CHAPTER 01: A STAR HAS FALLEN
In one of the highest peak in a small town, two young friends found themselves staring at the night sky. News about an incoming comet has been filling the mass media since last week. It is only natural that they are excited to witness this marvelous event because they Astronomy interest them very much. It has been said that this comet comes into Earth's orbit once in a thousand years, and thus, this has been named the Millennium.
The first person had a shoulder length blond hair. Her two golden eyes highlight her facial features. She has been known to have a strong and enduring personality. With eyes fixed on the telescope, she asked this to her companion, "Do you think we will see the comet tonight?"
"We have been waiting all this time about the Millennium, I'm sure our preparations were enough," replied her companion. Her companion, the same age as her, has brown hair, with purple eyes completing his handsome features.
"You think so Kira? Shouldn't we join forces with the professional astronomy organization? They have the most awesome equipment you know," she replied and pulled out from the telescope. She sat the blanket spread out to the ground and reached for a potato chips. She opened it, took some chips and offered them to Kira.
Kira reached out, pick some potato chips and shoved them into his mouth, "Thanks Cagalli. I went over some materials at the school's library and did some research on the Internet, if these information were correct, then we will be able to see the comet with our telescope. I just hope the sky remains clear," he replied and went to take a glimpsed.
Cagalli opened her iPad and click some images of the Millennium comet in the past. Pictures of the comet were illustrated, but no actual pictures were taken. "I hope that they'll be able to get some nice pictures to replace the ones we have in our library. These are mere illustrations," she said, pointing out at the pictures.
"You have to consider that these pictures were taken a thousand years ago when the camera was not yet invented, so they have to record what they see through these illustrations," explained Kira. He withdrew from the telescope and sat beside Cagalli.
"Of course I knew that, but what time do you think it is going to cross the Earth's atmosphere? It's getting late and I need to go back home before midnight or else I'm going to be scolded," she checked on her watch. It's already a quarter past ten in the evening. Her father, her only family isn't home yet, but she doesn't want to risk being caught or else she might be given another curfew.
"Yeah, me too. No one could really tell. How about we stay here until midnight?" Kira reached out for his mobile phone and started typing a text message.
"Guess we have no choice. Class starts at our first period. I'll take a short nap for a while, wake me up if something goes on," Cagalli replied. She lay down on her back and closed her eyes.
Before Kira could answer, Cagalli had closed her eyes. The night is getting cold, so he decided to get the blanket from Cagalli's car, parked not far from where they lay.
"Carefree as ever. Even going a nap without a jacket on. Sooner or later, you'll soon catch a cold," He said while putting the blanket around Cagalli.
Cagalli moved a little and managed to utter "Thanks." In a short while, she drifted to sleep.
He stared at her for a while and a smile cuts across his lips. Two hours later, he touched Cagalli's shoulder to wake her up. "Wake up Cagalli. We need to go home or else our family will worry."
Cagalli yawned and with eyes half open she asked about the time.
"It's already past midnight," Kira answered. He started to pack their things.
Cagalli immediately sat up, "It's past midnight already? Oh no, I need to go home or else." She started to panic. "Why didn't you wake me up? " Just then she remembered, "Has the comet Millennium already passed?"
Kira let out a sigh. "No luck."
"You sure?" she asked while watching Kira pack their things. "You didn't take a nap did you?" she asked, pointing her finger towards him. She asked this question because the last time they did stargazing, he slept from his post so they missed the planet Saturn.
Kira held her hand and put it away and managed to laugh a little, "Nope, I was up until midnight and there's no sign of the comet," he said pointing at the telescope.
Cagalli gave up, "and I thought that we're going to hit it big this time." She went to help him pack their things.
"I'll load these into your car, while you pack the telescope," Kira lifted the bags and brought it to Cagalli's old 4x4 car.
Cagalli disassembled the parts of the telescope and placed it gently on their bags. A few minutes later, she boarded the driver's seat and Kira sat beside her. "Maybe the morning news tomorrow will feature the comet," Kira assured her.
