Chapter 63
To say that there was chaos and panic onboard the Archangel right now, was serious understatement.
There was more then a few crew members, who had been injured, when the positron beam from the Minerva had hit the back of the Archangel. Yet fortunately with them almost completely submerge, the water had function kinda like a barrier which had reduced the power of the red beam quite a bit.
But while there was no denying that the salty water had saved all of their asses, it was now becoming quite a big problem now.
The Archangel's hull might have been able to withstand the Minerva's final assault. But that CERTAINLY did not mean, that they had gotten through the whole thing unharmed.
There was more then a half dozen of huge and smaller cracks around the back of the Archangel, where the ocean water was streaming in with great haste.
"Hurry the hell up you whiny bitchs we are evacuating this area! And do make absolutely sure that we do NOT leave anybody behind, you morons!" Murdoch yelled loudly at the crew members around him, who where all busy helping the injured away from this soon to be water filled area.
And after watching a couple of mechanics lift up a heavy piece equipment, so that a third one could see if there was anybody trapped underneath it. The cranky chief engineer looked down at Justin, who was currently unconscious in his arms.
The Archangel's youngest mechanic, had taken a pretty nasty fall, when they had been hit, thereby slamming his head, right in to the closed door frame. Yet much to Murdoch's relief, the teenager was breathing regularly and was seemingly not in dire need of medical attention.
If Murdoch actually had to guess, he would say that the boy would be all right, after getting some much needed rest. And perhaps a couple of aspirin for the immense headache he would most likely have, once he woke up again.
Yet the large man's somewhat concerned thoughts about the knockout boy, was instantly brought to a hold. When the mechanic who had been the one to look down under broken up equipment yelled out that there was nobody beneath damn thing. And that it was ok to put it back down again, which the other two mechanics immediately did.
Each of them feeling more than a little relieved to know. that there was nobody trap underneath that stupid piece of junk, and that it wasn't necessary for them to carry it around any longer.
It was just about that time, when one of the medical staff appeared from the other end of the chamber. "I been all over the place. And I think everybody is accounted for! So let's not dally around any longer than we have to. I really don't know about the rest of you but I'm seriously not in the mood for a swim right now. Especially not since it has been awhile now since I last bought a new swimsuit or bikini!" The brunette haired woman said, in a minor attempt to brighten the otherwise glumly mood down there.
And while all four of the still conscious mechanics chuckled slightly at the woman's small joke. They hurried rushed after her out of the room. Seriously not wanting to stay in there anyl onger then they had to.
And as the thick metal door was seal firmly behind them, one of the men just could not help but ask his fellow mechanics. How big they thought their chances were of them being able to watch her take a swim, once she finally got her new bathing suit.
Thinking a brief moment or two about that question, the mechanic beside Murdoch slowly reached up, and rubbed his chin in a somewhat thoughtful way.
"Hm well if I had to guess. I would say that our chances of seeing something so utterly wonderful, is kinda slim. But perhaps if we play our cards right. And invite her to a day at the beach, once we get back to Orb. We might just be lucky enough, to see her in whatever swimsuit she is going to buy" the man said, with a hint of a naughty grin on his face.
Having of course heard everything he had said. The medical assistant rolled her eyes a single time at the men's foolish behavior. "Yeah! You just keep on dreaming boys!" She said loudly, just before she raced off down the hall, completely and utterly determined to get down to the med-bay as quickly as possible, incase her assistance was required down there.
She did however not go very far before she suddenly stopped and once more turned her attention back at the mechanics. "It would definitely be best if one you bring Justin down to the med-bay so we can take a look at that bump on his head, and make absolutely certain that he is all right!" The brunette ordered in a bossy tone of voice. Before she again continued down the hall.
Of course easily able to see the logic in what she had just said, Murdoch instantaneously shove the knock-out teenager, somewhat rudely into arms of the mechanic next to him. "You take him down there! I have to get to the engine room. To see how things are holding up down there!" The dark haired man said. In a deeply harsh tone, which left little room to disagreement.
And without taking the time to wait for a response he hurried ran off. Loudly promising himself, that the next time the Minerva showed up in Orb to get it's ugly grey hull repaired. He was personally going to tell that damn ship to piss off and go straight to hell.
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Meanwhile up on the bridge.
Things up there was just as hectic and chaotic as it was around the rest of the Archangel.
Arnold Neumann was having an extremely difficult time, keeping the Archangel at least somewhat stable, with the massive damage and the large amount of water that was flowing into the ship.
"Captain, the output is decreasing more and more! I just can't keep us stable!" The blue haired man yelled loudly. Quite frankly, more then a little concerned that they where actually going to smash into the current or something else down there.
Yet much to Arnold's small amazement, the Captain somehow succeeded in staying somewhat level headed. As she immediately shouted out a couple loud orders to the crew up there.
"It's imperative that we stabilize the ship, as fast as possible. And make sure that all the rooms, that was damage by the attack! Is completely sealed so that the water, we can't pump out again, wouldn't flood the rest of the ship!" Murrue yelled loudly.
While giving her daughter's shaking little hand a small reassuring squeeze. In a small attempt, to clam the highly frightened girl down a bit.
Just one single glance at the nervous expression on Mayu's face, was more than enough to tell Murrue Ramius that her daughter was even more scared now, then she would have been, had they gotten caught up in the biggest thunder storm in history.
But knowing that there was the possibility, that the Minerva might just fire yet another shot from it's positron cannon. And while Murrue could not deny that she really did want to tell Mayu that everything was going to be all right, and that she had nothing to worry about.
The brown haired Captain of the Archangel realized, that with the dire circumstance of their current situation. Murrue simply had to remain completely focused, on the task of getting all of them safely out of there.
So as she continuously used her thumb, to gently rub the palm of Mayu's hand. The woman yelled out a single command, that instantly made just about everybody up there gasp loudly in shock and surprise. "Once Dearka gets back here with, Kira. Disconnect engine number two, and detonate it! By doing that we should be able to convince them that we were destroyed!" She said.
