Will You Remember Me?


Epilogue: Memories of You
*** Six Months Later ***

It had been six months since Dearka left Orb to return to the PLANTs. He didn't return to ZAFT right away. Instead he decided to take time and learn more about the Bloody Valentine Wars. Part of him hoped it would spark some memories, if not at least he would learn more about the history of PLANTs and how he came to be a Commander.

He was astonished at the things he learned. He had to admit Yzak was right, it was all so complicated. He read about Seigle Clyne's death. How the Clyne faction was formed. That he was one of the many members that fought alongside them. It angered him to see that the Earth Alliance had used NUKES once again, but relieved none of them hit the PLANTs. Then there was GENESIS that was used by Patrick Zala and his supporters. A chaotic and terrible end to a much too long war.

The second war seemed more complicated than the first. The length may have been shorter but the causalities were still very high. So many lives lost for what seemed like so little gain. Various PLANTs were even destroyed. The council was once more corrupted. The only good that seemed to come of it was Lacus Clyne taking what he believed to be rightful place as Chair of the PLANTs.

Through all he read, and even through his many discussions with those from his past, he still remembered nothing else. Ever since he let Orb his memory recover halted. He spoke with his doctor about it. It was in his professional opinion that this was a sign that his memory would never fully return. His past was truly in the past and he needed to forge a new future for himself. It was difficult to accept at first, the thought that he would never remember. But his studies on the history of the past few years helped. At least he knew somewhat of what went on.

When he was satisfied with his knowledge he went back to ZAFT, wearing his black Commander uniform once more. He enjoyed being a Commander, although it did seem to keep him very busy. Busy was good though. It kept his mind away from the girl he once loved. Funny thing was he tried so long to remember things, now he was trying his hardest to forget her. She was a part of a past he would never remember and yet she haunted him. He could still feel lingering feelings for her.


He sat in his office going over some paperwork. It was a daily thing. Every morning he would wake up and go over the various reports from the day before. It was boring but it was all part of the package. When he finished he leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. When he opened his eyes again his he found himself focusing on one of the pictures on his desk. It was one of the once Miriallia had taken. He couldn't help but think that she created something beautiful out of something so terrible. He smiled to himself thinking about her, a smile he quickly wiped off.

Looking over at the time he saw he was due at the training grounds soon. He stood up, grabbed his uniform jacket and headed out the door. He saluted those he passed him by. It surprised him that now when he passed a cute girl he no longer flirted or tried to seduce them. It seemed in the past few months he found himself changing in ways he didn't know he could. Like the person he was supposed to be was leaking out somehow despite not remembering. He was becoming a better person. The anger inside him fading.

Out in the train grounds Yzak and Shiho were waiting for him. When he reached them he saluted. "Sorry I'm late, this mornings reports took longer than I thought they would." He confessed as he scratched the back of his neck. "So what did you want to see me out here for?"

"The new recruits are going to be running through some basic mobile suit training. I thought maybe you should join them"

"Me? I'm not a trainer." He argued.

"No but you're one of the best long range fighters ZAFT has. Sparing with you could be beneficial to them. After all training with the best will show them how far they have to go. Motivate the troops to keep trying to get better."

"You know I haven't piloted in months." Dearka informed him.

"What you afraid you're not going to remember how?" Yzak joked.

"What?" Dearka spat insulted. "As if! I'm a top pilot, I certainly haven't forgotten how to fight!"

"Good. Then let's get you ready to launch. Shiho and I will be monitoring your fight from the communications center to insure you don't hurt the trainees."

Dearka made his way down to the launch pad. For the first time in months he climbed up into a mobile suit. He was overwhelmed looking down at the buttons. As far as memories went the last time he was in a mobile suit the entire panel was spitting sparks at him, refusing to work. He felt his hands hesitating to take hold of the controls. Like some part of him was afraid. But perhaps that was just lingering fear from the accident. It took a couple months before he was even willing to get behind the wheel of a car.

Finally taking hold of the controls he launched after receiving approval from the command center. He flew around outside the PLANTs for a while trying to get a hang for the new model he was piloting. According to Yzak it was the same mobile suit that he used during the second war. It was a modified standard model. Updated and changed to suit his long ranged fighting style. After a few minutes of testing out the mobile armour the new troops launched ready to attempt to take him on.

Each determined to show Commander Joule they weren't pushovers they each attacked Dearka one by one. He dodged their attacks with easy, smirking at how easy it was. He could tell he himself had improved since the last battle he remembered being a part of. Muscle memory seemed to be a powerful thing. After dodging many of the attacks he chose to attack back. Firing off a few shots from a long range gun he disarmed 3 out of 10 troops. Once disarmed they were called back to the base, leaving the other seven to continue to train.

Dearka waited for them to attack once more but they seemed to be hesitating. He began wondering what was going on, why they were refusing to attack him when they suddenly started to spread out. It was then he realized they weren't hesitating they were strategizing. They surrounded him, attacking this time all together. Dearka continued to dodged their attacks, still with some ease. As he was about to return fire he was surprised when they shot his gun out of his hand. This caused him to get pissed off and lose his cool slightly. No doubt the troops had heard about his personality back when he was first was a ZAFT soldier and was taking advantage of that.

