PHASE 05

THE LONG ROAD HOME

"I have to admit, I'm disappointed in you boys," Azrael scowled deeply at the sight before him, "I came up here expecting at least one mobile suit returned to us or destroyed, but what do I find instead? To fail is disappointing in itself, but to fail on your first real mission out…well, that's just a disgrace."

In all honesty, the blond man very much doubted any of the three pilots before him could hear a word he said.

Sprawled out across three medical beds within the Doolittle's sick bay, the three pilots of Earth Alliance's remaining mobile suit prototypes screamed in agony as their bodies convulsed with pain beneath the leather restraints. Sweat beaded down their faces and clung to their hair as spittle foamed from their mouths, their eyes wide and insane as they tried to contain their suffering.

"You were supposed to be the best of the First Generations. The crème of Lodonia's crop! Instead all I see is three pathetic losers who can't get their acts together to take down two mobile suits before their friends arrived. You machines were the second generation prototypes, you should have been able to take them down before Archangel even got into range. You're pathetic, all of you! And if I don't see an improvement over your last effort, then the pain your feeling right now will be like a pin prick in comparison, understand?"

Anguished screams were the only reply, but Azrael knew his point was made.

"So…what do we do now?" Admiral Sutherland gave the businessman a pointed look as he exited the sickbay, the agony-ridden shrieks cut off immediately at the door hissed close, "Can we really trust them to do their jobs?"

"I'm afraid we can't really do much else," Azrael sighed with a smile as he held up his hands in resignation, "We're still a little ways off perfecting a useable mobile suit for us normal folk. At the moment they're all we have. If we still had the five other prototypes we could simply assign more Extended to the ship…" he smirked at the older man as he walked past, "But then we wouldn't even be in this situation if it was that simple right?"

"What about the other three initial models?"

"I'd rather save them for rainy day," the blond merely smiled enigmatically as the Admiral joined him at his side, "Our upgrades to those machines are almost complete, as is the warship they'll be assigned too. We even have the perfect pilots picked out. All that remains now however is to figure out how to make them move faster then an asthmatic snail."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"Why Admiral, I thought that would have been obvious," Sutherland looked perplexed as Azrael suddenly turned towards the Brig, "Didn't you see the DNA report on that pilot who tried to intervene on the operation? He's a Natural, yet he piloted that mobile suit of his as good as any Coordinator, maybe even better. It's too bad he fried everything before we could take him in. At least we have the next best thing."

A sharp thump followed by a strangled cry greeted the two men as they entered the darkened Brig, a spray of blood splattering across the pillar of light from the doorway, the shadows beyond moving and struggling before the light.

"That will do for now gentlemen. I'd like to see his face if you please."

There was no verbal acknowledgment, but after a short pause, a body was thrown into the light, bloodied and bruised, sweat beading down his panting face as the victim groaned pathetically.

"You're name is Lowe Guele correct?" the body moaned as the blond man crouched down beside him, "Of the Junker's Guild if I'm not mistaken. I'm told you put up a fight defending the Clyne brat…in a mobile suit apparently. I'm not really convinced, but that's where you're here," the prisoner yelped as his head was pulled from the floor by the chin, his eyes wide and afraid as he stared into the bright blue orbs of Muruta Azrael, "So, to convince me and Admiral Sutherland here…you are going to tell me everything you know about piloting that pretty red mobile suit you destroyed."

Lacus Clyne.

I couldn't think of a single Coordinator that didn't know her name.

She was a promoter of peace, an idol to many, a talented singer…

And she was floating away…

Having pushed off too hard from the side of the pod, the songstress' eyes widened in surprise as she sailed clear over the crowd, the large skirt flying out behind giving the impression it had become a sail to a large gust of wind in some kind of old fashioned cartoon.

"Oh my," the pink haired pop idol frowned as a dozen or so faces stared up at her with various styles of amazement and perplexity, "I'm so sorry, you must all think me to be terrible rude."

Her sudden flails only seemed to push her further out of reach as she glided across the hanger, all eyes watching as she tried to get closer to the ground.

And she was coming this way.

Deciding to end Miss Lacus' unplanned trip, with a simple tap of my heel against the deck, I slowly eased up in the zero-g into her flight path, leaving a steadying hand on the anchored crates behind me as I offered a hand to the flying Princess.

"Oh!" her big blue eyes blinked in surprise as a pilot that suddenly appeared in her way, only to smile in gratitude as she eased a dainty hand into mine, "Thank you very much."

"You're…you're welcome," I returned the gesture shakily as I pulled her down to the deck. It wasn't everyday you met a celebrity after all, "And…erm…welcome."

