Chapter 21

It was about a week after Heine Westenfluss had officially joined up with the Minerva.

Which meant that now the enormous grey Zaft space ship had six mobile suit.

Not that there had been any use for them since the battle at the Mahamul base. Ever since that little fight, everything had been somewhat peaceful. Something most of the crew was enjoying a lot.

Even now as the ship was slowly approaching Zaft's coastal city base by Diocuia.

All of the pilots was outside on the ship's deck taking in the lovely view of the big city they could now see almost clearly in the distance.

Unfortunately the peacefulness up there didn't last for long before the only female up there opened her mouth and yelled out in a very excited tone.

"Wow this place is just wonderful. I kinda wish I had a cute boyfriend that would invite me out on a few dates, in such a beautiful city!" Lunamaria shouted loudly.

Then took a short glance over at Athrun. Somewhat hoping that her loud words about a boyfriend would somehow get his attention. But much to her irritation and disappointment he just continued standing there taking in the view.

Which was more then enough to make a deep unhappy frown ran over her face.

Just as she looked away from him again. Why the heck was it so difficult to get that guys attention.

Why was all the men in this world so damn brain dead whenever a girl was trying to hint that they liked them. She had seriously hoped that her words would at the very least had gotten some kind of reaction out of him.

But he just kept on standing there like she wasn't even presence. And it was actually becoming somewhat obvious for her that his thoughts was quite far away right now.

Which only served to annoyed the red haired girl even more, what the heck could that guy be thinking so strongly about that he didn't hear what she was saying.

She did however not even get the chance to even consider asking about what was going through his mind.

When suddenly Heine stepped over and wrapped his arm around her slender waist. Making her jump slightly, as she turned around and looked directly in to the eyes of the orange haired dude, wondering slightly what in world he was up to now.

But before she had the opportunity to ask him about it.

He gave her a small yet gentle smile. "Well if you truly want to go on a date, I seriously wouldn't mind taking you on one. You just tell me where exactly you want to go and I'll take you there as fast as possible!" He said in a determined tone, while not doing a thing to hide that he was flirting with her.

And even true Lunamaria was a bit flattered by the attention she hurried reached down and pushed his arm away.

And before he could do anything else she took a long step away from him. "Well as lovely as that sounds Heine. I don't think I know you well enough to go on dates with you!" She said in a gentle tone.

Hoping intently that he would accept this explanation.

She seriously didn't want him and everybody else up there to know, that the real reason why she didn't want to go out with him.

Was because she had her eyes on somebody else. But when she again took a small glance over at Athrun she notice that he still wasn't paying any attention to what she and Heine was talking about, which made her more then just a little angry, why in the world couldn't he at least pretend to listen to them.

But just as she was about to mumble out a few minor curses, Nicol stepped over beside her.

"If you really want to take a look around the city Luna. I don't mind taking you, truth be told I was actually planing to take a look around by myself. It truly is a lovely city. But before we go anywhere, we should perhaps consider asking Meyrin if she wants to join us" the green haired teen said. While once more looking back at the town.

Hearing her friend offer to do something like that, Luna was just about to give him a reply, when Heine suddenly cut in to the conversation.

"Wow Amalfi! I seriously didn't think you where the type of guy, to date two women at once. And sisters none the least, please tell me your big secret?" The orange haired teenage requested in a deeply curious tone.

"What...wha...but...I'm not...!" That was pretty much all Nicol could get out, while a deep embarrassed blush ran over his entire face, as he continued trying to come up with a way to explain his close friendship with the two Hawke sisters.

But no matter how much he tried, the only thing he succeed in doing was playing fish for a very, very long time.

Yet before Nicol had the necessary time to get his voice back. Lunamaria quickly reached out and gave Heine a hard slap at the back of his head.

"The three of us is just friends you big idiot! Why the hell are all the males in this world either completely brainless or perverts?" She asked loudly, while she turned around on one foot and stormed off before any of the male pilots could say anything else stupid to her.

