 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Chapter Four: Personal Confrontations
This would have been much easier if Father had not been appointed Chairman a short while ago, Athrun reflected uneasily as he rode the silent elevator up. His swift election hastened Operation Spit Break. Talking to him now, in such a state, will be…difficult.
He’d discussed this all with Lacus- sweet Lacus, who was their confidant, their ally. She’d supported them like a mother during the past day- like Rynae had, his mind whispered- and he was grateful to her. They all were.
Operation Spit Break will go as planned tomorrow, she’d told him yesterday. I normally would recommend speaking to him after the announcement, but there might be more activity after than before. He’ll be on edge, Athrun- be careful.
I know to be careful, Athrun told himself nervously. But sometimes even careful doesn’t cut it. Who knows what he’ll do…?
That last thought brought home a sore point- that he did not know his father any better than a stranger.
It was late morning, practically noon. Dearka consulted his watch- the latest, shiny and new- anxiously. Operation Spit Break would be launched around 0200 hours, and the schedule was to leave shortly afterwards. Lacus didn’t want to wait long, with the new development that they would be talking to their parents.
“Quit doing that,” Yzak said irritably. “It’s annoying.”
“Aren’t you going to talk to your mom soon?”
“More than two hours is too long. What about you?”
“I’m not gonna talk,” Dearka mumbled.
“What?”
“Well, you know, my old man and I never really got along well. A note’s better. If I told him face-to-face, who knows what would happen. I’ll just leave the letter behind and he’ll find it.”
“But he’s your father!”
“I never really knew him, okay?” Now it was Dearka’s turn to get irritated. “I mean, he was my dad and stuff, but he was a Council member- a politician- first and foremost. Plus, we don’t get along well. He’s a pompous, stiff old man.”
“Ah.” And Dearka is a womanizer- was- as well as a slacker. No wonder he doesn’t want to talk to him. “Well. Where’s Athrun and Nicol?”
“Athrun’s gone. Already on his way to talk his father; said something about the fact that it would take an hour just to get into his dad’s office. Nicol…disappeared.”
“Is he going after Rynae now?”
“Are you crazy? He’s not that stupid. We’ve still got too much time left; if he breaks her out now, there’ll be chaos. I dunno where he went.”
“I hate this,” Yzak grumbled, sinking even further in his chair. “Waiting sucks.”
“I agree with you on that,” Dearka said amiably. “Mind lending me some money? I’m thirsty.”
Yzak groaned.
It did indeed take Athrun one hour- give or take a couple minutes- to get into his father’s office. Even before he took a step into the gleaming, bare chamber, a chill froze his spine.
“Well, Athrun? What did you want?” Chairman Zala was tense with nervous anticipation.
“Are you busy at the moment, Father?” Athrun didn’t want to provoke wrath simply because of his timing.
“Of course I’m busy! What with the operation launching so soon…but everything vital has been taken care of. What was it you were so anxious to see me about?”
“Operation Spit Break,” Athrun said randomly, remaining stiffly at attention even after he dropped the salute. “It is a great undertaking; one that should cripple the Earth forces forever. What will you do after that?”
“Do? I will attack again, of course! We shall keep fighting until every last Natural is destroyed!”
“Every Natural?” Athrun’s knees felt feeble.
“We cannot coexist with them!” Patrick Zala boomed. “They discriminate against us, treat us unfairly and deny us rights!”
“So the war shall continue, Father?” Athrun asked quietly. “For how long are you planning to keep attacking?”
His father glared at him suspiciously. “This war will not end until one side has been eliminated! That was clear from the very start,” he snapped.
“Is that your goal? To truly get rid of every single Natural? That’s a huge undertaking-”
“Entirely possible,” his father barked. “They are our enemies, Athrun, and deserve to be killed!”
The dark-haired young Coordinator forced his head to nod, speechless.
“Was that why you came? To ask me those pointless questions?” His father rose.
Athrun could think of nothing more to say. Murder every Natural…? “What about Orb?” he inquired hurriedly, grasping at the questions as they slipped through his dizzy mind.
“A weak nation,” his father said dismissively. “Easily overcome. We have superior firepower and numbers. They are only Naturals, after all.”
“Aren’t there Coordinators there too?”
“Yes, yes- traitors! But Orb is small, and easily destroyed. They shall fall along with the Earth Alliance.”
Clearly, it does not matter that they are neutral to you, Father. Even now you plan their defeat. Athrun steadied himself, realizing vaguely that his legs were trembling badly. “Thank you, Father.”
