Chapter 7: Getting Settled
Summary from Chapter 6: After some handgun training and some intimate conversation with Dearka, Miriallia heads for Orb for the next step on their journey. What should happen when they get there?
Review Replies:
Lomiothiel- Let's just say Dearka hates losing a girl to a dead guy
XWHRobynx- I despise "Mary Sues" as well
DreamAnimeKitten, Angel of Dreams, cheerful-pinkstar- thanks
Miriallia Elthman- Oh No! I spoiled the ending for you by asking you that question! But I didn't spoil you how the events lead to the epilogue...
If you have read my profile page, you'd see that this story is projected about to about 15 chapters. Even if this story is still being done during SEED Destiny, I'll still do the story. I'll just say the events never happened!
Next story I plan to do would probably do something with SEED Destiny. I hope Lunamaria is alive when the series ends.
On to the story...
Dearka's POV
-3 hours and 30 minutes into the flight-
"Hmm...Tolle," murmured Milly in her sleep as she slept on one of the reclined seats, with me seating next to her..
Damn...she's still in love with him. Why is he in her heart? Why not me?
I stood up and walked out of the cabin when I heard...
"Hmm...Dearka," murmured Milly as she turned to the side facing me, still asleep.
She must be dreaming about me. Score one for Mr. Dekkie! I wonder that she's dreaming about...With that thought, I left the room, leaving Milly in whatever she's dreaming of right now.
I need to see Yzak before he leaves...
Miriallia's Dream
It's been so long. So long since I've seen you... Tolle.
"Hold me," said as I leapt into his awaiting arms, embracing his warmth.
"Don't worry, Miriallia. I'll always be here for you," reminded Tolle as he lowered his head towards mine.
"Close your eyes, you'll love this," said Tolle as he brought his head closer and closer.
I closed my eyes for the kiss.
It felt great.
"Hmm...Tolle...oh," murmured as I kissed him back, with my eyes still closed.
After what seemed like eternity, we stopped kissing as we faced each other.
"Hmm...," murmured as I opened my eyes to look at Tolle, or at least I thought it was Tolle.
"...Dearka?"
Dearka's POVAfter a couple of minutes of asking my soldiers where Senator Yzak was, I finally found him at the shuttle's personnel room, drinking what looked like 20-year-old scotch.
"Yzak...can I talk to you about something?" said as I sat down next to him.
"Sure...what is it about?" said the drunk Senator.
"It's about Senator Ardel," said as I got one of the empty glasses and filled it with scotch as well.
When Yzak heard what I said, he simply laughed it off.
"Didn't you hear Dearka? He's not a Senator anymore," said Yzak as he drank some more.
"What!" exclaimed as I spilled much of my drink on the floor.
"I replaced him. I guess my secretary didn't tell you,"
"Why? Wait...how?"
"Everyone hated him anyways. With my mom's support, I am now part of the Council. I always wanted to be a part of the Council, but now..." said Yzak as he mumbled something.
"I take it you don't like being on the Council," said as I refilled his glass.
"It's so boring. All they ever do is talk about the PLANT's and their inhabitants and other junk. I miss being in the military, at least I had fun with the guys," said a solemn Yzak.
"You miss the war huh?" asked as I downed my glass, waiting Yzak to fill up my glass.
"I do. I miss when all of us had something fun to do. I don't, however, miss this," said Yzak as he point to the scar on his face.
"You still have that scar?" said as Yzak filled up my glass.
"I thought about having surgery to get rid of it, but I don't know. I guess I just grew to accept it. Besides, I'm getting numbers from girls everyday since I became a council member," chuckled Yzak.
"Are you dating someone?"
"I think you've met her, she's my secretary,"
"Her? Damn...what a nice catch," said as I whistled.
"When we get married, we'll both go through gene therapy to have children. I'm not going to look for Naturals like you," said Yzak.
Just as I was about to say something, one of my soldiers walked in.