Seeing her leave in such a hysterical way Shinn couldn't help but let out a small whistle.

"Damn it! I seriously don't think I have ever seen her get so angry that quickly before. That really has to be a new record!" The Impulse pilot said loudly out between his deep laughter.

That almost murderous expression Lunamaria had on her face, just before she took off, was just so damn hilarious. It had been some time now since he had last seen her in such a bad mood.

And anybody that could get her that angry that quickly, was seriously somebody that deserved his respect. But as he was about to tell Heine that, somebody else cut in and began talking in a somewhat disapproval tone.

"That wasn't really a very nice thing to say, there is no way I could ever date two women at once, that's just so utterly disrespectful!" Nicol said doing nothing to hide that he was also a bit mad at the ship's newest crew member.

But before Heine could think up some kind of answer. The green haired teen turned away from him and left the deck too, determined to find Lunamaria as quickly as possible, so he could ask her if she was all right.

"Seriously man! Doesn't anybody on this ship knows how to take a joke or two?" The orange haired GOUF piloted asked, as he slowly reached up and removed a bit of sweat from his forehead.

"Nicol has never been good at figuring out when somebody is joking around. He tends to take it much more serious then it actually is. That's also why he had such a difficult time getting along with some of our old team mates!" Athrun said in a somewhat far away tone.

Thinking back to how badly Yzak and Dearka had treat the former Blitz piloted. Before Yzak had went over the deep end, and gotten himself killed by Kira.

It was only after that event. That Nicol and himself had been able to build up a friendship with Dearka. "Ok I'll remember that in the future. It's not really his fault that he can't recognize a joke, truth be told I actually feel a bit sorry for him, not having that ability!" Heine said seriously, as he smiled a bit about how many times he and his fellow soldiers had been going around pulling pranks on each other.

But if somebody didn't like stuff like that.

He certainly wasn't going to be the one to give that person a hard time, doing something like that was in his eyes consider as bullying and he truly hated those soldiers that did something like that to their comrades in arms.

"I'll apologize the next time I see him. Each of us needs to be able to work together, and we certainly can't do that if we don't get along" the orange haired man said.

Already considering going after the other GOUF piloted on the ship. But after a few seconds he decided that it was best to wait until the ship enter the port, that way he wouldn't have waste time running around all over the Minerva, searching for the slightly younger man.

Hearing those words Athrun smiled a bit, as he nodded a single time in understanding. "That's good news. I'm sure Nicol will be happy about that. Now then if there is nothing else we need to talk about, I have a few things I need to do before we disembark!" Athrun said.

Then turned around and calmly left the area, heading down towards his chamber where he was determined to take a quick shower before he left the ship.

It was no big secret that he had been working quite hard on the Saviour for the last couple of hours, which was something that had really build up a big sweat.

And if he was force to meet the base leader together with the captain and the second command. He seriously didn't want to smell like one who had never even heard of a shower before.

And he knew without a doubt, that the only thing that could remove the somewhat unpleasant smell was great deal of soap. And with that in mind it did not take long before he too disappeared from the deck.

Seeing his very first buddy on the ship disappear through the door.

Heine slowly turned and looked over at the two last people up there.

Rey had a slightly thoughtful look on his face, as he stood there looking out over the bright blue water the ship was sailing over. While the red eyed boy was messing around with something down in his pocket.

Which made Heine wonder a bit what he had down there.

But after a moment or two he made the decision that it really wasn't any of his business, no matter how curious he was about it. So after watching the two of them a bit longer he let out a small breath.

"Well if you guys are not going to say anything I think I'll head for the mess hall and get a nice cold soda, I'm getting quite thirsty over here" the man said, before he slowly turned away and walked off. Already considering what kind of soda he should get once he got down to the mess hall.

And just as he was about to enter the Minerva, he call back to the two other pilots that he would see them later.

