Back in the spirit of the story. Next week is my finals week then winter break for three weeks. So keep your eyes open I'm going to try and post a chapter a week again, it may not work but it's worth a try.

Phase 32: We Can Face the Dark Together

Kiran watched as leaves floated out of the trees toward the ground. He was glad to be back in ORB, safe and sound. The Minerva had been docked there after the battle and he had disembarked. His Aunt had refused to allow him to fight until his parents were contacted but he was fine with that for now. He had been shaken by what he saw Yaro do on the battlefield and he wanted to be sure that before he entered another battlefield he was ready to see it again. Apparently Yaro's antics and fighting were more noticed than anything in the skirmishes between ORB and the PLANTs and no ground was gained or lost. ORB won each fight before the battles really went anywhere because of the Dreamer.

Kiran had tried to speak to Yaro but his older brother did not say much and it troubled him. He wanted to say something to him but he had not gotten the chance. Now it seemed threat levels were decreasing on the borders and much of the main ORB forces had come to the island. The Minerva was back and so was the Tranquility. Kiran had begged his aunt to let him stay in the military base even though he could not fight. It seemed that now the base was reaching an overflow level as many ORB citizens volunteered to help the fighting to protect their home.

Kiran sat on a balcony between two rails overlooking one of the main hangars. He was searching for his brother as the Dreamer had been brought in the night before but there was no sign of Yaro anywhere. He was beginning to get anxious when he saw his older brother walking across the hanger toward his machine. He seemed so much stronger than the last time Kiran had seen him on the battlefield and he seemed to be very confident. These traits were things that Kiran had always admired in Yaro and now he saw that they were much different in a way. He didn't know what to think but he longed to speak to him. He got up to head down the stairs into the bottom of the hangar when Yaro lifted himself into the Dreamer and shut the cockpit, locking himself away from the rest of the world. Kiran sighed as he went back to sitting down. He missed his family badly.

"You okay kid," he turned to see Cerevis walking out of the door that led on the the balcony. He was in an ORB uniform and had apparently begged Meyrin to let him stay aboard the Minerva claiming he believed in ORB. When she refused he had joined the military any way and been assigned to the Minerva because of their fight history. Meyrin was clearly still annoyed but as the battles went on she seemed to soften to the idea. Kiran missed fighting alongside the veteran but he knew that there wasn't much he would be allowed to do until his family returned.

"I'm not a kid," Kiran corrected once again, "though I feel like one now." Cerevis put down the clipboards he was holding and sat down beside the boy. When he said nothing Kiran went on, "I just want to talk to him; we're brothers and he's the only one I have. I just want to speak with him but every time I see him it's brief and with so many people around. I just don't know what to do." Cerevis nodded, he noticed that Yaro had been very distant from the rest of the family of veterans, it was if the boy was trying to avoid their questioning and their teachings. Cerevis identified it as part of the boy growing up but to everyone he knew it was him distancing himself from those who cared about him. It was natural part of life but it hurt those who did not understand it, and Kiran didn't understand.

"Kiran, I believe Yaro is changing a lot right now," Cerevis responded, "he's growing up and he is doing so alone without his father here. It is harder for him to face everyone with all that has happened but I'm sure that in time he will come around. Just give him time to adjust to the way things are now." Kiran sighed at that.

"It's just that he lost Meiko, and when that happened I knew things were going to be different and I was worried about him," Kiran said, "what if not all changes are good? What if this change has been brought on by the deaths that he witnessed and in that case can it really be good? I don't know that it can be. It's hard for me to watch him suffer Cerevis and it's hard for me to be unable to do anything about it. I want to know if I'm only imagining it, but I"m his brother. I can't deny that I see that he is in pain and no one else is recognizing it." Cerevis made note of what he heard now, so Yaro had lost someone. He had suspected as much from the boy's rash attitude but he wasn't sure as no one on the Minerva seemed to speak about the things that had taken place in the fight against ROW.

"Well Kiran," Cerevis tried to reason, "then you are just going to have to approach him. He is your brother and you can't timidly stand by if you want to help him. He's probably hurting more than he is letting on and he is giving the cold shoulder to avoid thinking about it."

"You're probably right," Kiran said brightening up, "I just have to approach him."

"That's the spirit Kiran," Cerevis said and Kiran noticed that Cerevis had finally stopped calling him kid. Cerevis then excused himself as Kiran seemed better but he knew that everything he had heard was not to be ignored. Yaro was bottling things up and letting anger control him, someone needed to speak to him about it and Cerevis knew the best person to do this was his father but Kira Yamato was away so the next best person had to be his uncle. Athrun Zala. Someone needed to straighten Yaro out before he tore himself apart with his own darkness.

Fredrick Turnal stood before his council, the events in ORB seemed to be escalating and the nation had recalled it's forces to the homeland. Turnal had no doubt that the PLANTs had withdrawn their attacks for a reason, they were trying to amass their forces to attack the mainland. His own officers had called a meeting with him at this time to discuss the events and he had concluded that it would be better to remain on the outside of them. This situation was too ugly, if the PLANTs and the NEA started fighting it would become the third bloody valentine war and it had the potential to be worse than ever. It seemed many of his officers agreed with him on this while two called for him to join the PLANT's side, something he could not do.

Their reasoning was that the Dreamer, ORB's new machine, was a monstrosity and that that type of power should not be in the hands of whoever was in charge of it. The Dreamer was always backed up by another strong machine and with backup it's cannon was a deadly weapon that had destroyed many PLANT ships. It's weakness seemed to be that it had to recharge to fire again and the recharge time seemed to take a few hours. On top of that there were amassing rumors that the pilot of the Dreamer was Kira and Lacus's son, Yaro Yamato; this would further anger PLANT citizens because Yaro was a coordinator and the way they saw it he was once one of their own. Turnal believed the rumors about it being Yaro Yamato as he knew that the anger of a young fighter was one of the most deadly weapons on the battlefield. He had seen it used countless times when he was younger during the great wars. These emotional pilots fought without fear, only with anger and it was something that saddened Turnal. He had no doubt that if Yaro was the one fighting he was doing so of his own accord and that his family was completely against it because Lacus was not one to just let her children fight the way he did.

