Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of Gundam Seed or Gundam Seed Destiny. Some other character names are just randomly thought of and have no relevance to real life.

I think, I need someone to beta read the story. Can someone help me?

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The Advent of Discord..

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Aprilius One..

She woke up feeling very weak. She can feel the tiredness to the very depths of her bones that she cannot even lift a finger. All she can see are tubes connected to her and soft lights, she then saw a woman who seemed to be looking at her, she didn't know the expression written on her face so she imitated it before closing back her eyes as the soft light hurts her.

"I cannot die yet... I have to live.." She thought before giving in to the pull of the never ending darkness.

xxx

Inside a hotel in Southeast Asia.

"She woke up?" he was startled upon hearing it. It was still dawn when he received the call from his house in Aprilius City, he hadn't anticipated that a fast development will come this soon.

"Yes.. but it was for just a moment though.. she soon went back to sleep and had not wake up from then.." The scientist he had commissioned five years ago answered.

"Dr. Barton, how is she?"

"Physically, she's recovering very fast.. The stem cell research that we had been working for years had been a success. Thanks to the DNA samples that we took from the other that the parts of her body had restarted to grow."

"I see.. Thank you for your hard work Doctor. I owe all of these to you.." He can't help the overwhelming happiness in his heart along with the growing anxiety. She had woken up, no matter how fleeting it was, she was able to crawl back to life. However, this might also mean that his sin will finally be discovered. He then thought, "Will I have to make a lie again..? Can I keep the both of them with me..?" He can't help feeling helpless, then, he realized that he had come to a point of no return.

"I cannot bear to lose any of you.. Such selfishness!" He mocked himself but determinedly clench his fist upon reaching a decision. He then dialled the phone to reach that certain someone who had helped him in keeping his sin.

"Anne.. it's me again.. Charles.."

xxx

Onogoro Island.

Victoria is walking on her way to the National Headquarters of Orb's Defence Office, she has to speak with Athrun and be allowed to see the youths that she had captured a week ago. Though it may seem overstepping boundaries again, she might be able to relate to those youths and help find a solution before the conflict escalates to a war. She then noticed the glances of the people around.

"It can't be helped.." She thought.. Her hair had been cut short up to the shoulders, more or less, she knew what do people think about. After the incident, she was called back to stay at the embassy to recover. Anne had been very gracious on tending to her needs, also, it's thanks to her advice that she had started stabilizing again. Due to that new set of pills she gave, the flashes and headaches had stopped. Along with that, she received a call from Charles telling her that he'll be going to Orb a week before the mass take off. With that in mind, she has hurry up and cleans up some mess before she goes to get some holidays and wait for the Prime Minister's arrival. She's already on the hallway that would lead to Athrun's office when she saw a group of people wearing purple suits coming to her way. She recognized that among them is the Representative himself, she bowed a little as a sign of courtesy. Thank goodness, she is wearing something more decent today. Instead of wearing shorts, she's wearing black fitted jeans paired with light green tank top and a three inch high heeled black boots. The Representative smiled upon recognizing her, he stopped.

"It's nice to see Stuart – san.. Have you been well? I'm sorry for the inconveniences that we have caused you. I hope to be able to make it up with you.." His always gentle smile brings a warm feeling in her heart, she just smiled back.

"It is my honor meeting you here Representative Athha.. Thank you for your concern, but, I've already recovered. Please don't worry about my condition, if I can.. I want to be of help in protecting those that are important to you.." It may have been her imagination, but she certainly saw that pain crossed on the brunettes' eyes but by the time she blinked, all she saw are appreciation and affection.

"Thank you for your kindness.. but please.. don't overdo yourself.." he already started walking past her when he suddenly called her again. "This Sunday, if you can.. Lacus is asking for you to come to our home.." Maybe it's because of his kind smile or maybe because of the anticipation that she saw on his eyes that she did not bother to think about it and just nodded in agreement before moving forward. She took a deep breath before knocking on the door.

xxx

Athrun just finished sending some files regarding the defence plan on Neo – Heliopolis that Kira had personally requested. He rested his head on his chair and closed his eyes to rest a little. The past week had been very hectic, they have to tighten the security while slowly launching a portion of the citizens little by little to space. If the current will continue without any disruption, then, they should be able to finish the transportation in a months' time without asking help from the Plants. While thinking of such things, he suddenly heard a knock on the door.

"Come in.." he waited for the unexpected guest. He thought he saw an apparition when the door opened. There she was, standing before him in all her glory. His beloved...

