Preview: Yaro and Uzumi now know about Meiko's identity as a ROW agent and they both have separately acknowledged that Meiko is in ROW against her own will. Liene has called for Meiko to return to ROW now. With the PLANTs putting pressure on ORB the world has been blinded by what is really going on. ROW has launched attacks on weaker nations and finally they have attacked the Clyne faction base. Milady Redemption has declared she is sending Kira to Lacus but will he make it in time? What will happen to Meiko when she gets back to ROW? Will she ever really be able to face the battlefield again? Will Liene's army finally be ready to attack ORB?
Phase 16 - So Much Like Falling
Explosions continued to shake the base as the evacuation proceeded. Lacus watched the progress as many of the ships ran from the ROW attack. The Eternal was set to go through the tunnel soon but she did not know if they would be able to make it until them. She would not allow them to let her go first as the commander she wanted to stay behind and make sure a majority of them got out before her. She would not have been able to bear the thought of being the only one to get to safety. The base crews were scrambling to keep their firepower up and there were several mobile suit teams trying to fight the ROW warriors. Lacus wondered why the large blast that had been the first blast to hit the base had not bee repeated. She realized it must have been the large cannon on ROW's new warship and she wondered if it was going through a recharge.
"Lacus we have to go next we might not be able to hold them off," Andrew Waltfeld said, he was tired of waiting as he knew his first priority was to keep Lacus safe but she kept insisting they wait. Something was going on with her mind as she had slipped into seed mode a few minutes earlier but she had slipped out by now. He was a bit distressed by this attack, Lacus seemed to want to retreat rather than just to face them. If they stayed to fight the warship then they would probably have a better chance.
"Just a few more," she replied looking up as the seed mode overtook her again, "we have to wait for a few more minutes." He knew better than to argue with her but things were getting tense out there. She knew what the seed mode was and she welcomed the strength it was giving her, she knew what she was doing. The ROW ship would have to be driven back but she could get in a mobile suit and command a team herself so she waited for the miracle she knew was coming. Somehow she just know it.
"Have everything left launch from the back gate," she replied reminding Waltfeld of their other options, "we're going to attack ROW head on and we're going to drive them back." She was determined now. The back gate would allow them to circle around the attack and hit ROW from above. This would given them an advantage if ROW's weapon did not fire again.
"Rodger," Waltfeld said issuing the orders and soon the ship was flying at top speed toward space.
"Sir the Eternal has launched and it is leading a team of eleven ships toward us now," a bridge member said to Liene as he sat aboard the Predjudice.
"Good," Liene replied, "Have the STING prepare the next crystal but wait until Redemption's arrival." Liene knew Milady Redemption would not be able to resist a fight with him if it meant joining the whole Clyne faction. In his mind she was still that ignorant little girl and he believed that she would come. He had learned where the Clyne faction base was from one of his patrols in space. They had spotted some abnormal activity and he knew that he had found Lacus.
The STING set out armed with a mere two Crystals, a supply he knew was measly for a cannon that needed a new Crystal every time it fired but he believed he would only need two for now. He had sent for a supply from Mars, and he knew it would come before his battle with ORB.
"Launch all mobile suit teams," Lacus Clyne yelled over the radio to her ships and watched as the machines streamed from the ships, her own led by Dearka Elsman. Besides the large ship, ROW had only brought a small fleet and she was sure if that machine did not fire again her fleet was superior.
"Lacus those mobile suits!" Miriallia Haw joined them on the bridge and now she saw something she knew could not be possible. Lacus saw it to, the mobile suits had no cockpits. What was this new weapon that Liene had? They were being led by some standard ROW suit but there were swarms of them, mechanical mobile suits.
"They have no pilots!" Lacus declared angrily, ROW was using computers to kill people and her troops were trained to disarm. How could they disarm machines that were only arms? They would have to destroy them, she had to warn them all, "Tell all mobile suit teams to destroy those red suits, they have no pilots! They are robots!" She watched as the alert sounded and a few of her own machine were destroyed. They could not back down to this new threat though she now understood why the STING was so large. It held an army of these things and as machines they would never tire, they were almost invincible. She knew that her troops would have to be at the top of their games today.
"Fire our main cannons at that swarm of robotic units," Lacus declared suddenly feeling the pull of the seed again, "don't let them get to our own machines." The cannon on the eternal was fully charged so it was able to fire a large blast taking out quite a few of those machines.