With this in mind Turnal dismissed fears about the Dreamer knowing that ORB would not have used such a weapon if they were not being so unjustly attacked. The PLANTs had no reason to attack ORB any more, the Clyne faction had left ORB territory and the PLANT"s persistence in these actions was alarming to him. He disliked Jayley Lired and he knew that there was something just wrong about her. He had already even started an investigation on the two officers who had talked of siding with the PLANTs. These were dangerous times and loyalties were not what they used to be, one could never be too careful with the people they trusted.

Overall the NEA had decided to stay out of the conflict. ROW was once again gathering strength on their borders and in this time of trouble Turnal found it hard to keep order in the countries under NEA control. There were things going on that were beyond him and rumors of a nameless fear spread like wildfire. It seemed the faction Redemption had appeared again in several ROW attacked nations and many people feared what they would do. No one knew their motives. One of Turnal's trusted advisers had visited a nation in secret and there he had met a man who had said that Redemption's time was drawing near. The man had told his adviser that a Phoenix was about to rise for ORB and that ORB would be saved by the girl of flames. Something about this troubled him even though his advisers said it sounded ludicrous; he couldn't help but shiver at the thought of the legendary fire bird.

For whenever a Phoenix appeared ashes followed in is wake. He feared that things were drawing to another climax and that this time many more lives would be lost. He prayed that somehow it could be prevented.

"In a recent news update ZAFT forces continue to place pressure on the nation of ORB," the newscaster continued with her evaluation of what was going on in the world, "news on the recent war is that the two nations are locked in a stalemate. Neither of the two sides have show any sign of wavering in this decision and it seems that this conflict will not be resolved quickly." What did she know of everything. "PLANT chairwoman Jayley Lired has these words to say on the subject." The screen then changed to Jayley standing before the press in all her smug glory.

"We do not wish for this conflict to escalate any further," Jayley said, "but the plain truth is that ORB has allied itself with our enemies and is unwilling to give up their location. I wish for this to end! I am not asking for the nation to surrender themselves or to give up any of their rights, only to help us capture out fugitives!"

"Such a liar," Jeffery said turning off the TV. He was with Alicesia and Nessara in the Attha mansion, they had come to visit. Alicesia was looking for Kiran but he was nowhere about. Jeffery had explained to her that he spent nearly all his time at the base. He was anxious about his family and a little annoyed with people around him for not trusting him but he was getting over it. He had joined Jeffery in mobile suit training and had accelerated past his cousin in the past six weeks. Jeffery knew it was because of the elusive seed that everyone seemed to keep hushed up. He heard his parents talking about it but he didn't really understand it.

"Why don't people realize what it is that she is doing?" Nessara asked, "I mean they are mobilizing massive military effort in an attempt to not hurt ORB but convince us to give her information? It doesn't make any sense why anyone would follow someone like that! I don't understand." Alicesia sighed at this, Jayley's deception was beginning to go too far, she was blaming ORB more than every for everything. After all the nation went through against ROW this was not justified in any way.

"The Clyne faction helped ORB when no one else would," Alicesia said angrily, "because of them we were saved! The world is so blind that they can't see that we can't turn in the people who helped us!"

"The truth us the Clyne faction did help us," Jeffery said affirming Aliceisa's statements, "they helped us stand and we probably wouldn't be as strong now without them but it wasn't the Clyne faction that saved us." They all knew what he alluded to now and it made them all sad. If it had not had been the way it was. If Meiko had not betrayed ROW from within then they would not all be sitting there today but then at that moment Alicesia realized something.

"No it wasn't just her though," Alicesia said, "it was the combination of the three. Yaro, Uzumi and Meiko. For two were sacrificed but one lived and that one was from the Clyne faction; he drove the others on and they saved us. Meiko was saved by ORB so she saved the Clyne faction and in part saved us." Hearing of his brother hurt but he knew that what Alicesia said was right. It was the combination of powers that had made the difference in the end and he knew the combining of powers would continue to make a difference in the future. He just hoped that whatever that future was there would be some people somewhere as brave as Meiko and Uzumi; people brave enough to sacrifice themselves for those that they loved and without fear enter the unknown.

It was getting closer to being done. Jayley smirked as she watched the forces gathering. The launching would begin soon. Gera was at her side and there were a few PLANT leaders down int he hangar inspecting the troops; today was a day that would go down in history. This force had been a long time in the making and preparing.

"You think it's over?" Jayley's happiness faded when she heard that voice, he was here and he was not supposed to be. She turned to see John Liene standing in the center of the room. Mike had informed her that they were departing for Mars soon but it seemed that had not happened yet. Gera hissed at the sight of him; the girl had always hated him for choosing Meiko over her out of all the children in the program he had started. Jayley felt a bit odd at the sight of him now; he should be at his lowest point yet the twisted smile on his face suggested otherwise. Had there been something she had missed? She was pretty high up in ROW and she knew that his plans heavily leaned on Meiko and now that she was gone what did he have that made him so happy?

"Liene you are bold in coming here," Jayley said trying to display confidence, "a little too bold. You'll find I have this place well guarded." Liene turned his head back a little and she saw then in the shadows two dead bodies on the floor. Her guards.

