Like the raging storm outside, the mood onboard the Lorelei was dull and heavy. The apparent defection of Razgriz and her consequent disappearing with the Omega could've been a serious blow on the crew, but with Kira's presence, and what he represents helped a lot. In fact, once back to the bridge, almost everyone knew that he had a really good explanation about what happened to Razgriz…
THUD!!
…after he knock off the lights out of Galen right after entering the bridge. Nevertheless, without much experience doing those kind of things, Kira seem to hurt his hand.
"Talking about steel skulls…" After a few seconds, Rosario enters the fry.
"I believe that you know what the hell is going on, General. What happened to Razgriz?"
"My only guess is that she remembered her darker past side, a side likely to be sided with our new enemies right now."
"That only confirms that she has defected and has returned to her masters!" That was over the edge, and everyone in the bridge knew it. Hirvonen and Zsolt Brimstone, Lorelei's helmsman, had to hold Kira, who has all intention to give Galen a piece of his mind the old fashioned way. Once again, Rosario had to intervene.
"One more word and I'll have your sorry ass thrown into the brig, understood, XO?!"
Tense seconds later, Galen nods and thankfully Kira back off, and just in time as Hirvonen and Brimstone were almost worn out.
"He nailed the XO, pay!" Even with the knowledge that Zsolt was somewhat a natural born gambler, Hirvonen took the risk… and lose. After the payment, Kira then continued the explanations.
"Flay's confused. She doesn't know what to believe right now. Even her Seed is unstable, and only her Newtype Resonance is holding her now fragile mind, but it will be only for a while unless I help her." As Kira explained the situation, Klaus and Zaitzev also entered the bridge.
"You mean us, General."
"No this time. This is something that only I can do, as I'm the only one that knew her past and understand what she's enduring right now." Turning again, Kira now addressed Rosario.
"The Lorelei still needs to get to Antofagasta at least. I'm ordering you to get going and stay there at least for a whole day. If I'm not back with Flay by then, your orders are to reach Callao, re supply and contact Orb's High Command and get there ASAP." This was new for everyone. Up until now, Kira was only part of the crew and has intervene only as and advisor or a MS pilot, but now he was giving direct orders.
"We're under Cagalli-sama's orders. General, we can't…" But before Rosario could continue, Kira spoke first.
"Who do you think has more authority in Orb Forces, captain? Me or my out of her mind sister?" Huge point for Kira. Cagalli may be Orb's Representative, but her last stunts trying to lead the army ended in disasters that Kira and the Archangel had to mend.
"Al least let me go with you as a backup." Klaus wanted to go not only for that reason, but if they encountered foes, he could learn more of Kira's fighting abilities by watching the man in action.
"No. The Lorelei needs you as its first defender."
"The General is right, comrade. Give up." As all Russians, Zaitzev look the logical part of the whole situation. Without the Strike Freedom, the firepower of the whole ship is reduced. Nevertheless, having to resort to the Murasame and the Launcher Dagger is not a bad idea, at least until the Lorelei reach Antogafasta. As Klaus nod, Kira then look back to Galen.
"It's easy to act just by the book, XO… but there are times that you need to toss away the book if you're going to make the right decision."
"Words of experience, General?" With his back on the Lorelei's XO, Kira added…
"My former XO onboard the Archangel died because of the book… and we all miss her badly."
With the whole bridge completely silent, Kira went back to the hangar, getting ready to find Flay.
Alone. That's a feeling no one wants to have. In a way, she understand that humans can't live without contact with other, but right now, Flay only wanted to just disappear. Tired of a somewhat long flight, she spotted a cave in which she sheltered from the storm. Still clad on her EAF uniform since the last combat against the Heirs, her head was a real mess.
"I used him… I wanted him to die…"
Thoughts of past times, of forbidden wishes still tormented her head. Even if she knew that run away didn't solve anything, right now, Flay didn't want to be close to Kira. More like, she didn't want him close.
"Why is he still nice to me? How is that he can forgive me for what I did to him?"
Worst al all, knowing about Kira's relationship with Lacus wasn't helping. Flay feel like she was the evil witch that came to tarnish the bright light of a princess and her knight in shining leather armor.
"Why can't he just hate me like everyone do!"
Bracing herself, right now, she wasn't sure if she really is Flay Allster or just an engineered bio-mech pilot called Razgriz…
And she's terrified for that.
