Chapter 75
It was early morning on the Archangel. The day after Meyrin and Athrun had gotten there. Yet while most people on the white spaceship was still sound asleep, Meyrin Hawke was wide awake, laying comfortably in her bed, staring absentmindedly up at the ceiling.
As much as the young redhead wanted to go back to sleep again, she simply put wasn't tired any longer.
Meyrin had after all been sleeping almost constantly, since Athrun and her was brought to the Archangel. So it wasn't really that overly strange, that it was next to impossible for her to keep her eyes closed. And having laid there not doing anything for almost two whole hours, Meyrin could honestly say without lying, that she was bored out of her mind.
"Maybe I should go take a walk around the Archangel, Kira said that I could go wherever I wanted, except the bridge. I am, kinda curious about seeing more of the Archangel, than just this one room. Besides I haven't seen Athrun yet. I know both Kira and Mayu, reassured me that he was ok. But I am, still worried about him..." the girl mumbled to the empty room, breaking the silence that had been in there ever since she had woken up.
After that, the redhead used about three minutes to gather enough courage, to get out of the bed. And while swallowing loudly a single time, she step over to the other bed, where some clothes been left for her, which was definitely something Meyrin was grateful for. If there hadn't been something else for her to wear in there, she would NOT be leaving this room, she did not under any circumstance wanted to get caught wandering around the Archangel, in nothing else but that flimsy hospital gown she had on now. That would just be so embarrassing.
Then after getting out of the hospital gown, it only took Meyrin a little over a minute, to get into the normal day clothes. "Hmm the blouse feels a little tight, buuuuut at least it fits" she mumbled, while stepping over to the door, which she stood looking at for a few seconds.
Even though Kira had already told her, that it was all right for her to leave this room, Meyrin simply couldn't help but feel a little worried that somebody else would get mad at her, if they spotted her walking around the Archangel this early morning.
And it was only after forcing herself to ignore her worries, that Meyrin reached out and opened the door. Yet once out in the hall, she faced a new problem. Since she had less then no idea about, where to go, and the only reason why she choose to go right in the end, was because that way seemed a bit more well lit.
Yet with it being so quiet around her, Meyrin could not help but feel like she would wake up the entire ship, if she made the slightest sound, which resulted in her walking as slowly as she possibly could.
And when she heard a sudden loud noise from an open room a few steps ahead of her, Meyrin had to force back the small scream, that was threatening to leave her mouth. And as the girl stood there frozen like a deer caught in the headlights, the redhead half expected a Xenomorph from one of those old Alien movies, to leap out of the room, and start chasing her down.
Yet when the noise stopped for a brief moment, the more reasonable part of Meyrin's mind told her, that those weird sounds, could not possibly have been from a living breathing creature. And knowing that, Meyrin got her legs moving again, and slowly tiptoed over to the door, and carefully took a peek into the room.
"A washing machine...Geez Meyrin, you where just scared half to death by a washing machine of all things..."
And as the bigger than normal washing machine once again began working on, getting the large amount of clothes inside it clean, the relieved redhead stepped away from the door and continued down the empty hallway. Now for some strange reason feeling a bit more confident about exploring the Archangel on her own like this.
The young woman did however not get very far, before she stopped and looked around with a small displeased frown, on her forehead. While it was certainly true, that Meyrin had from an early age, always been a very curious girl, who liked seeing new things, and was particularly eager, to see even more of the Archangel. It was an amazing ship.
Yet the redhead seriously doubted, that poking her head into every room she came across would make a very good first impression on whoever might be in there. Especially if the occupant of the room, just so happened to be sleeping and she accidentally woke him or her up.
'I'll ask either Kira or Mayu to show me around later. So I will just head on back to my room for now. But first I really do need to find a bathroom' the girl thought, trying not to make it too obvious just how much she had to pee right now.
Yet as Meyrin turned around, and was about to start making her way back in the direction she came from, she spotted a brunette haired woman, stepping out of one the many rooms, Meyrin had past, not that long ago. And instantly recognizing her as the Archangel's Captain, from back when Captain Gladys had tried to convince the Archangel crew to surrender.
But even though Meyrin really did want to start a conversation with this woman, and especially ask her where the closed bathroom was, the girl was kinda uncertain about, how to address the Archangel Captain. No matter how hard she tried, she just could remember this woman's name.
And it was only when she saw the brunette, walk off in the opposite direction that Meyrin was able to force, her lips apart. "Umm excuse me Ma'am! Can I please ask you something?" She asked in a loud yet very polite tone.
Having seriously not expect anybody else, other then herself to be awake at this hour, Murrue could not help but let out a short surprise shriek, when an unknown voice, suddenly address her without of warning.
When Murrue had left her oh so comfortable bed a few minutes ago, she had honestly expected, to have most of the Archangel to herself, for at least another hour or two. The only other person Murrue could think of who might also be awake at this hour, was Murdoch and he would usually head straight down to the hangar to get things ready for what he and the other mechanics, had to do today.
Yet once Murrue saw who the voice belonged to, she visibly relaxed, and smiled kindly at the redhead. "I'm kinda surprised, to see you up and about already. How do you feel, Meyrin?" The brunette asked. Only knowing the younger woman's name, because Mayu had talked in great length about the redhead during dinner yesterday. It really wasn't all that difficult to tell, that her daughter liked this girl a lot, especially because Mayu had already given Meyrin the title big sister.
And Murrue honestly saw no reason whatsoever, to mistrust the young red haired girl. Meyrin had after all according to what Kira had told her, helped out Athrun a great deal back at Gibraltar. And knowing just how many people here on the Archangel including herself, that cared about Athrun, Murrue was sincerely relieved, that Athrun was at long last safely back, where he rightfully belonged. Not having him around, was in Murrue's eyes like missing a part of the family.