"You mean those guards?" Liene asked, his twisted smile growing as he did. It was then that a boy walked from the shadows and stood behind him. The boy looked to be about fifteen, he was young and very childish in a way. Something about him made Jayley think that perhaps that boy was new to ROW but his assassins uniform made it clear that Liene was not playing games right now. Surely he would not murder her here.

"What do you want Liene," Jayley said motioning for Gera to stand down, the best thing to do in this situation was to oblige and hear him out.

"I am hear to gloat Jayley," Liene replied with a laugh, "because of all the things you could have chosen to do you chose to attack ORB when they are at their strongest. Nice work." Jayley's anger heightened at this.

"We have done well for ourselves," Jayley responded, "right now that country has no idea what is stirring up here! They expect attacks as weak as the last ones but we are about to unleash fire upon their heads! Surely not even someone as arrogant as you can say I failed in this one." Liene only laughed again unnerving her. What was it that he knew that she didn't?

"So you really think Gera is going to defeat the Dreamer?" Liene said as it it was a joke. Jayley had no doubt in her mind that Gera could do it; Gera was the strongest of the children that Liene had ignored and Jayley's father had seen to it that Gera had been trained expertly. The girl was a natural born killer without the flaws that plagued Meiko Virea and gave her doubts. No, Gera questioned no one and she had more mobile suit experience than she needed to fight.

"I don't think I know!" Jayley replied.

"Think again," Liene responded taking a few steps forward, "what if I told you that the pilot of the Dreamer was Yaro Yamato?" Jayley was taken off guard by him saying this even though she suspected as much in the past.

"I suspected that," Jayley replied.

"Then you realize who Yaro really is don't you?" Liene said his eyes digging deep into her. She didn't understand him, sure Yaro was the adopted son of Kira Yamato and a coordinator with seed abilities. He was nothing more than that. He had the constant backup of those that cared about him on the battlefield and with their attentions divided he would be an easy target for Gera to destroy. Liene wouldn't say something like this unless there was something more to Yaro Yamato. The boy's anger was clear in his fighting styles it was almost too ornate and perfect to describe.

"He is gifted," Jayley observed, "and very angry but surely he is nothing more than that. The boy is not even really a Yamato, and he does not posses the super seed like Meiko did, nor the berserker abilities of Gera. He will be easy to defeat once I let Gera go." Liene laughed even more at this.

"You think Yaro is nothing more than a mere coordinator?" Liene asked still laughing, "I admit it took me awhile to put everything together but Yaro's abilities to use anger are inherent and almost too perfect for words. He had beaten back whatever you have sent at him, with some aid but a majority of it he has done alone. Do you not see Jayley, there is so much more to this boy. He was placed in an orphanage around the same time as the shift of the world; the Destiny plan, everything that took place then." In that moment Jayley realized what it was Liene meant and her heart lept inside of her, for it was something that should not be. She took a step back at this but still stood in her resolve. No matter who he was Yaro was still not as powerful as Meiko and therefore no match for Gera.

"No matter his past Yaro is not ready for this," Jayley said as Gera nodded, "Gera has surpassed him; he as only been fighting since we kicked Lacus out. I believe that he will be easily defeated." Liene laughed again.

"We will see," was all he said before he disappeared; nothing more than a hologram transmission. The boy however remained and before Jayley could shout for more guards the boy disappeared into the shadows; gone away.

Kiran ducked under the railing and ran across the room the moment his brother appeared from the machine. He had waited long enough, he wanted to see Yaro, the past six weeks had been fearful and finally he could ask his brother how things were and what was going on.

"Yaro!" He yelled and his older brother turned around at the sight of Kiran he had a face of surprised. He had expected Kiran to be kept safe in the Attha mansion, but no he was here in the military base. This would be the first place the PLANTs would target if there was an attack staged here. Anger filled him at that, his little brother needed to be kept safe, not allowed to wander around as if there was no danger anywhere.

"Kiran what are you doing here?" Yaro asked clenching a fist. His anger softened at the sight of his brothers smile. He had forgotten how hard it must have been for Kiran to watch him go into battle and wait for news. He felt a little bad that he hadn't been considerate at all about how alone Kiran probably felt in this strange place. He couldn't blame the boy for being here but he could blame his aunt and uncle for not keeping a better eye on him. He decided to cool off in this situation and reassure his brother that everything was okay and that it was going to remain that way. Yaro did miss his family and having Kiran was having part of them here.

"I wanted to be here," Kiran responded, "I would not stop bothering uncle Athrun until he let me come stay here. I am the pilot of the Courage after all and if we were attacked…"

"You would not be fighting," Yaro replied with a hint of annoyance, he wanted to be patient with Kiran but he was not going to let his little brother be put in danger again. He was not going to loose him the way he lost Uzumi and Meiko and so many others.

"But Yaro I already have," Kiran said, "you can't control my actions, I've been training these past weeks and I have been getting better and better. It's part of who I am, I mean even father learned everything quickly. " Yaro knew that if they didn't change the subject that he would end up getting angry so he tried to think of something to change it to but he couldn't. He could only think of how he needed to protect Kiran at this moment and keep him off the battlefield.

"Kiran you can not fight out there, you don't know how father and mother would respond," Yaro reasoned, "Because believe me they didn't respond well to me fighting down here and without me ORB would be in trouble." Kiran was mad now, how could Yaro perceive himself as so important when it was Kiran who had laid his life on the line to protect the Minerva. Kiran had done plenty of things already and he did not need Yaro's approval before going into the battlefield, only his uncle Athruns. Kiran was ready for this and Yaro couldn't see that because he had never seen Kiran fight.

"You think you're so special!" Kiran declared now, "you only have helped ORB because you're a cool blooded killer while I was able to protect the Minerva without taking lives! I've learned how to fight in a way that protects the world not destroys them!" Kiran couldn't stand it anymore, everyone thought that he wasn't ready to fight when he had clearly proven otherwise. Now he had done it, Yaro was angry.

