Chapter 43
It was the day after the battle at extremely tough battle at Crete.
And even true most of the Minerva was full of activity.
There was one person that was sitting quietly all by himself, trying hard to solve a crossword puzzle. Nicol had found in the room, when he had first arrive there. Not that he had much luck with that.
To tell the truth he was far more busy keeping an eye on the red haired girl, that had been sleeping so calmly, ever since she got injured in yesterday's battle. And as many times as the ship's doctor had reassure him, that she wasn't in any kind of real danger, and that she only needed a lot of rest to get better. He still couldn't help but worry about her.
Especially when he thought back to the conversation he had been having with her before the battle had started. He might still not have the first clue about how exactly he felt about the whole dating thing, she had been talking with him about.
Yet he could honestly say that he did not want to lose her. She was after all one of the most important people in his life. And if there was somebody out there, who did something like this to her again. There would definitely be hell to pay, that much was certain.
He just wished that he had somebody to talk with about the dating thing. If she where to start asking him about that again. He honestly had no idea about what he was suppose to say to her. It really would have be easier for him, to make a decision about this, if he had at the very least tried to be out on a real date.
Unfortunately his knowledge about that subject was kinda low, seeing as he had never really considered trying to go after another girl, after Mayura had been murder by the Calamity.
Yet when he gave it some thought he realized. that there was simply no way, that Mayura would have wanted him to go around feeling depressed and guilty about not being able to save her, for the rest of his life.
She would have wanted him to be happy no matter what. But even knowing that, he was still kinda blank about what to say to Lunamaria. And he frankly wished that he had somebody he could go talk with about the whole relationship business.
Yet the only person he knew that was in a serious relationship was Athrun. And he really didn't want to bother him, after he was shot down by Kira and the Freedom, in yesterday's battle. So that pretty much left him to figure all of this out on his own.
"Damn it! A yellow flower that most would see as a weed?" He asked out loud, while he once more turned his attention back down at the crossword.
Yet even true it could not in anyway be denied, that the answer was pretty simple. There was just so many things going through his mind right now. That he didn't really think a whole lot about the response. He just sat there looking down stiffly at the question, for what seemed like hours.
It did however only take a few minutes before somebody else gave him the reply. "That's kinda easy, it's dandelion Nicol, it can't be anything else" a sweet low voice told him, which instantly made him look down at the only other person in the room. Where he saw that both of Luna's blue eyes where open, and that she was looking up at him.
"Lunamaria thank God you are awake, we where all so worried about you!" He told her in a loud tone, while carefully studying her face for any signs of discomfort or pain. Her expression however, didn't really tell him much about how she was feeling at the moment.
So after a few seconds he came to the decision, that it was most likely best, that he just asked her how she was feeling. Instead of wasting time trying to figure it out on his own.
Yet before he could even get his mouth half-way open. The tired girl asked him properly the last question, he had expected to hear just after she had woken up.
"So was I right Nicol? It was dandelion just as I said right?" She asked weakly, while slowly rubbing her cheek against the soft cushion she had been resting on since she had been brought there yesterday.
Blinking a couple of times at her words. Nicol slowly turned his gazes back down at the half finish crossword puzzle. And after counting the small fields for the letters he realized that she was right. So after using a brief moment to write that word where it belonged. He placed the crossword down on the floor, and once more turned his attention back towards her.
Yet one look at her face made it kinda obvious that she was still waiting for some answers to the whole dandelion thing, which was enough to make the green haired man sigh softly. He actually didn't really think that his crossword puzzle, was all that important at the moment.
But if it could make her happy that she had guess the right word. Then there wouldn't really be much harm in telling her the answer. "Yep you where right Lunamaria it was dandelion" he gently explained to her.
Hearing that Luna smile softly, while she tried to get a little more comfortable on the bed. And when she finally succeed in doing that. She once more started speaking in a low tone.
"That's awesome, by the way what happened to me Nicol? The last thing I remember from yesterday is all of those irritating Murasames coming towards us, and even that is a bit blurry, the only things I can recall is a few minor pieces of the battle" she said, while trying to figure out how exactly she had ended up in this totally beat up condition.
She just hoped that whatever injurious she had would not leave behind any scars. There might be some of the more lame male soldiers around who had the crazy idea that all women would fall head over heels for them, if they had one or two scars.
She however had never really found the thought of somebody getting injured all that attractive, and she could honestly say that she would never go out with a guy that was actually proud of his injurious.
And the idea that she could end up having just one single scar on her body. Was all that was needed to send a long cold shiver all the way down her spine, she would honestly preferred if her body could remained scar free.
