I'm sorry for the delay guys. I have used most of my free time these last few weeks to play Elder Scrolls Skyrim. As I'm sure some of you know, that game is quite hard to put down when you first get start on it.
Chapter 38
It was the day after Athrun's little chat with his best friend. And with everything he had been told, the blue haired young man had pretty much stayed cooped up in his room, ever since they got back to the ship yesterday. He hadn't even bother to leave the location on the bed to get some breakfast.
Yet even with all the time he had spend there, the sleep he had gotten through the night had been quite that one time he finally drift off, he ended up having some spooky dream, about his mother being killed at Junius Seven. Which to be honest, had been more then horrifying enough on it's own. Yet when he had suddenly seen, a highly pregnant Cagalli die right along with her in the explosion that destroyed the colony. He had immediately woken up drench in sweat from head to toe.
Seeing two of the most important people in his life disappear at exactly the same time, really was the most awful thing he could ever image. And it had left him slightly longing to have somebody, he could talk with about all of this.
Unfortunately there wasn't really anybody on the Minerva, he felt emotional close enough to for such a serious discussion. There was to tell the truth, only one person on the entire ship he would even consider talking with about the whole going to be a father thing, and that was Nicol.
But for some inexplicable reason, he didn't really feel as close to the green haired pilot, as he had been under the last Bloody Valentine war.
It might only be a couple of minor things up until now. But it was kinda becoming more and more obvious, that Nicol's personality, had change slightly these last two years. It was especially when, they where out in combat, that Athrun had noticed a few alteration in Nicol's fighting style. And to be somewhat honest they where not the kind of change, he would describe as good.
Back when he had been the Blitz's pilot he always had the minor tendency to try and avoid hitting the enemy mobile suits cockpit directly. The only time as far Athrun knew, he had gone for that place intentionally was when he had destroyed the Calamity. Not that anybody could really blame him for that.
Yet now however he seemed so much more determined to hit that places, so the pilots inside the machines had no real chances of survival. And seeing such a change in his once fight hating friend, was frankly not something he liked.
And he seriously wonder if Nicol more violent way of finishing the enemy of was a direct result of Mayura getting killed. But as much as he would actually like to ask Nicol about it. He knew that there was no way he could do that, without bring up more then a few painful memories. Which was definitely not something, he wanted to do. They might not be as close friends as they where in the past. But Athrun still consider the former Blitz pilot, a very good comrade, that he surely didn't want to lose for asking foolish questions, about the past.
But that also meant that he was pretty much on his own right now. He frankly did not really care, if the entire crew knew, that Cagalli and him where engaged. But he did not want anybody to know, that she was pregnant with his child.
Shinn had already made it pretty clear, that he wanted to kill her. So if he actually heard something about this. Athrun was pretty certain, that the Impulse pilot, would feel an even deeper desire to get rid of her. He truly did seem to have something against, Cagalli feeling any kind of happiness.
Which was one of the reason why Athrun was seriously starting to doubt his decision about joining Zaft again. No matter how much time he spend here on the Minerva, he just didn't have the same homelike feelings, he had on the Archangel or even the Eternal.
It was kinda like he didn't belonged here at all, and he was honestly starting to miss the whole family thing, he had with a large part of the Archangel's crew. If he had been over on that ship, he could pretty much have talked, with almost everybody about what was bothering him. Yet here on the other hand, it just didn't feel right at all. There was not one person around he could just calmly walk over to, and starting talking with about his future wife's pregnancy.
"Damn it, what am I doing here?" He wonder out loud. Just as he slowly turned over and looked in to the wall, now thinking about the whole assassination attempt on Lacus. Ever since Kira had told him about that, he had tried his best to dig up some useful information about it. But no matter what he did, he had yet to find anything about the nine ASH type mobile suits being stolen or send to Orb. Which was starting to make him wonder if the Chairman, really was trying to make a peaceful world, for all of them.
There was just so many things, that seemed somewhat strange about all of this. If somebody really had ran of with nine ASH type mobile suits, why the heck did Zaft find it necessary to hide it. They hadn't done something like that, when the Earth Forces had ran off with the Chaos, Gaia and Abyss. There was most likely only a few Zaft soldiers, in the whole world, that didn't know at least something about the Theft at Armory One.