"You have no idea what you are talking about Kiran!" Yaro yelled, "you're nothing but a child who doesn't understand! You don't know what it's like to watch the people you care about fall apart on the battlefield and to be there but not have enough power to save them! But now I have that power and heaven curse me if I don't use it! And you, you're innocent of the battlefield! It's no place for people like you."

"But I've fought already!" Kiran reasoned sharply, "I may not have made mistakes that cost people their lives but I've fought enough to know what it's like to fail and what it's like to be near death but you Yaro don't understand! You're not justified in killing! You can't fight that way anymore!" Kiran had seen too many things he never thought possible and it had hurt these weeks to watch tapes of his brother destroy without hesitation. Yaro was becoming everything that they were fighting and Kiran knew that it was hurting him to watch and if it was hurting him it was hurting everyone else. In that case why was no one doing anything about it? Why was no one trying to stop him.

"That's enough Kiran," Yaro said grabbing Kiran's arms as they flew toward him and in that moment Kiran saw darkness in Yaro's eyes and he felt fear from that darkness.

In that moment Shinn Auska happened to be walking by. What he saw Yaro grabbing Kiran roughly and Kiran afraid. Yaro was much stronger than the small Kiran who was still just a 14 year old boy and Yaro could really hurt him if he wanted to. The way it looked now it looked like Yaro wanted to. Shinn had seen so much of Yaro's darkness on the battlefield, he had tried talking to him but Yaro never responded. Shinn now looked at the two boys and justice rose in him; Yaro was getting out of control and if no one took the time to set him right he would soon be the enemy they were fighting.

Acting impulsively, Shinn rushed forward and sent his fist flying into Yaro's jaw. He caught Yaro of gaurd and the boy went flying toward the ground. Kiran shrunk back at what had just happened. Yaro was not his brother anymore, he was someone different. Something so wrong. Yaro jumped back up but Shinn easily dogged his fist and send him flying again.

"You're out of control Yaro!" Shinn said roughly to him, "Stop it right now!" At that moment Athrun entered the room having just spoken to Cerevis and in the mindset to find Yaro and speak to him. He was surprised at what he saw, Shinn was defending Kiran from his own brother. It was exactly as they had all feared. Things that should never be taking place were happening there.

"Commander Auska!" Athrun declared catching them all off guard, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Yaro attacked Kiran," Shinn responded and Yaro looked angry. Athrun looked at the boy who was fuming but was making no moves in front of his uncle.

"Yaro?" Athrun asked. Yaro turned away as he thought of how everything had actually started. He had been happy to see his brother but when he had gotten protective Kiran hadn't responded well. He should have known that his little brother would be stubborn; it kinda ran in the family. Now he was in trouble for disorderly behavior.

"Kiran shouldn't be fighting!" Yaro declared, "he's not ready! And I didn't attack him, I'm just trying to convince him not to fight!" Athrun raised his eyebrows at this, so it all started with Yaro's protective side. Yaro should have realized that Athrun had the situation under control.

"So you behaved roughly to him?" Athrun asked and Yaro nodded. Athrun sighed and continued on, "but had you stopped to think you would have realized that there is a reason Kiran hasn't fought yet. He is not allowed access to mobile suits because he won't be allowed on the battlefield until we can contact your parents. Does that satisfy you?" Yaro was about to respond when Athrun cut him off "But you didn't think about these things, you just acted. The problem with you lately Yaro is that you haven't been thinking before acting, you've just been acting. You'd find if you stop to think more often situations like this could be avoided." Athrun then turned to Kiran.

"I'm sorry Uncle Athrun," Kiran said looking away ashamed, "it's partially my fault."

"I know Kiran," Athrun replied, "but you're able to admit that, which shows something of your maturity. You're alright but you're coming back to the Attha mansion from today on; it's for your own good and I don't what you fighting me on this."

"Yes sir," Kiran said nodding. He was ashamed of how he had acted, he looked toward Yaro; the older boy didn't seem sorry at all.

"And you Yaro," Athrun said turning to the older boy; as a part of the military Yaro was subject to any punishment his general chose and at this moment Athrun had to act as general. Things could not be allowed to continue in the way that they had up to this point. "You Yaro will be grounded until further notice, no more fighting in the Dreamer until I decided when you can." Yaro was about to say something when Athrun cut him off "and you will report to my office at exactly this time tomorrow. Any later and you will be placed in solitary confinement for three days." Yaro was resentful at this moment, if his uncle didn't have military authority over him he could defy him but at this moment he could say nothing but to affirm his understanding of the statements.

"Yes sir," Yaro responded.

"Now that we have that straightened out," Athrun said putting a hand on Kiran's shoulder, "you're coming home." Athrun then turned and left with Kiran; he would deal with Yaro later right now he had to take care of the younger of the two. Kiran would be doing better if he was with his aunt and cousin but Yaro on the other hand needed some serious taking care of.

In KIra's absence Athrun knew he was responsible to take care of these boys as if they were his own and right now discipline was important.

Yaro was about to return to his room when Shinn spoke up.

"Keep in mind Yaro you got off easy," Shinn said, "if I was dealing out the punishments you would be a week in solitary confinement off the bat. You need to cool off and grow up." Yaro didn't say anything he only turned away as something inside him became sorrowful. These were the people he fought alongside and now he had lost their trust through his own actions but they didn't understand the darkness he felt now. They didn't understand that he was not like them.

Yzak walked into the main hangar where it was common to find Milady overseeing the the testing of a new mobile suit model or welcoming new recruits and things like that. She was a very hands on leader and she put a great effort into being a part of every process. Today he wished he had come with good news because she seemed pleased with the way things were going around the base, but alas there was bad news. When Yzak had chosen to leave ZAFT he had not left without some power and assurance, this power lay within people who were completely loyal to him. He had spies in the PLANTs and in the Clyne faction that reported to him any significant developments and this time things were very significant.

