widened in surprise at what they saw inside --- a burnt cockpit, but with no pilot. Behind her, Kisaka finally caught up, waiting for her reaction.
"Kira isn't inside the Aile Strike… he was able to eject alive!" Cagalli exclaimed hopefully to her assigned bodyguard, who was startled hearing her remark and managed to steal a peek at the Aile Strike's inside charred cockpit. Before Kisaka could comment, another Orb rescue party officer called out to him from behind.
"Colonel Kisaka, we've found someone lying unconscious in the beach shore here! Come take a look!" he yelled out.
Led by the exclaimed remark, Cagalli and Kisaka followed the Orb rescue party officer leading them to the nearby beach shore of the island, where several other Orb rescue party officers gathered around a slumped form docked in a red ZAFT pilot suit.
"Kira, is that you? No…" Cagalli trailed off, before her eyes widened once again with recognition on the face of Athrun Zala shown from beneath the pilot helmet.
It's that guy who tied me up before… but why is here?
"Colonel Kisaka, sir, we found another person tangled up in some trees near here!" One of the Orb rescue party officers called out to his superior upon approaching him with hurry, coming out from the island forested area.
"What… another one…? Quick, lead me there right now!" Kisaka stated, before motioning the Orb rescue party officer to begin leading him back inside the island forested area, leaving Cagalli behind to simply staring back at the slumped form of Athrun on the beach shore. After a second or two gazing, she regained her senses and glanced around the small group of Orb rescue party officers gathered around Athrun.
"Why are you all just staring at him, have him carried over to my rescue plane for treatment, you hear?" she ordered.
"Yes ma'am!" two Orb rescue party officers replied in unison, complying with the Orb princess's command.
Back to Kisaka, he was led inside the island forested area by the Orb rescue party officer who called out to him previously, before spotting several other Orb rescue party officers struggling to get down a person with his parachute entangled with a tree. Within minutes, the person was free from his bindings, and gingerly caught by the small group of the Orb rescue party. Kisaka bent down to get a good look at him.
He seemed to sport an average height and build of a teenager, while docked in an EA pilot uniform. Seeing him wear a pilot helmet, Kisaka decided to take it off, revealing a brown shade of curly hair and the face of Tolle Koenig, pilot of Skygrasper-2. Taking a small clipboard from a nearby Orb rescue party officer upon request containing the official pictures of Kira, Kenji, and Tolle from the Archangel, he checked Tolle's picture, matching it with the original source.
"It's certainly one of the missing pilots from the Archangel --- Tolle Koenig. Get a stretcher over here ASAP! We need to bring him in one of our rescue planes for treatment!" Kisaka ordered the nearby Orb rescue party gathered around him.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 18; +1400 hours
Location: Earth --- Marshall Islands; Underground Shelter
Deep down in the underground shelter, the masked Vann and his assigned female guest watched carefully over two injured newcomers sleeping separately in the guest quarters. Upon closer look on their faces, they revealed to be Eiji and Kenji separately, stripped down to their boxer shorts. The latter had most of his chest bandaged, along with his forehead, which indicated the extent of injuries he sustained in his recent battle. The former, however, was more fortunate only having his forehead bandaged, along with his injured eye treated once again and wrapped with new bandages.
"I just couldn't leave them lying about, my lady, so I had to bring them here instead," Vann stated worriedly, standing with hands behind his back.
"There's no need for apologies, Vann. Besides, I always did want to take care of the injured, especially after brushing up my first-aid skills due to the immense amount of material from several medicine books in the small library provided, so it's a welcome change for me," the female guest replied with a smile, seated on a three-leg stool near the door of the guest quarters.
"Hmm… well, if you say so… anyhow," Vann turned his attention to her, "if they happen to wake-up, call me immediately. I have to know how they got involved in the recent battle occurring near this area."
"Sure, I'll let you know. By the way," the female guest stopped Vann in his tracks by a question, "Judging from their pilot uniforms they were stripped off previously, are they soldiers of ZAFT and EA? My memory may be a bit hazy since the 'Bloody Valentine' event, but I'm sure I recognized them before."
"…Yes, my lady, they are. And if I may add, one of them used to be a student of mine --- that person sleeping to the right, there. Well, we'll save for conversation later, once they both wake up. It must have been a harrowing experience for them, especially to have received such wounds. By your leave, my lady…"
With that said, Vann bowed courteously to his assigned female guest before he left the room. He then headed off to the communication room, deciding to contact his high-profile employer, the former PLANT Supreme Council chairman.
Back in the guest quarters, the female guest turned her attention to the two sleeping soldiers before her. Standing up from her seat, she quietly approached in between, before running her right hand ruffling little through Kenji's hair. Taking a second or two gazing at his sleeping, peaceful face, she could picture her son's face replacing his instead.
Athrun… I miss you so much.
She then glanced back wistfully at Eiji, before turning focus on Kenji after, feeling a sense of foreboding waiting to happen for the two famed ZAFT pilots sleeping before her.