Sincerely hoping with all of her being that it would not take too long for the former pilot of the Buster gundam, to locate the Freedom's ejected cockpit.
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Yet while all of this was happening inside the ship.
Dearka was in the Duel Rouge, making his way through the dark ocean water. Looking thoroughly around in a hectic attempt to find his long time friend as quickly as possible. "Damn it! All this crap out here, doesn't really make it any easier to find him!" The blond man complained in a highly displeased tone.
Just before he reached out and hurried pushed away what could only be the sad remains of the Freedom's left arm. "You better be all right Kira, you idiot! If you ain't out here somewhere! Then what the hell am I suppose to tell Lacus, Cagalli and everybody else!?" Dearka Elsman asked loudly. Even though he of course realized, that it was impossible for Kira, or anybody else to hear him right now.
But for some reason it always had a bit of a soothing effect on Dearka to talk with himself, when he was really nervous about something. And right now he could not even begin to describe how worried he was about Kira.
So while the young man continued on with his private little conversation. He swiftly brushed aside a long blue objects. Which as far as he could tell, used to be one of the Freedom's wings. "This is almost as bad as looking for a needle in a haystack!" The blond pilot growled out. Then moved the mostly red mobile suit around a few other components of the destroyed Freedom gundam.
And that was when the blond teen finally spotted, what he had been searching so intensely for these last few minutes. "There he is! Now I better hurry the hell up and get him inside, before he actually drowns out here!" Dearka shouted out determinedly. As he immediately began making his way towards the Freedom's mostly intact cockpit.
Which Kira was sitting unconsciously inside, with a tiny bit of blood, running slowly down his face from a small wound on his forehead. And with his left hand resting on top of a button that had a small display, that read NUCLEAR REACTOR EMERGENCY CUT OFF.
But even with most of the equipment in there now completely ruined by either the mobile suit's destruction, or from the large amount of water that was rapidly filling up the cockpit. One thing in there that amazingly enough still somewhat functioned like it was suppose to, was the radio.
"Hey...Ki...ra...budddyy...ca...n...you...hear me...ov...er...ther...KIRA?!" A barely understandable voice asked.
Yet while the knockout Kira did actually hear somebody calling out after him. The brown haired teen's only reaction to the whole thing. Was letting out a small sound of pain. As he moved his head over in the direction where the voice was coming from.
Other then that. He show no signs of knowing what was going on around him. Which pretty much meant, that he had no idea about how much water was presently inside the cockpit. And that in a about ten minutes or so, he would drown if somebody didn't get him out of there VERY soon.
Fortunately Dearka was just next the cockpit now. "Damn it, I would never in a million years have thought, that I was going to see the Freedom, end up like this! It really goes to show what a little bastard the guy in the Impulse is! If he hadn't taken advantage of Kira's determination not to kill his opponent, this battle would never have turned out this badly!" The blond man growled displeased.
While determinedly promising himself that the next time they ran into the Minerva and the Strike look alike, he was surely going to tear both the Zaft ship and the red and blue gundam completely apart, for what they had done. "Man and to think about how many times Kira and the rest of us, have helped out that grey trash pile! Talk about being ungrateful" Dearka Elsman muttered angrily. While trying to decide, how much of a waste it had truly been for them to help out that damn Zaft ship, in the first place.
Yet even as he was still thinking about that, the young man gently picked up what remained of the Freedom's cockpit. Being extremely careful not to shake it around too much. Incase Kira had any serious injuries in there.
And once Dearka was absolutely sure he had a secure grip on the cockpit. He immediately turned around, and started making his way back towards the Archangel's already opened hangar.
Still softly cursing the Minerva and all the Zaft bootlickers on that ship.
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At the exact same time by the door leading into the hangar. Cagalli Yula Athha was leaning against the wall with more then a few tears running down her lovely face, it was almost completely unbearable for the young pregnant woman to even think about how unbelievable close she had just came to losing her little brother.
"Damn you Shinn Asuka...! You really are the most wicked and evil person! I have ever had the misfortune of knowing!" Cagalli sobbed loudly, while even more tears left her eyes.
And as the blond woman thought about all the more peaceful and happy memories, she had shared together with the married couple, Athrun and everybody that was a part of their at times weird, yet special family.
"If Kira is hurt in anyway! I'm going to beat Shinn up so badly, that even his unborn grandchildren will be able to feel it!" The crying woman promised. While doing her best to prevent another loud sob from leaving her body.
Yet no matter how hard she tried. It was simply impossible for her to stop the many tears, from leaving her now slightly red eyes. They just kept on running down her face one after another. And it SERIOUSLY didn't help much on her attempts to stop crying, that her mood, had been more then just a little haywire, these last many weeks.
So as she used her left sleeve to try and get rid of some of the many tears gather on both of her cheeks. Cagalli could not stop herself, from complaining a tiny bit, about all of her mood swings and the cause for them.
"I'm really getting sick of all these damn hormones. Half the time I feel like just strangling the first person I come across. And the other half I kinda feel like embracing somebody instead. Most preferably the foolish dunderhead I'm engaged to" the blond haired girl mused, sincerely wondering how Athrun was reacting to what Shinn Asuka and the Minerva had just done. She did however not get long to think about that, before a loud familiar voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
"It's perfectly normal for a woman to get a little nutty, during first couple of month of pregnancy. Your bodies is after all going through a lot of changes. But as long as you make sure that you do not overexert yourself. And that you get plenty of rest, then everything should be fine Miss Cagalli" the white spaceship's chief doctor told her.
While he and two other members from the medical staff, was hastily approaching her. Each one of them, with an expression on their face, that really served to make it clear to Cagalli, just how serious they where taking this entire situation.
And as the blond woman stood there looking at the three men, she could not help but feel greatly relieved that they where here. If her younger brother was injured in anyway, these guys would definitely be able to help him out.