And once the door flew shut behind the orange haired dude. Rey slowly turned his attention away from the ocean and over at the last person up there. "Now then there was actually something I would like to ask you Shinn. The new pilots what do you think about them?" The blond man asked in a slightly curious tone, while he stood there studying the boy's facial expression.

Hearing his friend ask that. Shinn stopped playing around with his sister's mobilephone, and pulled his hand up from his pocket, then he reached up and scratched the back of his neck a few times.

"Hm Heine is really funny. He can always find something funny to say no matter the circumstances!" The boy said, while thinking back to the many times he had seen the GOUF pilot mess around with other people.

Which had really been entertaining. And he was already looking forward to the next time Heine had an opportunity to make some trouble for somebody.

But before Shinn could give it all that much thought.

Rey's slightly loud voice suddenly snapped him back to reality. "You know that I wasn't just asking about Heine. I would also like to know your opinion on Athrun Zala!" The blond haired man explained.

He knew that Athrun had helped them out a few times since he joined up with the Minerva, but that certainly didn't mean that Rey was going to trust him.

In his eyes they could quite easily find another person to put in to the Saviour. Somebody they where certain that they had complete control over. And hadn't already betrayed Zaft once in the past, and could most likely do it again at some point in the future.

"I actually don't really know what to think about him. Sometimes I think he is a stuck-up bastard that should be taken down a peck or two. And other times he does seem like a nice enough guy. But I still don't like the idea of taking orders from him, he is still one of the newcomers!" Shinn said, from where he was standing beside Rey.

Still thinking hard about if there was anything else he need to tell his best friend on the Minerva, about Athrun Zala.

But finally after a few seconds. He decided that there was nothing else he wanted to say. So without saying another word he once more turned around and looked back down at the clear blue water beneath them.

Not noticing that Rey was still watching him with a deeply thoughtful look in his eyes.

And if Shinn had bothered taking a look at Rey, he would immediately have realized that he was thinking very hard about every single thing he had just said about the pilot of the red mobile suit.

"I'm glad you told me the truth Shinn. But what I'm really curious about knowing is if you trust the guy, can you honestly tell me that you are willing to work together with him, when you think about what he did two years ago" Rey said in a hard tone, and with a look on his face that made it clear that he was expecting Shinn to give him an honest answer.

But it took a few minutes before Shinn found out what he wanted to say to those words.

"Well I don't really blame him for that. His father was more then just a little insane. That was certain proven quite clearly by those bastards that tried to drop Junius Seven" he said, while thinking back to how difficult it had been to stop all of those damn terrorists.

He did however not do that for long before he slowly shook his head a few times, as he began talking in a somewhat displeased tone.

"If I really have to think of a reason not to trust him. It's properly because he has been helping out Orb and that blond bitch, he had with him the first time he was on the Minerva!" Shinn said, while a small angry frown ran over his forehead, as the face of Cagalli Yula Athha made it's way through his mind.

But once he heard Rey tell him that he was happy to know, that he wasn't the only person on board that was having problems trusting Athrun Zala.

"So why exactly Rey do you distrust him?" Shinn asked, wondering why precisely his friend had so much against having Athrun, as a part of the Minerva's crew.

It did however not take long before Rey smile a bit at him.

And began explaining that he quite seriously didn't feel like talking about that at the moment. But perhaps someday in the future, he would tell him about why he held so much distrust towards the blue haired guy.

And before Shinn could even consider complaining about that. Rey told him that the ship was finally entering the port.

Which meant that they should properly start getting ready to disembark. So they could take a look around the place, and without saying anything else Rey turned around and hurried made his way over to the entrance of the ship.

With Shinn looking after him the entire time. "You still owe me a bit of an explanation Rey. But I guess that can wait till later, truth be told I'm actually a bit curious about taking a look around this city. It really does seem like an interesting place!" The Impulse piloted said in a loud tone.

Just as he once more took a look out over the enormous city, where the Minerva was suppose to stay the next few days.

It really was quite an impressive sight.

But as he stood there taking it all in, his thoughts slowly turned over on something else.

