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.

A/N: Anyone who's interested in beta reading this story.. Please just PM me.. I would really appreciate the big help..:)

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A Fleeting Recall..

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Off the coast of Orb's Territory.

His group had been flying for a while when they had finally get a sight of the crescent shaped island that had been the landmark of the United Emirates of Orb otherwise known as the Orb Union. On television, it's a country everyone wished to live in. They had the technology, the wealth, the support from other countries.. but most specially, half of its population is composed of the most horrible creatures, the Coordinators. "Those machines who are wearing human skin, how dare they set a foot on Earth after they had dropped that colony." His grip on the control tightened when his anger started to get in. His comrades Andrei and Meilin had not come back, they must have been dead by now. That alone, is another reason why he cannot forgive this country.. he will surely take revenge for his fallen comrades. They're about to cross into Orb's territory when they saw a fleet guarding the territorial sea border. "As expected from a very powerful country, even the seas are well guarded." He lowered his altitude and advises his companions.

"There are seven ships and one destroyer ahead of us, most probably, there are mobile suits and fighter jets inside them. I'll take care of the mother ship, you guys take care of the rest. I'll immediately advance once I've done my part, is that alright?"

"Do as you please.. Just don't mess up! No matter what, you must not be captured.. got that?" the person in – charge of the operation gave his approval indifferently.

"Roger then.." He proceeded and is already about to enter the territorial sea when he receives a communication from the fleet.

"This is a warning to the unknown forces currently approaching! You are currently approaching the territory of the Orb Union. Please alter your course at once. As a neutral and independent country, we strictly don't allow encroachment into our territories by any armed ship, armed aircraft or mobile suit! Alter your course at once! I repeat, alter your course at once! This will be your first and final warning.. should you not change your course in accordance with this warning, then, we will open fire against you.." he just smirked at its warning.

"Neutral and independent huh! If that's the case, then you shouldn't have even bothered to set your feet here bastards!" Without giving an answer, he transformed to his mobile suit mode and immediately released the mobile weapon pods mounted on his shoulders and aimed the missiles towards the ships. The explosions created gave him an animalistic satisfaction as he used the beam saber and guns of the Discord's head to dodge off the upcoming missiles.

"Ahahahahah... That's what you get for getting in my way.. ahahaha!" His brows then furrowed when he saw a group of mobile suits coming their way. "Finally, the supporting characters arrived.." he turned to his companions. "I'll pass through them.. I'll leave them all to you.." He flies straight to the upcoming group of mobile suits and use his plasma beam cannon to disperse them, as intended, they had scattered so he was able to focus his beam saber on the mobile suit that was approaching him. He immediately cut it into half causing the mobile suit to explode. He then again advanced towards the inner territory followed by his companions when they were confronted by another batch of mobile suits and fighter jets. They are literally surrounded so he relied on his plasma beam cannon while his companions position themselves to retaliate. The new batch is tougher than those that they had encountered earlier and are much more agile, when he thought he can finally advance forward, he saw a different colored mobile suit approaching one of his companions after it transformed. It seems to be of the same make as his so he decided to confront it himself though its color is a combination of blue and light green joints and head. Using the beam saber, he speeds up and attacks it directly but the pilot was fast in dodging his attack by crossing its twin sabers and pushing him further.

"Agh.." the impact made him back off but that was only momentary.. "Not bad.." he can feel the excitement through every fibre of his being, the pilot isn't ordinary. As soon as he regained balance, he posed for another attack. If he is to try out Discord's capabilities, then this interesting mobile suit might be fitting for the job.

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Victoria anticipated the opponent's next attack, she deduced that the next move should be a lot more difficult to parry. As predicted, the enemy mobile suit used its mobile weapon pod as the two pods are now surrounding her while much like the DRAGOONs. She stopped a moment when the word DRAGOONs came to her mind, she hasn't seen it in person, how come she knew it instantly. Her lack of focus enabled the enemy to launch a direct hit on her, she received damaged on the on the left hand of her Nike. After the hit, she immediately forced back her focus on the battle and readied to do an offensive by firing her high – energy beam rifle aiming the enemy's head. However, she missed it badly as the enemy is more agile than she had anticipated. She then decided that instead of avoiding the mobile pods, it's better to get rid of those two moving extensions which are causing damages on her mobile suit whenever they hit. In desperation, she separated her twin sabers and threw them towards the coming mobile weapon pods, causing the pods to malfunction while she transformed to mobile armor mode to use the griffon beam blades located on her Nike's wings. As the enemy charged another attack at her using a plasma beam cannon on its chest, she flies to the side and tried to cut its right arm. To her dismay, she only managed to make a little damage as the pilot immediately moved away from her and one of her legs had been severed making her balancing a problem.