So why was there nothing about those damn ASH types, was it actually the Chairman, who had send those damn things after the pink haired woman.
One thing was definitely sure, if he really was the one responsible for that attack. The large amount of respect and loyalty Athrun had for the Chairman would without a doubt disappear.
Which could mean, that he might just end up up fighting against Shinn, or perhaps even Nicol, that apparently hadn't given what Kira and Dearka had told them back at Crete, nearly as much thought as he had, which actually did seem bit strange. Normally Nicol was the type of person that thought very thoroughly about every single piece of information, he got.
But perhaps Nicol had, decide not to put too much thought in to the whole thing Kira and Dearka had said about somebody trying to kill Lacus. It was after all quite hard to believe, and if Nicol still remain faithful to the Chairman. That meant, that there was no way that Athrun could just walk over to him, and start talking with him about how sincere the Chairman's plan really was.
As suspicious as Athrun might be about all of this. It didn't really change the fact, that he had no definite proof, about the Chairman's involvement in the attack. So for now at least, he would remain here, as a part of the grey space ship's crew.
If for nothing else, then to search for the truth about the black haired man's intention.
And if it turned out, that the whole thing with Zaft and the Plants, only wanting to fight defensive battles. Was just one big cleverly plan parade, that the Chairman had put together, to hide from the public what he was really working on, wasn't nearly as cheerful as he let on.
If that really was the case, then Athrun would most definitely leave the ship without a moments hesitation. He did not want to help out with some crazy scheme, that might end up causing more death and destruction to the world. That was not the reason why, he had made the decision to join Zaft again, he had done that in an attempt to keep his fiancée, the married couple, and everybody else out of the war. But also to make a world where Coordinators and Naturals could live alone side each other again.
And if the Chairman really was up to something else entirely, then making the world a peaceful place for all of them. Then there was no real reason for him to stay there any longer. Yet even as he kept on thinking about that, he slowly turned over, and looked back up at the ceiling like it was the most interesting thing ever.
"If all of us really are being fool here, maybe I should consider putting an activation lock on the Saviour's system. That way I could make certain that it would be quite hard for anybody else to use that machine, incase I have to leave this place in a hurry" he quietly mumbled to himself. Just before he slowly reach over and grab on to the cover, which he pull over himself. Seriously hoping, that nobody would disturb him for a few hours, while he got some much needed sleep.
After being awake through most of the night. He was having a very difficult time, keeping both of his eyes open. And it only took a few short minutes for him to drift off in to a deep sleep.
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Yet while Athrun was resting in his room.
He had no idea about, how worried the two Hawke sisters, was about his lack of appearance since yesterday. He normally wasn't the type of person, that would just wander of to sulk somewhere on his own.
Even if he was in a bad mood, it was very unusual for him not to show up when it was time for breakfast. And realizing that his little rundown with the Freedom hadn't gone to well, both girls had instantly decided to go down and check on him.
Not that any of the two redheads, was overly delighted about having the other along for company. They had both made the calculation, that now was the most perfect chance to spend a little alone time, with the handsome blue haired man. And when the two sisters had realized, that they where heading in the same direction. It had almost lead to an argument between them, seeing as neither of them want a third wheel along for this visit.
Yet before they could even start yelling at each other. The captain had past them, which had pretty much put a stop to the fight, before it could even begin.
So in the end they had to be satisfied with just glaring over at each other, every third second. Each of them sincerely hoping that something would happen, that would prevent the other from going any further.
Yet as they where getting closer and closer to their destination, it was becoming somewhat obvious to the girls, that they where not going to have that sweet romantic moment, they had both been dreaming about having with Athrun, when they had left the mess hall.
But even true Meyrin could not deny, that he big sister's present still annoyed her greatly. It was becoming quite difficult for her to keep the question back, which she had been wondering about the last few minutes.