"Commander, we arrived at the base and Senator, a shuttle is waiting to get you back to PLANT," said the soldier as he left the room to unload all the cargo to my next base.
"Hey Dearka...if you need anything, call me and I'll do everything I can to get it. Don't call my secretary ugly though, or I'll kill you," sarcastically said Yzak.
"Later Yzak," said as I saw my best friend leave the room and presumably board the next shuttle soon after.
"Oh...I should wake Milly up," said to myself as I headed back to my personal cabin, where Milly should still be sleeping.
Sure enough, she was still there sleeping.
When I walked up to her and lightly shoved her to make her awake.
"We're here," said in a gentle voice as I saw her eyes flutter open, looking at me in a dazed expression.
"Tolle?" muttered Milly as she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling my face closer to hers.
The hell? I look nothing like him.
"It's me..De..." was all I could say before my lips touched hers.
Her lips once again felt heavenly. Still, I wish she were thinking about me when we do this.
I hate to lose to a dead guy.
But hey, I'm not complaining that she's kissing me in the real world.
After what seemed like a blissful eternity, she stopped kissing and looked into my eyes."Dearka?" said a wide-eyed Milly.
"Yes...lovely?" said as I dreamily looked into her eyes.
"So...so sorry," apologized Milly as she retracted her hands around my neck and snaked her way out of my way and headed for the door.
"Wait...what was wrong with the kiss?" yelled as I saw her holding against the doorway.
"Nothing...but don't do it again. When I wake up, I can't see very well, so don't do it okay?" said Milly as she stood there.
"Fine, fine. Here, I'll show you around the base," said as I walked up to her, grabbed her hand and led her out of the shuttle, onto my base.
Miriallia's POV
-Dearka's "Base"-
Dearka calls this a "base"? It's a 5-story mansion!
The 50 bedrooms...the 25 bathrooms...huge dining area...humongous swimming pool...outdoor garden...
Wow. Dearka has made a life for himself.
"Hey Dearka...why did you call it a base? It looks more like a mansion to me," said as I tried to catch up walking to him, since he was walking at a fast pace.
"It's because there's 5 levels of my underground military base under this mansion," lectured Dearka.
Then I noticed something, I saw one of the many butlers, but this one stood out.
"Isn't that one of your soldiers?" asked as he walked by me, giving me the ZAFT salute
"Yeah...Orb doesn't allow outside military forces. So they have to take up jobs around my "mansion" to cover their military status. Besides...they don't complain since I double their military pay to just clean up around the place,"
"But you only have 6 sold..."
"I only have 6 left on your case. Now that we have arrived at my base, there's over 40 soldiers, all disguised as butlers, maids, gardeners...ahhh...here we are," said Dearka as he stopped at a door on the 5th floor.
"What is this room?" asked in a meek voice.
"It's my bedroom," smirked Dearka as he opened the door.
A king sized bed...a wall-sized screen TV...state of the art computer...this is a dream I know I could never achieve.
"Okay guys, proceed to move her belongings in room 500," said Dearka to a walkie-talkie
"Could you look for another room?" pleaded with big puppy eyes.
"Why...don't you like sleeping on my bed?" smirked a gleeful Dearka.
"I just...I just want to have my own room...that's all," said as bashful as I could.
With Dearka contemplating, a few moments later, he talked into his walkie-talkie again.
"Hold it guys...lets find another location," said Dearka as he left his bedroom, leaving me all alone.
I then let out a big grin on my face.
Check. Dearka isn't the only one who can be sneaky.
I fumbled around his drawers, eventually coming upon old photo albums.
I grabbed all that I could find and placed them all on the bed.
I wonder what his life is like...
I lay on the bedon my stomach as I looked through his photo albums.
One of the albums had his family pictures...boring.
Another had pictures of his childhood days. He looks cute when he was a child.
Another had pictures of his military days.
Album after album was filled with pictures that had Dearka in it.
Then the last album had the word "Love"
This must be about all those girls he dated.