Lacus cocked her head slightly to one side as she continued to smile.

"When I felt something grab hold of the life pod, I was actually afraid the Earth Forces had found me," the smile suddenly disappeared as a thought occurred to her, "You're not a Alliance officer in disguise are you?"

"What? No!" I blinked in surprise, only to bite my tongue at my outburst, "I mean no. I'm a Coordinator, a test pilot for the 603rd Technical Evaluation Unit. This is a ZAFT ship…at least…"

"Lacus?"

A pang of relief flowed through my veins as Athrun's voice called through the crowd, the strange pink robot that had 'assaulted' him earlier flapping it's ears contentedly in his hands

"Athrun?" Lacus' face lit up at the sight of her fiancé, "What an unexpected surprise! I didn't expect to see you until I returned to the PLANTs."

"I'm on a mission," the blue haired pilot smiled fondly, before hesitantly hold out the robot towards her, "I erm…caught this Haro for you."

"Oh! Thank you," she smiled warmly as he tapped the ball towards it's owner, "I'm sure he was just happy to see his creator. You don't seem to visit us as much as you used too. I'm sure it's not your fault though."

The smile faltered on Athrun's face as he let his hands drop to his sides.

"Sorry," he bowed apologetically, "I was meaning to visit when I returned but…"

"Miss Clyne."

I smirked slightly as yet another pilot was spared embarrassment as the crowd parted like the Red Sea to let our joint commanders through, Le Creuset smiling almost warmly with his arms open in welcome.

"I am glad to see that you are safe and Miss Clyne. I am Commander Rau Le Creuset, the head of this operation."

"Commander Sara Michaels, head of the Michaels Team and Acting Captain of the Archangel," Sara nodded solemnly beside the masked man, "It's an honour Miss Clyne."

"Oh…well…Thank you very much," the pink haired girl seemed a little stunned at my Commander's formality, but nodded in acceptance all the same, "I can't tell you how grateful I am to you for retrieving the life pod…"

If she had known that both Rau, Sara and even her own Fiancé at one point had been more then willing to leave her behind for the sake of the mission, I had a feeling Miss Lacus might not have been quite so grateful.

"Perhaps it would be best if we continued our discussion in private," the masked Commander continued to smile as he indicated to the exit, "Athrun come with us. The rest of you, as you were."

The sound of two dozen salutes cracked through the air at his words, all eyes watching the small group float across the hanger towards the alcove that housed the doors to the rest of the ship.

As I watched them go however, I couldn't help but notice how Athrun kept close to his Lacus, and yet seemed to constantly make sure there was a gap between them.

"Well, that certainty made my day," Dearka sighed with a smirk as the doors closed behind them, the crowd dispersing as they excitedly talked amongst themselves, "Getting to see the great Lacus Clyne is one thing, but her panties too? That was a bo…OW!!!" the blond saw stars as Yzak smacked him sharply round the back of the head, "What was that for?"

"For being a pervert you idiot!" the white haired pilot scowled as a dark blush stained his cheeks, "No wonder you can't keep a date for more then a week with an attitude like that!"

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying you need a new personality!"

"Oh boy," Nicol smiled sympathetically as the two teens dissolved into pointless bickering, "Well, at least you can tell their good friends. The last thing we need is another fight on our hands," he turned to me with a smile, "Besides, if anyone's lucky here, it's you. I mean you actually got to speak with Miss Lacus, and even hold her hand."

"I wouldn't really call it speaking to her," I chuckled lightly as I watched our comrades spit off one insult after the other, "And I don't think it would have looked good for the ship if we'd all just watched her fly across the Hanger."

"Maybe," Amalfi shrugged, "So what are you going to do now? Get some sleep?"

"Probably. I think I might get changed and go check up on the refugees first though. I doubt Sara or Le Creuset have thought about updating them on the situation."

"Once again, I feel I must thank you for retrieving the life pod," Lacus smiled gratefully towards the two Commanders before her, Athrun standing at her shoulder, "When it landed inside the asteroid, I was afraid I would never be found."

Rau merely smiled in return. Having taken their meeting to the more private sanctum of the Captain's Office, he sat quietly with fingers steeped in the large backed chair behind the desk, Sara Michaels at his shoulder.

"We are all glad we could have been of assistance Miss Clyne, although credit for your discovery should go to Mr. Westfield of course. If he had looked away at the wrong moment, there was a chance we would never have found you. And with the Alliance on our tail, we might have lost you forever."

