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AN: Thank you everyone for your marvelous Reviews. Here's the next chapter and thankfully this time it didn't take me a year to update! I am so very happy for all of the support! Please continue to read and Review! Again if anyone wants to Beta this story please Message or E-mail me, my info is available on my profile page.

Someone has asked where this story begins in GSD. Just to clarify it begins before the actual Intro credits in Phase 35. Honestly I don't think it's in the movies at all, but there's a small moment showing Cagalli crying as she retrieves the Freedom. There's more to the intro but I'm not going to spoil it for those who haven't watched. Anyways I do hope that clarifies matters. Please enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think.

Chapter Six: Running in Circles

Chaos ensued as the fake Lacus finally pulled away, and very suddenly Cagalli felt unbelievably tired. The last thing she wanted to deal with was this Media frenzy, but years of first hand experience had her giving a sad sort of smile and hiding her exhaustion. Calmly she stated that she would see to it that any and all questions would be answered in due time and that she would do her utmost to see that a Press Conference was held and that she would make her Public Statements then. Athrun had then stated that he too would address any questions the Press and the Public held as well and that if they could all be a little patient, it had been a very trying experience. Meer made no attempts to address the public, but Yzak surprised everyone by stepping in and demanding that the Press cease their harassment of the Plants honored guests. He very neatly backed the Supreme Council into a corner by stating that he was certain that they would be investigating Cagalli's accusations, and that, they were not mere puppet of the Supreme Chairman and each were an honored representative of their Plant. His wording was precise and very clever in its threat, but it flat out demanded the actions and motives of Chairman Durandal be called into question. It left little doubt of where his loyalties lay and very little doubt that the Council would have to take action.

Within moments of these live broadcasts the citizens were demanding answers. It was very obvious that Chairman Durandal had lied. Outrage and anger rallied the people as they demanded answers. The Supreme Council were hard pressed to deal with all of the public demands, and as Yzak Joule had quite efficiently pressed them into a corner they needed to begin an inquiry into their Supreme Chairman's actions, actions that only a couple days prior they had honored, but now found themselves in a very difficult position because of it. The Earth Nations were making demands as well and Chairman Durandal was still on earth and not presently trying anything to do Damage Control. With so much on the line the Council made the only decision they could, Supreme Chairman Durandal's position would be suspended pending the investigation and a temporary Chair would take his position until further notice. The public's demands would be met and negotiations with the other nations would require further actions and delicate processing. In only a day everything the Chairman had put into motion was ripped asunder and thrown into nothingness.

"That was certainly interesting," Dearka muttered as he collapsed onto the couch.

"That was a fucking nightmare!" Yzak snarled.

"Yeah but at least this way things will get done," Dearka muttered and frowned. "I don't like this Yzak, I know we needed this, but now the Plants are vulnerable."

"Don't you think I know that!" Yzak snarled. "That bastard played everyone for fools and we let him! We are soldiers… we aren't supposed to question our orders, but we should know better… Damnit! This wasn't supposed to happen! Not again!"

"So the question is what do we do now?" Dearka muttered. "At this rate the EA will want the Plants and ZAFT on a Platinum Platter, and with all the shit that bastard pulled they can demand it."

"You'll have to rely on Cagalli," Kira stated flatly. "She's the one who put this all into motion, and she won't back down from it either. I'm also pretty sure that now that Meer has come out as herself, Lacus will show up soon."

"You mean… you mean I'm the reason Miss Lacus didn't return to the Plants?" Meer asked suddenly from where she had sat quietly in a corner. "But the Chairman said…"

"When will you get it through you dumb head? The Chairman was lying!" Yzak snapped.

"Miss Campbell… Please think for a moment. You were here pretending to be Lacus. What do you think would have happened had she returned and tried to say she was the real one?" Kira asked her quietly. "It wouldn't have done anyone any good and in the end it would have placed her in great danger and you as well. Lacus is strong but she's not a puppet, she wouldn't just play to whatever tune the Chairman gave her. It was wrong of him to try and dictate her like that."

"I… okay," Meer frowned and looked sad. "I'm going to go change now…"

"So where's Zala?" Yzak muttered.

