Chapter 31
It was quite early the next morning.
Yet even true most of the Minerva's crew, would most likely have preferred to stay in their beds for an hours or two more. The enormous grey space ship was full of activities as it was being pre too leave.
Which was something two of the younger mechanics down in the hangar was talking loudly about. As they continued with their routine check on the red ZAKU in front of them.
"Where do you think we are heading off to this time Yolant? Wherever it is I really hope we can get there without being attacked. I'm seriously getting tired of putting the mobile suits and the Minerva back together!" Vino said.
Before he took a brief glance over at the three other mobile suits down there, where he could easily tell that the other mechanics was busy working on them.
Which fortunately meant that neither him or Yolant would have to work on them, once they where done checking Lunamaria's machine.
Yet when he again turned his gaze back towards his best friend. He immediately noticed the slightly thoughtful look on his face.
"Yeah well I do agree with you that it can be quite tiresome fixing up the mobile suits again and again. Yet I don't think we should complain too much, we both knew what we got in to when we decided to join Zaft!" Yolant said. Before he hurried forced back a deep yawn that had been just about to leave his mouth.
He might do quite a good job hiding just how tired he really was. But if anybody asked him, and he had to tell them the truth. He wouldn't most definitely have loved to stay in his bed a few hours more this morning.
He did however not get long to think about that. Before Vino decided to interrupt his tired thoughts.
"I already know it's our job Yolant. But it's just getting a bit trivial repairing the same things every time we have been in a battle. I can't even remember how many times we have put either an arm or a leg back on a mobile suit, since this entire mess started" Vino said.
Not doing anything to hid. Just how sleepy and grumpy he was this morning. He truly despised to getting up this early.
Thinking a few seconds about those words. Yolant found himself nodding in agreement.
"Yeah I get what you are saying Vino. But look at the bright side, at least we don't have to fix up the Impulse every time something gets cut or blow off that machine. From time to time it could actually be kinda cool, if we had a few more mobile suits on board, that could be assemble the same way as the Impulse" the black haired teenage said, while he adjust a single thing on the controls in front of them.
After that he once more continued talking in a deep thoughtful tone.
"But if we actually did end up getting a bunch of mobile suits just like the Impulse. There wouldn't really be much point in having all of us mechanics on board. So just be grateful Vino that it's only the machines that takes a little beating, and not the pilots" Yolant said. While thinking briefly about what had happened to Heine. Before he quickly shook those thoughts away again.
Hearing his friend say all of that. Vino slowly turned his attention away from the controls and down at the floor, thinking hard about everything his fellow mechanic had just said.
"It's not like I'm actually wishing for something utterly terrible to happen to the machine, so we will have something interesting to repair. I'm just getting a bit frustrated with whole leg and arm attachment!" He said.
Just as he again reach out and began working on the controls. Now a bit more determined to make sure that everything was just as it should be on Luna's red mobile suit.
Looking a second or two at his friend. Yolant went over his words a few times which made a minor smile appear on his lips. Before he too turned his attention back towards the task the two of them where so busy with.
"I guess you have a point Vino. But with all of this training we and the rest of the mechanics have, with putting body parts back on mobile suit. It doesn't really take that long anymore, which means we have a lot more free time now, then usual!" Yolant said.
Just as he took a few steps backwards, looking directly at the red mobile suit's face.
Seriously wondering if there was anything else they needed to look in to, before the machine was fully combat ready.
Yet while he was doing that Vino turned and took a look back at him. "I don't really think we have gotten a whole lot of free time these last few days, not with all the damage that need to be repaired on the Tannhauser!" Vino said. While thinking about just how difficult it had been, removing the rest of the old cannon and putting in a new one.
And feeling somewhat relieved that task was out of the way. He once more opened his mouth continued talking in the same tone as before.
"But never mind that now Yolant. We still need to run a check up on the Gunner Wizard pack, Lunamaria did use it quite a bit in the last battle. Which means there is a high possibility that it has some internal damage, because of the massive heat!" The teenage said loudly. Then turned around on one foot, and began making his way over to the place where all the Wizard packs was stored on the Minerva.
Seeing him leave in such a hurry. Yolant felt a small smile ran over his lips, as he slowly followed his friend. Determined to assist him in looking the Wizard pack over for any kind of damage.
000000
Meanwhile in the ship's briefing room.
Arthur was talking with the ships pilots about their next mission. Yet as far as he could tell from his location by the blackboard, it was only Athrun and Rey that was actually bothering to listen to him right now.
The others was simply way to tired to pay all that much attention to him.
"Will you all get your act together and sit up straight already this is important!" He yelled out loudly. Just as he saw Shinn, Luna and Nicol fly up from the half asleep state they where in at the moment.
And once he was completely sure that they where all looking right at him. He once more began explaining to them, the Minerva's role in the new mission they had received a little data on just a couple of hours ago.