"With everything that has been going on since the attack on Berlin. It is kinda hard, to find the time to get some proper rest doc. But maybe once I have made certain that Kira is alright, I'll go lay down for a couple of hours. I do feel slightly nauseated right now" the blond woman said in a somewhat subdued tone of voice. Just as another couple of tears left her eyes.
And while Cagalli could honestly say without lying, that she had never really been the type of person, who liked it all that much. When others saw her weeping like a small five-year-old girl.
This time around, she could care less if the entire Archangel crew saw her like this. Truth be told the only thing the young blond haired woman cared about at the moment, was finding out if Kira was unharmed. After being shoot down by the Impulse gundam, and it's extremely annoying pilot Shinn Asuka.
Just the mere thought of how totally and utterly brutal the battle between the Freedom and the other mobile suit had been, was more than enough to send a long cold shiver up her spine.
There really had been more then a dozen of times through the battle, where Cagalli had sincerely feared that the huge bonehead in the Strike look-alike would actually kill her little brother in the end, thereby taking Kira away from all the people who loved and cared about him.
Especially Lacus would without a doubt be crushed, should something awful actually have happened to her husband. "Lacus, might truly be the most sweet and caring person in existence. But even she would be totally pissed off should Kira have gotten seriously hurt from fighting that moron in the Impulse. Frankly with her and Kira being as lovey-dovey and close as they are. I honestly doubt, Lacus would ever be able to get over it, should Kira never return to her again" the blond haired woman said, just barely loud enough for the three members of the medical team to hear her.
Yet before the concerned sister had the chance to once more start daydreaming about how utterly nice it would be, to scratch both Shinn's disgusting red eyes out, and maybe wring his neck a few hundred times.
Miriallia's loud voice suddenly appeared over the speakers. Where the brunette haired woman immediately began explaining to the hard working crew, that the Duel Rouge was at long last back on board.
And just hearing those words, instantly made Cagalli Yula Athha reach out and press the one button on the door panel, that would allow her entrance, to the biggest room on the Archangel. And without even taking the time to wait for the medical staff.
The blond girl rushed full speed in to the hangar, where the first thing her eyes fell on, was Dearka. Who was cautiously pulling Kira out of what little that remained of the once immensely powerful mobile suit, which Kira had been given two years ago by his father-in-law, Siegel Clyne.
And once Cagalli saw the former pilot of the Buster gundam, carefully put Kira down on the metal floor. She immediately ran the rest of the way over to them. "How is he, Dearka?" The sister asked. Doing nothing to hide how deeply worried she was about her sibling.
Feeling more then just a little guilty, that he was incapable of giving the worried girl a proper response to her question, Dearka took a brief glance up at Cagalli where the expression on her face served to make him feel that much worse about this. And when he heard Cagalli let out a long deeply painful sob, it became impossible for him to keep his gaze on her any longer.
So while trying to remain as calm as he possibly could right now, Dearka again turned his deeply depressed gaze back down Kira. "I really don't know Cagalli! He hasn't moved even once since I pull him out of the Freedom!" The blond haired man said in a small yet highly anxious tone.
And without saying anything else to the girl, Dearka slowly reached out, and carefully began removing his friend's white and blue helmet, which he immediately throw aside, once that small task had been accomplished.
Which of course meant that both of them could now see Kira's slightly pale face. And just the sight of the small amount of blood that was currently on it, was enough to make the rightful leader of Orb swallow loudly, to prevent the last meal, she had gotten before the battle from leaving her stomach, right then and there.
Yet after quickly fighting down those nauseating feelings, the blond haired girl was just about scream out for the chief doctor and the rest of the medical staff to hurry the hell up and do something.
But before even a single word could leave Cagalli's mouth. The most experienced of three physicians kneel down beside Kira and began looking him over.
And even though it didn't really take a genius to tell, that both Cagalli and Dearka was completely on edge right now, and that each one of them where just about ready to start shouting for the chief doctor to tell them, if Kira was going to be all right.
But amazingly enough, both of the highly anxious teenagers, was somehow able to keep their mouth shuts, as they watched the doctor work.
Fortunately before either one of the blonds could run completely out of what little patient they had left, the small yet highly relieved smile which was slowly appearing on the doctor's lips, as he finished checking up on the brown haired man, was all the information Cagalli and Dearka needed to tell, that there wasn't anything serious wrong with Kira.
"You don't have to worry about him. Other then that small bump on his forehead. He is perfectly fine" the doctor explained in a tone, that matched the relieved smile on his face pretty well. Yet even as those words were leaving the doctor's mouth. The black haired man reached out after the small medical bag he had brought with him down there, and after getting it open, he hurried found some bandages which he immediately began carefully placing around Kira's head, where the small wound was located.
And so as the two blond teenagers watched the doctor do that, Dearka couldn't help but move his hand up, and slowly rub away the great amount of sweat gather on his forehead. "Damn that big fool really had me worried there for a second" the former Zaft pilot growled just loud enough for the people around him to hear it, while mentally promising to make Kira pay for that too, once his friend had fully recovered from his more than violent encounter with the Impulse.
Yet while Dearka was doing that, Cagalli nodded a few times in agreement to his words. Just as she took a couple of quick breath, in an attempt to calm down her rapidly beating heart. "Yeah tell me about it, that moron almost gave me a heart attack just now" Cagalli said.
Then thought about how indescribable much, she had feared for her brother's life while he had been battling the Impulse, and when she had seen Dearka pull him out of the Freedom's cockpit.
Neither one of the teens did however not get much time to sort through the unbelievable many things they had on their minds at the moment. When Miriallia's loud voice could once more be heard through the Archangel's speakers.
Telling everybody that they would be heading away from the coast now. And that they would remain on level two battle station, until they where absolutely certain that they where completely out off danger.
After that, the Archangel immediately made a sharp hasty turn to the portside. Then once more continued on the long journey back home to Orb.