And he began wondering if there was any cute girls in such a big town. It had been a long time now since he had last thought about finding himself a nice looking girlfriend to spend some time with.

And with that in mind he hurried turned away from the view, and rushed off after Rey that had enter the ship only a few minutes ago.

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It was about twenty minutes later when the Minerva's crew was finally ready to disembark.

And once they got outside they all immediately notice a great deal of the base personnel standing around obviously waiting for something.

"Wha...whats happening out here?" Meyrin asked, sounding very curious about the entire thing.

But unfortunately neither her sister that was standing just beside to her, or the two former members of the Le Creuset team that was over by the entrance of the ship had any kind of answer to her question.

And before they could really get in to a big discussion about the subject.

Yolant and Vino pushed their way past them and ran full speed over to all the other people.

Both of them shouting something about, that it wouldn't be long now before she would get there. "Who exactly are those two idiots talking about?" Lunamaria asked in a slightly angry tone, the two mechanics had been quite close to knocking her over.

And it had only been thanks to Nicol, who had immediately reached out and taken a hold on her hand that she hadn't ended up fallen over and gotten hurt. So after giving him a small yet grateful smile, before she slowly pulled her hand away from him.

Then turned and send of a small glare after the two rash mechanics, somewhat hoping that they would both realize that she was mad at them.

But they where far to busy yelling and screaming together with everybody else. To even notice something like that, which made the slightly angry girl roll her eyes a single time.

Before she looked away from them and over at her sister, that was obviously still trying to figure out what was going on.

Not that she had any luck with that. All of the people that apparently knew what was happening, was far to occupied at the moment, to realize that there was actually a few people gather there, that didn't have the slightest idea about what in the world all of this fuss was about.

It did however not take long before everybody there heard a well-known voice begin singing loudly.

Which was more then enough to make all of them look up at the pink ZAKU that was slowly descending down towards the ground. "That's actually an interesting colour to a mobile suit!" Nicol said from where he was standing.

Not that any of his comrades heard him.

Both of the Hawke sisters was busy enjoying the loud well sounding music, as the pink ZAKU Warrior landed softly at the exact spot that had obviously been made ready for it.

And it did not take long before they all saw Lacus Clyne stand up on the hands of the mobile suit. Doing her best to perform as well as possible for the big audience that had most likely been waiting for hours to hear her singing.

But even true most people there, truly did love listening to the pink haired beauty.

There was one person presence, that wasn't all that happy about seeing the fake Lacus again. Athrun didn't really like the clinging girl, she act almost like she thought that the two of them where engaged.

Even true he had tried explaining to her, that the real Lacus and him hadn't been engaged for a very long time now. And when he saw her jump from the left hand and over on the right.

He just couldn't help but let out a tired somewhat annoyed sigh.

"Why in the world does she have to be here? I seriously don't feel like dealing with her right now" Athrun quietly asked himself. While thinking about what exactly Cagalli would do should she ever encounter the fake Lacus.

In those two years he had been dating Cagalli, she had always been very protective of their relationship. And now that the two of them where engaged with each other.

He had no doubt that her determination to keep other girls away from him had increase drastically.

And he knew that if she saw the way Meer kept on clinging to him, she would without a doubt strangle the fake Lacus.

Not that he liked any of Meer's somewhat seductive advances. "I better make sure to keep my distance from her" he mumbled quietly to himself. When he suddenly felt somebody graping on to him from behind.

And seeing as Meer Campbell was still performing up on the pink ZAKU. It certainly couldn't be her, and with that in mind he hurried took a look over his shoulder where he saw Meyrin lifting her head and look up at him.

"I'm really sorry about that, but somebody bumped in to me!" The red haired girl said, with a deep embarrassed blush on both of her cheeks.

Looking at her for a second or two Athrun gave her a small yet reassuring smile.

"That's all right. But could you please let go of me now?" He asked in a gentle tone. Wondering a bit how long the Minerva's CIC was going to embrace him from behind like this.