So after letting out a small sigh, she finally brought the deep silence between them, to an end. "Do you think Athrun is all right. Perhaps he is getting sick or something like that?" The youngish of the two redheads asked, not doing anything to hide the deep concern in her voice. Ever since Athrun had become a permanent part of the Minerva's crew. Meyrin had found herself developing quite the crush on the slightly older teen.
And unlike her sister she had no idea, about his engagement to Cagalli, she just found herself liking it more and more being around him. Especially because he was so much more mature, then most of the other boys on the ship, the only one that even came close to him was Rey, but for some inexplicable reason, she never found the blond haired teen all that attractive. But maybe that was because, she kinda felt like he was hiding a whole bunch of stuff from them, and that actually frightened her a bit.
He was just so overly intimidating to her with all of his secrecy. And she couldn't even imagine herself dating somebody that would never tell her anything, that frankly would be a very boring and insulated relationship. And that was most definitely not something, she wanted in a boyfriend. Athrun just seemed so much more open and compassionate then Rey, like somebody could actually tell him everything, and he would still listen to her no matter what.
Yet as she continued standing there getting more and more giddy, the deeper she disappeared in to her thoughts. Lunamaria just couldn't stop herself, from rolling her eyes a single time, at her younger sister's slightly odd behavior.
But when she saw the smile on Meyrin's face grew a bit in size, a small displeased vein, slowly appeared on her forehead. It wasn't like it required the world's biggest mind reader, to figure out that Meyrin was daydreaming about Athrun at the moment.
And to be completely honest Luna did not really like that idea. She already had one rival in Cagalli Yula Athha, and she frankly didn't need another one to compete with over Athrun's affection. It was bothersome enough, that the blond girl had such a big lead, it definitely didn't help. That she now had to keep a close eye on her sister too, incase she suddenly came up with someway, to win Athrun's heart, away from the Orb princess. But if she knew Meyrin correctly she was way to shy to do anything to drastic, so it was still Cagalli that was the main competition in this whole thing.
Yet there was a small part of her, that was starting to wonder if she even stood a chance against Cagalli. Athrun and her, where after all engaged to be married, and it truly did seem like, Athrun was totally devoted to Cagalli. And she was seriously starting to doubt, that no matter what she did and how hard she tried, there was just no way, he would ever show and give her, the same kind of caring attention he would give Cagalli.
Just thinking about it, was all that was needed, to make a slightly sad look, appear in both of her eyes. While she wonder why in the world, she had to get a crush on a guy, that was clear already in-love with somebody else.
'Damn it! This really is annoying, why couldn't I have met him before that Athha girl did...!' She thought displeased, while thinking about how happy the two of them had seemed, when they where together. And if it had not been because of her own crush, on the blue hair man, she would be slightly tempted to admit, that the two of them did make a cute couple.
Yet before she could think too long about that, she quickly shook those annoying thoughts away. The red haired woman wasn't ready to give up just yet, she was still quite determined, to try and win Athrun's heart, away from the blond princess. It was however quite clear to her that she had a very tough battle ahead of her.
And it was somewhat clear to her, that she had quite the battle ahead of her.
It was actually a bit of a shame, that she could not use her mobile suit in a fight such as this, if she was using her ZAKU she was confidence in her victory, it was after all much more powerful, then Cagalli's Duel Rouge, or whatever it was call.
Yet while all of those things was rummaging through her head, she made the decision to answer her little sister's last question, it was not like they could spend the rest of the day, standing around out there like this, dreaming about what they where the hoping the future would bring.
"I don't really think you have to worry about Athrun being sick Meyrin, he is properly just a bit stressed out with everything that has been going on lately, first we had that whole Lodonia mission. Then we got attack by the Gaia and yesterday it was the Freedom!" Lunamaria explained. While thinking briefly about how unbelievable powerful the Freedom was, and the person piloting the blue wing mobile suit. As far as she knew, the pilot of the Freedom was suppose to be a very good friend of Athrun's, which most likely made the whole thing even harder on the Saviour pilot.
Yet even true, she honestly did feel somewhat sorry for Athrun, over the fact, that he had to fight against somebody. Which was obviously a very important person in his life, she still continued on with her explanation.