It was just about that time when the doctor was finished taking care of Kira's small wound. "There we go, now then, it would probably be best, it he gets a lot of rest after everything he has been through. There is the possibility that he might be more then just a little physical exhausted" the doctor explained thoughtfully.
While briefly wondering how many more injured people that was on board the Archangel.
Yet before he could think all that long about that, Dearka suddenly interrupted his thoughts. "That does sounded reasonable enough doc! So what about putting him in the same room as Mu? Maybe seeing Kira like this, will help jog the Hawk's memories a bit!" The blond teenager suggested. Of course knowing just like everybody else on the Archangel, that Kira Yamato and Mu La Flaga had almost been like brothers in the last war.
Using a short moment think about what the blond pilot had just said. The chief doctor slowly reached up, and scratch his dark hair in a thoughtful manner. "Hmm well that might just help. But needless to say Elsman it is kinda hard to predict. How people with amnesia, will react to certain things. Yet I do however believe that it is at the very least worth a shot!"
And with that said they started carefully preparing to bring Kira down to the sick bay. So he could rest up and recover after the destruction of the Freedom.
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Yet while all of this was going on down in the ocean.
Athrun could do nothing to hide how deeply shocked he was over what he had just witnessed. With Kira beating the Providence and his old Commander two years ago, the completely rattled up blue haired teenager had honestly thought, that there was noway, Shinn would ever had been able to defeat Kira and the Freedom.
Rau Le Creuset had after, all been a far more lethal opponent than Shinn would ever be in a million years. And it was not really overly difficult to figure out, that the Providence gundam, was just that much more powerful and dangerous than the Impulse.
Frankly the only thing that had been different in this battle and the one Kira had fought against the crazy mask wearing man, was that this time around Kira hadn't tried to kill his adversary.
'This was not suppose to happen...I didn't join Zaft again to fight against the people that was important to me...the reason why I decided to help out the Chairman was so I could keep Cagalli...Kira and everybody else out of this mess' Athrun thought hysterically.
But even as he was standing there feeling like somebody had just torn the very soul out of his body, Athrun was still somehow able to take a small glance over at Rey Za Burrel.
Where he instantly took notice of the extremely smug grin, the blond man was currently sending him, and of course knowing that the only reason why, Rey would actually smile at him like that, at this exact moment in time, was to try and provoke him in to doing something, that would most likely resulted in him ending up down in the brig.
And if that where to happen, it would without a doubt be that much easier for the Chairman and Rey to find some clever excuse to get rid of him for good. And while there was noway for Athrun to deny, how utterly tempted he was, to race full speed over there. And take out his deep anger and frustration, on Chairman Durandal's most trusted and loyal lapdog.
Yet Athrun's deeply conflicting thoughts about actually beating the crap out of the blond man, was abruptly brought to an end. In one single dreadful instant, when he and everybody else up there saw, what could only be an enormous explosion occurring far down in the dark blue ocean water.
"Noooooo not that...Archangel..." Athrun whispered to himself. Just as he saw himself playing video games and joking around with Kira and Dearka. In their usual somewhat childish manner.
After that he saw a scene, where was having dinner out at the huge house where most of the people he consider family lived. And he could easily remember, having a nice peaceful conversation with Mayu and Miss Murrue.
Yet the image that appeared in his mind after that, was the without any doubt the most painful and heartbreaking one of them all.
Athrun saw himself kneeling down in front of Cagalli, asking the blond woman which he truly loved with all of his being, if she would marry him. Yet unlike how it had originally happened, this time around, she had a cute round belly that clear showed that she was pregnant.
And once Athrun reached the part where he had pop the question. The deeply happy expression on Cagalli's face, was almost enough to make him break down right then and there.
"This just can't be truth! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!" The blue haired teenager cried out as loud as he could. While tightly squeezing both of his eyes and fists together.
Yet as the young man stood there sincerely wondering, if he was ever going to see Cagalli, Kira or anybody else that was important to him ever again.
Athrun did not notice that the only female currently present up there was at this very moment looking sadly at him.
The Archangel and the Freedom might have been their enemies, but even so Lunamaria simply could not help but feel somewhat sorry for former crush. The redhead realized that if she had been in Athrun's shoes she would without a doubt be crying her eyes out right now. 'Ah damn it all! I wish I knew what the hell I'm suppose to say to him' the girl thought sadly.
So after letting out a deeply depressed sigh, the older Hawke sister slowly moved her attention away from Athrun Zala and over on the only other person up there, who had ever been onboard the white spaceship, they had just destroyed.
Yet unlike the former pilot of the Justice gundam, who's emotion could easily be read right now.
The stone cold expression which was presently covering Nicol's entire face, made it almost completely impossible for the young red haired woman to tell just what in the world was happening inside her roommate's head at the moment.
Actually the only thing Nicol did that told Lunamaria that this was difficult for him too, was close his eyes for a few seconds and mutter something about this being the correct path, and that there was simply no changing that.
And once he again opened his brown orbs, the lovely red haired girl saw a single lonely tear slowly making it's way down his face, only to land on the floor a second later.
So while her friend might not have said anything to her about it, Lunamaria Hawke had long since realized, that Nicol would have preferred it, if the Archangel and it's crew had gone on back home to Orb, after their meeting at Crete.
And knowing just how much her new crush was suffering right now, even if he didn't show it. The quiet woman, slowly reached over and wrapped her fingers around his hand, which she immediately gave a small gentle squeeze.
Yet Nicol's only reaction to that, was look over at her for a moment or two and smile slightly at her, before he turned his gaze downwards and away from her, now watching the Minerva's floor, with a small depressed thoughtful frown on his forehead.
After that there was nothing else said and the only thing that could be heard was the soft humming sound of the Minerva's engines, and it was only when Rey saw the Impulse turn around and began making it's way back towards them. That the blond haired teenager finally brought the somewhat tense silence to an end.
