As promised, a sequence of events not taken in any way, shape or form from the Gundam SEED or SEED Destiny storyline.

DISCLAIMER

I own SEED Destiny...I wish. It would've turned out so different if I did.

Gundam SEED Destiny is the copyrighted property of Bandai/Sunrise. Though the events told in this chapter are entirely of my creation, the characters in these events remain the copyrighted property of Bandai/Sunrise.

INTERLUDE 1: Sorrowful Song

In the high-ceilinged control chamber of ZAFT's Messiah Space Fortress, Chairman Gilbert Durandal reviewed the events of the last twenty-four hours. Lacus Clyne had come out in the open, so he couldn't use Meer any longer. She had been send with a bodyguard to Copernicus City on the Moon. And Operation Fury had failed, because a handful of terrorists using stolen ZAFT hardware had assisted Orb's defense forces, bolstered by an intriguing new model.

The single greatest example of international military cooperation since the Bloody Valentine War had been thwarted, and while all other members of Logos were dead or awaiting trial for crimes against humanity, the ringleader, Blue Cosmos leader Djibril, had escaped. Needless to say, Gilbert Durandal was furious.

That was when a very peculiar report came to his attention: Unusual activity near the remains of disaffected Closed-Type O'Neill I-3 colonies. The nearest of these was the old Gounod colony. He contacted ZAFT military headquarters and ordered the Jule Team to be send out to Gounod to investigate. As he pondered the situation, a communication came in from the Eurasian Federation's president.

"Chairman Durandal."

"Ah, yes, President Ashford. I'm sorry to say, our joint effort to capture Djibril seems to have failed."

-"Yes, it has, thanks to Orb. The military command has been itching to attack that troublesome nation - there are grounds for it, as they were sheltering a terrorist wanted for crimes against humanity."

-"Very true. However, I think not. Now is not the time to strike at Orb itself, not yet. I'm more concerned about what Djibril will do here in space."

-"Artemis informed us that they tracked Djibril's shuttle to the moon. It's possible he may be at Azarchel, or at the Federation's new base at Daedalus Crater. Our outpost at Ptolemaus is still incomplete, so they could not help. We have some forces stationed at Daedalus, so I will see if we can't confirm anything."

-"Thank you, Madam President. I will consider what to do about this situation and contact you. Though I would advise you withdraw your forces from Daedalus and transfer them to either Artemis or Ptolemaios as soon as can be."

-"I'll bear that in mind." President Ashford said, and she cut the connection. Chairman Durandal leaned back, his eyes closed, and thought about this curious report about Gounod. He also thought about the extensive facilities they'd captured in the Debris Belt, and wished he could find and destroy the Eternal.

"Aww, man. I still can't quite get it." Lunamaria muttered to herself, as the holographic target, digital bullet "holes" scattered across its torso and head, several of them to either side of the target, changed, and her results were printed on a display screen. Sliding the earmuffs off, she reloaded the gun, and slipped them back on before she began again. Just as the heavy earmuffs covered her ears, she heard a few hesitant piano notes. Rey's at the piano again? I thought he'd left an hour ago.

The Minerva was currently at Carpentaria, and the pilots and crew had been given a few days' sabbatical while repairs were made before the ship returned at last to outer space - presumably to follow Djibril. Rey had said he was going to head back to the ship. Shinn was locked in his room, and Luna had gone for a while into town with Abby, the new CIC. She was nice enough, but Luna missed Meyrin. So when she'd gotten back, she headed to the shooting gallery to practice.

She finished, and once again took off the earmuffs. And she froze. Through the thick door, she could hear, very faintly, an unfamiliar tune being played on the piano. Rey must've composed something new again. she thought - a piano aficionado and an excellent player, her teammate Rey Za Burrel had composed several tunes that were uite lovely, though they sounded similar. But the more she listened, the more intrigued she was, as this tune seemd to sound quite different. Putting down her gun, earmuffs, and safety glasses, she left the gallery.

Outside, the tune was more clearly audible. It was a slow, hauntingly beautiful melody, and unbearably sad. She started walking towards the wide, high-ceilinged lounge, in which a black grand piano was set up, for the benefit of those who could play. She was walking hurriedly, without paying attention, when she ran headlong into someone coming from another direction.