I'm starting to sense something amiss might happen between these two, even though I don't know them personally. But… why do I feel saddened by this?
She dismissed the thought with a shake of her head, realizing there was no sense of worrying now.
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Inside the communication room of the underground shelter, Vann punched in the secret emergency com-link transmission to the former PLANT Supreme Council chairman, Siegel Clyne, after typing a set of commands on a medium-sized keyboard interface. Within seconds, a giant monitor screen showed the image of Siegel docked in his PLANT Supreme Council attire, seated in his office of the Clyne Estate in PLANT Aprilius-One.
"So, Vann, what has happened to our female guest? I trust she's doing well in there?" Siegel asked concernedly, folding his hands in a temple as he laid them resting on his office desk.
"Master Clyne, I report that she's placed well and hidden from any possible threat, though I speak of this with more caution. Also, sir, there happened to be a recent battle occurring near this area; I had thought it'd be our usual mysterious pursuers once more, but fortunately that thought was snuffed out immediately," Vann replied while adjusting his mask at the same time with his right hand.
"Hmm… were you able to investigate this further?"
"I've done as discreetly as I could, but I only ended up finding a ZAFT and an EA pilot washed up on the beach shore here. The ZAFT pilot seemed to be piloting a MA of some sort, whose wreckage also ended up in some rocks of the beach shore here. I've erased any traces of his whereabouts here by bringing the MA wreckage inside the hangar bay of the underground shelter, and also carrying both pilots to be placed under care of our esteemed female guest. I investigated the nearby area once again, but there were 3 ZAFT DINNs deployed there, apparently sent as pursuing units. My guess is that the EA legged-warship, dubbed the Archangel, must have done battle in the area, and possibly ran into one or more ZAFT submarine units, based from the latest reports I checked in ZAFT Intelligence."
"Well… you nailed the definite answer there. Yes, according to reports received from Carpentaria Base, two Vosgulov-class submarine units were sent to the Marshall Islands, each carrying two ZAFT teams --- the Zala and Shinonome teams to be exact. It was believed the Archangel would continue en route to Alaska proceeding north from the Orb Union, and here it was intercepted by the Zala and Shinonome teams."
"Hmm… that seems to be case then. But it was surprising the Archangel would also travel through this area. I feared the underground shelter would be leaked out. So, I'm lying low and wait out for the remainder of pursuit units sent by the Carpentaria Base to pass by. It'll probably take an hour estimated, so nothing is amiss."
"…Those two pilots you just rescued, how long will they remain there in the underground shelter?"
"For several days at least, just to give them time to heal their wounds briefly. Speaking of which, I plan to take along with me the ZAFT pilot back to Aprilius-One, once I'm done finalizing necessary checks to security for our esteemed female guest. As to the EA pilot, I'm not yet sure on what to do with him. I assure you that our lady guest's safety won't be compromised."
Siegel gave a knowing nod from his place.
"I see… good work as always, Vann. Speaking of which, have you gathered those two pilots' identities?"
Vann wistfully smiled before replying back.
"We have two famed ZAFT pilots here --- the 'Dark Avenger' and the 'Red Reaper'. My guess is certain, but I've no ample proof to send to you yet… oh no, wait. I remember that you have hold of their confidential profiles. Do you remember the time when you decided to have me request the services Captain Lloyd Aster of the Geneva for confirmation on the secret MS project held in Heliopolis?"
"Oh right… of course. I seem to forget that little fact, thank you for the reminder. If the esteemed lady is secured once more, then I await your return here to my estate. I leave the handling of those two pilots to you then."
With that said, Siegel terminated his transmission, before his image flickered off-screen. Vann sat down on a reclining chair provided and massaged his forehead lightly as he allowed a tired sigh escape his lips.
Another unexpected turn of events… who ever thought the 'Dark Avenger' and the 'Red Reaper' would end up together here? No matter… I'll have to make certain that they leave without knowledge of the esteemed lady's existence. Time to make some arrangements then…
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In the inner recesses of Kenji's sleeping mind, he unconsciously found himself dressed in his ZAFT redcoat uniform and lain on a patch of grass, with his head cradled on the lap of his first love, the late Lunamaria Minami, who was docked in the same attire he had last seen her in their last chanced meeting back in PLANT Junius-Seven before the 'Bloody Valentine' occurred.
The farming background of PLANT Junius-Seven adorned his surroundings, as he felt his vision slowly disoriented, before trying blinking his eyes quickly to get a better sight of his first love watching over him caringly. Her entire form was enveloped with a slightly wistful glow, while her hair seemed to be swayed fro by some unknown wind, making her seem more believable to Kenji, as he realized his bearings.
"…Luna…? This is… Junius-Seven?" he stammered before he felt his hands being grasped tenderly by the said teenage girl. He felt her touch volume convey her feelings for him, eliciting a soft smile from him in return as he held her grip tightly and delicately.