"He's still with Cagalli. She's pretty tired and we needed to treat her wounds." Kira sighed. "She's doing too much."

"You know that she's going to do a lot more right?" Dearka asked suddenly. "Even if Lacus shows up, Cagalli is in the 'Lime Light' she's going to have to show the universe just who she is."

"Yeah… yeah I know, but I don't have to like it." Kira huffed. "I failed her, and so did Athrun and even Lacus… we all failed her. She was alone… and I don't think I ever realized just how alone she was, even with Athrun there. Now it feels like there isn't anything that any of us can do. Like she's unreachable and all we can do is watch her shine and hope she keeps shining."

"That's because none of us realized just who she was…" Athrun stated tiredly from the doorway. "Where's Meer?"

"She went to change…" Kira told him frowning.

"Hang on, we need to talk and she should be here for this…" Athrun stated calmly.

"Why she's just a puppet…" Yzak sneered.

"She was his puppet… but now she's not, what do think will happen now?" Athrun snapped back. "She's as much part of this as any of us, and now she has to deal with the consequences of what's been done as much as the Chairman, she can't hide from it."

"I hate to admit it but he's right," Kira muttered. "Cagalli still hasn't ripped into her or even you yet; she'll need to know what's coming there too."

"Thanks for the reminder…" Athrun muttered as he left the room.

"I have to say that is one show I'm looking forward too." Dearka grinned.

Yzak only smirked but Kira winced, he had a feeling he was going to get included in that particular ruthless engagement. Cagalli had been furious when they had settled her in one of the guest rooms. The only reason she wasn't letting them all have it was because she was exhausted after the crazy day she just had and her body hadn't been up to the task of putting up more of a fight. It was good to see some of the old Cagalli back, but at the same time it was worrying, and the truth of the matter was despite being twins, Kira knew almost nothing about Cagalli. He didn't know why her being herself worried him more then her being depressed.

Athrun calmly knocked on Meer's door and waited patiently for her to open it. He didn't have to wait long and as he thought, she was crying.

"Meer…" Athrun sighed.

"Can I help you?" Meer asked sadly.

"You're over thinking this…" Athrun huffed. "Cagalli once told me something I think you need to hear too. You need to talk to everyone… you can't just whole yourself up and let your mind run round and round, Meer you're not alone. I don't think what you did was right, but it wasn't only your fault, the fact that this came about at all means you're not at fault, and I was dumb enough to go along with it too."

"But I didn't even try to understand! I wanted to be like Lacus but I…" Meer fell to her knees and sobbed. "I'm not her… I'm not! I just wanted to help!"

"You are Meer Campbell and that's all there is to it, but you can't just keep acting like this. You have to move on Meer, and you have an important role now too. Maybe you didn't try to understand then, but doesn't that mean you can try and understand now?" Athrun asked her calmly.

"I don't know!" Meer wailed.

"You're smarter then this Meer and it's not going to be easy… but you can't let yourself be like this. You're Meer Campbell, the girl who had the audacity to sleep in my room!" Athrun knelt in front of her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're more then the Chairman made you out to be, and we need your help."

"How could I possibly be any help?" Meer demanded bitterly.

"By being you instead of Lacus, by letting other's know your story." Athrun stated calmly. "What the Chairman Durandal did was wrong, he and any others involved, but you are the only one who knows everything about how this came to be. So tell them your story."

"I… could I really help?" Meer asked slowly pulling herself together.

"Yes… I really think you could, but it has to be your words Meer and this won't be easy. There are going to be a lot of people who are angry with you, but if you're you then you won't be alone. Cagalli already said it; it must have been hard pretending to be someone you are not."

Meer nodded and Athrun stood, helping her back to her feet. "Give me a moment and I'll be out. Princess Cagalli is really lucky Athrun… I think I understand some of why you are the way you are now."

Athrun stared at the closed door in shock, and found himself blushing slightly, wondering if she had complimented him or Cagalli.