Still suspicious, Chairman Zala gave him a sharp nod. “Your break will soon be over. Prepare for battle after Operation Spit Break is launched. Understand?”
“Yes, Father,” Athrun murmured through numb lips. In his mind, the words rang false and hollow- shattering like all the ideals he had held before.
If he tried, if he put his heart it and attempted to dig deeper without placing himself in danger, Athrun could discover more truths and lies, more manipulations behind this figure he called Father. But he didn’t have that heart; it lay bleeding inside his chest as he saluted woodenly and left the Chairman’s presence. He had heard more than enough.
Dearka folded the paper with more regret than he’d thought he would feel. True, his father was a narrow-minded old goat, but blood was thick enough for him to feel pangs of sorrow as he placed the letter with care on the table.
Dear Father,
By the time you read this, I will already have left. I have discovered a different path, one that has led me to realize many things. Fighting alone will not solve this war; simply wiping out all of one’s enemies does not douse the fire. Prejudice has driven much of this battle, blind prejudice and a refusal to understand. Lacus Clyne has seen this truth, and is departing the PLANTs to join with Orb, a neutral nation that seeks peace and justice for both Naturals and Coordinators. I will be leaving with her, along with my friends Athrun, Yzak, and Nicol. You may choose not to believe my words, and you may call me a traitor like everyone else- but please, consider what I have said. Think about Lacus Clyne’s message, and that of Orb. That is all I ask of you.
Dearka
Cheesy and sappy, yes; the letter was short as well, but Dearka couldn’t find the appropriate words in him. What the hell. He’d never been a good writer anyway.
He glanced at his watch. Less than one hour until Operation Spit Break. His father would definitely not discover the note until after the operation.
Dearka left his house for the last time, not permitting himself a backward glance.
“Mother? May I speak with you?” Yzak’s voice held hesitance; that alone was a cause of concern. Ezaria Jule glanced sideways at her son.
“Yes, Yzak?” She stood from her crowded desk and couldn’t stifle the yawn in time. He glanced reproachfully at her.
“More work? I don’t want to-”
“Nonsense,” she interrupted. “We’ve already laid everything out for Operation Spit Break. All that remains is for Patrick Zala to announce the launch. So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?”
“The war,” Yzak said reluctantly, settling himself deeper into his seat. Alone with his mother in their home, he felt exposed and dangerously cornered. He had to squash the instinct to flee.
“What about the war?” Ezaria perched on a straight-backed chair, for the moment ignoring the stacks of paperwork.
“Operation Spit Break, if it succeeds, will be a major step in destroying the Earth Alliance. After the attack, what will ZAFT’s next move be?”
“A good question,” she declared- thankfully taking his words as a strategic inquiry. “I believe we will follow up the operation with others like it- hitting the Naturals hard while they’re still recovering. We must take opportunities as they arise.”
“Yes,” Yzak murmured, “but…when will the war end? How could there be true peace-”
“Naturals and Coordinators cannot live side by side,” Ezaria cut in firmly. “It’s an established truth.”
Is it, Mother?
“Therefore, our plans are either to wipe out Naturals entirely or make sure they are never a threat to us again.”
“How would we do that?” Yzak asked weakly. Kill every single Natural? Each and every one?
“War is all about battle,” his mother replied evenly. “Doubtless plenty of Naturals will fall on the battlefield against us. Once we crush them officially in the war, it will be not trouble to take care of them afterwards.”
“I see. And what is your opinion on all of this, Mother?” The question was directed at her with astonishing shrewdness, Yzak’s blue eyes sharp and wary. Ezaria blinked, bewildered and taken aback.
“I…of course, I support the fact that ZAFT must win this war. Oppression by the Naturals is out of the question.”
“What about Orb?”
“Weaklings,” she scoffed. “Naturals who’ve gathered brainwashed Coordinators and pretended to be neutral. They allowed the Earth Alliance to build the G-weapons, one of which you pilot, on their territory. No doubt we will crush them after the Earth forces fall.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Yzak rose so abruptly that Ezaria, startled, slid off her chair and straightened.
“Is something bothering you, Yzak?”
“No. Nothing.” Her son turned away. “Good luck with the operation, Mother. Good-bye.”
As Ezaria watched him leave, uneasiness stirred in her heart, mother’s instincts awakened. Something about that last farewell sounded…final. Yzak didn’t usually say good-bye; he just left with a quick mumbled ‘see you’ or something similar. With the ease of a politician, however, she shook her head and returned to work, convincing herself that everything was okay and that she’d have another talk with Yzak after the operation was launched.