"-Giggle- I'll always watch over you in spirit… just feel the small crucifix necklace I gave you whenever you miss me," Lunamaria cooed.
"Luna… I love you."
"I know… I love you too."
Kenji then felt himself getting drowsy suddenly, prompting him to curse bad timing inwardly for interrupting a calm and happy moment of his life. The last sight of Luna smiling serenely at him was all he could try to cherish before he heard one last remark from her.
"There's always next time… for now, wake up to your world…"
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Inside Eiji's sleeping mind, the events of the recent battle with the Archangel and its small MS cadre replayed constantly, leading up to the witnessing the explosions of Crusader-01 and Crusader-02, which were taken care of by his hated rival and best friend.
"Officer Walters…! -Hic- -Sob- You MURDEROUS TRAITOR…!"
"Crusader-01…! Fuck, no…!"
Bit by bit Eiji could feel himself standing helplessly alone, having to watch the memories playing before him. He stared at his hands, which were slowly trembling, as he slowly realized the extent of his strength and character when confronting his most wanted foe.
Ryu… Officer Walters… why did they have to go… even after Nicol's reported KIA by Athrun officially?
Docked in his ZAFT white-coat uniform, the Spawn pilot slumped to the invisible, dark floor of his subconscious mind before allowing himself to quietly cry out his pent-up emotions of anger, doubt, and regret. He slammed both his hands into the floor and balled them into tight fists.
"If only I had been able to totally deal with Kenji with all my strength… this wouldn't have happened… I… why am I still in doubt? I… finally destroyed him and that scorned MS of his! It serves him right! He… didn't pay his respects to Luna as well… -Hic- Luna… I miss you so much… look at me now, a jarring wreck of a ZAFT soldier! -Hic- What's there to this meaningless life without you! -Sob- Oh, I'm so pathetic…"
Suddenly, a heavenly presence misted slowly before him, lightly lifting his head to look up. Eiji felt his heart swell with nostalgia and love upon seeing the spiritual form of his first love, Lunamaria Minami, standing before him with a serene smile on her face. Standing before her glory, her private parts were somewhat glared foggily.
"Eiji… don't cry…" she quietly spoke.
Feeling a sense of rejuvenation flowing through him, Eiji slowly stood up to his feet and held his lost love's hands with his, softly tightening them.
"Luna… I don't know what I should do now… I…"
The Spawn pilot trailed off his remark, due to feeling his right eye being stroked gently by Luna's hands. This elicited a short gasp of shock from him, making him remember his right eye's bandaged injury, but not before deciding to blink it normally, feeling it to be performing well. He reached up and touched his right eye, feeling it.
"My eye… it's… not injured…"
"Eiji," Luna spoke, bringing his attention to her, and cupping his face with both her hands, "You're not alone, remember that. You have other people who will miss you dearly --- your mother, your other ZAFT soldier friends, and especially Kenji."
Eiji's face twitched with anger upon the mention of his best friend and considered foe. He gently removed Luna's hands from his face with his, "Luna… Kenji's a traitor. He's joined the EA after his supposed 'resignation'! Because of him, I lost a number of good comrades. He didn't even consider paying you respects before he left ZAFT as well! Tell me, why I should still consider him a best friend?"
"Eiji… Kenji isn't a bad person. I'm sure… he has other reasons for moving on with his life right now."
"But…"
"…Please stop fighting with him. He's trying his best to find his purpose in life, as are you. Haven't you ever considered thinking about that?"
"…"
Luna smiled warmly at Eiji's last reply, seeing he was slowly realizing her point. She took his hands with hers, drawing him close. He could once more smell the lovely scent of carnations from her, reminding him of them in PLANT Junius-Seven. Unable to come up with another retort, the Spawn pilot yielded to reason, nodding his head solemnly to her.
"I understand. I'll try… but I make no guarantees."
"-Giggle- Oh Eiji…"
Luna surprised her love once more with an embrace, prompting him to gladly return it with his. Resting her head on his chest, she closed her eyes with her serene smile, while Eiji closed his eyes as well, never wanting to let go of her.
"Luna… I love you."
"I love you too, Eiji."
The Spawn pilot felt his entire world brightening around him. Before he and Luna were engulfed completely by light, he heard one last remark from her.
"Live, Eiji… live on with no regrets."
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While reading a small book titled The Certainties of Life, the female guest looked up surprised to find the sleeping ZAFT pilots slowly roused from their slumber. Putting her book aside on a small stand next her, she put up a welcoming face upon noticing Eiji and Kenji blinking their eyes open, before sitting up with pained expressions on their faces, indicating some discomfort received from their bandaged injuries. They first turned their attention to her, realizing her presence.
"Hello. I'm glad to see you both resting well. Please don't get up so soon, you must give your bodies some time to heal," the female guest greeted them, standing up from her seat, a three-legged black chair.
