CONNECTION SNAPPED

Summary: Alliana and Athrun struggle to survive without each other with their twin connection snapped until their paths lead them both to the neutral colony of Heliopolis...

Disclaimer: as usual don't own anything recognzable

A/N: sequel to Connection Established, I'd recommend reding that first...

1. Beginning and Struggling

Alliana

There was only one passenger that remained on board. The pair of dull green eyes snapped open, as the passenger looked around in dazed confusion. At a closer look, one could recognise a girl with deep blue hair, her clothing singed by the heat of the explosion and some of her askin slightly burned. The girl coughed.

Alliana Zala, for that was the girl's name, was lucky wenough to survive the nuke that went off when her passenger shuttle almost reached her destination. The only reason she did suirvive was that the heat wave eof explosion tossed her rather unceremoniously on the shuttle's bridge, and she rolled, unconcious, under one of the many panels.

Alliana frantically searched jher mind, trying to reach out and clear her confusion. She searched for a familiar bond, her twin connection to her brother Athrun. But all she met was darkness.

(Oh, no, Athrun...)

...Be strong...

Allie frantically reached as far as she could, but she was soon stopped from her efforts by the blanket of nothingess where her brother should have been.

(No...)

A sob escaped the girl.

'Mommy?'

As she failed to reach her twin, the girl did the next best possible move - she started searching for an adult that came with her.

'Mum?'

As she realized that the shuttle was empty, Alliana staggered up to her feet, and stumbled towards the exit. Thankfully, it was still open, and Allie could tell the reason by simply sniffing the air - it had been torn off by the blow, and the edges of the door melted down.

'We have a live one here,' came a relieved-sounding, familiar voice. 'Alliana? Alliana Zala? Is that you?'

The girl coughed again, struggling to remain upright. Glancing up, she recognized the boy next to her, who caught her up.

'N... Nicol? Nicol Amarfi.'

'Yeah, it's me.' The boy with ruby eyes gently supported her. 'You're very lucky, you know that.'

'Tell me about it.' Allia stopped, as another coughing fit seized her. Nicol worriedly looked in her eyes.

'Allia... how many fingers?'

'Six.' The girl closed her eyes for a moment. 'Don't rell me, something is wrong with me.'

'You got it.' Nicol helped her down the remains of the ladder. 'Let's get you to the doctors.'

'Wait... Where's mom?'

Nicol's face darkened, and he looked down for a second.

'Allia... you mother died... a few minutes ago. She's been caught up in the same explosion and... well...'

The girl felt her eyes tearing up.

'Wasn't so lucky,' she finished in a small voice. Her friend nodded numbly.

Alliana broke down in tears.

'What am I goung to do now?' she whispered soddtly.

Sliently, though, she added, as loud as she dared to.

(Athrun... please give me strenghts to go on. What's happening? I dson't even know what to do anymore... Athrun! Hey, don't scare me like that! ATHRUN!)

Athrun

Across the stars from Alliana and Nicol, a boy - a stunning look-alike to Allia - awoke with a start, hot tears coursing down his face.

(Allia... Stars, why did she have to go? WHY!)

The boy brushed wet, deep blue hair out of his startling, wmerald eyes.

'Athrun?'

A boy no older than him cautiously glanced at the newcomer. The brilliant emerald eyes were bright with unshed tears.

'It's okay to cry, you know,' the blonde said uncomfortably. 'It's Yzak who's silly.'

Athrun gave his new friend a watery smile.

'T... thanks, Dearka.'

The blonde grinned at him.

'That's much better.'

Athrun gave a final sniff and tried to sleep once again.

Dearka

That Zala kid was tossing again. Poor kid, I heard he lost his twin sister in that Janius VII catastrophe. But, geez, he sure takes it a bit too hard.

I stare at the ceiling, wondering what it's like to have a twin. Of course, i dion't know, since I hapen to be an onkly child, but I certainly don't lack friends. Just yesterday, I had a scruff with Yzak Jule, and man, that guy is nuts. Yah, he lost some family to the Janius, as well, but he reacts a bit too violent for my tastes. Unlike that Zala kid.

I stifle a laugh. He's no kid. Zala is only a year younger than myself, and I'm fourteen. Nope, the youngest is Nicol Amarfi, only he's not here yet. He was saying something about family emergency, and that kind of stuff.

Now I really begin to think. Apparently, the only reason that Zala joined here is revenge. Heck, I think we all joined here cause of revenge. The only family I don't see indulging in the Natural hating is the Clyne family. Bloody peacemakers. Them and the Attha family.

Speaking of which, I heard the Atthas adopted a kid. Cagalli something... Dunno why, though. She's a bloody Natural, and a tad violent for a family of peacemakers. No wonder nobody wanted to keep her until her tender age of twelve... Heard they erased her memory.

Oh, well, she's not the only one. I think this army thing rainwashes everyone quite nicely. I just came on, but already I saw some harebrained soldier kids with blank looks.

Crap. I sure don't want to lose my charming personality. How else will I pull through this hell?

But then, I should talk. Zala probably has it the hardest.

I manage to stifle a yawn and try to sleep. Tomorrow, we get our assignments, and I sure hope they put me into a sensible group. Cause nobody else can sustain my charms, and normally I get kicked out.

Yes, I decide. A litle sensibility would be quite nice...

tbs