Yo everybody! I just want to say, thank you for the response to my last chapter! Because of that response, I was driven to write this chapter as quickly as I could. As thanks for the response. And a special thanks to my long time fans and a new fan, Nivek Beldo. I've never had anyone compliment my OCs like that before. I actually can't wait now until I reach the chapters yet to come and hear from you all. Especially the final one.
Now, there is one thing I wish to set straight. Just about everyone's been asking if Chris will get a nuclear MS. Sadly, he won't be piloting a nuclear MS in SEED. I have something special planned for him. Something I can't do with a nuclear MS. So no SEED nuclear MS for Chris.
Now, I loaded the last chapter with fight scenes because I knew that this chapter would have no where near as much. So I could make room for all the important talking parts. So don't expect anything spectacular in this chapter.
Phase Twenty-Five: Into the Dawn Skies
Kira's eyes widened as he stared at the red mobile suit before him. "Athrun?"
"Dammit! Who the hell are you?!!" Clotho shouted, transforming the Raider and charging at the pair.
"Wow... Another one of these funny looking mobile suits." Shani commented before he too charged the Freedom and the Justice.
Both Earth Forces machines fired. The Freedom and the Justice flew up, dodging the shots.
"What are you doing here?" Kira demanded. "Has ZAFT decided to stick it's nose in this battle too?"
"I haven't received any specific orders regrading this battle. This intervention is my decision alone!" Athrun said, firing on the two mobile suits as they passed.
The Raider transformed back and spun around. "I don't know who you are, but you're going to be a fatality too!!" Clotho shouted as he threw his hammer at the Justice.
Athrun dodged the hammer, when suddenly, Kevin appeared behind the Justice. Roaring as he swung the Massacre's saber down on the Justice. Athrun swung and blocked it with one of his own. Suddenly, Kevin pulled up his remaining beam Gatling gun and squeezed the trigger.
But nothing happened. The gun's battery had been depleted. Kevin swore, cursing his weapon's failure to fire. He slammed the useless weapon into the Justice's chest, destroying the gun and knocking Athrun back. "I'm gonna tear you apart!" Kevin shouted, drawing his other saber and charging the Justice.
But Athrun recovered and fired the Fatum-00 subflight pack at the Massacre. It slammed into the mobile suit's chest, knocking it back. The Forbidden lunged at the Freedom, swinging it's scythe. Kira jumped back, avoiding the attack and unfolding the Freedom's railguns. Kira fired, but Shani managed to block the shots with it's shields.
"Finishing move!" Clotho roared, firing his beam cannon at the Justice.
Athrun blocked the beam with his shield. He then drew his other saber and combined them into one dual-bladed saber. He charged the black machine. Clotho blocked his attack with the shield on the Raider's railgun. But the Massacre had returned and hell-bent getting some payback.
However, at that very moment, the Calamity fired again into the group. It's beams coming perilously close to the Justice, the Massacre and the Raider. "Orga!!" an enraged Clotho shouted.
"You're bugging me!" Orga shouted back, the Calamity once again leaping into the air and firing at the group. Specifically the Massacre and the Raider.
Suddenly, he turned to the Forbidden and fired at it. "The same goes for you Shani!!"
Shani defected the beams with his shields. One of the beams flew past the Freedom and the Justice. "These guys don't give a damn about each other." a stunned Athrun said.
The Raider aimed it's railgun at the Calamity. "You're bugging me Org-GAAAAAAAAH!!!"
At that moment, the Gamma Glipheptin in their bodies ran out and the four Biological CPUs started to go through withdrawal. Their bodies were engulfed in agony and they all screamed out in pain. "Aw crap... We're out of time!" Orga shouted. "Clotho!!"
The Raider transformed into it's mobile armor mode and grabbed the Calamity's shoulder with it's claws, pulling it to the Powell, the Forbidden and the Massacre close behind.
The Powell
"The Calamity, the Forbidden, the Massacre and the Raider are returning sir."