Is it just me, or do I get a weird feeling I met this lady before, Kenji thought, pondering on the female guest's identity for a second or two. Piecing her remark directed to him before, he raised a curious right eyebrow before turning to his right and finding his best friend bed-ridden as him. His eyes immediately widened with amazement.
"-Gasp- Eiji…? Is that you?" he asked.
Eiji mirrored the same reaction from the Seraph pilot as well. A mixture of emotions coursed through him before he could reply.
"K-Kenji… you're… alive?"
Suddenly, with a surge of newfound strength, Eiji leapt at his best friend with rage, startling the female guest.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 18; +1600 hours
Location: Earth --- Marshall Islands
Inside one of the Orb rescue planes, Athrun regained consciousness. Waking up, he felt his forehead partly bandaged, while stripped down to his white shirt and boxers. Regaining his bearings, he found himself lain on a bed of a medic bay in one of the Orb rescue planes. Slowly sitting up on the bed, he felt a dull throb of pain from his left arm, prompting him to find it wrapped in a sling.
Where am I?
Flinging the blanket aside, he turned to his right to find an angry Cagalli pointing an automatic 9mm pistol at him.
Cagalli…? What is she doing here pointing a gun at me all of a sudden?
The silence was broken by a question asked by Cagalli.
"Where's the Aile Strike's pilot," she then shook her head before rephrasing her question, "Where's Kira?"
Remembering his recent stand-off with the Aile Strike, and bearing witness to its destruction, Athrun grinned pensively.
"I killed Kira, if that's what you want to know."
His remark ticked the Orb princess off, instantly sending her approaching him with her pistol shoved in the Aegis pilot's face. She gazed at him teary-eyed, distressed to hear such a fate Kira suffered.
"Why… why did you kill him?" she pleaded.
Replaying the memory of witnessing the Blitz's destruction caused by the Seraph in his mind, Athrun angrily glared back at her, unable to struggle breaking free from her left grip on his shirt.
"It's because he helped the pilot of the Seraph, Kenji, in killing Nicol! Speaking of whom, I think he's been definitely taken care of by Eiji… -Chuckle- Finally… Nicol is avenged!"
Cagalli was appalled to find Athrun chuckling delightedly after revealing the demise of Kira and Kenji. Gritting her teeth in annoyance, she tightened her hold on Athrun's shirt and jammed her pistol close to his face. Memories of her first encounters with Kira and Kenji replayed in her mind, and she couldn't help but feel distraught and saddened to hear their deaths from the Aegis pilot she encountered back in the lonesome island a few days ago.
"What do you mean by that? Where's Kenji? Did you even kill him too? Answer me!"
Struggling to keep his laughter from erupting any further, Athrun coldly stared back at Cagalli.
"Are you deaf or something? I'd love to kill Kenji as well, but it seemed another comrade of mine beat me to it instead. I hope he's faring better than I am…"
He didn't get the chance to finish his remark when his left cheek was struck by a shaky blow from the butt of Cagalli's pistol. He barely retracted his head staring amusingly back at the Orb princess who was struggling to control her anger and unable to stop tears from slowly pouring out from her eyes.
"You… how dare you say such thing to me! Kira and Kenji… they're good and kind people who didn't deserve to die! Kira was sometimes clumsy in his ways, while Kenji often looked out to protect everyone onboard the Archangel!" she exclaimed.
Her words instantly made Athrun recall the sorrowful farewell to his childhood best friend back in the lunar city of Copernicus.
"This is for you, Kira. Its name is Birdie, so take good care of it."
"…I will, Athrun. We'll meet again, right?"
The next sentence about Kenji had Athrun replay the memory of meeting the Seraph pilot back in one of the small islands in the Indian Ocean.
"It was good to see you again, Kenji, even though it was short like before."
"Same here, Athrun…"
Athrun paused for a few seconds, contemplating on an answer, as he shrugged his head clear of the abovementioned memories regarding Kira and Kenji.
"Kira never changed, and was always a childish crybaby. Kenji on the other hand, I saw him to be an honorable person, since he returned Lacus, my fiancée, safely back to me two months ago."
Hearing an interesting description of her said comrades made Cagalli quell her anger a bit.
"Did you know Kira and Kenji?"
"…Kira and I used to be close friends since we first met in the lunar city of Copernicus during prep school. As to Kenji, I only met him in few rare occasions. To me, he was merely a passerby who lent a helping hand."
"If you didn't kill Kenji, then why would you kill Kira, especially when you two were friends?"
Athrun frustratingly lashed his words out in reply to the question.
"Kira was a Coordinator! He fought against his own people, despite my fruitless attempts to get him to join ZAFT!" he paused a second or two, while having tears slowly pouring out from his eyes. The memory of the Blitz's destruction caused by the Seraph once again replayed in his mind, "-Hic- I had to kill Kira, since he lent a hand in killing Nicol, even though it was Kenji who did it!"