But once she heard those words she immediately stumble back away from him, almost tripping over a flat soda can, somebody had thrown just behind her.

Seeing what was about to happen Athrun hurried reached out and took a hold on her arm. Making sure that the girl wouldn't take a one way trip down to the hard concrete beneath them.

And once he was sure that she was standing securely on her feet, he slowly released his tight grip on her arm.

"You should try and be a bit more careful" he warn her in a kind tone.

Hearing him say that Meyrin nodded slowly in agreement, while looking straight in to Athrun's eyes. "I will, thank you very much for helping me" she said back, while giving him a small yet grateful bow.

After doing that she hurried moved a few short steps away from him, hoping to somehow get rid of the deep red blush, that was still covering most of her face.

Noticing her sister's somewhat embarrassed behaviour. Luna slowly narrowed her eyes a bit.

She seriously disliked the idea of having yet another rival for Athrun's affection. From what she had seen Cagalli Yula Athha clearly had a thing for him, and even true he was suppose to be engaged to Lacus Clyne she didn't have the slightest about how deep their relationship was.

And if Meyrin was crushing on him too. It could be even hard to get him to notice her. He wasn't really giving her all that much attention to begin with, something that actually annoyed her greatly.

How the heck could she get him to she her as a woman, and not just a fellow mobile suit pilot.

She knew she had to act quickly before one of the other girls got their claws on him.

And while trying her best to come up with some kind of plan. She slowly turned her eyes away from Meyrin and back at him, where she immediately noticed, that he was just standing there with a far away look on his face.

Which seriously made Lunamaria wish that she could somehow read minds, but unfortunately that was not an ability she possessed.

It was however quite obvious that there was a lot going through his head at the moment, and that he was not in the mood to talk. So after standing there watching him for a bit longer.

She decided that she wanted to hear Meyrin's opinion on the concert. Which meant that it only took a few seconds, before she was over by her sister that had finally regain her normal facial colour.

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At the same time Shinn was standing a bit by himself listening to the music, he might not be the biggest fan of Lacus Clyne.

But he did like the song she was singing right now. Truth be told he actually preferred her new singing style. The one she had two years ago, was somewhat boring in his eyes.

And the new clothes she was walking around in now, was no doubt quite attractive.

She was however to famous for his taste, he certainly didn't want to date a person that couldn't even walk down the street without being run over by annoying fans that wanted an autograph or something like that.

He wanted a peaceful and calm time when he was taking a girl out.

But even true he didn't want a relationship with the pink haired songster, it did not mean that he couldn't enjoy her music.

It really did sound amazingly good.

And with that in mind he again looked up at the girl as she jumped away from the pink ZAKU's left hand and back over on the right, where she immediately whirled around two times, before she once more continued singing and dancing around up on the mobile suit.

And one glance at her face, was more then enough to tell Shinn that she was really enjoying all the attention the audience was giving her.

Which actually made Shinn wonder a bit how somebody could be so keen on getting other people to notice them.

But seeing as this was the very first time he had ever seen Lacus Clyne in real life, he really didn't have the slightest clue about how the girl normally acted. But maybe once the concert was over he might consider asking Athrun to tell him a little about the pink haired songster.

The Saviour pilot was after all engaged to the performing girl. So he should most likely be able to tell him a few things about her, but when he turned his eyes over on his comrade he immediately noticed the somewhat unhappy expression Athrun had on his face.

Which made Shinn raise one of his eyebrows, wondering a bit what was bothering his fellow soldier.

But after watching him for a few seconds, Shinn made the decision that he really didn't want to know what Athrun was thinking about right now.

He could always ask him a few question about Lacus Clyne, once the concert was over, and all of them got back on board the Minerva.

So determined not to waste anymore time watching the slightly older teenager.

The Impulse pilot once more turned his attention back up towards the pink haired girl, that was obviously getting ready to sing yet another song for all the people gather out there.

Which was something that made most of the soldiers cheer loudly.