Everyone on the bridge was stunned. "They're what?!" Captain Oswald shouted.
Azrael scowled. They hadn't last as long as they were suppose to. Nor had they defeated those machines. It was completely unacceptable. He'd have to talk to the doctors about increasing the dosages they were being given. After they were properly punished for their failure of course. And then there were those two machines. The white one and the red one that had just arrived. There was some odd about them. The amount of power those machines were displaying didn't seem possible with normal batteries. He briefly wondered if...
Oswald turned to him. "Do you have an explanation for this?" he demanded.
Azrael stood up. "Well then Captain, I think it's time we took a break from this battle. Recall all you're forces." he said with a smirk. "Don't worry it's only temporary."
"What?!"
"Face it. We're not going to get anywhere with just the Strike Daggers. It simply means Orb had some hidden strengths we weren't quite ready for. We wouldn't stand a chance without the new machines."
Bowing to his logic, Oswald gave the order.
The Powell fired up a signal flare. Signaling a temporary retreat for the Earth Forces. The defenders of Orbs all collectively breathed out a sigh of relief. It was over... For now.
"They're retreating for now. Have all forces switch to standby." a weary Samuel Dante ordered as Cagalli left the command room. "Have all surviving forces meet at rally points Bravo, Charlie and Zulu. Get all available personal to repair and resupply the surviving units. And send out teams of medics to search for any wounded. I want a full status report on our remaining forces within the hour."
The Raider's cockpit hatch opened and Clotho fell out, ripping off his helmet. "It hurts!! IT HURTS!!!" he screamed as his fellow Extended cried out in pain as well.
Withdrawal was always pure hell. And no matter how many times they went through it, they were never use to it. Every ounce of their bodies were hit with pain. It felt like every inch of their insides were on fire. They all cried out, almost pleading for some kind of relief from the agony.
But they got none from the doctors. The doctors simply scribbled down notes on their clipboards and watched them flail around in pain.
Onogoro
"Thanks for the backup." Kira said. "But I'm still wondering, what exactly are your true intentions?"
"I'm under orders from the homeland to either recapture or destroy the machine you're flying right now." Athrun explained. "But I have no intention, at least for now, of fighting you or your allies. I just want to talk."
Kira nodded. "Okay."
A few minutes later, both machines set down on the edge of one of the gatherings of tired Orb soldiers. This particular one was centered around the Archangel. And all of the other Gundams had already arrived there as well. As they landed, a group gathered around the machines. Among the group, was Cagalli, Mu, Chris, Dearka, Saul, Nicol, Murrue and the rest of the Archangel crew. They all watched as Kira and Athrun left their mobile suits and walked towards each other. Both Kira and Athrun found themselves looking back at everything that had happened. From before Heliopolis to their most recent encounters with Lacus Clyne. Out of no where, Birdie appeared and landed on Kira's shoulder. Kira smiled. "Hi Athrun."
Athrun nodded. "Kira."
"Oh you guys!" Cagalli shouted, running towards the pair. When she reached them, she hugged them, her eyes watering slightly. "You guys are such idiots!"
Kira and Athrun couldn't help but chuckle as she held them.
"Well now. If only Yzak were here, then we'd have a full fledged reunion." a familiar voice said.
Athrun broke away from the hug and turned to the voice. Standing in front of the group was Nicol, Dearka and Saul. "It's good to see you Athrun." Nicol said with smile.
Athrun returned the smile. "Same here Nicol."
Later That Night
A Heli soared over the damaged areas of Orb. Lord Uzumi Nara Athha stared out at the devastation below them. "With our surviving strength, it's unlikely that we will last more than a few hours after resume they're attack." Samuel said from pilot's seat.s
"I know." Uzumi replied. "Was the civilian evacuation successful?"
"For the most part. We've estimated that approximately eighty-five percent of the civilian population has been evacuated. The rest have been moved to the far side of Onogoro. Hopefully they'll be safe there."
