Hi all, I'm so sorry for the long wait. I've just bought a new computer. Transitioning from Windows to Mac is never an easy task, although, it is helped when you had to use Mac for half your life in school. Good news, only a week of school left, bad news, lots of holiday homework already (two long assignments).

So this is my new chapter. I've also gotta try get my Fullmetal Alchemist Fic updated in the near future. Gundam will always take priority, but I wanna get them both going well. I can't believe how well this story has gone so far and I would like to thank the following reviewers for their continued support: superiortechnology, Byron Lancaster, Capt. Freedom, littlemsstrawberry, Twilightfairy, and everyone else who is alerting or reading the story. It means the world to me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam SEED, if I did, there'd be a lot more violent weapons.

Athrun's Trial – Chapter 8: History To Recover

Orb Consulate Private Offices...

"Why did I have to get left behind while you two decided to go and visit a lawyer's office?" Cagali roared when they returned.
"Because you had work to do," Athrun spoke soothingly, "I don't want to be a distraction from your work."
"Idiot!" Cagali hissed, "I finished 4 days worth of paper work before I escaped my office this morning. Who's picking up the bill for that car you two hired anyway? Orb certainly won't."
"The Supreme Council will, that or I'll send it to Athrun Zala Corp to cover." Athrun responded calmly.
"Kira, why did you let him drive?" Cagali asked venomously, "You know he's not well, for all we know he could've lose consciousness due to the drugs still circulating through his system."
"It was minimal risk Cagali," Kira answered, "Not only that, it is better for him to do something that takes his mind off of what is going on here."
"Perhaps, but still..."
"But nothing!" Kira said adamantly, "I drove home didn't I? I think I know when the situation requires my intervention."

The group then fell silent as they heard a knock on the door, Kisaka walked in followed by several guards. He explained that they had noticed a sudden shift in the PLANT surveillance team out the front after Athrun had spent time at his lawyers office, as a matter of fact, they were converging on said office right now. Athrun didn't wait, he snatched his car keys and bolted toward the car park. Kira followed seconds later to join him.

Moments later...

Athrun floored the car out the Orb drive way, not caring if the PLANT Police Force was to catch up with him. Kira looked over at the speedometer and nearly choked, Athrun was driving at 360 km/h, he was pushing the car to the limits and weaving in and out of traffic. The surveillance team lost him moments later when he rounded several corners in quick succession. Athrun and Kira arrived at the office 10 minutes after leaving the consulate, considerably faster than the 45 minute drive it had been earlier. Kira pulled out a gun and handed it to Athrun, knowing the younger man could handle it much better than himself.

Athrun marched up the stairs to his lawyers floor, he then found that it was insanely quiet, unusual for a building of this size. It was as soon as he'd exited the stairs that he noticed it, there was a full military special ops team in front of him. He handed Kira the gun, a condition of his release was that he was forbidden from carrying a gun, although noticeably, they mentioned nothing about a knife, which was good for Athrun considering his proficiency with using a blade.

"Tell Canaver I say hi!" Athrun spat at the group, "And also! Get the hell out of my building, you don't have a warrant, this is unlawful." They turned, shock evident on their faces. They'd been caught, and worse, Yamato had a video camera trained on them probably uploading the feed live to Orb's servers.
"You're carrying a weapon Zala," One spoke, "Thats a violation of the conditions of your release!"
"No, its not!" Athrun spat, "Those conditions specifically stated 'Gun' and 'Mobile Suit/Mobile Armour'. I'm rather pissed off right now, so LEAVE!" He waited no longer and hauled the knife over his shoulder and flung it at a wall just above one of the soldiers heads. The men were then terrified, he'd meant to miss, it was obvious, but he'd missed by a hairs breadth, they really wouldn't stand a chance if he had more of those.
"AND A REMINDER! WHEN YOU REFUSE TO LEAVE A BUILDING AFTER BEING ASKED TO IT BECOMES TRESPASS!" Athrun shouted over his shoulder as they left.