"Then I'm glad Mr. Westfield was a part of your team," the Songstress' smile waned slightly, "With that said, I do wish you had found us sooner. Perhaps if we had encountered each other a few hours earlier, the crew of the Silverwind might still be alive. I do not blame you of course, but still…"

"Yes, I understand," the masked man nodded as he watched Athrun hesitantly placed a comforting hand on his fiancée's shoulder, "We all have events from our lives we wish we could redo, however now is not the time to consider such things. As I said before, with this recent attack, it is clear that Alliance Forces are in the area, which makes our collective lives all the more difficult. While I cannot rely any details of our current mission, I can say that that it is vital we get the data we have acquired back to the homeland as soon as possible."

"I hope I haven't added to your problems."

"No, of course not. We would never dream of blaming you for events that were out of your hands. That said, the attack on the Silverwind gave us more data to be delivered, which only adds to the urgency of the situation."

"So what do you suggest we do Le Creuset?" Michaels arched an eyebrow inquisitively, "Even at best speed we're still a week away from the nearest PLANT, and that's not accounting for the twenty-two hours it will take us to get out of the belt,"

"Right now, our main concern is getting the data we've recovered back to the PLANTs. Therefore I suggest once we have cleared the belt that we send a shuttle on ahead, perhaps with one of the captured mobile suits and its pilot so that it can be properly analysed. A smaller and faster craft can make a week long journey in half the time, and once more we will be able to return Miss Clyne back to her Father at the same time. Miguel also needs proper medical attention, so we will be able to kill three birds with one stone. I will also head out with them to deliver my report. That means control of the fleet goes to you Sara. I trust you can keep one step ahead of the Alliance forces?"

"It's not like I have much choice," the red head sighed with a resigned grin, "I'm assuming you'll be heading home with them and the Aegis then Zala?"

"Ma'am?"

"Well…Miss Clyne is your fiancée, and from the sounds of it you do have some catching up to do."

Athrun winced, his hand clenching slightly against Lacus' shoulder.

"With respect Commander…I must put this mission before my personal feelings. The Aegis is the most complicated of the five machines we've captured, and I believe we could gather more data about its transformation capabilities in the field then we could in a lab."

A short pause followed.

"That's a pretty lame excuse Zala."

The redcoat shot Michaels a dark look, but remained otherwise mute. Lacus stared up at him with thoughtful eyes, but decided to follow her fiancé's example.

"If you do not wish to go, then I see no reason not to select one of the other pilots," Rau frowned behind his mask as he sat back in the chair, "Do you have any suggestions Athrun?"

"Actually…I'd recommend Nicol and the Blitz sir," the words came after only a moments thought, "Since it's clear the Earth Forces will be chasing us, the time for stealth has long past, and I don't believe we'll have the chance to initiate any Blitzkrieg warfare against them. Considering that all units share the same basic frame and the Mirage Colloid may prove useful not only for future mobile suits but for future warships as well, I believe it would make a suitable substitute,"

The Commanders shared a glance, as though conversing without the use of words, before Sara shrugged, clearly washing her hands of the situation.

"Very well then," Le Creuset nodded sombrely, "I will inform Nicol of his new orders, and Sara will have the shuttle and the Blitz prepared by the time we exit the Debris Belt. In the meantime please escort Miss Clyne to some private quarters," he smiled again at the pink haired princess, "We shall be beyond the Belt in around a day. In the meantime, we shall try and keep you as comfortable as we can."

Lacus merely smiled sweetly as she rose from her chair.

"Thank you Commander. I appreciate all you have done for me so far. I will try not to burden you any further."

The refugee deck was surprisingly quiet when I arrived ten minutes later after departing from the hanger. Families and friends clustered together in small groups around bunks and across the tables of the common area, most trying to keep each others' spirits up, but some huddled up in corners, talking together in harsh whispers.

According to the greencoat by the door however, there had been no disruptions since my last visit. In fact, according to the soldier, most if not all of Heliopolis' survivors had pretty much accepted that they were on board for the long haul, and had just tried to make themselves as comfortable as possible.

"Do we really have to tell them sir?" the greencoat cast a lazy eye over a nearby group, "I mean they seem to be pretty content to just wait it out until we reach the PLANTs…"

"If we don't inform them of recent events, they might get restless," I frowned slightly as I surveyed one of the aforementioned corner groups warily, "We've kept them contained to this area like livestock in a pen. If they were prisoners of war I'd agree with you, but they're refugees soldier. They have a right to know what's happening."

The officer shrugged nonchalantly, "If you say so sir."

I scowled slightly at his dull tone, but decided to press on. After all, this man had no doubt been guarding the door all through the previous fight. I had no doubt boredom had quickly set in.