"I guess so. Shall I drop you at your house?" Cagalli asked as she ignited the car. The car brought out a loud noise, but started immediately.
"As if you have a choice," Kira answered teasingly. They went past the roads and took several turns until they arrived at Kira's house. Kira alighted from the vehicle.
"See you at school," Cagalli called from the driver's seat.
Kira let out a yawn, "Yes, see you. Good night. Be careful," he replied and waived his hand. Kira watched Cagalli until she disappeared from view. Yawning another, he let out the key from his pocket and opened the door. He immediately ascended the stairs and went to his room.
When Cagalli arrived at their house, the light is still unlit. He is not home yet. She went out and opened the gate. Afterwards, she parked the car beside the house and picked up her backpack. She left the telescope and some other things. I'll fix this tomorrow. She fiddled around the outer pocket of her pack and found the key to the house.
Upon entering the house, she put the backpack on the sofa and went to the fridge to get a drink. A little later, she heard the lock to the front door opened. A minute or so, she was face-to-face with her father.
She went to her father and hug him, "Welcome home father. I thought you'll be extending your stay?" she asked.
"That isn't necessary. Why are you up at this late in the night? Looks like you just came home," her father observed that she was still in her outdoor dress.
"I just got back from stargazing with Kira," she answered shortly.
"Oh really, were you able to see an asteroid, or a comet maybe?" asked her father and sat at one of the sofa in the living room.
"Apparently not, but since we have classes tomorrow, we decided to call it off already." She explained. She put down the glass on one of the table and proceeds to the washroom. A moment later, she emerged, with a face damp from washing.
"I'll go ahead father, but first, do you need anything? Green tea, perhaps?"
"No, no. I'm fine here. I'll just rest for a bit and I'll also go upstairs."
"Ok, then I'll go upstairs. Good night father."
"Good night Cagalli."
She went to her room and changed into pajamas. She texted Kira with just one word: home. They agreed to do this to prevent each other from worrying. She waited for his reply, but none came. Maybe, he did stay up while I took my nap. She smiled sheepishly. She went to her bed, but one last time, she took her portable telescope and pointed it outside her window. Yeah, there's no sign of it yet. Time to sleep.
However, at around past 3 in the morning, Cagalli was awakened by a weird dream. In this dream, she heard a man's voice asking her to accept the contract.
She stood from the bed. Remembering the comet, she took another peek at her window. To her surprised, she could see a white trail of light cutting across the night sky with her naked eye. It's the Millennium! I have to call Kira.
She took the mobile phone from her desk and dialed Kira's number. It took three rings before she gave up. He's probably asleep. Then, she picked one of her portable telescope and peek .A little part of the comet seems to cut loose from the main body. It's divided into two unequal parts. Is the second part going to fall to Earth? There was no mention of it on the news though.
Indeed the comet has divided into two. The main body continues to traverse the night sky, while the other smaller part begins falling to Earth. In her excitement, she went to her father's room and knocked three times. Unable to wait for his response, she said behind closed doors, "Father! Father! The comet, it is here! I will go out to take a look." Without hearing his response, she went downstairs, still in her pajamas. She picked up the car key from the table near the telephone and proceeded outside. Hearing the loud noise of Cagalli's feet, her father gets up immediately. Realizing Cagalli's message, he went to his feet and followed her downstairs.
Cagalli opened the gate. Upon returning to the house, she saw her father at the front door. "Where are you going?"
Cagalli passed her the telescope. "Father, look! It's the Millennium. The trace is faint but I think it will fall to Earth."
Her father looked at the telescope. Undeniably, he was beholden with the sight of the Millennium." Fall to Earth? He repeated Cagalli's statement, but he could not see any signs of the comet falling to Earth. "Are you sure?"
"Father, we don't have time. The map is still on the car where Kira had left them. I think, with this telescope, I'll could predict where the other part of the comet would fall." While's she's saying this, she went to the car and started the engine.
