Gundam SEED C.E. 79

Cameron, Separation Anxiety

Part 2

Alone, with minor abrasions and lacerations, Cameron Rosi slowly crawled out from the remnants of a wrecked plane. She had boarded the plane to head to Canberra to check up on her brother...the flight had taken off without incident, however, before she knew it... the plane was sliced in half. Cameron, who was sitting towards the front of the plane knew not what happened to the rear section of the plane... As she looked around... it became clear to her that she was the only survivor of this crash. Beyond that, taking into account the magnitude of the crash and the damage incurred to the plane... it seemed a miracle that she even survived in the first place.

"...You're lucky you know that."

Startled, Cameron jumped at the sound of another voice.

"You needn't be frightened, girl. I'm not your enemy here," the man in solid black replied. His uniform was unrecognizable, he had a solid black ceremonial cape on the back. Every inch of his body was covered, that is, except his face. Due to the darkness of night, Cameron could not see his face beyond the shadow given off from the hood he wore.

"How do I know you're telling me the truth? Why should I trust you?"

"Do you see anyone else here, girl?" the man in black extends his arms to further accent his speech, "If I was your enemy...do you think I'd be taking this opportunity to speak with you?"

As the man in black approached, Cameron shook with fear, unable to move. As the distance closed, eventually the man in black stood directly in front of her. Extending his hands, he placed them on her shoulders consolingly, "I'm sorry..."

"S-sorry? W-what for?"

"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to save your family...from the Earth Federation's cowardice treachery."

"What?" Cameron stammered, her eyes wide, "What do you mean... you don't mean... NO!"

"I'm sorry... but your Mother and Brother were unable to retreat... they perished in the raid on Perth."

"M-mother...b-but... Ash shouldn't of been in Perth! He should be in Canberra – that's why I boarded this plane—"

"After the raid on Canberra, he returned to Perth with Cagalli Yula Athha... it was then when the Zodiac Empire attacked Perth – believing it to have already been evacuated... however, the cowardly Earth Federation never once sounded the evacuation order for the citizens of Perth..."

Cameron dropped to her knees despairingly, with tears rolling down her face she looked back up at the man in black, "What about Cagalli?"

"She was partly responsible for the raid... it seems she was just using your brother for reasons currently unknown..."

Cameron had never felt more anger in her heart than she did at that very moment, "We shouldn't have saved her..." she scorned, standing up slowly.

"It's not your fault... but there is something you can do. So that your Mother and Brother can better rest in peace." The man in black said calmly, pulling his hood back to reveal his face. He had pale, white skin. His hair was a platinum silver and his eyes an icy emerald green.

"...What is it that you want me to do?"

"No, no, no... I don't WANT you to do anything you don't WANT to do, girl. I only wish to offer you an opportunity." He retorts as he steps back, holding up his arm, unveiling a solid black mobile suit kneeling in the desert behind him, "If you wish to walk away, then I won't stop you... but if you wish to realize your destiny... then take it... and you will have the means-the power necessary to make that realization."

As if mesmerized, Cameron stepped forward, her eyes locked upon the solid black mobile suit. After a few moments, she turned her head and asked, "who are you?"

"My name... is Hunter. Hunter Steele...an officer of the Zodiac Empire."

"And this..."

"Valkyrie. Once inside, it will show you who your enemies truly are. And, it will show you your own inherit destiny."

"...Hunter... Are you telling me that I can avenge the deaths of my family with this?"

"That's not for me to decide, but for Valkyrie to show you the way."

"...Why are you doing this for me? I'm just a 'pathetic' natural..."

"On the contrary, you are a Coordinator, my dear. Of this, I am certain."

Strangely enough, Cameron didn't seem shocked by the revelation. Or perhaps the shock of hearing from Hunter that her Mother and Brother are dead was driving her behavior. Her eyes were vacant, clearly riddled with despair. Without speaking she continued to steadily approach Gundam Valkyrie...

...Once Cameron had gotten inside Valkyrie, the cockpit lit up as the Gundam's operating system booted up. In that moment, Cameron's mind's eye was instantly bombarded with a gamut of mental images. She clutched her head in pain, as the intensity of the imagery was far too intense than anything she's ever experienced before. After about 30 straight minutes of imagery bombardment, the lights in the cockpit went dark... only for a deep red light, like the lights found in dark rooms to develop pictures, to illuminate the cockpit. Cameron's eyes, now clearly in SEED mode were focused towards the Valkyrie's main hud.

"...I understand now... Valkyrie is telling me what it is I must do..."

As the red eyes of Valkyrie lit up, signifying it's activation... Hunter Steele pressed the bottom of his earlobe, activating a nanomachine transmitter, "It's done. Operation Valkyrie is entering it's first stage."