"Torii!"

My train of thought was suddenly broken as a soft mechanical voice broke through the general hum of the deck, my emerald eyes suddenly catching sight of a small blur of green as it flew round the corner towards me, followed quickly by a more familiar brown haired girl of sixteen years.

"Torii! Come back!" Miriallia lent up against the bulkhead as she tried to catch her breath, "Come on this isn't…oh!" her eyes widened as they landed on my stunned face, "Erm…would you mind holding out your hand? He might land on it."

"Hm? Oh right!" without even thinking about the odd request, I gently held out a pale hand towards the blur as it approached, my eyes widening in surprise as a small mechanical bird swooped into land on my outstretched fingers, it's head cocking to one side as it seemed to study me with tiny red eyes.

"Torii?"

"Torii?" I repeated blankly as strode over to where Miriallia stood, "It's a robot? I've never seen such a small yet complex machine," I smiled at the brown haired teen before me, "Is he yours?"

"No," she returned the gesture as she pushed off from the wall to meet me halfway, "He belongs to Kira actually, but I think Elle scared him a little or something because he just took off after she tried to hug him to death."

With a tentative hand, she gently held out a finger as a perch towards the green machine, the small bird almost automatically hopping off my hand and onto hers with little to no fuss.

"It seems to be important to Kira. He's always taken good care of it. I think it belonged to a friend of his, back before he came to Heliopolis…" she blinked suddenly, before smothering a giggle with her free hand, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't ramble on. So…what brings you down here?"

"Updating," I let the hand fall down to my side with a smile, "A few things have happened in the past hour. It seems only fair the refugees are kept in the loop…"

"Well well. Don't they look…chummy…"

Kira frowned down at Tolle as his friend glared crouched with narrowed eyes round the corner to where his girlfriend stood talking to an all too familiar redcoat, before glancing up at the pair once more.

"Looks like an honest conversation if you ask me."

"That's what he wants you to think…there! See? He made her laugh!"

"So what?" Yamato shrugged, "I make Miriallia laugh all the time. Why are you so hung up about this?"

"Because you're my friend! I can trust you!" Koenig smirked, "I know you wouldn't steal her away from me…would you?"

"No!" the answer came without hesitation as his cheeks stained themselves pink.

"Exactly," Tolle nodded with satisfaction, "See, I can trust you, but this guy…he's a total stranger, but he's not only a Coordinator but a ZAFT elite! I can't compete with that!"

"Do you really think I'm that shallow?"

If the situation had been different, Kira would have laughed at the picture of dread that suddenly swept over Tolle's face at his girlfriend's deadly tone.

As it was, the Coordinator could only shift uneasily as he watched his friend slowly rise to his feet, a shaky grin sliding across his face in an attempt to calm down a clearly angry Miriallia Haw, a bewildered Marcus Westfield standing just behind her.

"Miriallia! Hi! I wasn't…we were just…"

"Do you really think I would just up and leave you for Marcus just because his genes are enhanced and he's a top pilot for ZAFT?" the brunette scowled darkly, "Did you think he was going to whisk me away when we reached the PLANTs never to be heard of again? I never figured you to be the jealous type Tolle."

"But…I…" the boy just stared helplessly as his girlfriend side-stepped him, a chill running up Kira's spine at the oddly sweet smile she sent his way as she raised a familiar mechanical bird into his eyesight.

"Marcus managed to catch Torii before he took off out of bounds Kira. He was just on his way down here to update us on what's been going on recently."

"Oh. I see," he smiled carefully, the sudden change of pace from his friend unnerving as he nodded towards the redcoat, "Thank you."

"Not a problem."

"Well, I'm glad that's all sorted." she smiled sweetly again, "Now if you'll excuse me…"

"No, wait a minute…" Tolle stared helplessly as Miriallia pushed past him, her nose in the air, "Mir? Miri? Come on Miriallia! Talk to me!"

"Do I even want to know?"

Kira glanced at me with a small smirk as Koenig helplessly followed his girlfriend down the corridor.

"He's just worried, that's all," he shrugged, "He loves her, and doesn't want to loose her," he suddenly eyed me suspiciously, "You're not really trying to steal her away are you?"

"Well she is cute…I'm kidding!" I grinned guiltily at the sharp glare he sent my way, "Well…partially. She is cute, beautiful even, but I have more important things to worry about then stealing another guy's girlfriend. Besides, I'm not really the kind of guy that takes taken women. I just…want everyone to get along."

"Is that why you're keeping us locked up down here?"