"Caga –" the mockery on the woman's face made him shook his head to clear out his thoughts. "Just what the hell am I thinking..?" he slowly rises up from his seat and welcomed the guest. "Stuart – san, what brought you here? Please, have a seat.."

"I'll forget that you mistook me again for someone else Athrun – san.. But setting that aside, I want to talk to you about those youths that I had captured. May I speak with them?"

"Strictly speaking, I really cannot allow you to see them.. but I suppose, you won't take 'no' for an answer.. besides, being the person who caught them, you ought to know if they are taken care of.. I'll come with you then." He noticed her new hair cut which paired by her amber eyes, made her look exactly like the girl in his arms on the photo that adorned his table. He must have looked somehow bothered when her eyes followed the object of his focus, she hesitantly took the frame and saw her eyes widened in surprise.

"I – I am ve – ry sorry..." she immediately put back the frame and stands up. "I'll wait for you outside Athrun – san.." for the life of him, the woman looked pale while she hurriedly walk towards the door as if she was being chased by something. Athrun followed her retreating back intently and saw her taking a bottle of pills from her side pocket, the way she anxiously took it resulted some of the pills being scattered on the floor. He automatically moved to help her but before he can reach her, she had reached the door and did not notice that some of the pills were scattered near his table. He took his time picking up and examining the pieces before putting it inside a folded paper and keeps it in his pocket. When he went out, she's already leaning on a wall and is catching her breath. Athrun's eyes narrowed in curiosity, there's really something wrong with the situation. Specially when his heart automatically raced upon looking at her profile. "Such a mature profile of someone I used to –" He shook off the inappropriate thoughts, now is not the time for thinking of such things.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting.. Let's go.." she just followed his lead.

They've been riding the jeep for quite some time, but Athrun felt the awkwardness due to the lack of conversation. He sighed silently and initiated the conversation. "Ahm.. earlier, you seemed to be bothered about something. Were you alright?"

"I'm sorry to have made you worry but, I'm just fine.. Just that, I had a sudden headache earlier.. that's all." She smiled at him reassuringly before she focused her eyes on the rich blue sea where there are seagulls flying about.

"I see.. but, is that a normal occurrence? You almost made me worried, you looked so pale.. I thought you might collapse any moment." To his amazement, the woman just laughs softly. He looked at her questioningly.

"Haahah.. Uhm.. I'm sorry.. I appreciate your concern, but I'm not so weak to collapse just like that Athrun – san.. I may look like a woman but I'm a man inside, you know.. ahaha.." Her carefree laughter are music to his ears, he felt so refreshed that he did not notice that he had been staring at her for quite awhile already. He blushed when he realized that she had been raising a brow at him.

"Just because you are drop dead gorgeous doesn't mean that you have the right to ogle at other people, Athrun – san. I'm flattered to catch your attention, but just make it discreet since I know who are you thinking of.." Her words made him turn his head in embarrassment.

"Indeed.."

xxx

Somewhere off the shore of Onogoro.

"So the kids' mission failed? How incapable! I shouldn't have trusted your plan!" The man exasperatingly shouted. He's been the financier backing the cause for this mission. He had spent a fortune in order to convince the neighbouring countries and induce them into making Orb surrender the N-Jammer Canceller technology. Though he knows that the original author for the technology is the Plants' ZAFT military, Orbs' possession of the two powerful mobile suits during the previous war came in handy to apply some pressure and get their hands on it.

"I'm very sorry for the failure Sir.. But we received information that currently, Orb had been tightening the security around Onogoro Island. It seems that they are preparing for the mass take off for the upcoming summit. Besides, even if we have lost the two kids, the constructions of the four Gundams are still going on and changing pilots won't be a problem." The officer in charge of the two kids humbly replied. Indeed, he had not expected that those kids will be captured.

"I'll let this issue slide this time Commander Shi.. But remember that the success of this mission will also benefit your country. I don't want to hear anymore failures. I am having the Discord go on test, it will be lead by the mercenaries we've paid. This way, the war of attrition that we're waging against Orb will not be traced against us. We'll let the summit pass before tearing that country to pieces." The man then walks towards the waiting chopper.

xxx

In the Siberian mobile suit factory.