Dearka pulled out the sword from his holster, a piece of weaponry he very rarely used. He was ready to take them all on, one by one if necessary. But before he could attack they launched another attack, this one bigger than the one before. He watched as his screen lit up. He was about to dodge them when something flicked in his mind, his body froze in shock. Each and every shot they fired hit him, causing his mobile suit to be lost in a cloud of smoke.

"Dearka!" Yzak screamed through the communicator, but there was no response. He quickly ordered the troops to return and retrieve Dearka. As they made their way back to the launchpad of the base Yzak and Shiho raced down to met them. Once he arrived he gave the troops a stern angry look, pissed that they possibly injured one of their commanders.

They all waited for his mobile suit to open. Yzak was worried when it was taking longer than it should. He was about to yell at one of the mechanic to open it when finally the cockpit flew open. Taking hold of the cord Dearka slowly made his way down to the floor and walked over to Yzak. As he took off his helmet Yzak waited to hear Dearka's grumbling about them disarming him, instead there a stern look across his face.

"Are you okay?" Yzak questioned.

"No"

"So you're hurt?" He asked.

"No, I'm not alright because I'm not where I'm supposed to be right now" He confessed. Yzak looked at him confused. "I needed to leave. I hope you understand."

"I don't. Where do you need to go?"

"To fight a war I've been losing for too long"


Miriallia leaned down in the grass at the edge of a cliff overlooking a countryside devastated by the fall of the debris from Junius 7. She took a calm breath as focused her camera lense. Finding the perfect shot she clicked button a few times and sat up. She looked down at the screen reviewing the pictures she had taken that day to ensure she was satisfied with them before packing up for the day. Once she confirmed they were up to her standards she put her camera away and stood up. Turning she nearly dropped her bag when she saw someone was standing only a few feet from her.

"You're a hard girl to track down" They said. "Took a few weeks, I was almost thinking of giving up... almost."

"Dearka?" She whispered confused. "What are you doing here? I thought we agreed it was over. We can't be together, not when you think naturals are inferior."

She was surprised when he smiled. "What if I told you I don't believe that anymore." He asked.

"What would have changed your mind?"

"I've done a lot of reading in the past six months. I've learned so much since I last saw you. So much I didn't know. It's hard to stay the same person after learning the truth of it all."

"That doesn't change anything" She spat as she walked towards him. "I don't know why you came here but it's over between us, you reading a bunch of facts changes nothing." She walked past him ready to head back to her tent.

"Then what if I were to tell you I know the first time we kissed was under the moonlight?" He questioned, stopping her in her tracks. "You were in morning and I showed you kindness. You kissed me and sparked feelings in me I had horrible time come to terms with. Loving a natural, even then was difficult. But I did… I do love you. And that is a fact I know, not that someone has told me."

Mir turned to look at him. "What are you saying"

"I'm saying that I remember the day we met and how horrible it was for both of us. I remember our break up too. The hardest fight I ever lost. But most importantly I remember every single day, every single moment in between and after those days." He confused.

Her eyes opened wide "Dearka? You… you remember me?" She asked.

"Yes… I do" he confirmed. "And I'm here to have that conversation I begged for some many months ago."

"Didn't you learn anything from all this?" She questioned. "Dearka you were in a car accident. You almost died. You forgot all about me instead. Don't you think that is some kind of sign?"

"Of what our fate?" He spat. "If it is our fate to be apart why does every ounce of my body want nothing more than to always fight to be by your side? Near death and complete loss of my memories of you couldn't keep me from you, what makes you think fate wants us apart?"

"We are too different. We are from two different Worlds." She argued.

"Listen Miriallia, I know there'll be tough times. I know that at some point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also know that if I don't ask you to be mine again, I'll regret it for the rest of my life. You are the one for me, and I'm willing to give up everything to be with you. You just have to be willing to give me a second chance."

"Dearka… It's not that easy. You can't just give up everything"

"Can't I?" He retorted. "If the whole experience of losing my memories taught me anything it's that there are certain things in this life that one can live without. Never in a million years will that be you. Miriallia Haww I love you, I will always love you, whether or not you give me this second chance."

"I'm not going to give up my career" She informed him.

"I never said you had to" He replied as he slowly walked up to her.

"We still have a lot of issues to work through. It's not going to be easy" Mir insisted.

"I know" He agreed.

"And you kn-" She was interrupted when he quickly grabbed her by the waisted and kissed her deeply. He had waited so long to kiss her once more. So much had stood in his way, their fight, the war, his accident. He would be demanded if her attempts to push him away to protect him stood in his way. He pulled away and looked down at her blushing face. Her eyes met his and she was lost. "I love you" She whispered.

"I love you too" He leaned his head against hers. "Forever and for always."