"Flay…" Kira frowned uneasily as the redhead approached, her eyes narrowed, "Don't bother…"
"No, it's alright," I tried to smile reassuringly towards the uneasy brunette, "Mr. Yamato…would you mind asking everyone to gather in the common area? I'll be there in a moment. "

"But I…"

"Please?"

He frowned uneasily, clearly not wanting to leave the two of us alone, but after a minute hesitation he nodded slowly, taking another moment to send an uncomfortable glance Flay's way before disappearing down the corridor.

It was only once I was sure he was out of earshot did I turn my attention towards the redheaded thorn in my side.

"This isn't exactly a pleasure cruise Miss Allster. As a civilian of a country un-aligned to ZAFT or the PLANTs you can't expect us to just let you wander the ship…"

"I don't like the trapped feeling I get from being here!" she scowled darkly, "Day in, day out, nothing but bulkheads to stare at. You don't even let us know what's going on! I know I felt the ship change course yesterday, and then there was that alarm…"

"We encountered a distress signal and decided to investigate," I folded my arms stubbornly across my chest, "Whereupon we were attacked by unknown mobile suits of a similar design to the ones we have in the hanger. Happy now?"

"You expect me to believe we were attacked by Earth Alliance mobile suits?" Flay continued to scowl, her fist clenched, "Two days ago you told this ship and its suits were Earth Forces prototypes. I find it hard to believe they'd start mass producing so quickly…"

"I never said they were mass-produced. They looked like more prototypes, like ours."
"How convenient," I frowned as the stubborn girl smirked, "More Earth Alliance prototypes? Are you going after these ones too? Or is this some kind of Coordinator plot to…"

"You know, for someone from a neutral nation," she seemed to glare daggers as I cut her off once again, "One whose Coordinator population is over a third I might add, you sure seem to have a very one sided way of thinking about us. Why do you dislike us? Everyone else seems to be fine with what we're trying do for you people, but you…"

"You Coordinators…you're nothing but scum, the lot of you," my voice died at the sound of hateful venom within her tone, "You're just…not natural. Anyone who has their genes operated on when they're not sick or anything is against what nature intended. You're all so spliced up it's not even funny. Super smart, super strong, better reflexes, all contained in a body that just wasn't made for that kind of thing and you think yourselves above us as a result," her eyes narrowed to slits as I flexed a hand in an attempt to calm myself, "You call yourselves superior, a completely new species. You say your intentions here are benevolent, but I won't believe it. You're something that has to be feared and mistrusted, something that never should have been brought into existence! Something that…Ah!"

Her rant came to a swift end as I backhanded her hard, her surprised form sent sprawling off her feet onto the deck with a satisfying thud.

I scowled down at her darkly with narrowed eyes and bared teeth, my breathing laboured as I forced myself to calm down. The last thing I needed was to prove her right by giving into the thought of pummelling her into the level below.

"You…you hit me," Flay rubbed her quickly reddening cheek as her wide eyes almost fearfully raised to meet mine, "Not even my own Father hit me before!"

A clenched fist on my part caused her to flinch again, but I managed to restrain myself.

"You think I had any choice in the matter? You think any of us did?" I scowled darkly, "I am a First Generation Coordinator Miss Allster, that means I was created by Naturals. You think I had any say in what they did to me? What about Second Generations, Coordinators born of Coordinators, you think they had any say in what they were? Don't get me wrong, I'm proud to be a Coordinator. I think we have great potential to help humanity in ways a normal human being couldn't imagine, but don't forget this Miss Allster: Naturals created me. Naturals created George Glenn. Naturals created us. We didn't just appear out of the blue sky one day and declare war for the sake of destruction. Many of us were born because Naturals wanted superior children, and when you decided we might be getting too clever for our own good you decided to throw us out like last week's garbage. That is the basic truth Miss Allster. That is the reason we've been fighting this damn war for almost a year. And if you can't get that simple fact past the lies and propaganda that your father's been spoon feeding you all these years, I feel nothing but sorrow for you."

She didn't say another word. All she could do was watch as I strode away from the scene, stopping only to quickly brief the guard on the door on the information I had come down here to deliver before heading out the door, acutely aware of the dozen or so eyes that followed my every move.

I kept walking; one purposeful stride after another, no destination in mind. I just had to keep walking until I was far away from Flay Allster as I could get without blowing an airlock.

I was so angry, but not with her. Slapping her was about the worst thing I could do right now. Yes, she provoked me, but to actually lash out like that, to prove to Flay, at least in her eyes, that she was right about Coordinators…at the very least it was good evidence for stirring up trouble within the refugee groups. And that speech…Ugh! What was I thinking, lecturing her like that!?