Hearing a saddened reply from the Aegis pilot, Cagalli's face darkened as she drooped her head down, allowing her tears to drop on Athrun's blanket. She let go of Athrun's shirt, while letting her gun hand drop down to the bed as well.
"What sense does it make to kill someone because someone else was killed? Have you ever thought of that? Have you?"
Upon finishing her remark, she realized she spoke out one of her father's wisdom spoken to her before.
"…If you kill someone, that person's family will hate you. If someone killed you, I will hate them as well. Such a chain reaction like this goes on and on, and it doesn't end a war."
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 18; +1630 hours
Location: Earth --- Marshall Islands; Underground Shelter
In the guest quarters, the female guest sounded out a shocked cry as she stared at the bandaged forms of Eiji and Kenji tangled up with each other, with the former pinning the latter on his bed and with his left hand wrapped around the latter's neck. Eiji raised his right arm, poised to start delivering a beating to his best friend considered rival, while his face tensed up angrily. The fury shown in his uninjured left eye was apparent to Kenji, and he deduced that had his right eye would also show the same thing, had not it be bandaged in the first place.
"Tell me… why I should spare you a beating and deserve to see you still standing alive," Eiji snarled angrily. Deep down, he had to give the Seraph pilot credit for putting up a passive look on his face, which seemed to tell him that he was unfazed by his action, and his willpower not to retaliate back.
"I could think a number of reasons why… but I guess none of them would really suit you," Kenji quietly replied. He grunted lightly in pain as he felt his neck tightened fiercely by the Spawn pilot on top of him.
"Damn you… you still have the guts to comment humouredly to me? Why I ought to…"
"What's wrong? Why don't we just simply get this over with? Do what you must."
The female guest cautiously approached Eiji's side and tried reasoning with him to dispel the conflict he initiated.
"Please, stop this! This place is for those seeking rest, not for starting conflicts!"
She trembled a bit under Eiji's fierce gaze, but bravely stood her ground, not budging from her spot. Eiji stared back at the Seraph pilot, then remembering a question he wanted to ask him.
"Why… why did you kill Nicol --- the Blitz pilot?"
Kenji inwardly smiled amusedly to himself, but retained an outside earnest demeanor due to the present situation he was in.
"You always were a man of action, I credit you that. If you remembered that recent battle we had, the one where we mercilessly pounded our Gundams bits, I tried to reason with you and was about to explain an important matter regarding that Blitz pilot, but your battle-hungry nature changed that, and forced me to fight you once again."
"Talk, then!"
"…The Blitz pilot… he's still alive. I made it look like I destroyed him inside his MS, when in reality I decided to capture him instead. The last time I remember, he's currently held in the Archangel for treatment."
Eiji let go of his grip on Kenji's neck, letting his head fall on the pillow. His eyes widened with amazement at the startling revelation spoken by his considered rival.
"…That's quite a pleasing lie, Kenji! Spare me your bullshit!"
"Eiji… have I ever lied to you ever since our ZAFT days together? Even during the Grimaldi Front, especially after Luna's death? I give you my word that I spared that Blitz pilot --- Nicol, if that's his name. Speaking of which, he wouldn't be the same Nicol Amalfi, son of one the PLANT Supreme Council members if I remember --- Yuri Amalfi?"
Kenji stared adamantly back at the Spawn pilot, not faltering under his gaze. Eiji took a second or two studying his eyes, gauging his worth and the validity of his statement.
"What have we here? My, when you two are ever around, there's never a dull moment," another voice spoke out, coming from the room's door, which was opened. Eiji, Kenji, and the female guest turned around to find an intrigued Vann with both raised eyebrows at the sight before him.
Eiji and Kenji immediately did a double-take, after peering closely at the ZAFT masked commander's face. The former instantly got off the latter's bed and stood attentively to his feet, while the latter managed to sit up on his bed.
"…Vann, is that you?" Kenji inquired. Hearing the name mentioned, Eiji glanced at his best friend then back at the said ZAFT masked commander, then widening his eyes with realization with an agape mouth.
"Commander Falken?"
The female guest let out a sigh of relief, before allowing her lips to form a small smile while she glanced at Vann.
"Thank goodness you showed up. I didn't know what to do with these young men here."
Vann folded his arms, before letting an amused smile formed in his lips.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 18; +1700 hours
Location: Earth --- Marshall Islands
Nearby the search radius of the Orb rescue party headed by Kisaka and Cagalli in the area, one of them seemed sparsely inhabited. Were it to be examined closely, a small cave of sorts could be seen near the beach shore, and inside there, a small campfire was made, indicating a human figure seated near it. On the campfire was several pieces of fish skewered by a sharply cut tree branch, and cooked over.