"Now then, why don't all of us go down to the hangar and bid our victorious hero welcome back, after his glorious defeat of the Freedom and it's pilot?!" Rey said.
Making absolute sure to use a extremely provoking tone of voice. Which he seriously hoped, would be enough to make Athrun Zala, do something totally foolish and hostile. That would enable them to frame the little bastard as a traitor right here and now.
But much to Rey Za Burrel's deep annoyance and disappointment. His highly nasty comment about the Freedom gundam and Kira Yamato got no reaction out of the untrustworthy fool.
Actually the blue haired teenager did not do anything. He just kept on standing there, with both of his eyes firmly closed, behaving almost like he hadn't heard a single word of what he had said just now. But of course knowing that one had to be almost completely deaf not to have heard his words, Rey used the next few seconds to thoroughly study Athrun's face.
And once he noticed the great amount of pain the blue haired fool was trying so hard to hide, Rey smiled slightly to himself as he turned around and began making his way over towards the exit of the observation deck.
With Lunamaria and Nicol, following not that far behind him. 'Hmm he wouldn't be able to last much longer! Soon or later he is surely going to snap' the blond haired man thought wickedly, just as he and the two other pilots left them room.
Yet it was only once the door few shut after the three of them, that Athrun Zala slowly opened both of his deeply depressed eyes, and looked over at the grey metal door, which his so called 'team mates' had disappeared through.
And simply not able to get his mind away from what Rey had said about Kira and the Freedom. The blue haired young man found himself thinking about that very moment so long ago, where he had given his childhood friend, the small green robot bird which he had named Birdy.
That even to this day, was still a faithful company to Kira. "I just...just can't...believe any of this happened...I'm so sorry that I didn't listen to your warning about the Chairman's true motives back at Crete...Kira..." Athrun mumbled quietly.
And just before he could do anything to prevent it, his highly bemused thoughts, wandered over to that exact moment, where the Freedom had gotten pierced by the Impulse's final attack. And simply not able to comprehend the idea that his best friend might be dead, Athrun violently shook his head, in a fanatic attempt to get his mind over on something else.
But as luck would have it the next bunch of images that enter his mind wasn't that much better. Now he could clearly see the red positron beam leave the Tannhauser and head straight towards the rear of the hastily submerging Archangel, and when he got to that point where the extremely powerful shot, evidently slammed into it's intended target.
The young man's eyes instantly snapped back shut. Like that would actually stop those painful images from racing furiously through his head.
Yet no matter what he did, and how hard to tried. It was impossible for Athrun Zala to stop thinking about what he might have lost in this battle. "I really hope that all of you guys are all right...I want to see you again...Cagalli...Kira...everybody" he whispered in a low tone.
Then with his low spirited gaze still turned downwards at the floor, Athrun began heading with slow steps towards the closed door, which the others had left through not long ago.
So while Athrun did of course realize, that Shinn would most likely be bragging more than ever before, after what he had just done. The blue haired teenager was still determined to get down to the hangar and hear just what exactly the brain dead brat, had to say after shooting down Kira.
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At the same time out in the Impulse.
Shinn was to say it mildly MORE then just a little pleased with himself. He had been the one who had succeeded in doing, what so many others had failed to do since the Freedom gundam had been stolen two years ago.
But as proud as the boy was of this accomplishment, what truly made this whole thing so great was that he had finally been able to avenge Heine, Stella and his entire family. With the Freedom pilot being nothing more then a bad memory now, Shinn felt absolutely certain, that they could now all rest in peace. "I did it! I finally made that bastard pay for everything he has done" the boy chuckled wickedly.
Before taking a swift look around, at what little that remained of the most powerful mobile suit he had ever gone up against. And when he spotted the white gundam's almost totally devastated right arm laying near the rocky edge of the sea. It was just impossible for the highly self-satisfied teen, from stopping an even bigger laughter from leaving his mouth.
"Heh! You really got what you deserved this time around you bastard!" Shinn growled happily.
Just before he brought his machine down beside the body part. Which he spend the next minute or two looking over.
And while he simply could not deny how utterly tempted he was to take the arm back with him, as some kind of trophy. The red eyed teenager realized that even with the Minerva's hangar being as roomy as it was. There was just noway that they had enough space down there, for him to start collecting souvenirs of this magnitude.
So while still feeling somewhat annoyed that he could not bring his prize with him. Shinn just had to settle with giving the beat-up body part a hard kick that made it fly full speed, out over the dark gloomy water. Yet thanks to the large amount of weight of the arm, it didn't really get all that far. Before the splashed quite hard down into the sea water, where it immediately began sinking down into the ocean.
And after watching the white piece of junk vanish completely from sight.
The arrogant teen let out another wicked chuckle, as he got the Impulse back up into the air and continued the rest of the way back to the Minerva's already opened hangar.
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Meanwhile down in the Minerva's slightly chilly hangar.
Each and everyone of the mechanics on board the grey Zaft war ship, was presently gather in the middle of the large chamber, waiting anxiously for the return of their triumphant hero.
Yet while most of the crew members down there, was thrillingly shouting and yelling about just how unbelievable awesome it had been, when Shinn had taken out the Freedom gundam.
There was actually a few people present who simply preferred not to join the crowd, and stay by themselves while all of this was going on.
And as the former pilot of the black stealth type mobile suit known better as the Blitz, was standing together with the Minerva's only female pilot. The young man and woman was still holding hands. Yet with the way their fingers kept on messing and playing around with each other, it was more then a little obvious that both of them was a tiny bit nervous at the moment.
So while the older Hawke sister honestly did find it kinda nice being this close to her new crush. The red haired woman could not help but take a small glance over at Athrun, who was presently standing by himself, at the entrance to the hangar.
And while Lunamaria might not be able to see him all that well, with the small amount of light over there. It still wasn't overly difficult for her to figure out that with him in such a foul mood, it definitely would be best to leave him alone for awhile.