Elevators and corridors seemed to come up at every turn as my mind churned with thoughts, the gravity leaving my body as I travelled into the zero-g upper sections of the ship. It was only when I finally hit a dead end in the form of the Archangel's rear Observation Deck did I finally stop, a weary sigh escaping my lips as I lent an arm against the thick panes of glass, my head hitting my sleeve with a soft thump moments later.

"Idiot," I chided myself, "You're a ZAFT Red for crying out loud…you should have shown some self restraint…"

"Is there a problem sir?"

An all too familiar voice pulled me from my thoughts from above my head. A voice known across the PLANTs for her songs for peace, now laced with a note of concern I'd never heard from it before.

"Miss Lacus?"

Our pink haired passenger smiled down at me from her anchored spot near the top of the windows, her head cocked to one side as she frowned slightly at my surprised face.

"I'm sorry if I'm intruding, but you seemed angry when you passed by a moment ago…"

I had passed her?
"Please, forgive me if I ignored you Miss Clyne," I bowed my head embarrassedly as she pushed off down to the floor, "I was…preoccupied," I frowned as she smothered a giggle with her hand, "Incidentally, if you'll pardon my asking, Has Commander Michaels or Le Creuset given you permission to wonder the ship?"

"Hm…" Lacus tapped a single finger against her lips in thought as she pushed off again, this time clear across the room, "Well…I don't seem to remember them saying I couldn't leave my room, so I decided to take a stroll, just a brief walk to stretch my legs," she smiled again, "I haven't really been able to move around much since I was aboard the Silverwind you see. When I saw you pass by at the junction you seemed to be dreadfully upset about something, so I decided to see if I could help you."

I couldn't help but let an eyebrow arch in disbelief. Lacus Clyne, esteemed daughter of our Supreme Chairman, couldn't be this naïve…right?

"But Miss Lacus…this is a military ship. A stolen military ship. You can't just walk around her like a passenger liner. What if there was an emergency and you got caught up in it because we didn't know where you were?"

"Is that right?" the smile disappeared somewhat, "I wouldn't want to get you all into trouble, "But you see…Mr. Pink…"

"Haro!" she smiled fondly as her little round friend chose that moment to drift between us, his ears flapping wildly in the zero gravity, "I won't bother!"

"He enjoys going for walks you see. In fact it doesn't even matter if you lock the door. He always seems to find his way out."

"I see." The thought of this small big eared ball trying to pick the electronic locks of Archangel's doors seemed farfetched in my opinion, like a child blaming her imaginary friend for breaking her mother's favourite vase.

…

This had to be an act…right?

"It appears we will be leaving the Debris Belt within the day right?"

"Hm? Oh!" I blinked in surprise as Lacus pushed off the wall towards me, a hand almost automatically holding itself out to her for her to catch, slowing her down to come to a halt beside me, "I mean yes, I believe so. I'm sure you'll be on your way soon. Is Zala accompanying you?"

"I'm afraid not," she sighed with a smile, "Athrun is dedicated to this mission. I can understand that. From what I've been told, the technology on this ship may prove to be useful in bringing a quicker end to this war. I can understand by he wants to see this through. He's been like that…ever since Junius Seven when his mother died."

"I see," her hand was warm in mine, no pilot suit between us as their had been before to keep skin from touching. After a moment more I released her, "I remember seeing her name on the list of the dead after I returned from battle. I…was updating it with a few of my own."

"You were at Junius Seven?"

"Yes, we were brought in to assist when Command got word of the Roosevelt's approach," my eyes widened in realisation, "Oh, forgive me! I never even gave you my name! I'm Marcus Westfield, Michaels Team, 603rd Technical Evaluation Unit."

"Oh…I see," a mysterious smile crossed the songstress' features as her eyes glinted with recognition, "I had a feeling I had seen your face before. You're the one who destroyed the Roosevelt…"

"Yes, that's me," I chuckled slightly as I turned towards the stars, "The flying Engineer who avenged the lost souls of Junius Seven to the Roosevelt. I've field tested dozen of prototypes, evaluated everything from mobile suit armaments to the Jörmungandr superweapon. Yet the only thing people remember me for is crashing that damn GINN into the Roosevelt's Bridge…"

"Do you regret your actions?"

I blinked at the pink haired girl in surprise, before shaking my head.

"No. What Roosevelt brought upon the PLANTs was…unforgivable," I smiled wryly as I turned back to the stars, "I just wish…I had been in a less…suicidal mindset at the time."

