AN: Okay folks here's the next chapter. Sorry it took so long, I'm hoping have the next chapter out in short order but we'll see. Anyways please enjoy and as always if some wants to Beta I'd appreciate it! Enjoy!
PS: I just wanted to really thank my reviewers, I've gotten some awesome and insightful reviews and I want to let you all know that they helped inspire me to keep going even though times are tough right now. So thank you for those awesome reviews!
Chapter Five: Strength Encumbered Unveiled
Though the trip to the PLANTs was uneventful, their arrival was anything but. Their docking was met with all the pomp and publicity of any esteemed high standing guest, politician or otherwise. The crowd that turned out was neither aggressive nor completely friendly, after all Cagalli had called out their leader, but for the most part it was agreed that the possibility of Chairman Durandal being in the wrong. What most wanted to see was the princess who was so powerful as to do all that she had done, including call out their Chairman without any prominent consequences. In many ways since the first war, Cagalli had become as famous in the PLANTs as Lacus Clyne, and not simply because she was the Princess and Leader of the only nation to rival the PLANTs in technology. It was Cagalli herself and her accomplishments during the war. She had held off an entire Earth Alliance fleet and had captained the Kusanagi during the Three Ship Alliance and she had defended the PLANTs while Piloting the Strike Rouge. When the war had ended she had returned to Orb and in two short years she had rebuilt Orb to more then it's formal glory, and on top of all of that, Orb was one of the few countries that freely accepted Coordinators and had little to no civil unrest despite that fact. Cagalli Yula Athha the Princess of Orb and Chief Representative of her Nation led a country that in its entirety proved that Naturals and Coordinators could co-exist. That was the person that many of the PLANT civilians wanted to see, not the puppet she seemed to have become. They would not be disappointed, and with two of most famous soldiers from the previous war as her guards it would be the moment of the century.
"What the hell was she thinking?" Yzak snarled as he stomped into the shuttle.
"Come on Yzak, it's not like she lied or anything," Dearka sighed. "But this kind of explains a lot, and to think Athrun…"
"That idiot!" Yzak growled. "What the hell was he even doing in the PLANTs, and rejoining ZAFT… how could he be so stupid!"
"You're the one who wanted him to re-join in the first place!" Dearka snapped in frustration.
"Yeah but I didn't think he'd be so stupid as to become the Chairman's Puppet Soldier! I don't see why he was in the PLANTs to begin with! What the hell did he think he could do with no official Orb status and as ZAFT deserter?"
"I was thinking there must be something I could do," Athrun told them flatly.
"Oh and like Re-joining ZAFT was going to help anything, you know sometimes you really are and idiot," Dearka stated sarcastically. "You joined, if not an enemy's military, another nation's military knowing full well you might have to fight against your girlfriend's nation. Maybe you didn't know she was pregnant but you knew who she was and what she meant to her nation. It was a pretty stupid thing to do. You could have joined the Orb's military and helped by standing at her side, not running off on some dumb notion."
"You know Dearka, you don't say much that is intelligent but when you do it's pretty insightful," Kira stated calmly from beside Athrun.
Athrun visibly winced while Kira sighed.
"Just what the hell were you thinking!" Yzak demanded. "Not to mention playing boyfriend to that fake Lacus, were you trying to get your ass killed!"
"Look right now isn't the time to be discussing this," Dearka stated tiredly. "How's Cagalli?"
"Tired, but managing," Kira huffed in frustration. "Taking on more then she should in her condition. I think the Chairman was planning on using her current condition in his favor, but Cagalli hates doctors and hospitals, and since we're in the PLANTs, which is essentially a sterile environment she's refusing to be hospitalized."
"She's pretty smart for a Natural," Yzak commented, frowning. "Our orders were to take her to a research hospital that focuses on Coordinator reproduction."
"WHAT!" both Kira and Athrun shouted angrily.
"Jeese, it's not that shocking, she conceived naturally and carried beyond what most Coordinator women can successfully without problems, and she did so in a very strained and stressful situation. Hell for a Natural woman what she accomplished is shocking. You both know the situation up here, it's only reasonable that they would want to know how she did it." Dearka told them angrily. "I may not agree with it but I do understand it, and she caught on before you guys did. She's really something."
"If she can pull off a good entrance into the PLANTs then our not taking her to the medical facilities will be seen as redundant." Yzak commented frowning. "You think your precious princess can pull it off?"
"Even if she couldn't she would do it," Kira commented wryly, "She's too stubborn…"
"Well this will be interesting then," Dearka muttered.