In the hall after the soldiers left...
George and Greg came running down the hall to see what all the commotion had been, just in time to see Athrun retrieve a well known knife from the wall. Why was it well known you may ask? It never ever missed unless he wanted it too. The staff here had been privy to that when Athrun was a child, annoy him and more often than not, there was a demonstration of his skills with a knife, whether it be in using it as a weapon or deterrent.

"What happened here?" The twins asked in unison.
"Lets just say some trespassers were, deterred," Kira mumbled.
"Ah, the knife," George's eyes lit up, "You can still throw that thing huh?"
"I was trained to never forget, because you can't always carry a gun. As noticeable given my release conditions." Athrun moaned.
"Very true," George muttered, "We don't want to stir up a hornets' nest if we can avoid it do we?"
"It'll be a bit late for that in two days," Kira grumbled, "The Councillor's Court will be listening to the application to unfreeze and distribute Patrick Zala's assets, all hell will break loose."
"Which reminds me Greg," Athrun asked smirking, "How's that mountain of paperwork?"
"One third of it has been completed," Greg sighed, "I need your signature and a witness to all the documents though, so this unexpected visit is quite convenient."
"Thats fine, and you George?" Athrun asked expectantly, "Tracked down Claud yet?"
"No sir, he's very difficult to find." George answered glumly, "I need more resources."
"I'm afraid I cannot provide those yet, pray that your brother wins this case and we may then." Athrun spoke turning to Greg.

Athrun and Kira followed Greg to his office and signed the necessary papers, Athrun then decided he needed to speak to Cagali again, unless they found Former Councillor Claud they were screwed in the Criminal Defence Case. Athrun had an idea of where to look, but it was a place he was forbidden to go, another PLANT, and he really didn't wish to send Kira or Cagali to do it, on the off chance he was wrong and would be just wasting their precious time instead of preparing themselves for the worst possible outcome.

Orb Consulate, Lunch Room...

"YOU'RE WHAT?" Cagali shouted, "You're not just going to surrender the case like that."
"I need him Cagali," Athrun sighed, "I need the testimony of someone who was there when it happened. I was built as a killing machine, I need proof of it dammit!"
"You, you don't need it!" Cagali cried, "You're not a killing machine."
"Cagali," Kira looked down, "We may not like it, but right or wrong, we were both created to be killing machines. We have the death's of hundreds if not thousands on our hands already."
"Neither of you are like that though," Cagali answered, "So how does it help your case?"
"Given that this man was on the Supreme Council at the time AND all the others are dead," Athrun mumbled, "If we convince him to testify, we accuse the former Council's of negligence in letting us go."
"How does that help at all again?" Cagali asked frustrated.
"The law of this country is such that if a previous Council has done wrong by the country by letting someone free, or overlooking a potentially dangerous crime, that the victim of the previous crime cannot be tried at a later date IF the crime overlooked is a reason for his or her current situation." Kira explained.
"So..." Cagali was confused.
"So, I can argue that by being built as a monster and the previous council overlooking my fathers experiments to create me that they did me an injustice and it is a reason for my current position." Athrun sighed wearily.

Eileen Canaver's Office – Aprilius One

"What do you mean I've been summoned to the Councillor's Court?" Eileen yelled, "There are no pending cases relating to me."
"Uh, Yes Ma'am, there are" Her clerk answered, "The documents are in the folder I just placed on your desk. I suggest you read them before you throw this out the window."

Eileen nodded and set to work on the stack of documents in the folder, she caught her heart jumping into her throat. It couldn't be, it was impossible. A particularly irate voice rang across her office building. "HOW THE FUCK DID ATHRUN ZALA GET A DAY IN THE COUNCILLOR'S COURT BOOKED BEFORE HIS TRIAL IN IT?"
She seethed for several minutes before her clerk entered.
"Ma'am, Councillor Joyce is on the line." Her clerk announced.
"Ok, you may go back to your station."