But Yzak knew they wouldn’t get that chance, as he strode swiftly out the door. They’d be lucky to see each other alive again. That knowledge twisted his heart, as he paused at the gates; but in the end the silver-haired Coordinator kept walking, down the new path that he had chosen.
Half an hour, roughly, until Operation Spit Break began- so little time. Nicol clutched the letter tightly to his chest before laying it lightly on the piano keys. His mother would find it before too long, definitely after they had left.
Dear Mother and Father,
By now you must have heard that Lacus Clyne has exited the PLANTs, labeled a traitor. I travel with her, and with Athrun, Yzak, and Dearka. We all have seen a new future, a different one than ZAFT would accomplish, where Naturals and Coordinators can at least try to coexist in peace. Orb, a neutral nation where that is already happening, is our destination. Combined, Lacus’s forces and Orb hope to stand fast against both the Earth forces and ZAFT, and bring peace to a war-torn world. Fighting from one side will not accomplish anything but continuous bloodshed. Perhaps fighting for a neutral cause, a peaceful cause, will result in better understandings. This is my farewell to you both, for the chances that I will see you again are slim. I love you, Mother, Father.
Nicol
There wasn’t much more to say, and he couldn’t seem to find the words to write on paper. Nicol swallowed, wrestling with his emotions, and then hardened his gaze as he turned to glance at the map lying nearby. Rynae was still in that prison, and he was going to get her out. No matter the cost. His good-byes were already said; there was no looking back.
Nicol walked out of the house and locked the door gently behind him.
Lacus herself opened the door to admit them when Athrun knocked on the door.
“I was informed that you were coming,” she explained, seeing their startled faces. It made sense; Athrun, Yzak, and Dearka had gone through numerous checkpoints. Security was tight, especially so close to departure.
“Where’s Nicol?” Lacus asked, picking her way through a maze of wires, computers, and people laid out on the floor. The three boys followed her gingerly.
“You know how Rynae has been imprisoned?”
Lacus nodded. “But- has he gone to save her?”
“I doubt Ryn would need much saving,” Dearka said dryly, “but yes. If he isn’t back here by the time we start boarding, we’re going after him.”
The pink-haired songstress fixed them with a worried stare. “That’s extremely risky. We can’t afford to wait long once we take over the Eternal.”
“Then we go before you’re ready,” Yzak said promptly. “As soon as Operation Spit Break launches.”
“That only gives him about half an hour…”
“Too bad,” Athrun said quickly. We didn’t want him going out there alone anyway.
Lacus nodded, sensing their anxiety. “So be it. But be cautious, all of you.”
Nicol found it ridiculously easy to locate the laboratory. With security cameras and stiff guards patrolling every square inch of the place, however, it was decidedly less simple to sneak into the compound.
Scowling, Nicol turned his attention to the cameras. There had to be a pattern, and in every pattern there ought to be a tiny blind spot…
Yes! There it was! The compound was roughly square, with wide-ranging cameras placed at each corner of the barbed-wire fence. If he timed it just right, Nicol would have an approximately three-second window in which to get to a shadowy niche he’d already spotted. That left the guards…
By the time Nicol rigged the bomb and double-checked everything, as well as planning his time inside, he had roughly fifteen minutes until Operation Spit Break. Time would be a big factor.
He pressed the detonation button.
The flashy, but harmless, explosion lured the alarmed guards away from their post, just as the cameras turned and opened the blind spot. It was the oldest trick in the book. Nicol half-climbed, half-jumped over the fence, carefully avoiding leaving traces behind on the wire, and dove into his shelter just as a camera panned over his previous location. Hardly daring to breathe, he hugged the building, crawling around until he found the single unwatched window. Dropping lightly through, Nicol found the hallway deserted and took off at a silent run. This was all accomplished in a matter of less than a minute- astonishingly quick, so fast that a normal person would be required to stop and think, processing all that had happened, before moving on. Nicol had been trained to perform such stealth acts, however, and the necessary speed failed to bother him.
Most people would hopefully be watching the news about Operation Spit Break, taking an unofficial break to see the operation’s unveiling. Nicol was counting on that to help clear his path as he sprinted through the maze of halls.
Now he had to find Rynae.
Note: Read the Terms of Service at the main site if you want to display Nevermore-Amaya's fics at your own site.