Uzumi nodded. "Thank you for all that you've done. I have one more thing I needed for you to do for me."
"You're going through it then?"
"Yes. It is the only way for Orb to achieve a meaningful victory."
Samuel nodded. "I know."
An Orb Hanger
The hanger was abuzz with activity. Technicians rushed to resupply and repair the Astrays and other mobile suits. Kira and Athrun were sitting together in front of the Freedom and the Justice, explaining what had happened. Chris, Saul, Nicol, Dearka, Miri, and many of the other Archangel crew members all stood nearby. As Kira neared the he of his explanation, Cagalli came by with cups of water to give the two and pass them along before taking a seat across from them.
"I know that it's the most difficult path for Orb to have taken." Kira explained. "But I also believe that it cannot be helped. I believe that Cagalli's father is true. If Orb sided with the Earth Forces, then the Atlantic Federation would use its resources to attack the PLANTs, but the same is true if Orb sided with ZAFT. The only difference would be who was designated the enemy. But there would be no real change for the better. I can't let it go on like that."
He stopped, choosing his next words carefully. "I know I nearly killed your comrade, a close friend. But I never knew him or actually met him before that." He paused again. "The same was true when you killed Tolle. You never knew him or even met him. And it's not like you wanted to kill him."
Athrun averted his glance. He couldn't look Kira in the eye after that. "No, I didn't." he admitted. "But I really wanted to kill you and tried my hardest to do so."
"As did I." Kira said, looking up towards the Freedom and Justice. "It'd be great if we lived in a world where we never had to fight. And that if we could stay in that world forever. But this war is only getting worse everyday. If it continues like this, eventually Earth and the PLANTs will have no choice but to wipe each other out. And that's why I'm fighting." He paused to take a drink. "When I started fighting, I did to protect others. But having pulled a trigger, it's too late to go back. Are you and I will have to fight each other again?"
Athrun couldn't find an answer. The words of his father and Lacus were stuck on a constant loop in his mind. He didn't know what he should do anymore. Before, everything had been so simple. Obey the orders of your superiors in the military and the government, and fight the enemy. But now everything had become so complicated.
Kira turned to Chris. "I'm curious, why do you fight Chris?" he asked.
Chris shrugged. "Well nothing as noble as you. I guess I'm simply watching your back so you live long enough to change the world for the better. That, and keep everyone else alive."
Kira smiled as he stood up. "Well, I should get back to my duties now." he said before leaving.
"I have one question Kira." Athrun said, stopping him. "The Freedom has the N-Jammer Canceler. What if someone tried to acquire the data for their own purposes?"
"I'd shoot them." Kira said instantly. "And if needed, I'd destroy the Freedom to safeguard it."
And with that, Kira left. Chris let out a whistle. "Whatever Miss Clyne said to him in PLANTs, it sure was effective." he commented. "Well, I better go see that the Raven's been resupplied."
He left as well. And one by one, the others left to get back to work. Though, Miri got into a bad argument with Dearka about Tolle's death at Athrun's hands before she ran off with Dearka chasing after her. In the end, only Athrun and Cagalli were left.
The Powell
"So Captain, when will we be able to resume the attack?" Azrael asked.
"Orb has been repeatedly sending requests to open negotiations." Oswald said.
"No. It's far too late for that." Azrael replied. "We could never hope to control a nation like that. It'd be in our best interest if they... disappeared."
"We'll be ready to resume the attack in the morning. The main concern is with your people."
"Sorry about that. But things are being taken care of as we speak. There won't be a repeat of what happened earlier."
The Hanger
Athrun sat beside the Justice, thinking on everything that had happened since this whole mess began. But he noticed that Cagalli was standing nearby and watching him. "Why are you sticking so close to me anyway?" he asked.
"No reason." Cagalli answered. "I just wanted to keep an eye on you."