It was Rey, who seemed surprised to see her.

"REY?!"

-"Lunamaria."

-"If that's not you playing, then who is it?" Without waiting for an answer, she stood and started off again, Rey following her. A thin smile played briefly across the blonde's face, but it soon disappeared. They reached the lounge, and Luna stopped dead in her tracks. The music ended, and the one playing the piano stood. He wiped his forearm across his eyes, and turned to face the new arrivals, a sad smile on his face.

-"When did...since when can you play the piano?!!" Lunamaria asked. Rey smiled again.

-"All those long afternoons spent trying, back at the Academy. I was under the impression that none of what I tried to teach you over a year made a difference. That was beautiful, Shinn." Shinn Asuka looked embarrassed, and Luna just looked from him to Rey, appearing even more shocked.

-"Thanks. I was walking by just a while ago, and I saw the piano - it's the same one as the Academy's, d'you remember?"

-"Yes, I do. Did you compose that tune, or..."

-"I was thinking, and it just...it just sort of came to me. It took a few tries before I got the hang of it, and then I just started playing."

-"Would you mind playing it for us again?" Rey asked.

-"Sure thing." Shinn answered. He sat down, hesitating. He struck a few tentative notes, started hesitantly, and stopped. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes, and started playing again. It really was a beautiful tune, but it was one of the saddest Rey had ever heard. Lunamaria was gaping, apparently still unable to believe what she saw and heard. Rey wondered at what could possibly be the reason for the melody's unbearable sadness, and he listened carefully, mentally recording every single note. After about five minutes, the music slowly wound to a stop.

Shinn stood, and turned wordlessly away. Rey could see tears in his eyes, and he followed Shinn to their temporary quarters on the base.

"It really was a beautiful melody, Shinn. But it is very sad."

-"You think so?...I guess it is, at that."

-"What inspired you? Was it..." And as he looked at his best friend, suddenly everything made sense. "You really love her, don't you? That's why..."

-"Yeah. Yeah, I do."

-"I understand." Rey said. Love...a luxury I don't have, and something he has sorely lacked. We really are perfect opposites, him and I.

"Herr Doktor...the patient in the east ward...she's awake."

-"Sehr gut. I will see." Doktor Müller, of Magdeburg's general hospital, walked briskly towards the East Ward, which housed two patients - both military. The first was in stable but critical condition, and would likely need to be transferred to a better facility within days. She had come in some time ago, and had yet to regain consciousness. But the second, younger patient was the one Müller was concerned with. Her wounds had healed, but she was pale, sickly, and had frequent, violent relapses. Her bloodwork had yielded startling results, and it had taken all of his expertise to get a handle on her condition, leaving young Günter Klein to deal with the other one. As he entered her room, he saw her standing, facing the window and gazing south-east. She turned, started, and relaxed when she recognized that he meant no harm. She whispered a foreign-sounding word, a name, perhaps. "Shin", it sounded like.

He addressed her in hesitant English. Günter spoke better English, but the first time he tried to treat her, she shattered his forearm and nearly broke his nose - evidently, she was a highly skilled hand-to-hand fighter. He'd eventually recovered enough, but he took care of the other patient - Very, very severely injured, it had taken nearly a full week before they'd gotten her more or less stable. She was alive, but very weak, and in a coma - Günter thought she might never come out, but Müller disagreed. He turned his attention to his young patient, who looked at him. She had the most wonderful eyes. Like his daughter's.

"Fraülein...Stella, ja?" she nodded. "It's time to get you treated. Sit down, please?" She hesitated, then slowly left the window and sat down. Doktor Müller thought about what Günter had told him, about the angry young man, what had been his name? It might've been Shin-something. Whoever he was, Doktor Müller sincerely hoped he would return for his young charge, and soon...

That was fun, and longer than I thought it'd be. The tune played by Shinn in this episode is a piano instrumenal based on Shinkai no Kodoku, Stella's image song.

Well anyhow, what did y'all think? I almost hate to have to get back to the normal storyline after this. The next Interlude will probably integrate some events from the canonical story, and it'll be pretty soon. (Have a guess at who that other patient might be, if you want.) Reviews, please?

THANKS A MILLION!!!