"Damn! He's tough.. But I have to hold him back.." she checked the surroundings to see if there's any enemy mobile suits that had breached inside the islands, when she confirmed there is none, she contentedly sighed in relief and activated her mobile shield to dodge the beam saber being thrown at her.

"Don't underestimate me pilot – san.. Just who do you think I am..? I won't allow you to set a foot on any islands inside!" after her outburst, she felt that her consciousness heightened. Her shooting accuracy increased as shown by the 4 Windams that got knocked using her beam assault cannon and high energy beam rifle. She then focused back her attention to the black Gundam who is using its plasma beam again, she easily flied low near its feet and made a sudden twist so that the griffon blades can sever a part of it. She was however caught when the pilot, instead of continuing the firing of its plasma beam cannon, chose to throw its own on her causing the both of them to dive to the sea. The sudden impact caused her head to bump on the controls and she can feel the gushing of blood and the spinning of her head. The two of them struggled and grappled on each other's mobile suit, however, taking advantage each other's flight ability, both of them managed to get out of the water and back on each other's feet. She is about to advance when she detected a heat source coming from her back, it's flying at an extremely fast speed. A familiar looking red mobile suit stopped right in front of her while throwing its beam boomerang towards the black Gundam and when the enemy managed to dodge it using its beam shield, it made a twist on the air while holding its beam sabers into a double sword and managed to successfully sever the arms of the enemy mobile suit. After the great incapacity, the black Gundam retreated together with the remaining Windams.

She was very glad that the battle is over for now.. holding her head, she noticed another heat source coming from the side. When she takes a look at it, she saw a mobile suit with red, white and blue markings. Looking at the red mobile suit and the other one, her already spinning head started to throb. With the heavy bleeding on her forehead, she gave in to the pull of exhaustion and freefall towards the sea.

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Morgenroete's Facility:

Athrun continued to run hurriedly towards the assault ship had had been docking by the bay of the Morgenroete's facility. Upon reaching the Archangel, he went straight to the hangar and was surprised to see that there are only the Akatsuki, Infinite Justice, and Freedom Akatsuki piled next to each other, he wondered where the Strike Freedom is when he heard the go signal from the CIC. He saw Ian – san and advised him that he'll be launching.

"Ian – san.. please communicate with Captain Murrue, I'll be launching after Kira.." he busily put on the pilot suit.

"There's no need to ask for permission kid.. Actually, that other kid was also very frantic earlier and wouldn't even listen to reasons. It can't be helped, it's the beloved Hime – san were talking about.. Hurry, go and save her!" It's not Ian's tap on his shoulders that made him stop but his words.

"What do you mean..?" He felt very cold, he can't afford to hold unto false hopes..

"It seems that Erica – san's medical investigation was positive, that young lady is – " before Ian can finish, Athrun had made his way back to the hangar and climbs into the Infinite Justice. His heart is beating really fast. "Hope springs eternal.. is this it?" He cast a glance on the Freedom Akatsuki to his left then to the Akatsuki to his right, he swallowed hard as his eyes caught the glimpse of the pink flower on the mouth of the lion which had been the insignia of the then Lion of Orb. It's different from Kira's insignia which had the lion's head behind a sword and a shield signifying his intent to protect the people. With high spirits, he immediately contacted the bridge for launching after the system had activated successfully.

"Athrun Zala. Justice. Launching!" He immediately soared out of the facility and speed towards the battleground. He then saw the Strike Freedom being caught fighting a group of Neo – Windams. "Kira!" he flied towards him but Kira stopped him.