While he didn't laugh, he did get her little joke. After all that had happened the two previous times they'd been together, he wasn't surprised the she'd stick close to him for a while.
"You must be relieved to see that Kira's alive." she commented.
Athrun wasn't sure what exactly to say to that. "Yeah." He paused and added. "I never got to thank you for before."
"What? Of course you did. Well, kind of. After all, in your state of mind at the time, you might not remember."
She, of course, was lying.
"Mm... Yeah." an unconvinced Athrun said.
Cagalli wanted to change the subject, and fast. "Kira's really changed, hasn't he?"
"Not really."
Cagalli twisted her head back to him. "No?"
"He's pretty much the same as he's always been." He replied, standing up.
"So, what you plan to do about everything?" she asked with a hint of nervousness. She was worried about his answer to her question.
"I really don't know." He told her. "But maybe the answer is right in front of me and I just haven't seen it yet. This is going to be a tough choice."
As he walked away, Cagalli had to agree with him. Everyone at Orb, she, her father, her friends, and the crew of the Archangel faced a daunting path ahead of them.
The Powell
The Next Morning
"We've increased the Gamma Glipheptin by ten units." the doctor coldly explained to them as they writhed on the ground in pain. "It should work for at least two hours. If you don't want to feel that kind of pain again, then you better improve your performance."
Clotho, Kevin, Orga, and Shani grabbed the vials they were given and greedily drank the drug. In a matter of seconds, the drug flooded their systems, bringing sweet relief from the pain. Their pain-induced spasms subsided as their cries of pain turned to labored, heavy gasps for air.
"Thank you...for stopping the pain..." Clotho weakly said.
Of course, none of them felt any shred of gratitude towards the doctors who administered the drugs. They hated them and desired to inflict pain the same pain they felt on them. But they couldn't. They needed the drugs the doctors had to survive. Whether it was the Gamma Glipheptin or the other medicine that made going through withdrawal bearable.
"Now get going." the doctor ordered.
The four pilots left the room, heading for the hanger. There was no need for them to change as they hadn't changed out of their flightsuits. All they needed was to get their helmets. Which were still in the hanger.
A few minutes later, they were in their machines, powering them up. If they couldn't take their anger out on the doctors for letting them suffer through the night, then they were gonna take their anger out on something else. Those mobile suits they fought the day before. In their minds, it was because of them that they suffered.
"Those funny machines..." Shani said with a scowl.
"Let's rip them apart." Kevin growled.
"Yeah. They're gonna pay." Clotho added.
"That's a promise." Orga said, agreeing with his teammates.
Today was going to be about revenge.
The Earth Forces renewed their attack, launching countless Strike Daggers and Spearhead fighters. But the surviving Orb defenders fought like they were possessed. The Farsight fired into the air, hitting Daggers and Spearheads every time. Dearka fired off his cannons and missiles into the air as well, taking out more invaders.
Elsewhere, an Astray and Dagger dueled when a second Dagger moved into the attack the Astray from behind. Suddenly, the Neo Blitz fired it's pincer claw at the mobile suit. The claw grabbed the Dagger's waist and squeezed. The claws cut into the machine's sides until it exploded. At the same time, the Astray overpowered the Dagger and sliced it in two. "Thanks." Juri said.
"Don't mention it." Nicol replied.
Nearby, the Surge fired off it's claw, which tore through a Dagger while he gunned down another one with his rifle. Three more Daggers fired at him. The Surge leaped out of the way, firing it's rifle at them. The shots found their marks, destroying the Daggers.
Overhead, the Freedom, the Justice and the Raven all fired down on the mobile suits. Kira's shots stripped the Daggers of their weapons, limbs and heads. While Chris's and Athrun's shots destroyed Daggers.
An Orb battleship suddenly exploded. From the fire and smoke, the Forbidden emerged. The Massacre appeared, firing it's repaired beam cannon at another Orb vessel, piercing it's hull at the water level. Then the Calamity and the Raider joined in. Their combined firepower sinking two more Orb warships. "Dammit! Where are they?!" Clotho shouted. "Where are those bastards from yesterday?!!"