"I am feeling a little dizzy, Captain. But other than that, I am just fine" Meyrin said in a tone that was just loud enough, to interrupt Murrue's thoughts about Athrun.
Nodding slowly a couple of times in understanding, Murrue smiled slightly at the girl. "I am glad to hear, that you are feeling better, Meyrin. Now then what did you want to ask me?"
Looking down at the floor in a embarrassed manner. "Um...well I was kinda hoping that you could tell me, where I can find the closest bathroom" Meyrin explained, acting kinda like she was crossing some sort of line here by asking the Captain of the Archangel, something like that.
"You don't have to go far, to find one of those, Meyrin. There is a bathroom right over there behind you" Murrue said, while pointing at a certain door not that far away from the two of them.
Glad to hear that she did not have go all the way to the other side of the ship to find a bathroom, Meyrin mumbled 'thank you', before she hurried made her way over towards the door the Captain had point at.
Watching the redhead disappear into the bathroom, Murrue quickly decided to wait out there for the girl, until she was done, with whatever business she had inside the bathroom. That way, Murrue could show Meyrin way down, to the mess hall afterwards. it was after all highly obvious, that the girl did not know her way around the Archangel just yet.
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It was a little over ten minutes later when the two woman entered the still dark mess hall.
Yet while Meyrin stay near the entrance, looking around the large room, Murrue slowly made her way over to one of the vending machines, to get herself a cup of coffee.
And as the machines began pouring the brown hot liquid into a plastic cup, Murrue found herself thinking that she kinda missing Andrew Waltfeld's coffee. It just tasted so much better than this glop. Yet knowing that with him out on the Eternal, it would be quite awhile before she would be able to enjoy a cup of his specially made coffee.
"Do you want anything, Meyrin?" Murrue finally asked after taking the first sip of the brown liquid.
Taking two steps further into the room, Meyrin answer the Captain's question with a bit of hesitation in her voice. "Emm I would like a glass of milk if that's alright"
"Of course it's alright, Meyrin. By the way you do not have to be so nervous around me. You are a NOT prisoner here on the Archangel, Meyrin. You are a guest. A guest who risked her own life, to saved the life of one of our crew members" Murrue gently praised the young redhead, while getting her a small carton of milk from another vending machine.
After that, it did not take very long before both Murrue and Meyrin was sitting at a table, where Murrue Ramius immediately began doing the large amount of paperwork, she had brought with her down there.
Watching the brown haired woman work for a bit, Meyrin could easily tell from the expression the Archangel Captain had on her face, that she found this task to be more than a little boring, and that she would rather be doing just about anything else, then this.
Not really sure if she should offer her help or not, Meyrin gazed thoughtfully down at the table, trying to make up her mind about, what to do. Yet before she could make a decision, Meyrin suddenly heard a angry bellyaching voice that got louder and louder, with every second that went by.
And while wondering what exactly was going on, Meyrin slowly turned her confused blue gaze over towards the entrance to the mess hall, where the voice was coming from.
And it was only a brief moment later, when Meyrin saw none other than Cagalli Yula Athha, stepping into the large room, with a deep displeased frown on her forehead, which really served to make it seem like the blonde was ready to start yelling and screaming, at just about anybody. And without even looking at her or the Captain, the angry woman stormed full speed over to one of the many vending machines, where she immediately press every single button on it, so the machine spit one of each type of candy bar inside it.
"Hmm I assume your reason for being up this early, is because you are hungry, Cagalli" Murrue teased, as the blonde dumped the large load of candy bars down on the table.
Violently tearing the brown wrapper of the first candy bar, Cagalli took a huge bite of the nougat tasting candy, and after chewing it thoroughly a few times she finally swallow it loudly, clearly enjoying the taste of the unhealthy food quite a bit. After that she immediately reach out and pick up the can of orange juice, she had brought with her over there. and once the pregnant girl was done satisfying her deep thirst, she looked straight at Murrue, now with a much more down to earth expression on her face.
"I am always hungry, Murrue. And the rare times I am not, I get the pleasure of being so totally exhausted that I could probably sleep standing up!" The girl growled displeased, as she tored the wrap of the next candy bar.
Chuckling softly. "Nobody ever said that it was easy being pregnant, Cagalli" Murrue said.
Upon hearing those words leaving the Captain's mouth, Meyrin's eyes instantly flew downwards to the blond haired woman's belly. And while even though it wasn't that overly big yet, just one single look at it, was all Meyrin needed to tell that Cagalli Yula Athha, was indeed pregnant.
'She...She is pregnant! Could the father be, who I think it is!? I...I knew from the beginning, that they were together! I knew, how much Athrun loves and cares about Miss Cagalli. But...but I guess, that I just could not help but hope a tiny bit, that Athrun would, would someday like me the same way I like him' Meyrin thought, with a single lonely tear, making it's way down her left cheek.
"Umm miss Cagalli if it's not too much to ask, would you please tell me who the father is of your...Child?" Meyrin asked in a low tone, while forcing back the sob that was threatening to leave her mouth.
Quickly swallowing what was left of her fourth, or was it fifth candy bar. "It's Athrun. He is the only guy I have ever been wit...Ahhh damn it, what the hell am I saying!? Just forget all about THAT, you two! Now as for the answer to your question Meyrin, Athrun is the father" Cagalli said, with a deep blush on each one of her cheeks.
While there was no denying, that a small part of Meyrin had kinda expect that response. Hearing that the guy...The first guy ever, she had a crush on, was going to be the father of somebody else's child, still came as quite a shock to the girl.
"...Ohhh I see..." Meyrin mumbled softly under her breath, while staring so intensely down at the hard table, that it actually seemed a bit like her sadden gaze was going to bore a hole straight through the table.