"What have you got for me?" Eileen asked.
"Cagali Yula Athha has a few friends still in this country I'm afraid," Joyce paused, "Along with Lacus Clyne, their influence got Zala his Court Date. By the way, there is a rumour circulating that he is going to be suing the Supreme Council for significant amounts of compensation for wrongful imprisonment if he wins."
"Well then, he can't win. Do you know why he's heading to our countries highest Court?" Eileen asked carefully.
"No ma'am, I can't say I discovered that in my search." Joyce replied.
"Good then, let me inform you." Eileen was seething again, "He has put in an application to unfreeze the assets of one Patrick Zala and then distribute the man's last will and testament. Basically he'd have the resources he needs to win the case."
"What is the citation for the application?" Joyce queried.
"That documents within the Zala estate can be used as evidence in an impending trial which could determine the course of the rest of his life." Eileen hissed, "As well as the fact the Supreme Council has fallen one month overdue on its decision of what to do with Zala's assets and thus law stipulates we must unfreeze them."
"Any chance of searching just the assets he's specified?" Joyce asked curiously.
"Impossible," Eileen snapped, "He's specified the whole estate."
"Do you want me to search a few of the properties before the matter goes to court?" Joyce asked.
"You can arrange it I trust?" Eileen asked quietly.
"Certainly. I guess I only have two days to conduct my searches though?" Joyce wondered.
"Yes, thats all." Eileen whined, "No doubt he'll win this matter in court, giving him access to the most formidable resources on all of PLANT."
"I understand, I'll see what can be done." Joyce whispered before hanging up.

Orb Consulate – Athrun's Room

Athrun's mental state had been questionable ever since they'd rescued him from the ZAFT prison, but now Kira and Cagali were at their most worried point, Athrun was having nightmares, bad nightmares, and he was waking up with less and less energy after each one, despite their best attempts to helping build up his energy during the day. He'd even woke up one evening screaming about his father, both Kira and Cagali had been watching over him and it had concerned them greatly to imagine the nightmares he must be suffering. Cagali had suggested dream suppressants, but Kira had refused it saying that whatever battle Athrun was fighting was his, and his alone.

Now that Athrun had woken up and daylight was pouring into his room, Kira and Cagali sat nervously waiting for Athrun to notice the new addition to the room. "What is he doing here, again?" Athrun hissed upon noticing Sai Argyle's presence. He only received a grin from Sai, an apologetic face from Cagali and that all knowing glare Kira gave when Athrun refused help that he knew he needed.

"Like it or not Athrun, he's staying." Kira stated bluntly. "We'll still be here, but I feel it is best for you to have the help of a professional while it's available to you, lest you fall apart on the day of your appearance."
"If I refuse this unwanted assistance?" Athrun queried, "What will happen then?"
"Then we'll simply bar you from leaving the consulate at all until the court date, but that also means you'll have to be guarded 24/7 to make sure you don't attempt to escape. Do you really want that?"
"In otherwords, talk to Sai or I'll subject you to inappropriate torture?" Athrun grumbled, "Well when you put it that way. Sai, take a seat."

A day later… at the Councillor's Court

"All rise for the honourable Judge Gruen" Announced a Court Officer. Everyone in the Court rose to honour the judge and prepare to bear witness to what could be one of the most historic cases in PLANT history, no one knew if this would be the first time someone bringing a matter before the Councillor's Court would lose or that Athrun Zala would set a record for taking on the Supreme Council and winning.

"Please rise Mr. Zala," the Officer spoke harshly.
"Athrun Zala, you bring before my Court today, a matter, which I find trivial. I believe that you don't deserve the ownership of your father's assets after what you did to this country," Gruen hissed distaste, "but unfortunately for me, the law states I cannot make a decision based on my opinion alone, I must consider your evidence accurately."
"Sir, no intentions of being disrespectful, but the law also says something about personal attacks in a Court Room." Athrun responded in kind, "But without further ado, let us begin."