"It looks like those guys from yesterday are back." Chris said as he stared out at the harbor where they were fighting. "This is gonna be trouble."
"Are you sure you be able to fight them with us?" Kira asked, concerned for his friend.
"Hey! The Raven may not be as new and as powerful as your machines or their's but we can still kick ass together!" Chris shot back in an annoyed tone.
"Sorry. Just asking."
"There they are!!" Orga shouted.
All four Earth Forces mobile suits raced towards the trio. It was time for payback.
The Athena's heavy swords sliced through a trio of Strike Daggers as Mu gunned down two more. But more Strike Daggers appeared, pressing the attack. "Man... This is getting crazy." Liz said, firing her arm mounted beam rifle at the advancing Daggers. "No matter how many we destroy, more just keep on coming. Is the entire Earth Alliance military attacking Orb or something?"
"I doubt it." Mu replied as he and a group of Astrays fired at the Daggers as well. "If the entire military was brought against Orb, we would have been finished after a few hours yesterday."
At that moment, a barrage of missiles and beams tore through the Daggers. "Numbers won't help you out here!" Dearka shouted as he, Nicol and Saul fired into the group.
"Yeah! Quality trumps quantity!" Saul added.
"Damn you copycat! Just die already!!" Clotho shouted, firing at the Raven.
Chris dove dodging the shots. "Come on copycat, is that the best you can do?" he taunted, racing away from the Raider.
"Get back here you bastard!" Clotho roared, chasing after the Raven.
'I don't why those machines have so much power, but if I can get him to use it up quickly, I be able to beat this punk.' Chris thought as he dodged shots from Raider.
Elsewhere, Kira fired at the Forbidden with his beam rifle. But again, it bounced off the Geschmeidig Panzer system. Suddenly, the Calamity fired at him, forcing him to dodge the beam. Giving Shani an opening. He fired several shots from his plasma induction cannon. The Freedom, like a graceful dancer, moved around the arcing beams. Kira switched the Freedom to HiMAT mode and fired at the Forbidden. Hitting it's defectors with everything he had. However, the Forbidden's shields held out against the onslaught. But Kira figured that if he couldn't overpower the deflector, he try to drain as much of the machine's power as possible.
Nearby, the Massacre and the Justice were going at it. Kevin was firing wildly, but made up for his lack of aim with pure firepower. Athrun was struggling just to avoid the machine's firepower. He had to try something to disrupt the Massacre. He grabbed one of the Justice's beam boomerangs and threw it near the Massacre. Kevin didn't even pause as the flew past him. He did stop however, when the boomerang came back. Heading straight for him. The Massacre sidestepped the weapon, giving Athrun an opening. He caught the boomerang and charged forward, using it as a beam knife. The Massacre's right arm shot up on reflex. Trying to block the beam. The boomerang's blade sliced through the twin barrels of his right Gatling gun. Rendering it useless. Kevin let out an angry growl. "I'm gonna tear you apart!"
He drew a beam saber and swung at the Justice. Athrun barely managed to parry the swing with his boomerang. He quickly kicked the Massacre, knocking it back and allowing him to switch to his own beam saber. Both swung, locking their blades in a contest of strength.
"Die! Die! Die!" Kevin repeated over and over as he tried to overpower the Justice.
But in the end, the Justice started to over power the Massacre. Suddenly, the Massacre's chest plate opened. "DIE!!!" Kevin roared, firing the chest Gatling guns.
Athrun, caught off guard, broke from the contest as bullets impacted the Justice. They had little effect on the Justice, but they had achieved the desired result. Kevin lunged forward, swinging his saber again. Athrun pulled up his shield, blocking the strike.