There might be some women out there that found a man with a few scars here and there attractive. But it frankly didn't work the other way around. In her eyes a girl's skin had to remain smooth and sleek no matter the cost.
Yet while she was laying there worrying about that. Nicol's friendly voice interrupted her thoughts about the matter. "You took a pretty hard beating from a Murasame Luna. But as luck would have it, none of it's missiles hit your mobile suit directly. If that had happened there is a good chance, you would have been dead now" the man said. Not doing anything to hide how sad that thought made him.
Looking a bit at him, the red haired pilot could of course not help but notice the expression. And the thought that he had been so concerned about her, made her smile softly, while she slowly reached over and took a hold on his hand. Which she instantly gave a small reassuring squeeze, to show him that she was still there, and that he had nothing to worry about.
And once she got eye contact with him again. She continued on with their somewhat peaceful conversation.
"Guess that would explain why I'm feeling like total crap right now. But what about everybody else, are they ok?" She asked, with a slightly concerned gaze in both of her eyes.
Hearing her ask that. Nicol got a somewhat far look on his face, while using his free hand to scratch the back of his neck a few times. Not totally sure if it was wise to tell her, that there was a few crew members who had lost their lives under the Murasames assault on the ship.
And after thinking about it for a few seconds. He decided that it was most likely best not to say anything about that, until she was feeling a little better. Yet not wanting to arouse her suspicion about what had happened. He began talking to her in a calm voice.
"Well Rey, Athrun and Shinn are all ok. You where the only pilot who got injured. Unfortunately you can't really say the same about our mobile suits, the Impulse and my GOUF where the only machines that got out of that battle intact" he explained, while thinking about how badly damage, the ship's two red mobile suits gotten been in the last fight.
One single look at them made it pretty obvious for just about everybody. That they where almost impossible to repair. And to make matters even worth Rey's ZAKU was presently missing it's right arm, after his attempts to slow Kira down.
"I'm glad to hear that everybody is all right. But there is one thing that does confuse me. You said that the only mobile suits that are still function where the Impulse and your GOUF. But what happened to the Saviour? What kind of guy was good enough to take that machine out?" She asked, with a slightly curious look in both of her blue eyes.
Thinking briefly about her question. And how it had looked when Kira had destroyed the Saviour.
"It was taken out by the Freedom, quite brutally I might add. To tell you truth Luna, there was actually a small second or two, where I thought Kira was going to kill Athrun. It just looked so rough when he cut the Saviour apart" the green haired teen explained. Not even closed to realizing that the whole battle had been stage almost from the begin.
Somewhat taken back at hearing that the Freedom had made another appearance in one of their last battles. Lunamaria blinked a few times, as she wondered slightly why exactly that guy, and Archangel kept on doing that.
But in the end those thoughts made the headache she already had grew even larger. So she quickly shook those thoughts away. And once more turned her gaze up at her green haired friend, where she slowly asked him the next question on her mind.
"That guy in the Freedom what is he like Nicol? You know him don't you?" She asked softly, while seriously hoping that the headache she had now, wasn't something she had to live with, for the rest of her life.
Smiling slightly at her. Nicol rubbed his chin in a thoughtful manner. "Hmmmm well Kira is a pretty nice guy and a great pilot. Somebody I can honestly say I wouldn't have minded watching my back, when fighting the three stolen gundams or some of the other things, we have been facing. He's never been the kind of guy who likes to kill his opponents, something I actually respect him a great deal for" Nicol said.
Nodding a few times in understanding to that. Luna continued trying to satisfy her curiosity about the Freedom's pilot. "Do you miss fighting along side him?" The girl asked, easily able to tell that he was thinking hard about this Kira guy right now.
That was the sort of question that was a bit harder to find a response too.
"I would surely be lying, if I said that I was happy about having to fight an old friend. But Kira made his own decisions, and I made mine. I'm not regretting returning to Zaft or becoming a part of the Minerva's crew. I did get a whole new bunch of friends when I did that" he explained softly, briefly wondering if he had decide to remain back on earth two years ago, if he would have been a part of the Archangel's crew now.
But he only got a tiny moment to think about that. When Luna's tired voice interrupted his wandering thoughts.
"Well I for one Nicol can say that I'm glad that you are here. Together with Meyrin you are properly the most important person to me right now" she said. Just before she again gave his hand a small squeeze, which he immediately returned.
Truly happy at being told something like that. Nicol slowly reached down and brush away a few stands of hair, that was hanging down in front of her eyes.