Silently studying the depressed looking expression on the redhead's face, Cagalli had a pretty decent guess on, what exactly it was, that was bothering Meyrin.
"You have a crush on Athrun don't you, Meyrin?" Cagalli asked the other girl in a soft tone.
Having honestly not expect miss Cagalli to figure that out so fast, Meyrin had a quite difficult time, forcing back the great deal of tears, that was threatening to leave her eyes. While at same time, trying to ignore the deep almost nagging temptation, to race full speed out of the mess hall, and go find some place to hide, where NOBODY would look for her. Actually the only reason why, she hadn't ran off already, was because she still did not know her way around the Archangel.
So after just sitting there a few long tense seconds, that seriously felt like an eternity, Meyrin forced out a response to Cagalli's question. Almost looking like she was just about ready to throw up over it.
"I...Umm...I wish I could say otherwise...But...But I can't...I really do have a crush on him..." the red haired girl said, now finding it impossible to stop herself from weeping loudly.
With how unbelievable much Cagalli truly loved and cared about Athrun Zala. The young pregnant woman could not deny, that there was a tiny part of her, did feel somewhat territorial, for a brief moment or two. Yet the sight of the waterfall of tears, presently running down Meyrin's face, was more than enough to wash away those hostile feelings, and make Cagali feel kinda sorry for the heart-broken redhead.
Yet before Cagalli could even try and figure out what to do in this situation, she felt somebody lightly poking her left foot underneath the table. Which instantly made her look over at Murrue, and once she got eye contact with the Captain, Cagalli saw Murrue, make a quick demanding gesture with her hands, for her to go comfort the crying girl.
And knowing she should have done that from the begging, when Meyrin had started crying, Cagalli got up from her seat, and slowly went around the table, so she end up standing just behind the sobbing redhead.
"Meyrin please stand up" the blonde said in the most gentle tone possible.
Upon hearing those words. Meyrin let out another loud heart aching sob, as she struggle to do, what Cagalli had just said. Actually the only reason why she was able to get up on to her unsteady feet, was because she could use the table to support herself.
Yet once she saw the pregnant woman take a single step towards her, Meyrin let out a frightened sound, and her left hand immediately flew up to shield her face, thereby making it totally clear to both Murrue and Cagalli, that she was so utterly freaked out by all of this, that she was actually expecting Cagalli to hit her.
Yet the thought of hitting or hurting Meyrin in anyway, was truthfully the last thing on Cagalli's mind. Instead, she slowly reach out and gently wrapped her hands around the sobbing girl.
"Just let it out Meyrin, Just let it out" Cagalli whispered softly to the redhead.
The very instant those few, yet still soothing words left Cagalli's mouth, the younger Hawke sister, pressed her face even deeper into the slightly older girl's shoulder, now crying that much more intensely. Meyrin really needed this, she needed to get this out of her system. The redhead, could not even begin to describe, how sincerely grateful she was over the fact, that she did not have to handle this on her own, that there was somebody there, who was giving her a friendly shoulder to cry on.
Watching the almost motherly way, Cagalli was comforting Meyrin Hawke, Murrue found herself thinking briefly, that this kinda reminded her of the way she herself would comfort Mayu, the rare times her daughter was depressed about something, and needed to vent her feelings by crying.
'It's nice to see Cagalli behaving so caringly. She is going to make a really great mother, when that time comes' the brunette haired woman thought, with a hint of a smile on her face.
It took quite a bit for Meyrin's eyes, to finally run out of tears. Yet once that happened, the young woman sobbed lightly a couple of times, as she slowly backed away from Cagalli.
"I'm...I'm sorry about this, Miss Cagalli...I guess I kinda lost it there for a bit" Meyrin apologized, while at the same timem using the right sleeve to try and get rid of some of the soreness, that had appear in her eyes, from crying so much.
Smiling a tiny bit at Meyrin, Cagalli glanced down at the floor, for a few seconds. "It's alright, Meyrin. I understand better than most, especially these days, just how unbelievable difficult it is, to keep so many tears at bay. I can not even remember how many times I lost it, and cried myself to sleep, while Athrun was with Zaft. I was SO worried about the big goofball"
Nodding hastily one or two times, in understanding, Meyrin swallowed loudly a single time. "You...You really love Athrun, don't you Miss Cagalli?" The girl said in a tone, that did little to hide, that she wasn't really all that interest in getting an answer, to that particular question.
"I do Meyrin, more than you can possibly imagine" Cagalli said back. While mentally reminding herself, not to start playing around with her engagement ring in front of Meyrin.
Showing off the ring like that, and rubbing in the fact, that Athrun and her were engaged to be married, seemed unnecessarily cruel, in Cagalli's eyes. And she highly doubted, that being told about the engagement now, would help Meyrin feel any better. Quite the opposite as a matter of fact, Athrun and her could always tell Meyrin about the engagement later on.
Yet before Cagalli could really make up her mind about, when exactly it was best to tell Meyrin, that she and Athrun was planning on getting married one day in the future, once the war was brought to an end, the redhead's low still sad voice, interrupted Cagalli's thoughts.
"Umm Miss Cagalli...I...I do not know how long it will take, but I will try to get over my crush on, Athrun. If the two of you, really are starting a family together, I will not get in the way of that. With all those terrible things that has happened in this stupid war, I really do feel like everybody deserves, as much happiness as they can get. And I will NOT be the one responsible, for ruining your's, Athrun's and your child's happiness, Miss Cagalli..."
