We Met Two Years Ago

by Ben Firebird

The sequel to the story But We Just Meet, many of the pairings will remain the same, like Lacus/Kira and Cagalli/Athrun, but there will of course also be a few new once. This goes on in the Second Bloody Valentine War with quite a few change, like Shinn's sister Mayu still being alive.

68. Chapter 68

Chapter 68

The silence, between the two former members of the Le Creuset team. Was so unbelievable tense, that neither one of the young men, paid the least bit attention, to anything else. Even if Calamity gundam itself was to land beside them at this exact moment, it was highly unlikely, that they would move their overall hostile glare, away from each other.

"Please stop all of this and surrender, Athrun! I do not want to hurt you my friend" the green haired teenager said. Sincerely hoping, that he would not be forced, to end the life of Athrun Zala, who had been one of his best friends since they had first met back at the academy.

Hearing the former pilot of the Blitz gundam, tell him such ridiculous thing under these dire circumstance, Athrun was simply unable, to keep a small ironical chuckle, from leaving his mouth. "Heh! Well you reeeeally should have thought about that Amalfi, before pointing that thing at me" Athrun said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. And as he made a light gesture towards the weapon, he took a single step closer in the direction of his so called friend.

Getting a slightly sadden expression on his face, Nicol looked downwards at the ground for a brief moment not noticing Athrun taking yet another step towards him. "Trust me, Athrun. I'm not the type of person, that takes enjoyment in threatening my comrades! But in this case it is a necessity. Believe it or not Athrun, but I am actually here to help you. I want to stop you my friend from making the worse mistake in your life!" Nicol explained calmly.

Again letting out a light chuckle. "Wow! Thank you very much Nicooool! Unfortunately you are a bit to late to prevent that. The worse mistake I have ever made, is allow the Chairman to convince me into joining up with Zaft again. That really was the most stupid thing I have ever done. If only, only I hadn't been so damn thick-headed all of those times, Kira warned me about the Chairman. Have you any idea about what that man is really trying to do Nicol?!" Athrun asked.

Narrowing both of his brown eyes angrily. The green haired man gave Athrun an even more hostile glare. Yet what seriously freak Athrun out about all of this, was the small, yet highly wicked smirk, Nicol now had on his face. That alone send more then it's fair share of chills down Athrun's spin.

"Of course I know what the Chairman is up to. Truth is Athrun, that I have known right from the beginning what he was trying to accomplish"

Blinking rapidly a couple of times, Athrun could only stare at his old friend and team mate, in utter disbelief. "Nicol...If him and Rey succeed in carrying out their plan, the whole world is going to be ruined in the process!", The blue haired man yelled. Just as he again moved a bit close towards Nicol.

"No Athrun it will not. What you apparently do not understand Athrun Zala, is that Gilbert Durandal is going to re-create this world, and thereby making it a better place, for all of us to live. And with all those awful things that has happened these last few years. That is most definitely something, I myself want to help him achieve. That Athrun truly is, the only way I can make certain that Juri, Asagi and Mayura can at long last rest in peace!" Nicol said in a deeply determined tone of voice, and still with that creepy smile on his face.

"I understand perfectly what you are saying, Nicol Amalfi! But what about, all those people who likes, and are content with this world as it is now? Please tell me 'old friend' just what exactly is going to happen to them?!" Athrun asked.

Slowly shaking head from side to side a few times, the green haired teenager, frankly could not help but feel a bit like, he was actually trying to explain these things, to a three-year-old kid. "Athrun you should know by now, that you just can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs!"

Seriously having trouble believing, that Nicol would actually sink so low, as to use that old saying as an excuse to justify the Chairman manipulating so many people into following his will, just the mere thought that he himself, had actually helped the Chairman accomplish his sick goals was almost enough, to make Athrun throw up. And as he swallowed loudly a single time, the blue haired man asked Nicol the question which he had truthfully been wondering about for quite some time now.

"Who are you?!"

"What!?" Nicol immediately asked back.

"Just who in the world are you? You have changed so, so much over the last two years, that I can hardly recognize you any longer. It's like you are a completely different person, then the peace loving one, who was piloting the Blitz, during the last Bloody Valentine war" Athrun stated, doing nothing to hide the fact that he actually missed, the old kind-hearted Nicol.

Slowly turning his gaze downwards at the ground for a few seconds, the green haired boy got a somewhat far away expression on his face. Which made it highly obvious, that he was thinking very hard about something. He did however only do that for a short moment before he rapidly shook his head. Then once more looked back up at Athrun.

"What you seemly don't get Athrun, is that I lost everything, I cared about two years ago. So many good friends. The woman who I was in-love with! And when I return back home after the last war, I lost my parents too. When my father heard, that I was mourning the death of a Natural girl, he told me not to waste my tears on such useless trash and that I should go find a Coordinator girl for a girlfriend! Which result in me punching him so hard. That I actually knock out one of his teeth, in the process!" Nicol explained. Grinning slightly over just how much pain he had inflict on his father that day.

Then after taking a couple of short breaths, he once more, continued talking. "The day after that, my mother told me that I should pack my things, and leave! Athrun MY parents disowned me for having feelings for a Natural girl. So please surrender, Athrun! I DO NOT WANT to lose anybody else important to me!"

Honestly more then just a little taken back by everything Nicol had just told him. Back when Nicol's father, Yuri Amalfi had tried so hard, to help him and Cagalli, stop GENESIS from being fired at earth, Athrun had regain some of his respect for the man.

Yet if he really had done what Nicol said, that small amount of respect was most certain gone now. And it was simply impossible for Athrun Zala not to shake his head, at Yuri Amalfi's stupidity and racist attitude towards Naturals. It really was hard to believe, that the person who had been responsible for designing the Freedom, Justice and so many other Zaft war machines, could actually be such a simple minded moron.

Yet truthfully what really surprised, the blue haired teenager about the whole thing. Was that it had been Nicol's mother, and not his father, who had told their son to leave.

Athrun might only have met, Romina Amalfi a few times. But even so, he had quickly gotten the impression, that she was a very sweet and caring woman. Who actually now that Athrun gave it some thought, remind him a great deal about his own mother, and knowing just how unbelievable supportive Miss Romina had been towards her son, Athrun found himself seriously doubting, that his so call 'friend', had actually told him the whole truth, about why exactly he had been disowned.

Yet before Athrun could get his mouth open, and say anything about that, to the other former Le Creuset team, Nicol's highly cranky voice cut him off. "Athrun, if you put down whatever weapons you are carrying and surrender peacefully right here and now, I'll do my very best, my friend, to convince the Chairman, to forget all about this incident, and let you continue to serve Zaft! I'm absolutely certain, that he has long since realize, that you truly would be one of the best choices for being the Legend's pilot. Athrun, just think about all those truly grand things you, Shinn and I could do, in those three gundams. The three of us could put an end to Logos once and for all!" Nicol said, with a large confident smile on his lips.

Having honestly less then no idea about how to response to that at first. Athrun narrow each one of his green eyes in a deeply thoughtful manner, while it was simply impossible to deny just how terrible, Logos and their completely insane leader, Djibril truly was. Athrun could not shake away the deep nagging feeling, that those terrorist were nothing more then a pawn in Durandal's game, and that he was using them like the rest of the world.

Frankly there was no real doubt in Athrun's mind, that Chairman Durandal, was the true bad guy in all of this.

But with Nicol clearly as devoted to the Chairman's cause, as Rey, the blue haired teenager knew, that it was pretty much pointless trying to convince Nicol, that Gilbert Durandal was the one that they should truly strive to defeat in this war.

And seriously finding the very thought of surrendering, less appealing then fighting the Impulse gundam with his bare hands, Athrun quickly reach the conclusion, that he was left with no other alternative but to somehow get Nicol to lower his guard.

Which was obviously going to be quite a challenge, with so many overall negative changes to his old teammate's personality. Athrun, could only think of one subject, that was bound to get Nicol rattle up, no matter what. That subject however was also one that could very, very easily end up backfiring on him, thereby making Nicol Amalfi care even less about pulling the trigger on that gun, and ending his life.

And so while sincerely hoping that this wasn't a mistake, which he would end up paying for with a bullet through the head, the blue haired young man, swallow loudly a single time, as he straighten his back, and looked directly into the pair of cranky brown eyes, watching his every move.