"Oi kid! Wake up! You're being called by the Commander. Seems like your friends failed." The man smirked as if taunting him before adding. "Now go, make sure you won't fail too or else you may not come back alive." The last words of the man kept on ringing to his ears. The child clutched his head as unpleasant memories of his entire family dying in the waves caused by the fall of Junius Seven, he hugged himself as he can feel the cold through his bones. He will surely live, and make sure that those people who were laughing while he was grieving will also taste the grief that he had felt through the years.

He slowly made his way towards the mobile suit factory area. His quarter is quite a distance away and as part of his training, he was made to endure the harsh coldness of the Siberian winter while clothed only with a short and sleeveless shirt. There were times before when he and his companions almost froze and died like the others, but their strong determination to live and seek out revenge fuelled their remaining strength and made them live successfully after that hell. Drops of snow are falling around, it should have been very beautiful to look at. However, whenever he sees the pure white snow, all he could think of are the splattered blood of his family and the corpses of his dead comrades. He finally made his way to the factory area and was welcomed by the man whom he knows as Commander Jira, he's the one who assigned the Discord Gundam to him.

"Oh Hyun.. good thing that you're finally here. I'll be giving you your first mission. Test this fellow's capabilities to the limits as much as you can but make sure to come back alive. Go to Orb and challenge any mobile suit that they might send to scramble on you and of course, take revenge to your heart's content.. You will be tagged as mere terrorist after all.. hahahah.." Commander Jira laughed maniacally before telling to go now and join the rest of the ten other mobile suits to start the mission.

MOBILE SUIT NEO OPERATION SYSTEM

Generation

Unrestricted

Network

Drive

Assault

Module

...

Discord Gundam

The words written on the screen brought a satisfactory smile on the young lad as the lights indicated that system is finally activating. He had activated the phase shift revealing its black coating with red chest and joints. The mobile suit transformed to bird mode before ascending to the air.

"System sequence activated.. All green.. Hyun Bi.. Discord.. Launching!" while on the atmosphere, the rest of the assault team joined him and they made their way to their first mission.

xxx

At the Defense Headquarters in Onogoro.

Victoria decided forget Athrun's stares, she thought that perhaps "it really can't be helped" considering how similar she is to the woman on the picture. She can't really shake off the anxiety she felt while staring at the picture, actually the smiles of the loving couple on the picture are adorable. She tried to recall if she had seen Athrun smiled like that since she arrived and after recalling her memories, she was reminded that he hadn't. The young man on the picture and the man beside her right now, seemed similar but he also looked so different. The man on the picture had contentment and happiness written on his face while the man beside her almost always had that look of regret and anxiety. But when her gaze shifted to the Princess, her headache started to recurs. She can see flashes of gifts, and other unfamiliar stuffs around her. That was when she tremblingly stood up and hurriedly made her way outside of the office, the four corners of the room made her feel suffocated. It's like she's going to snap out if she's ever to remain inside the room.

The sea is awfully calm today, it's as if there's an awful storm to come. She cleared her mind from the ominous feeling and focus her eyes on the facility they're about to enter. Her brows furrow in confusion, the facility is not the prison area. She turned towards the man beside her and as if on cue, he slowly explained.

"You might want to know, we are slowly evacuating the citizens. Of course, the priorities are the younger ones but we cannot just close an eye on those kids' potentials. Based on the psychological analysis, they have shown symptoms of experiencing trauma. Most probably, their traumatic experience must have been the driving force to brainwash them effectively. The kids are also highly capable, I wonder what kind of hell did they go through just to achieve that level of competitiveness. It's going to be alright if the object of their hatred is just the Orb government, but we worry more about the possible repeat of Naturals calling out war against the Coordinators, or worst, against the citizens living in space. Just as you let them live, we want to give those children a better future where they can give better contribution to the society and achieve their hopes and dreams." He smiled on his last sentence.

"Oh.. I see. That'll be great! That's actually something I wished to talk to you about. I'm pretty unconfident that you'll allow me. It is indeed as you said, those kids have lots of potentials. As of now, I'm sure that they're just full of their personal circumstances. That is to be expected since they are still young. We may not have the similar background, but the feeling of emptiness and lack of self – worth would actually strip off ones' care in battle. On my part, I became someone closer to being a barbaric. All I cared about is the number of soldiers I defeated or killed and the number of mobile suits I destroyed. I was that kind of person in the past, a killing machine. But when you think about it, I was actually a perfect soldier right? Obey first before you complain.. Follow the chain of command. Having discretion is highly prohibited, we can never act on our own.. and that's basically the reason why I came to respect you Athrun – san. You may have been labelled as a traitor against your own country, but you have a very high sense of justice. I actually wonder if I can become someone who could be of help to the people. Call it penance or repentance, or simply guilt washing. I just really want to do it, at least to unload the heavy burden in my heart." Athrun just indulgingly looked at her.

