Gundam SEED Fan Fiction ❯ Athrun's Betryal ❯ A Question of Loyalty ( Chapter 4 )

Athrun's Betrayal

 

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

 

Chapter 4 A Question of Loyalty

 

Athrun stood on the bridge of the Versaillius staring out at the ZAFT headquarters as they docked one week after Kira had been brought on board. The said Earth Forces pilot was standing beside him silently, also staring out at the ZAFT headquarters. His face was completely neutral so it was hard to tell what he was feeling. He was dressed in the clothes he had been wearing underneath his pilot's suit when he had been brought aboard, although they had been cleaned and mended before being returned to him. They consisted of the Earth Forces uniform, which was quite like the ZAFT uniform but a light blue color and with a slightly different design. He looked much older in that uniform, almost an adult. His wrists had been handcuffed together as a precaution, although Athrun knew that Kira was not going to do anything. They waited for nearly an hour before they were let off the ship and Kira was taken away to a detention facility to await his hearing the next morning. Athrun, on the other hand, went to a private room where he was to stay until Kira's hearing, then his own. He had just stepped in the shower when the phone rang. Annoyed, he switched the shower off, wrapped himself in a towel, and went to answer it. He instantly regretted this; on the screen was his fiancée, Lacus Clyne, who instantly giggled when she saw his appearance.

“Hello Athrun. Am I interrupting anything?” she asked.

“No, not really. I was just gonna shower,” Athrun answered with a blush.
“Well, I wanted to see how you were doing. You've been all over the news.”
“I have?” Athrun asked blankly.

“Oh yes. There's a huge uproar because you took a Coordinator on board who was siding with the Earth Forces. He's your friend isn't he? Kira, was his name?”

“Yes that's right. Kira is the Coordinator they're talking about. He's going on trial tomorrow.”

“I heard. They're most likely going to execute him, is that right?”

Athrun sighed softly. “Yes.”

“That's so sad. He really is a nice person. He was so sad though.”

“Why was he so sad?”

“He didn't want to fight you.”

“Yeah.”

“And what about you? You're going to go on trial too aren't you?”

“Yes, but there's a possibility that I might not be executed. But…” Athrun sighed softly. “Our engagement is probably ruined.”

“Why's that?”

“Your father probably won't want you to marry me now that I've become a traitor.”

“I think it's silly that you won't be married because of this, but if we aren't married, it's a shame because you're a very kind person, just like Kira. Can we still be friends?”

Athrun smiled. “Of course.” Lacus smiled.

“I should probably let you get back to your shower. I'll talk to you later, okay?”

“Okay.” They said goodbye and Athrun turned the screen off. He went back into the bathroom and took his shower in peace. When he had finished, he dressed in a fresh ZAFT uniform, dried his hair, and laid down on his bed to rest. He didn't sleep much, however; Kira kept coming in and out of his dreams. Finally, he got up at about nine at night because someone was knocking on the door. Grumbling softly, he answered it and found Nicol standing there.

“Nicol?” he asked confused.

“I just wanted to see if you were okay,” Nicol said softly. “You were having a nightmare, weren't you?”

“How did you know that ?”

“I've been hearing you for the past couple weeks crying and sobbing in your sleep. You've been having nightmares about Kira.”

Athrun hesitated. “Yes. They're always about him. I don't understand why though.”

“You love him.”

“I don't love him.”

“Yes you do. You just don't know it yet.”

“So what if I do love him? What can I do?”

“Tell him.”

“But he's going to die!”

“At least he'll die knowing the truth.”

“But how do I tell him? When?”

“Tomorrow right before the trial. Just…tell him. It'll make you feel better.”

“All right Nicol. Thanks.”

“No problem,” Nicol smiled. “See you in the morning.”

“Good night.” Athrun closed the door and went back to bed. This time, he fell asleep at once and went back to bed. This time, he fell asleep at once and stayed asleep for the remainder of the night.

 

All throughout breakfast the next morning, Athrun pondered what he was going to say to Kira. The other pilots were silent; Yzak clearly wasn't speaking to Athrun and Dearka and Nicol didn't know what to say. Finally, the time came for the hearing and the pilots were escorted to where it was being held. They met up with Kira in one of the long corridors, who was still handcuffed and still had a neutral look on his face. There was a large bruise on one of his cheeks and it made Athrun suspicious of ill-treatment. He took a couple deep breaths as he waited for an elevator. The doors finally slid open and Kira and Athrun were ushered inside by some haughty-looking guards. Dearka, Nicol, Yzak, Le Creuset, Ades, and the rest of the crew had to wait for the next one; the elevator was small and filled up fast. The doors slid closed and one of the guards pressed a button. The elevator rose and Athrun finally found his courage.

