Chapter 9
It was a few days after Mayu had her small outburst.
And much to everybody's relief there hadn't been another one since, which meant that it did not take long, before the house was back to it's normal routine, all of the inhabitant of the house enjoying the peace and quiet.
Even true they each had that feeling, that something was just about to boil over, not that they had said anything about it.
They all just truly hoped that the world, wouldn't continued on it's present course.
Everything really did seemed like it was ready to explode at any minute now, not that any of the household was worried about that right now, everybody there where pretty much in their rooms fast asleep.
The only person up right now was Dearka, that was busy using the Internet to chat with his girlfriend, that still hadn't been home since the whole mess with Junius Seven.
And even true he hadn't mention to anybody, he was actually begin to get worried about her.
He seriously didn't like the idea of her being out there with all the trouble, that seemed to be hiding just under the surface.
It was like just one word would make the whole thing get out of hand, and he really didn't want Miriallia to be out there when that finally happened, not that he could tell her to come home, she would without a doubt say no to that, it wasn't really like her being stubborn was something new.
It was just about that time she wrote to him, that she was going to bed now and that he should do the same it was after all quite late, and both of them did have things they need to do tomorrow.
With that she immediately got off line, leaving Dearka to just sit there watching the computer screen that was standing in front of him, still thinking about how much he would have liked for her to come back here, before anything else could happen.
"Well good night Mir" He mumbled in a somewhat tired voice, while looking up at the ceiling, with Miriallia's happy face running through his mind.
He did truly hoped with all of his heart, that nothing would happen to her while she was out there.
If she did end up getting hurt or something like that, he seriously didn't think he would be able to take it, he had already lost more then a few friends in the last war, something that from time to time still hurt quite a lot.
And there was just no way, he could handle losing the woman he loved more then anything else. "Ahhh man this really is annoying" he quietly said to himself, while he reached out and took a hold on the glass of apple juice, that was standing in front of him, and brought it up to his mouth where he slowly drained the small glass from the rest of the liquid inside it.
000000
Meanwhile some other place in the house, Kira was fast asleep with his lovely pink hair wife laying just next to him.
And even true the two of them really looked cute and adorable right now, a drop of sweat slowly began running down his forehead, as he quickly turned over and made a somewhat unhappy growl sound, and it was just shortly after that he almost flew up from the bed.
Where he immediately took a few deep long breaths, while thinking about the nightmare he had just had.
Even at this exact moment he could still hear everything Rau Le Creuset had said to him, when he had fought against him and the Providence two years ago, even now he could still clearly remember how it's DRAGOONs had been coming at him, destroying more and more things on the Freedom.
"Damn that was some nightmare" the brown hair boy mumbled somewhat quietly, as he slowly reached up, and used his left hand to dry away, some of the liquid that was still covering most of his face.
But even as he did that, he just couldn't forget some of the last words, the insane mask man had said to him in the heat of the battle.
The whole thing about the purpose of humanity continued running through his mind, and no matter how long he sat there trying to think about something else.
He just couldn't get his thoughts away from the mask man's words, and everything that was going on all over the world right now. He really didn't want to experience another war, he and the people he cared about, had already lost more then enough of their loved once.
And there was just no way he want for any of them to go through that kind of sadness again.
But even as he sat there with those thoughts on his mind, the brown hair boy slowly stood up from the bed, where he took a small glance over at Lacus that was still sleeping peacefully on her side of the bed, even after being married to her for two whole years now.
It still did amazed him from time to time, that she could sleep so strongly no matter what.
And he couldn't deny that watching her, did make him feel a little better after the nightmare, he had just had.
Yet he only watched her for a few short seconds, before he turned away, and began heading towards the door, determined to get something cold to drink, and some much needed fresh air.
And it wasn't much later before he reached the living room, where the first thing he noticed, was that the light was on and that another one of the people living in the house, was sitting over in front of the computer that was in the room.
And just one look at Dearka's face, was more then enough to tell Kira, that the former Zaft pilot was far away in the video game, he was playing right now.
Unwilling to disturb the other boy in his game, Kira slowly walked the rest of the way over to the kitchen, still listening a bit to the noise, from whatever game Dearka was playing.
"Maybe I should ask him tomorrow, if that game is any good" Kira quietly said to himself.