The human figure tending to his latest catch of the day concentrated on his work, with his thin black eyebrows narrowed. The campfire illuminated his small, red cloak worn over a semi-black jumpsuit, while brown leather fighting gloves adorned his hands. He craned his head around, with his long black hair added with a ponytail swayed fro with his movement, to check on two sleeping figures tucked in a rolled-down camp bed. Upon close inspection, the sleeping faces of Ryu Katsuragi and Barry Walters were evident. The two said ZAFT pilots were bandaged well by the young man tending his fish with a small stick, and he treated them as best his feeble efforts could do and with the available first aid kit he had brought along with him as well.
The young man smirked to himself, seeing the two strangers he had found washed up on the beach shore of the island he was on during his afternoon training. He returned to prepping up the fish he had caught for dinner, along with three pieces of coconut cut open and ready to drink, and some other rations he conserved.
Well… dinner's almost ready to be served. I had thought these islands would be sparsely inhabited only by me, but I guess I was wrong when I found these two strangers nonetheless. Hmm… they were both wearing ZAFT pilot uniforms as well. Nah, I guess I'll treat them as civilians for now. I've no business to meddle with their affairs.
The young man, Barry Ho, stared wonderingly at the campfire before him, watching the small fire dancing back and forth.
I hope I can find some action after training. I wonder if I should return to Orb soon…
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 18; +1800 hours
Location: Earth --- Alaska; EA Central HQ, JOSHUA
After several days of trekking, the Archangel finally reached the territorial waters of the EA Alaska Base. The moment it crossed those waters, a large fighter jet escort swooped over the Archangel, proceeding to accompany the EA legged-warship to the EA Alaska Base. Inside the Archangel's main bridge, the bridge crew was relieved to have crossed into safe territory, but maintained their composure as they constantly manned their posts.
"Strike-Eagle squadron, we read you loud and clear, thanks for the escort," Dalida contacted through his head-set mic.
"Roger that, Archangel, we'll stick close to you until you make it inside the base," the fighter jet escort's squad leader confirmed.
On the com-link display, Murdoch's image appeared, getting Murrue's attention.
"Chief Murdoch, what is it?" the Archangel Captain inquired, seeing the worried look on the head mechanic/engineer's face.
"…It's Lieutenant La Flaga, he keeps demanding that we fix Skygrasper-1 so he can go out and search for our missing pilots, but he won't listen. Please come down here in the hangar bay and reason with him, he's a stubborn one," Murdoch replied, scratching his head in wonder with his gloved right hand.
Murrue pursed her lips, pondering on the appropriate answer to say to the 'Hawk of Endymion'. She nodded to the head mechanic/engineer.
"Alright, I'll go down to talk to him. Thank you for reporting this matter to me."
With an affirmative nod back to her, Murdoch's image flickered off the com-link display.
Sighing tiredly to herself, Murrue grudgingly stood up from her seat, proceeding to leave the bridge and for the hangar bay via the ship elevator.
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Arriving at the hangar bay, Murrue found Murdoch and a member of his crew preventing Mwu from getting in the now-repaired Skygrasper-1. Seeing Murrue approach them, Murdoch and the mechanic/engineer stepped away from the scene, puzzling Mwu, until he glanced back at their direction and found Murrue standing behind him. He looked away from her, unable to look at her in the eye.
"Lieutenant La Flaga… please, you can't sortie now. The Archangel is already approaching the Alaska Base as we speak," Murrue started.
"I know… but, I still want to sortie and look for our missing pilots! They still could be alive back there!" Mwu protested, then cutting the air with an outstretched right hand and turning towards Murrue.
She could note frustration etched in his eyes, making her feel sorry for him. Deep down, she knew very well that the reported MIA status of Kira, Kenji, and Tolle had quickly spread out throughout the entire crew of the Archangel like wildfire since the recent battle back in the Marshall Islands. Because of this, the morale of the ship had sunk to all new low, and it begun to affect the entire crew's spirits.
Standing before her, Mwu was one of the few people who had a hint of optimism, still believing that Kira, Kenji, and Tolle were still alive back in the Marshall Islands. Seeing his distraught mood, Murrue decided to calm him down by laying her right hand on his left arm while gazing calmly at him. She immediately got the desired effect after, getting his attention to her.
"Lieutenant La Flaga… please, I cannot permit sending you back out there in Marshall Islands, seeing that we're already in the Alaska Base. I understand how you're feeling, but, I just cannot afford losing another pilot."
Mwu couldn't find any words to reply, and gritted his teeth in resignation behind pursed lips, while clenching his hands into shaky fists.
Damn it…
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Meanwhile, in one of the corridors of the Archangel, Sai was on his way back to the main bridge after taking a ten minute break in the mess hall when he stumbled upon Natarle walking past by with three opened, empty boxes in hand. At that instant, he could have sworn he spotted her face etched in distraught before she turned to him with her usual earnest demeanor. He immediately stood in attention, saluting her at once.
"At ease, crewman Argyle… I'd like… to request you to clean out Ensigns Yamato, Hyne, and Koenig's belongings and stash them in these boxes I'm carrying with me here," Natarle stated to him.