The battle raged on across Orb. While the Orb defenders fought valiantly, chipping away at the might of the Earth Forces, they couldn't stand against the numbers of the Earth Alliance forever. Sooner or later, Orb would fall. Lord Uzumi and General Dante grimly watched the battle play out in command room when an officer approached. "Lord Uzumi, General Dante, preparations are complete."
Both men nodded. "Inform our forces, we're abandoning Onogoro." Uzumi ordered. "We're regrouping at Kaguya."
Chris grimaced as his power meter reached the danger levels. He wouldn't be able to last much longer. And his black double seemed to be able to continue going on for awhile yet. How could these machines have that much power? They couldn't be nuclear powered, so than what was giving these machines all this power?
But he wasn't the only one running low on power. Orga also noticed that his machine was starting to run low. He went to fire the Calamity's Schlag cannons, but nothing happened. It was then he saw the flashing alarms showing that the energy supply was running dangerously low. "Damn! You stupid mobile suit!!" he cursed. "How can you be out of power already?!"
"It's cause you're firing all over the place dumbass." Clotho jeered.
"Shut up!" Orga shouted back.
"If you're leaving, then go." Clotho smugly said as chased after the Raven. "But you're on your own."
But that momentary distraction was all Chris needed. He drew a beam saber and turned around. Clotho narrowly managed to back away from the descending saber. But in the process, Chris's saber sliced through the Raider spherical break, destroying it. Clotho transformed the Raider and fled from the Raven, unaware that it's saber and armor deactivated.
"Hey! You're the dumbass!" Orga called out.
Before Clotho could respond, the Calamity jumped onto the back of the Raider.
"Who the hell said you could get on?!" Clotho demanded.
"Shut up! We're returning to recharge." Orga responded. "You're low on juice as well. So quit complaining!"
Clotho gritted his teeth and finally steered his mobile suit back towards the carrier, carrying Orga. Kira fired at the Forbidden, which raised it's deflector shields again. But this time, the shots hit the shields rather than be deflected. "No more?" Shani said as his power meter read low power.
Kevin roared, firing his Gatling guns and beam cannon at the Freedom. Kira pulled the Freedom up, evading the fire. Suddenly, the Massacre's guns stopped. "Fire! Fire!" Kevin howled as the low power alarms went off in his cockpit. "GAAAAAAH!!!"
Both pilots, seeing no other choice, followed their teammates, heading for the Powell.
Mass Driver Control Room
Kaguya
A Short While Later
"Leave Orb?" Murrue asked. "You're telling us to just run away?"
"I'm sure that you've realized that Orb has already lost." Uzumi grimly replied. "It's only a matter of time before it completely falls."
"What are you saying, father?" Cagalli asked.
Uzumi turned to her. "The citizens have all been evacuated and they'll be taken care of elsewhere. From here on, we will be the ones to take care of the responsibilities." he turned to the rest of the group and continued. "The Earth Forces' present actions are being guided by the leader of Blue Cosmos, Muruta Azrael. To make matters worse, the PLANTs are led by someone who believes Coordinators are a new species, for Patrick Zala rules them now. The way things are developing, the world will soon be trapped between two forces who refuse to accept each others' existence. Is this the future you want to see? If you desire a different world, take this small light of hope we've kindled and use it to set a course for a new future. It means a hard road again, but I'm sure you understand why it's necessary, Murrue Ramius."
Murrue nodded. "That light may be small, but it burns brightly. We believe in it as well."
"Then I suggest that you get ready."
Murrue and the rest of the Archangel's bridge crew left the room, returning to the Archangel. Samuel turned from the screen he was staring to the gathered mobile suit pilots. "I suggest you all quickly decide whether you're going with them or not before it's too late."
A Short While Later
Kira, Athrun, Chris, Dearka, Saul and Nicol all stood outside the Mass Driver with their mobile suits. The ZAFT pilots were trying to decided what they were going to do next while Kira and Chris waited to board the Archangel. "You know, there is still a chance that Carpentaria will welcome us back. After all, we have been fighting the Earth Forces all this time." Dearka suggested.