Just as he walked over to the cabinet to find a glass, and it wasn't much later, before he was standing in front of the sink, waiting a bit impatiently, for the water to get just the right temperature.
It did however not take long, before he could finally satisfied his thirst.
So once that task was out of the way, he place the used glass beside the sink, then turn around and began making his way back out of the kitchen, this time heading towards the balcony for some air.
But he didn't really get all that far, before he heard a familiar voice call out to him.
"Yo Kira! What are you doing up this late? It's over two a clock" Dearka said, as he looked away from the screen, and over at the watch that was hanging on the wall, where he saw that he wasn't entirely right, about the time.
But he didn't really think it was necessary to mention that to his obviously tired friend, that by now was also looking at the watch, with a far away expression on his face, that really made Dearka wonder, what the other boy was thinking so hard about.
It wasn't all that often that the former pilot of the Freedom, would be up this late, the only times that happened was when something was bothering him.
And it really didn't take a genius to figure out, that Kira had a lot on his mind at the moment.
So after watching him a bit longer, Dearka decided to repeat the question, about what Kira was doing up this late.
Hearing Dearka ask him that again, Kira finally looked away from the clock and over at his friend, that was still sitting by the computer screen, looking at him with a curious expression on his face.
But that didn't get Kira to say anything, he just stood there thinking hard about, if it really was a good idea, to tell Dearka why he was awake.
The former Buster pilot wasn't really known for being a person somebody would talk with about stuff like that.
Both he and Lacus had heard, Miriallia complain more then a few times, about how insensitive Dearka could be, something that had actually been quite entertain to listen to.
But no matter what kind of thing Dearka did to make the brown hair girl mad, he would always find some strange way to apologize to her, which really showed them all, just how much he actually did loved Mir.
And even true Kira seriously didn't feel like listening to Dearka's bad jokes right now, he really did need a friend to talk with about this.
And Lacus was still fast asleep back in their room. And there was just no way he would wake her up at a time like this, waking her doing the night was actually one of the few things, that could get her mad at him, luckily he had only succeed in doing that a couple of times in the past.
So after standing there a bit longer, Kira let out a small breath, as he closed his eyes a few seconds. "I had a nightmare about the past!" The brown hair teen said.
Just as he again saw Rau Le Creuset's laughing face, ran through his mind one more time, which was more then enough to make his mind wander back, to his deadly battle with the mask man's grey mobile suit.
He was actually so far away in his own thoughts, that he almost didn't heard it when Dearka asked him, what his nightmare had been about.
And even true he was still feeling a little hesitation, about answering the question, it did not take long, before he slowly opened his mouth again. "It was about Rau Le Creuset and my fight with the Providence gundam!" The brown hair teen said, in a loud yet far away tone.
Hearing his friend say those words, Dearka immediately let out some kind of sound that made it clear, that he almost felt like throwing up at what Kira had just told him.
But it didn't take long, before he found something to say back.
"Couldn't you have found something at least a bit more cheerful to dream about, what about something with you and Lacus out on a date, or perhaps something a bit more naughty" Dearka said, as he too thought about his former commander.
Just the thought alone was more then enough to make a small shiver run down his spine, while thinking about how close the lunatic had been in killing him in the past.
It really was a depressing subject, but that didn't mean, he couldn't talk about it.
"So what exactly happened in that dream Kira?" Dearka asked, a bit afraid to know the answer, seeing as he could still remember almost everything, Kira had told him about his battle with the mask man.
And the reply he got for the question, again made a light shiver run through him.
"It was the whole thing about his completely insane view on mankind" Kira told him.
Just as he turned away from Dearka and walked back in to the kitchen, to get yet another glass of water, for some reason his throat just felt so dry right now, and there was just no way, he could continued the conversation like this.
It did however not take him long to realize that he wasn't alone in there, Dearka had followed him and was already over by one of the cabinets, rummaging through it quite loudly, obviously looking for something he could eat.
And it didn't even take a minute before he pulled out about three candy bars, where he immediately ripped the paper away from the first one, then he hurried took a big bite of the chocolate, chewing it slowly a few times, before he finally swallowed the unhealthy food.
Seeing him do that Kira too reached out and took one of the candy bars, and began eating it in a much slower pace then Dearka.
But even as that was happening, the two boys didn't really say anything.
They both just stood there, each of them thinking their own thoughts about the last Bloody Valentine war. And it was only after the former Buster pilot, had finished of the last of the candy bars, that the deep silence was brought to an end.