"Just leave this to me Athrun.. Cagalli.. Please save her! Hurry.. I'll make sure to follow right away" Being Kira, Athrun did not argue and left the location. "Hang in there Cagalli.. I'm almost there.." When he arrived at the battlefield, the two contending mobile suits are dropped on the sea but after a few moment, the blue green mobile suit sped up and is already posing for another attack. Looking at its unstable stance, he decided to make his way behind it. Firing his plasma beam cannon towards the black Gundam and standing in front of Cagalli's mobile suit, when it dodged the plasma beam, he immediately followed it up with his beam sabers and severed its arms. When the enemy mobile suits retreated, he turned to look at Cagalli but to his surprise, her mobile suit is falling at a great speed so he immediately flies to catch her.

"Cagalli!" He caught her before she hits the sea. Just then Kira arrived.

"Athrun! What happened? Is Cagalli alright?" Kira helped him carry the non – moving mobile suit.

"I don't know too. When I arrived, she was still able to fight. Let's hurry back to Archangel.." they sped through the air.

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Archangels' hangar:

Kira is worried, he immediately got out of Strike Freedom to tend to the blue green mobile suit but saw that Athrun had already made his way to the cockpit. He just waited when Athrun brought Cagalli's motionless body, she's bleeding extremely, her forehead, her arms and leg, seems that her old wounds opened up.

"Cagalli!" he called but the woman made no response.

"Get a stretcher! Medics! Tend her injuries, hurry!" He held Cagalli's right hand as Athrun was holding the left. "Athrun.." he noticed that Athrun's hand is trembling. "Don't worry, Cagalli's gonna be fine..."

"Ahh.." Athrun nodded unconvincingly as they both followed the medics to the medical bay where they were welcomed by Emery and Erica Simmons.

"Uhmm... Erica – san.. about what you said earlier.." he hesitantly started.

"Kira – kun, Athrun – kun.. what a good timing to have the two of you here.. Actually, I have wanted to talk to Kira – kun for a while now but I knew he was busy so I wasn't able to have the opportunity. Come Erica.. I have something interesting to show you.." so they ended up following the lead of the doctor and found themselves inside her laboratory. They saw some medical samples and readings on the screens, what more, they are very surprised to see the face of Cagalli on the screen. She must be somewhere near the laboratory, he then voiced out his confusion.

"Ahm.. Emery – san.. Why does Cagalli have to have that brain apparatus connected? Was her injury too serious? Did she get any brain damage?" he asked but the doctor shakes her head and said no. Just then, another doctor came in, and this time it's a man in his late thirties that Kira knew as their expert chemist.

"Haruka Seien – san.. I thought you were in Heliopolis?" he muttered and the man looked at him and just nodded.

"It's nice to see you Kira – sama.. Athrun – san.. I just came back five days ago, our respected Chief Engineer asked me to come and help her with this unusual case.." He then opened up the attaché case he was holding which contained several tubes and placed them securely on the available test tube racks.

"Then, shall we begin..?" Erica asked which was agreed by the other two. "Now, Kira – kun.. Athrun – kun.. You may have been wondering about her right?" she looked at them and they can't help but agree.

"Ahh.. there are things that made me think that she's Cagalli but, we've had her investigated already and everything had been explained.. so how..?" Athrun asked back.

"Strictly speaking, no.. she isn't.. But if we base on her physical findings, blood matching, DNA matching, bodily composition.. That lady is indeed Uzumi – sama's daughter, Cagalli Yula Athha.. Kira – kun's twin sister.." Erica started which made them freeze.

xxx

Athrun is trying to digest each shocking revelation they had gotten. "E – Erica – san.. Please explain it already.. We.. we already had her – in.. investigated you know.. It was negative.. If you were so curious about her eyes, then.. the – the answer is simply be – because of eye transplant that she has to undergo some years ago.." he swallowed hard. His heart started to pound violently at this surprising revelation but he decided to not hold on to a false hope.

"That would be very incorrect.." Emery disagreed.

"Eh..?" they looked at her.

"That girl.. should never had any transplant before.."

"What do you mean..?" Athrun is now very confused.

"That girl's body had never indicated that it had undergone any medical surgery such as transplant. The most that she had undergone are surgery erasing the scars she might have sustained previously since nothing had remained. But the result of her body analysis is prompting that she never had any transplant.. That is to mean, that is her original features.. and that girl.. is indeed a coordinator as she claimed herself to be.." Emery continued.