"Lacus Clyne," she looked as John Liene's face appeared on screen, "So you see that the rules of war have changed. You will have to destroy us to stop us or I can offer you a deal."
"I don't make deals with the devil," Lacus responded standing up with authority, "you have attacked a group of people who desire peace and your days are numbered Liene. There is a revolution taking place and it is not yours, it will eclipse yours and it will bring a real peace." She felt strong now, much stronger than she had in a long time.
"You're being unreasonable," Liene replied, "we can crush you all right here or you can save the lives of everyone around you if you just tell us all you know about redemption." Lacus's mind was interrupted as she heard a voice she knew well, her heart beat quickly as she turned to one of the monitors and saw a small shuttle heading toward the Eternal. This was not even possible, it was beyond her wildest dreams as her hopes began to quicken.
"I'm coming Lacus, hold on." Kira's voice.
"Liene you will never succeed," she simply responded rushing from the bridge shocking everyone there. Waltfeld quickly took over as he recieved an odd transmission from another source not Liene.
"I'm coming aboard now just hang on you all," Suddenly the reason for Lacus's actions was suddenly clear to them all as they saw Kira Yamato's face on the screen.
"What! But you! YOU! Where have you been all this time!" Waltfeld yelled as the transmission faded and he knew Kira would be aboard soon. The Freedom would launch and ROW would shake from what they would experience.
Her heart beat wildly as she rushed into the hangar to see the shuttle landing, this day was a day she had been dreaming of since the day he left. She could scarcely believe it was not a dream and she knew that the battle outside could not shake the happy feeling that was raging on the inside of her now.
"Kira!" she called out his name passing everyone, ignoring their gazes of confusion. She could only feel the presence of one person and as he opened the door of the shuttle and floated out she felt peace of mind escalate. She rushed to him and him to her as they both longed to feel the safety of each others arms. They met and grasped hold of each other both feeling tears of joy as they said each other's names.
"I love you so much," Kira said holding her close, "and I've missed you more than you will ever know but you have to let go now Lacus."
"No," Lacus said, "never again will I let go." She slowly loosened her grasp around him and looked into his eyes, "you've come just in time though." He quickly caught her lips in a gentle kiss being unable to contain himself anymore. He had missed the feel of her lips against his own. He had missed everything about her during his time away. When they parted she let go of him and took his hands and they both turned to face the Strike Freedom that sat in the hangar. It was just the same as it had been sixteen years ago, a battle raged around them and he was there to save her from it all.
"I will return soon Lacus," he said letting go of her hand and floating toward the machine. She nodded and knew it was true. She then hurried to the bridge as he launched. They would make it through this battle together.
He lifted his head as his machine was catapulted into space. His hands gently floated over the controls as he remembered everything that it took to fight in this machine. He quickly grasped his controls and fanned out his wings showing the Clyne Faction that they had reason to feel hope now. He had returned and he was fighting for them now, for their freedom so that they could escape to safety. His seed exploded in his mind as he called upon it and he began his transmission.
"I want mobile suit teams A17 and A31 with me now," he declared with authority, "we are going in!" He then switched his broadcast to everyone, "Ready for this Liene?" He asked as soon as he saw the tyrants face.
"You'll never succeed," Liene replied.
"Just watch me," Kira said cutting the transmission as the two mobile suit teams he called gathered around him. A17 was led by Dearka. He moved quickly and they followed into the thick of the robotic units. Kira quickly let the tips of his wings go to fire on many of them at the same time broadcasting to his group that their weak spot was their backs. He took out unit after another breaking through as what few mobile suits could make it through followed him. He bore down toward the STING as it continued to launch units.
"Have mobile suit teams B12 and A26 head toward the two ROW ships on the right," Kira continued to issue orders taking control of the battlefield with expert skill. He and his teams concentrated on that hangar. He did not have to instruct them as they all fired everything at the hangar doors seeking to blast them shut. He could feel the cheers of the Clyne Faction as they fought with more assurance than before. Oddly he could hear their voices in his mind and he could feel them around him waiting for his orders. His mission on the hangar was complete as it was sealed shut by the blanket of heat. He knew ROW would recover from this soon so everything depended on his next moves. As B12 and A26 headed toward the right of the STING he headed to the left to fight the ships.
Suddenly he felt danger intense danger threatening his mind and he called out to the Clyne faction.