"I know that you are all tired this early in the morning. Yet seeing as we have next to no idea about what we are heading in to. I will strongly advise that all of you pay attention to this!" He said.
Just as both of his eyes slowly ran over the five teenages, where he could easily tell that none of them where overly excited about being up at this hour of the day.
Yet just as he was about to say something else to them. Shinn made the decision to tell the deputy captain his opinion on this mission.
"This truly does sound like a complete waste of time to me, as far as I understand there is no enemy force there. So why the hell is it necessary for us to travel that far, just to take look around a deserted base!" The Impulse pilot asked loudly. Just as he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, truly looking like he did not care one bit about what they where talking about.
Seeing him do that. Arthur slowly roll his eyes at the boy's attitude.
"Shinn we are not completely sure that the base is as empty as seems. The only thing we do know for sure about this Earth Forces base is that there has been a lot of traffic of both mobile suits and military vehicles, which is why high command wants the Minerva to take a look around that base. Just to be sure that the Earth Forces isn't building a new type of mobile suit or weapon there!" Arthur said in a tone, which made it pretty clear to the pilots, that this was serious business.
Looking a second or two at the man. Shinn was just about to open his mouth and say something else to him, when Nicol's voice cut him off.
"That truly does sound important sir! So just how big is this base precisely, and what is our strategy to take control of it?" The green haired man asked. Sounding just serious about this mission, as the deputy captain.
Hearing him ask that.
Arthur slowly turned his gaze away from Shinn and over at the green haired pilot, where he could easily tell by his expression, that the boy was just a bit more awake now then before.
"Well as I was saying before, our first step in this operation, is to determined if the base is really empty and that it's not some kind of trap to lure us in" he said, just as he pressed down on a small button. So now the pilots could see the satellite photos of the base.
Unfortunately they where so blurry that it was kinda hard to see, what was really happening on them.
Yet there was one thing on the photo that did caught all of their attention. "Excuse me sir. But isn't that purple object up in the right corner, that Windam Shinn fought with a few weeks ago?" Lunamaria asked in a loud curious tone. While trying her best to figure out if that thing really was the exact same mobile suit, that had lead an attack on them once before.
Immediately realizing what the girl was referring to. Arthur took a look over at the enlarge photo.
"The captain and I have been discoursing that too. But unfortunately it is kinda hard to tell from the few photos we got" he said, while taking a brief glance over at the purple object on the photos.
It did however not take much time before he again looked back at the pilots. "And that is also one of the main reason why we are actually going there in the first place, we are hoping to find some kind of clue on this base, that will help us track down the location of the Chaos, Gaia and Abyss. That way we might be able to recapture those three machines!" The man explained.
Just hearing that there might be a possibility, for him and the rest of the crew, to finally get even with those bastards that had stolen the three gundams, was more then enough to get Shinn to sit up straight in his chair.
"Do you think they might actually be there sir?" He asked loudly.
Not doing a one thing to hide, that he would just love to show those bastards, inside the three stolen mobile suits. Just how wrong it was taking stuff that did not belong to them in the first place.
Yet before he could really begin planing, what he wanted to do to those damn thefts. Somebody just a few sits away from him decide to ask the second in command the next question.
"Well I do agree that taking a look at this base could be important, but seeing as we have little idea about what awaits us there, would it truly be wise for the Minerva to head there on it's own? If those three machines are waiting for us there, we could be heading in to some serious trouble!" Athrun Zala said.
While quickly going over in his head. Just how much trouble, the three stolen gundams had created for them, up until now. Athrun did however not give the second in command the opportunity to say anything back, about his concern, before he again began talking.
"You did mention sir, that you weren't totally sure if this wasn't some kind of trap" the blue haired man said.
While he through a brief moment or two about how Heine had lost his life.
And that he did not want something like that to happen to one of the other pilots. Because they all so carelessly rushed off in to some kind of trap, which could easily have been prevent by having a little reinforcement along with them.
Smiling slightly at the FAITH member's thoughtfulness. Arthur took a brief look down at the chart he had brought with him in there.
"We are not going there all on our own Athrun, we will be having the two Petrie class Tsuchi and Josefine function as escort. And if that's not enough they are each carrying a full squadron mobile suits, so it wouldn't be just the Minerva out there on this mission!" Arthur explained. As he watched the blue haired young pilot nod a single time in understanding.
Seeing him do that.
Arthur once more continued telling the five pilots, their strategy for taking over the Earth Forces base, the Minerva and the few other Zaft forces would be heading to in just a few hours.
"Once we arrive at the base, Rey and Shinn will launch to scout ahead for the rest of us, and take out whatever resistance they might encounter. Yet if the area really are completely deserted for any hostile forces, you are to land at the base and take a look around at one of the buildings there" he said, while taking a brief look over at the two pilots he was talking to.
And once he saw that both of them understood what he had just told them. He again turned his attention back towards the chart in his hand.