Saul snorted. "Bah! We'll probably be label as deserters at best and traitors at worst." he said. "I have to admit, it felt good fighting because I wanted to rather than because I was ordered to."
"Then what are you suggesting?"
"Well, maybe we should stay with the Archangel and fight with them."
Athrun absently listened to the discussion. His mind focused on his encounter with Lacus. "She called me a soldier of ZAFT. She knew all along what I had become." He said, interrupting the conversation. "Since this war started, I thought you just had to follow the orders of your nation no matter what and defeat the enemy to bring a quick end to the war. But now…Now I'm just not sure anymore. What is it that we should really be fighting against?"
"Come with us, Athrun." Kira said. "We'll try to find the answers together."
Athrun smiled and looked back at the line of M1s that were boarding the Kusanagi. He knew Kira had a valid point. Maybe together, they could find what they should really be fighting against and bring this war to an end.
The Powell
"They're gathering at Kaguya?"
"Yes, it looks like they're getting ready to make their last stand." Oswald answered.
Azrael smirked. "Attha still is insisting to drag this out to the bitter end. Actually I find this quite amusing. It'll be more satisfying when we crush them all into the dust."
"Director." An officer said. "The machines have been resupplied and are ready. Shall I give the order to launch?"
"Of course, you dolt!" Azrael barked. "Send them out immediately!" Moments later, he watched as the Raider, the Forbidden, the Calamity, and the Massacre took off.
Mass Driver Control Room
"Sir! Incoming mobile suits! It's those four!"
Samuel swore. The Archangel's launch was about to begin. They couldn't let those four interfere. There was only one thing they could to buy time. "Remaining Orb forces. This is General Dante. Those four new Earth Forces machines are heading for the Mass Driver. You must stop them for as long as you can so we can launch the Archangel and the Kusanagi." he said over the comm. "But don't be heroes. Just buy us some time."
"Don't worry sir! We won't let those bastards reach Kaguya!"
He closed the comm line and saluted the men and women he had just sent to their deaths. "Initiate the final launch sequence! Get the Archangel into space now!!"
"It's those four again." Kira said as the Freedom and the other mobile suits powered up. "We'll cover your launch, Archangel."
"Dearka, Nicol, Saul, return to the Archangel. Your machines aren't equipped for an aerial battle." Athrun ordered.
"Fine." Deakra grumbled as the three of them headed for the Archangel. "But you guys better watch your backs out there."
"We will."
"You better go too Chris." Kira added. "We may have to make a sudden escape and the Raven may not have the power to make it."
"Right. Just make sure you guys catch the last bus out of here." Chris said, joining the others heading for the Archangel.
"Don't worry. We will." Kira replied as they headed towards the incoming mobile suits.
Once the last of the mobile suits boarded the Archangel and were secured in it's hanger, the ship started it's launch. Once it was up in the air, the Archangel fired it's Lohengrin cannons, creating a Positronic Interference Effect as it activated the additional boosters from the Kusanagi, that had been mounted on the ship. Propelling the white warship into the atmosphere.
Inside the control room, Uzumi and Samuel watched the Archangel head into space. Next to them, was Cagalli, pleading with her father. "Father, please! There's no reason for you to stay here! We can escape together!"
Uzumi turned to his daughter. She was wrong. There was one final thing for him to do. "What are you still doing here, Cagalli?!" he said, grabbing her arm and started to drag her away from the control room. Samuel followed them. "We have our responsibilities, as you have yours! All will be lost if no one is left to carry out our hopes!"
"The Kusanagi has been fully loaded and all components are configured for launch." one of the members of the government called over the intercom. The facility shook as the battle outside drew closer. At last, Uzumi, Samuel, and his daughter reached the ship as Kisaka waved to them. "Lord Uzumi! General Dante! Cagalli! Hurry!" he called out.
Uzumi shoved Cagalli towards Kisaka, but remained on the platform. "Hurry, Kisaka. And please take care of my foolish daughter."
