Celestial Being Chronicles - Chapter 133
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Gundam series, nor any of the various series which are used or referenced in my fic, so please point that damned lawsuit cannon at someone else, also, don't read this if you are not of legal age to read such material. The story contains possibly disturbing content and should not be read by close-minded people (i.e., people who are easily offended.) Everything in the story is fictional. I am also not responsible for any actions taken by people who read this story and society's problems. I do, however, own my original character; Hope Yamato.
"What is that?" Miriallia asked, pointing at the large cylindrical structure practically the size of Artemis itself.
"That is the Paimon, one of only a dozen or so Endeavor-class ships that were deployed at the start of the war." Murrue whispered, eyes shrouded. Noticing her discomfort, Miriallia turned to one of the other crewman.
"The Paimon was one of the Endeavors assigned to the Lunar Defense Fleet." He explained. "It was taken out by Rau Le Creuset."
"The same guy who's chasing us?" Miriallia asked.
"Yep. He did the craziest thing: He flew into the Paimon's main gun, a positron cannon like the two we've got, and shot the capacitors. The explosion caused the nuclear reactor to rupture, and chain-react. He took out a sixth of the fleet with that one shot." The crewman peered out the view, studying the Paimon's remains. "I think the Eurasians towed the wreck out here, and ripped out the nuclear reactor. Looks like they put a lot of solar panels on it, and ripped out some of the secondary guns, too."
Miriallia stared at the ominous hulk, shuddering as she imagined it at its prime. An enormous ship, mobile armors flooding from its docks as enormous linear cannons and beam cannons fired, with the smaller flashes of CIWS guns interspersed, as the massive positron cannon fired a single devastating shot. Finally, she asked. "Why do that? Why not repair it, and use it in the war?"
"The Neutron Jammers. The Endeavors were originally powered by large-scale, high-power nuclear fission reactors. When the Jammers went into effect, their reactors shut down, and the Endeavors became little more than enormous metal asteroids." Miriallia shuddered again, as the Archangel passed the Paimon's remains, entering the port.
"You think you can control yourself?" Hope Yamato asked, watching her friend and lover closely.
"Yes, Hope, I can handle myself." Kira Yamato replied tersely. "I haven't killed anyone on the Archangel, have I?"
"Barely." Hope answered. "I saw you with one of your beam sabers out, although not ignited, but eying Natarle." Kira's only reply was to stare balefully at Hope.
"Kira, Hope, Murrue wants you two to come along." Miriallia's voice called out, causing both of the pilots to glance up before leaving.
A five-minute jog later, Kira and Hope met Murrue, Natarle, and Mu at the starboard aft airlock.
"What's the matter?" Kira asked Murrue, the captain looking somewhat concerned.
"I don't know. They specifically asked for the pilots of the Freedom and the Strike." She answered, somewhat perturbed as they saw the guards and officials walking across the catwalk. The airlock hissed, opening as the five crewmembers stepped out. They did not expect the guards to raise their weapons, which Hope noted to be the new OMNI Assault Carbine, and aim them at the Archangel crew.
"What is the meaning of this?" Natarle blustered, shocked.
"Murrue Ramius, Natarle Badgiruel, and Mu La Flaga. You and your crew are under arrest for aiding a national criminal." One of the officials said, stepping up from behind the guards. "And you, Kira Yamato, the criminal, are under arrest for the murder of Colonel Joseph Abaddon and his retinue." Kira simply yawned. "I am Vice Admiral Edward Abaddon."
Kira stared straight ahead as he stood in the brig deep within the bowels of Atremis, studying the three guards from head-to-toe for the hundredth time, noting every piece of body armor, their weapons, their sidearm, the placement of every spare clip, everything on their person. As far as he knew, the rest of the Archangel's crew had been confined on the ship, guarded by at least a platoon of Abaddon's personal guards. He glanced over at Hope, who nodded, her eyes closed to mere slits. Kira acted quickly, face falling into an emotionless mask and pupils dilating, he snapped the handcuffs they'd restrained him with, drawing both of his beam sabers, still hidden within their sheaths. He ignited the weapons, the glowing white energy blades flaring to life as he sliced at the prison bars. The twin beam sabers were custom-made, the handles were made mostly out of titanium and wrapped with leather. The energy blades themselves were pure white, and as with all beam blades, were capable of cutting through all infantry-grade armor and most known materials as well.
Two quick slices opened a large hole in the bars, and before the guard could react, Kira had shortened the blade in his left hand and sliced through both of the guard's lungs, before moving around and slitting his throat. Two steps brought the Coordinator to the second guard, slicing through the barrel of his assault rifle with the shimmering blade in his left hand, Kira then utilized the blade in his right hand and cut deep enough into the man's neck to sever his spinal cord. Moving quickly, Kira sliced the locks of each cell, releasing the astonished Murrue, Natarle and Mu, before then cutting off their cuffs. Hope walked to the first guard, stripping him of his armor and weapons, tossing the handgun to Kira. Behind them, the three officers stared, stunned.
"I'd suggest you wait to ask questions until we get back to the ship." Kira suggested coldly, throwing a trio of handguns and spare clips to Murrue, Natarle and Mu. The officers did as suggested, and followed the two Coordinators, Kira in front and Hope following.
The situation was uncomfortable. A few days had passed since the Archangel and its crew had escaped from Artemis, and now, Kira was sitting in a chair, in the Captain's Quarters, with the back against the far wall. Before him was arrayed most of the bridge crew, as well as most of his friends from Heliopolis. A slight concern was the array of weaponry aimed at various parts of his anatomy.
"Alright." Kira started. "What's this about?"
"You've been stalling since we left Artemis." Murrue replied. "We want answers."
"Alright, what?" Kira asked.
"First, are you really the Killer Child, from that footage that Blue Cosmos spread around?" Murrue asked.
"Yes." Kira responded.
"Why are you here?" Murrue asked.
"Reclamation and protection of Orb Union property, including, but not limited to, this ship, and the Gundams." Kira answered. "I've been operating with permission from Lord Uzumi Nara Athha." At this, the Orb natives started sweating.
"What?" Murrue asked.
"Orb resources, technology and personnel were used in their construction inside Orb territory, without permission from Chief Representative Athha. Thus, it was unanimously decided that we should repossess these items." By this point Kira was feeling extremely uncomfortable, and while he'd told the truth so far, he was leaving some rather important, if personal, bits out. By then, most of the Orb natives had lowered their weapons, all of them looking quite shocked. Kira really couldn't blame them. It wasn't every day you find out your friend of one year was actually a personal agent of the Chief Representative of Orb. Well, at least he wouldn't have to drop the other bombshell.
Then Hope walked in. The female Coordinator looked around, then at Kira.
"So, they got you to tell them about how Lord Uzumi sent us to get the stuff." Kira's face met his palm as Sai, Tolle, and Miriallia stared at him. Kuzzey fainted.
"Hope!" Kira growled.
"Have you also told them how you are married to Orb Princess Cagalli Yula Athha, idol singer Lacus Clyne, ZAFT ace mobile suit pilot Shiho Hahnenfuss, as well as Captain Murrue Ramius and myself?" The amethyst-eyed woman asked, grinning. "Not to mention a few other beautiful women from various realities."
"Hope Yamato!" Kira yelled. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
However, before Hope could answer, Murrue, having now realized the futility of trying to hide the truth, put her hands on Kira's shoulder and pulled him into a deep and passionate kiss.