Disclaimers:
I DO NOT have the rights to Gundam Seed, GSD, its characters, mobile suits and its setting. They are all property of Bandai and Sunrise. I'm just borrowing them for a bit. This is purely for enjoyment purposes. The OCs in the story are mine.
Author's Notes:
Okay, I must be sick or something. I actually made a new chapter in such a short amount of time. Maybe it's because I want to show my watchers that I can get back to writing normally. Or maybe it's because I want to get this story and its idea out there for all to enjoy. Or maybe it's because I'm listening to Super Eurobeat (the music that is synonymous with Initial D).
In this chapter, or Phase as the series likes to use for episodes, the Archangel is searching for Kira and the Freedom, except the group that was introduced last time beat them to it, but the Archangel team are in the dark. Also, I introduce an Original Character that will play a major part in the story.
Before I start, I want to give a shout-out to Magus-15IchiGo and DJ Rodriguez (I can always count on you for a review, DJ.) for their reviews. I hope more fans like this story of mine.
In The Shadows
Phase 1: The Mysterious Pilot
Ledonir Kisaka thought it would be better for Cagalli to stay in ORB and let someone else find Kira since there still could be ZAFT forces in the vicinity. Instead, he relented and let her go out in the Strike Rouge. He knew that she and Kira were close and Cagalli would most likely do something rash, harsh and drastic if Kira was hurt or if he wasn't found safely. Captain Murrue Ramius and the crew of the Archangel along with Kisaka, waited patiently for Cagalli to begin reporting in. The infamous vessel was in Morgenroete's secret dock in ORB as it was making repairs after taking severe damage in their last battle against the Minerva. It was very lucky to escape, as the ship detached one of its engines to make it look like the ship was destroyed in an explosion.
The MBF-02 Strike Rouge, Morgenroete's version of the former GAT-X105 Strike, arrived at the spot where Kira's Freedom went into the ocean. There, Cagalli dipped a scanning pod into the water and continued to lower it to a reasonable depth. The pod uses sonar waves that bounce back at anything metallic, like a mobile suit. The Lioness of ORB was hoping that the ZAFT forces that were gone after the Freedom was destroyed and the Archangel supposedly destroyed as well. Seconds later, the scanner began transmitting its findings.
"Odd. I am in the right spot where Kira's last signal was detected. The scanner is not picking up anything from his destroyed mobile suit." The fiery blond haired Princess of ORB said, double checking the readings from the scanner. It was only detecting the bits and pieces that came off the Freedom as it blew up and sunk to the ocean floor.
"Cagalli, have you found Kira and the wreckage of the Freedom?" Archangel Captain Murrue Ramius asked. The submersible detecting sensor began to pick up a few pieces of the Freedom's wings that seemed to have been dropped as the mysterious crew gathered the mobile suit into their underwater cruiser.
"The detector is picking up pieces of the Freedom, but the torso section is not here. I'm not even picking up any traces of the Freedom's reactor." Cagalli replied,
"It would be impossible for the ocean currents to carry the Freedom away with such ease." Murrue thought about the situation for a few seconds before turning her head to her left to face Miriallia Haw, the CIC operator. "Miriallia, did you detect any underwater vessels from the time Kira went down to when Cagalli arrived at the site?" Murrue asked.
"I've been doing multiple sensor scans and even if an underwater ship appeared, the sonars would have detected it easily, ma'am." Miriallia answered. As one of Kira's long time friends from Heliopolis, she was more worried than usual. Could there have been a chance that Kira Yamato was actually killed? However, Kira survived a lot worse and Miriallia was sure her friend was safe somewhere and already thinking about returning to the Archangel.
"There is a possibility that ZAFT could have developed a stealth submarine and were in the area where Kira was since he was fighting a ZAFT mobile suit." Kisaka said,
"After that announcement by Chairman Durandal about LOGOS, the whole world is less trusting of anybody in the Earth Alliance. Getting rid of Kira and the Freedom would give him much momentum in whatever his plans are." Murrue added,
"Captain, there could be a slim chance that if Kira survived, an unknown ZAFT vessel could have easily found him first. And since he happens to be a different breed of Coordinator, they might try to use him for their own plans." Arnold Neumann, the helmsman of the Archangel said,
"You have a good point, Neumann. I only hope that isn't the case." Murrue agreed. The mood on the bridge immediately went south after what Neumann said and the usually reserved helmsman of the Archangel already regretted saying that. He has a secret respect for Kira for protecting the ship against his better judgment and the entire crew also respected Kira for what he did for them and considered the young Coordinator one of them. A quiet nod from Murrue saying it wasn't his fault for saying that sort of made him feel better, but he too was hoping that wasn't the case.