"Thank you Luna it really means a lot to me hearing you say that. I feel the same way about you. And even true I can not deny, that I would like very much to keep on talking with you Lunamaria. I do think that it would be best if we stop for now and you go back to sleep. You really do look like you are having trouble keeping your eyes open" he gently told her.
While watching as she nodded a few times in agreement. Then drift of to sleep only a half minute later. "Sleep tight Luna" he mumbled. Then reached down and picked up his crossword puzzle, and once more started working on that.
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Meanwhile elsewhere on the ship.
Talia and Arthur was in her office, busy discoursing the condition of the Minerva and it's mobile suits. "Fortunately the engines didn't receive any kind of damage. But the hull is in pretty bad shape, and over half of our weapons is out of commission. It will take weeks to repair it all, especially if we have to stay hidden in this trench for long. It's not possible to get any of the necessary parts we need out here!" Arthur said not bothering to hide, that he was quite worried that somebody hostile might discover them.
Nodding slowly in understanding. Talia thought hard about what they should do now, they could turn around and head back the way the came or they could continue onward to their next destination.
Yet no matter what they decided to do. It could not be denied, that they would have to spend a whole lot of time in the next port they got to. If they somehow manage to get that far.
It didn't really take much of a genius to figure out. That it was highly unlikely that they would be able to survive another attack. In the totally beat up condition the ship was in now.
"What about our mobile suits Arthur? How are they doing?" The brown haired captain asked, sounding completely exhaust at the moment. It was pretty obvious that she hadn't been able to get much time to relax since yesterday, with everything that had needed her attention around the ship.
Feeling slightly sorry for her. Arthur turned his eyes down at the report he had brought with him in to the captain's office.
But quickly realizing that the information which she had just asked him about wasn't on this page he hurried flipped over to the next one, which he tried his best to read as swiftly as humanly possible.
He really didn't want to disturb the captain any longer then absolute necessary. He honestly thought, that she too deserved a little time of to get some shut eye.
And once he was done reading through the report, he again looked back at the captain. "Well according to Aves report it will take some kind of miracle to repair the Saviour and the Warrior, both of them where completely thrashed. And the Phantom took a pretty hard hit from the Freedom. So that one will much likely be out too, the next couple days, and that leaves us only with the Impulse and Nicol's GOUF!" He said.
Honestly a little pissed off at how much their fighting power had been reduced in the last battle, fortunately both the Earth Forces and Orb, had taken a lot of damage too. So if they really thought this through, they might be able to avoid another fight until they got new mobile suits, and the ship was fully combat ready again.
He frankly didn't want to think about how it would end, should they get in to another battle now.
Yet as he stood there trying so hard to figure out how high their survival odds was, should they encounter another Earth Forces fleet. It was only once he heard the captain let out a deep exhaust breath. That he finally got his mind back on reality and made him look back over at the woman.
Where he immediately noticed that she had a deep thoughtful look on her face. "If those two are our last line of defense. Then would you please tell them, Arthur to get plenty of rest. If we do run in to any other hostile forces, it would be bad if our only two pilots a ready to fall asleep standing up. And I especially means Shinn, he has been spending an awful lot of time with the Gaia pilot" Talia said. Not really happy with the idea, that the stubborn boy, was still harboring a crush on that girl.
Quickly realizing how much sense her words made. Arthur nodded a single time in understanding. "I'll make absolutely certain to tell both of them, once our meeting is over captain. I do believe Nicol, has been spending most of his time, down in Lunamaria's room, since yesterday!" The man said hastily, without stopping to breath once.
Smiling slightly at that. Talia found it really sweet that the green haired man was so concerned about the ship's only female pilot.
And she was happy to know that there had been somebody watching the girl this entire time. Even true it was one of those people, that should really be resting instead of staying awake the whole night. Yet she knew Nicol well enough to know, that as worried as he was about Luna, there was no way he would risk the lives of the rest of the crew, by forcing himself to stay awake for a long period of time.
Soon or later the boy was going to get some sleep, without being told to. Even if it meant, that he had to sleep in Lunamaria's room. So perhaps the best way to handle that situation, was simply to have somebody bring mattress down there. That way the green haired man could stay where he was, and keep watch over the Lunamaria.
Actually now that she was giving it a little thought. Talia found herself admitting, that Lunamaria and Nicol would make a very attractive couple. Not something she had the least bit against.
Unlike a relationship between Shinn and the Gaia pilot. She still thoroughly believe that a relationship like that was bound to be very dangerous for the boy. They really didn't know anything about that blond haired girl. So there was really no telling how unstable, she really was.