"Nicol! Would you have anything against it, if Cagalli and I where to name our child after Mayura? I know that I speak for the both of us, when I say that it would be a real honor to call her by that name, if it does turn out to be a girl!" Athrun said, in the most gentle and calm tone he could muster with a gun being point at him.

"Wha...child...You and Cagalli are having a child...and...and you want to name it after...?!" That was all the totally shock wide eyed teenager manage to get out. Seriously of all the different things he had expect Athrun to say, him asking something like that was most definitely not on the list. Truthfully, Nicol had actually thought, that Athrun would either do something totally reckless, which would leave Nicol with no other option but to put an end to Athrun's life right here and now. Or actually agree, to surrender without a fuss.

So it was to say it mildly, more than just a tiny bit surprising and odd to young green haired man, that Athrun would start such a weird and out of place conversation now of all times. It frankly made it seem like to Nicol, that Athrun did not, take this serious at all, which really served to make Nicol wonder, just how in God's name Athrun could act so damn cautiously during a situation such as this.

And as he stood there trying to make just a little sense of Athrun's calm, and totally down to earth behavior, Nicol simply did not realize, that while he was so busy sorting through the many thoughts, presently flying full speed through his confused head. He had unintentionally lower the small weapon just a tiny bit, and when he head Mayura's sweet voice, call out to him, there was nothing he could do about the way his hand kept on shaking. Not that he had even noticed, that he was actually doing that.

Athrun on the other hand, had instantly noticed, that Nicol wasn't really paying all that much attention to him right now. Yet as utterly tempted as Athrun was to use this opportunity to tackle Nicol and try to force the gun away from him, the blue haired teenager realized, that if he did something like that now there was a very high possibility, that he would spook Nicol so badly, that he would accidentally press down on the trigger, which his index finger, was still resting on.

Knowing from experience, just how unbelievable painful it felt. When a bullet tore it's way through once skin, and bone. Seriously, now that Athrun was giving it a little thought, it was almost impossible describe just how much it had hurt back then.

And Athrun could honestly say, that being shoot once in his life, was more then enough, he really wasn't overly keen on trying that again, anytime soon. 'I have to keep going! I have to get him to lower the gun completely!' He growled determinedly inside his head.

Then while still keeping a cautious eye on everything Nicol did, Athrun took a small step to the side. So that he wasn't standing directly in the silver gun's path, should Nicol accidently fire the damn thing while he was so far away in his own thoughts.

"What you apparently seem to forget, Nicol. Is that you were not the only one, who was sad about the Astray girls death. All three of them, where really good friends with Cagalli, and she really does miss them a lot. Actually now that I think about it, I remember Kira mention a few weeks after the last war! That he was having a really tough time sleeping, because he could not forget the images of what happened to Asagi's M1 Astray!" Athrun explained in a deeply serious tone.

Then took a brief moment to study Nicol's face. In an attempt to figure out, just what exactly he could be thinking about right now. It did however quickly became obvious to Athrun that it would probably be that much easier to figure out what was going thought Cagalli's head at the moment, then Nicol. Even with her so far away from this place.

The green haired man's face was completely empty for emotions. It was almost like looking into the face of a statue, instead of a living human being.

But even though it was highly obvious by now, that talking with Nicol like this wouldn't really get him anywhere, Athrun had no idea about what else he could do. 'Just what the heck am I suppose to do? If this keeps up, I'll run out of touchy subjects to talk with him about' Athrun thought angrily, while mentally promising himself, to visit the three Astray girls grave once he got back to Orb. So he could tell them that he was sorry, for ridiculing their memory like this. And thank them each for all of their help, if he actually manage to get safely away from the Gibraltar base with his life intact.

Yet all thoughts of what he wanted to do, when he finally got his sorry ass, away from there and back home instantaneously disappeared, when he saw Nicol, violently shake his head a few times before standing back up straight. Now again aiming the gun directly at him.

"I do not know what you are planning Athrun Zala, and I really don't care! But if you mention any of Astray girls again, I swear Athrun that I will end you life" Nicol spoke in a tone that left little doubt about the seriousness in that statement.

Knowing now that it was complete and utter waste of time, trying to convince Nicol, that he was making a mistake, by following the Chairman's bidding. The blue haired teenager stared silently at the ground, like it actually had the ability to tell him, just what he was suppose to do now.

Then finally, after a long highly tense moment, Athrun shook his head slowly, as he let out a small, yet deeply depressed sigh. "You know Nicol that if Mayura saw you now, she would surely have been more than just a little disappoint with you. She would never have want for you to threaten one of your own comrades like you are doing now. Nicol you are acting like a complete lunati...!"

That was all Athrun got out. before Nicol interrupt him. "Shut the hell up you BASTARD! I warn...I warn you what would happen, if you talked anymore about the girls...I'm so sorry that it had to end this way Athrun" the green haired teenager said, in a bearly understandable yet highly creepy tone of voice, and with a freaky hysterical look, in each one of his brown eyes, which really served to make Athrun doubt that Nicol truly was as sorry as he claimed he was.

Not that Athrun was actually going to comment on that. Seriously, his biggest concern at the moment, was to survive the next few minutes, yet just when he was about to leap full speed forward and tackle the crazy nutjob. An unknown figure, suddenly appeared from his hiding place between two empty trash cans. And before Nicol, even realized that he was there, the weird figure took a hold on his right arm, and swiftly force it behind his back.

"I'm sorry to interrupt while the two of you are having your friendly little discussion. Buuut I was told to keep an eye out for you Zala, and help you if you got in any kind of trouble. And just so we are perfectly clear, Amalfi. If you fire your little toy now, you will shoot yourself in the back. So I would strongly advise you, to stop struggling already" the male character said in a calm yet menacing tone that left little room for disagreement.

Severely surprised to hear that this weird man actually knew his name. Nicol made one last attempt to break lose, from the slightly painful hold, the oddball had on him.

It did however quickly became clear to Nicol, that this guy was just that much stronger than him. And when he felt the barrel of his own gun, press even deeper into his back, he instantly stop struggling. And when he felt the man loosen his grip slightly. Nicol slowly turn his head to take a look at the guy.

Yet much to Nicol's deep irritation, the only thing he could see of the guy's face was a pair of green orbs, glaring at him. The rest was completely cover up by a hood, and by the Earth Forces jacket he was wearing, which had been pull up over his nose.

"Who...who the heck are you?" He growled out hatefully.

"Wow and here I thought, that I was a bit slow at times. You don't actually expect me to tell you that, Amalfi? But if you really do need some kind of word to describe me, when you tell Durandal about this. Theeen spy, would probably be a pretty good one" he said with a great deal of mischief in his voice.

Blinking rapidly dozen of times, Nicol frankly had a very, very difficult time taking this guy serious. He was behaving very much like this whole thing, was nothing more than a game to him. Which served to make Nicol even more nervous over the fact that this guy could easily manipulate his hand in such away, that he would end up shooting himself. 'What the heck do I do?! I just have to get free somehow, before he kills me!' He thought determinedly, before slowly trying to twist his hand free from the lock, the weirdo had it in.

Yet the exact instant he felt the guy tighten his hold on him. It became bitterly obvious to the soon to be pilot of the Adamant gundam. That this scumbag knew precisely, what he was up to, and that he would not allow him to escape like that.

So in the end, Nicol was left with no other alternative but to glare murderously at the stupid bastard. "Ahh damn you! Just you wait you son of a bitch! Once I get free, I'm SOO going to make you pay for this!" Nicol growl out through his teeth.

Slowly raising his left eyebrow at that. The spy lean a bit closer towards his hostage. "You know Nicol Amalfi, if I where in you place, I would be just a bit more careful about what I say. But evidently you would rather that I do something to make sure, that you will never be able to fulfill, that not so friendly promise!"

Hearing the man said those words, and seeing the wicked look in his eyes, Athrun, who had been silent up until now, instantaneously realized that this whole matter could still end very badly. And while there was no denying that all of the respect Athrun used to have for Nicol was gone now. He just could not bring himself, to standby quietly while this guy kill one of his former teammates and comrades.

So while quickly getting his mind back on track, Athrun took a step closer, towards the two other men. "Please wait, don't kill him!" The blue haired teenager yelled. Sincerely hoping that the weird man would listen to his words, he really didn't want to fight this guy seeing as he had saved his life, only a few short minutes ago.