Sai glanced wonderingly at the Archangel second-in-command, "Why me? Isn't it too early for that, ma'am? They may still be alive out there."
"Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury to confirm their present status, which is why all three of them are deemed MIA as an official notice. If you cannot accept that, you might be the one to die next in combat," Natarle replied earnestly, forcefully giving the three boxes to Sai, who couldn't refuse an order or request from a superior officer. With that said, she then abruptly left, heading back to her quarters, needing some time alone.
Staring at her retreating form, Sai glanced back at the three boxes he was carrying and sighed worriedly. His face etched in a morose manner, as he thought about how the strong possibility of Kira, Kenji, and Tolle being proclaimed dead affected Miriallia, knowing well of her relationship with Tolle.
Miriallia…
He shook his head to clear his thoughts before proceeding to Tolle's quarters first to clean out his personal belongings.
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Arriving at her quarters, Natarle hurriedly entered inside, locking the door after her and not bothering to open the lights before she slumped down to the floor and slowly cried out her grief over her newfound love proclaimed as MIA.
"-Sob- No… Kenji… why… you were too good of a soldier to go... -Sob-" she cried to herself, as she curled her legs close to her chest and cried on her propped arms after. What was even worse to her was that Kenji had to go MIA after she revealed her feelings to him, opening up a blossoming relationship for both of them. Born from a military family, she was raised to become a notable EA officer, but during her growing up years, she couldn't bother with potential relationships. That all changed when she first Kenji after the Heliopolis incident.
Picturing the last known image of the Seraph pilot in her mind prompted her to cry out her grief once more in the blanket of darkness enveloping throughout her quarters.
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For Fllay, she was on her way to her old quarters where her father resided alone, intent on confirming the latest piece of news she listened from several other crew members passing by her in one of the corridors of the Archangel. Arriving at her father's door, she saw it to be slightly opened. Before she could let her presence be known to her father, a conversation started from within, and she took a peek inside to find Peter and George chatting with each other over a cup of tea. She noticed the elder Hyne barely touching his cup of tea with his shoulders slumped as his face etched in a troubled manner, worrying her father to constantly console him.
Professor Hyne… he seems sad. Maybe I should listen in to what daddy is talking with him about.
Fllay decided to eavesdrop on the gentlemen's conversation, letting curiosity taking over her.
"Peter… it must be hard to take the news of your nephew proclaimed MIA. But, I'm sure he, along with Kira, and that other friend of his, oh, I don't know his name, were only given that status just for formalities sake. We still don't know if they're really… gone," George started, patting his friend's back with his right hand.
Peter ran both his hands through his hair again and again as he tried putting up a strong front. He shook his head, barely glancing from the floor and at George, "No… it just isn't possible… Kenji couldn't be assumed dead, along with Kira also. They were simply too promising to go… they had a possible future for themselves."
"-Sigh- Yes indeed… I fear Fllay will take this news badly, especially with Kira being her boyfriend and all…"
Putting two and two together, Fllay could hardly believe her ears. She quietly covered a shocked gasp sounding from her mouth with her left hand as she stared blankly at the corridor wall in front of her.
That's not true… that's not true… Kira can't be dead. No, no, no!
Unable to accept the news, she immediately ran off to Kira's quarters, needing some time alone.
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Stepping inside Tolle's quarters, Sai was aghast to stumble upon Miriallia sitting alone on the floor next to her boyfriend's bunk bed and looking blankly at the floor upon hearing the news of his MIA status. Noticing the boxes he was carrying, Sai quickly hide them inside Tolle's bunk bed as he sat down next to Miriallia, careful to pick his words to say to her. A sudden idea flashed in his mind, prompting him to gently get Miriallia to stand up to her feet with his hands.
"Come on, Mir, why don't we chow down in the mess hall, yeah?" the yellow-tinted spectacled male teen remarked, hoping to cheer up his female teen friend. Stepping outside to one of the ship's corridors, the two teens noticed two EA guards escorting a bounded Dearka to the brig, prompting them to step back out of their way. Stripped of his ZAFT pilot uniform, Dearka wore white leather pants and a tank-top, while having his hands bound behind his back. The Buster pilot then noticed a pretty face in the scene, namely Miriallia, and he walked up to her with his playboy smile after giving a quick look over at her. Sai promptly stepped forward, shielding Miriallia with his right arm, seeing the ZAFT prisoner standing before him making the moves on her.
"Heh… you sure are a sight for sore eyes. You're cute," Dearka complimented, before noticing Miriallia's teary eyes and assuming she'd been crying previously, "But I think it's stupid for a cute girl like you to cry. I should be the one crying here."
"Alright, quit your yapping and move it!" one of the two EA guards exclaimed to the Buster pilot, shoving him from behind with one hand.
"Can't a guy like me get a break in this place? Ok, I'm moving, jeez…" Dearka complained, rolling his eyes over as he resumed his pace to the brig.