"Thank you, Meyrin. And thank you so, so much for bringing Athrun back to me. I can't even begin to describe, how much I appreciate everything you have done to help out, Athrun. Kira told me yesterday, shortly before he went to bed, that you saved Athrun's life, at Gibraltar. If it wasn't for you Meyrin, I would have lost, the man I love" Cagalli said. Only realizing after those words had left her mouth that she was crying a tiny bit too.
"You don't have to thank me, Cagalli. I just did, what I knew in my heart was the right thing to do. Athrun is a friend, and I will neeeeever stand idly by and do nothing, when one of the people I care about is in danger, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself had Athrun been killed, when I could have done something to prevent it" the redhead said.
Then out of nowhere found herself wondering what her sister was doing right now, Meyrin sincerely hoped with all of her being that Lunamaria was not too concerned about her. And more importantly, that Luna did not end up getting herself killed while working for Gilbert Durandal.
"Miss Cagalli, Captain do...do any of you know what Chairman Durandal is really up to? While we were making our escape from Gibraltar, Athrun said something about him trying to become dictator of the whole world, but is that really true?"
Immediately upon hearing Meyrin ask that question, Murrue and Cagalli sended one another a long deeply thoughtful glance, each one of them feeling quite a bit uncertain about how to answer that one question, it was after all extremely complicated.
"The whole dictator thing, might be a pretty accurate guess on what exactly it is the Chairman is trying to do, Meyrin. Yet I for one personally believes that there is more to it, then him simply wanting to becoming dictator of the whole world. Unfortunately Meyrin, we have very little information about Durandal's true intentions. I was actually hoping a bit that either you or Athrun, could tell us a little more about what that man is planning" Murrue confessed, not once moving her serious gaze away from the redhead.
Getting back down into her seat, Meyrin stared long and hard down at the table, trying her best to figure out, if she knew anything that could help them shed just a little light on what the Chairman's plans was.
"I wish...I really do wish Captain, that I could tell you guys something that would help us stop Chairman Durandal. But up until that point where Athrun told me all about how utterly insane the Chairman truly is. I actually thought that he was a pretty nice guy, who was seriously trying to do what was best for this world, and everybody in it, Naturals and Coordinators alike. I never once suspected while I was with Zaft, that the Chairman was the type of person who would order somebody killed, for not following his will" Meyrin said in low far away tone.
And since both Murrue and Cagalli, needed a little time to go over everything Meyrin had just told them, it did not take all that long before the redhead was once again thinking about her older sister.
Honestly quite a bit disappointed to learn, that Meyrin had no intel whatsoever they could use to stop, whatever the hell it was Gilbert Durandal was planning to do. Cagalli let out deep sigh, as she took a huge, almost violent bite of one of her many candy bars, slowly chewing the chocolatey goodness. Yet even as she was doing that, the blonde of course still noticed the troubled look in Meyrin's eyes.
"You are worried about your sister ain't you?" Cagalli asked softly.
Blinking rapidly a couple of times, the unfocused glimmer in each one of Meyrin's bright blue eyes, immediately disappeared, as she again looked back at Cagalli.
"Yeah...I am. But it's not just that she is working for a lunatic, that's out to conquer the world, that makes me anxious. I am also kinda worried about how the heck I am suppose to convince Lunamaria, that Gilbert Durandal is the bad guy in this war, If Luna believes that the Chairman is one of the good guys, it's going to be difficult to get her to change her mind. She can be quite stubborn at times. Besides...I have no idea when, I will be able to talk with her again, it's not like I can just call her cell phone and start talking like nothing happened" Meyrin growled sadly.
Seeing the pained look on the young woman's face, Murrue reached over and gave the girl's hand a light comforting squeeze. "If you do get a chance to talk with you sister Meyrin, then just tell her what you know about Durandal. If you do that, I am certain that sooner or later she will realize that you are right about him, and if your sister is as kind as you Meyrin, she is more than welcome to join us here, on the Archangel" Murrue told the redhead in a soft gentle tone.
While it was true, that Meyrin did feel kinda embarrassed over the small compliment, she had just received from the Archangel's Captain about being kind. It was also true, that the redhead felt sincerely relieved to know, that if Lunamaria ever under any circumstance made the decision to leave Zaft, there was now a place for her to go, knowing that Lunamaria was welcome to stay on the Archangel, was kinda nice.
"Thank you Captain. I'm grateful to know that Lunamaria is welcome here on the Archangel" Meyrin said, while giving Murrue a respectful look.
"I just hope, that you can talk some sense into your sister, Meyrin" Murrue said, before once again, turning her attention back towards the huge load of paperwork, laying in front of her.
"I hope so too, Captain. I really do..." the redhead muttered.
After that nothing else was said between the three women.
Murrue kept on calmly looked over one piece of paper, after another. And if it was necessary, she would write down a few things on the paper, before grabbing the next piece. Yet while the Captain was doing that, Cagalli was sitting silently in her own seat, slowly devouring the small amount of candy bars she had left.
And since Meyrin did not want to distract either of them, from what they were presently doing. she just sat there enjoying the brief moment of peace. Taking the time, to take a good thorough look around the mess hall.
At first the younger Hawke sister could not help but feeling a tiny bit disappointed, that there was not really anything overly interesting to look at down there. Yet once her blue eyes, just so happened to find their way, to three pictures hanging on the opposite wall, those feeling immediately disappeared.
'Hm, I wonder what those pictures are. They look kinda out of place' the girl thought, then after taking a single glance at Murrue and Cagalli, she stood up and slowly made her way over to the pictures.
The first picture was showing three young women, all dressed in white and red space suits, holding on to their helmets, while smiling brightly at whoever was holding the camera. It really did look like all three of them were having a good time, yet what really caught the redhead's attention, was the words written beneath the picture.
