Prologue: The Incident
** June, 74 CE **
Dearka watched the few trees and many buildings rush past him as he drove down the highway of the artificial land he called home. He grew up in the colonies called the PLANTs. For many years he called it home. For a long time he even fought as a ZAFT soldier to protect it. But now he was leaving it all behind. He was ready for a new home, and something or rather someone else to protect. It wasn't the first time he had done this. During the war he chose someone else over the PLANTs, and although in many ways it was the right choice it ended with him getting his heart broken. But that was the past. Now he was ready to try it all again.
"I can't believe you're actually doing this!" Yzak voice echoed through the speaker of his car. "Do you really think she is worth it?"
"You know she is" Dearka said with confidence. "Life hasn't been the same since the moment I met her. Everything has changed since then… I've changed"
"Nobody ever said it was for the better"
"Just because I have a soft spot for naturals now? They are people too you know"
"That doesn't mean you need to marry one"
"Come on now Yzak, nobody ever said anything about marriage. She barely agreed to meet with me to talk about the possibility of getting back together. I'm pretty sure marriage is the furthest thing from her mind."
"And what about yours?" He questioned.
"I'm not going to lie, when I think about either being with her the rest of my life or never being with her ever again I know which one I would chose in a heartbeat. But neither of us is ready for that. We need to work a few things out first"
"A few hundred things" Yzak replied in a snarky tone.
"Maybe… but I'm willing to do any work I need to in order to be with her again. She's the reason I'm the man I am today. The reason I proudly wear a black ZAFT uniform. If it wasn't for her I would still be that womanising sarcastic ass I was three years ago"
"You're still a sarcastic ass" He said quickly in a serious tone before they both started to laugh for a couple seconds.
"But seriously when I think about the guy I used to be… I hate it. I hate who I once was and if nothing else I'll always be grateful for that, because I never want to be that guy again"
"And you're really willing to leave ZAFT for her?"
"ZAFT isn't everything Yzak. You're only given one life afterall, and it's up to you how you're going to spend it. You can spend everyday married to your job or… you can find someone who makes you wish every moment would last forever."
"Say what you want about the old you, at least then you weren't a sappy romantic."
Dearka laughed a bit and then got serious. "Don't waste your life Yzak."
"Huh?"
"I know you have a thing going on with Shiho. Maybe it's just a friends with benefits thing right now but that can't last forever."
"Who said I was sleeping with her?"
"Nobody had to say anything. All those late nights you two have working on 'assignments' together, doesn't take a genius to figure out that wasn't always the case."
"How long have you known?"
"Does it matter? What matters is if you like the girl stop hiding it. Life's too short to bullshit around"
"How philosophical of you Elsman" he retorted.
"Just think about it. I'm going all the way to Earth to fight for my girl, yours is just down the hall from you. Maybe by the end of tomorrow we can both be happy with the women we care most about"
"That is if your girl sticks around Orb long enough. From the sounds of it you only have a small window to catch her before she leaves again" Yzak said trying to get the focus off him and Shiho.
"Yeah. A three month assignment came up. By the time I get there we'll only have a couple of hours to talk. If I'm lucky she'll actually let me come with her so we can sort things out."
"And if she doesn't?"
"I don't want to even think about her leaving on that trip without me." Dearka took the exit off the highway. He could see he was nearing to the shuttle port. "Listen Yzak I need to go I'm almost at the port… Don't forget what I said."
"What do you mean"
"Seize the day. Go after what you want. We're soldiers after all. We should know better than anyone that anyday could be our last"
"You know sometimes you're as dramatic as a woman! What if I like my relationship just the way it is! You should just butt out and go deal with your stupid natural"
"Ghuahh" Yzak heard Dearka gasp loudly all of a sudden. The next few moments felt like they were ripping his heart out. He could hear the horrid screeching of tires, followed by the crunch of metal on metal. He felt his face go pale as the line cut out. In that moment he didn't know if his friend was dead or alive.
*** Later In Orb ***
Miriallia looked down at her watch. It read '4:15'. Dearka was late… really late. He was suppose to be there at 2:30. She was surprised, he knew she only had two hours to spare for him today. After their phone call she was sure he would be there waiting for her at their designated meeting place. Instead she sat alone looking out at the sea.
"Dearka…" She said to herself as she closed her eyes and leaned back. "I guess you were wrong… maybe it is too late for us" She opened her eyes and looked up at the sky. Faintly in the distance she could see the PLANTs. She did want to see him. Even if they ultimately decided to stay apart she wanted to see him. She missed him. But it was too late now.
She picked up her phone and dial his number. "Hey! You've reached Dearka Elsman. I can't come to the phone right now so leave one after the beep"
*BEEP*
"Dearka… Guess this is really over huh? We're really over. I've waited as long as I could but you're not here. I don't know what would have happened with us if we actually had a chance to see… but now we never will. I'm leaving like planned. Don't try to call or find me, you won't be able to." She felt tears rolling down her face. She wanted to kept her composure but her emotions got the best of her and she began to cry, her voice cracking. "Maybe I'm just not meant to find my happy ending with a guy from another world… goodbye Dearka Elsman… I'll never forget you and all you did for me."
Hanging up she picked up her camera bag. Taking one last look at the ocean she started to walk off towards her car. She had already packed her bags. She would be spending the next three months helping to rebuild cities affected by the war. She would be out of contact with all her friends and family the entire time, but right now she felt like that was exactly what she needed.