"And while the two of you infiltrate the base, we where hoping that you Athrun will fly patrol over the area? The Saviour is after all quite fast. So it should be able to intercept most unidentified crafts entering the airspace above the base, we surely don't want to be taken by surprise once we get there!" The man said. Now looking directly over at Athrun, waiting to hear what he had to say about their plan.
Seeing as neither him or the captain had the authority to boss the young Zala around. They could only hope he wouldn't have anything against providing backup for Shinn and Rey on this mission.
And if he for some reason decided to say no to this task. It could without a doubt delay their departure a great deal. Seeing as they had to find somebody else that could cover the two other pilots, while they where inside the base.
He did however not get all that much time to worry about that. Before the FAITH member gave him the response, he was truly hoping to hear.
"All right that does sound like a pretty reasonable plan. But what about Lunamaria and Nicol, what exactly are their role in this?" Athrun Zala asked in a thoughtful tone, while taking a small glance over at his green haired friend, and girl sitting beside him.
Hearing him ask that. Arthur also glanced over at the two other pilots. "They will be staying on the Minerva until further notice. As I already told you once before, we have very limited information about what awaits us at this base. But if it turns out there is a whole army of enemy mobile suits there, they will of course be launched to help the rest of you out!" The man explained.
Before he took a look down at the chart.
Just to be extra sure that there wasn't anything he had forgotten to tell the pilots. Yet once he was completely sure that he had told them everything he again looked back at them.
"I really don't have much else to tell you. So until we leave you are all free to do whatever you want. Now then if there is no more questions, then I'll be leaving, there is a few things I need to talk with the captain about!" He said, while giving the pilots a small salute.
Then quickly turned around and began making his way over to the door.
Seeing the door flew shut after the man. The only female present in there right now, turned and looked over at the four male pilots. "So what do you guys think about this mission" she asked. Doing her best to make sure that her eyes didn't linger to long on Athrun.
Even true the captain had thoroughly order her to forget all about her mission yesterday. Luna just couldn't shake away those words about Athrun being engaged to the Orb Chief Representative.
And as much as Lunamaria truly hated to admit it, she was quite jealous. It had been a very long time since she had last met a boy, she thought was boyfriend material. And when she finally found somebody she liked, he had to be hopelessly in-love with somebody else.
But even with that knowledge. She wasn't completely ready to give up yet.
He was after all fighting together with them now, instead of the crew on the Archangel. And meant that there was still a chance that the feelings he supposedly had for Cagalli, wasn't as deep as he and she thought.
And if that was the case. Lunamaria was going to do everything possible, to be there if the relationship suddenly broke apart. That way she could be the one to help him through it.
Yet as she stood there making all of those what-if plans Shinn's voice suddenly interrupted her swirling thoughts.
"Well if you ask me, this whole mission does sound kinda lame Luna! I don't get why it's so important to travel all that way, just to take a look around a deserted base! But if this can somehow lead us to the three stolen gundams, I guess I can live with it!" He said in a slightly unhappy tone.
Just as he slowly stood up from his chair, getting ready to leave the room.
Smiling slightly at that. Nicol said a few wise words they all of them pretty much had to agree on.
"It's not always that soldiers like us, gets those kind of orders we really want. We'll just have to hope that this can somehow help us recover the three stolen mobile suits. And I for one do believe that this is much more interesting then you give it credit for Shinn! You never know what we are going to discover at that base!" The former Blitz pilot said in a serious tone.
Before he slowly moved his hand up, to remove some of the long green hair, that was hang down in front of his eyes.
Hearing him say that Shinn. Just couldn't help but narrow both of his eyes a bit.
"Hm yeah well I still think that somebody else could have taken a look around at this stupid base! And if they actually did find something useful there. They could just send that information to us. So we could use it to track down the Chaos, Gaia and Abyss!" He said loudly. Just before he quickly followed his blond friend out of the room. Who had been kinda quiet since they first got there.
Seeing the two of them disappear out of the room. Nicol slowly turned and looked back at the two other pilots in there.
Athrun was still sitting calmly in his chair with a far away look in both of his eyes, which made it kinda obvious that conversation with their friends from the Archangel was bothering him a bit.
Not that Nicol blame him for that. He too was actually feeling a bit conflicted by some of the things Kira and Dearka had said.
Yet the hold thing had to be even tougher on Athrun. Seeing as he was engaged to Cagalli and clearly loved her with all of his being.
If somebody had asked him two years ago, if he was able to go up against Mayura. He would most definitely say no.
So it had without a doubt been totally heartbreaking for Athrun, to tell Cagalli that he was going to continue being a part of Zaft. Yet just as Nicol got his mouth open and was about to ask his friend if he was feeling all right.
Lunamaria beat him to it.
Just as she slowly moved over and sat down beside the blue haired Saviour pilot. "Are you ok Athrun, you do look a little pale right now?" She asked. While moving her hand up to his forehead to see if he had a fever.
She did however not get long to do that. Before Athrun gently push her hand away.