'Asagi Caldwell, Maruya Labbatt, Juri Wu Nien. May You Brave Girls Rest In Peace...Ohhhh, so these pictures are all of dead crew members' Meyrin realized sadly, as she moved a bit to the side to get a look at the next picture that was showing a young man, also dress in a space suit. Yet unlike the three girls, who had all looked pretty confident, he on the other hand, looked a bit nervous.
'Tolle Koenig. May You Rest Peacefully, Our Young Brave Friend' Meyrin read, finding herself thinking, that this boy did look kinda cute.
And after looking into the boy's bright blue eyes for a second or two, Meyrin finally stepped over to the next picture, that was showing a young black haired woman, that was saluting the person holding the camera, with a slightly bossy expression, on her otherwise pretty face.
'Natarle Badgiruel. May You Rest In Peace. Our Strict, Yet Kind Hearted Second In Command...Hmm, I wonder how she died, if she is the Second In Command shouldn't she have been up on the bridge' Meyrin wondered, as she took a short glance, back at Murrue, and Cagalli, quickly deciding against asking them, how this woman had met her end.
And so after staring at the bossy looking woman, a bit longer. Meyrin step over to read the next few words, which kinda confused her a bit, since there was no picture above the words.
'Mu La Flaga. Fly Onward Hawk Of Endymion. May You Rest In Peace Our Dear Friend, And Defender...With such emotional words, written about this man, it's weird that they don't have a picture showing him. I kinda want to see what he looks like' Meyrin thought.
And with just a bit more exploration, the redhead could tell from the very faint markings on the wall, that up until recently, there had been a picture there were showing this Mu La Flaga.
'If they have a picture of this man, why would they remove it?' the confused girl mentally asked herself, as she turned her head a bit to the side, and took yet another glance, at Murrue and Cagalli. Seriously considering asking them why, this picture had been removed.
Meyrin did however not get long to figure out, if it really was a wise move on her part, to stick her nose into this matter. When all of a sudden she heard the unmistakable sound of somebody's loud footsteps hastily approaching the mess hall.
And as the redhead looked over in the direction of the door, she saw Kira enter the large room, looking around like he was actually expecting to find Chairman Durandal, or some other nutjob, out to conquer the world down there.
Yet even when he apparently came to the realization, that there was nobody around that could be considered a threat, the deep highly anxious frown on his forehead, only disappeared briefly, before returning again. Which served as a pretty obvious sign, even to Meyrin who still did not know Kira Yamato all that well, that something was bothering him.
'I wonder what's gotten him so bent out of shape' Meyrin thought, as she watched Kira walk slowly over to one of the vending machines, where he immediately hit one of the buttons on it with so much force, that it actually surprised Meyrin a bit, that he did not end up breaking the poor machine in the process.
And once the machine spit out a can of orange juice, Kira, who still seemed more than just a little absent minded kneeled down and picked up the can, after that he didn't do anything, he just stood there staring at the can like it was the most interesting thing ever.
Seeing her brother spacing out like that, did for some inexplicable reason piss Cagalli off a tiny bit. Why was the big nincompoop just standing there, did he not realize how utterly stupid he looked right now?.
"Kira stop daydreaming over there, and get your sorry ass over here and sit down. Seeing you standing there with that dumb far away look on your face is really annoying!" Cagalli yelled loudly, just as she threw a balled up candy wrapper at him.
Glancing briefly down at the candy wrapper, Kira rolled his purple eyes at his sister's behavior. "If that is your way of say good morning to me Cagalli, it need some serious work" Kira mumbled, while he slowly walked over and sat down across from her.
"Yeah whatever. Now are you going to tell me what's bothering you, Kira? Or do I have to guess?" Cagalli asked.
Biting his lower lips softly, the brown haired teen looked thoughtfully at the table, as Meyrin sat down beside him. "It's...emm kinda hard to explain Cagalli. I just have this weird nagging feeling, that something is not right, that Lacus might be in danger".
"I understand that you miss Lacus Kira, I really do. But I think that you are overacting a bit here. Lacus is perfectly safe out on the Eternal with both Andrew and DaCosta looking after her. Not to mention the rest of the rest of the Eternal's crew. You are needlessly concerned about your better half, little brother" Cagalli reassured him gently, while she reached over and gave his right hand a light squeeze.
"Perhaps, you are right Cagalli" Kira mumbled, while staring with an absent minded look, at his sister's hand. As much as Kira truly appreciated Cagalli's attempt to cheer him up, and lessen his worries, the young husband simply couldn't shake away the feeling that Lacus was in danger.
Narrowing her light brown eyes slightly, Cagalli only needed to take a single glance at the troubled expression on her brother's face to tell, that Kira was only pretending to agree with her. He was still severely concerned about his wife's safety.
Yet before Cagall, could come up with something else to say, to cheer up her brother, she suddenly got something else to think about entirely, when Dearka just so happened to enter the mess hall.
"Kira, Cagalli, I been looking all over the ship for you guys. I just want to tell you, that Athrun is awake, and that he asking for you two" the blonde haired man said in a loud tone.
Immediately after hearing that her fiancé was at long last awake, and that he was asking to see her, Cagalli was up on her feet so fast unbelievable that even Sonic The Hedgehog would have been slightly amazed, by how fast the young pregnant blonde was moving.
And without wasting even a second, Cagalli raced full speed around the table, where she immediately took a hold on Kira's arm, pulling him almost violently up from his seat.
"Come on! Come on! Hurry up Kira, lets go see Athrun right away!" Cagalli ordered impatiently, and without even waiting for Kira to give her some sort of response, she dragged him along with her out of the mess hall.
Watching the two siblings leave, Meyrin looked over at Dearka with a slightly uncertain look in her eyes. "Umm Dearka, is it alright if I go too? I have been pretty worried Athrun, and I really want to see him" the redhead said.