Staring quietly at the Red Knight as he was supposedly called. The talkative spy simply could not help, but smirk slightly underneath his disguise, it was kinda nice to know that he wasn't risking his own hide for a cold heart creep, who would do nothing, when one of his friends was in danger.

Even though it was more then just a little obvious, that this so called friend, was in serious need of a good long chat with a professional shrink.

"I know Athrun that this moron use to be a friend of your's. But you do of course realize that if I had not interfered when I did, he would have kill you just now" the spy calmly informed the former pilot of the Justice gundam.

Having seen more than enough proof of how unbelievable cold. Nicol had grown these past two years, Athrun honestly had no idea about how to response to that.

So he just stood there silently with the heavy rain pouring down over him.

Then finally, after staring into Nicol's angry brown eyes for almost a whole minute, Athrun slowly turned his attention back over towards the spy. "Yeah...I know better than most that Nicol is nothing more, then a cold heart son of a bitch now. But I just can't stop myself from hoping, that one day. The kind-hearted Nicol will return again! Beside if any of us were to kill him, it would make Lunamaria sad!" Athrun said in a low tone. Briefly wondering, how the older Hawke sister would react should anything bad happen to Nicol.

Still having a small yet pleased grin on his face. The oddball of a spy, nodded a single time in understanding. "I don't have the foggiest idea about who Lunamaria is. But I get what you are saying, Athrun. To tell you the truth, I'm not all that keen on killing in cold blood. I leave that to the professional nut cases" he said in a tone that showed, just how little respect he had for people, who would do something like that.

And so while still giving the green haired bastard a look, that was meant to tell him that he truly was the worse piece of crap imaginable. "All right then Zala! So we agree that we are not going to kill this little bastard. But it would definitely be a wise move on our part, to do something about him. Just to be sure that he wouldn't be able to cause us any trouble, before the two of us are long gone from this place" the weirdo of a spy said, with a slightly wicked look in his eyes.

Finding the spy's words quite unsettling, Athrun opened his mouth and was just about to ask what exactly the spy was planning, when he saw the man, quickly snatch the lid of the closest garbage can. And before Athrun, could even raise an eyebrow in wonder. The spy slammed the round object with as much force as possible, down into Nicol's head.

Seeing the severely huge dent in the hard metal, which the trash can lid had been made of, it was impossible for Athrun not to wrench slightly. The blue haired youngster could not even begin to image, how unbelievable painful it had been, getting hit with something like that.

And the sight of Nicol, falling unconscious to the ground. Did not really, come as much of a surprise to him. And as the weirdo of a spy place the trash can lid back where he had found it, Athrun could not help but wonder, how big a headache Nicol would have. Once he woke up after this.

"Hm guess that will keep him out of our hair the next couple of hours. But couldn't you have found a less violent way, to knock him out?" He asked in a soft tone. Unable to stop himself from finding it somewhat ridiculous and stupid, that he was actually worried about the well being of the very person, who would have ended his life, with no hesitation. Thereby taking him away from Cagalli and their unborn child.

The so called Red Knight did however not get very long. To wonder about the condition of his own metal health. When the spy's voice, interrupt his thoughts.

"Well as much as I think this fellow does deserve a bit of a beating. The truth is, that I have never been able to figure out that whole neck pressing thing. And while I might be a little reckless at times, I am no where near crazy enough to use my shock gun in this kind of weather" the spy explained, as he used his right foot to flip Nicol over, so he was now laying on his back.

Then after picking up Nicol's weapon that was laying not that far beside him, the spy stood up straight again, and gave Athrun a serious look. "Now then Zala, enough with the mindless chatter. This whole place is on high alert, because of you, so I would suggest that we hurry the hell up and get out of here. Unfortunately, as much as I really would like to help you out buddy, I think that it would probably be best if the two of us split up for now. They are only searching for you, and if we end up getting caught together, all the data I have collect about this place. Will be completely useless" the weird spy said. Seriously hating the fact that it was necessary for him to turn his back on one of his fellow soldiers, while he was up to his neck in trouble.

Having no trouble at all understanding the logic in the spy's words, Athrun could only nod a single time in understanding. If somebody out there actually spot the two of them together, it definitely wouldn't take long before the entire base knew, that Athrun was not the only guest present there, who had outstay his welcome.

"Hm it seems like we got no other choice. I do however have one question that I would like to ask you, before we split up. Just who exactly send you here?" The young blue haired man questioned almost in a whisper.

Narrowing each one of his eyes thoughtfully, the spy, wasn't really sure that it was wise to give Athrun that information, incase he somehow ended up getting capture. Before he could manage to find someway out of there.

Yet after thinking about that for a few highly tense seconds, the spy made the decision, that his blue haired comrade, did at the very least deserve to know the truth about that. "Ledonir Kisaka was the one, who told me to come here" the man said, as he slowly scratch his neck through the hood, which he was still wearing to conceal his face.

Not at all sure, what kind of response he had expect, Athrun was pleasantly surprise to hear, that this guy was working for Kisaka. "Then I guess that I'll be seeing you back in Orb"

"You better make sure of that, Zala. I might only have met Lady Cagalli once, since joining up with the Orb military. But even I know, that she would be deeply sadden, should anything happen to you, Zala! With everything Lady Cagalli has gone through, like losing her father in the last war. And having to deal with the Seirans's mess in this one! I for one believes that she of all people is entitle to her fair share of happiness. Don't you agree with me on that, Athrun?" The spy asked softly.

Not really needing a whole lot of time to come up with a reply to the spy's question, Athrun found himself, nodding slowly in agreement. "Yeah you are right. I'll hurry back to her right now!" Athrun said in a low yet deeply determined tone. then with nothing else to say to the spy, the former pilot of the Justice gundam swiftly turned around, and immediately ran off.

Watching quietly as his blue haired comrade, disappeared into the night. The spy slowly reach up and removed his jacket from his face.

"Good luck...Athrun" Kazuma Tokai mumbled. Even though there was no possible way, the younger man could hear him now.

Then after taking one last small glance, down at the unconscious Nicol Amalfi. Kazuma too left the alleyway in a hurry, also planning, on getting as far away from Gibraltar and Zaft as possible.

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Yet while this was going on, a greatly confused Meyrin Hawke was making her way down one of the base's long hallways. "What in the world is going on?" The young redhead asked herself, before she quickly moved aside. As a small group of heavily armed soldiers, came running full speed down hallway, heading in the opposite direction she was going.

And it was only after watching the five men disappear down the long hallway, that Meyrin finally continued onward, towards her destination. Still trying to make just a little sense, of what was happening.

This whole thing was just SO confusing. She had even caught a small glimpse of Rey rushing past her with such high speed, that Meyrin had found herself thinking that the devil himself had broken loose from hell, and that he was trying to steal the Minerva.

But while the more childish part of the pigtailed girl actually found that explanation for this chaos kinda amusing, she knew that whatever was going on had to be serious with so many people running around.

And when she was almost knock over by three Zaft soldiers, who was in such a hurry to get past her. The younger Hawke sister, felt all the more determined to get back to her room, as quickly as possible, so she wouldn't get in the way.

"I just hope that it won't become necessary for me, to go all the way back to the Minerva, because of whatever is going on. Seriously the only thing I want to do right now is be alone for a few hours, and just play video games" the redhead mutter under her breath. Sincerely looking forward, to continue her grand adventure, in the online role playing game, she had going. With everything that had happened lately, there hadn't really been a whole lot of time for her, to enjoy one of her more time-consuming hobbies.

And the mere thought of everything she needed to do in that game, made the younger Hawke sister walk that much faster. And while still trying to decide just what exactly she was gone do in the game, once she got it start, the red haired girl finally arrive at her destination.

So without paying any kind of attention, to the three overly chatty female soldiers, that was slowly approaching from the opposite direction. The redhead swiftly unlock the door to her room and slip inside, where she immediately closed and locked the door after herself.

And once that small task was out of the way, Meyrin slowly stretched each one of her arms up over her head, and let out a loud yawn, which she didn't get to finish, when somebody placed a hand over her mouth.

But just when Meyrin was about to start struggling against the individual behind her, and let out the biggest, and most terrified scream in human history, she heard a clearly nervous, yet well-known voice whispering a few calming words in to her ear.

