Hearing Athrun's interrogation, Lacus gave a gentle smile and answered, "I haven't betrayed PLANT. I merely entrusted the Freedom to someone else for safekeeping. The power of the Freedom is far too dangerous to remain within PLANT."
"Dangerous? Is it not dangerous if it falls into the hands of the Earth Alliance?" Athrun felt as though Lacus was merely brushing him off. He raised the muzzle of his gun slightly, his meaning more than clear.
"No, that machine won't fall to the Earth Alliance," Lacus replied softly. "Because... Mikazuki is protecting it."
"Mikazuki... Hmph, the pilot of the Wolf? What do you mean by that? Does the Wolf not belong to the Earth Alliance?" Athrun asked, his voice filled with shock.
"Indeed. The Barbatos... or the machine you refer to as the Wolf, does not belong to the Earth Alliance. It belongs to a security organization called Tekkadan. To put it simply, they are mercenaries. Because of their contract, they protected the Archangel all the way. Half a month ago, the machine was damaged in battle, which is how they came to PLANT."
Lacus maintained that faint smile, while Athrun's expression remained as cold as iron.
"You... what is your ultimate goal?"
"I don't have"
Athrun loudly interrupted her. "Don't lie! Answer me, Lacus Clyne! What exactly are you trying to do?"
Lacus looked at the man before her with a hint of disappointment. "Are my words no longer worthy of belief? Then, what have you seen with your own eyes?"
"On the battlefield, in this PLANT you haven't seen for so long... have you not seen or heard the wails brought about by this war?"
Lacus sat upon a stone, tilting her slender neck back to look at the bewildered Athrun. She spoke softly. "I heard from Mikazuki about Kira Yamato. You two are good friends, aren't you?"
The gun in Athrun's hand lowered the moment he heard that name. He thought back to the bitter struggle he had faced against Kira just days prior.
"Kira..."
"Mikazuki mentioned that Kira seems to have found his own path. He is no longer moving forward through a fog. So... what is your path? Have you cleared the fog before your eyes, Athrun Zala?"
"What is the meaning of your fight? A medal of honor? Is it because of your father's orders? Or is it... for your departed mother?"
Athrun's pupils contracted. The image of a woman with a loving smile appeared in his mind.
She was right. He had been just as lost as Kira was at the start. Why was he fighting? What was the purpose? For a medal? For his father's command? In the end, he realized he didn't want to fight, yet he was forced to find reasons to continue doing so.
The smile on Lacus's face vanished. "If that is how it is, then... you and your friend will surely become enemies once more. And it will be the same for us."
"..."
Lacus stood up and slowly walked toward Athrun. "If you consider me an enemy, then shoot, Athrun Zala of ZAFT!"
Athrun looked at Lacus, his expression deeply moved. His hand gripped the gun with uncertainty; he could not bring himself to fire upon this childhood friend, a girl he had grown up with who was like a sister to him.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Suddenly, the sound of frantic footsteps echoed through the theater. Several men in black suits, armed with guns, rushed inside. Athrun instinctively moved to shield Lacus behind him.
"Good work, Athrun Zala. As expected of Chairman Patrick's son. Our Intelligence Agency searched for her for days without a single lead. Yet, you find her so easily after being back in the country for only a day. You truly are childhood friends."
"Who are you...?"
Several of the men in black walked onto the stage with their guns raised. One of them, an older agent with a thin mustache, said with a smile, "Now then, please step aside."
There was no way Athrun would listen to him. The leader of the men in black frowned behind his sunglasses.
"She is a fugitive charged with high treason. These are the orders of your father, Chairman Zala himself. If necessary, we are authorized to kill her on the spot. Do you intend to harbor a criminal, Athrun Zala?"
Just as Athrun was about to speak, the muffled crack of a silenced gunshot rang out. Several men in black standing in the audience seating collapsed.
"What?" The leader was stunned by the sudden fire, but he was a professional. He quickly regained his composure and dove to the side to take cover.
At the same time, Athrun pulled Lacus behind a large rock. To create a sense of realism, the opera house had used actual boulders as stage props. The men in black tried to seize the chance to shoot Lacus, but because of the stage rocks, they couldn't land a hit.
Very quickly, the Intelligence Agency team sent to assassinate Lacusincluding the leader and the men waiting in the cars outsidewere wiped out by the sudden reinforcements.
"Miss Lacus, it's time to go. The Captain has already made the arrangements."
A man with messy red hair, wearing a standard ZAFT uniform, stepped onto the stage. If Mikazuki, Kira, or Cagalli had been there, they would have recognized him instantly.
He was the adjutant to "The Desert Tiger" Andrew WaltfeldMartin DaCosta.
Lacus stepped out from behind the rock, clutching Haro, and approached DaCosta. She turned back to Athrun.
"Thank you very much, Athrun. Also... the Freedom has already been taken to Earth by Mikazuki. By now, Mikazuki has likely lent it to your good friend. After all, that's what he told me when he took the machine. Most importantly... whatever you do, do not become Mikazuki's enemy. He... will not show mercy."
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