Smiling brightly at her. "Of course you can go, Meyrin. Athrun did ask a few questions about how you were doing. So I am sure, that he would like to see you too" Dearka told the girl in a friendly tone.
Since it was of course impossible for Meyrin to have gotten over her crush on Athrun, in the last ten minutes. She was delight to know that Athrun was concerned about her well being, which made a huge happy smile appear on her lips, as she quickly followed Dearka out of the room.
Looking silently after the two teenagers, until she could not longer see them, Murrue could not deny that a small part of her was kinda tempted to go after them. Since Athrun had been brought to them yesterday by Kisaka, Murrue had also been quite worried about the young man, Athrun was after all a part the Archangel family.
Yet whatever thoughts Murrue had of visiting Athrun now, instantly left her mind, when she made the unfortunate mistake of taking a short glance down at the large cursed pile of paperwork, laying in front of her on the table.
And as appealing as Murrue found the idea of just dumping all of this damn paper in the nearest garbage can, the Archangel Captain of course knew that if she actually did that. They would undoubtedly run into a few problems in the near future, like running out of missiles for the Murasames, they had on board.
"I might as well bite the bullet, and get this over with, I'll go visit Athrun later together with, Mayu" Murrue sighed softly. Then picked up the next piece of paper from the giant stack.
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Meanwhile down in the med-bay, Miriallia was having a peaceful conversation with Athrun.
"Mmm Miriallia, how much was damaged on the Archangel, when it was hit by the Minerva's positron cannon?" Athrun asked the brunette haired woman in a weak tone.
"I do not know precisely how much was damaged, Athrun. But I have heard both Murdoch, and some of the other mechanics complain about how much that needs to be repaired" Miriallia explained thoughtfully.
Nodding slowly a couple of times. "Emmm I see. I better make certain to apologize to Murdoch, and the other mechanics, the next time I see them" Athrun mumbled softly.
Hearing him say that, Miriallia tilted her head to the side, in a puzzling manner. "Why do you need to apologize Athrun? I know that you where on board the Minerva back then. But it's not like you where the one, who fired that weapon at us. You would never do something like that"
Smiling sadly at her. "You are right Miriallia, I would never do something so terrible. But as you said so yourself, I was on board the Minerva back then. I might have done whatever I could think of to convince Captain Gladys not to attack you guys, but that does not change the fact Mir, that when the people I cared most about in the world was in danger, I was dumb as I was standing amongst those very people, who was trying to hurt the ones, I care about. So I kinda feel like Miriallia, that apologizing to the mechanics for all the damage on the Archangel, is the least I can do. I should have done more to stop Zaft and the Minerva from attacking you guys"
Narrowing her eyes thoughtfully, Miriallia used the next couple of minutes to go over everything Athrun had just said. "If talking to Captain Gladys did not work, Athrun, the only other thing I can come up with you could have done, was take Captain Gladys hostage, and thereby forced the rest of the Minerva not to attack us. Yet doing something so insanely reckless, would most likely have cost you your life, Athrun, and none of us wants that, we are all relieved that you are safely back here in one piece"
"Thank you, Mir" Athrun mumbled softly, sincerely grateful that even with all the heartache he had given Miriallia two years ago, she still had such kind and caring words to say to him. Athrun truly was grateful for the fact, that he was allowed to call Miriallia Haw a friend.
Yet before either Athrun or Miriallia could think of anything else to say each other, the door to the room flew open, and Cagalli rushed in there with such unbelievable haste, that Kira who she was still being dragged behind her, almost tripped over his own feet when they entered the room.
"Athrun, Athrruuuuuun!" Cagalli cried, while at the same time squeezing her brother's hand so tightly, that it obviously hurt a bit resulting in Kira rapidly pulling his hand free from Cagalli's slightly painful grip.
Seeing his beautiful fiancée and best friend standing there a couple of happy tears immediately left Athrun's green eyes and descend slowly down his face. "Cagalli, Kira I...I am so happy to see that you guys are all right...I really thought you died..."
Taking a brief glance back at her brother, Cagalli noticed much to her deep annoyance, that even with Athrun pouring his heart out to them, the way he was, Kira's thoughts still seemed to be somewhat occupied elsewhere. The big fool was most likely still worrying unnecessarily about Lacus.
"Stop worrying already, and pay attention you idiot!" Cagalli hissed angrily out through her teeth, just before she gave Kira's left arm a hard slap. After that, she immediately step over next to the bed Athrun was resting on, and while staring directly down into Athrun's green eyes, Cagalli slowly reached up and brushed a bit of blue hair away from his forehead.
"It's nice see you too, you...you big dummy...We...We where all so worried about you...I...I really thought you were dead when you first got here..." Cagalli cried, as she collapsed on to her knees and buried her face in Athrun's chest, crying both tears of sadness, over how close she had came to lose the man she loved, but also tears of joy, over finally having him back here with her.
Moving his hand out from under the cover, Athrun place it on top of Cagalli's head, gently caressing her soft blond hair. "I'm sorry, Cagalli. I'm sorry that I was damn gullible, that I believed everything, the Chairman told me. I'm sorry that I let him talk me into joining up with Zaft again. And I am especially sorry for leaving you for such a long time, Cagalli. I love you, Cagalli Yula Athha. I love you so much"
"I...I...love you too Athrun!" Cagalli sobbed, while snuggling even closer in towards him, taking great comfort in being so close to him.
Still combing his fingers through Cagalli's short hair, Athrun slowly raised his gaze, and looked over at his best friend. And just as Meyrin and Dearka entered the room, Athrun began talking to Kira and a soft tone.