"Oh.. we're here.. Come, they should be in one of the prison cells inside the Kusawaki, it's scheduled to depart this midnight." They casually walk inside the Kaguya facility. Once inside, she can feel her hairs standing from head to foot. The very reason why she didn't bother to visit her Nike after she deposited it inside Kaguya is because of the suffocating and heavy atmosphere she feels, and those flashes of seeing the entire facility exploding. Indeed, there are a lot of civilians inside the facility today. It's like a scene inside a seaport where she can see trucks being loaded by passengers inside a ship. Then to her utmost surprise, she saw two space ships twice bigger than a normal battleship.

"Could it be.. when you said evacuating people. You don't mean the entire country, do you?" she jokingly asked Athrun but he just smiled sadly.

"Kusawaki and Kusatsura.. By yesterday, forty percent of the country's population had been evacuated. We have to do it little by little and discreetly. Sorry to drag you out to this mess, but that's one of the reasons why we accepted the surveillance partnership offered by your country and the others. Our own forces alone won't suffice due to this." They ignored the glances coming from the civilians, and as usual, she can hear the familiar murmur of the people. They finally made it inside the ship and are welcomed by the ship captain.

"It is my honor to welcome you to our ship Admiral Zala, I am the Captain, Sylvia van Faust at your service." The woman courteously saluted before her eyes widened upon casting her eyes on her.

"It is my honor to meet you too Captain. This is Lady Victoria Stuart from the United Kingdom of Scandinavia. If it's alright, we would like to visit the captives before you launch later." Being tactful as he is, Athrun seemed to just ignore the obvious surprise of the Captain.

"Ah no.. I – it's just fine, I know the circumstances already." Captain van Faust then bowed slightly to her. "I thank you for helping us in this situation Lady Stuart." She then extended her hand to her.

"Nice meeting you Captain. I hope for your safe trip later.." she accepted her hand graciously.

"Thank you.. Please come follow me.." they followed her as she guided them inside the enormous ship. She's wondering if it's a battle assault ship like the Archangel, but looking at how the inside of the ship is made to accommodate more people and cargo, it seems that its specialty is just mere transportation. "We're here.." they stopped on that dimly lit part of the ship and she saw the figures of the two youths sitting on the bed.

"Andrei! Meilin! Are you two alright?" The youths were surprised upon seeing her, they run towards the bar.

"Miss Coordinator!" Meilin came first, she holds on the bar and asked her anxiously.

"Where are they taking us?" there is fear on her eyes.

"Where else do you expect idiot! Should be somewhere discreet so they can throw us cleanly." Andrei bitterly retorted.

"You are wrong young man, it's actually the opposite. They're bringing you to a place where you two can finally start anew. Had they been kind to both of you?" she gently reassured them and the two just nodded.

"I was surprised, they did not apply third degree on us, and even treated our wounds. They just presented us to the doctor who just talked to us and asked us some silly questions." Andrei embarrassingly explained.

"Miss Coordinator, they never hurt us.. and you came to visit us too.. Thank you.." Meilin's eyes were on the verge of tears.

"I didn't do anything.. I just handed you over to them. But, if you want to thank someone, then I guess this gentleman is the best recipient for it. They had reconsidered your circumstances.." she motioned them to Athrun who came forward.

"I'm glad that both of you had recovered from your wounds. Please bear with it a bit more, once you reach your destination, then you two can finally start anew. I'm not asking for you to work for us, but just build yourselves a brighter future." Athrun's smile at that moment is exceptionally gentle.

"Thank you for your kindness Mister. All of you had been different from what we thought.. but, can you please also save our comrades?" Andrei's eyes are pleading. "If they can't get out from there, they will surely die slowly just like the others. Like us, they also wished for a brighter future! Please.. I beg you.. save them!" Athrun was touched at the lad's pleading, his hands gripped the metal bars tightly as he beg.

"We don't know what tomorrow might bring but we'll do our best to save them." Athrun's reassurance had been sufficient as the youths smiled gently.

"Thank you.." they said.

"Ah.. before I forget.. See me once you'll have the time in the future. Here." She handed them her personalized contact information.