Watching Dearka's retreating form, anger flashed in Miriallia's eyes.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 18; +1815 hours
Location: Earth --- Marshall Islands
Meanwhile a ZAFT plane landed near one of Orb's rescue planes. Apparently, Kisaka and Cagalli made arrangements for Athrun to be returned treated and safely back to his ZAFT unit, after the Orb princess concluded it was useless to keep a ZAFT soldier prisoner any longer than necessary. Inside the Orb rescue plane, Kisaka opened the passenger side door, which revealed an Orb rescue crew member seated and waiting in a lifeboat just outside. From nearby, two figures could be seen staring grimly back from within the opened passenger side door of the ZAFT plane, waiting for one of their reported soldiers to be ushered inside.
Peering at the ZAFT plane for a few seconds, Athrun, dressed in his ZAFT pilot uniform, could make out the figure of Yzak waiting impatiently for his arrival. He glanced back at Kisaka and Cagalli.
"Thank you for your generous treatment," he spoke with a small courteous bow to the Orb officials before him.
"It was nothing, besides, it wasn't necessary to keep you in our custody any longer. It was Lady Cagalli who decided for your arrangements, so thank her instead," Kisaka pointed out with his left hand pointing at Cagalli, who flustered little with embarrassment after receiving Athrun's bow.
"Well, I'll see you off now. Good-bye," the Orb princess stated to Athrun, who took her remark as his cue to leave. Before he could do so, he was instantly stopped by her a second or two, "Wait! Here… I want you to have this."
The Aegis pilot stared at her giving him a pendant made with a small green crystal she worn. Wearing it in his stead, he was about to ask why he was given a trinket when Cagalli explained, "This pendant is supposed to give you good fortune and protection. Don't lose it, ok?"
Athrun nodded in reply, before turning around to board the lifeboat transferring him to the ZAFT plane. Helped up inside by a ZAFT officer piloting the ZAFT plane, he was then greeted by Yzak after the lifeboat turned back to the Orb rescue plane.
"Why did you have to come back?" the Duel pilot asked with annoyance upon seeing his considered rival alive and well. Deep down he was genuinely relieved to see him alive and well.
Athrun stepped past Yzak as the ZAFT officer who helped him up inside closed the passenger-side door after him. He took no more than a step forward before pausing, having his back turned to the silver-haired Duel pilot waiting for his reply behind him.
"I managed to destroy the Strike Gundam. As to the other one, the Seraph, I'm certain Eiji destroyed it as well," Athrun stated.
With that said he took his seat inside the ZAFT plane, tired physically and mentally, while leaving Yzak staring at his weary form impressed.
Did he do what I think he just told me now?
Back in the Orb rescue plane, Cagalli stared once more at the ZAFT plane before motioning Kisaka to close the passenger-side door and staring at the plane's floor. Her bodyguard noticed her quiet mood, placing his right hand on her left shoulder to ease her worries.
"Lady Cagalli is something the matter?" he inquired.
Cagalli placed her hand over her bodyguard's, while her eyes were slowly misting. Taking a deep breath, she then replied, "Kisaka… was the rescue party able to find traces of Kenji and his MS --- the Seraph Gundam?"
"…I'm sorry… we still aren't able to find him or his MS. I'll have the rescue party search this area once again, before we leave and head back to Orb with the wreckage of the Aile Strike, the Aegis, and the Blitz. Professor Kato and Chief Simmons will definitely need those for research and review."
"…I see. Thanks," Cagalli quietly replied, feeling her face darkening and unable to stop silent tears from streaking down on her cheeks.
Kenji… Kira… where are you two?
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 21; +1000 hours
Location: ZAFT-PLANTS; PLANT Aprilius-One, Aprilius City --- Clyne Residence
Inside the Clyne residence's wide-open backyard, a genuine bed adorned with silk curtains lay perched on the center, with a sleeping occupant on the bed tucked in.
"Haro, Haro, Haro! Wakie-wakie!" a pink Haro chimed bouncing up and down near the bed. It was instantly quieted down by its owner, followed by her right forefinger placed over her lips, motioning her robotic pet to stay quiet.
"Not here, Mr. Pink, you'll wake up our guest so be quiet now," Lacus Clyne spoke softly to her robotic pet, holding it with both her hands. The robotic toy flapped its 'ears' open one last time before remaining silent, complying with its owner's command. Dressed in modest attire consisting of a white blouse, long skirt, and sandals, the pink-haired princess gazed wistfully at the sleeping occupant's face --- Kira Yamato.
The Strike pilot's forehead was bandaged, along with a small patch on his left cheek. The extent of his injuries seemed grave, but overall he was treated successfully and on the road to recovery.
Gazing wistfully at Kira's sleeping face Lacus could make out the image of her newfound love interest, Kenji, appearing over his instead for a few seconds, before she shook her head to clear her mind from distractions.
Kenji… no, that's Kira I'm seeing. Am I seeing things, or do they seem to bear a close resemblance to each other?