"So why do you think you where dreaming about the crazy bastard?" Dearka asked, as he reached out and picked up the paper from his two candy bars.
He already knew that just leaving them on the table, would get him in trouble with miss Murrue.
And he really didn't want to get on that woman's bad side, she was after all the one in charge when he was at work, and he seriously didn't want her to give him even more work, to do.
What he had now was more then enough, fortunately he did have the day of tomorrow, that was actually the reason why he was up this late, normally he would have been fast asleep by now.
It was just about that time he saw Kira slowly leaving the kitchen, and without really giving it much thought, he quickly followed his friend, that was obviously heading for the balcony.
Once out there it took a few minutes before Kira gave the other boy a response.
"I don't know why I was dreaming about him, but it might have something to do with everything that's happening right now. I just can't help but feel, concerned about where all of this is heading" Kira said, while looking at the almost completely clear night sky.
Luckily there wasn't many clouds out right now, so the view was actually quite nice. Not that any of them gave it much attention, they had far more important subject to talk about.
"Well I am glad to hear, that I'm not the only one who got a bad feeling about all of this. I mean the Plants really does seem, to be doing everything they can to make sure, that there wouldn't be another war. But on the other hand, the Earth Forces is almost screaming for blood right now" Dearka said, thinking about what he had seen on the news tonight, after everybody else had gone to bed.
Hearing the other boy say that, Kira looked away from the night sky and over at his friend where he was just about to say something back.
When suddenly the door to the balcony flew open and Lacus stepped out, looking a few times between her husband and the other boy, wondering what could be so important, that they had to talk about it in the middle of the night.
"What are the two of you doing out here this late?" She asked, while tighten the small knot on her blue robe.
She seriously didn't want Dearka to see what she had on underneath the fluffy robe.
But one short glance over at him, was enough to make her realize, that he was actually far more busy, looking up at the night sky.
Which made her feel a bit more relaxed, she hadn't really thought, when she woke up not long ago and saw that Kira was gone, that he was actually out there talking with Dearka, it was after all quite late.
It was just about that time, when she noticed, that Kira was watching her, with a far away expression on his face, but he didn't do that for very long, before he let out a small breath.
"We where just talking about everything that's going on in the world right now, both of us is kind worried about what's going to happen next" Kira explained.
Just as he reached over and gently placed his right arm around his wife's waist, pulling her close.
Even true it was almost completely dark out there, with the moon as the only source of light. It was still quite obvious for Kira, that his pink haired wife was freezing right now, even with the thick robe on.
Which wasn't really much of a surprise, the ocean wind that was softly blowing over the three of them, could be kinda chilly from time to time.
And Lacus really didn't spend all that much time, wandering around outside in the middle of the night. Especially dressed in nothing else, but the few pieces of clothes she had on now.
So after making extra sure, that he was giving her at least some of his body heat. Kira was just about to explain to her, what he and Dearka had been discoursing out there.
But before he could even get his mouth open, Dearka's voice suddenly cut him of quite loudly.
"AHH damn it all to hell! Why the heck did they have to go that far?" The former Buster piloted asked, with a both angry and shocked expression plastered all over his face, not once taking his eyes away from the night sky.
And even true the married couple, was confused over his sudden colourful words.
It did not take very long, before they too where looking at the almost black sky, where both of them immediately saw a great deal of familiar looking pink lights, that made both of their eyes widen in disbelief.
"Are those.....?" Lacus asked sounding just as shocked over this as Dearka, but it took almost a minute, before one of the boys, gave her some kind of reply.
"Those are the flashes of nuclear explosions" Kira said in a far away tone.
Just as he once again, saw a Rau Le Creuset's laughing face flash through his mind, and he could now almost hear the mad-man telling him, that the only way to bring peace to humanity, was for it to simply disappear from this disgusting world.
And that no matter how much time would go by, there was just no way that a species such as humans, would ever stop fighting with each other.
It was only when Lacus called out a few unhappy words of her own that Kira finally got his mind away from the maniac and back to the present.
But that did not mean, he had anything to say. He just stood there holding his wife, in a tight embrace, while looking straight up at the sky, as the many lights up there, began slowly fading away once more.
Seeing that they slowly looked away from the sky, each of them thinking their own thoughts, about what they had just witness.