Unfortunately Shinn was way to stubborn to realize that. Which had been made even more clear, when Rey had been there to talk with her about the girl, not that they had actually come to some sort of agreement under that meeting. To be honest they had been quite far from it.
It wasn't like Talia had anything against that the people on her ship where in a relationship. Truth be told, she actually found it quite sweet, that something like that could be going o,n at time such as these.
And she would under normal circumstance have encouraged the whole thing. This however was far from normal. There was just no way the brown haired woman was able to fathom, how Shinn and that girl could even build a long last relationship with each other. And she kinda doubt, that there was anybody on the Minerva, that actually thought it was a good idea, that the two of them got together.
Yet that one time she had tried to tell him that. He had refused to listen to her, and had continued watching the comatose girl. Acting just like her words had meant next to nothing to him.
It didn't really matter who it was, if anybody had anything negative to say about the Gaia pilot he would simply ignore them completely. It was kinda like he had just decided to forget everything that girl had done, and behave like she was just a normal sweet girl, he had meet on shore leave. Not an enemy pilot, that had a ton of Zaft soldiers on her conscience.
And Talia was starting to doubt that she would ever be able to persuade the stubborn boy to stop sending so much time with that girl. It just didn't matter to him, how convincing and reasonable her words was. He just wouldn't stay away from that girl.
Yet while still deeply worried about how that whole affair would end. She slowly moved her eyes away from her desk and back up at Arthur. "I really appreciate your help Arthur, just don't be to hard on Nicol, I would like if there was somebody around to keep an eye on Lunamaria. I really don't think she should be alone at a time like this. And if you can avoid it, then don't start a big argument with Shinn. I don't really think any of us are in the mood to listen to that" she said.
Nodding slowly to the captain's words. Arthur got a somewhat determined expression on his face. "I understand captain, to tell you the truth I'm pretty worn out too. So I'll just make a quick visit to the sick bay and tell him to make sure to get a little sleep. After that I'll go talk with Nicol, I don't really expect him to start arguing back" he said, then hurried turned around and began making his way over to the door.
But before he could leave Talia call out after him again. "Once you are done with those minor tasks Arthur. Then please try and get a little sleep yourself. I really don't want the two of us to collapse from exhaustion the next time we are needed up on the bridge" she softly told him. Then smiled slightly once she saw him nod one last time.
After that he quickly disappeared out of the room. Leaving the exhaust woman by herself. And once the captain was absolutely sure, that he hadn't forgotten anything.
She slowly began unbuttoning her uniform while at the same time pulling out a nice red fluffy nightgown. Sincerely hoping that she could at least get a few hours of rest, before somebody would disturb her again.
And once she had the long nightgown on, it did not take many seconds before she was resting peacefully in her bed.
But even true she was slightly tempted to read a bit in the book laying beside her bed. She quickly decided against it, then tried to get a little more comfortable before she closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.
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At the same time up on the Minerva's deck.
Athrun was resting his arms on the railing, looking down at the calm blue water below the ship. While he could not deny, that he wasn't sad about the Saviour it was more the Takemikazuchi that was occupying his mind at the moment. It really had been terrible seeing the ship being destroyed like that, and he wondered just how many people had gone down with the enormous ship.
It wasn't like Shinn had been gentle when he had made his way through the ship's defense. It seemed impossible to figure out just how many Orb mobile suits, the boy had taken out yesterday.
Actually as far as he could tell, there was only one sure way of figure that out, and that was to ask Shinn about it. Which was most definitely not something he wanted to do.
The one time he had seen Shinn since yesterday, was early this morning, when he had gone down to the mess hall to get something to eat.
There he had found the dark haired teen bragging to Yolant and Vino about how he had destroyed the Takemikazuchi. And how utterly easy it had been, to take out so many of Orb's completely ridiculous mobile suits.
Athrun realized that if he where to go to him now, just to ask him that one question. Shinn would undoubtedly start boasting again about how cool a pilot he was, and that killing all of those Orb weaklings was no trouble at all. Which wasn't really something Athrun felt like listening to anytime soon. Especially since he actually felt like beating the crap out of the Impulse pilot, for sinking the enormous ship, and killing all of those people.
Just thinking about the image of the Takemikazuchi slowly disappearing down in to the ocean, was more then enough to make Athrun wonder how Cagalli was handling all of this.
She was properly even more depressed about the ship then he was. But at least she had Kira and Miriallia to help her through it. He on the other hand, had to get over his minor depression on his own. There wasn't anybody on the Minerva he could go talk with about what was troubling him, which again made the young man wonder if he had made the right decision about joining this ship.
He knew that if he had done things differently yesterday, he could have been back on board the very ship he considered as a second home. And back together with Cagalli once more.