"Take the ships back! The STING IS GOING TO FIRE!" He yelled just in time as all engines fired up at his word and scattered. The STING's large green beam shot and he saw for the first time the destructive power Liene had built. It tore through space taking out one staggering ship and completely desitegrating it. The beam kept going until it hit the moon behind them turning every rock into dust. He silently prayed that the machine would be unable to fire something of that magnitude again.
He continued his mission against the ships focusing on he engines while his team focused on the enemy mobile suits. He quickly weaved through the firepower of the ships with speed and agility unmatched by any on the battlefield. Lacus had seen to it that the Strike Freedom had been updated enough to keep it a step ahead of most standard suits.
Soon the ships on both sides were all partially disabled and Lacus ordered a quick withdraw. The shots from both sides ceased as they faced off. Mobile suits and ships staring each other down until Liene fired his signal flares calling all his units back. Kira began to head back to the ship when a transmission was sent to him.
"This isn't the end Yamato! Mark my words this is only the beginning! You will feel the full power of ROW soon enough and you will shake beneath it," Liene's voice echoed in his mind as the transmission ended. Kira's heart sunk as he knew that this was not all that ROW had. For some reason he felt that they had not seen the last of what the STING could do. Kira had seen the plans at Redemption, Liene needed crystals from Mars to fire it and Kira knew that Liene would be sure to have quite a few more of those next time they met. Dark days were upon them now.
Lacus held onto Kira as they lay side by side that night. The Eternal was with the remains of the Clyne faction 16 ships total. They were all heading to meet with the ORB fleet over ORB for they knew that was where Liene would strike next. Six of the ships would head to the Clyne faction backup base along with the plans for a couple of amazing mobile suits. They would have to construct those suits soon but Lacus knew they would not be done in time for the battle ahead.
"It's been hard without you," Lacus said as Kira ran his hand through her long Pink hair, "but we made it and we did not loose faith. I knew you would come back." He smiled at that, she was always so strong even though no one really saw it. Her strength was truly beautiful and captivating because it always shined at its brightest when she had every reason to be afraid. The battle before she had kept strong even when the odds were against her and though there were many lives lost she had kept the Clyne Faction together.
Now her thoughts turned to everything he had told her about what he went through in ROW and how he suffered for a little over a month with Redemption wondering if he would ever be able to return to her. They had both been through so much and they had both remained the same as ever both belonging to each other completely.
"I missed you more than anything," Kira whispered kissing her softly, "and I thought of you every moment."
"I can't believe you went through all that alone," she sighed reaching up to caress his face with her hand, "and we still have so much to face."
"But all that can wait for now," he said kissing her again, "for now we have each other and we know that nothing that happens around us can change that."
The world around him was very busy and Jeffery Zala watched in awe as everyone seemed to be scrambling to get things done. It was his first time every seeing Morganrate so busy. His mother had allowed him to accompany her to the large military base and factory where she was on business and the whole experience frightened him a little. He had heard stories of the horrors of the great wars but he had been comforted that those had passed now he saw his country loading every strength they had and he knew that they were going to war.
His mother walked ahead of him as he kept staring toward the different mobile suits that had been recently constructed. Cagalli noticed her son's wandering gaze and thought it best not to explain everything to him and worry him. She could handle Uzumi going to war now but her youngest boy was too young to join the battles ahead.
The council had met that morning and they had decided to employ the military because of the threats the they had just begun receiving from ROW. Cagalli had announced to them that the STING had been defeated at the Clyne faction base from what she had heard but she knew that it was not to be trifled with. The council had looked at the images Lacus Clyne had sent to them begging for their assistance to combat the STING and they had voted to roll out their defensive military. Cagalli knew they could only do that much, they did not attack other nations and the only way they could join the Clyne faction in the war would be if the STING attacked them. She wondered if that was coming next and prayed that it would not.
The Minerva had been forced into hiding before ever getting out of Africa because ROW was not going to let it join them so she knew they would be down that strength. She had met with Murrue Ramius on the possibility of launching the Archangel but had decided that it better stay in ORB. The Tranquillity was heading to space along with a large part of the ORB fleet to protect the area of space over ORB.
Cagalli had been overwhelmed lately but there was a light to everything she was going through, her dear brother had returned to the battlefield. She had been very frightened when she heard Kira was captured by ORB but she had received a message from Lacus that he was back. She did not know all the details surrounding his return but she did know that he was safe and strong enough to fight alongside the Clyne Faction. Now that they had both Kira and Athrun they were a force to be reakoned with once again, though things would be better if they also had Shinn.