And it almost took ten minutes, before Dearka again mumbled out a few minor curses.
"Damn it all, I had really hoped that it wouldn't have ended up like this" the teen said in a somewhat depressed tone, while thinking about what they had just seen.
He seriously hoped that the Zaft military up there, had somehow succeed in stopping all of the warheads from hitting any of the Plants. He truly didn't want something as horrifying, as the Bloody Valentine Tragedy to happen again.
But even as the former Zaft soldier, had all of those thoughts going through his head. He didn't get any kind of reply from the married couple, which made him slowly turn his attention over towards them.
Where he immediately noticed that they where just standing there in a deep silence, holding on to each other, both of them quite obviously feeling just as shocked and depressed, over all of this as he was.
So after watching them for a few seconds, he couldn't help but let out a long sad sigh, as he again turned and looked up at the night shy, for any more signs of nuclear explosions.
So after Dearka's last few curses, nothing else was said between them.
They just kept standing there, for almost a half hour, before the pink hair girl, in the company brought the almost unbearable silence to a hold.
"Believe me you two, I feel just as terrible about this as you do. But there isn't really much all that any of us can do right now, so perhaps it would be a good idea to get some rest, that way none of us will be tired, when we have to tell miss Murrue and Mr Waltfeld about this" Lacus said in a sad tone, while taking a few short glances between the two boys.
Where she could easily tell, that both of them where completely exhausted at the moment.
Which was enough to make her reach out, and slowly wrapped her fingers around Kira's hand, where she gently began pulling him along, back towards the still open door.
"Please come in too Dearka, it wouldn't do you any good standing around out here any longer" the pink hair girl said.
Just as she turned and took a small look back at the former Buster pilot, that was now slowly following her and Kira back in to the house, without saying a single thing, to what she had just said.
And the only thing he did, when they got inside, was turn off the computer, not even bothering to take the time, to save the game he had been playing before.
Seeing his friend do that, was all Kira need to tell, just how angry Dearka was right now, and one look in to Lacus' eyes made it pretty clear, that she too was just as upset about this, as he and Dearka was.
But she was right there wasn't a single thing they could do about it, the Plants was after all quite far away, and even if they did have someway to help, there was just no way they could get out there, fast enough.
So they might as well get some sleep, even true Kira honestly didn't believe that he could fall asleep, with everything he had seen not that long ago.
"How could it end up like this again?" The brown hair teenager asked quietly, getting both Lacus and Dearka to look over at him, unfortunately none of them had any kind of response, to what Kira had just asked them.
"I don't know Kira, I really don't know" Lacus said in a far away tone, while she slowly walked in to the kitchen, to find something which the three of them could eat, before they would go back to their rooms to try and get some sleep.
And it only took a few minutes, before she came out again, holding on to a small tray that was filled with a few pieces of fresh fruit, that Dearka was quick to reach out and grab a piece of.
Happy to see that Dearka hadn't completely lost his appetite, Lacus smiled a bit as she slowly turned and looked over at Kira, asking him with her eyes if he wanted a piece of the fruit too.
Yet it took a few moments, before Kira finally realized what his pink hair wife was asking him, and just as she was about to put the tray down on the coffee table.
He reached out and took a single piece of the offered fruit, which he of course chewed a few times before he swallowed it.
After that he slowly walked over and sat down on the couch beside Lacus, that by now was also eating some of the food, she had brought out to them, but even as she was doing that, she just couldn't help but grab on to Kira's hand, holding on to it tightly.
And it was only shortly after, that a single sentence lifted Lacus lips. "I really hope that nobody was hurt up there" the pink hair girl sighed, in a thoughtful tone.
Not that any of the boys said anything back, they just nodded slowly in agreement, both of them thinking almost the exact same thing as Lacus.
It did however not take long, before Kira stood up from the black couch, where he slowly stretched both arms up over his head, then reached down to help Lacus up from the couch.
After doing that, the two of them turned and began heading back to their room, each of them saying good-night to Dearka, before they disappeared down the hall.
Seeing them go like that, it didn't take long before Dearka had chewed down yet another piece of the delicious fruit, and was now heading towards his and Miriallia's room.
Hoping that it wouldn't take too long, before he would fall asleep, even without having the girl he loved sleeping beside him.
Even true if somebody asked him, he could quite honestly say, that he wouldn't mind having her resting beside him tonight.