"I'm all right Luna, I just have a lot on my mind. But it's nothing for you to worry about,.I guess I'm just feeling a bit tired at the moment, perhaps it would be wise for me to go back to my room and take a small nap before we leave this place. I really didn't get much sleep last night" He explained, while using one hand to slowly rub his two tired eyes.
It really had been quite a long night for him, no matter how many times he twisted and turned over, he just couldn't get his fiancée's disappoint look out of his head.
It truly had made his heart ache thinking about how much he wanted to be with her.
So without saying another word to the beautiful redhead girl beside him. Athrun slowly stood up, and began making his way over to the door. With Lunamaria and Nicol looking after him the whole time.
"I'll see you guys later, I really need to be alone right now!" The young Zala said in a slightly loud tone.
Just before the door flew back shut after him.
Not that Athrun actually paid all that much attention to that. His mind was simply way to occupied with the images of Cagalli's sad face, and some of the more crucial things that had been said under the conversation.
"Damn it, this is just so frustrating" he mumbled quietly to himself. As he attempted to shake away the deep feeling of guilt, that was almost hang over him like a small black cloud.
Yet no matter how hard he tried. He just couldn't get rid of his bad consciences right now.
000000
At the same time back in the briefing room.
Luna just couldn't help but sigh loudly as she stood there looking at the door. A small part of her had actually hoped that he would have told her, what was bothering him.
But he apparently did not want to be as open with her, as he was with the Athha girl.
Which truthfully annoy her quite a bit. She just couldn't understand what she was doing that was so differently from the blond haired woman.
She just wanted to be there for him, and help him out when he truly needed it. Yet no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't get him to share his troubles with her the same way Cagalli could.
Which seriously made her wonder yet again, what it was he saw in that woman. What the heck was it, that made her so damn special to him.
And could she even compete against it.
"Damn it! Why is it that when I finally meet I nice guy, he can't get his mind away from some other woman?" She loudly asked herself. Somehow forgetting that Nicol was still in there together with her.
And just hearing her say those unhappy words was more then enough to make him turn and looked over at her. With a deep skeptical look in each of his two brown eyes.
"It's properly because he is in-love with Cagalli. And no matter how much you wish for it Luna those kind of feelings isn't just miraculously going to disappear over a night or two. It takes a very, very long time to get over a person, somebody truly loves" Nicol said in quite a far away tone. And with a deeply sadden expression on his face.
Seeing him look so utterly depressed, made Luna blink a few times as she slowly moved over and wrapped her arms around him.
She might be dealing with her own problems right now. Seeing as she was crushing on a guy that was already engaged to somebody else.
And had yet to give her a second look. As painful as it was that Athrun didn't pay any attention to her. Lunamaria was not just going to sit idoally by when one of her friends was in pain.
"I really don't understand what it is that makes you so sad from time to time Nicol. But whatever it is you can always talk with me about it!" She whispered in to his ear, while gently running both of her hands up and down his back. Doing everything she could think of to make him feel at least a little better about whatever it was that made him feel this sad.
Hearing her say that. Nicol snuggled just a bit closer to her, slowly rubbing his head against her left shoulder.
"Thank you very much Luna. You don't know how much I truly appreciate your concern for my wellbeing. But I really don't think I'm ready to talk about it with you or anybody else yet. But perhaps someday in the future that will change!" He told her in a small tone. Just before he carefully brought his hands up and softly hugged her back.
Nodding a few times in understanding to that.
Lunamaria once more began talking softly in to his ear. "You are welcome Nicol, you just say the word and I'll listen to everything you have to tell me" she told him in a caring tone.
Just before she slowly backed away from him and looked directly in to his two brown eyes, where she could easily tell that they each still had a great deal of sadness in them.
And knowing that he didn't not want to talk about it. Luna was having trouble figuring out what to say to him next, she truly did want to help him out.
Yet there wasn't much she could really do at the moment, with him not wanting to tell her what exactly it was that made him feel this depressed. So after just standing there for a few seconds she finally smiled a bit at him.
"Do you want to go down and get a little breakfast. I'm actually a bit hungry right now, and it can be somewhat lonely sitting down there all alone?" She asked. While truly hoping he would say yes.
That way, she would at the very least be able, to get his thoughts away from whatever it was, that was bothering him so much.
And once she saw him nod yes to her question. She moved over and gave him one more small hug. Before the two of them turned around, and began walking slowly together towards the exit of the room. None of them saying all that much to each other right now.
But even true Nicol's face didn't show it all that much right now.
He truly was deeply grateful that Lunamaria wanted to help him out. It really did help on his mood quite a bit, that there was somebody nearby to talk with. Even true it wasn't about the actual problem itself.
000000
Meanwhile Arthur had finally arrived at the bridge, where he saw that the captain was busy having a very serious conversation with somebody over the phone.