It seemed Yaro and Uzumi wanted to join the fight as well and she worried about them but she knew they were both old enough to make their own decisions. She did worry mainly about what Athrun had told her about Uzumi a week before; it seemed her oldest boy and the light of her life had been frightened by a darkness he was feeling growing in his mind and this brought bad memories into her mind. She remembered seeing the Strike and the Aegis completely destroyed on the beach of a small island and she remembered finding Athrun very weak and alone. She had thought Kira was dead and hours later when Athrun awoke she saw the darkness in his eyes. She had pointed a gun at him and it had magnified. She could still feel what he felt that day, sorrow and fear so deep that it was hard to ignore.
They were now right on the edge of the battlefield and she knew that it was not certain that they would all make it out alive but she prayed for the strength to stand through anything and for the strength of the people she loved that they would make it through this dark night.
Uzumi stood in the empty room remembering how it looked the last time he was here. Meiko Virea, the girl with so much confusion inside of her was gone now and he was not sure that it was forever. She had let him know everything about her life in his last visit by just a few words and her words had torn him apart from the moment he heard them on. He couldn't get his mind off everything she said. She was forced to choose between her friend in ROW and her new friends in ORB and she had chosen ROW right? He couldn't shake the feeling that she did not want to be part of ROW. He couldn't bring himself to tell anyone about her because he felt that somehow they were connected.
It was crazy how his mind was consumed with so much now. They were about to go to war. His mother had told him that it was almost certain that he would be allowed to fight alongside his family for ORB and with that the darkness continued to threaten him. There was something haunting him, a feeling he knew he couldn't shake as it had taken hold of him. He had thought that sharing the darkness with Meiko would help them both in driving away but their every moment together had made it increase.
He fought to remain strong knowing that everyone would need him to be strong in the coming storm. He was very afraid of it all but he knew that there was no place for fear on the battlefield. He had been fighting his entire life to be the best in a mobile suit and he knew that he had accomplished a lot in the past month. He had no reason to be afraid and he knew he had to have faith that everything would work out. He was always the strongest of the new generation and he knew he had to step into that role now. He strongly believed that though the dark and evil sometime seemed overwhelming that someway, somehow right and light always would win. His faith would not fade and he would not let the growing darkness stop him from being strong.
He walked out of the apartment and back toward his home with new found strength and though the darkness lingered on he fought to remain strong.
"ROW has decided not to punish you," Mike Shruste said, he sat next to Meiko on a small shuttle. They were in space now heading out with a large fleet to meet Liene at a certain point in space. The entire trip back from ROW Meiko had barely said two words together, her expression was blank and her eyes were darkened. He knew she was mad at him but he also knew that she was even more angry with herself now. She never let anyone else really take the blame for things, it was always her fault and he guessed she would always be that way.
"Fine," she said apathetically. Something was going on inside of her, he knew she was never like this around him. She never put on the mask when it was just the two of them because he was the closest thing she had to a father though he was not always there for her in everything she was forced to go through. He knew something happened to her in ORB that had everything to do with the reason she tried to lie and defy ROW. She was a mess when he picked her up but she closed up as soon as they were out of ORB. She was letting herself be numb to everything, he knew because he understood what it was to shut the emotions out. She was shutting the light out of her life fearing that it would shine on the truth of who she was and he feared what might happen to her. She was never meant to be in ROW and she should never have been forced into it but there was nothing he could do about it.
"Why did you do it?" he asked her trying to understand why it was that she defied Liene, "why did you lie?"
"Why did you let them take Trey?" she countered with anger in her eyes. So part of her did blame him.
"Trey's own actions let to his fate," Mike replied, "he defied Gilligan and it led to him being taken prisoner in ROW. It's not my fault or your fault that he is in his situation and it's not up to you what happens to him next, you do know that right? His fate is not in your hands and Liene won't keep him alive forever."
"No," Meiko responded holding her hands out, "Liene has honor in him for not killing Trey when I confessed the truth. Liene will not kill him as long as I remain loyal so that is what I will do." She then turned away from it making it clear she did not want to speak to him anymore. He knew she was changing and no matter how she tried to stop it she would not be able to escape it. It was a part of her, a destiny that she was not aware of. Meiko Virea was destined for so much more than ROW and Mike had waited eighteen years for her to find herself. He wondered if he could afford to wait longer, for the battlefield ahead was sure to be one full of tears.