But unfortunately, it would take sometime, before she would get back home from the job she was out on now, which meant that he really didn't have any other options, then to sleep by himself for the rest of the night.
000000
The next day after the nuclear attack, Athrun was being lead through the Plants capital Aprilius, for the meeting he was suppose to have with Chairman Durandal.
He was however, begin to seriously doubt, he would be able to see the Chairman today, much least talk with him.
After everything he had seen so far, most of the Plants citizens was pretty much in a panic after the attack, not that anybody could blame them.
It wasn't really nice to know that somebody had been crazy enough, to try and use something as destructive and deadly as nuclear missiles.
And it really made the blue hair teenager wonder, what the heck was going through the Earth Forces mind, wasn't it bad enough, they used those damn missiles in the last war.
Why the hell did they have to go so far this quickly, the Plants had after all been trying to find a diplomatic solution for all of this mess, so why in God's name was it that the Earth Forces, found it necessary to do something like this.
"Damn, I had really hoped the Chairman could have found someway to prevent something like this from happening" the boy muttered in a angry tone, then stopped when he heard a familiar voice travel down the hall.
It took him a few seconds to recognize it, mostly because that specific person was not suppose to be up there.
But when he finally did realized who exactly that voice belonged too, he got even more confused.
Seeing as there was just no way she could be up there, she was suppose to be back home in Orb together with Kira, not up here, and just how did she get there before him.
He did however not get all that long to figure it out, when suddenly he saw a pink hair girl come running towards, calling out his name in a loud happy tone.
"Athrun it's so good to see you!" She said, while looking straight in to his eyes and hugging him tightly, but even as she was doing that Athrun took a quick look around after his best friend.
There was no way he want Kira to see this, if that was to happen Athrun was almost sure, that his friend would break both of his arms, but once he was completely sure that Kira wasn't around, he again looked back at the girl that was still holding on to him.
"Lacus just what in the world are you doi....?" That was pretty much all he got out, when he realize that the strange pink hair girl, was not who he thought it was.
The way she was hanging was clearly not something Lacus would do, and the almost erotic way this strange girl was dressed, was not something Lacus would ever do.
It was way to revealing from Lacus normal choice of clothes, and the blood red Haro that was jumping up and down beside her, was not something he or Kira had made, which meant that this girl had gotten it from another source.
Not that Athrun could tell from where exactly. Unfortunately he did not get long to think about that, before the excited girl tighten her grip on him, and tried to move even closer to him.
But once she did that, Athrun instantly got his mind back on track, he could already image the angry deadly looks, Cagalli and Kira would give him if they saw him in this situation.
So before the girl could do anything else he, quickly reached up and push her arms away, then hurried took a long step back, not once taking his confused green eyes away, from the weird girl in front of him.
But even true he had pushed so her away like that, still had a huge smile on her cheerful face, as she again began talking to him using Lacus' voice. "I have really been looking forward to see you again!" She said, while trying to embrace him one more time.
But Athrun made sure to stay out of the pink hair girls reached. "Who exactly are....?" That was pretty much all he got out, before he heard Gilbert Durandal call out his name, as he came walking slowly other towards them.
"Well hello Athrun, it's good to see you again, especially after everything that happened at Junius Seven" the chairman said, with a friendly smile on his face.
Just as he got over next to them, looking first at Athrun for a few short seconds, thinking about the meeting he was going to have with the boy, he might have been kind busy since the nuclear attack.
That however did not mean, he didn't have a few ideas about how he could win the boy's loyalty, and get him to rejoin Zaft again.
But for now it was properly best to just talk with the teenager, so after watching him a bit longer, he turned his head and looked over at the pink hair girl, briefly think about how useful, she was going to be in the near future.
There wasn't many people around up there, that could see the differences between the real Lacus Clyne, and this fake one he had used so much time and money to have made, she really was a perfect lookalike.
Especially now that her face had been changed through some real professional surgery to look like Kira Yamato's wife, he did however not think about that for long, before he began speaking to her in his usual kind tone.
"I know that the two of you have just meet again, but don't you have something important to do miss Lacus?" He asked, making the girl look away from Athrun and over at him, where he even with the kind smile on his face told her that he had something to talk with Athrun about, and that she and him could catch up once he was done with that.