"Ok I see, that really is unfortunate. Do you have any idea about when it's fully repaired?" She asked in a slightly impatient voice, while she took a small look down at her watch, where she could see that it wouldn't be long now, before they where suppose to depart from this place.
Yet as things where right now. She was quite seriously starting to doubt, that was going to happen, they where already immensely short on time as it was. So this type of problem, didn't really help them all that much.
She did however not get the chance to think all that much about it. Before the man at the other end of the line began yelling loudly at her.
Which result in that she hurried pull the phone just a bit away from her ear. So everybody present up on the bridge could hear every single word he was yelling at their captain.
She however didn't really seem to care all that much about, his extremely loud shouting. And just as he stopped for a second to get some much need air back down in to his lungs. She quickly cut the man of before he could get another word in.
"Well please do make sure to tell us when you are ready to leave, we do after all have quite a tight time schedule to uphold. Now if you will excuse me there is a few things I need to take care off" she told the man, while placing the phone back where it belonged.
After that she immediately took a deep breath as she slowly leaned back in the chair and rested her eyes a few seconds.
And even true most of the people up there want to ask her what that was about.
There wasn't a single one of them that want to disturb the captain, while she was so far away in her own thoughts. Yet finally after about five minutes she slowly open her eyes again.
"I seriously do think, I just talked with the most cranky person in the entire world!" She mumbled unhappily, just loud enough for the bridge crew to hear it.
Which result in that the second in command, asked the one question that all of them up there was deeply anxious to get some answers to.
"What in the world was that all about captain? It sounded quite serious" he said, not once taking his two somewhat curious eyes away from the brown haired woman.
Hearing him ask that. Talia slowly turned and looked back at him, where she could easily tell from his expression that he was a bit concerned about what was going on now. So after letting out a small breath, she began explaining to both him and the rest of the staff up there what that conversation was about.
"Well apparently the Tsuchi is having some engine problems, which means that our departure is going to be delayed quite a bit. Seeing as they have no idea about just how much time it will take to get it operational again!" She said, clearly very displeased that something like that was going to happen.
And it quite frankly didn't help that the stubborn command of the Tsuchi, had pretty much been impossible to have a normal down to earth discussion with, about the problem.
He had all but yelled at her, to just mind her own business. While his entire crew was working so freakishly hard on getting the land battleship fix, and ready to move out.
Hearing what exactly the problem was. Arthur immediately let out a somewhat unhappy sound, as he realized that they couldn't leave at their ascribe schedule, which truth be told did annoy him quite a bit. Even more so then it did the captain.
"Did he say anything about when they where done with their repairs? We are after all on a very tight schedule!" Arthur asked. While he too took a small glance down at his watch, that told him that they where actually supposed to leave this place in just a few minutes, which made him narrow his eyes a bit.
And after standing there a few seconds. He once more turned his gaze back at the captain, where he saw her slowly shook her head.
"Unfortunately as I said before he wasn't really the most friendly man. So I didn't get the opportunity to ask him about it. But if I had to guess, I'll say that they will be about ready to leave in about an hour or two!" The woman said. As she slowly reached up and rubbed both of her eyes, a clear sign that she was quite frustrated by this entire situation.
So after a few minutes of tense deep silence it became Bart's turn to ask the captain a question. "So what exactly are we going to do now Ma'am?" He asked, while he slowly reached up to scratch the back of his neck in a somewhat thoughtful way.
Looking over at him a bit Talia used about two minutes to think about the question. Before she let out a deep displeased sigh.
"It really does seem like the only thing we can do right now is wait, but if they haven't fix the engine in an hour, we might seriously have to consider leaving with just the Josefine, at least the command of that ship is a bit more easy communicate with!" The brown haired woman said.
Before she slowly leaned back in her seat, and looked up at the ceiling obviously thinking quite hard about all of this.
She did however not get long to do that before the second in command of the ship had something else to say.
"Well if that's the case, I think I'll head down and get a little breakfast, I haven't really gotten the chance for that today. And I am actually a bit hungry!" The man said. Not doing anything to hide, that he was still a bit displeased, with all the troubles over on the Tsuchi.
Hearing those words leave the man's mouth. Talia once more turned her attention over at the grey haired man, where she smiled slightly at him. "All right please enjoy yourself Arthur, we will make sure to contact you, once this mess have been straightened out" she kindly told him.
"Thank you captain, I'll see all of you later then!" He said, just before he turned around and left the bridge again.
Which made a deep silence fell over everybody else up there, most of them taking this opportunity to rest their eyes for a few minutes, or get in some of the least important work that truthfully didn't have to be done at this very moment in time.
But with nothing else to do the next hour it was an ok way to keep oneself occupied, while they wait for some good news over from the Tsuchi.
So the only thing that could be heard up there right now was the crews somewhat heavy breathing. And Meyrin that was typing hastily away on the controls in front of her.
Which actually did annoy the few people up there, that was trying to relax a bit. Unfortunately they couldn't really say anything to her about it.