Just as she hurried moved back over on the left hand, where she immediately brought the microphone up to her mouth and began singing loudly out over her big assembling of audience, that by now was cheering even louder then before.

And even true Shinn did admit that she was doing a great job, all the cheering and shouting the other Zaft soldiers was making. Really did give him a small headache.

He had never liked being surround by so many people at the same time, which seriously made him consider going back to the Minerva, to get some distance from all the insufferable noise that was out there.

But a small look around himself made it clear that getting back to the ship could be quite hard.

There was just to many people assemble there for him to go anywhere. So after trying to find an escape route for a few seconds. He made the decision to move over to a small empty spot that wasn't being used for anything.

And it quickly became somewhat clear to him, that if he got over there he wouldn't have to worry much about being knocked over by some of the pink haired girl's crazy fans.

So after getting past a few female Zaft soldiers. It did not take long before he was standing over between two buildings. That was no doubt used to store a great deal of the many mobile suits, the base possessed.

And even true he was somewhat hiding away in there.

He could still quite clearly see Lacus Clyne's performance, which was actually a bit easier to hear, now that he wasn't completely surround by all of her annoying screaming fans.

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Meanwhile on the other side of the base fence. A great deal of civilians was also watching the pink haired girl perform. Most of them where truly enjoying listening to her song.

But there was however a single one of them, that was far more busy taking pictures of the celebrity.

'Now hurry up and turn this way you faker, I need just as few more good shots of you!' Miriallia thought, as she kept on taking one picture after another.

Hoping that somehow this could help her and the others figuring out who exactly this girl was. But no matter who the fake Lacus Clyne was, one thing was certain Miriallia did not like her.

She did after all go around pretending to be one of her best friends.

And that was not something Miriallia could easily forgive. She had known for quite a while now, that the only thing the real Lacus wanted was to live a peaceful life together with Kira.

So when that pretended had shown up. She had immediately decided to try and figure out who the other girl was. Yet that had proven to be quite hard seeing as this faker was almost a perfect copy.

'There just have to be something that can tell us a little about who this bitch really is!' The brown haired girl thought.

Just as she slowly zoomed in on the fake Lacus' face making certain to get a few good pictures of that, as she continued standing up on the ZAKU's hand performing loudly for her audience.

One thing Miriallia could easily tell about this girl was that she was really enjoying all of this attention.

It was almost like she just couldn't get enough of it, like she was actually addicted to having other people look at her. And that was certainly something the real Lacus would never do, the reason why she sang was simply because it made the people listening to her happy.

Which was actually one of the reasons why Miriallia disliked the fake Lacus so much.

"Well I got what I need, now I better hurry up and get out of here!" She said to herself. And was just about to stand up when something else caught her two watchful eyes, and without even think she slowly zoomed in on a certain blue haired man, she knew quite well.

"Hmm so he joined up with them again!" The girl said, while closely watching Athrun Zala through her expensive camera. And just as she was about to take a single picture of him, she noticed a certain green haired man walk over beside him.

And even true it had been two years since she had last seen that exact person.

She had no problems at all figuring out who that was. 'I certainly didn't expect to see the two of them here' the girl through while taking a picture of the two boys, that was obviously busy talking with each other about something.

Not that she had any idea about what it was.

There was just too much noise in the area for her to hear anything the two boys where saying.

So after taking yet one last glance back at the fake Lacus. She hurried got back up on her feet and quickly walked away from the area, before her two old comrade realized that she was there.

If they actually did see her there was a very big chance that they would ask about where the Archangel was hiding.

And there was just no way Miriallia wanted to tell them that right now. She wasn't entirely sure she could trust the two boys any longer. They where after all a part of Zaft again.

So if they start asking her about information about the Archangel's location. There was a high possibility that they might tell the wrong people. And there was no way she was going to let that happen.

Seeing as the man she loved was on board the Archangel together with a great deal of other friends.

And it was only when she was driving safely away from the area, that she let out a small sigh of relief.