"Are you kidding this is going to be a disaster! Even if she can convince the crowds how do you think she's going to react to that fake Lacus?" Yzak demanded angrily.
"I think Athrun is going to get it," Dearka grinned wickedly. "It should be fun."
"To say the least, Athrun won't be the only one to get it. Cagalli's been itching to have a go at that Meer girl." Kira stated flatly. "I don't blame her either, Lacus is Cagalli's friend and considering what Lacus means to me… I'm sure not going to step into it. Cagalli's something to be reckoned with when the people she deems as 'hers' are hurt."
Dearka winced while Athrun paled a bit. With Cagalli being so out of character they had all forgotten how she could be when she was protecting those she loved. It made sense in more ways then one. Cagalli had been raised as the Princess of Orb and so had led a very isolated childhood with the majority of her outside contacts sizing her up to see how best to use her to their own personnel advantage. Her people had adored her but in reality there were very few people who had known Cagalli for herself and so very few that she could trust or allow herself to care about. In the end no matter how much Cagalli may have protested her status as Orb's Princess there was no way for her to escape it. In the end this made for a very possessive Cagalli who was fiercely loyal and viciously protective. She held nothing back when those she had deemed as hers were in danger or placed in a questionable situation. This 'Lacus' had impersonated one of her dearest friends, hurting the real lacus deeply, and since the real Lacus was with Kira he had been hurt in the process as well. To say the least Cagalli had a thousand or more reasons to lay this girl out, and heaven help any who tried to get in her way.
"Oh, hell," Athrun groaned, "I hadn't thought of that…"
"He's got a Lion by the tail and doesn't know it; the PLANTs are going to be lucky if there are even pieces to pick up!" Kira muttered with a groan.
"What the hell are you idiots talking about!" Yzak raged at them glaring darkly.
"If you thought those announcements she made were bad… just wait until she gets going. Cagalli isn't someone I would want to face going at full steam. She's vicious. I don't know her very well, but she… the one time I saw someone try to hurt Kira…" Dearka smirked. "Let's just say that the idiot didn't know what hit him. It was an EA officer who was trying to bring Kira up on War crimes. Cagalli had all the dirt she could get on him within an hour and had him facing not only a court martial but treason and several other charges. She doesn't pull her punches when she's protecting those she deems worthy of her protection. Do you really think she was Captain of the Kusanagi or the pilot of the Strike Rouge for nothing? She was protecting the ideals of her county, but more then that she was protecting the lives of her people and Kira and maybe a little bit of Athrun too."
"…" Yzak blinked startled, then smirked evilly. "Well they get what they deserve."
"Oh thanks Yzak." Athrun muttered.
"Cagalli are you almost ready?" Kira asked through the door, trying to hide his smile.
"Yeah," Cagalli muttered from where she sat on the cot, glaring at the medic.
"I am doing this under protest," the medic muttered as he flinched under her glare.
"I don't care; the environment is clean so I won't be risking infection unless we don't treat my open wounds. My immune system is low but the PLANTs are a sterile environment." Cagalli told the medic flatly.
"Yes but you're really not strong enough to…"
"I'm stronger then you think and I will not be so weak!" Cagalli snarled.
"Cagalli?" Kira asked softly, his tone filled with worry.
"I'll be fine; how far is it to the car?" Cagalli asked calmly.
"A couple hundred feet, and they've pretty much rolled out the red carpet. Half of Januarius and their mothers seem to be here." Dearka grinned. "Think you can handle it Princess?"
"I better, and don't call me Princess!" Cagalli snapped and huffed. "Athrun I'll walk on your arm, you'll have to hide it if I falter. If I recall right, the transport areas are low artificial gravity, so it won't be until we exit the station that I'll have too many issues, but Artificial Gravity has never been my forte in a skirt. Kira I want you just behind my right shoulder, you're my brother and my right hand man, both you and Athrun are as much a part of this image as I am. Dearka you're flanking right? I want you on Kira's right, Commander Joule will be our escort and host slightly ahead of us on our right."
"…" Yzak didn't say a thing though his eyes narrowed angrily. "Shall we then?"
Cagalli only nodded and stood shakily, Athrun catching her and bracing her against his body, in a supportive intimate way that only someone comfortable and familiar with each other could accomplish. Kira fell in just behind her right shoulder with Dearka on his right, and leading them all with his head high and his mannerisms proud was Yzak. The whole of the PLANTs were anticipating this moment and none of them were going to disappoint. Just as Athrun, Kira and Cagalli had shown a united front against the Supreme Chairman, they now again united to show the PLANTs that Cagalli was anything but weak.