He just waited for one thing now, for Meiko to fully decide who she was with. Would she lat hatred consume her or would she let the light inside of her break free?
"We have to maintain our strength," Kira said standing beside Lacus before the top leaders of the Clyne faction. They knew ROW would meet them in battle soon and they knew that it would be a reckoning unlike anything the world had seen in recent histroy. "ROW has that machine and I am sure it will be stronger next time we face it. Last time was still a test run for them and they will not repeat their mistakes."
"We have a plan and we have spoken to ORB about it since it is their country we are moving to protect," Lacus said stepping forward, "We need to take out the STING and we need to focus all our efforts on that."
"How exactly," Commander Amarfi spoke up looking a little skeptical, "That machine is attached to a giant warship defended by robotic mobile suits. They may have hundreds of those things in that machine! Plus the cannon looks very strong, almost invincible and we can't use nuclear weapons."
"Right," Lacus replied holding up a stack of papers, "We will not allow anyone in the Clyne faction to fire a nuclear missile at them esspecially since that would destroy anyone within a certain radius of the explosion. Here I have the plans for the STING given to Kira by the organizaiton known as Redemption. It is a machine that was constructed with a very strong metal alloy and it's fire power is based on some sort of anti nuclear weapon. If we were to fire any nuclear explosion at the ship it would be destrotyed but the effects could lead to a lot more lives lost from our side as well. We want to disarm it without destorying it for if we destroy it we might not make it out alive."
"What about this Redemption?" Waltfeld asked, he had heard the full story of how Kira was rescued by now as many of them had and he had a lot of questions about who they were. "If they have the same goals as us why don't the just join us?"
"I am not sure they have all the same goals as us," Kira replied, "when I was there I spoke to Yzak it seemed as though the organization wanted ROW defeated but they were after something else as well. I spoke to their leader as well, Milady Redemption has no intention of joining us in this battle and we can't count on them. If they come the great but we can't depend on it. We can only depend on our force and whatever force Cagalli chooses to send."
"So the we are studying these plans for a weakness," Lacus said laying them down on the table, "it will be the focus of all our technicians as we head to the battle site. We will not think of anything else now but disarming that weapon and not letting it destroy us. The PLANTs have decided to sit this one out ignoring the threat of ROW and now backing out of conflict with ORB. Though I wish I could figure out what in the world is going on in the PLANTs we have been completely shut out of that world and now all we have is hope that we can right this world and stop ROW."
"We are sending a small fleet to meet you at the coordinates over ORB," Cagalli said, she was on a transmission with Lacus about the battle they both knew was coming. After Lacus had escaped her brush with ROW she knew they would track her and she was sure they were going toward ORB. Everything fit together and Cagalli and the council together had agreed that now was not the time to worry about the PLANTs and their dispute with Lacus Clyne. She was willing to help them and they knew they would need all the help they could get.
"Good," Lacus replied, "We have our strategists and technicians working out a plan so the sooner they arrive the better."
"Your children want to be with the fleet we send," Cagalli said, "I have spoken to them and I have agreed to make the request to you. Leyas and Kiran wish to join the battle aboard the Tranquility and Yaro wants to pilot the Visage."
"I will allow it," Lacus replied knowing that she had no way to prevent it now. She knew it was hard for her to sit back and watch the war unfold when she was young which is why she had boarded the Eternal. She knew her kids would not sit quietly on earth and wait for news of how it went, they were too much like their parents and they would want a chance to help protect their world.
"I am sending Uzumi as well," Cagalli said with a hint of worry in her eyes, "but Jeffery and Kayla are staying here with me. I wish I could join you all but you understand that there are a lot of political things we are still working out. The PLANTs have stopped putting pressure on us but they refuse to stop sending us messages. I think we are making it clear now that we side with you and I don't think they will take that lightly. But we have no choice now and the world will understand once they realize we are fighting ROW together. You just have to take down that weapon!" Lacus understood everything Cagalli was saying. They had both worked to hard to keep this world in peace to back down now and they would stand together on this now. ROW's recent attacks had changed everything.
"What about the Minerva?" Lacus asked curious about the state of the ship, "Has it returned yet? We need Shinn to join Athrun and Kira this time, that ship will be a handful."
"That will not be possible," Cagalli said heavily, "They are still trapped somewhere, I don't know where now but it seems ROW is determined to keep them out of the battle. They have been pushed back to many times and Shinn has gotten really frustrated but so far he is keeping his cool. The last thing we need is his cocky temper to get out of control because he needs to focus on protecting the Minerva now."