But even true he could not deny, that he had missed her a lot ever since he had heard that she was pregnant with his child. The blue haired man wanted to make absolutely certain, that Zaft and the Chairman wasn't a threat to their unborn child.
No matter what gender it was going to be, it definitely deserved to grew up in a peaceful world. Even if it meant that he had to fight against the few friends, he had on board the Minerva.
He just wished he had some kind of clue about where to begin searching for information about the Chairman's true agenda. It wasn't like he actually had the option of sneaking in to Rey's room, and start hacking away at whatever computer was in there. If there was one thing which Athrun had never been all that good at. Then it was hacking.
It was just that kind of skill he had never bother taking the time to learn, which meant that now that he actually had a use for it. It annoyed him greatly that he had said no to those lessons back when going to the academy.
He just figure back then, that learning how to fire a gun accurately and piloting a mobile suit, was all the more important then hacking.
But unfortunately neither one of those skills, had much use when gathering together information. Unless of course he where to head straight to Rey's room point a gun at the blond man's head, and threaten him to tell everything that was going on.
Yet even if he did that. Athrun kinda doubt that Rey would actually tell him anything useful, that bastard seemed more loyal to the Chairman then anybody else on the Minerva. So Athrun figured that he would properly rather die, then give away their plans.
And that meant that idea was no good either. "I guess that I just have to find another way to get to the bottom of all of this!" He thought out loud. Not realizing that he wasn't alone up there any longer. And it was only once the person behind him started talking in a gentle tone, that he finally snapped back out of his thoughts about the Chairman and Zaft.
"What is it that you need to get to the bottom of Athrun? If you want me to maybe I can help you" Meyrin offered kindly. Making the blue haired man jump slightly, as he instantly turned around on one foot, where he almost seemed a bit like he was ready to put up a fight, if it was necessary.
And just the sight of him reacting in such a panicing manner, was more then enough to make the red haired girl, giggle slightly in amusement. He actually looked kinda cute when he was like this.
It wasn't all that frequently that Athrun would let his guard down enough, for anybody to actually give him a small scare like this. Now that she saw him behave all rattled up. The girl could not help but find him even cuter, then she already did.
But to her minor discontentment it did not take long before he returned to his usual serious mood. "It's not like I'm not glad to see you Meyrin. But to tell you the truth I actually thought that you would be trapped up on the bridge. Until the ship was ready to leave this place" Athrun explained to her. Then slowly turned his gazes away from her and back down at the ocean.
Seeing him do that, the young red haired woman, took a few steps closer to him.
"Well it has been quite a busy day Athrun. We did after all receive quite a beating from all of those Orb Murasames. I can't even count how many things that needs to be repaired, after yesterday's battle" she said.
Then use a few brief seconds, to think about how close that one Murasame had came to destroy the Minerva's bridge.
And even true she had made extra sure not to mention it to anybody. There was actually a small part of her, that was feeling somewhat grateful, that the Freedom had shown up when it did. If it hadn't been for that machine, they would most likely all have been dead now.
She did however not think about those creepy things for long, before she hurried shook them away. Then moved the rest of the way over beside Athrun.
"But what about you, how are you feeling? You do seem quite depressed right now. I'm really sorry about what happened to the Saviour. I was kinda worried about you when the Freedom tore it apart" the pigtailed girl said. Before leaning a bit forward to try and determined, what kind of expression he had on his face, at this exact moment.
Yet the only thing she was able to figure out by doing that, was that he presently had a lot on his mind right now. Unfortunately there was just no way for her to know for certain, if the things she had just said, was included in it.
He didn't really pay all that much attention to her, which honestly did disappoint her a bit. If there was anything at all bothering him, the redhead would very much like to be the one to help him get through it. Yet if he refused to tell her anything, there wasn't really all that much she could do. It wasn't like, she could actually force him to tell her, what was going on.
And even true it was done somewhat unwillingly. She started considering if it wasn't best that she just left him alone. So he could handle these things on his own, he honestly did seemed completely insulated, from the outside world right now.
So after looking at him a bit longer. She slowly turned around, and was just about to leave, when his voice called out to her. "I'll be just fine Meyrin. It's not like losing the Saviour is the end of the world. At least I got out of the whole thing without getting even one scratch. Guess that I'm pretty lucky, that Kira is so well trained in disabling mobile suits!" He said
Deciding against telling the youngish Hawke sister, that it wasn't really the lost of the gundam that was bothering him. But the destruction of the Takemikazuchi, and all of those people, that had lost their lives in the process.