"Shhh please don't be scared, Meyrin! I promise you, that I'm not going to hurt you. The only reason why I'm in here, is because I need a place to lay low for a little while" Athrun softly explained into her ear.

Instantaneously realizing who that voice belong to, Meyrin found herself blinking rapidly in confusion, while it was simply impossible for the red haired girl to deny, how utterly much she enjoyed spending time with Athrun. She just could fathom what reason Athrun had to be in there, in the first place.

If he really needed some place to relax, why in God's name didn't he go to his own room? The younger Hawke sister mentally asked herself. And just when she was about to try, to get out of the overall uncomfortable embrace, Athrun suddenly tighten his grip on her, as a pair of loud voices, could be heard passing slowly by the door.

And just when Meyrin was starting to think, that he was actually trying to suffocate her. The blue haired teenager, finally released her. "I'm sorry about the rough treatment, Meyrin! I just had to make certain, that those guys did not realize, that I was in here. If they were to force down the door, you could have gotten hurt in the cross fire!" Athrun explained. Then slowly kneel down and pick up his machine rifle.

Simply unable to hide, how much Athrun's words had shocked her just now, the pigtailed girl stared silently at Athrun, with her mouth wide open in utter shock and disbelief.

"Wh...what you mean that it is you, all of those men out there are searching for?" Meyrin asked, in a barely understandable tone of voice.

Smiling slightly at the girl, Athrun nodded slowly a single time. "Yeah...that is the most logic explanation, Meyrin...unless they somehow know about...!" He said, sincerely concerned, that Zaft had somehow gotten wind of the Orb spy. And was now searching high and low for him too.

Yet after thinking about that, for a couple of severely tense seconds, the more calm and down to earth part of Athrun's mind, loudly reminded him. That beside, the hopefully still unconscious Nicol, he was the only person around, who actually knew anything about the overly childish spy.

But this whole thing, was just so unbelievable frustrating. He had pretty much no idea about how many people, was searching for him at the moment, and one didn't have to be much of a genius to figure out that, if he stayed cooped up in there for much longer, he was bound to get discovered eventually. Which could very well put Meyrin's life in-danger.

And seeing as Meyrin had been the only person on the entire Minerva, who had talked or given him any kind of support, after the assumed destruction of the Archangel. The young man, was absolutely determined, to make sure, that nothing bad happened to Meyrin Hawke. And he knew that the best way to accomplish that, was to hurry the hell up, and get out of this room.

But with the hallway fill with who knew how many people, search for him. That was easier said than done, and it seriously, did not help much, that he was running kinda low, on ideas about where to go.

If there was one thing Athrun had realized almost instantaneously after, him and the spy had gone their separate ways. Then it was that he would need either the ability to fly or teleport to get down to that very hangar, where that silver colored BABI was kept.

Yet with the large number of troops gather down by the harbor. It was highly obvious that Rey and the Chairman where expecting him to try and make his escape, from down there. But of course realizing just how utterly foolish and reckless, it would be for him. To try and sneak past all of those troops, Athrun quickly reached the conclusion, that he would have to find a mobile suit some where else, around the enormous base.

Yet before Athrun had time to decide, what his next move was going to be. He was pull out of his deep thoughts by Meyrin's confused voice.

"But...but what did you do Athrun?"

Looking quietly at the red haired girl, for an unknown number seconds. Athrun honestly had less than no idea about, how he was suppose to answer, that question. "That's kinda hard to explain Meyrin...!You should try asking Rey or Nicol about it later! I'm sure that either one of those damn bootlickers, can come up with a really good excuse! That will explain why, I deserve to get kill for caring about the very people, who I joined Zaft, to protect in the first place" the young blue haired man said. Doing nothing to hide, how much he truly despised Nicol and Rey right now.

Once more blinking rapidly, a half dozen of times, Meyrin, took a single step close towards Athrun, still staring directly at him. "You...you are talking about the Archangel crew ain't you, Athrun?" The redhead asked softly, seriously finding it more than just a little troubling, that Rey and Nicol would have something against Athrun being sad over, what had happened, to the Archangel.

Meyrin had no doubt that if she had been in his place, and something terrible had happened to her older sister, she would be totally devastate.

And if Rey or somebody else, had anything against that. They could go straight to hell.

While Meyrin might not be as short tempered and touchy, as her sister. One thing that really piss her off, was when somebody had no respect at all for other people's emotion. Not even Chairman Durandal himself, had the right to interfere in, how Athrun felt about the Freedom pilot, or anybody else, who had been on board the Archangel.

The red haired woman, did however not get long to figure out, how mess up Nicol and Rey was. When Athrun's low yet still serious voice, interrupt her thoughts. "Yeah Meyrin. Many of the Archangel's crew, are like family to me! And since I refuse, to follow the Chairman's words any longer. I have outlived my usefulness, which means, that Gilbert Durandal wants me eliminate as swiftly as possible!" Athrun explained.

"You mean that if either Lunamaria or I, suddenly stop being useful, he will have the two of us killed...too?!" The girl asked frightened, having no doubt at all, that whatever Athrun was going to say next, was the honest truth, Athrun was not really the type of person, who would go around saying such things without having some kind of reason for it.

Narrowing both one of his eyes slightly, at what Meyrin had just asked him. Athrun nodded slowly a single time. "With all those things you have done to help me, these last few days! I won't lie to you, Meyrin. If you, Luna or anybody else, for that matter! Ever start questioning Durandal's motives. The chances of ending up dead somewhere...is extremely high! If you ever stray away from your intent role, Meyrin. The Chairman wouldn't hesitate, to have you killed!" Athrun said in a tone that left little doubt about the seriousness in the last statement.

Hastily going over everything Athrun had just told her, Meyrin Hawke got an expression on her face, that kinda remind Athrun about the one, her older sister would usually have when Shinn really piss her off. "Damn him...I can't believe that we were all so gullible to allow the Chairman to manipulate us like this...I have to tell Lunamaria about this...she needs to know what all of this is really abou..."

Meyrin did however not get the chance, to finish that sentence. When she was interrupt by a overly hard knock on the door. "Open up in there, we need to check your room!" Somebody yelled loudly from the other side of the door.

Not really sure what to do now, the pigtailed woman, swirl around with a totally freak out look in her deep blue eyes. "What...what do we do now?" She asked, doing her very best to remain as calm as possible. Meyrin knew that it wouldn't really help overly much on the situation, if she went into a panic now.

Taking a swift look around the room, Athrun instantly realized, that there was only one way out of there and that was through the window. 'I really hope that my habit of leaving a room in such a crazy manner, isn't something my kid inheritance' the blue haired soon to be father thought hastily, as he once more looked back at Meyrin.

"I'll sneak out through the window, if you can come up with someway to keep them distract for just a few seconds, Meyrin! Then I should hopefully, be able to get over to the other side of the street. If I have just a bit of luck on my side, I might be able to find someway down into the sewer, over there! With so many people chasing me, that is most likely the only place left I can go now. It will take awhile, before they start searching for me down there" Athrun growled out through his teeth.

Hearing just what exactly Athrun was planning to do. The pigtailed woman could do nothing to stop a totally nauseated expression, from appearing on her face. Just the mere thought, of actually crawling around, down in the base's sewer system. Was probably, the most sicking and disgusting thing Meyrin could possibly imagine.

Yet Meyrin quickly shook away those nauseating feelings, when one of the soldiers outside once more began pounding loudly, on the door. And as he was yelling out for the door to be opened, the redhead swiftly snatched Athrun's hand.

"I got a better idea. Come with me" she said, while dragging him along with her, towards the bathroom.

Once in there, Athrun immediately took a swift look around, still having no idea about what the girl was planning. "Hiding out in here, wouldn't do any good, Meyrin! This is most likely one of the first places they will look" Athrun said, wondering if he could somehow, get out through the small bathroom window.

Giving him a somewhat determined, yet slightly embarrassed look, Meyrin quickly pull her long hair out of it's usual pigtail. Then hurried reached over and turn on the shower. "If this actually works, Athrun they wouldn't even step foot inside the room!"

Hearing her say those words, Athrun blinked rapidly one or two times, as he hurried turned his attention away from the window, and back towards the younger Hawke sister. Where he saw her throw her green uniform jacket, on the floor.