Hearing the man said that, the strange pink hair girl quickly reached down, and pinked up the red Haro that was rolling around a few centimeters from her right foot.
After retrieving the small round robot from the floor, the girl stood back up and gave Athrun a caring smile. "I look forward to talk with you later Athrun, it was very nice seeing you again" the pink hair woman said, even true this was the first time the two of them had ever meet.
After that she turned around and of towards a blond woman, that had been standing a bit away from them, while all of this was happening, once over there she told the woman that she was ready to leave.
Which meant that the two of them hurried walked of, with both Athrun and the Chairman looking after them, until they where out of sight.
"But that was...." Athrun tried to say.
But stopped when he saw the black hair man beside him slowly lifted up his hand and shook his head a few times.
After that he told him in a quiet tone that he would explain everything about this later, once they got to his office and could sit down and rest their feet a bit.
Something that Athrun could really use, seeing as he had been walking around quite a bit today.
And even true it was done with a bit of hesitation, the blue haired teenager nodded slowly in understanding, as he followed the Chairman towards the exit of the giant chamber, where he had meet the strange girl that looked so much like Lacus, that it was actually a tiny bit creepy.
And no matter what kind of explanation the new Chairman, had about this other Lacus.
Athrun was quite certain that it was going to be very interesting.
000000
"Please come on in Athrun and make yourself comfortable!" Gilbert said while opening the door to his office, then made a kind gestured with his hand that showed the teenager, that he was welcome to go in first.
And seeing the black hair man do that, Athrun nodded his thanks and enter the room, with the Chairman following just behind him.
But even as they got inside neither the man or the teen said anything, so after looking at the boy for a few minutes, Gilbert decided that it was most likely best, that he was the one to begin this conversation.
"You seem to have a awful lot on your mind Athrun, mind sharing some of it with me?" He asked in a kind tone, while he walked over to a small refrigerator that was in the room.
Where he hurried pulled out a bottle of water for himself and a soda for the boy, that by now, was sitting on the couch he had in there.
And just one look at the teens thoughtful face, was enough to tell Gilbert, he was right when he assumed that the boy had many things going through his head at the moment.
It however only take a few seconds, before the boy let out a small breath, as he reached out and grabbed on to the can of soda, the Chairman had placed in front of him not long ago.
"I don't even know where to start, but I guess the thing I'm most concerned about, is what Zaft are going to do now, that the Earth Forces have been using nuclear missiles?" Athrun asked, while opening the soda can, without taking his eyes away from the Chairman.
Hearing the boy asked that Gilbert gave him a small smile. "We are not going to do anything Athrun, I know many of the citizens wants to do something in revenge, but doing such a thing wouldn't lead to anything good. It's not like any of us really wants a war, so once things calms down a bit, I'm sure they will all agree with me. And I'm sure that once she talks to them, some of the panic out there will simmer down" the man explained, while taking a small glance down at his watch.
Seeing just how close they where to Meer's debut as Lacus Clyne.
The black hair man, couldn't help but let a small grin ran over his lips, he truly was looking forward with great expectation, to see how his version of the pink hair celebrity, would handle this kind of situation.
It wasn't like Meer Campbell had all that much experience in being on live TV, so it would certainly be entertaining to see her performance, not that he expected her to do anything wrong.
She had after all been thoroughly trained, in being the real Lacus.
So unless she did something totally stupid, nobody out there would be able to tell, that she was not the real Lacus Clyne. And even if somebody could tell it was a fake, it wouldn't really hurt his plans, as long as she could calm the citizens down.
Thinking a bit about the Chairman's words Athrun took a big sip of the soda, truly enjoying the taste of the liquid as it slowly ran down his throat, after that he once again placed the can on the table.
"Ok I'm relieved to hear that, but what if they come back and try one more time? Soon or later one of the missiles will surely hit one of the Plants" the blue hair boy said in a worried tone, while thinking about how awful that would be, if something like that happened.
"You don't have to be concerned Athrun, we might not use the same methods, as we did when you where a Zaft soldier, but even with that said, we will not just sit by up here and do nothing, we are going to defend our self, that is after all human nature. But we will not go as far as we did in the last war, seeing as I do believe that both the Coordinators and Naturals is needed in this world, each of us just have to find someway to accept that" Gilbert said in a thoughtful tone, while glancing over at the boy, where he could easily tell that he was really considering his words.