Which was seriously something she hoped Shinn was bright enough to realize too. Otherwise there was just no telling what Athrun would do to their highly stubborn friend inside the Impulse. And just as she let out a long heavy sigh Luna once more turned her attention back over at the person beside her.
"Do you think he is going to be all right?" The female pilot questioned softly.
Hearing her ask that, and of course already knowing who she was talking about. Nicol narrowed both of his brown eyes in a thoughtful manner as he looked over at the other former member of the Le Creuset team.
Sincerely wondering what could be going through Athrun's head right now. Yet with him staying hidden away in the shadows there was just noway Nicol could figure out, what in the world he was thinking about.
So pretty much the only thing Nicol knew for sure was that his old friend was far from in a chipper mood at the moment. Frankly he kinda looked like he could battle a full grown starving lion with his bare hands and actually win. Which honestly made Nicol feel slightly sorry, for whoever was dumb enough to actually push Athrun's buttons the wrong way right now.
And so while still thinking about that, Nicol once more turned his gaze over at the girl beside him.
"It's hard to say Luna, he did care greatly for the people on board the Archangel. And Kira, the Freedom's pilot is...his best friend. And you already know Luna how he feels about miss Cagalli...So it will unquestionably take Athrun a very, very long time before he can get over this" the green haired man explained.
Trying his best not to show the cute red haired woman that he too, was actually quite shake up by what had happened to the Archangel. Even since the white space ship had first reappeared, Nicol had sincerely hoped that they could have found a more calm and peaceful way, to deal with his old comrade's interference other then attacking and destroying the...'Legged ship'.
For some reason it did kinda helped Nicol distanced himself a tiny bit, from this whole affair, by using that old nickname when referirng to the Archangel.
Yet as he started wondering who came up with that somewhat weird nickname in the first place, he did not see, Lunamaria nod a few times in understanding to everything he had just said. And it was only once Lunamaria moved over and rested her head up against left shoulder.
That Nicol snapped back out of his drifting thoughts, about the Archangel's old nickname. Nicol did however not get long to enjoy being so close to her when the Impulse enter the hangar and got ready to land.
And just the mere sight of the blue and red mobile suit, was more then enough to make each and everyone of the mechanics cheer loudly in celebration, as the sound of the Impulse's feet hitting the thick metal floor, could be heard echoing through the entire hangar.
So while there truly was no denying how unbelievable loud the Minerva's mechanic staff was at this exact moment, it was nothing compared to how utterly noisy they all became when the Impulse's cockpit was opened, and they all saw the victorious hero slowly lowing himself to the ground.
And once Shinn was standing between them. It was almost impossible to count just how many compliments the young dark haired man was receiving after his newest, and probably his most glorious achievement to date. "That was just unbelievable old bubby! You are like totally invincible!" Yolant shouted out loudly. Just as he raised his hand over his head, so Shinn could give him a high five.
Which the extremely proud pilot of the Impulse immediately did. While Aves stepped over, and gave him a hard yet friendly slap on his back. "Yeah you did a really impressive job out there kid! You definitely deserve a whole box full of medals after this" the chief engineer said. While using a few short moments to go over everything the Freedom had wrecked through all of their encounters with it.
Yet while Madd Aves was quite preoccupied with thinking about that, Rey slowly made his way through large crowd of mechanics. So he ended up standing directly in front of Shinn. "Yes Aves is definitely right Shinn. What you have accomplished today is unquestionably something which you can be proud of my friend" the blond haired man said, in a calm tone. Truly pleased to know, that now he could finally tell Gilbert that they did not have to worry about Kira Yamato and the Freedom spoiling their plans for the future of this word. Now that the Ultimate Coordinator and the Archangel wasn't a threat any longer.
It surely would be that much easier for them, to make all of the necessary changes and adjustments to the world now.
The mere fact that Zaft had been the once to destroy, the supposedly undefeatable Archangel, should serve as a severe warning to everybody else, who would dare to get in the way of Gilbert's plans.
'Now we just need to make absolutely sure that this whole matter with Logos plays out like it's suppose to. Then the whole world will surely be in our grasp!' Rey Za Burrel thought wickedly.
Yet with him momentarily distracted, he did not notice that Shinn was smiling brightly at him.
And it was only when the red eyed teenager, began talking in a high tone of voice, that Rey snapped back out of his deeply serious thoughts. "I could not have defeat him without you Rey, if you hadn't help me find his weakness. But even though I knew from the beginning of the battle, how to defeat him. That certainly doesn't mean, that he was an easy opponent to take out!" The boy said, while thinking briefly about how utterly brutal his last and final encounter with the Freedom had been.
Hearing his red eyed friend said that, Rey tilted his head a tiny bit to the side, and gave his roommate a large encouraging smile. "I mainly pointed out the obvious, Shinn! You where the one who figure out how to use it to your advantage, against the Freedom pilot. So the honor for this victory is clearly your's alone my friend, and I'll make certain to mention that to the Chairman the next time I speak with him" Rey promised in a highly serious tone. Already knowing, that there was quite a reward waiting for Shinn after this, perhaps even a new mobile suit.
Yet while Shinn was busy getting his already enormous ego stroked, Athrun was watching the entire thing, with a deep angry frown on his forehead.
He had originally gone down there determined to figure out what, Shinn Asuka had to say after what he had done to Kira and the Freedom. But after standing quietly at the entrance to the hangar for who knew how long.
All of the loud boasting the Impulse pilot was currently doing simply became to much for Athrun. So after sending the boy one last angry glare, he turned around and was just about to head on back to his room so he could be alone for a while. It wasn't like Athrun was actually expecting a whole lot of comfort and solicitude from any of the people nearby. With pretty much each and everyone of them having viewed the Archangel and the Freedom as their enemies, ever since they had first shown up.
Even Nicol was behaving very much like he wasn't affected by this at all. Which quite frankly served to make the blue haired man wonder, just what in the world was going through his old friend's mind right now. Yet a single glance over at the former Blitz pilot, was more then enough to make it clear to Athrun that there was simply noway, that he was going to figure out what exactly Nicol was thinking anytime soon.