Truly delighted to know that his mood wasn't so bad, that he refused to talk with her. Meyrin once again got back over beside him.
"I'm just relieved that you weren't hurt, the Saviour was after all just a machine. And I'm pretty certain that once the Chairman hears what happened to it. He will give you a new one. Perhaps he will even hand you are more powerful mobile suit, then the Saviour!" She said in a cheerful tone, which she honestly hoped, would rub of on him a bit.
Hearing those words, Athrun took a glance away from the ocean and over at the girl. Where he gave her a small grateful smile, it really was nice to have somebody to talk with right now.
Even true it was impossible for him, to tell her anything about the actual source of his minor depression.
It was just that ever since his chat with Kira back at the space port. He kinda felt like he was all on his own on this ship. Like nobody there wanted to have anything to do with him.
So it was kinda nice, that there was somebody around. That was willing to listen to what he had to say, when he was feeling down in the dumps.
And even true he did have his doubts, about him getting a new mobile suit. He still thought that it was really kind of her to say something like that, to try and cheer him up.
"I guess that we just have to wait and see Meyrin. But I do think that it will take quite a while, before I'll get a new mobile suit" he said, while wondering just how long they would have to be stuck out there. Before it was somewhat safe for them to continue onward towards their next destination. Unfortunately that was kinda hard to figure out with all the damage on the ship.
Looking a bit at him. Meyrin thought hard about everything he had just said to her, which made her realized that he was properly right.
It would properly take quite a while, before they would arrive at a place where it was possible for them to get two or three new mobile suits as replacement for those they lost yesterday. Especially if one of those machines had to be a gundam.
Yet as she stood there thinking about that. Another question which she had been wanting to ask Athrun for a while now enter her mind.
"By the way Athrun, now that we are talking about mobile suits. How can it be that all of you machines are coloured red? When you first got here, I took a small look at both the Aegis and the Justice. And those two had almost the exact same red colour, as the Saviour" the red haired woman said, with a curious look in both of her blue eyes.
Thinking briefly about what she had just said. Athrun once more turned his gaze away from the ocean and back over at the girl.
"I guess that I'm just fortune getting gundams program with that colour. Beside if I suddenly where to start piloting a blue or green mobile suit, the whole red knight nickname would most likely be ruined!" He explained, there wasn't really that many people around that knew he had that nickname. But there was a part of the young man, that kinda liked it. So there was definitely no reason to mess around with that.
Blinking a couple of times at the explanation, Meyrin slowly reached up and scratched her long red hair a bit.
"Hmm I didn't know that you had a nickname like that Athrun. But I most admit it does somehow suit you" she said.
Then tried to image how he would look dressed in a red coloured armour, and riding along on a beautiful black stallion, with a big sword at his side ready to fight just about anybody. That would try and prevent him from saving his lovely princess.
She being the princess of course.
Yet as she stood there fantasizing about that. Her common sense remind her, that something like that was properly never going to happen. He was after all very much in-love with Cagalli. So there was just no room in his heart for her to be his princess.
And that bitter realization was all that was needed to make a big displeased vein appear on her forehead.
Noticing just how far away she was in her own thoughts. Athrun waited a patiently for her to return back to reality.
And once he saw the girl lean her head a bit to the side. It looked to him like she was just about done with her daydreaming, not that there was anyway for him to be absolutely sure about that. But that did not stop him from opening his mouth, to give the red haired girl a response, to the compliment she had given him about his not so common nickname.
"Thank you Meyrin, that's kind of you to say" he softly told the grey space ship's CIC, not realizing that she was only listening to him with a half ear.
The pigtailed teenage was simply far to caught up in her romantic fantasy right now, to pay all that much attention to him. Even true, he did play a very important role in the many scenes, that was happening in her mind at the moment.
Yet once Athrun came to the realization that she was still not listening to him. He once more turned his attention back towards the sea. Deciding to take a small pause in their conversation, until Meyrin was ready to continue.
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Meanwhile somewhere else on the ship.
Shinn was leaving the mess hall carrying a can of soda in his left hand.
There weren't really that many people around out there at the moment. Something that he could honestly say, he was quite pleased with.
If there was one thing he wasn't in the mood for right now, then it was having a long conversation with any of the other crew members. He simply wanted to get down to the sick bay as quickly as possible, to spend a few hours watching over Stella.
Fortunately the few people he passed on his way down there, didn't really pay all that much attention to him. They where all far too busy with their own work to begin a long conversation.