Seeing as the young red haired woman was working so hard, and they where just being lazy. They just had to live with the somewhat irritating sound, of her fingers hitting the buttons on the keyboard.
000000
So while most of the crew on the Minerva was somewhat frustrated that they weren't able to leave when they should.
A few crew members on another space ship was enjoying a nice calm breakfast together, all of them where in a good mood. Especially since Miriallia was back with them.
Which was something her two best friends was truly delighted about. As they continued chatting loudly with each other, about what she had been doing the last four weeks, she had been away.
Yet as the three girls was talking like that. Kira and Dearka where both wondering just how the heck they where able to breath when they kept on where talking so damn fast.
But apparently it wasn't really much of a problem for any of them. As they didn't really take all that many breaks, in their discussion about if Miriallia had gotten any new clothes, while she had been gone.
Yet once she told them, that she hadn't been having a whole lot of time for that. The two other girls each got a slightly disappointed look in their eyes.
It was pretty clear from the conversation. That both Lacus and Cagalli missed being out shopping. Something neither of them had been able to do, since long before the Archangel had left Orb.
"They really do have a lot to talk about, don't they?" Dearka whispered over to his friend next to him. As he sat there watching the three women talk with each other like it was they very first time they had meet.
There hadn't really been that many opportunists for either of the males to say all that much, since the three girls was so busy making up for the time they had been apart.
Hearing him asked that. Kira slowly turned his gaze away from the chatting women and over at his friend, where he could easily tell by Dearka's expression, that he did find listening to them quite boring.
Not that Kira could really blame him for that. They had after all been at it for quite a while now.
And it wasn't like he and Dearka had much to do with this discussion. They where pretty much just forced to stay there and wait until the girls where done catching up, which apparently could still take quite a while.
"Just don't say anything that will get us in trouble Dearka. I seriously don't feel like getting a new bump on the head from Cagalli!" Kira whispered back. While taking a brief glance over at his sister.
Who fortunately wasn't really paying all that much attention to Dearka and him. She was simply way to occupied talking with her two friends to notice how much this was annoying the males at the table.
Yet just as Kira once more turned his gaze away from her and back at at his friend. Cagalli suddenly jumped hastily up from the table and raced full speed out in to the halls, with everybody else looking after her.
"What in the world was that about? I only thought a woman could move that fast, if there was a sale somewhere" Dearka joked, while looking in the direction Cagalli had ran off in.
But even true the three other people where also wondering what was going on, none of them said anything about the sale comment. And it was only when Kira stood up from his seat and quickly took off after his sister.
That the others finally snapped out of their confused thoughts and hurried follow him out in to the halls, before he could get to far away from them.
And even true they where all deeply concerned about Cagalli it did not take them long to find her at a open bathroom, where she was busy throwing up just about all of the food she had eaten not that long ago.
So after watching her for a small second or two. Kira slowly stepped in to the bathroom and began softly rubbing her back, in an attempt to help her through this.
Yet it quickly became obvious to all of them, that no matter what he did. Cagalli just kept on delivering her once nice breakfast to toilet.
It took just about five whole minutes. Before she slowly straighten back up and looked over at the people behind her, where she could easily tell that they where all pretty worried about her.
"That was just disgusting. It really did tasted much better going down then out!" She woozily complained. As she moved over to the small sink in there, and turned on the water, which she immediately took a big mouthful of and spit it back out again. Trying hard to get rid of the bad gross taste in her mouth.
Yet while she continued doing that. Lacus slowly stepped in to the room, and placed her right hand on her friend's shoulder, making her turn around and glance back at her.
"Are you all right Cagalli? Maybe you should consider laying down a bit" the pink haired woman suggest, with a concerned expression all over her face. As she kept on rubbing her sister-in-law's shoulder.
Smiling slightly at the other girl's concerned for her. Cagalli once more moved in a fill her mouth with water, and after getting rid of that. She again looked back at the people behind her.
"You...you guys don't have to worry, I'm...I'm...just getting a small cold that's all!" She said to them. Before she reached down and throw some of the nice cold water in to her face.
Which she continued doing for a few minutes, with everybody else just watching her quietly. And it was only when she reach over and took a hold on the small green towel that was located just beside the sink, that Kira opened his mouth again.
"Maybe you should consider going down and see the doctor sis. It really looks like you could use it!" He said with a worried look in both of his eyes, while he slowly moved his hand over, and was just about to place it on her forehead.
Yet before he could try and figure out if she was having a fever. She hurried push his hand away and stepped back out of the bathroom.
"I just told you I'm getting a cold, so I don't need any medical attention. Now then if there is nothing else you guys want. I think I'll go back to my room and get a little rest!" She said loudly.
Just before she walked off with extremely loud steps, that could be heard far and wide. And still with everybody else looking after her.
"I can honestly say, that I'm not the smarts person on this ship. But I kinda think it was pretty obvious that she was lying" Dearka said. As he turned and looked back at his girlfriend and the pink princess, that was obviously thinking the same thing as himself.