"No father!" Cagalli pleaded, her eyes watering.
Uzumi looked to her and his hardened expression became softer. He wiped tears that dripped from her eyes. "Stop giving me that look. It doesn't suit the daughter of the Lion of Orb." He said, comforting her. "You may be losing your father, but you won't be alone." He then handed her photo of a young woman cradling two newborns in her arms. "You'll be with your brother."
Cagalli was shocked by what he had just said and looked on the back of the photo. In the lower corner, two names were scribbled on the photo. 'Kira' and 'Cagalli'. She gasped, overwhelmed by this sudden revelation. She looked up at her father, who nodded, confirming the truth of the matter.
Uzumi turned to Samuel. "You as well Samuel." he said to the aging general.
Samuel was visibly stunned by this request. "But-"
"Go. My daughter will need someone to help her and guide her in the years to come."
Samuel sighed and nodded. "It has been a privilege and an honor." he said as they shook hands for the last time.
"Indeed it has. For the both of us."
Samuel turned around and boarded the Kusanagi as well. Uzumi turned to his daughter for the last time and smiled. "I feel very fortunate to have been your father."
At that moment, the hull door was sealed shut, separating them, and the catwalk pulled away. "Go now, everything rests on you all from here on!" He called before retreating back to the command center.
The Kusanagi's bridge crew performed the final systems check as did those in the Mass Driver Control Room. Everything was ready to go.
"Departure of all personnel except those in Division C is confirmed."
"All systems are a go."
"Launch the Kusanagi." Uzumi ordered as he reached the control room.
The Mass Driver activated as the Kusanagi's engines ignited. The vessel started to slide across the Driver ramp. Slow at first. But steadily gaining speed as it went. But this did not go unnoticed. The six mobile suit pilots battling near the Mass Driver noticed it. All four Extended pilots turned to the Kusanagi. They failed to stop the white ship, so they weren't gonna let this one get away. While for Kira and Athrun, it was their last chance to get into space.
All of them headed for the Kusanagi, with the Freedom and the Justice in front. Kira reached the ship first, landing on the Kusanagi and grabbing a hold of it's side. Kira turned to Athrun, who was struggling to reach the ship. Kira extended the Freedom's hand to the Justice as the Earth Forces machines started firing at them. But all of their shots went wide, missing the ship and the mobile suits.
Athrun finally managed to grab the Freedom's hand and Kira pulled him in. Once the Justice was secure, both of them turned around to face their attacks and let loose a barrage. The shots hit the water, sending up a huge geyser in the path of the Extended, stopping them.
At that moment, the Kusanagi cleared the ramp, rocketing into the heavens.
Mass Driver Control Room
Lord Uzumi and most of Orb's government were gathered, watching the Kusanagi fly into space with the Freedom and the Justice. "We've done it. The seed has flown." Uzumi said as his hand reached for a single, large red button on the console, his expression hardening. "We can't leave Orb or this world in the hands of those bastards."
His finger pushed the button...
The bombs that had been planted, went off. A massive fireball consumed Morgenroete as explosions traveled along Orb's Mass Diver. Destroying both and robbing the Alliance of it's sole reasons for invading Orb. Aboard the Powell, Azrael watched in horror as everything they had worked for went up in flames. Those damn Biological CPUs had completely failed him! He'd make sure the doctors held off giving them their medicine for half a day at least, as punishment for their failure. He slammed his fists into the armrests of his chair. "Damn you Uzumi Nara Athha!!!" he screamed.
Aboard the Kusanagi, Cagalli cried out for her father as the fireball consumed the entire Mass Driver facility.
And so Uzumi Nara Athha dies. I rather liked him. He had some great speeches. And his death was great. I'd have to rate it as one of the top ten anime deaths of all time. Ah well. The final stretch has come. And some very interesting things are going to happen soon.
As always my fans, please review. I love to hear from you and it drives me to write faster.