So while swallowing the unbelievable large lump stuck in his throat, Athrun was just about to step out of the huge room, when the one voice, he least wanted to hear at the moment, call out after him.
"Hey hold on a second, Athrun! There is something I need to talk with you about!" Shinn yell out as loud as he could, before he rushed past the mechanics and began making his way towards the blue haired man with a highly confident smirk on his face.
Seeing what he was up to, Lunamaria Hawke could not help but raised one of her eyebrows in a somewhat skeptical manner. "Ahhh please don't tell me that he is actually stupid enough to start bothering Athrun now?!" The red haired girl asked the person standing beside her.
While she and everybody else down there, watched as the pilot of the Impulse was slowly approaching the one person down there, who was probably ready to strangle him with his bare hands at any moment.
Also keeping a very close eye on the dark haired teen, Nicol slowly shook his head a couple of times, as he let out a light sigh. "Well apparently he is Luna. And with Athrun so utterly piss off, this is not going to end well. It would have been so much better, if Shinn could have lived without bragging to Athrun about shooting down the Freedom" the green haired man said in such a quite tone of voice, that it was only the girl standing just beside him was able to hear him.
And the next words that left the Impulse pilot's mouth made both Lunamaria and Nicol flinch slightly.
"I finally got my revenge, I made that stupid fool pay today for everything he has done even the destruction of the Saviour. So you could at least thank me before you run off" Shinn said in a somewhat demanding tone. Doing next to nothing to hide the enormous self-assured smirk, which was presently covering just about all of his face.
Having a really tough time believing, that Shinn Asuka was actually expecting some sort of gratitude from him, after he had just tried so intensely, to end the life of his best friend, Athrun glared back at Shinn over his left shoulder.
Where he of course instantly noticed Shinn already highly obnoxious smirk grew slightly in size, once he got eye contact with the Impulse pilot.
And just seeing that, immediately made Athrun Zala swirl around as fast as humanly possible, and without hesitating even one second.
He hurried took the couple of steps necessary to get him over directly in front of the immensely smug dark haired teen, where he instantly grabbed on to the collar of Shinn's red Zaft space suit. "Why you pathetic little bastard! Are you actually such a creep?! That you want to brag to me, about killing my best friend?! Why the hell can't you just leave me ALONE?!" Athrun yelled loudly. Just as raised his left hand in a manner that made it absolutely clear to just about everybody down there that he was more then ready to start beating the living daylight out of Shinn.
But even as the Minerva's three remaining pilots, and all of the mechanics hurried made their way over to them. So that they where ready to separate them incase this whole thing got even further out of hand, Athrun once more continued yelling at Shinn.
"You have nothing to be so damn high and mighty about! The only reason why you won, is because Kira wasn't even trying to kill you, idiot. Unlike you Kira is not the type of person that takes pride in harming his opponents! So does it really make you so proud that you shot him down?!" The blue haired teenager growled out through his teeth, still behaving very much like he was going to wring Shinn's neck any second now.
Yet while Shinn did struggle hard, to get out of the grip Athrun had on him. It was quickly becoming obvious to the red eyed teenager, that he wasn't going to get away from the immensely pissed off man that easily. Athrun Zala really did seem absolutely determined not to let go of him no matter what. So while Shinn could not deny, that this whole thing was really getting on his nerves, and pissing him off a great deal.
The angry pilot of the Impulse swiftly came to the conclusion, that if he where to give the blue haired fool some answers, there was the possibility that he might let go of him.
And with that in mind, Shinn glared hatefully at the man holding on to him. "Of course I'm proud, Zala! I took out an opponent, that you, yourself failed to defeat! So if it's not too much to ask, would you please tell me how actually I'm suppose to be feeling. Should I be sitting over in the farthest corner crying my eyes out? Or would you rather if I started praying for his worthless soul to rest in peace!?" The boy asked loudly.
Just as he felt Athrun tighten the already severe hold, he had on the space suit. Which briefly served to make Shinn wonder, if the FAITH member was actually trying to strangle him right now. "Shinn you little...you little...!" Athrun growled out with the most furious expression on his face Shinn had ever seen.
Yet seeing as Shinn firmly believed that he had done nothing wrong, by destroying the Freedom gundam, the Impulse pilot could quite honestly care less about how utterly cranky, Athrun was at the moment.
"The word you are searching for is most likely bastard...! But never mind that, you still haven't given me a response! Just how the hell do you WANT me to react to the death of the one person, I despised most in this world!?" The red eyed teenager asked in a loud highly provocative tone. Which was obviously meant to provoke Athrun as much as possible.
Looking even more angrily at the dark haired boy, Athrun squeezed his left fist together so tightly that a bit of blood actually appeared from the places where his nails was digging down in to his skin. "I want...I want...!" Was the only words Athrun manage to get out.
Before Shinn decided that he was getting kinda tired of this, in his eyes, completely pointless discussion. "Spit it out already!" The sixteen-year-old boy yell out so loud that it could probably be heard, through half of the Minerva.
"I want you to SHUT THE HELL UP!" The blue haired man practically screamed at the very peak of his lungs. just as his tightly clenched fist flew forward with such unbelievable high speed.
Which meant it was only when Shinn flew backwards into the arms of Aves and Yolant. That the rest of the crew currently down there actually realized, that Athrun had just punched the Impulse pilot. Evidently quite hard judging from the deep painful red mark, that was slowly appearing on the right side of Shinn's face.
So while Shinn could care less about all of Athrun's shouting and complaining. Getting punch like that, was most certainly not something he was going to take sitting down.
Yet before the angry red eyed teenager had the chance to get over to Athrun Zala and show the stupid bastard a thing or two about what happened to the people that punch him like that, Aves and Yolant somehow manage to get a hold on both of his arms. Thereby preventing him from starting an even more brutal fight than the one he had just finished outside, with the Freedom not long ago.