Yet it was only when Kira muttered something that sound very much like. I'm going to kill Athrun, that the two girls finally turned their gaze away from the direction Cagalli had disappeared in and back at each other.
"Do you really think she's...?" Miriallia asked with big eyes. As she saw Lacus nodded yes a single time to the question she had just asked.
It did however take a few seconds before she got her mouth to work.
"Well it was a clear sign. But if she doesn't want the doctor to look at her, it's kinda hard to tell. So it would properly be best that we keep an eye on her the next few days. Incase something else like that is going to happen again!" Lacus said, in a very serious tone.
Just as her husband again muttered something about murdering Athrun. And once those words had left his mouth, he turned around and walked off, with his wife and two friends looking after him.
"Damn I'm seriously happy, that I'm not in Athrun's shoes right now" Dearka said.
Just as he slowly rubbed away the few drops of sweat that was slowly gathering on his forehead. While the two women nodded slowly in agreement, each of them feeling a tiny bit sorry for Athrun right now.
But once Kira was completely out of sight. Lacus turned and looked back at the only other couple on the Archangel, other then Kira and herself.
"I do believe that he was exaggerating a bit. I think he was just slightly shocked about the entire event. It's not everyday that once sister runs off and start throwing up like that" Lacus said, while taking a brief glance in to the open bathroom.
Which really did look quite messy right now. Some of the vomit did lay beside the toilet, seeing as Cagalli apparently hadn't been able to aim properly when she had first gotten there.
Yet as Lacus was taking in the somewhat mess up view of the room, and thinking about what had just happened. Miriallia said one single thing that both Dearka and her had to agree.
"I most confess, I'm quite relieved that none of us has to clean up in there" the brown haired woman mumbled softly. Before she hurried reach over and press down on the small button that made the door fly back shut again.
Which was enough to get both her boyfriend's and Lacus' attention over on her, where she gave each of them a small smile.
"So what exactly do you guys want to do now? I know that I for one kinda lost my appetite, so I think I'll go down to the hot spring and just relax a bit" she said.
Just as Dearka told her that he was going down to the hangar to play cards with the other mechanics.
Which meant that Lacus was now, the only one who hadn't said anything about, what she was going to do. Yet after a few short seconds, the pink haired girl slowly opened her mouth.
"I better go find Kira, he did seem just a bit upset. So maybe he needs somebody to talk with about it all. I'll see the two of you later" Lacus said. Before she slowly turned away. And began walking with light steps, down the Archangel's halls, with Dearka and Miriallia looking after her.
So even true Lacus did spend a few minutes, searching for her husband.
It didn't really take her long to find him by the very same window, that two of them had been looking out of two years ago. Just after the last war had ended.
"Are you ok Kira? You did seem somewhat upset when you left!" Lacus said. With a slightly worried look in each her two blue eyes, and with her head tilted a bit to the side, while she tried hard to figure out what kind of mood he was in right now.
And once she got a clear look at his face, she could immediately tell that he wasn't nearly as cranky as before.
So after a few long seconds of complete silence. Kira let out a small breath as he looked over at his wife.
"It's not that I'm all that upset Lacus. I just feel like Athrun should have been the first one to know about this, and not the rest of us!" He said. Just as his best friend's happy grin made it's way through his head. And he seriously wonder what kind of reaction Athrun would have to this. If this whole thing with Cagalli really was what they all thought it was.
Thinking slightly about everything Kira had just said to her. Lacus nodded slowly in understanding.
"I see what you mean Kira. Maybe the next time you run in to him, you should tell him about it. You never know, but it might just be what we need to get him to return to his sense" she said, while she too was wondering what Athrun would do, once he heard about this.
Not really needing a lot of time to think about his wife's words. Kira slowly turned away from the beautiful view outside and looked over at his lovely wife.
"I guess you are right Lacus. But I'm still going to beat the crap out of him the next time I see him!" Kira said in a tone, that made it kinda hard for Lacus to figure out if he was actually serious about this.
So after studying his face a bit longer. She stepped over next to him, and took a hold on his right arm and leaned slowly in towards him, resting her tired head against his shoulder.
"Of course you are going to beat him up a bit. It is after all a brother's job to look after his sister!" Lacus said. Before she tried to get at least a bit more comfortable against him.
Hearing her say that.
Kira could not help but let out a small chuckle. As he pull his arm away from her grasp, and gently wrapped it around her waist. Holding her tightly. While they stood there looking out at the many fish swimming around outside.
"It's also his job, to protect and look after his gorgeous wife!" Kira whispered softly to her. Before he leaned over and gave her cheek a light kiss.
And pretty much immediately after that sweet gesture, Lacus' heart began beating even faster down in her chest. As a deep red glow slowly appeared on each of her cheeks, which made her snuggle a bit close to her husband, truly enjoy the peaceful moment the two of them where sharing together.