"I don't know what you're talking about, but I guess I'll come with you. I can't leave you alone at this time of the night," he chuckled.
His father taught Kira and her about Astronomy. He is also a Physics teacher at the University, and so he is very well versed with the telescope and the map. "Really? This is exciting!" blurted Cagalli. "Hop in father."
His father did just that even though he's unsure about Cagalli's optimism. Cagalli started the car. "Where are we headed?" he asked.
"If my calculation is right, I think the crash site will be on the foot of the mountain over the rivers," she said.
His father used the telescope, but just like the last time, he didn't see the other parts of the comet supposedly falling to Earth. What he saw was the main body continuing its path. Is she still half asleep?
Being certain that the crash site was ahead of them, she stepped on the accelerator to speed the car further. His father saw the glint in her eyes and so he was sure that indeed she saw something. But what?
After a few minutes, she parked the car at the foot of the mountain beside the river. The moon is in its full scale, so it's given them the light they needed.
The other part of the comet has been visible to Cagalli's naked eye. With this, she followed the white light until it fell down in the middle of the forest. She heard a loud crashing noise. Cagalli gestured to his father. "Look father, the comet is there," she said, pointing ahead of her. She saw smoke rising from the middle of the forest so she decided to follow where it come from. "Father, I'll go ahead. I'll take some pictures with me." She ran off ahead of her father. Lucky! I'll be the one to get the first shots.
"Wait Cagalli, where are you going?" Her father shouted back as he alighted from the vehicle.
"Can't you see father, the crash site is just ahead of us. I'll go ahead," she waived her hand and ran to the crash site, only known to her, but without her realizing it. Although her father couldn't see the supposed crash site, he hurried behind her.
When Cagalli arrived at the crash site, she saw that a crater was formed at the ground. The grass were burned from the impact.
But far from seeing a comet, she found a young man on the ground. What is going on in here? Where's the comet? Who is this young man? What is he doing here?
She hurriedly went to the person and kneeled beside him. The man lies on his stomach. Is he unconscious? She stared at the man and took a mental note of his appearance. He has a dark purple hair. He is clad in a dark suit. A somewhat black broken wings, she couldn't really tell, came from his back. What is this?
The moment she touches them, it materializes into small particles light enough to be carried by the wind. Cagalli's touch had woken the man, and in surprised, the man pushed her. Cagalli stumbled on her back. "Who are you?" was what he managed to say. Did she just hold me? More importantly, how could she see me?
"Aw, that hurts! Talk about being nice," Cagalli answered back. Later, she found herself beholden to these emerald eyes looking at her intently. It was her first time seeing these kind of eyes and she could not explain the feeling
The man continues his gaze. Blond hair and golden eyes. What a nice sight. However, certain that this person could really see him remained a puzzle. " Who are you?" He asked to make sure.
Cagalli could not fathom this young man. He pushed me instead of being grateful. She was pissed for being pushed down and for being asked a barrage of questions. Still, she managed to stand up. "Of course I could see you as clear as I could see the trees and the grass. Are you out of your mind asking that stupid question in this situation?"
His doubts had been confirmed. But, how? He tried to stand up, but falls again. He put his hand on his head. My head hurts?
Seeing that he is still weak, Cagalli tried to approach him. "Hey, you all right?" However, a white light came out from within him. "Don't come near me," he replied.
But it was too late. The light emanating from his body had enveloped Cagalli entirely. "What is this?" She managed to say. Little by little, her consciousness left her. What a warm feeling.
The time stopped for a moment. Who are you? These were the last thoughts of the man before he also succumbs into silence. They were both unconscious as the light died down. However, it left a tattoo of a dark single feather on Cagalli's left chest.
After a short while, Cagalli's father found her lying on the ground alone.
A/N: Hello everyone! After 14 years, I did manage to write another fic. This is another story revolving around AC and sets in AU. Enjoy. RxR!
Love lots,
Shadowclite [3 Nov 2018]