And finally after a few seconds he nodded slowly in agreement. "I see, but do you have any ideas about how to stop the war, I really don't want a repeat of the last one I almost killed my best friend back there, and there was so many other things back then, that I truly wish I could have been different!" Athrun said in a loud tone.
While thinking back to many of the things, he had done in the last war and the people he truly wish was still among them.
But as he thinking about that, he didn't even noticed the few tears, that was now slowly running down his face.
Seeing that and hearing the boys words Gilbert couldn't help but smile a bit, this entire meeting with the young Zala was going just the way he want it, just a few more kind words, and he would have a truly unique pilot in his grasp.
"I am doing everything I can Athrun, to prevent this conflict from escalating any further then it already has. But as you properly already know, there is a limit to what even I can achieve" Gilbert said, while looking over at Athrun to make sure that he had all of the boy's attention.
And once he saw him give a small nod to his words, Gilbert quickly continued his manipulated speech.
"There isn't anybody in this world, that can prevent a war from breaking out on his own, each of us needs to use all of our abilities to help out. And if you truly wish to assist us Athrun, in making this world a peaceful place again, then you are more then welcome to once more join Zaft" the man said, with a kind smile on his face.
Hearing the Chairman ask him that, Athrun immediately got a somewhat shocked expression on his face.
He had never once expected, that when he left home to have this meeting with the Chairman, that the black haired man would ask him to rejoin Zaft again, and seeing as it was quite a surprise for him, he truly didn't know what to say.
"Well....I'm honoured that you would ask me, but I really don't know, I mean Orb might join with the Earth F...." that was all he got out, as the picture of how he had propose to Cagalli ran slowly through his mind.
It was just about that time when Gilbert stood up and walked over next to the boy and placed his hand on his shoulder. "I'm not asking you to betray Orb or any of your friends Athrun, I just want to know if you might be interested in being with Zaft again. But you surely don't have to make that decision now. But no matter what you decided on, there is something I would like very much to show you, once you are finished with your drink, and miss Lacus have had her broadcast!" Gilbert said while giving the boy a friendly smile, before he again walked over and sat down in his chair.
Thinking a bit about the man's words, the blue hair teenager was just about to say something back when he noticed the Chairman turn on the giant television that was in the room, where both of them could now see the Lacus lookalike girl.
Athrun had met not long ago, and it only took a small second before she began talking to pretty much everybody out there, still using Lacus voice.
But even true Athrun really was listening to what the Lacus lookalike was saying.
He was still looking over at the Chairman with a questionable expression on his face.
As he wait for the man to explain this to him, and fortunately he did not have to wait all that long before the Durandal looked away from the screen and over at him, where he of course could quite easily tell what the boy, wanted to know now.
"I realize what you are thinking Athrun, but I truly didn't have any other choice, her influence on people is just so much bigger then my own, and now that the real one have disappeared, I had to do something to make sure that everybody believed that Lacus Clyne was once again a supporting Zaft!" Gilbert said, not seeing the look the young Zala now had on his face.
Athrun truly did understand this from the Chairman point of view, but he just couldn't help but wonder what kind of reaction the real Lacus and Kira was going to have to all of this.
He could clearly remember a conversation he had overheard between the married couple, shortly the after the last war had ended, where Kira had asked Lacus if she sometime missed, being up on stage and singing her songs.
But Lacus had just smiled a bit at him, and told Kira that she much rather live a quiet and peaceful life together with the one she loved, and that she truly had loved being a pop star.
But she kinda felt like it was more important helping out with all the parentless children at reverend Malchio's house, and that was something she want to do, as long as she was able to.
So was it really right for the Chairman, to make Lacus a celebrity again, now that she didn't want to be one.
It did however only take a few minutes before Athrun's expression changed to a more determined one. If this really was the only way, to get some of the people out there to stop thinking about revenge, then the real Lacus just had to accept that.
And with that in mind, Athrun slowly lifted his head and looked over at the pink hair girl on the screen.
Just as she began singing a totally different version, of Lacus' favorite song, and even true Athrun honestly prefer the original, the way this girl was singing it, wasn't really all that bad.
000000
It was about a half hour since Meer had her first live debut, and even true she had been jumping and dancing around a lot more eagerly, then the real Lacus would ever do, she really had done an unbelievable job.
Even true it had been somewhat obvious, that the whole experience had been quite exciting for the young woman.