"Right," Lacus knew how Shinn could be.
"I can't go anymore," Lacus said breathing hard. Shinn still had hold of her arm and now they were in cover in one of the deserted homes. Shinn quickly reloaded his gun looking more and more frustrated as every second passed.
"Lacus we can't stay here," Shinn said urgently getting angry now, "You have to try now, we have to keep going! Athrun won't be able to hold them off forever!"
"Then just leave me," she said stubbornly feeling the weight of her baby now. She was pregnant and she was getting to weak to continue running from whoever these people were. Of course Shinn did not know what was going on so he did not understand, all he saw was a girl who was weak an uable to enure running anymore.
"I'm not leaving you now come on," he said pulling her up and forcing her to continue running. He was angry with her she could tell and he was loosing control of his patience. She wished Athrun had taken her instead of him.
It was after their quick escape from the attack on Girbaltar in which Kira had been captured. They had been out in the middle of nowhere trying to find help. They had entered an isolated trading village in which there were a few abandoned houses and there and that was where many of the terrorists agents had caught up with them. Lacus had almost fainted in the open from how sick she was getting and Athrun had ordered Shinn to run with her. They almost made it out of danger but Lacus was to weak for them to keep going all the way. She hadn't eaten in two days and she was pregnant so she almost collapsed again and the terrorists had guns on them before the knew it. Luckily Lunamaria and some aid from ORB had arrived just in time to rescue them. But in the moment where she had almost lost it Lacus witnessed Shinn's temper and he did almost get them killed because if it.
"Well we have to hope that everything goes according to plan," Lacus said to Cagalli breaking for her memory, "We are getting ready to face ROW and we don't know if we will succeed but we do know we have to try."
"Right," Cagalli said, "I will be praying that you all make it through alright." Somehow she had the feeling that something was going to go wrong. A feeling in Cagalli's mind told her that there were dark things at work now. She knew that the odds were not all the people she loved would make it out alive and this feeling was enough to drive her mad. All she could do now was wait until everything was over.
Athrun stood there before her. The Children had just boarded the Tranquility and now the fleet waited for him. Cagalli stood there before him with her beatiful blonde hair blowing in ORB's wind. He smiled at her knowing that he would return to her. He held her hands tightly not wanting to let go, not wanting to leave her behind though he knew there were enough defense forces to keep her safe. He would sleep easier with her by his side but that could not be. They were forced to part for this time.
"I just have one thing I have to ask you," Cagalli said looking into his beautiful emerald eyes, "Promise me you'll come back in one peice?"
"I promise," Athrun replied kissing her. They both momentarily were lost in the passion they shared for each other but they knew the kiss had to end so they broke apart. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
"I love you," she said as tears flowed from her eyes.
"I love you to," Athrun said letting go and lingering a moment longer. He wiped a tear from her face and said, "I will return!"
As his ship flew away Cagalli watched with tears streaming down her face, "I know you will." She whispered over and over.
"So we are joining the battles ahead," Yaro said. Him and Uzumi both sat in a room in the Tranquility staring out into space. Neither of them spoke of the girl that they had not seen in a few days. Neither of them knew the other knew about who she was and neither of them wanted to think about the darkness and sorrow that the saw inside of her. Yaro was having trouble with the idea that he might face her as an enemy and Uzumi knew he would not stand a chance against her. Neither of them knew they had faced her before.
"We will return Yaro," Uzumi said looking out the window as the ship shot toward space, "I have faith that right will win and we will make it out of this."
"I know," Yaro replied, "and I am happy with the progress I made though the last month in mobile suit training. I believe that we will be much better than last time."
"You mean you will be much better than last time," Uzumi said with a slight laugh, "I won't have to constantly rescue you from everything."
"Right," Yaro said with a laugh thinking of the last battles he participated in, "I was pretty bad wasn't I?"
"You were terrible," they heard Kiran say from the other side of the room where he sat with some of the younger recruits from the academy where he had taking classes on warships. One in particular was a girl name Alicesia whom Kiran seemed to know very well. The two had been insperable since they had boarded the ship. Leyas also sat in the large room staring out a different window than Yaro and Uzumi. She dreamed of the PLANTs wishing she could go there now and free her people from the ignorance they were now kept under.
"I know," Yaro responded, "but you would not have done any better."
"I know," Kiran said turning away from them.