And before the young blue haired man, could even think about asking her, what in the world she was doing, he saw Meyrin pull her light blue T-shirt up over her head. And the sight of the natural, yet still sexy pink bra, she was wearing, was more then enough, to make Athrun squeeze his mouth back shut and swiftly turn around.

While it was impossible for Athrun to deny, that Meyrin wasn't an attractive, and charming young woman, he already felt guilty enough for that one time, when Meer Campbell had snuck into his bed. And it was not like it took much of a genius, to figure out, that gawking mindlessly at the pretty redhead, would do very little to help him make up with Cagalli, for joining Zaft again. Beside he seriously did not want to give his fiancée's, overprotect brother even more reason, to beat the crap out of him, then he already had.

Having of course seen, how quickly Athrun had turned around. The young woman could not help but feel a tiny bit disappointed. It wasn't like she actually want him, to stare at her like a totally pervert. Yet with the overly huge crush she had on the handsome blue haired pilot, there was a tiny part of Meyrin, which kinda wished, that Athrun's reaction to seeing her dressed in nothing more than her bra and panties, would have been just a little different. While it was truth, that this was not the most sexy, underwear the redhead owned. Was it really too much to ask, if he had at the very least gotten baffled up for a few seconds, then looked away.

Meyrin's mental complaining, about Athrun's brief reaction, was however instantly brought to a hold. When a banging sound, could be heard echoing through the small chamber, which served as a pretty obvious sign to each one of them, that one of the more impatient soldiers out in the hallway, had just tried to break down the door.

"There in no need for violence, I'll be there in just one moment!" Meyrin shouted as loud as she could, then bent in over the bathtub and used the shower head to soak her long beautiful red hair.

And once she was absolutely certain, that it really did look like she had just finished taking a shower. Meyrin hurried wrapped a large yellow towel, tightly around her body.

Then after taking one last nervous glance over at Athrun, she hurried left the bathroom.

'Ohh dear God! This is going to be the most embarrassing moment, in my entire life' the girl thought, as she somewhat reluctantly, stepped over to the door. Sincerely hoping, that there weren't too many people outside the room, to see her 'dressed' like this.

So while taking a couple of long quick breaths, in an attempt to calm herself down as much as possible. Then without further hesitation, Meyrin reached over, and unlocked the door to the small room.

And to make certain, that the bunch of morons outside, did not come barging full speed in there, the very second they realized that the door, was now unlocked. The still embarrassed redhead, hurried pull the door wide open. Thereby making the three fools, who had been pounding repeatedly on the old wooden door, the last two minutes. Gasp loudly, at the sight of her wearing nothing else. But a fluffy yellow towel.

Fortunately much to Meyrin's sincere relief. The three men did not get much time to gawk at her, when a familiar voice start complaining angrily about her clothing, or to be more exact lack thereof. "Meyrin for God sake! Have you completely lost your mind?! What where you thinking answering the door in a towel?" Lunamaria Hawke asked in one go, as she hurried got in between Meyrin and the three gaping morons, seriously hoping that by doing that, she could protect her little sister's modesty.

Honestly glad that Lunamaria was there, to divert the male soldiers's attention, Meyrin took a quick glance downwards, to make sure that the towel, still was, where it was suppose, to be.

And as Meyrin once more, looked back up at her older sister. It was impossible for her, not to notice, the severely hateful glare, Lunamaria was sending the men. "It's not like I actually want to come out here like this Luna. But I had just gotten into the shower, when they show up and start pounding so violent at the door. That I actually thought, that they would break it down, to get in here"

Hearing why exactly it had been necessary for her younger sister, to finish up her shower in such a hurry, that she did not even have time to dress properly, before answering the damn door, was more then enough reason, for Lunamaria to glare even more hatefully at the three perverted soldiers.

"You just hurry the hell up, and get back in there Meyrin! I need to have a word or two with these guys" the older Hawke sister state wickedly, while cracking her left fist in a threatening manner, which served the make the three men, take a nervous glance at each other. None of them overly keen, on finding out what the young red haired woman was going to do.

Honestly more than just a little relieved to know, that she did not have to stay out there any longer, Meyrin immediately took a single long step backwards.

Yet with everything Athrun had told her, about the Chairman's insane scheme, Meyrin could not deny, that she was severely tempted to ask Luna to come into the room afterwards.

But knowing her sister as well as she did, Meyrin Hawke of course realized, that there was a very high possibility, that by discovering that Athrun had actually been in there, the whole time, while she herself had been dress only in her underwear, would piss Lunamaria off to such an extreme, that she simply wouldn't care about how much noise she was making, while scolding Athrun.

And if somebody actually heard Luna shouting like that, they would very easily, be able to figure out just where exactly Athrun was hiding. So in the end Meyrin did not say anything at all. She just stood there, staring silently at her sister, a brief moment, mentally thanking her, for helping save Athrun's life. After that, Meyrin hurried went back into the room, and slammed the door behind her.

Hearing the sound of Meyrin, disappearing back into her room, Lunamaria instantaneously lean forward, towards the three bewildered soldiers. "Just sooo we are perfectly clear on one thing guys. If any of you, as much as think about bragging to your friends about seeing my sister like this! I will hunt you down, and inflict so much pain on you, that even your unborn grandchildren, will be able to feel it!" The redhead growled out, with an expression on her face, that left little doubt about the seriousness, in that statement.

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Yet while Lunamaria was busy explaining to her fellow soldiers, what gruesome fate that awaited them, if they mentioned this incident to anybody.

Her younger sister was having a very, very difficult time dealing with all of this, while she certainly did not regret helping out Athrun.

Everything just now seemed so unbelievable weird, like this whole thing, was nothing more than a totally messed up dream, which Meyrin sincerely wished, that she would soon wake up from.

It was at that very second, that the sound of a loud almost deafening thunder clap, could be heard far above the base. But while it was truth, that this hellish weather had been going on for quite awhile now, the exploding sound still came as a shock, to the young woman, and made her jump slightly in surprise.

Yet as the redhead almost trip over her own feet to look back at the door, to make sure that it was still intact, she came to the bitter realization, that she was actually wide awake. And that this, all of this, was really happening.

"Luna...big sis...I'm sorry..." Meyrin gasp out in a barely understandable tone. Then slowly fell to the floor, where she instantly began weeping softly, into her hands. Knowing that once Lunamaria realized what she had just done, it was without a doubt, going to take a very long time, to repair her relationship, with her older sister.

It was about that time, when Athrun finally appeared, from inside the tiny bathroom, where he instantaneously took a swift look around, the small room, before making his way over to the weeping redhead. And as he heard her apologize to Luna, for doing this, the young blue haired man, slowly kneeled down beside her, where he gently wrapped a fluffy blue bathrobe around her shaking form.

"I'm...I'm...so sorry that I got you mixed up in all of this Meyrin...but please believe me when I say, that I can not even begin to describe, how grateful I am, for you help! Now I better hurry up and get going before anybody else shows up. I do not want you to embarrass yourself even further, for my sake Meyrin" Athrun told her in a soft tone, then slowly stood back up straight again.

He did however only take about three small steps in the direction of the window, before he turned and looked back at the girl. "It's probably best Meyrin, that you just forget everything I said, about what Durandal, is really trying to do. One thing I have noticed, about him and Rey, is that neither one of them, likes the idea of lose ends. So just pretend Meyrin, that you don't know anything about what they are really up to"

And so while sincerely hoping, that Meyrin Hawke, was going to follow his advise, Athrun was about to continue towards his only means, to escape the small chamber.

"Please wait a minute, Athrun! You...you can't seriously expect me to stay behind, while the world is in danger of falling into the hands, of those creeps. I would be lying Athrun, if I told you that I wasn't terrify, right now. But being left here all on my own, would be like a living nightmare. So I am definitely coming with you!" The red haired teenager said, while a small sob ran through her body.

After that Meyrin practically forced herself back up on her, somewhat unsteady feet, where she hurried used the right sleeve on the fluffy robe, to rub away the great deal of tears, still on her face.

"If I get just a little time, Athrun. I should be able to trick, the soldiers looking for you, to go elsewhere" the girl said thoughtfully. Then while slowly making her way over to her good old trusty laptop. She explained to Athrun, how she was gone hack into the base's mainframe, an set off an alarm somewhere.

Watching silently a for a few seconds as the girl worked on her computer. Athrun turned and went back into the small bathroom. With all the running around, he had been doing the last hour, he was in dire need of getting some liquid down into his body.