"Milady," Yzak said when he finally caught up with her. She turned to him with a smile on her face, clearly pleased with how things were going. He accounted this to the recent developments with Meiko; Milady had been happy to see the girl now, it seemed things had moved forward. Meiko however had retreated into herself was was natural for her and she didn't say much but she was very courteous. He was glad to see things progressing in that area especially in light of the news he had to give Milady.

"What is it Yzak?" she asked, her smile didn't fade even at his distressed look. What could he have to say that could ruin her wonderful day? Things were going so well and she intended to keep them that way no matter what.

"I've a report from one of my spies in the PLANTs," Yzak began urgently, "Milady things are progressing too fast! The PLANTs are preparing to attack ORB full on, you know they've held back up too now. ORB is going to need our help and we have to mobilize immediately." Milady's smile faded as she thought of how quickly things had progressed. This was very bad news. If things in the PLANTs had sped up then surely ROW was one step ahead of them all she she was lagging behind still trying to get Meiko to choose to fight. No matter Yzak was right in this situation. They had to mobilize or risk loosing everything they had been trying to protect.

"Corporal," Milady yelled and a man came running toward them.

"Yes Milady," The man said with a salute.

"Sound the High alarm," Milady said with a smirk on her face, "we're mobilizing for ORB!" The man saluted her again and ran off to sound the alarm.

"How quickly?" Yzak asked her, knowing that she understood they had a limited time clock.

"The council will assemble to vote on it," Milady replied with a smile, "but you know how they will vote. While that is taking place the ships will begin supplying. I have no doubt that we can be ready in two or three days to launch. The only thing that I am worried about is our Phoenix." Yzak understood this, for everything they had planned depended on the red haired little girl who still had shown no signs of making any decisions.

Cagalli sat on her computer browsing some old files and thinking of the old days. Sometimes in quiet moments like these she would look at old family photos and imagine what her son would do if he was there with them. It was very hard for her to think on these things but she knew the best way to keep him with her was to refresh the memories she had of him for memories were all she had left. On days like these she often found herself slipping away into her memories, it was a beautiful place but not not today. Today things were different, something was stirring in her heart and she knew that something was about to happen no matter what people around her said something was stirring in the deep of the world. Something that no one would expect.

In this moment she sat there her screen suddenly changed, went black and someone appeared before her.

"Greetings Lady Cagalli," the woman who spoke wore a white mask and had dark red hair that she kept short. Something about this woman seemed familiar but Cagalli couldn't tell what with the mask she wore.

"Who are you?" Cagalli asked, taken aback by what was happening, how could someone just access her computer?

"My name is Milady Redemption," the woman said with a confident tone of voice, "I am the founder and leader of the organization known as Redemption, the same one that saved your brother from ORB awhile back." Cagalli's eyes widened at this, not only was this the organization that had saved Kira but they knew about her connection with him. What else was it that they knew about Kira?

"What is it you want," Cagalli now answered with authority. It was as if the world shook now, for the meeting of these two had long been awaited. Any alliance made here might become the turning point of the world. Both of them felt the gravity of the situation but neither of them knew how crucial this moment really was. The joining of the two factions could tip the scale on the world and once again give power back to those who desire light and peace.

"I have worked for years on a way to contact you," Milady replied taping her fingers on her chair, "and now the time has finally come. You need to be strong in the coming battle for our spies have reported that the PLANTs are amassing a larger force than we thought possible. The army that they are preparing now is something that we didn't see coming. You need to understand that power of the Dreamer and the Truth alone won't be enough to hold back what is coming. I am telling you this because you need to mobilize everything you have, enough to hold them off for a time." Cagalli was shocked by what she was hearing, she had not expect anything more to happen in the PLANT war this soon, or this powerful.

"Hold them off?" Cagalli question thinking about it, "we have to defeat them! We have to stop them!"

"And you can't do that alone!" Milady exclaimed urgently, "I've sent word to the Clyne faction as well, Kira will return to the battlefield, somehow he has to but I don't know if he'll make it in time so you need to listen carefully. Hold them off and I promise you help will come but that won't end the war. The coming battle will be crucial enough to stop them for now but after that we need to expose Jayley for the liar she is, and to do that we need to attack ROW on their own front."

"This is too much," Cagalli responded holding her hands up, "I can't think about defending my country from the PLANTs and stopping ROW at the same time!" Milady nodded at this.

"And you don't have to," She was determined now to get this across to Cagalli, "for Redemption will stop ROW; just take care of ORB like I know you willl. Now is the time mobilize!" To this Cagalli nodded.

"The PLANT army will be met by the power of ORB!" Cagalli said with determination now.

"And the World will shake."

"So the important thing is that we get you down there, regardless of your situation now," Lacus said as her and Kira walked down the halls of the Clyne faction base together. Lacus had just received a coded message from Milady explaining that there was a large force attacking ORB and Kira needed to get to earth. Lacus had shown the message to Kira and the two had immediately called for the council of the Clyne Faction to be assembled. They had to take some action but Kira's mobile suit was not ready. In Lacus's mind she knew what their plan of action had to be, even though Kira would be uncomfortable with it.

"But Lacus…" He begin to which she suddenly stopped walking, he turned to look her in the eye and she gave him a reassuring smile.

"I know it's hard now," she said wrapping her arms around him, "but I know everything is going to be alright. We just need to get you down there." He held her close knowing that she believed in him, but was that enough.

"But…" she silenced him again.