“Kira?” he asked, turning to the brown-haired boy beside him.

“Yeah?” Kira turned to look at him.

“I…I love you.”

“What?!” Kira's face showed nothing but shock and confusion.

“I love you. I just thought you should know that before you die.” Kira said nothing as the elevator doors slid open and they went out where the council was waiting. They were arranged just as Athrun had seen them the last time he had been in there, though none of them looked very happy. In fact, several of them scowled when they saw Kira. He lifted his head up high and walked with dignity. He sat where the guards told him to sit and was silent. Athrun sat next to him, also silent. He received no recognition from his father or Lacus Clyne's father. They were quickly joined by Le Creuset and the others and the council began.

“Is that the prisoner?” one of them asked, pointing at Kira.

“Yes,” Le Creuset nodded.

“Step forward please.” Kira rose and walked forward. Some of the council members gasped and murmured softly upon seeing his young face. “State your name.
“Kira Yamato,” Kira said without any trace of fear in his voice.

“How old are you?”
“Sixteen.”

“And you are a Coordinator?”

“Yes.” This brought about more murmuring. Yzak's face darkened.

“Where did you live prior to joining the Earth Forces?”

“Heliopolis. I was a student.” There were more murmurs and uncomfortable glances. The questioning went on. Kira answered them in a calm and polite but cool tone The council also questioned the rest of the crew, including Le Creuset, Ades, and all the pilots. Athrun was the last one they questioned.

“You are Athrun Zala, correct?”

“That is correct.”

“And you were the one who brought the Coordinator on board?”

“Yes.”
“Why?” Athrun told them everything in a nutshell. “Very well. The council will now deliberate the Coordinator's fate. You will have our answer in a couple of hours.” Le Creuset nodded and showed Athrun and the others out. Kira was escorted back to his cell by several guards. Athrun sat silently on the edge of his bed for the longest time. He already knew the council's verdict before it came. Nicol was the one who brought him the news. He didn't say anything at first, but Athrun knew by the sad look on his face. Tears formed in the dark-haired boy's eyes and rolled down his cheeks.

“I'm so sorry Athrun,” Nicol whispered, tears sticking to his long eyelashes.

“When are they executing him?”

“T…tomorrow morning at nine. Why?” Athrun didn't answer. He appeared to be deep in thought. “Athrun?”

“There's not much time. Will you help me?”

“Of course!”

“There's a chance that you'll get in trouble.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Go to the harbor and get the Gamow ready for take-off.”

“You're going to steal the Gamow?!”

“I'm going to borrow it for a little while. They'll get it back…eventually.”

“Okay.”
“Make sure you stay out of sight.”
“What are you going to do?”

“I'm going to get Kira. We're getting the hell out of here.”

“But where will you go?”

“Kira said that he had friends on that ship of his. I think I'll bring him back to them.”

“But what about you?”

Athrun shrugged. “It doesn't matter. Either way, I'm dead. At least my conscious will be cleared.”

Nicol sighed softly. “I wish it didn't have to come down to this.”
“Well it has, hasn't it? I'm sorry, but my loyalties lie with Kira and not ZAFT. That much is clear to me now.”

Nicol regarded him through sad eyes. “I understand. Your loyalty is to your heart, as mine is to my heart.”

It's better for me to be dead in the hands of the enemy than dead by the hands of my own people.”

“Is it?” Nicol asked quietly. He turned and walked out of Athrun's room. It was nearly midnight when he got to the Gamow. Getting in was no problem; there were no guards this late at night and they obviously didn't think that anyone would steal the two ships. He found the control booth on the bridge easily enough and got everything ready. Athrun arrived not soon after that, supporting a half-conscious Kira.

“They drugged him,” he said angrily, gently helping Kira to sit in one of the chairs on the bridge.

“Will you two be all right?” Nicol asked anxiously.

“We'll be fine,” Athrun said soothingly. “I know how to pilot this thing well enough to get us to our destination. You'd better go so that they don't know that you were involved.”

“Athrun,” Nicol paused. His features softened. “Please be careful.”

Athrun smiled. “Of course.” Nicol glanced anxiously back at them one more time before hurrying back to his room. That was when the guilt began. It was quickly too much for him and as he listened to the sound of alarms and raised voices in the hall, he wrote a note, went into the bathroom, and locked the door. Soon, it would be all over with and the guilt would be gone.

 

To be continued…