And seeing as Meyrin's otherwise comfortable room did not possess a kitchen. The only place Athrun could satisfy his deep, deep thirst, was in the bathroom. And as he turned on the faucet, he could not help but smile slightly at the sight of the refreshing liquid, that was now pouring down in to the sink.

But just when Athrun was about to lean down and take a much needed sip of the nice cold water, he heard the unmistakable sound of a siren going off in the direction of the harbor and Meyrin's voice calling out to him.

"There that should do it!" The girl said in a tone, that made to clear to Athrun, that she was more than just a little proud of her hacking skills. Not that he didn't understand why.

'Ok...that was quite impressive...once I get the chance. I definitely have to do something to improve my hacking skills' the so called Red Knight thought determinedly, just before he slowly lean down, and start eagerly drinking the cold water.

While it was without a doubt imperative, that Meyrin and him made their escape from Gibraltar as soon as possible, Athrun of course realized, that it would take at least a few minutes, before the people searching for him got down to the harbor.

Which meant that for now at least, he did have a little time to catch his breath. Something he was most definitely not going to complain about. Seeing as the last HOUR, had probably been one of the most hectic ONCE, in his entire life.

Athrun did however not get long to think about the almost insane many things he had gone through in that short period of time, when Meyrin step in to the bathroom where she began gathering up her clothes.

"I'll just hurry up and get dressed again. After that, we can leave" the young woman said, in a half serious tone, that instantly made Athrun nod briefly in agreement.

Seeing him do that, Meyrin stared quietly at the floor for a second or two, before she turned around, and walked slowly back out of the bathroom. Doing nothing to hide that, there was a lot going through her head, at the moment.

That however didn't really surprise Athrun, overly much. Considering all those crazy things that had happened, these last few minutes, it would frankly have been strange if the redhead hadn't needed a little time, to think about all of it.

And just as a heavy sigh left him, Athrun mentally cursed the fact, that he had gotten Meyrin involved in all of this. He seriously hate the idea, that because of his big mouth and his dire need to have somebody to talk with, about all of this. The kind red haired woman, was now forced to defect, right along with him.

'Damn it! I really should have kept my trap shut! Instead of telling her all those things, about the Chairman. No matter what happens next, I have to make sure, that she at the very least survive this. I will NOT let her pay for my mistakes' Athrun thought determined.

Then once more lean in and took yet another long sip of the cold water.

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Meanwhile elsewhere.

Rey was presently following five other soldiers, as they were rushing hastily towards the harbor. But while it did make sense to him, that Athrun would be heading down there, Rey could not shake the feeling that something weird was going on. With all this security he just didn't get, how in God's name, Athrun had actually managed to get down to the harbor, in the first place.

'If that treacherous bastard, really is down there somewhere! He is a lot more sneaky, then I gave him credit for' the blond haired teenager thought bitterly. Mildly impressed by Athrun's ability, to get from one place to another, without being seen by anybody.

Yet that was also the one thing, that was bothering Rey most. The mere fact that Athrun Zala, had somehow succeeded, in getting down to the base's well guarded harbor, without at least somebody noticing him, quite frankly served to make Rey all the more suspicious and worried, about this whole thing.

Especially because it had not been all that long since, the six of them had found a knocked out Nicol Amalfi near the old fire escape, Athrun had used, to leave his room.

And just one single look at that nasty bump, the soon to be pilot of the Adamant, had on his head, was all Rey needed to tell, that Athrun was severely desperate, and that he was more then willing to do just about anything to get away from Gibraltar.

'We need to hurry the hell up and find him. As much as I truly despised Kira Yamato, there is no denying, that Athrun also played a very huge part, in ruining Rau's plans two years ago. So if I am grant with the pleasure, of ending Athrun's miserable life, that would really make my day' Rey thought wickedly.

Then while briefly wondering, just how much Athrun was going to resist, when they finally found him. The level-headed blond teenager, quickly got into the passenger side, of the small military truck, which was meant to take him and his fellow soldiers, down to the harbor.

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Yet while all of this was happening, Meyrin Hawke was slowly crawling out through, the only window in her room.

Once out on the fire escape, the redhead immediately took a swift look around, to make sure that nobody was around to see, what she was doing. Fortunately much to her relief, the only sign of life nearby, was a lonely brown and grey cat, who was obviously trying to find a bit of shelter from the heavy rain.

Other then that, there was not a soul nearby. That however, was one thing Meyrin of course knew, could change very, very quickly, if somebody realized, that Athrun was nowhere near the harbor.

So without wasting anymore of their valuable time, the red haired girl cautiously made her way down the metal staircase. Still keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings, she did not want anybody to take notice of what she was presently doing.

If somebody actually saw her, sneaking down the fire escape like this, they would without a doubt, instantly realize that something was amiss. 'As much as I enjoy those type of video games, where you have to sneak around like this, without being seen! Doing it for real, is more then a little nerve-racking' the nervous redhead thought, almost sure that her pounding heart, could be heard miles away.

And once the younger Hawke sister finally reached the ground, she took a brief moment to try and calm herself down. That however, was not really something, Meyrin had a whole lot of luck with.

So after taking about thirty seconds to yet again make sure, that there was nobody else nearby. Meyrin slowly stretched each one of her arms, up over her head, thereby making it seem like, she was simply nothing more, than a deeply exhaust Zaft soldier.

While it was true, that her stretching like that, looked pretty innocent, it was actually meant as a signal to Athrun, that the coast was clear. And that it was now safe for him to leave her room.

And just as she let her both of arms drop back down again, Meyrin saw the blue haired man stealthy crawl out on to the, fire escape, where he, much to her surprise, immediately took a hold on the railing, and swung himself over the side, simply allowing gravity to do the task of getting him down from up there.

Jumping slightly as Athrun landed beside her, Meyrin could not help but take a glance up at the fire escape.

Seeing as she herself was in some manner afraid of highs. She felt a tiny bit nauseated at the thought, of simply leaping over the railing in such a manner.

It was not that she had anything against, being up on Minerva's deck, or someplace else high up. It was the thought of actually falling down from such high place, that made her feel SO damn uncomfortable.

But knowing that now, was not the time for her, to be thinking about such things. The young red haired woman, was quick to shake away those overall unpleasant thoughts, as she once more, turned her attention back towards Athrun.

"I'll go search for a car. Hopefully I should be able to find one, relatively fast" the girl said in a low tone of voice.

Nodding rapidly a couple of times at her words, Athrun slowly took a step backwards into the shadow of the building, which he had just left, in that somewhat usual manner. "I'll wait for you right here, Meyrin. By the way if you do run into anybody, just tell them that you are out running an errand for Captain Gladys. And make sure to mention that she is a member of FAITH. That should keep most people from asking too many questions" the blue haired boy said.

With the large amount of things, he had done to help out the Minerva, since joining her crew, Athrun kinda figured, that Captain Gladys, owned him a couple of favors. So he did not feel the lease bit guilty about using her name, to help Meyrin and him make their escape from the enormous Zaft base.

Thinking briefly about everything Athrun had just said to her, the clever teenage girl, could very easily understand the logic in Athrun's words, with the great deal of respect, most Zaft soldiers had, for members of FAITH. There was a VERY high possibility, that most people would feel somewhat reluctant, about keeping her away from her job, too long.

"I guess...that it really is a good idea, to have some kind of excuse to be out here, in this weather. But if all goes well, I should be able, to avoid running into anybody, and be back here again shortly". With that said, Meyrin immediately swirled around and ran off as fast as her legs would carry her.

Watching the red haired girl disappear around the nearest corner, Athrun leaned backwards against the wall, where he slowly turned, his tired green gaze upwards at the dark, overall gloomy sky. Which quite frankly lead Athrun to wonder, just how much longer, it was going to keep on pouring down like this.

Not that he was going to complain about it, the continuous stream of rain had after all done a huge part in keeping him hidden, through this nightmares ordeal. 'If I...I actually get out of here alive, I'll...never again complain about the rain' Athrun thought to himself, somewhat unsure if it was actually possible for him to keep such a bizarre promise.

If it happened to be raining like this, on the day he and Cagalli was getting married, Athrun realized, that he would be extremely difficult for him, not to break that promise.

Yet the very second, he heard the unmistakable sound of a car engine. He instantly, snapped back out of his thoughts about the weather, and the wedding he sincerely hoped, to someday experience, with the woman he loved so deeply.