"You don't need the new mobile suit to make a difference," Lacus replied, "Athrun still has the Justice, no one is using it. You can use that machine until yours is complete, it's still advanced and you're strong enough to make a difference in any machine." To this he laughed, he had never considered the Justice as an option and he wasn't sure that he agreed with her on her last statement.

"Well Lacus," he said beginning differently this time, "I'm not sure you're right about any machine, but I agree that the Justice will work for now." She smiled at this, it was good to hear him laugh again, it seemed so long since he had. The world was in such pain now, she prayed that moments like this would remain with them always, moments where they could laugh and smile and enjoy being with each other like they always had.

Athrun didn't want to deal with this right now. ORB was amassing it's defenses under the orders of Cagalli and there was so much to do but Yaro had shown up as commanded to and now he sat resentful before Athrun. This made Athrun wonder what Kira would do in this situation, his friend didn't really have as much of a temper as he did but even Kira had his limits on occasion. Athrun had seen Kira on edge in the past few months of fighting but it was very rare to see the docile pilot in the midst of anger. And now Athrun would have to discipline his son or at least set the boy straight. If Yaro were killed in battle it would be devastating and that was where his temper was taking him.

"Listen I know you don't want to be here," Athrun began, "in fact I don't really want to be in this position. I wish your father was here but he is not." Yaro didn't say anything so Athrun continued, "have you ever heard the stories of the old wars," and Yaro nodded to this, "stories that your parents no doubt told you many times to prevent you from making the same mistakes as them." This made Yaro stop and think, no he had never really been told the stories by his parents bur rather by others.

"No," Yaro spoke up, "my father spoke very little of them and my mother never spoke of them at all. I heard many of them through others, eyewitnesses and people within our circle of friends." This surprised Athrun, he had made sure his children heard everything from him about what he had done. He wanted them to know his mistakes so that they wouldnt' make them. He strongly believed that telling them the truth about all that he had been involved in was the best way. His sons knew everything and they both were better people than he was because they took it to heart. Athrun wondered about Kira and why he hadn't done the same thing but then he remembered how sensitive Kira had always been about everything. It had taken Kira a lot to forgive himself for all the things he had done on the battlefield and it had taken more for him to be able to move past them. Then there was everything with him being the Ultimate Coordinator; he had only told a very few people about that, his children probably had no idea the dark legacy behind it all.

"Well then you have heard about how me and your father both lost control on the battlefield?" Athrun asked.

"You mean when you almost killed each other?" Yaro asked, "I have heard about it."

"That was one time," Athrun sighed thinking about it, "it happened many other times but that was the significant time. We lost a lot in those battles; people we cared about were killed. I lost a friend then Kira lost a friend. the cycle of death and revenge, hatred and anger. It explains why we are the way we are." Yaro nodded, the stories of the past did explain a lot.

"I understand," Yaro replied.

"No you don't Yaro," Athrun said thinking about it, "I was driven mad with anger when it happened; all I could see now was that he was my enemy, someone that needed to be destroyed. I know the darkness that has been driving you because I have felt it so many times; you can't tell me I don't understand because out of everyone you know I am one of the people who does. For I have done so many things I regret and you will find that the place of regret is where you become hollow and alone. It is by the grace of those who were around me that I came to my senses. You need to realize the path you are on is one that will lead you to a lot of pain and you need to find a way to control the anger inside of you." Yaro seemed to soften a bit at Athrun's words, perhaps he was getting through to the boy.

"But it's not just anger," Yaro replied with a puzzled look, "It's hate. I hate what everyone has done to this world and to us. They've torn away things that I love and I tried to save so many but couldn't." Athrun understood this, the worst feeling in the world was being unable to save someone you love. Athrun felt this most recently when he lost Uzumi; it was very hard not to blame himself for there might have been a way, but placing the blame on himself would only weaken him till he would be unable to fight to protect those that were left.

"Sometimes all you can do is try, Yaro," Athrun glanced down as he thought of the past, "try and try but when someone is gone they are gone. The important thing is that you realize that they wouldn't have wanted you to wallow in regret, they would have wanted you to move forward and be the person you were before or to grow into a better person. It's hard, very very hard and I wouldn't have made it in the past without the people around me, people like Cagalli and your parents who were always there to set me right. Now Yaro, we are here ready to help you every step of the way, you are not alone in this. Let me help you." Athrun saw in Yaro's eyes the boy fighting back the pain. "Let any emotions out Yaro, It's okay to let your emotions show every once in awhile. It's when you hold it in that you also find yourself in darkness. Most men may not like anyone to see them cry but we can feel as well and occasionally it comes to that."

"But I've lost all my tears," Yaro responded thinking over everything, "there's no reason, no meaning to this, it's just hatred. I've tried so many times to figure out what it is that drives me now, but I don't know." Athrun knew at this moment that this had not all been for nothing, for Yaro was trying to keep himself, and all he needed was help. He needed his father now, for his father was the only one left of those who could really help Yaro now. Meiko was gone and Uzumi was gone.

"But you're not alone," Athrun said a little bit more commandingly, "and if you ever feel like you are I want you to remember this, you have people around you who care about you and who care about the choices you make. We would lay down our lives for you because we care. You're a part of our lives and our family and all the suffering you feel we feel as well. The hurts you have buried have caused hurt to remain in this family, it's why Kiran feels he needs to fight because you are. It's why Leyas cries because inside you are, it's why Kayla fears the darkness because you do as well. Your actions directly affect those you love whether you realize it or not. Promise me you won't try and face it alone and I understand why you wanted to fight for ORB, because you didn't like seeing how your own actions affected everyone. It was easier for you to face the dark without seeing them hurt by it." Yaro had no idea how much it had really caused. In that moment he felt better than he had in a long time, hearing his uncle's words reminded him who he was and though he felt the dark it could never take him completely because of those around him.