Yet even true both of them where having a good time. They just couldn't help but think about what had happened with Cagalli not long ago.
And they each truly wondered if they where right about their assumption. But seeing as the blond haired woman did not want to confirm their suspicion, they just had to wait until later, to figure it out.
They did however not get much time to spend together like that. Before they each heard the familiar voice of a certain round little robot, which kept on getting louder and louder the more seconds that went by.
And it didn't take long before Haro came around the corner with Birdy following closely behind him.
"Lacus Hello Lacus!" The small robot yelled, while he jumped hastily up and down directly behind them.
Just as Birdy flew over and land on Kira's shoulder. Where he immediately call out his own name in a happy manner, while he quickly jumped away from his own's shoulder and land on top of his head instead, where he once more call out his name.
Looking a few times between their two little friends. Lacus let out a soft giggle as she kneel down and pink up the noisy cheerful robot behind them.
"Hello there Mr Pink, so what kind of trouble have the two of you gotten in to today?" She asked in her usual kind tone. Yet the only kind of responded she got from the two small robots, was a few more cheerful sounds.
Just as Birdy quickly moved away from his comfortable location on top of Kira's head. Which meant that he end up sitting just next to the hairpin Lacus usually wore in her long soft hair, at the same time Haro shouted out her name as loudly as possible.
Just before he jumped out of her hands and land on the floor where he once more started bouncing up and down. Still yelling just about everything he could think off.
Seeing just how happy the two small robots was right now. Kira softly tighten his grip his wife, as he once more looked back out of the window.
"They both seem to be in a good mood. I wonder what they where doing before they got here. I really hope that they haven't made some kind of trouble around the ship, we got Mayu to do stuff like that" the brown haired man said, with a tiny grin on his face. As he thought a few seconds about, how many pranks the girl had pull around the ship, since they left Orb.
Hearing that. Lacus once more let out a soft giggle, as she too thought about some of the more bizarre things the girl had done.
"At the very least, the two of them, isn't as good as coming up with ideas to make trouble as Mayu is. And you have to admit that she does liven things up a bit down here. Which is something I do believe that's we all can use from time to time" she said in a kind tone.
Thinking about that for a second or two. Kira found himself nodding slowly in agreement.
"I guess you are right Lacus, it would be kinda boring down here without a little entertainment. And that's certain something Mayu is very good at providing" the young man said, as he reach up after Birdy that seemed like he was about to get entangled in Lacus' long pink hair.
Which he knew quite well, that neither of them liked very much. The last time that had happened, they had actually end up being forced to use a pair of scissors to get the small panicky robot lost.
Something which truly had sadden Lacus. Seeing as it didn't look all that pretty with that small chunk of hair gone. Yet fortunately it hadn't taken that many weeks for it to grow back to it's normal length.
So after putting his small pal down on the floor beside Haro. He once more reached over and wrapped his arm around his wife's waist, pulling her back in close.
Feeling him do that. Lacus sigh contently, as she rest her head on his shoulder. And looked out after a stream of the more colourful fish, that was slowly making their way past the window.
But even while she was doing that. She couldn't help but think about if she should tell her husband, what she had thought about doing these last few days.
Yet once the many fish was out of sight, she lift her head and took a small glance up at his face.
Where she immediately noticed the happy smile that was there. Which made it clear to her that he was truly enjoying spending time with her right now, and that made her decide to wait until another time to tell him about her plans.
000000
Meanwhile somewhere else on the Archangel.
Cagalli was laying on her bed looking up at the ceiling.
She too was somewhat suspicion about what had happened not that long ago. Especially because it wasn't the first time she had found herself throwing up these last few days.
And even true a part of her realized that it would properly be a good idea to talk with the ship's doctor about it. She just could bring herself to do it, she simply didn't want to be alone at a time like this.
She truly wished with all of her heart, that the man she loved was there to support her. If this turned out to be more then a cold, as she had originally thought, yet with him so far away on the Minerva.
Cagalli knew that it was pretty much impossible for her small wish to come through.
And with that in mind she slowly turned over and looked in to the white blank wall beside her bed.
"Athrun don't you realize how much I need you right now? I just miss you so much!" She whispered sadly.
Just before a light sob shook her entire body.
Which made her reach over and tightly hug her pillow, slowly rubbing her deeply sad face up against the feather object. Taking what little comfort she could get from the soft feeling against her face.
Yet even while doing that a single tear left her eye and made it's way down her left cheek.
"Athrun...I love you..." she mumbled softly. Just as each of her eyes fell shut. And the very last thing she saw before she slowly drifted off to sleep, was Athrun's truly handsome smile, while he reach out after her hand.
And just seeing that. Even in her sleep, was more in enough to make another tear leave her eye, and ran down her face.
To be continued.
Hey guys I want to thank you for all of the reviews.
And please do leave a few comments about this chapter. I'm really looking forward to hear what you guys think about, what's going on this chapter.