"Lady Victoria Stuart. Stuart Royal Conglomerate. United Kingdom of Scandina – via." Meilin read out and her eyes widened.

"Yap.. that's me.. Victoria Stuart, yours truly.." she smiled widely and vowed in courtesy.

"Yo – you're not from Orb? But why..?" Andrei was equally shocked on what he learned.

"It's a very long story, I'll tell you when you come see me again." They were about to retreat when they heard firings and explosions from afar.

"What is that? A war?" Athrun and Captain van Faust run towards the bridge. The youths gasped.

"They're here.. Be careful! They're already here!" she confusingly looked back to them before following the two.

xxx

Athrun runs hurriedly towards the bridge to know the situation. The people outside the ship were gathered as they watched the war on the ocean. Finally, they reached the bridge and he automatically demanded for the situation.

"What's the situation? Just what is this?" he looked at the monitors.

"There are eleven unknown mobile suits that breached our territory facing the Pacific. Ten of them are neo Windam types Sir, with high firepower capabilities. Moreover, there's this footage focusing one of the enemy mobile suits leading the assault. Its capability is after the Chaos and Impulse Gundams Sir!" The CIC informed.

"What's our condition?" he zoom the video footage of the situation.

"We've lost a squadron of Astrays Sir and three ships had been sunk. It seems that the enemy is heading towards the main island."

"Damn! And it would take time before I can reach the Archangel! Advice the troops to hold off the enemy as much as they can.. Be careful not to die okay..?" he's about to run towards the door when someone grabs his arm.

"Wha – " it was Victoria.

"Wait! Instead of sending your men in that situation, just let me.. As you've heard, there had been loses from your side, and it seems that the enemy is determined of getting inside the mainland. If it's to hold them off, I should be enough. My Nike is just minutes away from here. If you need time to get your mobile suit, then I'll be perfect for the job." She then runs ahead of him.

"But – wait! I cannot allow you to do that! We can't let foreign hands get dirtied for an attack directed only to us.." He chased her and grabs her hand, but she slaps it away.

"Like I've said before.. This isn't just war Admiral! This is protecting people! Conserve the lives of your men, I'm more than capable! So I can't just sit here and do nothing but watch until the civilians get hurt, can I?" the determination in her eyes won him.

"You're a hopelessly stubborn woman.. Alright, I'll take personal responsibility of you." He then took her in his arms and whispered.

"Don't you dare die.." before he realize just what he did, she pushed him.

"Hey! Watch it!" she then smiled gently. "Don't worry, I won't die easily." She slowly retreated. He can't help the blush that crept on his cheeks when he recalled how he embraced her. She felt so soft and – he clenches his fist, gave instruction to put the mobile suits on stand – by and to give way to the Nike before he hurriedly walks towards the waiting jeep.

xxx

She run towards the hangar and saw the curious gazes of the people. A soldier approached her, holding a suit. She thought about it, and then decided. "Thanks.. but no.. Changing clothes will take some time. I'll go with this." She climbed towards the cockpit.

"Hey! You can't just go without protection, you know. It's dangerous! At least, a helmet!" He shouted, she just looked down to him and said a silent 'no'. She then turned on the switch while asking permission to launch.

"This is Victoria Stuart, I've already got an approval from the Admiral. It's alright for me to launch now, right?" the system is already activating when she was given the approval.

"Systems all green, Stuart – san, you may have a go for launch.. Please be careful.." she heard being advised by the girl.

"Thank you.." she gave her a smile and readied when the cables and stand had been disengaged. "Victoria Stuart. Nike. Launching." Her Nike flies through the opening and changed to its fighter jet form. After a minute of flying, she had finally arrived at the battle ground where she was greeted by a plasma beam, she immediately dodged it by changing direction on the last minute and transformed to mobile suit mode while using the beam assault cannon on her head to retaliate. There are still Astrays that kept on fighting and a couple of Murasames. Just when she's about to approach one of the enemy's Windams, the black Gundam with red marking on its joints stood her way carrying a beam saber. She immediately took the pair of beam sabers located on her mobile suit's hips and speeds towards the confronting Gundam. The initial collision had been tough, she barely managed to dodge the enemy's furious attack by crossing her beam sabers and pushing it away from her.

"This one's pretty tough.." she said as a bead of sweat started to form on her forehead while the black Gundam is now back on its position to attack..

xxx

There it is.. I'm feeling lonely.. I need reviews and criticisms before I post the next chapter..

And again, thanks for your patronage Cuteshe – san..^_^