"And when you really think about it sis, that's definitely more then enough, to make just about everybody feel ready to collapse in exhaustion. Which is actually why I think it was good thing, we got delay here, thanks to the large amount of damage the Freedom did to the mobile suit forces at this base" Lunamaria said. Knowing that it would most likely take a few days, before this place was once more fully operational, and able to put up a fight incase it got attack, as thing where right now, it would be a pretty easy target to take out, with most of it's mobile suit forces either headless or armless.
Now that she was give it some thought, it was actually a bit amazing, that the Freedom was able to take out that many machines without hurting the pilots, which made her wonder slightly, what kind of training the guy inside the Freedom had gone through, to get that good. But the only thing she could say for sure, was that it had without a doubt taken him a very long time, to develop skills like that.
And it honestly made her wonder, if she could get even half as good as that guy, and just thinking about, what she had seen of the small fight between Athrun and him yesterday, made her strive to improve her own piloting skills. And that was the reason why, she made the decision, to go down to the simulator to train, once the two of them where done visiting Athrun.
Yet she was standing there, thinking about all of that, she didn't noticed that her last few words had pull Meyrin back to reality, and that she was now looking over at her with a somewhat thoughtful expression on her face.
"You might just be right about him being worn out sis, but I'm still worried about him. So lets hurry up and get going" the youngish of the two redheads said in a loud tone, that could be heard far and wide, while she saw her older sister nod a few times in agreement.
And with nothing else to say to each other at least for now, the two siblings continued onwards, towards their destination. That actually hadn't been that far away from where, they had been spending the last few minutes.
Once over by the door, Lunamaria instantly reached over and knocked a couple of times on it. Yet much to their disappointment, they didn't get any kind of response from in there. Pretty much the only thing, they could hear at the moment, was two male crew members, that was busy discoursing, just how long they where going to be stuck at this base. Apparently both of them agree on that it was quite tiresome being here with nothing to do.
Other then that there was no sign of life nearby, and once the two men disappeared further down the hall. The only thing that could be heard, was the two siblings soft breath, which actually sounded quite loud with nothing else around to make any kind of noise.
So after sharing a small look Luna again reach over and knocked on the door this time a bit harder then before. Yet just like the first time they still didn't get a answer from the sole inhabited of the room.
"Do you even think he is in there sis, maybe he is down in the hangar looking the Saviour over" Meyrin said, while thinking back to how fierce, the battle between the red mobile suit and the Freedom had been yesterday. She had actually been quite worried, that he had gotten seriously injury when she had seen the white mobile suit toss it's shield over in to the Saviour. It just looked so dangerous and violent, when the Freedom had done that, and she couldn't even describe how relieved, she had been, when she realized that he was not hurt at all.
"Hmm well he might be down there, but I highly doubt it, the Phase Shift armor should be more then capable of handling something like that. Yet it was properly very uncomfortable being inside the mobile suit when the Freedom's pilot did that. It most have been so damn loud. Kinda like sticking your head in to a drum, just before somebody hits it, with as much force as possible!" Luna said. Just as she tried to imagine how large a headache that gave Athrun, when his friend in the Freedom had pull of that little stunt. It frankly was the kind of thing that, would make one swallow more then a few aspirins, in the hope that they would at least reduce the pain, a tiny bit.
And Luna truly was happy, that she had not been in his place, when the shield had flew in to the side of the red transformable mobile suit.
Yet even as she stood there trying to figure out, how bad a headache Athrun had been having when he gotten back to the Minerva yesterday. She again reached out and knocked on the grey metal door, but just like the first two times they didn't get a reply.
Which once more, made the two girls look over at each other. "Should we just take, a small peek in there? To make sure that he is ok!" Meyrin asked. Her voice still contenting most of the concern from before. Just as she once more began, to wonder if the blue haired man was actually starting to get sick. If that was the case, it might be a good idea to tell the captain about it as soon as possible, so she knew what was going on and had the time to figure out what they should do about it.
Hearing her little sister ask that. Lunamaria again turned her attention towards the entrance, to Athrun's room.