"I just wish there was some way to make my father understand," Yaro replied thinking about how Athrun had seen everything very clearly. When Yaro was in pain everyone in his family had suffered from it and it in turn had scared him enough to where he believed it would be better for them at this time if they were all separated. He was partially being rebellious because he believed they all should stay in ORB but as time went on he began to see that it would be better if for now he was on his own in everything. He had to find out his purpose and though he still had not found it he felt better hearing that someone understood the pain he was in.

"He understands more than you know," Athrun remembered Kira's expression as he was pained in not knowing what to do about Yaro, "and he want's to help you, but you never let him but that was because you didn't want to really let anyone know everything. We saw it Yaro, all of us knew that the moment Meiko took her own life that you would be affected by it, no matter how you tried to hide."

"I've faced it," Yaro said, "i've come to terms with everything that happened even though that was hard it was something I knew I had to do. I guess I just haven't faced the other things, the dark that now affects this world but I will continue to fight it with everything that is in me."

"And you won't be alone in that fight."

She stood before the hangar where it was all happening. Warships were being armored and supplied, people were bustling about as if something was about to happen and she had seen it all before so many times. Meiko Virea knew the sights around her; Redemption was preparing to go to war and the battle they were preparing for was surely no small one. She also knew that behind the hangar in front of her also lay one of the most amazing sights she had ever seen in a machine. Milady had a Gundam that was more powerful that she even understood. She felt it's power no radiating as she stood there even though she couldn't see it she knew that it was there.

If Redemption was preparing to enter the battlefield something was surely wrong, so very wrong. She couldn't imagine what it was but she knew that she feared what it could be. Milady had not come to her and spoken to her about it like she expected. She had been here in Redemption and yet no one had asked for her help. If they were going to a battlefield she knew that her powers were valuable. She should have expected that they would not want to lean on her.

With boldness she entered the hangar turning her head about till she spotted the woman in charge with Yzak and a few other high officials in Redemption. They seemed to be deep in discussion about something, she then turned about searching for the power that she felt so strongly in her being, there was something here and she had to find it and she had to understand it. She turned again until she faced it, there in the distance and darkness through another door it called her. She walked forward as if enchanted by it, ignoring the many stares she got from the people around her. She was used to their staring by now, it was as if she was some amazing piece of art to them. She felt the power growing as she walked toward the doorway.

Milady felt Yzak's hand on her arm and when she looked at him he gestured to something behind her, to this she turned to see Meiko walking toward it; their hope. She felt her breath catch in her throat, it was not yet time for this; there was so much to do and she couldn't deal with this now.

"She's awakening more and more everyday," Yzak whispered, "if not now when?" Milady shook her head and turned back to him.

"Soon," she said simply walking away from her group; following the girl with the flaming red hair. The girl with the eyes that could cut the heart of thousands with a single glance. Something was changing and Milady knew it but she also knew that they were not ready for this step, not now but very soon, for everything was nearly done but not complete.

As Meiko entered the room she stared up in awe at the giant machine before her; it's coloring still as beautiful than ever. It's frame was the very essence of strength and power and beauty all at once. She felt as if she belonged here for some reason, with this machine before her, beside her to fight together as one. She felt as though this machine reflected a part of her that she had always bee missing. Who was it meant for if not for her? Redemption could pretend that they didn't want her but they had to, she was more powerful than they realized and she knew that the power of this machine must have been built to work with the power she had built inside herself for her entire life.

She stepped closer feeling more and more captivated by the power she felt, and as she stared at it something suddenly hit her like a memory.

They were all around her, people were all around her and she could not see any of them for there before her was a woman who reminded her of someone she must have known. Meiko reached out to this woman and she turned and walked away as if not even seeing the girl who reached for her. Meiko tried to move but she found herself turning around to face darkness and in the midst of it she saw Yaro. He turned to her now too and reached out for her. She reached back trying to make it to him but he was just out of reach. Neither of them could move, they stood with their hands to one another. He looked so different, so burdened as if something was troubling him inside. She tried harder to reach for him but she knew she wouldn't be able to. Then she heard a voice saying her name over and over and before her the image of Yaro began to fade. She cried out for him.

As the vision faded she found herself collapsing toward the ground into the arms of the one who said her name over and over. She found tears in her eyes as she looked up to the face of Milady, her mask blocking Meiko from seeing her face. The older woman held the girl in her arms as if she was a child and told her over and over that it was alright.

Meiko looked up again at the mobile suit as it mocked her, a glowing light appeared around it for a second and faded.

"What is it?" Meiko asked Milady and Milady looked at her in sadness.

"It is you Meiko," Milady replied looking toward it herself, "it was made for you. It is Redemption's Phoenix, the main reactor was found in the mountains of Eurasia, activated only by you and your super seed. We've made sure it was perfect for you." Meiko looked at it in shock, it was connected to her somehow a part of her. How could it really be?

Her mind turned again to Yaro; he was in darkness and she had to save him, she felt this burning inside of her soul. She wanted to stop it from happening again, all the darkness. She was tired of this, of being what everything around her wanted her to be. She had discovered herself and it was if everything wanted to take it away from her; well it wasn't going to happen. She had been through too much to be forced into something again. She looked at Milady and Milady let go of her recognizing the look in her eyes. This was what she had wanted to avoid. Meiko stood up and took two steps back and Milady stood up as well. The accusation in Meiko's eyes was clear, she didn't want it again.

"You've been planning this," Meiko accused with anger in her eyes, "you're just like them! You just want me to fight for you like ROW!" Milady knew that this setback was one they had to avoid, yet the situation looked bad; Milady had made her a mobile suit before Meiko eve got there. The implication was clear.

"It's not what you think Meiko!" Milady declared stepping forward by Meiko only stepped back more. Now Yzak entered the room and he saw what was happening.