Which of course meant that it did not take long for him to reach his destination, where he instantly made his way over to the beautiful blond girl. "Hey there Stella, I'm sorry that I haven't been by today. But after everything that happened yesterday, there was a few things I had to help out with" he calmly told her. Then was just about to sit down, when he suddenly realized that something had been different about her face.
But even knowing that, it took the teen almost an entire minute to figure out what exactly the change had been, unlike the many other times, when he had been visiting her. This time around both of her eyes had been halfway open, when he had started talking to her.
And the realization that his crush might be awake, was more then enough to make him drop the can of soda and jump back up on his feet, where he immediately began watching her face, for any signs that could tell him, if she was awake or not.
"Stella can you hear me?" He softly asked her. Then saw something that made a huge happy smile appear on his face. Once he saw her beautiful blue eyes slowly open and look up at him.
But just as he was about to say something cheerful about her finally waking up. The boy could of course not help, but notice the utterly panicking and scared expression that instantly appeared on her otherwise lovely face. Once she laid eyes on him.
It almost seemed like she thought he was a ghost of some kind, which had no other reason to be there, other then to hurt her. And before he could do even one thing to try and help her out, she open her mouth and let out an enormous scream, that could properly be heard halfway through the ship.
"NEO WHERE ARE YOU?! PLEASE HELP ME NEO!" The frightened girl cried out loudly, while a large amount of tears left her eyes and flew down her face, as she fought hard to get out of the bed, and away from the creepy looking person standing above her.
Unfortunately while desperately trying to get away from there. Her right leg just happened to get entangle in the sheets. Which meant, that it was impossible for the terrified girl to get away from there.
And once she finally realized that. The more violent part of her personality took over, which apparently quickly came to the conclusion. That there was only one way for her to handle this situation.
Which was to defend herself, and make certain that this strange person, could not do anything painful to her. So without any hesitation her hand flew forward, heading straight towards the red eyed teenager's face.
Seeing that Shinn instantly reacted and caught her fist before it could hit it's intended target. "Stella please calm down! Everything is going to be all right Stella! There is nobody here, that are going to hurt you!" Shinn yelled loudly, hoping to calm the girl down. This panick attack she had now, was even worth then that time, where she had fallen in to the sea, and he had been forced to jump in after her.
Yet no matter what he said and did. The scared girl kept on struggling against him, and it was only by share luck that he somehow manage to intercept the next attack heading for him.
"Stella you are not in any kind of danger here, I'll protect you, I promise YOU!" He shouted loudly, while tightly holding on to both of the girl's hands. Making sure that she would not get the opportunity to try and punch him again, or use her finger nails as weapons. The dark haired boy knew from past experience that those things where pretty sharp. So if it was possible, he would very much like to avoid having his skin shredded up by them again.
But no matter how many calming words he yelled out to the girl.
She continued on with her ferocious struggle to get away from him. And when he at a brief moment actually manage to get eye contact with her. He came to the deeply bitter realization, that she did not remember him at all.
"STELLA JUST WHAT THE HELL, DID THOSE EARTH FORCES BASTARDS, DO TO YOU!?" He loudly asked her.
But even true his angry voice could be heard far and wide. It had least then no effect on the hysterical girl, she kept on fighting against him. And acted very much like she was ready, to scratch both of his eyes out.
It was almost like she thought that now that she was finally awake, the entire crew was slowly going to torture her, one by one.
But as much as Shinn wanted to embrace the girl and reassure her, that something like that was never going to happen, as long as he was around. He simply could not loosen his grip on her.
If he where to do that. It was pretty obvious that he could end up with more then a few scratches and injuries.
"Stella please stop this, I'm not going to hurt you" he tried telling her. But the only kind of response he got from her, once those words had left his mouth. Was an even larger scream, as she quickly moved forward towards him, obviously hoping to bite him now that her hands where trapped by her opponent.
But just as the blond woman was about to bore her teethe in to his left shoulder, she suddenly stopped and fell forward in to Shinn's arms, where the dark haired boy blinked a few times as he looked down at her. Completely and utterly confused about what had just happened to her.
Yet when he took a closer look at her, he noticed the nasty looking syringe that was embed in her left arm.
"What the heck...who the hell did that to her?" He asked concerned.
Then slowly moved his red eyes from her and over to the person standing behind them. He had been so caught up in trying to calm her down, that he hadn't notice the ship's doctor had entered the room.
But one single look at the expression the man had on his face, made it pretty clear that he was in a foul mood at the moment. "I guess that we where kinda lucky, that I had prepared for this!" He said angrily, while gently removing the syringe from her arm.
Seeing him do that. Shinn narrowed both of his eyes, as he seriously considered removing that stupid look from the man's face.
