Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Athrun's Recognition

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Athrun's Recognition

Phase 09

Thanks for reviews! Sorry for a much slower update, but life got hectic for a while, so please forgive me.

Yzak lay on a bench in a ZAFT battleship where he and Dearka had temporarily stopped for re-supply and to wait Durandill's next orders. Yzak rolled about on his back, his mind reeling from the severe pain in his brain. He held his head with both hands, massaging his temples.

"What happened out there?" Dearka asked. "You were doing just fine, and I had no trouble with the Infinite Justice. Is the Strike Freedom that powerful?" Yzak cursed under his breath from the pain.

"The will of mind required to utilize that suit's full potential is astounding," Yzak answered. "I was able to keep it up during the battle, ignore the pain. But now, I'm just barely holding together."

"Did you have the doctors check on you?" Dearka asked, very concerned for his friend.

"Of course!" Yzak yelled back. Dearka was unfazed by Yzak's typical attitude, but he was still worried about the situation. "They couldn't do anything outside of giving me pain relievers, but those were mostly useless." Yzak turned his back to Dearka and clenched his teeth, his pain getting the better of him.

"Joule, Elsman, Chairman Durandill is on screen," the Captain of the ship said. Dearka turned to face the screen, while Yzak did his best to compose himself. They both stood and saluted as Durandill appeared.

"Your actions in the last battle were quite admirable," Durandill began.

"Thank you, sir," Yzak replied. Sweat dripped down his brow.

"How did you perform with the Strike Freedom?" Durandill asked, easily noticing Yzak's condition. "How have you been able to handle the machine?"

"Honestly, sir, I'm barely standing here before you," Yzak admitted.

"Then please sit down," Durandill urged. Yzak gladly agreed. "I was afraid of this. But I was hoping a Coordinator and pilot of your strength would be able to use it."

"I'm sorry, sir," Yzak deeply apologized; he was afraid he had greatly displeased Durandill.

"You should not apologize," Durandill assured. "It was my mistake to put you through this. But, this does present an opportunity I now offer you."

"An opportunity?" Yzak questioned. Dearka could only watch in silence.

"I must explain something first," Durandill started. "The reason that Kira Yamato is so strong is not of his own doing; he was genetically modified, along with many clones, to become a Super Coordinator."

"A Super Coordinator?" Dearka asked.

"It is a Coordinator perfected. This leads to my eventual Destiny plan: in order to keep peace, I will lead a project to turn everyone into a Super Coordinator, into a being that can realize their ultimate destiny." Dearka and Yzak were wild eyed at this revelation Durandill continued, "with all people like this, their will be no wars, no weapons or killing, only harmony as people come to help each other attain their destinies. I want you both to be the first Super Coordinators."

"You've thought this whole plan out?" Yzak questioned. "Are you sure this is the right way to peace?"

"It is the only way to a permanent, lasting peace," Durandill answered. "Coordinators are the testament that the next step in human evolution is genetic engineering; just imagine that taken a step further."

"But is this process safe?" Yzak asked, his concern about his current pain overshadowed by the fear of even more pain.

"I would not offer it if I did not trust the process myself. I myself am a Super Coordinator; that is how I've been able to see so far ahead, how I've been able to plan so much," Durandill explained. "You both as Super Coordinators would be unrivaled in combat, and your new mobile suits will become unstoppable tools for ending this war."

"Then, sir, I agree," Yzak answered. Dearka thought on all of this. It sounded too good to be true. But if Durandill himself had undergone such a procedure, could Dearka afford not to?

"I will agree to this as well," Dearka spoke.

"Then I have other good news. I'm personally assigning you both to FAITH and to the crew of the Minerva. With your assistance in the inevitable battle with Orb, victory will be assured," Durandill ended.

Akatsuki shot up through the atmosphere, aided by a large booster attachment. Kira quickly reached the eternal just in time to block a shot directed towards Andrew Waltfeld. Akatsuki fired its beam rifle, decapitating a gunner zaku.

"Thanks a load, Kira," Andy said, instantly recognizing his comrades fighting style.

"Here's a weapon, I don't need it for now," Kira said tossing Akatsuki's rifle to the Gaia, who'd previously lost his own rifle. "Attack!" Kira yelled, releasing all seven of his mobile gun barrels. Each barrel disabled one mobile suit after another, while Kira blazed through the battlefield with his bema sabers.

After only two minutes, he'd defeated twenty-four goufs and zakus. Kira then proceeded to destroy the enemy ships' guns and engines, leaving them completely immobile and defenseless.

"That'll teach you to mess with the one I love," Kira proclaimed.

"Kira, thank you," Lacus spoke on Kira's screen. They were glad to see one another after several weeks of absence. "Please feel free to board as we descend to earth," Lacus offered, hoping to spend just a moment together.

"That sounds…" Kira turned to a beeping indicating a message coming in. "Just a second, Lacus."

"Kira, ZAFT has begun its attack on Orb! Get the Eternal here now!" Murrue ordered.

"Lacus, we've…"

"I know, Kira," Lacus cut in. "We'll just have to make this a short battle."

"Sounds good," Kira answered. "I'll lead the way. There's no telling how fast we could enter combat."

"Then lead us there, Kira," Andy said.

"Orb is under attack," Murrue explained to everyone from her captain's seat. "Launch mobile suits! Athrun, Shinn, protect Cagalli at all costs. She must make it to the capital."

"What can I do ma'am?" Meer asked Murrue. "I don't want to just stand around and do nothing."

"I'm afraid I have nothing for you," Murrue answered. "But you can prepare to head to the Orb capital. There you can make the greatest impact on Durandill's credibility."

"This is Athrun in Freedom, launching!" Athrun proclaimed. Freedom blasted out and entered HiMAT mode, quickly dodging bullets and beams from the enemy.

"Shinn, Destiny launching!" Destiny joined up with Freedom and began to use its beam shields to defend the Archangel from attack.

"Cagalli here, Justice launching!" Justice mounted its Fatum system and joined the others. "Let's get to the capital quick, that way you guys can get to what you do best!" Cagalli told her plan to the other two. Justice took off with Destiny and Freedom in tow.

Aside from having to dodge random beams and gunfire, the three had little trouble, until they spotted mobile suits moving in.

"Three goufs to the right!" Athrun declared. He fired his beam rifle with keen accuracy, easily dispatching each gouf. Shinn spun and used his anti-ship sword to split a zaku in half. Cagalli just continued to dodge as best as she could, still focused on her mission. However, two sheens of light could be seen high in the air, descending down from space. The two shapes moved in quicker than any suit Cagalli had seen before, and within mere seconds they were only a few hundred yards off. The sight of them greatly surprised her.

"Freedom and Justice?" Cagalli asked.

"What?" Athrun asked, turning to see his own mobile suit's twin.

"We can no longer allow you to support a monster like Djbril," a familiar voice spoke over the radio. "We have no choice to destroy you!"

"Yzak?" Athrun questioned.

"I am Yzak, but not the one you knew before," Yzak answered.

"We've reached the pinnacle of human evolution, and there's no way you can defeat us," Dearka spoke.

"Shit!" Athrun cursed.

To be continued…

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