Sure enough, I was right.
On the first page there were photos of what presumably were his dates.
There's a blond...a brunette...a redhead...and that's just on one photo!
I kept turning the pages just to see what his tastes were.
"Man, Dearka will just go after anything with two legs," said, chuckling to myself.
"Not really," said Dearka, standing next to me, with a sarcastic tone.
"Dearka! I didn't here you come in. Sor...Sorry, there was nothing else to do in your room," said nervously, as I closed the album.
But Dearka, in a flash, grabbed my wrists and pulled them above his head, in effect pulling me too.
"It hurts, Dearka," said, as I was being held closer and closer towards Dearka, until we saw each other once again at eye level.
"You promised that you wouldn't do this in public, remember?" reminded as I tried squirming out of his reach.
As I continued to squirm, Dearka let go of my wrists, catching me while I fell towards the bed.
But Dearka, once again, catches me with his arms and pulls me towards his chest, enclosing his arms around me again.
"I said I wouldn't do this in public. But this is a private residence, so I haven't broken your little rule," smirked Dearka as he lowered his face once again.
But then he stopped lowering with a confused expression.
"You're not going to fight this time?" asked Dearka as he held me.
"I...I'm guess I'm just used to it by now. Still want to..." was all I said as he pressed his lips against mine.
As he still kissed me, I lost my balance and fell on the bed, with Dearka on top, still locking lips with mine.
After what seemed like forever, he stopped kissing and looked at me.
"So...did you like it?" smirked Dearka.
"...Sort...of. Can you get off of me...it's getting hot," said as I pushed against his chest.
As Dearka got up and stood next to me, I thought of something.
"Hey...Dearka...I was wondering," said as I twiddled my thumbs.
"What is it?" asked Dearka as he collected all of his albums and pushed them under his bed.
"Can I...go to the Orb Emporium?"
"I guess we can go," said Dearka as headed for the door.
"Wait a minute..."we"?" said as I headed for the door as well.
"The killer is still out there, so I'll protect you," said Dearka as he escorted me to the Emporium.
I guess he can come...beats going there alone...
-Orb Emporium-
-1 hour, 30 minutes later-
It's still as I remember it. 10 stories all filled with numerous stores. But damn...Dearka...
"Milly...are you still mad at what happened back there?" said Dearka as he put an arm around me.
"Who the hell goes 120 km on a 50 km freeway?!" yelled as I swatted his arm away.
"Relax...there was no other cars there," said as he walked as if nothing happened.
"We could have been killed!" yelled as I reiterated my point.
As we kept yelling at each other, I noticed that yelling at him was starting to attract a crowd.
"Nothing to see here...just a minor scuffle," said nervously as I lightly waved my hands in front of me.
As the small crowd dispersed, Dearka and I continued walking.
"I take it you don't like crowds," smirked Dearka as he nudged my arm a bit.
"I just don't want to be the center of attention...that's all," said as I inched away from him.
"Hey...here we are," said as I pointed to the "Beach Bummers" clothing store.
Dearka's POV
-1 hour later-
Damn she's taking forever.
I think I'll wander around a bit.
"Here Milly," said as I handed her my platinum card.
"What is it Dearka...can't stand being in a clothing store?" said a sarcastic Milly.
"No...I can't stand being in a store for an hour," said as I headed for the store entrance.
"Wait...I thought you're going to protect me, remember?" reminded a puppy-eyed Milly.
"The Emporium has over 120 security guards, you're well protected,"
"Wait...we are we going to see each other again?"
"Meet me at the fountain by the entrance in...oh...2 hours," said as I left the clothing store.
"I think I'll just walk to McGinty's to get some beer," said to myself, taking the elevator to the 10th floor.
As I made my way to the pub, by some unknown force had made me go to the jewelry store next to it.
Damn this place is expensive...wait...is that what I think it is?
It is!
It was the locket that was worn around Milly's neck. When I looked down to see the price...I was dumbfounded...