"What exactly did you do to her? Haven't she been drugged enough already?" He asked the man in a low voice, which made it completely clear that it would be very wise of the doctor, to give him some kind of response.
Not really caring about the hateful glare the boy was sending him. The doctor turned around and placed the syringe on a nearby table.
"Please don't misunderstand Shinn. It's not like I'm happy about injecting this stuff in to her. But seeing as we had no idea about, how she was going to react, once she woke up. I believed that it was best to have something ready that could put her back to sleep. If she had escaped from here, there is a possibility that one of the other crew members, would have to shoot her in self-defense" the doctor calmly explained, while picking up his stethoscope.
So while watching the man place the device against the upper part of Stella's chest.
Shinn went through everything the doctor had just said. And as much as he hate to admit it. He had no trouble understanding the logic in the explanation.
He really didn't want her to get kill, after everything she had been through. There was simply no way this innocent beautiful girl deserve that. If it hadn't been for those damn Earth Forces bastards. she would properly be living peacefully, somewhere far away from the battlefield.
And while yet again swearing to make them pay the next time he came across them. He watched as the man slowly removed the stethoscope and place it back where he had found it.
"So doc, will she be all right?" He asked. Then slowly reached down and gently brushed back a few strands of her nice blond hair, while watching her lovely face.
If anybody asked him. There was no way he could deny, that he wasn't somewhat disappointed about the hysterical way, she had reacted, when she had first regained consciousness. And even more so, when he had discovered that she couldn't remember him.
And just the idea that there was somebody out there willing to mess around with another person's memories, was more then enough to make the short tempered teen's blood boil. Whoever it was, that had done this to her, was definitely in for a world of pain, once he was able to figure out his identity. Perhaps it was that Neo bastard she had been screaming about, that was to blame for this.
One thing was definitely sure. That guy was already standing with both of his feet, halfway in the grave.
The pissed off gundam pilot might not be absolutely sure about this. But he was more then willing to bet an entire year's of salary on. That this Neo fellow was the one piloting that highly annoying purple Windam, that had been backing up the three stolen gundams when the Nyiragongo had been destroyed. One thing was certain, that guy was definitely a very dangerous pilot.
But Shinn was completely determined to take the bastard out, if he ever got the chance. He did however only get a few brief moments, to dream about what it would be like to completely disassemble that damn purple machine, when the doctor's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"She is going to be just find Shinn. But I do think that it would be best that you left her alone for a bit. So why don't you go get some fresh air. You look like you could really use it" he told the boy.
Sincerely hoping that he would follow his advise without any kind of complaining. He really wanted to take a closer look, at the bizarre enemy pilot.
When he had been listening to her heart, he had immediately noticed, that it was beating in a very rapid pattern. Like it was actually have a difficult time keeping on going. And that honestly worried him quite a bit. He might not like this girl very much.
But as long as she was in there. He had a responsibility to make sure that she was all right and breathing. And there just no way in hell, he was going to look the other way, when he could do something to help her out.
Yet if it was necessary to run a complete check-up on the blond girl. He wanted Shinn out of there first. The boy did after all have the tendency to think, that everybody else on board this ship, was out to hurt the pure girl.
And he couldn't really concentrate properly on what he needed to do. If the Impulse pilot, was standing only a few feet away from him. Keeping a close eye on every single thing he did. That could honestly get frustrating very fast, especially since the boy would most likely be ready to start a fight, if he gave him any kind of bad news about the girl.
So while the doctor was expecting that he had to get in to a longer argument with Shinn about this. The kid actually manage to surprise him, by turning around and leaving the room, without saying even one word of protest.
"Ok that was unexpected, I really thought that he was going to insist on staying in here. Guess it was a bit of a shock for him, that the girl would actually attack him" he said. Just as he went over to the medical closet to get the equipment he needed to take a blood sample from the sleeping woman. He was going to need that to determined what exactly was wrong with her.
But as he was cut up doing that, he did not notice the pair of angry looking red eyes, watching his every move.
And it was only when Shinn saw, the doctor reached over and carefully pierce the skin on the girl's left arm with the hypodermic needle. That he slowly turned around and left, not wanting to see anymore. He could quite easily guess, that the doc had been lying to him about Stella being ok.
And even true every fiber of his being, was screaming for him to help her out.
He realized that there was nothing he could do. Before the doctor was finish running all of those damn test on her.
But if it turned out that there was something really serious wrong with her. Then he would just have to come up with away to make certain, that she was safe. Even it it meant, that he had to steal the doc's medical report on her.
If his crush was in any kind of danger. He wanted to know about it no matter what it took.
To be continued.