Deep in the rain forest, a man is quietly thinking his own move. Since all communication with Clayton's unit has been lost long enough, Albert Graham knew that he had left this world. "In the most painful way, I hope", thoughts of the sort, Graham was conscious that his own personal fight awaited for him, but somewhat, right now wasn't his time yet.
Deep inside, Graham is sure that the day will come when he had to engage Kira Yamato. That was his own desire, his destiny, his pledge. Even the highest skilful pilots hadn't been a match for him up to now, but there was something amiss. His Excellency itself had granted him a position in the front line because he knew that Graham was his most fearsome warrior.
Graham is waiting to unleash his ability, just as the storm is still pouring the soil. But even the leader of the Heirs don't know Graham's real motive to fight against Kira Yamato. Deep in his soul, Graham is yet a man of honor, a man that knows when there could be manners in the battlefield. One of the now few pilots that still honor the word "combat pilot", not because of his machinery, but for the fact that at the end, is the human itself who operate the machine.
"Soon, very soon…"
And so, Albert Graham is still waiting the chance to battle against someone that may be capable of making him go all out for once.
The wait is killing him…
Taking advantage of the heavy rain, the Lorelei reached Antofagasta without more entanglements. Just as Kira instructed, the whole ship is being re-supplied, at least that it would reach Callao. Still pained from Kira's right hook, Galen spoke with Rosario.
"You really think the General is right, Captain?"
"Right now, I don't give a damn about that, XO. We're just following orders, and as soon as they're done, we'll go to Callao."
"She's very bad at lying" Galen was no fool in terms of dealing with emotions face to face, and after being under Rosario's command for so long time, he knew when she bluffed or not.
"Well, since we're still re-supplying, I believe that I could make Chief Logan to patch up some of the holes in the external hull. That may take a couple of days, but is better than having this bucket full of holes."
Rosario was no fool also. "Maybe he just needed a little reminder." Was the first thought about what Galen just say.
"Right, make it so, XO."
Just as Galen was exiting the Captain's quarters he added something else.
"Is the best I could do after being such an ass by the book."
Rosario only smiled after her XO leaved.
Flay was still gathering her own thoughts when she suddenly felt someone very close. So close as a matter of fact that she saw a soaked Kira right in front of her. Just as he thought, Flay's mind, Seed and her still to develop Newtype Ressonance were in such a scramble that he got the chance to track the Omega, land the Strike Freedom (also thanks to the deafening storm outside) not so far of its position and finding Flay. As she tried to past him to get away, he took her arm.
"Calm down!" Kira now was struggling against a frantic Flay. These were the kind of situations that Kira didn't want to face. Being forceful with a woman is very low. And as Flay was right now, it didn't help at all.
"Hate me!" And now Flay used the classic direct defense. If she really wanted to get away from him, she needed not to attack him, but herself… in a way only both of them knew.
"Wha…?"
"Is best for all if you just hate me! I used you! I wanted you to die alongside all Coordinators back then! I don't deserve to be treated as a human!" After that, the struggle waned, both of them were tired physically and mentally after the last events, but that didn't stop Flay. She wanted to be left behind. Right now, she knew that even Kira wouldn't be able to say something after that.
"You wanted that to happen all the time we were together?" Unless Kira remind her the last time they spoke in the Archangel during the war. The very right moment she knew that she was captivated by the Gundam pilot.
"It doesn't matter. What I did was worst than some of the things Blue Cosmos did back then." Even if Flay knew that what Kira said was right, the memories of her Seed when it was aiding Kira the last two years were screaming in her head to let him go. Especially memories about certain pink haired songstress and the time she spent with him.
"You already had Lacus Clyne… you don't need a tool like me…" Flay was sure to win this one, but then, something out of her script happened out of the blue.
When she stops struggling against him, Kira took a step forward and kisses her…
Now, normally after such act a well placed slap wouldn't be strange, and Flay thought about doing so, but nonetheless, she gave up and started to kiss Kira back. Deep in her heart, she wanted this to happen. Even if it's just a lie. After a full minute, Kira broke the kiss and look directly into her eyes.
"Then it's time for payback! I'll use you just as you use me. Until we reach Orb, you'll be under my command, both military and personal. After that, you'll be free to do whatever you want."
"How can you forgive me like that?"
"There's nothing to forgive. As a matter of fact, I must be the one that need to apologize." Crime and punishment. For them that was the main issue. Now they were face to face, trying to make one to forgive the other. In a way, Kira and Flay were the same.