The room was quiet while they waited for Athrun and Meer, but it wasn't an opposing silence, just a thoughtful one. They each had their own thoughts and were working through them on their own. When Athrun and Meer arrived a couple minutes later it wasn't startling but it wasn't necessarily welcomed either. Meer had changed her cloths as she said she would, she was now dressed in a denim skirt, a linen blouse, and a denim jacket. She looked very pretty but the outfit wasn't something Lacus would have worn, and somehow everyone knew she had done that on purpose. She was, in her own little way, stating that she wasn't Lacus Clyne. Somehow something inside everyone eased, she still looked like Lacus, but it was apparent to everyone that she was no longer trying to be her.

"Sorry it took so long," Meer murmured, and it was immediately apparent that she had been crying.

"Its fine," Kira sighed. "At least you understand now."

"I… yes a little." Meer sighed and curled up on the floor in front of everyone. Yzak and Dearka were on the couch and Athrun and Kira were on the two easy chairs.

"I have a question… why did you do it?" Dearka asked frowning. "You had to know you couldn't keep the act up forever."

"I thought I was just a stand in… it never occurred to me that the Chairman was trying to make me a replacement… and then I started getting confused. 'I was Lacus wasn't I? It was me doing all those things, not that other person. What was so great about being Meer Campbell anyway? I was Lacus; I'd rather be her anyways…' I… got lost in all of it. I forgot I can only be me…"

"Sometimes I really hate it when Cagalli's right," Kira muttered and glared at the ceiling for a moment.

"…" Meer stared him in confusion.

"It was hard on you… pretending to be someone you're not. She told you that… and she was right. It was wrong of the Chairman to put that on you and to try and dictate who Lacus is, I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of it." Kira told her gently.

"I…" Meer sighed and nodded. There wasn't much she could say to that.

"The Chairman tried to dictate more then just Lacus," Athrun frowned. "He tried to pull the same thing with Cagalli when he held that Press Conference. It feels like we're all one big game to him, like none of us actually mean anything. He has his important pieces but that's it."

"The problem is what type of game is he playing? What's his goal…?" Yzak snarled. "What could he possibly want that would make him betray the Plants? He was a good Chairman up until Junius Seven fell…"

"I think he had something to do with that," Meer stated quietly. "I never really paid much attention, but I think he pushed those people toward doing something like that. He was always going on and on about Junius Seven and telling people not to let it rule their judgment…"

"I remember that," Dearka frowned. "It was like he was reminding everyone about Junius Seven at every turn, and he went over Patric Zala's Ideals a lot too."

"Wait, what?" Athrun gaped at Meer and Dearka.

"It was also a little too convenient that not only my Team but several others were equipped with Asteroid Breakers a week before the Fall." Yzak frowned.

"If that's true… then this war was completely within his plans," Athrun pointed out. "He needed this war… but for what?"

"I don't know," Meer stated quietly.

"Its fine we didn't expect you to," Dearka murmured.

"The next question is what will he do now?" Kira asked frowning. "His plans are in ruin…"

"Orb…" Yzak stated flatly. "He'll go after Orb, they're the biggest threat, even with the chaos the Seirans have created, and Cagalli isn't there."

"She's here where he can easily get a hold of her," Dearka sighed. "And she's in no condition to fight either, and not just physically."

Meer frowned in confusion.

"So that's it then, all we can do is wait and take everything as it comes," Athrun stated flatly.

"We're down to Cagalli again," Kira sighed.

"Well she is a Princess, isn't that part of her position?" Meer asked. "She's a lot like Lacus, right? Her first obligation is to her People and Nation. It's her duty."

"You're right… and in this case, her duties will have to extend to the Plants as well." Athrun frowned. "It seems like a bit much to ask."

"She was raised for it, quit underestimating her." Yzak snapped. "She wasn't raised like us, she was raised in a higher standing then we could ever imagine. We were raised amongst politics, she would have been too, but for her it was necessary for the position she would hold later in life. She's stronger then you think."

"Right… so now we wait," Dearka muttered. "I hate this part."

Okay never mind! Not much real progress and shorter then my previous chapters. THIS IS NOT A FILLER! This was very necessary. I wanted you all to see how I saw the Chairman and to see Meer come into her own a bit. I promise the infamous match between Cagalli and Athrun and Meer will be in the next chapter along with some new twists. Enjoy and review.