"Hmm well I know I for one, would feel kinda bad if we just left, while there is something wrong with him in there. So it would most likely be best that we follow your suggestion Meyrin and take a little peek, and if he is just sleeping we can always leave again right after!" The oldest of the two girls said. As she hurried gave the small button to open the door a light push.
Which instantly made the metal door fly open. So now both of them could see, the person they had been search for, resting calmly on his bed. And just the sight of the one they both harbour a crush on, sleeping so peaceful, was enough to make each of the girls smile softly.
But that was only until, he slowly turned over and mumbled out a few short word. "Cagalli...you...look so pretty...like that...!" He said, then continued sleeping soundly.
Not realizing just how upset his last somewhat incomprehensible sentences, had made his two unannounced visits. It wasn't like he actually knew that both of Hawke siblings was in there. So it was not really his fault that he hurt their feelings, by calling out after his fiancée's name.
Yet as they stood there watching him. Neither of the siblings really knew how to react at first, they where both feeling somewhat letdown, that it was the blond haired woman, that he was talking about in his sleep. It did after all make it pretty obvious to both of them, just how much he truly cared about her.
And it took a couple of very long tense minutes, before Lunamaria was able to regain enough of her composure, to realize that it was properly best if the two of them didn't linger around in there much longer.
So still far from happy about what they had just heard, only a few short moment ago, the older sibling slowly reach, over and softly grabbed on to her little sister's left arm. "We should hurry and get out of here Meyrin, before he realizes that we are in here!" She said, then gently began leading her still somewhat stun little sister back over to the still open door.
Once outside again. Lunamaria turned and looked back at her only family member, on board the Minerva. "Are you all right Meyrin? Hearing him call out for Cagalli like that, definitely wasn't something I wanted to hear!" The ZAKU pilot said. Before taking a glance, over at the now once again shut door, which the two of them had just step out of a few seconds ago.
Hearing that question. Meyrin turn her downwards gaze over at her big sister. "I'll be fine sis! I guess that I was just a bit surprise, by him doing that. Yet it's not like I didn't know how close he and miss Cagalli are. But I most admit that I am a little jealous. I kinda wish that I had somebody in my life, that care so utterly much about me, that he couldn't even get me out of his mind while sleeping" the youngish sister said in a slightly dreamy tone.
Smiling slightly at that. Lunamaria slowly moved over and put both of her arms up around her sister, hugging her gently.
"I really don't think, you have to worry about that Meyrin, I'm certain that someday you are going to meet just the right person, that wouldn't be able to keep his eyes or his hands of you" Lunamaria said, in a somewhat confident voice, while stroking her sister's back in a soft and caring manner.
Yet before she could do that for long. Meyrin slowly backed away from her and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "You do realize sis, when you are saying it like that. You are making it sound like he is going to be a complete pervert, that's not the type of guy I want!" She said firmly, and with a tiny hint of displeasure, in both of her eyes.
Thinking briefly about her own words, Lunamaria quickly realized, that they could very easily be misunderstood, which made her laugh softly. "Ok, I'm sorry about my bad choice of words, but I'm still absolutely certain that you are going to meet just the right person, soon or later Meyrin!" The older girl insured.
Which made Meyrin smile slightly, as she nodded a few times, truly hoping that Luna was right about what she had just told her. "Thank you sis, you don't know how much your words means to me. Now then do you want to go with me back to the mess hall, and get some ice cream? I could really use some of that stuff right about now!" She explained, while trying to decide what flavor she wanted.
Also feeling a bit of a urge for something sweet, Luna immediately agreed to her sister's proposal. So with no more reason to stand around out there, the two Hawke sisters, began making their way back in the same direction, they had came from not long ago.
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Meanwhile elsewhere on the ship. Shinn was sitting beside Stella's bed down in the sick bay, gently combing her soft blond hair. The girl had been comatose since she was brought on board a few days ago.
And seeing as the ship's doctor, had told him when he had arrive that there was no real change in her condition. He was seriously starting to fear that she would never wake up again.