As she floated out of the shuttle and lightly touched down on the walkway millions of flashes went off as civilians and newscasters struggled to get that perfect one shot of her. While on earth she had worn a beautiful gold silk dress that was more similar to the PLANTs fashion, here and now she wore a soft green shift like gown that flowed around her like water in the low gravity. Most PLANT fashions offered stiff or tight skirts due to the low gravity, Cagalli's dress on earth had been gold and white accented tube like dress, but now she wore a dress quite similar to the ones she often wore to official social functions. It only seemed to strengthen her position as the Orb Princess. As she and Athrun followed Yzak, with Kira and Dearka right behind them, it seemed as if an inner strength had settled around Cagalli, filling her with power and determination. With head held high and Athrun at her side she was every bit the Princess that the PLANTs had anticipated. She didn't hide her pain, it seemed be as much a part of her as that strength and determination that blazed like her namesake within her. She was hurting but she wouldn't let it destroy her or her people, she had responsibilities to uphold. In only moment Cagalli had won over the people of the PLANTs, and not because of her loss or her position but for her determination and strength to protect and see things through.
"Well that went well," Yzak muttered as they all took their seats in the car.
"Better then we could have hoped," Kira sighed. "Cagalli?"
"I'm fine," Cagalli murmured tiredly from Athrun's shoulder.
"You know your something else Princess," Dearka smirked.
"Don't call me Princess!" Cagalli growled, but there wasn't a lot of effort in it, and with her eyes closed and her body leaning into Athrun's side it made for even less of an impact.
"You know… you are a princess. Why don't you like to be called one?" Dearka asked after a moment.
"Oh boy," Kira groaned, having heard the reasons a hundred times before.
"I'm not one of those frilly poofs in fairy tales, I'm the real thing, but no one ever seems to realize theirs a difference! I'm a person not some damsel in distress awaiting her fairy godmother or knight in shining armor! I'll damn well save myself!" Cagalli opened her eyes to glare at Dearka. "I got tired of the comparisons years ago, especially when all I did was come up short to those foolish expectations."
"Guess that makes sense." Dearka stated thoughtfully.
"What doesn't make sense is how you could let those bastards control you!" Yzak demanded angrily.
"Yzak!" Athrun snapped angrily.
"Do you really think I wanted that? Do you think I wanted to be weak? I had dedicated two years of my life rebuilding Orb only to be told my efforts weren't good enough anymore. They needed me while Orb was in chaos because of my position with the people of Orb and other nations, but once it stabilized they didn't 'need' me anymore and I began to loose my power over their actions. It was just fine when I was getting everything done and all they had to do was sit on their asses and wait for the results, but once I had accomplished everything they thought needed to be done they began to fight me at every turn. You've been on the PLANT council how well did the others listen to you?" Cagalli demanded. "It's not as simple as making your demands and expecting them to be met, and I'm half their age if even that. They saw me as a child, no matter who my father was."
"She's got a point Yzak," Dearka mediated calmly. "Even as a commander you've run into that kind of resistance."
"Shut up! I know, but she's different!" Yzak snarled.
"How? How am I different? Because I'm a princess? A Natural? What?" Cagalli snarled, suddenly furious. "What could I have possibly done to change this outcome? What could I have done to save my children! My people! My country! You tell me that!"
"I…" Yzak blinked struggling to form some type of answer.
"I would give anything to take some of my actions back, but you know what at the time most of them were all that was left to me. None of them were right, but what the hell else could I have done at the time! Do you think I didn't try? I fought tooth and nail, but guess what I'm only one person Joule, Princess or not!" Cagalli shouted viciously. "I am only human and no human can stand solely on their own… and that's what happened. I was alone. I would do anything to turn back Time and save my children and nation. I would do anything to turn back Time to the first war and save my father, but we can't live in the past. There is only the future and the hope that we can learn from our mistake and change for the better."
Kira and Athrun flinched as did Dearka and Yzak and the bitter anger present in her voice. They had all heard it before and they had all felt it before. That resentment and self loathing, knowing you could have done more but unable to change it, there wasn't a person alive who had fought in the wars and didn't understand that. How many nights had they all lain awake going over and over in their minds what they could have done instead of what they had done? How many battles had been revisited wondering how the outcome could have been changed if they had done something else or been just a little faster or better? The simple truth was that there were too many to count and too many hours spent in doubts, all of them knew only too well what Cagalli had meant, and somehow it made them all the more human for it.
"Excuse me, but we're here," the driver stated quietly as he rolled to a stop.