Miss Lacus didn't say anything. She just stared up at me quietly with her light blue orbs, as though studying me.

"But that's all in the past now," I sighed with a smile as I turned back towards her, "Come on, I'll escort you back to your quarters."

The remaining voyage through the Debris Belt was by far the smoothest part of our journey home thus far. Even Flay Allster remained strangely quiet, although to be fair I had given the Refugee area a wide berth since the incident. Lacus herself had remained begrudgingly in her room once I had returned her there, and there had been no sign of our Alliance attackers or their carrier since Junius Seven.

In fact, the only storm cloud that seemed to spoil an otherwise routine flight came in the from of one disgruntled Nicol Amalfi.

"I can't believe their making me go," the green haired pilot scowled slightly as he watched the Blitz being loaded into the cargo shuttle, "I feel like such a traitor, heading home early in the middle of a mission!"

"It's not like you're just bolting on us," Dearka smirked as he lent lazily against the hanger wall, "In a way, you're actually completing a part of the mission ahead of time. You get to go home and take all the glory. Seems like a win-win if you ask me."

"That's not helping Elsmen," I regarded the blond quietly as I tossed Amalfi's small suitcase towards him, "You should consider yourself lucky though Nicol, considering how close we are to the anniversary,"

An uneasy pause fell over our group, the various noises of the engineers and the small farewell party within the hanger filling the silence that followed.

"Bloody Valentine," Yzak smirked grimly, "Home just in time for the Memorial Service. You lucky git."

"We might still make it you know," I nodded, "I mean we're just under a week away right?"

"Depends how far the Naturals are going to go to shoot us down," Joule scowled, "What do you think Dearka?"

"I think we better look alive," Elsmen pushed off from the wall as his eyes drifted to the entrance, "Pink Princess and escort at twelve o clock!"

At the sound of his warning, eighteen pairs of feet clacked together as their owners snapped to attention, just in time for Lacus Clyne, along with Athrun, Sara and Le Creuset floated through the door.

"…It's unfortunate that we must part so soon after being given this opportunity to see one another," our group followed the greencoat's lead and snapped off a salute as Miss Lacus' voice echoed through the cavernous hanger, "Again, I would like to thank you for all you have done for me during my stay here Commander Michaels."

"I assure you, you were no trouble at all Miss Clyne," Sara smiled gratefully as the four came to a halt beside us, "Having you with us has been an honour and a privilege."

"I'm sure your father and many others are worried for your safety back at the PLANTs," Le Creuset smiled as he and Sara returned our salute, "I assure you both myself and Mr. Amalfi will oversee your safe return."

"I see," Miss Lacus sent a smile Nicol's way, my comrade shakily returning the gesture as his cheeks tinted themselves a slight pink, "And the Archangel…do you believe she and the rest of the fleet will make it back in time for the memorial services?"

The masked Commander frowned, sharing an almost troubled look with Sara as Athrun seemed to momentarily tense up.

"We'll certainty try to make it on time," Michaels tried to smile reassuringly, "But with the Alliance on our tails…I really can't say with any real certainty."

"I see," she seemed saddened at the news, "I know military achievements are important, but you should never forget the victims."

"We won't," Sara smiled, "I promise."

Our Songstress nodded her thanks, before turning back to Le Creuset, "Before I leave however, I would like a word with Mr. Westfield…if it isn't too much of an inconvenience…"

"Not at all," Rau's smile seemed to become an understanding one, "I will go on ahead to insure final preparations are going smoothing, Nicol, if you will follow me…"
"Actually sir," Athrun hesitantly spoke up as the group moved away, Yzak and Dearka sharing amused glances, "I was wondering if I could talk to Nicol before he left. I…have a favour I need to ask him…"

Their voices were quickly lost in the bustle of the hanger bay as they headed towards the shuttle, leaving me alone with Lacus Clyne in the Hanger's doorway.

Alone…with Lacus Clyne.

I had no doubt that many fans would kill to fill my knee length boots right about now.

"I don't believe I ever had the chance to thank you properly for rescuing me Mr. Westfield," I turned back to face her with surprise as she smiled good naturedly, "I should have said something earlier, but I couldn't find a time that felt right to say it."

I can only imagine the look of bemusement that currently crossed my features as I looked down at her.

"It's…it's not that big a deal Miss Lacus," I quickly returned her gesture, "I'm just glad I was able to help you…"

"Nevertheless, I am grateful you saved me. Both Athrun and Commander Le Creuset told me if you hadn't looked over at the right moment I might never have been found. That is reason enough to give you thanks is it not?"

I smiled gently with a nod, "Well…yes…When you put it like that."