And of course knowing that whoever was driving the still hastily approaching vehicle, could very well have hostile intentions. Athrun practically leaped over beside the large green dumpster, standing not that far away from him.

While Athrun would frankly prefer to avoid something as noisy, as a firefight, he might end up having no other option, but to fight back. It was after all impossible for him to get back inside the building again, and it was of course likewise impossible for him to outrun a military car, if this turned out to be, somebody else other then Meyrin.

"If it does turn out to be trouble heading my way, I AM definitely not going down alone! I'll take my fair share of Chairman bootlickers alone with me" the blue haired teenager growled determinedly.

Yet only moments after those words had left his mouth, a fast looking car, was brought to a hold near the entrance of the overall disgusting alleyway. Fortunately much to his relief, the person driving the car, was the very one he had been hoping it would be.

And as he saw the younger Hawke sister, waving at him, Athrun immediately stood back up straight again, from the kneel down position he had been in, since he had gotten over, to the smelly green dumpster.

So after quickly jumping over, an empty trash can, that had most likely been knock over by the strong wind, Athrun raced full speed, over to the vehicle. Only slowing down a bit to get the door open, once inside the vehicle, Athrun placed the assault rifle on the passenger seat. Then got down into the bottom of the car, so he was that much harder to see, from the outside.

"I believe that the eastern area of the base, should mostly be unguarded right now. That was one thing I made sure to check up on, after setting off that alarm!" Meyrin explained, as she got the car moving again.

Taking a small glance up at her from his location Athrun smiled slightly at the girl. "Good thing you thought of that, Meyrin. If it wasn't for you, I would surely have been either captured or killed a long time ago"

"I'm just so relieved, that I was there to help you out, Athrun" Meyrin said, Not once moving her serious blue gaze, away from the empty street in front of the car.

Yet as she was so caught up in getting the two of them to where they needed to go, she did not realize, that over in the trucks they had just pass, there was a certain blond haired man, who had actually noticed her.

'What the...Meyrin? Just what reason could she be having for driving around out here at this hour? Hmm could be...that Athrun actually manage to find himself an ally? With the crush she obviously has on him, there is a high possibility that she would be willing to help him out!" Rey thought, while softly rubbing his chin.

Having kept such a close eye on Athrun these last few days, Rey had of course noticed, that Meyrin was the only one Athrun had spoken with, since the destruction of the Freedom, and the Archangel. And that had quickly lead Rey to the conclusion, that Meyrin might just have a crush on Athrun Zala.

And knowing that if he passed this up, and continued onward towards the harbor. They might just end up losing Athrun, along with another traitor.

So without wasting even a second, the blond haired teenager reached over and immediately got the truck door open. Then without showing any kind of hesitation, Rey Za Burrel leaped full speed out of the still slow moving vehicle. And instantly took off in that very direction, he had seen Meyrin's car disappear in.

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At the exact same time, not all that far away from Rey's location, the younger Hawke sister slowly brought the black car to a hold, near a GOUF Ignited mobile suit.

While the young red haired woman did of course realize, that this type of mobile suit, might not be the fastest one, in the Zaft's overall immensely huge arsenal of mobile suits.

The only other unguarded hangar, anywhere near the base's main building, where they could find something else, would bring them, dangerously close to that very hangar, where Shinn was most likely still working tirelessly on the Destiny gundam.

And neither one of them, really felt like taking the risk of running into him. "This should be just fine, If we manage to get a good head start, before they get any mobile suits in the air! I should be able to get us safely out of here!" Athrun said in a half determined tone, not once taking his eyes away from the blue Zaft war machine.

Once both of them had gotten out of the car, Meyrin could not, help but ask the one question that had been on her mind, the last few seconds. "Just how long will it take for us, to get it ready to go?" The girl asked, seriously worried, that somebody would show up before they could get the GOUF airborne.

Taking a brief glance over at the girl, Athrun was just about to open his mouth, and give her a response. When he suddenly heard a pair of loud footsteps hastily approaching them, and instantaneously realizing what that meant, Athrun, immediately leaped forward, towards the girl, knocking both her and himself over. Just as five shots, form a machine rifle flew directly over them.

"I guess I should consider myself pretty fortunate, Athrun! I spend SOO much time searching for just one traitor. And then I end up finding two of them!" Sounded the well-known voice of a certain blond haired man.

Mentally cursing the fact, that it was Rey of all people who had found them, Athrun kept his left hand on Meyrin's shoulder, to make absolutely certain, that the redhead did NOT move around too much, as even more shots rained over their heads.

'Damn him! If that bastard, keeps on shooting like that, he is going to kill both of us!' Athrun growled inside his mind, just as Meyrin, let out a loud panicky scream, that could easily be heard over all the noise Rey was presently making.

And as Athrun yet again swore to protect the redhead no matter what, Rey choose that exact moment to stop shooting at them, for a few short seconds. "I wouldn't even bother pretending that I'm all that surprised by you betrayal Athrun. It reeally is a shame, that Gilbert did not followed my advice, to have you and your blond girlfriend killed, the very first time the you came on board the Minerva!" Rey said in a wicked tone of voice, hoping that by bringing up such a personal subject as Cagalli, would be more than enough to get some kind of reaction out of Athrun.

Slowly narrowing his eyes at Rey's words, Athrun was seriously starting to have enough of people threatening his fiancée, he could not even remember, how many times, Shinn had said something about wanting to kill, or send Cagalli to hell. 'I know that dumb bastard, is trying to provoke me! But if I actually have to kill him, to once more see Cagalli again! THEN SO BE IT!' The blue haired man thought angrily.

"We wouldn't be able to get anywhere near that GOUF, with that crazy crackpot around! So stay here Meyrin, and make sure to keep your head down no matter WHAT! I'll go take take care him!" He whispered, into the girl's ear.

And then just as she muttered out for him to be careful, Athrun cautiously made his way to the end of the machinery, which Meyrin and him had taken cover behind when Rey had shown up.

At first Athrun didn't do anything. He just listened silently, as Rey Za Burrel kept on talking about what a shame it was that Cagalli was now dead, along with everybody else, who had been on board the Archangel.

And as Rey start explaining to him, how pathetic a person he thought Kira truly was, Athrun was quick to fight down the nagging temptation he felt, to say something back about, how he had actually consider killing Durandal, back when he had presented the three new gundams to Shinn, Nicol and him.

'I doubt provoking him, would actually lead to anything good! If he heard about how much I want to rid this world of Gilbert Durandal, It would probably piss the unusually chatty idiot off even more, than he is already' The former pilot of the Justice thought. Before he slowly got into a crouched down positions.

"You know Athrun the sight of the Freedom blowing up was one of the most woondeeerfuul sights, I have ever seen!" Rey said wickedly, obviously still trying to provoke Athrun.

Slowly rolling his green eyes a single time. "Yeah I felt the same way about the Providence being destroyed!" Athrun shouted back, knowing from watching all that video footage, he had stolen from Rey's ZAKU, that the blond haired lap dog, had some kind of attachment, to Athrun's old Commander Rau Le Creuset.

Hearing Athrun shout those words, Rey instantly stop talking, seriously wondering just how in the world Athrun could know, that the death of Rau, was something that pained him quite a bit.

While Athrun honestly had less then no idea about what connection there was between, Rau Le Creuset and Rey Za Burrel, it was pretty obvious, to the young blue haired man, that the mere mentioning of the Providence gundam, had came as a severe shock to Rey.

And of course realizing that with Rey briefly distract, he would most likely not get a better chance then this. And so without further hesitation, Athrun leaped out from his hiding place, and instantly fired first one shot at Rey's head. Then a second one at the place where his so called heart, was suppose to be. And then finally, not even one second later, he fired a third one at the blond man's stomach.

Unfortunately most to Athrun's deep irritation, Rey was not so far away in his own thoughts that he did not notice, what was happening, which meant that he was quick to get out off the way, and behind cover before any of the bullets, could hit their intent targets.

"Damn it..." Athrun whispered to himself, extremely pissed, that he had been unable to kill the blond haired bastard, when he had been given such a golden opportunity to do so.

He did however not get very long to mentally complain about his failed attempt, to put an end Rey Za Burrel's, miserable life. When the crazy bastard, appear from behind the corner again, even faster then he had disappeared back there in the first place.