They were all young, everyone in the room. Cadets from ORB's academies and the children of the leaders of the assult. They now sat tight preparing for one of the biggest battles of their lives glacing at each other in sadness for they did not know which of them would make it out alive if any of them.
She stood before him after having been through hell again. She had been taken from ORB to return to the battlefield and she had resigned herself to her fate, they would be attacking more innocent nations soon. ORB had just been one experience for her and she forced herself to try and forget the events that had just taken place. She had not just gained two friends only to turn her back on them, it was all a misson that she was forced into. Being back in space had brought her to a place of numbness that she welcomed for she no longer wanted to feel anything. She was like a robot living to serve her master and not living to think freely. This was who she had to be to survive. Her wishes, wants and desires meant nothing to anyone and as such they did not deserve to exist so she had silenced them.
Liene had just suffered a setback with the escape of the majority of the Clyne faction and the return of Kira Yamato. She knew Liene saw her as the only warrior her had that could fight Kira and as such she knew she would be forced to face him soon. Her head was in control of her heart now and she would not fail on her next mission like she had on her last.
Liene watched as his perfect warrior returned, she had just returned and in a way space and the ROW ship had somehow 'reset' her mind. Gone were her emotions again replaced by a heartless and cold expression. Liene knew she was forcing it because she hated feeling the pain in her own heart but while in that mindset he knew that she would obey his orders. He was very angry at what had taken place against the Clyne faction and he knew he needed Meiko to fight the force that they would send to protect ORB.
"What is your mission Meiko?" he asked her wondering if there was any defiance left in her.
"To serve ROW with every breath I take," she replied coldly.
"And what of the friends you made back on earth?" he asked presenting her with the only thing he could to truly test her, "if they tried to destroy ROW what would you do to them?" This question took her aback but she knew it couldn't be possible that they would face her so she gave Liene the answer he wanted.
"I would shoot them down," she replied knowing that in that situation things would be unpredictable. Away from Yaro and Uzumi it was easier to be ROW's robot warrior but she knew her heart would react to fighting them and she might be unable to do it. She wanted to break free but she knew that ROW had a hold on her that she better not resist.
"Are you sure?" Liene asked looking deep into her eyes and seeing some of the confusion in her soul.
"Yes," she replied dryly. They both knew that this was probably not true but Liene also knew what he had to do to ensure she stayed his forever. He signaled for one of the technicians to open the large doors and slowly they revealed a large Gundam, more threatening looking than anything Meiko had ever seen before. It was designed with her colors, green and black and she instantly knew it was hers.
"The new improved model of the Pain Gundam," Liene said clearly enamored by the machine before them, "designed by our top technicians and outfitted with the greatest mobile suit system that has ever existed. You Meiko will lead the world to a greater tomorrow from this machine because all ROW wants is to bring an everlasting peace to this world. To end all pain and suffering that exists and to create a tomorrow where no one has to cry. You may have forgotten those goals when you were on earth but you will be reminded every second that you are here that we want to end it all. Isn't that what you want as well?"
"Yes," she replied a little confused. She had heard this all her life yet she had never been able to really believe it. Yet here it was laid before her again, ROW was created to restore the world and create a lasting peace. If this was the case then why had they taken the world from peace and plunged it into turmoil? She then turned to her machine, it was all happening again. It was her mission to inflict the healing pain that would bring life into this world. If her life had a meaning and purpose then why did she feel so hollow and empty when she was alone? How could she be so easily numb to everything including herself? Would she be able to face this again or was she bound to loose the battle? No, she could not think like that. She was Meiko Virea, ROW's warrior and the greatest mobile suit pilot in the world. No one could stand up to her and she would do as she was told, just like every time before. She would fight.
They floated from the shuttle into the large hangar of the Eternal and saw the two machines standing before them, the Visage and the Journey. The two cousins would once again be fighting for the lives of the people they loved.
"Though I would prefer you both to be out of the battlefield I know how it is it be helpless," Lacus Clyne said as she approached the two. She gave her eldest son a hug and smiled at her Nephew, "These two machines have been improved to fit your fighting styles and you will find that they will be easier to pilot but the battle you are about to face will be much harder than the last one."
"I have confidence in you two," they both knew that voice and they turned to see Kira Yamato entering. Yaro knew he was back but seeing his father again for the first time in months was overwhelming. Kira approached him and put a hand on his shoulder. "I am sorry that I wasn't there for you when you needed me but I will be fighting along side you now."