Yet when he had asked the doctor about that, the man had been somewhat reluctant to give him a reply, it was almost like the man was trying to hide something from him, and it did not help that every single medical report about the girl was delivered directly to the captain.
As much as he respect the woman and was willing to follow most of her orders, he already knew what she thought about his tight friendship with Stella. She had even told him shortly after Stella had been pull out of the Gaia, that it would properly be wise for him not to get too attach to the comatose girl, seeing as she was a enemy pilot and that she had already kill more then a few Zaft soldier, among them even Heine.
Yet when he had been told, that she was most likely one of the few survival Extendeds, from the completely disgusting facility, they had been at only a few short days ago. He had instantly forgiven Stella for everything she had done. Seeing as it wasn't her fault that the Earth Forces had done all of those terrible thing to her, she was innocent victim in all of this.
It was not like she had actually asked those damn bastards, to test out all of those drugs on her, and make her in to what she was now. In his eyes she truly had done nothing wrong. Unfortunately he was pretty much the only crew member who thought that. Everybody else saw the blond girl as a prisoner of war, and that really piss him off.
He just didn't get, why the others couldn't see, that everything she had done up until now was actually liked directly back to the Earth Forces. It was all their fault that the war had broken out in the first place, and that Stella had end up in this condition.
And even as he was sitting there continuously rubbing her hair, he once more swore, that they where going to pay for everything they had done to the girl, and if there was anybody out there, that even tried to get in his way, they could be damn sure, that he was going to tear them apart.
Yet as he was thinking about all of that, a friendly voice suddenly cut in to his highly hostile thoughts, about the very people that he was pretty much blaming for every damn thing that was happening in the world right now.
"Hey there Shinn any changes?" Rey asked, just as he stepped in to the room and slowly made his way over to the bed, where he instantly noticed, that the girl's face was cover by a thin layer of sweat, and that she was even more pale now then the last time he had seen her, which made it kinda obvious that she wouldn't get better anytime soon.
And if she actually ended up dying here, Shinn might just lose most of his will to fight. Which meant that they had nothing to deal with Kira Yamato and the Freedom. And that made him decided, that once he was done in there, he was going to talk with the captain about transferring the girl, to a place where she could get whatever treatment she required to get better. It wasn't like the Minerva had the right kind of equipment, to handle something as dire as this.
So it would definitely be for the best, for the poor girl, that she got to a real hospital, or at least a place, where there was a doctor that could actually do something to help her out. It frankly didn't take a whole lot of medical experience, to figure out that the ship's doctor, had very few ideas about how to treat the girl.
And if anybody asked Rey about it, he could honestly say that he found it kinda pathetic, that the man would keep of the facade and pretend that he knew something about what he was doing. If anything that properly just make her condition even worth.
Which definitely wasn't a good thing, there was no way they could afford to lose this girl just yet. They had to make sure that Shinn was in tiptop condition when the time came for him, to do battle with Kira Yamato.
And even if she should die from whatever illness she had, they just had to make certain that it was somewhere else, so Shinn wouldn't know anything about it. He was simply to vital a part, for his and Gilbert's idea to take out the Freedom.
So there was no way, they could not permit her to ruin the entire thing. She was without a doubt the biggest threat to the success of their plan, and if it somehow went wrong. He seriously doubt, they would get a second chance. So everything just had to be absolutely perfect, when the time came for Shinn, to put all of the training which he had gone through, these last many weeks to the test.
"I really don't know Rey, it doesn't seem like she is ever going to get better. She looks even worse now then she did yesterday, and that moron of a ship doctor could not even tie his own shoes if he actually concentrated on it!" Shinn said. Not bothering to hide, that he had very little respect left for that man, in his eyes he was always running around everywhere else, instead of treating Stella, like he was suppose to.
Hearing Shinn describe the doctor's abilities in such a way, the blond pilot couldn't help, but let out a small laugh. "I guess that's one way to put it Shinn. Yet once I'm done in here, I promise you that I'll immediately go down and speak with the captain about it. In my eyes it doesn't matter, what this girl has done, it just wouldn't feel right to leave her hanging, if we could do something to help her out!" Rey said. Just as he reach over, and gave Shinn's left shoulder a reassuring squeeze, to show the boy that he really meant what he had just said, after that he again looked over at the girl, that by now was breathing a bit harder then before.