But with him so utterly determined to make Athrun pay for the punch. He instantaneously started struggling against the two of them, in a highly fanatical attempt to get free from the strong grip they had on him.
And it was only when he heard Athrun's almost hysterical voice shout out for somebody to let go of him. That Shinn finally realized that Lunamaria and Nicol was currently holding on to Athrun, in the exact same manner Aves and Yolant was holding on to him. And when Shinn briefly happened to get eye contact with the former pilot of the Justice gundam, the boy instantly realized that Athrun was just as determined to start fighting as he was.
And the next words that left Athrun's mouth, only proved that further. "Let go, Nicol! Don't you realize what the hell he did?! Kira was your friend too!" Athrun yelled.
Just as he almost forcefully, tore his deeply furious green gaze away from Shinn, and looked back at the other former member of the Le Creuset team. Who hurried looked away to hide the somewhat guilty expression on his face. And while Nicol did actually succeed in doing that quite well, it was a pretty obvious sign to the young Zala that he should NOT, expect any help from him.
So while honestly feeling more then just a little betrayed, by his old friend's lack of assistance, Athrun gave his lower lips a hard firm bite, before he once more turned his attention back towards Shinn Asuka.
And just the mere sight of the smug little bastard who had shoot down his best friend, and then had the audacity to actually brag to him about it afterwards was more then enough to once more make the ballistic blue haired man struggle furiously to get away from Luna and Nicol. Who by now could just barely maintain their grip on him.
Yet before either one of the teenagers manage to get loose. A certain blond haired man, stepped in between the two of them. "All right that's enough now! Athrun restrain yourself already! I do understand perfectly why you scolded and even hit Shinn, when he disobey orders. But this time around, he has done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment. He did precisely what we where ordered to do, by destroying the Freedom. So in my eyes he should be commented for this, not criticized" Rey Za Burrel said, while staring directly at Athrun with a cold look in each one of his eyes.
Not saying anything to that at first, Athrun Zala simply continued glaring angrily at Rey Za Burrel, for a couple of long extremely tense seconds. Until he slowly turned his gaze downwards at the floor.
"You say that, Za Burrel! But the way I see it, that dumb moron just shoot down a person, that did everything he could to end both this war and the last one. And it's not really overly difficult to tell, that the Archangel and Kira, had nothing to do with Logos. They where after all the once, who stop the Destroy at Berlin! We had no reason at ALL to attack them!" Athrun shouted.
Narrowing both of his deep blue eyes at that, Rey took a single step closer towards the blue haired man he had distrusted ever since he had been assigned to the Minerva.
"Yet even so Athrun, they where still our enemies. Simply because that is what the Chairman and the Council told us they where. And as Zaft soldiers, it is our job to fight whoever and whatever we are order to fight, no matter how one feels about them. But you already know that. The way you are talking now, makes it sound like you only want to fight, when it is convenient for you, Zala. I find that quite troubling indeed"
With that said, Rey smiled wickedly at the blue haired man one last time, before he turned around, where he immediately took a hold on Shinn's left arm, then began dragging the still obviously pissed off boy, with him out of the hangar.
Watching the two of them leave, it was just impossible for Athrun not to mutter out a few last displeased words. "Those damn bastards!" Lunamaria and Nicol heard him growl out angrily.
Just as he almost violently tore his arms free from their grasp, and began walking with loud steps towards the exit of the hangar, completely and utterly determined to get back down to his room quickly as possible, so he would not have to see any of the Minerva's crew members.
With so many people around this ship firmly believing that the Archangel and the Freedom deserved their fate. There was an enormous part of Athrun Zala that could not help but feel like he was trapped right in the middle of a battlefield, completely surrounded by enemies.
And it quite frankly, didn't help much on his already bad mood, that the one person he honestly felt like he could trust here on the Minerva, hadn't done a single thing through all of this. "Nicol...what the hell made you change like this?...Mayura? Is the old kind Nicol really gone for good?" Athrun sadly questioned the ghost of the red haired M1 Astray pilot, who had been so utterly important to Nicol Amalfi.
But even though Athrun would giving just about anything to know the answers to these questions, the only kind of response he got, was the somewhat gloomy sound of the Minerva's powerful engines.
"Damn it, what the heck am I suppose to do now?" The blue haired man asked softly, before he yet again saw a great deal of familiar faces flash through his mind.
And once he saw his beautiful fiancée's face enter his mind. There was not a single thing the young man could do to prevent a couple of lonely tears from leaving both his green eyes.
Yet while Athrun was rushing hastily towards the one place on the Minerva, which he felt like he could be alone. He did not notice, that Meyrin Hawke was currently looking after him with a sad expression on her face.
While young woman might not have spoken as much with her blue haired crush as she sincerely wished she had, Meyrin Hawke did of course realize that the crew of the Archangel had been extremely important to Athrun.
And that brief look the pigtailed woman had caught of that heartbroken look in his eyes, when he had rush past her, was more then enough to make the redhead feel more than just a little sorry for him. Yet as much as the young woman truly wished that she could do something to help him through this.
The pigtailed girl sadly realized that the two of them just wasn't close enough for him to be willing to let her comfort him.
So in the end, the only thing Meyrin could do was watch him until he was out of sight. "Perhaps after he has gotten a little time to calm down. I should bring him some dinner" the redhead mused thoughtfully to herself. Before she too continued onward towards her room.
To be continued.
Some of you have asked if I am going to kill Shinn, that however is not a question I want to answer at this point in the story, you just have to keep on reading to find out what will happen to Shinn. I can however tell you about one of the many reasons why I myself don't like Shinn, he never seems to give any thoughts to the people he kills, like Kira and Athrun does. We never sees any signs that he feels any remorse or sadness over the once he kills. Heck even Yzak Joule seems to feel guilty in episode 11 of Destiny, over the people he killed on board that shuttle. Yet Shinn never does anything like that.