"Father," Yaro said giving his father a hug feeling like a child again needing his dad to comfort him about everything he had gone through with Meiko and everything he was about to go through in space. Kira smiled at his son with faith hoping to give him strength.
"I am here now Yaro," Kira said, "and I will be with you out there. We will fight for the future because we believe in it."
"Do you think we will make it out alive?" Kiran turned to ask Alicesia. He had been surprised when he had found out that she was joining them in space but he was happy to hve her company. They had become really good friends on earth and it seemed her father was a politician in ORB so she had gotten a promotion in school and was eligible to fight for ORB. Because of this she pushed to be allowed to join the force combating ROW. Kiran had known she was talented at anything that had to do with the military and she had helped him along in classes quite a bit.
"Yes," Alicesia said with perfect confidence, "Its always better to be positive about things than negative. I have found that if you expect to die you will and if you expect to live well you might. Not completely reassuring I know but it's better to be optimistic."
"I know," Kiran said and she smiled as agreement, "for even when things are very bad there is always a way for them to get better." They were both a part of the Tranquility crew now and as such they would witness the whole battle. They would watching the fight unfold but they would be helping in the best way they could and they knew that that was all they could do.
"Everything is about to begin," Milady said to Yzak as they stood before space again, "ORB has just joined the Clyne faction in space and now ROW will come. Liene will not be able to resist two of his enemies banding together. The reckoning is soon."
"And we will just sit back and watch?" Yzak replied.
"We will sit back and wait," Milady looked out thinking of everything she was about to see, "to wait for the warrior's redemption."
"I can't feel," she spoke softly to herself standing in front of her machine, "I'm not mine." Her words echoed the mindset she knew she had to have because she knew that she was forever here a prisoner because of her own actions. And if she could not bring herself to feel anything she would be hollow and broken. IF she could not feel then she wasn't real anymore, just a shadow of a human being.
"I'm not real," she barely whispered to herself, "I'm not real." Her eyes were dry now as her soul was frozen, she knew the end of everything was near.
Ashy violet eyes stared out the glass in front of them seeing no reflection there anymore, just hollow nothing. Her world was something that people had always controlled and now she knew it would always be that way. She had tried to make decisions on her own and she had failed. She stared into the blackness of space apathetically as she had in the past but this time she saw no beauty in it, just black emptiness with a few bright stars. In her life the stars had always shone for someone other than herself and they were no longer a source of hope. She had no clue who she was or what she was but she knew she did not belong here. She was smothered in an environment where she was not even human and she knew now that it was her own choice. She put a hand up to the glass as traced the stars thinking of the lives that she had taken and the lives she was about to take.
Meiko breathed a sigh and turned around not wanting to see the lonely stars anymore for their strength mocked her and light of hope was leaving her life. For some reason the hope did not completely burn out, a slight flame still burned in her soul but for how long? Things were getting darker and darker and though she wanted the hope to just leave her be it stuck with her like a constant companion. Her thoughts turned to wondering about Uzumi and Yaro, wondering if they were safe for she had seen bright lights of hope in their lives. She envied them in their freedom but most of all she missed how for the first time in her life she felt free with them. The small light of hope in her longed for that freedom.
Now she turned around to face the things she had run from. The Pain lingered as her mobile suit and she knew it was her duty to use her machine to change the world. Now it was time to surrender again to everything she knew she was. She could not escape the darkness of her own past and longing for redemption would only lead her to more pain. Redemption was a fantasy that she could never have.
The battle was coming and she knew it was impossible to wish it all away.
"I'm not real," she whispered one last time, "I can't feel, I'm not mine, I'm not real."
Two chapters from something really really big.
Next chatper is all battle I think so it might be shorter but it's very important. ROW vs. our heros and ROW has the advantage this time with the Pain and an invincible warship.
I can't believe I am at this point, when I first began the story I thought I'd never get here!
I have started a twitter account where you can keep tabs on where I am in writing a chapter. I will also be posting pieces of information on music that inspires me in writing and things like that. I actually have a whole soundtrack of songs for this series and I will slowly be posting what songs I love for it there. But mostly I will use the twitter to relay information on my progress and write small slightly spoilerly statments.
So it is at twitter (dot) com / Lynnbrooke please follow me and enjoy the updates.
This chapter was done much faster than I expected and I am sure you were excited about it. So here you go! ENJOY!
Please REVIEW REVEIW! It was your reviews that made me get this done so quickly!
-WinterChill