And as much as Athrun, wanted to figure out a bit more about just who she was, there really hadn't been any time for that.
But he did not get all that much time to really think about that when the Chairman suddenly turned and looked back at him.
"Here we are Athrun the thing I want to show you is right in here" the man said, while he dialed in the code that would unlock the door, once that was done he smiled a bit at Athrun, before he reached out and pressed the big button that would open the door.
After that it did not take long, before the two of them where in an almost completely dark room.
"I know that you haven't made up your mind yet about what you are going to do Athrun, but even if you don't know that, I would like to know your opinion on this machine?" Gilbert said.
Just as all the lights in the room was turned on, which meant that now they could both see, the mobile suit that was standing in there.
"But that's a gundam!" Athrun called out in a truly surprised tone, as he stood there looking the strange mobile suit over, while wondering what it could do and what name it had, but before he could even ask the Chairman about it.
The black haired man began talking in a proud tone. "To be more precise, this mobile suit is the ZGMF-X23S Saviour" Gilbert explained, while looking away from the boy and over at the gundam, thinking slightly about what the young man could achieve in a mobile suit as strong as the Saviour.
His performs in that ZAKU, they had let him borrow at Junius Seven, had truly been magnificent, and Gilbert was really looking forward, with great expectations to see what the boy could do in this mobile suit.
And with that in mind, he again looked back at Athrun.
"It's a bit different, then the three stolen once, and the Impulse, but nevertheless I'm certain that if it gets just the right pilot, it could be a great help to put an end to all of this" the Chairman said, finally looking away from the gundam and back at him.
"Why are you showing me this sir?" Athrun asked, with a bit of an confused look on his face.
He really did think that the Saviour, was an impressive looking mobile suit.
But he just didn't get, why the Chairman was showing him something, that no doubt was top military secret, and not something an outsider such as himself, should be permitted to see, but yet here he was seeing one of Zafts news mobile suits.
Hearing the boys question Gilbert smiled, as he looked at the gundam.
"The main reason why I'm showing you this Athrun, is actually because I was truly wondering, if I where to give you this machine, what you would use it for?" The black haired man asked, truly enjoying the shocked looked, the boy was sending him.
Not that he didn't understand why, the boy was so surprised.
It wasn't like it was an every day occurrence, that somebody would just give away something as powerful as a gundam.
Blinking a few times at what the man's had just asked him, Athrun had a real difficult time coming up with some kind of reply to the question. So in the end he just stood there, for a few very long minutes looking at the gundam.
"I actually don't know, but one thing is certain I will do everything I possible can to stop this conflict. That way none of the people that I love and care about wouldn't have to get involved, in something like this again" Athrun said, in a somewhat far away tone, while thinking about everybody he had left behind back home, especially the girl he loved, occupied his mind for a few minutes.
But it did not take long, before he began to wonder what all of them where doing, at this very moment.
He truly did hope that all of them where ok down there, and that they did not miss him too much.
Unfortunately his wandering thoughts, about the all the people in his life was soon interrupted, when the Chairman began talking to him, still using the same calm tone as before.
"I see Athrun, but if you really do decide to join up with us once again, this mobile suit and all the power it has will be yours to do with as you wish. The Saviour will be your responsibility, so think about what you want to do and give me a reply, when you have made up your mind!" The black haired man said, as he turned away and began making his way towards the exit of the hangar.
Still taking the opportunity, to take a small glance back at the former Le Creuset team member.
Where he was quick to noticed, that he had obviously given the young man a lot to think about, something which was more then enough, to make a small smile ran over his lips, as he once more called out to him.
"Well if you are finished looking at the Saviour Athrun, I think it's about time that we fine you a place to stay while you are up here!"
Hearing that Athrun took one last look up in the gundams eyes, then slowly turned away and began walking over towards the Chairman, that by now was standing over by the door waiting for him.
And it was not long after the two of them had left, that the Saviour was once again locked securely back in it's almost completely dark hangar.
With a few more guards keeping watch over the place, to make extra sure that nobody would try and take this machine, like somebody had done with the Chaos, Gaia and Abyss.
But even as Athrun and the Chairman was walking together down the hall.
Nothing else was said between them, even true Gilbert was quite certain that it would only be a matter of time now, before Athrun Zala would once more be a loyal Zaft soldier.
To be continued.