And seeing how sweaty her entire face was right now, made him turned around and slowly make his way over to the sink, where he pick up a white soft cloth, which he instantly put under the faucet, and soaked it in the nice cold water. After doing that he softly twist the cloth, to get some of the superfluous liquid away.
Once that task was carried out, he again walked back over to the blond woman's bed, where he slowly reached down and carefully used the cloth, to dry away most of the sweat. He especially concentrated on getting her drench forehead cleaned off.
Seeing his best friend do that. Shinn smiled slightly. It was kinda nice to see that there was somebody else other then himself, that could be kind to Stella, here on the grey space ship.
"Thank you Rey, I really appreciated your help, with everything that has been going on lately, I just can't figure out a way to help her out. And it really doesn't help that everybody else, on the ship sees her as a prisoner and not the victim she truly is!" He said, deeply dissatisfied with the most of the crews, lack of interest, in the blond innocent girl's condition.
Hearing that Rey got a light thoughtful look in each of his eyes, as he slowly turned around and throw the used cloth back over in to the sink, where he had first found it. After that he again looked back at the Impulse's pilot.
"You can't really blame them for not trusting her Shinn, she was after all an enemy pilot, when she was brought on board. Yet perhaps when they have had a little time to get use to having her around, they might be able to better accept her!" The blond pilot reassured.
Then took a deep breath before he once again continued talking. "But now that we are discoursing, the very subject of who can be trusted. What is your opinion, on Athrun's performance yesterday, when he was going up against the Freedom gundam?" Rey asked. While taking a quick glance around, to make certain that there was nobody nearby that was listening in on their conversation.
Slightly taken back by that question, the dark haired teen lean back in his seat while he blinked a couple of times in confusion.
"Well to be honest Rey, I think it was kinda pathetic. He was just hanging there even when the Freedom had all of it's weapons stash away. I really don't get why the heck the Chairman let that guy join up again, and even made him a member of FAITH!" The boy said. For the first time ever, seriously wondering what in the world the Chairman could have been thinking about, when he given Athrun permutation to once more become a part of Zaft.
"If you ask me Rey, I honestly think that the Saviour's power, is wasted on a guy such as him. It would just have been so much better, if either you or Nicol had been the once chosen to pilot that machine. Not some dumb fool, who doesn't take down an enemy, when the opportunity is right in front of him!" The angry teen growled out. Completely and utterly pissed off over the fact, that the blue haired man, hadn't lifted a finger to stop the Freedom, when the white and blue mobile suit, had made it's escape from the area.
Nicol had at least tried, to stop the blue Orb Murasame from getting away. Yet it wasn't really that hard to tell, that the pilot of that machine, was quite good at long distance combat. And that was definitely not something, that the GOUF had been designed for. It was more a close ranger machine, then anything else. At least that was how it looked when Nicol was piloting, the sword and heat rod wielding yellow the machine.
Thinking briefly about what Shinn had just told him, regarding Athrun and his abilities to use the Saviour properly. Rey nodded slowly in understanding, while rubbing his chin in a thoughtful way. "I see what you mean Shinn. And you can be sure that I'll mention everything you told me to the Chairman, once I have the chance to talk with him again!" The blond teen said. He too had been frequently wondering, just how wise a decision it had been letting Athrun join up with Zaft again. In his eyes the blue haired teen, was almost as big a threat to their plans, as Kira Yamato was.
Unfortunately as things where now. Athrun was still quite useful which meant that there was no way that Gilbert wanted to get rid of him just yet.
But it was starting to become more and more obvious, that Athrun simply was far to attach to his fiancée Cagalli and the rest of the Archangel's crew. And as long as he kept having those feeling, he would never be completely loyal to the Chairman, like he was suppose to. Which meant that they either had to find a way, to make him forget about those emotions. Yet when one took a look at the boy's action up until now, that pretty much seemed impossible.