Meanwhile, on board the E.F. Fitzgerald, Vierge and Kokino-Ryuu Gundams were prepped and ready for take off. They each knelt on a flying armor rider. Using "Waverider" technology, the flying armor would enable the Gundams to move at much faster speeds while on Earth. Due to the Earth's gravity, it's nearly impossible for any mobile suit to reach it's maximum speed potential. However, whilst utilizing the flying armor-this enables much more agile maneuvers while encumbered by the Earth's gravitational field.

"So... what's the plan?" Ashley asked with obvious signs of anxiety in his voice.

"Well, we should definitely eventually rendezvous with Canberra... It won't be easy, we'll have to cross an entire desert-which is presently occupied by the Zodiac Imperial forces..."

"I don't care what we have to deal with... I just want to find Cam. I agree with your plan of going to Canberra... I'm almost certain if we head there that we'll learn more as to just where she is."

"I understand your concern, Ash... but we need to approach with both caution and a plan. We have to take what we know, and use it to our advantage less we want to walk right into a trap," Cagalli retorted.

"Lady Cagalli's right, lad, only the foolish rush into battle without a plan. I've already informed her of the situation concerning the Imperial Aussie primary occupation. Pretty much, Canberra is cut off – so you'll be facing heavy resistance en route. I do not recommend crossing the desert only 2 mobile suits strong."

Cagalli, her arms crossed, was leaning against the far cabin wall on the bridge, "But that's all we have, Captain Amareaux..."

"I know you won't like this suggestion, Lady Cagalli... but if you want to successfully cross the desert heart-land of this continent in one piece-then I suggest you seek out the aid of a group who is skilled in desert missions—"

"Are you referring to Desert Dawn, Captain? But they're based in North Africa... we don't have enough time to—"

"Now, now, Lady Cagalli... that's where you're wrong. I wasn't suggesting the entire outfit cross the sea to help us in our plight... no, no, no... that IS unreasonable. Besides, you and I both know that North Africa is still strife with Civil war... so asking for the aid of the Desert Dawn is impossible... that and the fact they still harbor quite a bit of hostility towards the Earth Federation Government..."

"...Then just who exactly are you referring too?"

"Why, Winner Technologies of course."

"Winner Technologies! Are you out of your mind, Captain? They had direct ties with LOGOS! If you think I'll cooperate with them then—"

"Please, Lady Cagalli! Before you jump to such hasty conclusions – please hear me out! It was Muruta Azrael who overtook Winner Technologies and shifted it's entire focus to weapons development... however, after Azrael's death and the destruction of LOGOS... the rightful heir to Winner Technologies returned to the fore front and reclaimed the company that was created by his Father. Since his return, he has maintained his company in support of Defense research only... I've personally talked with the lad... he's quite an advocate for peace, Lady Cagalli... in fact, I would go so far as to saying... he shares a view point that is quite on par with that of the Orb Union's..."

"..." Cagalli fell silent. However, the silence was no assurance. Her body language was telling the story all too clearly. It didn't matter what Thames Amareaux told her about Winner Technologies young CEO... her mind was made up about Winner Technologies the moment she learned of LOGOs involvement with their productions from C.E. 70 – 73.

"Lady Cagalli—"

"Fine. But understand this, Captain-if I as some much sense even an inkling of deception where Winner Technologies is concerned... whoever they send... is as good as dead. I will NOT stand idly by and be deceived from behind our own lines of the battlefield. I've seen it happen far too much over the years... I know it all too well..."

"...That's fair enough—"

At that moment the alarm system on the E.F. Fitzgerald began to go haywire. The radar system completely failed, leaving them acceptable to enemy attacks. The crew was in total panic. But the panic wasn't due to the subsequent failing of the Fitzgerald's tracking and alert systems... it was the sight that could be seen in the distance... a sudden blackness appearing along the horizon...

Cagalli suddenly felt a chill shoot up her entire body. She placed a hand to her mouth, a deep feeling of sickness enveloped her. Ashley and Thames immediately showed their concern for Cagalli.

"Lady Cagalli!"

"Cagalli, are you alright?"

"...I'm fine...I just... suddenly felt very sick. This... pressure... it's intense. And I'm positive it has something to do with that darkness..."

Amidst the darkness, purplish-lavender electrical discharges could be seen – like lightning. Then, suddenly, a blinding yellow light was omitted. It was so intense that the effects of staring at it too long was on par with looking directly at the sun. Cagalli immediately pulled Ashley down and placed her hands over his eyes, closing hers as well. The sound emitted was like a roar of a reactor being run on overdrive. The sea was thrown into a state of chaos.

Chapter 8 Preview

As the land down under is thrown into a state of complete catastrophe, Ashley and Cagalli must yet again experience the tears of war. Next time on Gundam SEED C.E. 79 – M.I.D.A.S.

Author's Comments

Sorry for the long extended wait. I was quite sick this past week and had some family issues to deal with. Anyway, with that said and out of the way – I'm back and here's chapter 7. If you're wondering about Winner Technologies – and who the young CEO is, keep in mind that he's quite possibly not the only out-SEED universe character who might be involved in this project. RUKAII