I was awoken by Raasik calling my name through the communication channel. "Array. Array, are you alright?! I could feel an explosion from all the way out here."
I looked around at my surroundings. I was still in the cockpit but almost everything was offline. I tried turning the suit back on, and rerouting some of the system but it was unresponsive. "Yes, I am fine. But my suit is not. How is everything out there?"
"These guys are skilled, but we are managing just fine. I'd give it another five minutes."
"Great, and I will go and take care of this other pilot."
"Do you need help?"
"I can handle it myself. Just take care of things out there."
Grabbing my gun, I opened the hatch of my cockpit. I slowly crept out looking for the GINN pilot. So far, there was no sign. He didn't give me too much of a chance to peek out before the pilot was firing shots in my direction. I retreated farther back into the cockpit to escape the shots. A few more shots fired and then they stopped. I slowly creeped out again, and without fail, the soldier started shooting at me. I retreated once more but now, I knew where he was. I catapulted myself into the open air of the hangar, and shot directly in the direction of the pilot. He was still there. My first few shots were a little off, but the the third one grazed his left shoulder which resulted in the pilot crying out in pain. Searching for cover, I found an old piece of machinery and made a break for it. When I looked back at the pilot, he was going deeper into the station. If he kept on, he would soon find the air-locked chambers, where the rest of the crew was. I pursued.
The pilot would routinely look back as he progressed forward and shoot so I would have to take cover. I would in response try to return fire. Before long, we were at the air-locked chambers.
He found our quarters. I need to stop him before he harms anyone. I tried shooting at him before he could make it through the entrance. I was too late. He slipped in and the door shut behind him. My bullets ricocheted off the metal doors. I started running towards the doors.
"We have them, Array." Raasik's voice came in from my helmet. "Time to finish them off. Ready.."
Images from my past started to flood my mind, overwhelming me with emotions. "STOP!" I yelled into my helmet. "Ceasefire! I repeat, ceasefire! Ask them if they will surrender."
"What?! Arr—"
"Ask them if they will surrender." I ordered Raasik sternly.
He took a deep sigh, "As you say..."
"Thank you." I gave a sigh of relief.
"I hope you have a good reason for this, Array."
I hope so too. Why did I do that? I didn't reply but instead skirted into the small room to pursue the ZAFT soldier.
The door behind me locked and sealed, and I could hear oxygen seeping through side panels of the small room. My feet at the same instance touched the ground as the artificial gravity system kicked in. Once I step into the larger chamber, he is going to open fire at me. I need him to fire at something else first. I need to create a diversion. I tried to recall the setup within the larger room. He would probably station behind the stack of boxes at 10 o'clock from the door entrance, because it is only vulnerable from two sides. So... if I throw something towards those boxes, he will shoot at that first because it will be the first moving thing he sees. Which may give me enough time to get to the crates that are at four o'clock. Now for a diversion... I glanced at the four square metre room. Of course, it was empty. I guess I can use my helmet. I pulled it off, and took a deep breath. Let's do this.
The door opened before me and I threw the helmet to my left. I didn't wait to see his reaction, I darted for the crates to my right. I heard shots as they hit the helmet. I dove for the crates, and just made it in time as a bullet hit the wall behind me. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. As soon as I recovered from my leap, I positioned myself against the stack of crates. Looking out to get a glimpse of the the pilot I saw he was safely tucked between the crates I thought he would go to. I took a few shots to gauge my trajectory more accurately, but I quickly became aware that it was useless. I don't have a clear shot. A few more bullets went flying by the crate and into the wall behind me. Now what? Looking around to gauge my options, I realized there wasn't too many. The only places to take cover were where I was stationed, and where the soldier was.
Well, I could use suppressive fire...but that is just ridiculous. Or I could just wait till Raasik comes. But I don't have time for that. I thought a little longer, as I felt a few more bullets lodge themselves into the crate I was hiding behind. No, I am doing it. I am not going to wait around for them to help me.
Replacing the magazine in my gun, I took a deep breath. One, two, three! I ran forward, firing hastily at the target. Before I knew it I was almost at the pilot's position. I grabbed my knife, and jump dived over the wall of crates, body checking myself into the pilot. We both fell to the floor with a hard thud almost knocking out the wind from me. Without delay, I knocked the gun out of his hand.
"A Red?!" I looked astounded at him as noticed the colour of his suit for the first time.
My distraction cost me. The Red pilot took the opportunity to throw me off and swiftly grabbed his own knife. We now stood only metres apart from each other. Our eyes locked on each other, waiting to see who would make that first move. I did. With a small leap and an dodge to the left, I was able to deflect his armed arm and swing behind them I then disarmed the pilot of his knife. After a small tussle, I managed to maneuver myself on top of him on the floor with my knife at his throat. This time I knew better and pinned down his arms.
A moment of stillness seemed to hang in the air as my eyes, filled with ferocity, locked with his. My braid of deep brown hair swayed side to side very slightly as it hung over my shoulder. It was the only motion other than our heavy breathing. I could feel my blood coursing through my veins, and every heartbeat as it pounded in my chest. I felt satisfaction. I had won. For an instant, I thought that I could also feel my opponent's heart beating rapidly within his own chest. As I looked into his eyes, I knew that they contained that same fierceness as myself. Beyond the fierceness though, I saw the soul of another human being.
At that moment it was hard not to follow through with my action and end his life right there, my instinct was strong. It cried out for blood, but I resisted.
"Array!" Raasik came rushing through the door with two others. It was a blur what happened next. Before I knew it the pilot was sprinting away from me. There was a gash across my stomach, and I was yelling out in pain. A shot echoed through the air, and the ZAFT soldier fell to the ground. Raasik's group started to run towards the pilot to finish the job. Before they could reach him to get a clear shot, I jumped in front of the pilot.
"No! Stop!" I seethed while clutching my side, "that is enough. Don't you dare fire another shot."
"Array," Jakob, stepped forward, "but he tried to kill you!"
"I said that is enough! He is not going to be hurting anyone else. I promise." I kicked his gun out of his reach. "You shot him in the stomach for crying out loud!" I glanced back at the pilot who was trying to push himself into a sitting position. The ZAFT soldier looked at me in bewilderment. I could tell even he was surprised at my actions.
Raasik sighed, "Do what she says. Lower your weapons."
"Thank you." I mouthed to Raasik with a small smile.
He nodded in return. "Take him to the lab, I will tell the others to bring the rest of the prisoners there as well."
"So they surrendered?
"Yes, they did."
"Raasik, you might want to tell the others to disable any type of tracking system within the GINNs, we don't want to lead them to our base. Even though I doubt they would be able to really communicate anyways in this dead zone." I advised him as I tried to collect myself.
Jakob and Mark quickly dashed over to the pilot who was behind me. They grabbed him forcefully and started whisking him for any other weapons. Raasik nodded his head at my comment and turned away to establish communication with the rest of the team.
Raasik was my closest comrade in our crew. His dark and sharp features could give the impression to others that he was cold, but I knew better. Behind his usually stern face laid a heart that was well-meaning for others. He was practical, strong-willed, and by the book, but his intentions were always good. There were few people I would trust my life with, and Raasik was one of them. Raasik's seniority of age - which gave him in a sense a seniority of command - was more evident than with others, but he never flaunted this fact.
Jakob and Mack violently hoisted the pilot up and dragged him off towards the lab. Before I could get too far though in helping myself stabilize, Raasik was by my side to offer support. We both followed close behind Jakob and Mack with the prisoner in tow.