"Then, do you mean that she has been lying to us all this time..? But you said that she's a Coordinator, wasn't Cagalli a Natural?" his hands are already trembling as he combed his hair with his hand.

"Unfortunately.. No.. Everything that she had told us is the truth.. that is according to what she knew about herself. I'm afraid that she did not even know that she never undergone any transplant before. As far as her brainwaves are concerned. There had been consistencies most of the time, only to be disrupted on some seconds intervals. As to her being a Coordinator, we are still investigating on it." She moved to look at Kira.

"Kira – kun, that is something I want to ask of you though.. You are twins but you grew up in the artificial womb that Ulen – sensei created while Cagalli – san was injected back to your mother's womb – " she seemed to have realized something. "I see.. I got it now.. It's not impossible after all." she smiled and shows them a chart. Kira on the other hand seemed to be thinking deeply about the topic too.

"In the past week when she had been here, I was able to get real time reaction to her brain. During her sleep, the waves were consistent, and just before she woke up from what seems like a nightmare, the waves rose to a high level which ended up with her complaining that her head is about to be broken into two because of pain. And when I administered to her the medicine that she always had with her, the waves decreased and stabilized. What I'm trying to say is, that woman's memory seemed to be genuine, but whenever the waves increases and destabilize, she admitted to have unknown flashes that she herself didn't even know where they came from." Emery shakes her head and sighed.

"As to the medicine that she has with her, it's a very potent brain depressant. I've been trying to formulate one of the possibilities.. She might have been given those highly customize brain pills to prevent the activation of some of her cognitive functions.. specifically, repressing of memories that may have been very traumatic and leaving only those that her brain can normally process, which could mean lighter memories. Another possibility is also total repression of memories, but base on what is happening, it can't be that she had her full memories repressed since she remembers all of her youth. Or could also be, if we base on the inconsistencies of her claim and that results of her physical check up.. the medicine works as depressant to deactivate her memories, or –" Haruka was cut off by Emery..

"There's a very huge possibility that this girl's memories were either erased or totally repressed, by amnesia or by some other reasons and installed a new set of genuine memories which she thought were her very own.. Such a very difficult task to do, I haven't thought that a doctor like that could have existed already.." Athrun tightens his grip on the table.

"How could that be..? That's.. That's impossible! Then, could this also be – " He took the paper in his pocket and gives it to Haruka. "She dropped that earlier in my office, I thought they looked suspicious.. It may help your investigation." He looked at Kira but there's an empty and look of disbelief on his eyes. It's to be expected, the two of them went through great depression after that incident five years ago only to learn that she had come back as another person who doesn't even know them. Not someone who has an amnesia but someone who thought of them as a total strangers. His heart started to beat erratically. He stands up and walks towards the room where the blonde woman was confined, the three experts followed him, leaving Kira in the lab.

"Then, you are certain that she is indeed Cagalli?" he asked them while lovingly looked at the sleeping woman, then gently caressed her hair.

"Unless she's another clone that then Ulen – sensei had created. But, we need to be careful though, I just can't think of a way that she was actually been hidden from us all this time.. If possible, play along with her, we don't want the person who made her like this suspects and take her again.. I cannot imagine what else could that person do.. since we don't know his motives.." Erica answered. Athrun felt his throat constricted, as if something was struck in it. The three experts made their way out of the room to leave him alone, that made him utter a small "thank you.." He gazed at her sleeping face.

"Cagalli.. Cagalli.." He murmured her name.. He's very afraid to blink his eyes, fearing that she might disappear again from his sight. She, who had been invading his dreams and conquered his waking hours.. The woman who he thought, he had lost forever, has now come back albeit in a confusing circumstance. His hand made its way to her cheek, her sleeping face had always been the same.. Unknown to her, he would always wake up earlier than her to watch her sleeping face. When she's like that, she would always look so peaceful and relax, and making her the most beautiful woman in his eyes.. He then took her bandaged hand and brought it to his lips. If he had thought of being guilty for thinking of another woman in the past weeks, then it surely can be forgiven.. "It's you afterall.." The happiness and relief flooded through him. He then felt Kira walking towards the bed.

"Kira.." he gave way and let Kira sits on the chair. Kira's been crying silently, he can see tears on his eyes as he holds Cagalli's hand and lovingly caress her hair.