"There are numerous reasons why I should be allowed to have the asserts of my father unfrozen an distributed. This is just one of them. It is my right, by birth. Another is the many injustices I suffered in my life as a result of that mans actions, as well as those of the current and some former supreme council's." Athrun started, "I know we don't have much time here so I'll make this brief. The law states that the Supreme Council HAS to come to a decision within six months of freezing any assets for war crimes. They've had seven months now and a decision has never been discussed. Given the time they've had possession of my father's assets and their lack of activity, I declare the Supreme Council inept. They're incompetent with their work and their incompetency has led me here today wasting a judge's precious time, which could sooner be spent on other more important affairs. Not only this though, as you know, I have a trial coming against me in a few weeks. I have vital evidence which I know is hidden well in my father's properties, however, legally I have no right to use the evidence in that trial if you don't grant me ownership of my father's assets. This evidence could change that case and also the course of the rest of my life."

Athrun turned and sat down as Eileen Canaver rose, her fury evident in her face. "Your honour, the Supreme Council has not been very able to make a decision on the assets of certain former council members due to the unimaginable length of the crimes they have committed. It would take us months to catch up and even then we'd still be unsure of whether or not their children deserved a right of ownership over their assets. All Athrun Zala is doing is making a desperate bid for money so that he can afford to pay his legal representation in his upcoming trial in relation to War Crimes against PLANT."

Judge Gruen rose and departed the Court Room leaving everyone in a stricken silence. Cagali and Kira had no idea if Athrun had won or not, Athrun on the other hand was fairly confident. He knew this judge well, the law was his passion and he'd now spend a few minutes in his office checking all relevant laws for a way to stop Athrun from winning, only to find there were none. Chairwoman Canaver was just chewing her fingernails, she knew, that unfortunately, the law stipulated she'd lost this case. Everyone once again rose for Judge Gruen as he entered.

"I have taken into account, both the testimony of Athrun Zala and Chairwoman Canaver, I find that the plaintiff, however unfortunate it may be is correct. The Supreme Council should have decided on a course of action in relation to the properties mentioned in this document and hence, I have no choice but to award Athrun Zala control of his father's estate and the right to distribute his will effective at midnight tonight. Just remember Mr. Zala, this is only a small step to your war crimes case which will also be overseen by this Court, and you'll want to improve not only your skills at giving emotional speech but also your skills at convincing a judge without mocking him in the future. This court is adjourned!"

Orb Limousine – Athrun, Kira and Cagali…

"Alright, distribute the security teams at midnight to the following addresses Cagali." Athrun said handing her a sheet of paper, "These are the only properties that are worth hitting for information. I doubt she'll come though, I'd say someone else has already done all the grunt work and is reporting their findings to her right now actually."
"How do you know?" Kira queried, "Who did you have spying on the house while we were in Court?"
"Yzak." Athrun spoke flatly.
"Councillor Joyce sent a car of men to the mansion, they entered it, found pretty much nothing and walked out with a manila folder marked '#01 & #02 UC Project' which is a basic folder about us. Nothing damning, she'll be fine with that. She'll read it and think she knows all there is to know about me and then she's screwed. At least, if someone finds former Councillor Claud, the man seems almost purposely elusive."

Okay, so that concludes another chapter. 2 - 3 weeks in the making, its shameful, especially since I got the first 1/3 of this chapter typed up at school during free period on a Monday. Anyway, like always, if you review I appreciate it, and remember, I give a personal response to all reviews. I thank you all for your criticism, unsigned reviews are welcome, but all the same I like to be able to thank you people for reviewing so please, preferably sign them.

To superiortechnology: When, I bring this story to a close, the next Gundam one which I promised you will be released. I figure this story won't be any longer than 15 chapters so not too much longer to go I hope.

Cheer's all,

Joker Oak