And to avoid getting hit by the two shots, Rey fired at him, not even a second later, Athrun instantaneously throw himself to sideways, just as the two small, yet overall deadly pieces of metal, flew right past him.

Yet the very instant Athrun hit the hard ground, he felt a great deal of pain, shot through his left knee. But while it quite frankly hurt like hell, Athrun of course instantly realized, that he did NOT, have time to worry about right now.

So while simply ignoring the large amount of pain, Athrun swiftly got into a crouched down positions again, and fired one well aimed shot, at his totally insane opponent.

And the very instant the small bullet hit, what Athrun had been aiming at. It was impossible for Rey, not to let out a short surprised scream, as the machine rifle, was blown right out of his hands.

Taking a brief moment to send Athrun the most murderous glare possible, Rey swirled around, and immediately took off in that direction, where he would have the best chances of finding himself a replacement weapon, for the one Athrun had just broken.

Seeing the madman rush off in such a hurry, and having a pretty good idea about what he was going for, Athrun once more press down on the trigger, firing a half dozen of shots after the blond haired lunatic, seriously trying to take him out, before he could get too far away.

But evidently, luck decide to be on Rey's side, this time around. Since not one of the bullets got anywhere near him. And with the lighting there, being somewhat limit, Rey disappeared rather quickly from Athrun's line of sight.

'Ahhhh damn you, Rey! I guess, I should not really be that surprised to discover, that you have kept yourself in tip top shape. And with my dumb knee, still hurting so damn much, it would be just about impossible for me, to catch up with him, before the crackpot gets his hands on another weapon' the blue haired man thought bitterly.

"Meyrin, this is our best chance to get out off here! But we have to leave now before he gets back!" He loudly yelled out, to the younger Hawke sister.

Yet it was only one brief moment after those words, had left his mouth, when somebody appeared beside him, and immediately helped him back up on to, his somewhat unsteady feet, and when he turned his head a bit to the side, and took a look at the person holding on to his left arm, he saw Meyrin give him the most serious look ever.

And with Meyrin supporting him like this, the two of them manage to get relatively quickly over to the lift, that was of course there to make sure, that the GOUF's pilot could get up to the light blue mobile suit's cockpit.

And only seconds after, Athrun had gotten the lift moving, he heard the unmistakable sound of loud approaching footsteps. And knowing that if Rey reached them, before they could get inside the GOUF, he would have a pretty clear shot at them. There wasn't really a whole lot to hide behind, on the small lift.

Fortunately much to Athrun's sincere relief, it did not take all that long before they were in range of the cockpit. "ATHRUN YOU ARE NOOOOT GETTING AWAY FROM ME!" He heard Rey shout loudly.

Having no intention of wasting his breath giving the idiot a response, Athrun's only reaction to those loud words, was to take a small glance, over in the direction Rey's voice came from, and seeing how close the maniac was. Athrun immediately, gave the red haired girl a rough shove into the open cockpit, then practically jumped in after her, as a rain of bullets flew up after him.

Thankfully Meyrin had just enough knowledge about a mobile suit to know, what button to press to get the hatch closed, which meant that it did not take very long, before the two of them was at long last relatively safe from the madman outside.

Yet one thing Athrun had no doubt about, was that Rey, was far from finished, trying to prevent Meyrin and him, from escaping. "Hold on tight Meyrin! This is going to be a bumpy ride. We need to get as much distance from this place as we can, before HE comes after us" Athrun said seriously, while powering up the GOUF.

Finding herself frightened beyond believe, the only thing Meyrin did, was nod rapidly few of times, as Athrun got the mobile suit in the air.

Yet after flying full speed over the base for a long highly tense moment. Meyrin was able to force her severely dry lips apart, and asked Athrun, the one and only question, on her mind right now.

"Athrun just...just where are we going?" The girl asked in a low tone.

Taking a small glance away from the controls to look over at her. "Orb...we are going to Orb! With all the damage the Archangel got, when it was hit by the Minerva's Tannhauser. There is no other place it can go to be repaired" Athrun explained, before once more, turning his attention back to where it needed to be.

Unable to hide her deep confusing, Meyrin tilted her head slightly to the side. "But I thought that ship got destro..." That was all she manage to get out when Athrun interrupted her.

"It's not destroyed, Meyrin. With everything, the Archangel has survived over the years, it is going to take more than just a shot, from the Minerva, to take her out. And that goes for Kira as well. While the Freedom might have been destroyed, I am absolutely certain, that Kira is still alive...there is noway he would leave Lacus by herself" Athrun said, just as the two of them flew out over the dark gloomy ocean.

Blinking slowly a couple of times, the young red haired woman was quite frankly having a few problems understanding, what Athrun meant with those words, if Miss Lacus, really was so important to the Freedom pilot. Then why exactly, was the she back at Gibraltar, helping out Zaft.

Meyrin herself had seen the pink haired songstress shortly after leaving the Minerva, and if Miss Lacus and this Kira person, truly cared so much about one another, as Athrun, made it sound like. Then why, would the two of them, be on opposite sides in this war?

It just didn't make any sense.

Yet as tempted as Meyrin truly was to ask Athrun about that, the girl was quick to decide that it was best to keep her mouth shut, for now. And let Athrun concentrate, on piloting the blue mobile suit. She could always ask him, about all of this later, when they were safely away from Gibraltar.

000000

At the exact same time, back down on the ground, Rey Za Burrel was talking loudly into his cell phone, while hastily making his way towards the very hangar, were the three new gundams was store away.

While it would without a doubt, have been so much easier, to simply take one of the other GOUFs back there, Rey knew that with the skills Athrun had in a mobile suit, it was clearly a wise move on his part to make sure, that he had some kind of edge, when going up against the blue haired man. Which was the reason why he was going to use the Legend gundam to hunt down Athrun, and bring Shinn along with him as back-up.

"Shinn, if you are still down in the hangar, with the new machines! Then get the Destiny and the Legend, ready for take-off immediately. Otherwise you need to hurry and get back down there as fast as you can. With the uproar the base have been in these last few hours, I'm sure you have heard at least something about that spy, Shinn! And seeing as he have just taken off with one mobile suits, the two of us are going after him, Shinn!" Rey explained loudly into the phone.

Then ran silently a few short seconds, as Shinn said something back to him. "While I would very much like to bring the Adamant along with us, Shinn. That mobile suit are designed for ground combat which means that it can not fly on it's own! And with Nicol in the hospital, we do not even have a pilot for it" the blond haired teenager explained in a slightly bitter tone, before he hurried pulled, the small device away from his ear. As his short tempered friend practically screamed out for an explanation, to what the hell had happened to Nicol.

Swiftly getting the small cell phone, over to his other ear, Rey quickly gave his fellow pilot a response to his question. "Apparently, he had a run in with the spy a short while ago. And was beaten up quite severely!" Rey said. Then smirked slightly when he heard Shinn mutter something about wanting to make that bastard of a spy pay for everything he had done.

"I'm glad to hear you say that, Shinn! For the spy, is none other then Athrun Zala. So prepare yourself to go up against him. That guy, is nothing more than a traitor! He has probably been spying on just about everybody on board the Minerva, since joining us so long ago. So once we catch up to him Shinn, try and see if you can't kill him immediately! If there is one thing Athrun have made perfectly clear through this whole mess, it is, that he is more then willing to kill anybody, who gets in his way!"

With those words said, Rey did not say anything else. He just listen silently as Shinn took a couple of deep breaths. "I know this it's hard on you, Shinn. But we need to stop him, before he can get away with whatever information he has gathered!"

Having known Shinn Asuka for such a long time, the young blond haired man, could easily tell, even over the small phone, that Shinn was severely shocked over hearing what Athrun had done, and was having a very difficult time believing that Athrun would actually betray all of them like this.

Yet just when Rey was about to say something, else to his red eyed friend, Shinn cut him off, by telling him, that he was going to go get the Destiny and the Legend ready to go. After that Shinn immediately hung up the phone, without saying anything else.

Pleased to know, that Shinn was NOT going to waste valuable time, complaining about this mission, Rey was unable, to keep a small yet wicked smirk, from appearing on his face, as he shoved the phone, back down into his pocket, while still heading full speed towards his destination.

To be continued.

Let me know what you guys think about Nicol's reason for staying with Zaft.