"Athrun.. no matter what circumstances she me be in.. the fact that she's Cagalli will never change.. I'm just thankful that she had come back to us, that we haven't lost her forever.. My dear sister who had given up her personal intentions for the greater good.." They just stayed there for an hour when Kira got a call from the Parliament to evaluate the recent event.

"I'll leave her to you Athrun.. Please let me know of any development.." Kira slowly stands up and after kissing Cagalli's forehead, he made his way outside.

"Ahh.. you can count on it.. I'll report later once she wakes up.." he moved back to the chair that Kira vacated and continued to watch over the sleeping woman.

xxx

She woke up feeling very weak, she thought she had heard voices. She tried to open up her eyes but they won't, she also tried to get up but she felt as if she was pinned to the bed so she just had to continue listening. When the voices faded, she heard a very familiar voice calling out her name. She recognized the voice.. "Athrun.." then she felt his hand on her cheek before he held her hand and brought it to his lips.. "I'll become a burden to you.. yet again.. You should just have continued to move on.. I.. I – can never give you the happiness you deserved.." as melancholy enveloped her entire being, the urge to forget everything grew bigger. She wanted to forget the pain she had caused him, she.. who had always been receiving his love and understanding for the past years that they've been together. And that is why, when he went up to Copernicus, she had decided to let him go and move on with someone who can provide him with understanding and care that he needs. With her, he would always be the one who would have to give in.. He will never have the chance to live like a normal happy person, she would always have to choose her country over him.

"I should have just died..Just how long had I been sleeping since then? Just what happened to me..?" When she tried to recall the events upon going to the outer space to rendezvous with the others on the Messiah, searing pain attacked her as if preventing her to recall the events successfully. "Uhh.. My head..It's very painful.. It hurts so much!"

"Ahh!" the pain forced her to wake up violently, holding her head tightly and sweating profusely.

"Cagalli!" Athrun stands up with surprise when he heard her screaming in pain. He immediately called for help.

"Someone! Call Emery – san here! The patient had awakened!" The door opened and she saw Erica and her twin Emery.

"What happened here?" Erica asked.

"She just woke up screaming.." Athrun held her in his arms as she continued to tremble in extreme pain.

"This is bad, the brainwaves are getting irregular again.. Give her that pill she always had with her.." She heard Emery ordered.

"But... what could be the reason? Why would it hurt so much?"

"She must be having flashes again.. Victoria – san.. are you having flashes again..?"Emery asked her as she handed over a pill to her. She was stunned.

"Vic – toria..? Who..?" she confusedly asked to the surprise of the people around.

"Ehh?" they muttered in shock. Just when the pill had started to effect, she cast a glance to the man who had been holding her..

"Ath – Athrun.." she smiled at him, and after that.. she felt very sleepy again that she can't help lying down to the bed. Before she was claimed by sleep, she clearly heard him calling out to her.

"Cagalli..." she smiled, before she willingly let the darkness embrace her.

xxx

Erica still cannot believe what just happened.. The eyes of the woman held recognition towards all of them.

"Emery.. Is there a possibility that what happened just now could be similar to lucid intervals? She recognized us right?" she asked her twin.

"Ehh.." she agreed. "As I thought, whenever the brainwaves rise, a set of memories tries to destabilize her existing one. The extremity of the brain activity in trying to sift which one is real caused her painful headaches. I had a hunch that just now, her brain had been able to recognize a little of the flashes.. I just hope it will still be the same the next time she wakes up." Haruka expressed his doubts.

"I doubt about that.. The medicine you just gave her stabilized her brainwaves right? In that pill, for sure the depressant must have started to work repressing what she'd been trying to remember.." he then turned to Athrun.

"Athrun – kun.. can I ask you of favour? Please have her history since the war incident be thoroughly investigated. We have to find the person who made this technique possible. I'm very sure, someone from the Plants' scientist must have acquired the knowledge for this.. Base, on her reaction.. it isn't easy to remember everything.. They had it very clean.. If this continues.. she might end up having multiple personality.."

"How could this be happening..?" Erica heaved a sigh of frustration.

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There it is.. Read and review..

Thanks for the kind reviews everyone.. Cuteshe – san.. ^_^