"Kira, I'm also sorry about what happened to the Freedom. I know how much that mobile suit meant to you since Siegel Clyne gave it to you. I really did try to convince Shinn that you were not his enemy, but he seemed determined to blame you for the death of that Stella girl"
It was at that very moment, the oldest person in the room decide pull away the long white curtain, hiding his bed.
"Ok that has got to be the biggest load of bullshit, I have ever heard. Kira here was not the one who kill Stella, it was Sting that bastard who shot her down, and killed the poor girl" Neo growled hatefully, still angry as hell that Sting had, without even giving it a second thought, so mercilessly shot down the Chaos.
Having never expected to hear that voice ever again, Athrun stared at the blond man, like he almost thought that his eyes was playing tricks on him, and that he was actually hallucinating. Yet since blinking rapidly half a dozen times did not make the second pilot of the Strike gundam, disappear into thin air, Athrun's confused mind slowly came to the conclusion, that Mu La Flaga really was laying there on the other bed.
"Mu you...you are alive" Athrun gasped out.
"Yeah that does seem to be the case here. And since just about everybody else present in here, has talked to me from time to time, I can pretty much guarantee you, that I am not a ghost only you can see. If I was I would likely be hanging out in a women's locker room somewhere. You only have to watch one or two movies about guys becoming invisible to know, that a women's locker room is apparently our first destination, after gaining that ability, it is actually rather cliché if you ask me" Neo joked with a small grin on his face.
Chuckling weakly at the Hawk of Endymion's witty response. "It's good to see you again, Mu" Athrun softly told the blond haired man.
"Thank you" Neo said back, then tried his best to shake his lumpy pillow, with both of his hands tied together.
As pleasant a surprise as it had been for Athrun to discover, that Mu La Flaga was still walking among the living, it honestly confused the blue haired teenager a great deal, seeing Mu tied up the way he was. In Athrun's eyes Mu was very much a part of the Archangel's crew, so it made little to no sense to him, that Mu was tied up like that. And after watching the man laid back down on the bed, Athrun immediately asked the others about it.
Clearing his throat softly a single time, Dearka smiled sadly at Athrun, as he gave his friend a response to his question. "Well you see Athrun, the reason why we got him tied up like this, is because good old Mu La Flaga here, has lost his memories. He doesn't remember Miss Murrue, or anybody else here on the Archangel. Heck, he even insist on being call Neo Roanoke, instead of his real name"
Looking away from Dearka, and back over at the Hawk of Endymion. While it was certainly true, that Athrun had never been as close to Mu as the married couple or even Dearka, Athrun was still deeply sadden to know that Mu did not remember any of them, and he sincerely hoped, especially for Miss Murrue's sake, that Mu would at some point in the near future regain his memories.
Having listened quietly to everything Dearka had told Athrun about Mu's condition, Kira could not deny, that he was honestly quite a bit tempted to let the others in on the secret, and tell them that some of Mu's memories had actually returned.
The only reason why Kira kept his trap shut and casually change the subject, was because he had promised Mu not to say anything to the others, and also because that he knew, that Mu still needed some time to think through, what he remembered.
"To talk about some else. You do not have to feel guilty for what happened to the Freedom Athrun, it's not like you were the one, who destroyed it. So just relax and make sure you heal properly. It would be a shame if you were unable to play soccer with you kid once it's old enough to do that" Kira said, while smiling slightly at his old friend.
"Emm, thank you, Kira, I am glad to know, that you don't blame me for the Freedom's destruction" Athrun said back, then while thinking about what Kira had said, about playing soccer with his kid Athrun slowly moved his hand away from on top of his fiancée's head, and while Kira's words kept on echoing through his mind, Athrun brought his hand down to Cagalli's slightly round belly.
"So emm...is this...is this child really mine?" He asked weakly, even though deep in his heart Athrun already knew the answer to that question. He just felt like for some inexplicable reason, that he had to ask that question out loud.
Immediately after those words had left Athrun's mouth, Cagalli pulled away from him and sat up on her knees, glaring angrily at her fiancé for asking such an unbelievable stupid question.
"Noo it's not your's, idiot! It's Mu's over there. I have been pregnant with his kid for the last two years now!" The blond girl hissed, sounding very much like an angry python that was about to strike. While at the same time pointing over at Mu, who immediately closed each one of his blue eyes, and pretend to be asleep. Obviously hoping that simple action alone would save him from getting even more mixed up in this lover's spat, than he already was.
Yet while Athrun did take a glance over at Mu, it took less than a second before Cagalli continued her loud overall shrill nagging.
"Of course it's your's, you big dumbass, you where the guy who I gave my virg...Emm yes it's YOUR'S!" The blonde practically screamed, at the top of her lungs, seriously hoping that everybody else presently in there, was so brain dead and stupid, that they did not realize what she had just reveal to them.
Yet one single glance around the small room, made it totally clear to Cagalli Yula Athha that none of her friends had missed what she had just said, they where all smiling so strangely at her, even Meyrin looked like she was having a tough time, keeping her laughter at bay. It was however only once her eyes found their way to Dearka, that Cagalli realized that she was not going to hear the end of this, anytime soon.
'Ohhh deeeeeear God, why did that idiot have to be in here...?' She mentally asked herself.
"Well, well, well, it would seem like, we just got a bit of juicy information about Athrun's and Cagalli's relationship, don't you think so too Kira old buddy?" Dearka asked with a mischievous look in his eyes. After all those times Cagalli had punched, kicked and yelled at Kira and him, these last few months, Dearka did not want to waste this given opportunity to tease Cagalli a bit and get back at her, even if it meant that she was most likely going to hit him later.
"Hmm yeah I do believe that you are right, Dearka. We did get some juicy information just now, but since this is my sister and childhood friend we are talking about, I could have lived without that information. I can hardly stand watching Cagalli and Athrun kiss, so the thought of them doing anything more than that, is totally grossing me out. I think I might actually go throw up after this" Kira said, obviously trying quite hard to exaggerate as much as he possibly could right now.