"All I want to do is to be free," Meiko spat back, "You just want to use me! You're no different than he was! How could you!" Milady felt anger in her now, to be compared to Liene was hard but she had to control herself. She knew it was natural for Meiko to fell like she was being used, because that was all she ever had her entire life. Everyone used her and Milady knew that despite what she tried to tell herself she was using Meiko as well, though she had Meiko's best interests in mind when she did. That was the difference, if only the little girl could understand this.

"No Meiko," Milady said stepping foward again but stopping as once again the girl backed away, "I am not like him! You could never understand the demons that I faced, you could never understand why it is that I have done what I have done but you have to try." Yzak didn't know what to say as the dynamic between the two became hostile in a way but somehow something told him to stay out of it. These two needed to reconcile themselves to the truth, he only hoped that Milady had what it took to speak the truth.

"You know nothing!" Meiko yelled at her now, "you don't know what happened to me! How am I supposed to trust you? You brought me here and told me that I did not have to fight yet you built a mobile suit for me so that I would fight for you! You've been manipulating me just like everyone else!"

"Just listen to me!" Milady shouted with authority taking over her being. She reached her hands to her head and tore off the mask that hid her face from the world and for the first time Meiko could see clearly into her eyes and they struck her for some reason. She knew the story of who this girl was but looking into her eyes it was like she could see into her heart. "I would never ask you to do anything that you didn't want to do Meiko, I have only ever sought to help you. I know how the situation looks but I care for you more than you know. I didn't build this so that I could manipulate you into fighting, I built it so that if you decided to fight then you would have the ability to and along with that you would protected by strength. You have every choice in the world and I don't seek to take that away from you. I want you to be free to decide to be whoever you want to be." Tears filled Meiko's eyes as she looked into the woman's eyes and saw into her heart, seeing that the words she said now were true.

Milady now dared to take a step forward and Yzaks heart leapt within him for a moment as he realized that this was all that Meiko needed, nothing more. The truth would remain hidden as before. Milady looked toward him and saw the disappointment in his eyes; he was right, she needed to tell Meiko the truth but the words stuck in her throat. She could not say them though she so wanted to; seeing the girls fear brought it out yet the words stuck there within her.

Meiko wanted to believe her so badly and she knew that in her heart she did believe her but her mind still fought her. Memories of the past. She had forgiven herself for it but she would never be able to forgive Liene. How could something like this happen? How could she just trust someone? She wiped tears out of her eyes and the anger faded from her eyes, replaced with a hardness as she turned and ran from the room toward the outside.

"Let her go Milady," Yzak said stopping Milady before she could run after her.

"How can I get through to her?" Milady replied tears streaming down her face, "I know what I have to do yet I don't want to do it? Please tell me there is another way Yzak."

"There is no other way," he said bluntly to her with a flash of anger in his eyes, "grow up and take hold of who you really are Milady. The past doesn't matter anymore, because out there is a girl who has never had anyone she could really trust. You can't blame yourself for that but you can blame yourself for not being honest with her. Tell her the truth!" Milady heard him but she knew she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"How can I tell her the truth when I don't remember what it is to believe it?" Milady responded, "I've been running from it for so long, to face it myself would leave me empty. I can't face the past, please don't make me." With that Milady left the room now and Yzak said a silent prayer that somehow this matter would be resolved soon.

Meiko ran and ran until she reached the beach of the small island. There was nowhere left for her to run now, nothing left for her to do but to think. If what Milady said was true she could take the mobile suit and leave, but what prevented her? It was the look in Milady's eyes that she had seen now, the look that made her stay with this woman. Something bound them together and she couldn't understand it. She just wanted to be free yet as long as she didn't understand this she knew she would never be free.

She couldn't understand what people were expecting from her. In the past she was completely numb to the world and now all she wanted to do was to be more like herself not like anyone else.

"Uzumi where are you now?" she asked as tears poured down, "I need you, please help me." The wind howled around her as she cried.

"Don't let it stop you." She heard a voice on the wind, "For you know who you are despite it all, and you know what you must do. I am always with you, I promise but you know the answer, it's there in your heart. All you have to do is see the truth." She felt a hand on her shoulder yet she could not turn. He was here with her as always.

"I will not break," she responded to the wind, "all is lost again but I'm not going to give in!" She felt determination within her soul, "Though my path may lead to nowhere nothing will stop me! I vow this that the world will feel the power that is within me, not because anyone else wants it but because I want it. This war's not over yet." She looked up and she felt the presence of Uzumi floating around her now, giving her strength to stand her and declare how it would be. No one would stop her from this.

"And you will be everything the world needs," Uzumi whispered to her as he faded "for you will be all that you were born to be and the world will be saved."

I can't believe I'm at another one of these points! Wow! The battle for ORB begins in the next chapter and it seems that I may be getting back into the story just in time for winter break. Expect intense moments to come. Meiko is once again on the edge but it is the war of Yaro that may just set the ending of the story so watch out for his actions. There is so much coming up and I want to know what exactly you think those things might be.

Next chapter names

Phase 33: Darker Dreams
Phase 34: You Wished For Redemption
Phase 35: Pheonix: She Shall Rise Again
Phase 36: United In Fire
Phase 37: Meiko's Heart
Phase 38: Darkened Seed
Phase 39: Reason

These are subject to change as I tend to split chapters and combine chapters at will. It seems we are getting close and closer to 50, I anticipate that there might be more or less than 50 depending on how everything plays out; if I can't get everything done in 50 I will make more because I want enough room to really tell this story in it's completion.

Oh yeah and anticipate the next chapter because there is a huge reveal within it if you don't want to be spoiled stop reading.
We hear another of Milady's names.

SO
Please REVIEW, REVIEW!
-Winter Chill