"I believe we must be thankful for the little miracles that occur during war," the pink haired girl turned her azure gaze out across the hanger, "So many lives have been lost, and so many more have become shattered and broken as a result," she turned to face me, her features solemn, "From that perspective, a single death can create more victims from those that remain alive wouldn't you agree?"

I frowned at the peculiar statement, but chose not to directly reply.

"Lacus?" we looked up as one as Athrun called to his fiancée from across the hanger, "It's time to go."

"One more moment please," she smiled apologetically, "I promise we won't be much longer…"

"It's alright," I cut her off quietly, "You've already said what you wanted to say, and I wouldn't want to keep you from your flight."

She smiled again, her head cocked to one side as though studying me for a final time.

Then, with one swift motion, she lightly grasped my hands, pushing herself up towards my face…to kiss me quietly on the cheek.

It was quick, chaste, and performed in front of all who stood and worked within the Hanger, yet she retained a certain childlike innocence about the whole thing as she pulled back, apparently completely unaware of the stunned, aghast (in Sara and Yzak's case,) and even jealous looks that were being sent our way.

"Goodbye Mr. Westfield," she squeezed my hands comfortingly, before pushing off towards a fairly nonchalant looking Athrun, "I look forward to a day where the two of us might meet again."

I didn't reply. I just nodded faintly as I watched her leave, one hand subconsciously moving to my cheek as a slightly absent minded smile graced my lips.

"Well, there she goes," Dearka smirked as he, Yzak, Athrun and I all watched the shuttle depart across the stars from a nearby observation port, "Lacus Clyne, our lady of the PLANTs, off to kiss other men while her boyfriend's not looking…or indeed while he's looking…"

"Knock it off Elsmen," Yzak sniggered as I did my best to sound commanding, all the while aware of Athrun's presence beside me, "Miss Lacus was just thanking me that's all. Nothing more, nothing less."

"He's right," I breathed a sigh of relief as Athrun spoke up, his voice calm with a hint of amusement, "It's just how Lacus is; sometimes she just thinks the best way to thank someone quickly is with a kiss…"

"Well, Westfield sure looked thankful," Dearka burst out laughing at Yzak's snide comment, "I didn't think it was physically possible to go so red…"

I scowled darkly but didn't reply, preferring instead to rub the bridge of my nose as I felt a migraine developing behind my eyes; a strange pressure almost as though someone was pushing directly against my brain…

Then, the ship rocked…violently.

"ALL HANDS TO YOUR STATIONS!!!" Sara's panicked voice was barely heard as another volley smashed into Archangel's side, "PILOTS TO YOUR MOBILE SUITS ASAP!!!"

Payback.

That was at the forefront of Shani's mind as the Forbidden's cannons blasted green energy against the Archangel's hull, the Raider and Calamity emerging from the Debris Belt to begin their attack runs, three squadrons of Moebius units backing them up.

The pain he had felt, the humiliation that had combined with the withdrawal symptoms to intensify his anguish, he pushed it all into his attack, his mobile suit ducking and weaving through missiles and beam fire as the warship returned fire.

He would sink it, he would put all his rage and hatred into every blast that erupted from Forbidden's cannons until Archangel was nothing more then spinning debris and space dust.

He would make sure of it.

"The Archangel's under attack?!"

"So it would appear," Le Creuset frowned as Nicol stood up in alarm, Lacus beside him uneasily watching on, "We lost contact with the fleet a few moments ago, a clear sign of an attack. It appears the Alliance Forces caught up to us far faster then we anticipated."

"We have to go back," the redcoat made a move towards the shuttle's rear, "If we turn around now…"

"Then we run the risk of blotching this entire operation," the masked man set a restraining hand on Amalfi's shoulder, "We must use this golden opportunity to make our escape."

"Are you saying we use them as decoys?!" the green-haired pilot glared at his superior, "Just leave them to die like…"

"It is not a battle that is out of their favour Nicol," Rau's calm smile seemed to infuriate the pilot even more, "Archangel has three other ships to back it up, and her pilots are more then capable of holding their own against the Earth Forces, even those equipped with mobile suits. One more machine will not turn the tide of the battle, and in your haste, there is a chance you would place Miss Lacus in danger again."

Nicol's shoulders slumped as his Commander became silent. In his urge to aid his friends, he'd almost forgotten the pink haired princess was on the shuttle with them. If she had gotten hurt…Athrun would never forgive him.

So he slumped back into his chair and cradled his head in his hands as Le Creuset ordered to the shuttle's pilot to increase their speed, his mind wishing for all its might that he had remained on board.