Feeling a displeased vein run over her forehead, Cagalli found herself briefly wondering, just how many more times, she was going to feel like beating the snot out of her brother, and Dearka, until the kid was born.
Truth be told, the only reason why Cagalli did not waver from Athrun's side, was because Athrun was still gently stroking her round belly, with a look of pure and sincere happiness on his face, and Cagalli simply put could not bring herself to take this long awaited moment away from her fiancé. Beside even though, this could in no way be consider all that intimate, Cagalli was still very much enjoying the attention, Athrun was presently giving her, being back together with him again, after being apart for so long, was something she had longed for a great deal, these last few months.
"You two idiots do know, that the only reason why I don't kill you and dump you down nearest trash shoot, is because there are soo many witnesses down here" Cagalli hissed angrily to the two smirking blockheads.
After that, the only thing that could be heard in the room, was a bit of small talk between Cagalli and Athrun, who was still rubbing the blond's stomach. And the sight of the two of them looking so utterly content and happy, did make a hint of a smile appear on Meyrin's lips, even though a part of her was still feeling kinda jealous.
And so in an attempt to rid herself of those negative feelings, Meyrin turned away from the sight, and looked over to see what the other was doing, Dearka was embracing that kind looking brown haired girl from behind, while they both kept on watching Cagalli and Athrun, behave all lovey-dovey and sweet.
And knowing that it was pretty much pointless to try and get a conversation going with either one of the two couples, Meyrin looked over at the blond haired man called Mu, which the redhead of course now knew was the very same person that was written about, down on the memorial wall. Apparently he had somehow survived whatever it was, the Archangel crew had thought killed him.
Yet unlike Dearka and the young brunette, Mu did not pay the least bit attention to what Athrun and Cagalli was presently doing. Instead he was keeping himself busy with a game of solitaire.
And while Meyrin did find herself briefly wondering, just how in the world the man had manage to shuffle all of those cards, with his hands tied up like that, the redhead quickly decided after watching Mu play a bit, that she did not want to disturb him, which meant that the only one left for her to talk with in there, was Kira, and as she looked over at him, she saw him leaning quietly against the wall, over by the door, with a deeply anxious look in both of his eyes.
'Hmm I guess he is still pretty worried about his wife. Maybe if I talk to him I can get him to think about something else' the redhead thought, as she moved a bit close to him.
"Can I ask you one or two questions, Kira?" Meyrin asked in a gentle tone.
With him being so caught up in thinking about his wife, the woman he loved so dearly, it honestly came as a bit of a surprise to Kira, when Meyrin suddenly began talking to him without warning. But even as the young man let out a small surprised yelp, and stared at the girl like she had just grown a second head, Kira still managed to get out a reply to her question, by telling her that he would do his best to answer whatever questions she had.
"Well you see Kira, I was just kinda curious about how many crew members the Archangel has?"
Narrowing his purple eyes slightly, Kira reached up and rubbed his chin in a thoughtful manner. "That's a bit hard to pinpoint Meyrin. Ever since we reached Orb quite a few new crew members has joined us, including you and Athrun" Kira explained.
Feeling slightly disappoint that Kira did not know the answer to that question, Meyrin let out a short sigh, before she quickly asked Kira the next questions on her mind, thereby making it impossible for him to start worrying about his wife again.
"Do you know Kira, if there is an empty room somewhere I can use? I really do not want to stay cooped up down in med-bay, any longer then I have too" the girl said, sincerely hoping that the brown haired man had a positive reply to that question.
"Hmmmm I do believe, that the room besides Mayu's, is empty. One of us can show you the way there later, Meyrin" Kira said, figuring that since both Mayu and Meyrin had gotten along so well, the two girls wouldn't mind being neighbors.
Smiling gratefully at him, Meyrin immediately asked the next couple questions. The first being about when exactly the meals was usually served here on board the Archangel.
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Yet while Kira was busy answering Meyrin's questions, his beautiful wife was sound asleep in her bed out on the Eternal. It had been a very long and tiresome night for the young pink haired woman, seeing as she had spent over half the night studying the papers DaCosta had brought back from the Mendel Colony.
But even though Lacus Yamato now had quite a bit more knowledge about what about what exactly it was Chairman Durandal was planning, there was however still one very important issue, that elude the pink haired girl. Even after all the work she had put into finding out what it was, Lacus still did not know what this Destiny Plan of Durandal's was, while it had been mentioned quite a few times in the papers. Pretty much the only thing young woman had been able to figure out, was that it was an idea of some sort that was meant to somehow reform the world in one way or another.
And just the mere thought of whatever twist idea the Chairman had to make this Destiny Plan of his a reality, was truly one of the must horrifying things Lacus could image, and it had been one of the reasons why, it had taken her almost an hour to fall asleep.
In Lacus' eyes, Gilbert Durandal truly was the devil incarnate. While it might be difficult for some people to believe, but Chairman Durandal might just be as bad as Rau Le Creuset, and that creep had tried to destroy and wipe out all of humanity. There seriously was no doubt in Lacus' mind, that they need to do everything possible to stop Gilbert Durandal, from succeeding in carrying out this Destiny Plan.
Yet while the pink haired woman slowly turned over, and kept on dreaming about the more peaceful times together with her husband, and all the other people she loved and cared about. Lacus did not realize that at this very moment in time, the Eternal and the Factory was slowly being surround by five Zaft Nazca-class destroyers.
To be continued.
We are getting close to Kira and Lacus' reunion. Now I have a small question for you guys, am I the only one who likes Meyrin better than Lunamaria?