There were more reporters here and the fake Lacus waited at the top of the stairs in her costume. Cagalli took a deep breath and collected herself, calmly with practice setting aside her turbulent emotions and exhaustion. Both Kira and Athrun wanted to say something more but it wasn't the time or place at the moment, all they could do was help Cagalli from the car as Yzak and Dearka flanked them. Both their arms supported her weight as they made their way up the entrance stairs and to the waiting 'Lacus' who looked a little lost as to what she should do.
"Um… welcome… I…" Meer gulped as she was faced with the full strength of Cagalli's glare. "I'm sorry for your loss… I really am, and I'm sorry for hurting you and Miss Lacus… I didn't… I just wanted to help…"
Cagalli sighed; this girl was really nothing but a puppet. She hadn't seen anything beyond what she had been told to do or why she had been told to do them. Behind them reporters who had heard her admit that she wasn't the real Lacus were in a frenzy, and Athrun winced at the thought of what this could mean for Meer. Both Cagalli and Kira were shocked to find they felt sympathy for the girl, they had both been furious when she had come out pretending to be Lacus, but faced with her in person they found a bit of understanding and a ton of pity.
"I'm not happy with what you've done. You've lied to a lot of people, and you really hurt the real Lacus who is a very dear friend of mine, but I understand why you did it and why it might have even been necessary." Cagalli told her firmly, letting the reporters hear her clearly. "I'm just glad you've stopped pretending to be someone you are not. You are you and Lacus is Lacus, that's all there is to it, though I'm sure that the PLANTs can be thankful for your help in their time of need. It must have been pretty hard for you too, pretending to be someone you're not for the sake of the PLANTs, but I think that Chairman Durandal has underestimated the people of the PLANTs. I think they were stronger then he thought, I'm sorry you got caught up in his deceits."
"I… I…" Meer blushed and felt tears well up and without a second thought she was suddenly hugging a stunned Cagalli while sobbing her heart out and apologizing.
Cagalli blinked and then sighed heavily before placing her arms around the girl and murmuring nothings to try and get her to calm down. For Kira it was like that time back on the Archangel when she had held him after he had 'killed' Andrew Waltfeld. For Athrun it was like that time when she had tried to encourage him to not give up on his father. Somehow, someway, Cagalli always seemed to have the ability to know what to say or how to help when someone was hurting. Maybe it was her own desires for someone to be there for her or just her selflessness answering her need to help others. Whatever the case they both doubted that this was the end of it, maybe Cagalli was helping the girl now but that didn't mean she wouldn't be yelling at her tomorrow after she got some rest.
"She's done what!" Chairman Durandal demanded angrily.
"It's all over the PLANTs, your 'Lacus' has admitted to not being Lacus, though it is still unknown as to who she really is."
"How foolish of her!"
"Gilbert an explanation would be nice," Captain Gladys demanded calmly. "As a member of Faith I can't react properly to such situations without knowing the circumstances and my crew is in an uproar!"
"The real Lacus could not be found, and with the unrest it was decided that a substitute might be needed. The girl's name is Meer Campbell though officially all records of who she truly is have been removed from the PLANTs database." Durandal snapped. "This is an unfortunate and unexpected turn of events."
"So it never occurred to you or the council that should a fake Lacus turn up that the real one would show as well, or that the people who know the real Lacus would take offense?" Captain Gladys frowned.
"A contingency plan was put in place but failed." Durandal stated flatly. "For now your concerns should lay with Logos."
Captain Gladys stared at the blank screen in growing horror. Cagalli's words from her public statements rang hollowly inside her head, 'Maybe it wasn't you who tried to get the real Lacus killed but I don't think anyone else could have ordered or let a group of ZAFT specials slip by to attack her in ORB.'
Remembering the reports from Lunamaria on Athrun's meeting with Cagalli and others from the Archangel, Talia Gladys found herself in no doubts of the truth.
"Gilbert what have you done?" she murmured. "Who have you become?"
Well there you have it, and yes the next chapter will have a lot more progress. A lot of facts are coming to light so as you can all see this won't be the exact same as the Destiny timeline, though most of the major events will still be there. As much as I enjoyed the Destiny series, I found there to be a ton of inconsistencies and I didn't like that much, plus the point of view jumps around way too much, while in the Seed verse it mostly focused on Kira and somewhat on Athrun. I know a lot of you want to know about Lacus and the Archangel but you're going to have to wait to find out. I don't want to hop around too much and I want to keep the focus on Cagalli and Athrun with some Lacus and Kira. Anyways I hope you all enjoyed this and I hope you Review!