So they would most likely have to find a secondary way, to make absolutely sure, that Athrun Zala could not in anyway interfere in their plans, he was to put it simply far to dangerous a individual to have running around, if he was not fighting along side them.
And while still thinking about that and the things Shinn had just said. He slowly moved his gaze away from the floor, and over at the comatose girl.
"I better get going Shinn, now that things a relatively quiet around the ship. I'll see you later, once I'm done talking with the captain" The ZAKU pilot said, then turned around and walked slowly towards the exit of the room.
With Shinn looking after him the entire time. "Thank you Rey, and good luck!" He called out after his friend. Just before the door flew back shut after him, which made it kinda obvious, that he was not going to get a response from the slightly older teenage. Not that he cared all that much about that.
The only thing on his mind right now was the blond girl he cared so much about, so after watching the door for a few short seconds. He turned around and once more reached up and started to rub her soft hair.
000000
Meanwhile somewhere else very far away from the Minerva, and earth in fact.
Gilbert Durandal was sitting quietly in his office, obviously thinking quite hard about the report, his lover and the mobile suit team. Which had discovered the hijacked shuttle had just given him.
Not really all that surprising the Gaia gundam, had of course been removed from the small transport ship. Which could only mean that it had now become apart of the Eternal's mobile suit forces. With Andrew Waltfeld involved in this whole mess. It really was the most logical place, for that mobile suit to be now.
Unfortunately they had no real clues about the runaway pink space ship's whereabouts. Even true the Glasgow team was, searching high and low, for the small bunch of traitors. It truly did seem like that the Eternal and it's crew had once more succeed in evading Zaft's grasp.
Yet as serious a matter all of this truly was, there was something else occupying his mind at the moment, as he sat there looking down at the white queen on the chess board. Seriously wondering if Lacus Yamato as she was now call being out here was a beneficial thing for him. It definitely would be much easier, to remove the pink haired woman from existences, without the Archangel's crew or her husband around to protect her.
"Hmm maybe the two of them being apart like this, is a small blessing in disguise" he mumbled softly in a satisfied tone. Just before he moved his hand over, and picked up the white queen, then moved her to the left side of the board, so it was now standing quite far away from the white king, which up until now had actually been standing in such a position, that it actually seemed a bit like it had been guarding the queen this entire time.
And after rearranging a few more of the pieces. He slowly lean back in his chair, and looked up at the ceiling, now trying to figure out just how he could best use the pink haired woman's present out there to his own benefit. If he could somehow capture her, it would provide him with an almost perfect mean to manipulated with the Ultimate Coordinator.
Maybe she could even be used to lure the boy to his own death. It certainly was an idea that was worth going over, if Shinn somehow failed to take out the Freedom and the male Yamato, like he was suppose to.
And with that in mind, he made the decision that it was in his plans best interested that he told the leader of the Glasgow team, to focusing their attention on capturing the Eternal, once the ship was located, that way they would finally be able to bring all of those traitors to justice.
At least that was the excuse he was planing to use, for giving this order in the first places. He did not want anybody to know, that the sole reason why he wanted this, was so that he had an ace in the hold against Kira Yamato.
Love was after all a very powerful emotion, that could easily be turned and used against the very people, that was having those kind of feelings for each other.
Yet no matter how good the idea truly was. It didn't really matter if they couldn't find the Eternal, so that was definitely the first thing they had to do. Which he knew could be a very difficult task. Nobody seemed to know where to the Eternal had disappeared to, after the last war.
Yet one thing was certain, neither that ship or the Archangel could stay hidden forever. Soon or later they would show themselves again, especially since they obviously considered Zaft, as their enemy.
"Well I guess, that I just have to be a little patient for now" he whispered to himself.
Just before he began wondering about a subject, which he had already thought about more then a few times up until now. And that was how Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne had meet each other, and how exactly they had ended up getting married of all things.
That most definitely was somewhat of a mystery in his eyes, that he could honestly, say that he would like very much to get some answers to. Yet that did seem to be impossible, at least at this moment in time.
To be continued.
I'll see all of you next year! Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.