"What happens if we actually can't find him?" Kisaka asked. Unfortunately for him, Cagalli was listening to the crew's conversation and decided to give her bodyguard a piece of her mind.
"Don't think you dare think about that, Kisaka! Kira has a knack for surviving anything! He would have found a way to escape the Freedom!" Cagalli shot out at her bodyguard via the radio. Murrue knew that Cagalli was right, but she was worried that if ZAFT got a hold of him, he would most likely be executed by Gilbert Durandal or used by ZAFT like Neumann pointed out.
"How will we tell Lacus if we can't find Kira or if ZAFT captured him?" Murrue asked herself quietly. She was a bit envious of the budding relationship between the two Coordinators since it painfully reminds her of the last man who she loved, Mu La Flaga. He sacrificed himself to protect the Archangel from the Lohengrin blast from the Dominion during the final battle of the first Bloody Valentine War. Also it didn't help her that the man who was currently in the ship's sick bay greatly reminds her of Mu, even though he constantly reminds the crew that he is Captain Neo Roanoke of Phantom Pain, not Mu La Flaga, the "Hawk of Endymion" as he is also known as. On the other hand, having Lacus in his life gives Kira that little bit extra to protect everyone in the name of achieving peace and there was something calming about seeing two young people who are just about meant for each other in love.
"Lacus probably has enough to worry about with her supervising the construction of the new machines up in space. If we tell her what happened to Kira, I don't know how it will affect her." Miriallia said,
"I hate keeping anything from her, but it's best we do not make her worry. Cagalli, please keep looking for any signs of Kira and the Freedom." Murrue said,
"I'll do everything I can from my end, Miss Murrue." Cagalli replied. With that, Cagalli and her Strike Rouge began to search an even wider area for her brother and his destroyed mobile suit. Her mind was spinning with worry and a part of anger because of Kira's recklessness.
Kira, you idiot. When I find you, You're so going to get it for making all of us worry! Cagalli thought as she kept searching the area for Kira and the Freedom. Little did she and the crew of the Archangel know, Kira was rescued, but it wasn't by ZAFT.
"How is the young man we rescued?" It has been a day since the group discovered what is left of the Freedom and rescued its pilot from the ruined hulk. The ship was well on its way to South America to rendezvous with their sister ship, but the people on board were all busy as usual. The few mobile suit techs on board were taking the Freedom apart and see if they can learn anything from it, if that is possible. The Captain of the ship was busy talking to the resident doctor about the young man they found in the cockpit.
"He's still unconscious. The force of the explosion we recorded most likely knocked him into next week? Physically, his wounds are healing at a very fast rate. I haven't seen anything like it." The resident doctor answered,
"Do you suspect this young man might be a Coordinator? They are like cockroaches. They'll survive just about anything." The Captain asked again,
"It's possible, but I would hardly consider them cockroaches. If he is a Coordinator, why hasn't he woken up yet? That is the Million dollar question. The blast must have more than knocked him for a loop. However, I wish we could have access to our much more advanced medical gear on the Devastator. We can only do so much here on the Eliminator." The doctor answered. The Eliminator and Devastator are two ships that can form into one, massive combat ready ship and mobile suit platform. The Devastator is the much larger of the two and has much better equipment and more crew members than the Eliminator, but the Eliminator has the ability to use the now banned Mirage Colloid technology to make it invisible to radar and the naked eye, much like the former GAT X-207 Blitz. That system is fully engaged at the moment as the ship made its way to the rendezvous destination.
"I know. I can't wait to hook up with them and have full access to everything." The Captain said. Moments later, the door to sick bay opened up and in walked a young man carrying a bag of chips and was busy eating them. The Captain turned to the door and immediately had a sour look on his face.
The young man was just as tall as the Captain, around 5'10" but the Captain had a more muscular build on him, contrasting to the smaller but lean frame of the young man. His face still had some youthful features that could probably make girls look his way. His hairstyle was one of his main features. Nobody else on the crew has purple hair and a slight spiky front fringe that smooths out at the back and ends up in a very long ponytail that ends at his thighs. He wasn't wearing the regular crew jump suit, opting for a plain gray t-shirt, blue jeans with a torn hole at the right knee, a black belt and black high top sneakers.
"Vincenzo, you are going to rip up your throat if you keep eating those the way you do." The Captain said, noting how the young man named Vincenzo ate his favorite nacho cheese flavored tortilla chips. He took a handful and stuffed them in his mouth and munched them for a bit before swallowing.
"That is if you don't chew them, dummy." Vincenzo shot back smartly as he grabbed another handful and began to chew them,
"Just what the hell do you want, punk?" The Captain said annoyed. The doctor could clearly see the dislike between the Captain and this Vincenzo kid. The doctor was new here, only joining the crew of the Eliminator a week ago, so he has no idea of the potential bad blood between the superior officer and the young man.