"Then, let's make up for our own mistakes." Flay let the words die as Kira and her shared another kiss, a real and passionate kiss that hold almost a lifetime emotions.
The storm outside was nothing compared to what the young pilots share for the rest of the night.
Far in the PLANTS, still administrating the Confederation Fleet movements, Lacus and Andy Waltfeld were on their way to a meeting when Lacus stopped. Her Seed sensed something very strong. Much stronger than any other feeling she sensed before.
"Is something the matter, miss?"
"No, Commander Waltfeld. Just a feeling…" Lacus just turned to a window. Looking at the space that surround Aprilius and them, she was truly confused.
"Kira? No, it wasn't just him. I don't know why, but this feeling is… reassuring. Almost like someone becoming free."
Deep in the jungle, another person sense that. But while Lacus was confused, this one was feeling joy beyond imagination.
"LT.! Prepare the ship and my personal squadron as soon as possible!"
As the young lieutenant stood up to accomplish the order, for once, Albert Graham was smiling.
"Finally, the time for our match is close…"
A familiar landscape, being surrounded with figures that resemble her but with different clothes. She knew where she was.
"Ok, if I'm going to be here every time an important event in my screwed life happens, we need some rules." Being inside her own soul was getting repetitive in Flay's opinion, but after all the mess she did, maybe it was not a ludicrous thing now.
"This is the last time you'll be here" The Flay with the white EAF uniform said.
"Eh?"
"Because not only you now know that he didn't blame you, but also that you have finally forgive yourself." The Flay with the recruit EAF uniform said.
"Now, the pages of your own story will be pure white once again, for you to write them." The Flay in the pink long dress said.
"And a new future, a new possibility will be found…" As she turned to face the new voice, this one startled Flay. She was looking at herself. Same proportion, her red and black fight suit and her hair tied in a ponytail.
"For everyone…" A final new voice entered the fray, but before Flay got time to look at it. Everything turned white.
For once, Flay awaken after a full blessed sleep. Almost complete naked except her high-thigh leggings, she felt completely refreshed. Even more when she looked up and saw Kira sleeping, still embracing her. She looked outside the cave only to see that the storm was over, but that was something that didn't matter so much. Carefully, she got out of Kira's embrace, sit up, took Kira's jacket and put it on her bare upper body. Looking back at Kira, she places his head on her lap. She couldn't believe it. They make love once and again and again that night, only stopping when both were completely spent. As a matter of fact, neither of them wanted to stop. It just happened.
"You deserve someone better…" Looking at him once again, she tried to kiss his cheek, only for him to turn suddenly and catch her lips on his for a brief moment.
"I always wanted you. Maybe it was just lust for you at the beginning, but I felt that I needed you just as you needed me… Strange, isn't it?"
"Maybe we both got what we deserved. Maybe this all is a mistake."
"Maybe… but I'm willing to take that risk. Will you?" Flay only stay there, looking at Kira.
Sometime during the night, she already decided what to do…
The patches were almost done, and the ship was supplied enough to get to Callao. Rosario and the rest of the Lorelei knew that there wasn't more excuses for them to stay on Antofagasta.
"Captain…" Rosario only stared at the distance, and issues the order.
"Mai, inform port control that we're set to sail out. Set course, mister Brimstone. Let's get to Callao."
Silently, the Lorelei leaves the port. Inside the bridge, the mood is darker.
"I hate being right for once…" Galen was sure that this time, the book didn't make a mistake. Fortunately, a blip on Mai's radar happened to say other things.
"Two thermal marks incoming! IFF marking Strike Freedom… and the Omega!"
The cheers didn't wait to be hared. Zsolt, turned around and collected the last bet from Hirvonen and Galen himself. As this happens, Kira and Flay contacted the ship.
"Lorelei, this is General Yamato. I need clearance to land."
"Lorelei, this is Raz…" After her personal odyssey, Flay was determined in one thing.
"This is 2nd Lieutenant Flay Allster, codename Razgriz, requesting clearance to land."
She was starting her very own life as Flay Allster.
"Strike Freedom, Omega, you're clear to land"
AN: Yay, I'm still alive! Working and schedules got the better of me, but the strange of all this is that this chapter was supposed to be the next one! Every time I started the AA's arc on Berlin, this one bugged me so much that I had to write it. Is difficult to write about Kira and Flay in such personnel level, but here was necessary. (No. No Lemon for the ones that expected it. Maybe in a "deleted scenes" if I manage to make so) Well, next one (now's real) is the Archangel.