From what she could tell none of the boys had noticed that she had been there.

And once she was absolutely certain that nobody was following her. She hurried stopped the car by the side of the road, where she immediately picked up her small black camera.

Where she hurried looked over all the pictures she had taken of the fake Lacus. Hoping to find at least one clue, that could tell them who she really was.

"This isn't working at all, I need to get back to my hotel room to take a better look at them" she said in a determined tone.

As she once more placed the camera down on the black leather chair beside her. After that she hurried reached out and started the car again, now heading as fast as possible back to the place that had been her home for the last couple of days.

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At the same time back at the base.

Athrun was fanatically looking around like he was searching for something. And it was only when Nicol reached over and place a hand on his shoulder, that he finally stopped.

"What's wrong Athrun? You are acting somewhat strange at the moment" the green haired teen said, wondering what in the world that could be bothering his friend.

"I don't know Nicol, I just had a strong feeling that somebody was watching me, but it's gone now!" Athrun explained, while taking yet another glance around to try and find the source of those feelings.

But from what he could tell everything seemed pretty normal now. Even with so many people gather there, none of them where looking in his direction, they where all far to busy watching Meer's performance.

Hearing his old friend say that Nicol turned and also took a small look around.

But just like Athrun he couldn't really see anything abnormal around the base. So after making completely sure that nobody was watching them, he once more turned his attention back towards Athrun.

"If there truly was somebody watching you Athrun, that person is gone now, so lets just forget about it and enjoy miss Lacus performance" Nicol said in a calm tone.

While he again looked up at the pink haired girl on the ZAKU. He might not say out loud but he was kinda amazed about how much the songster had change since the last time he seen her.

If he honestly didn't know any better, he would have sworn that it was a completely different person that was dancing around up on the mobile suit.

Truth be told there was actually more then a few things that confused him about miss Lacus, like why she was here helping out Zaft, while her husband and the rest of the Archangel crew was hiding out somewhere far away from here.

It seriously didn't make any sense to him.

From what he knew. Kira and Lacus was so much in-love with each other, that it would no doubt be very painful for both of them to be away from one another for a long period of time.

Yet now miss Lacus was up on the pink mobile suit, quite clearly having the time of her life, while her husband was nowhere to be found. It really was somewhat of a mystery for Nicol.

But as he turned and was about to voice his thoughts to Athrun.

The captain of the Minerva suddenly stepped over beside them. "I'm sorry to interrupt your fun. But the Chairman have been requesting that the two of you and the rest of the Minerva's piloting staff eats dinner with him, this evening!" Talia explained.

Feeling just a bit irritated, that she had to talk so loud, to make sure that both of the pilots heard what she had to say over the music.

But when she saw both of them give her a small salute. She knew that they had understood everything she had just told them.

"We will make certain to be there on time captain. And if you see the Chairman again, please do tell him that we look forward to it!" Nicol told her, in his usual well mannered tone.

Which made Talia nod a single time in understanding, as she quickly turned around and walked of towards the Minerva.

The music might have been entertaining at the begin, but now she was seriously getting tired of not being able to hear herself think.

She just hoped that Rey would be so kind to tell Lunamaria, Shinn and Heine about what they where all going to be doing this evening.

There was just no way she was going to waste time searching for those three in this crowd, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Truthfully the only reason she had taken the time to tell Athrun and Nicol about it. Was simply because she had noticed the two young men, on her way back to the peace and quietness that was waiting for her back on board the Minerva.

Seeing the brown haired woman disappear in the direction of the Minerva, Nicol slowly turned and looked back over at Athrun.

"Well it looks like we wouldn't be able to enjoy anymore of miss Lacus concert. It would be very disrespectful if the both of us showed up late to a dinner with the Chairman" the teenager said.

As he saw Athrun nod a single time in agreement. And without saying another word to each other.

The two pilots immediately began making their way through the thick crowd of people, heading slowly back towards the Minerva.

To be continued.