"Is he the pilot of that suit Leeroy and Jenkins found yesterday?" Vincenzo asked as he pointed with his free left hand at the sleeping young man. The medical team removed the flight suit he was in and got him into normal patient clothes. A few bandages were wrapped around a few cuts and bruises he must have suffered during the explosions. He looked to be okay, but the doctor wanted to make sure he was okay and looked forward to rendezvousing with the Devastator.
"That's right. We have no idea who he is and he's still unconscious." The doctor answered,
"I heard from Leeroy that the explosion was that really big for a suit that size. Bet you it knocked him into next week. Or next month." Vincenzo said,
"Just what are you doing here anyway? You should be going over the reports from Keith and the others." The Captain said. The team received a load of spy reports from their comrades on the Devastator. It was filled with information regarding the actions of the PLANTs and the Earth Alliance. The organization was planning on using those reports to initiate attacks in the future.
"I'm letting Haro dry his circuits. It's Trevor's fault that Haro got wet and it beat him to a pulp. I need Haro for stuff like that because I'm an idiot." Vincenzo answered. An hour ago, another crew member named Trevor, spilled water on Vincenzo's Haro unit and it started to malfunction. Before Vincenzo got the robot, Haro bounced around the room and smacked Trevor in his face with its body. The blow that hurt the most came when Haro bounced around the room and it finally smashed itself on Trevor's crotch. Let's just say that guy is not getting up soon.
"You got to do something about that stupid machine. It is becoming nothing for a menace." The Captain said harshly,
"Hey, I need Haro, Captain. You know I have a very bad case of tunnel vision when I'm in my Duel. And it wouldn't be a problem if you retards didn't dunk him with water. He will kill you. Just wait." Vincenzo answered. At that point, The Captain nearly lost it with the young man's total disregard for his authority.
"Just where in God's name did we fucking find your ass? If I had my way, I'd kill you myself!" The Captain said loudly, his voice filling with anger and near hatred.
"Hey, it was either this or go to jail for stealing fast super cars. And I'm not interested in being ass raped by a guy who is twice as big as me. And since you're already bitching at me for not doing those reports, I'll work on them now so you can shut up." Vincenzo countered and with that, he turned around and began to leave sick bay.
"You will chop that ponytail off, Vincenzo." The Captain said harshly as he pointed at him. While the organization is considered a private military company, they do have really lax rules when it comes to personal dress and such. But for the sake of unity and morale, the crew of both the Eliminator and Devastator wear the same outfits. Mostly special jump suits in different colors to show which department they belong in and each member has the option of personalizing their suit in different ways, usually with logo patches or sewed in designs. While most people have their hairstyles look normal, Vincenzo has become rather fond of his long ponytail, despite the fact that it can easily get caught in things if he's not careful, which is very rare. In short, Vincenzo doesn't play by the rules.
"And I'll cut your balls off if you do." Vincenzo shot back with even more venom in his voice. The door closed behind the young man, leave the Captain and the Doctor with the mysterious patient. There was complete silence, except for the vitals monitor which beeped with every heartbeat.
"What are you going to do with him, Sir?" The Doctor asked, breaking the silence between the two older men.
"I really can't do anything to him. He's the only one in the organization who can operate a mobile suit with an anti-ship sword as normal armament. Plus he is that good in close combat with blades and sabers. I hate his guts, but his skill is vital in the organization." The Captain said as he let out a frustrated sigh. It was no secret that the two men from different generations really didn't get along, but he really couldn't get rid of the young man because he does have skills that is needed in missions.
"So you're up shit creek without a paddle." The Doctor pointed out,
"And that means I'm paddling with my hands in shit. Anyway, keep me updated on the patient's condition and any changes. I'm heading to the hangar to see if Leeroy found anything in that suit." The Captain said,
"Understood, Sir." The Doctor said as he gave the Captain a salute before he went back to observing the young man in the bed. With that, the Captain left sick bay and headed to the ship's small hangar.
Closing Notes:
The first real chapter comes to a close. With the Archangel fearing that ZAFT might have gotten Kira, they are fearing the worst and keeping this from Lacus won't help anyone if he isn't found soon. The mysterious organization's plans are still in the dark, but they might be more sinister than anything anyone has planned before.
I don't know how soon I can get Phase two on here, but I will try. I got ideas that are coming out. Also, it helps a lot if you listen to Super Eurobeat music. Something about Eurobeat really makes writing easier.
Please leave a review if you enjoyed this or drop me a PM if you wish. Until next time.