40,000 credits! That's damn expensive! How did she get all those credits? I doubt the military paid her that much during the war.
"I can't help but you're eyeing that locket over there. Got someone special in mind for that locket,?" said the middle aged man who works for the store.
"No...just thinking I've seen that locket before," said as I examined the other jewelry strewn over the store.
"Well that's a rare sight. We only had one sold since the war ended," said the salesman as he handled a purchase with another customer.
That must mean...
"Did you sell..." said before I was interrupted.
"I get a break in like 3 minutes. Go hang out at the bar next to the store...I'll talk to you then," said the salesman as he handled more purchases.
-McGinty's Pub-
-10 minutes later-
As I sat at one of the crowded tables, I kept looking around to see where that salesman was.
Where is that guy? He's taking forever...
"Sorry I was late...just that there were more customers since you left," said the salesman as he placed his beer on the table and seating across from me.
"I didn't mind...really," said as I drank my beer.
"So you wanted to know who bought that locket?"
"Yes"
"Well...that happened 4 years ago...so I don't remember much," said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"What if I made you remember much...with oh...lets say...4 million credits," said as I got a checkbook out of my pocket.
"Save it, I have over 400 million credits in my account. Your money's no good here,"
"But I saw you work at the little jewelry store next door,"
"Oh...oh that? That's just a little hobby of mine. Anyhow, about that locket...," said as he fumbled around for a cigar and a lighter.
"Ah...yes...I remember the person well. It was like a few days after the war, I think during peace talks with ZAFT and the EA. The day started out as a sunny morning, and this cute piece of work came walking into the store. Brunette, cute face, petite body...damn that guy is lucky to have her. Too bad for me though, I'm been married and divorced so many times that I don't really care if I get another girl.
Anyhow, this girl came walking in and said what was the price of that locket over there. At the time it was 30,000 credits, she said she only had 2,000 credits. Being a salesman, I refused, saying she didn't have enough. She begged me to have it, saying she would do anything to have it. I still said no. She then left the store, still crying her eyes out.
Hours passed, tens of jewelry had been purchased, and that girl came back, all bruised and limping on one leg. Not wanting to cause a commotion, I led her to the back of the store. When the day was over, I asked her what happened; she said that she did some things she regretted. I asked her is this worth some locket, she just nodded her head and took something out of her pockets.
It was credits. But there were only 10,000 credits, way below the cost of the locket. I don't know what came over me...but I led her to the store and grabbed the locket. She said she didn't have enough, I just said it just became free. But I made her promise that she'd pay it back...with 150 interest. She even wanted an inscription, so I inscribed the locket free of charge...now what was the inscription again?
Oh yes...it was for a "Tolle and Miriallia," least I think that was her name...it is hard to remember a name that long. When she left the store, I said, "This Tolle is a lucky guy, don't get him mixed with another girl." I guess I said something wrong, because she left the store crying...I guess there are some words that shouldn't be said," said as the salesman drank his beer.
"Why did you give it for free?" said as I drank my beer.
"When you come to have as many marriages as I have, you'd appreciate the love youths have for each other. I just didn't want to give her hopes up, like I've broken many girls hopes in my teens,"
"This has been bugging me...but why are all your jewelry so expensive? I've checked the Orb Census, and there's not a lot of people that can afford something like this"
"If you buy jewelry from my store, I'll make sure that it has a lot of meaning, so it doesn't become another accessory to be kept around,"
"Thanks for the story, I have to go. I didn't catch your name. My name's Dearka Elthman," said as I got up from the chair and reached my hand for his.
"Steven McGinty," said as he shook my hand.
"McGinty? That means that..."
"I own the pub, the jewelry store...hell, I own all the stores on the 10th floor," chuckled Steven.
"I think I should pay for my tab here," said as I pulled out my credit card.
"Relax...it's free. Just remember to pay me back 150 whenever you can," said Steven as he continued drinking his beer as I left the pub.
Normal POV (haven't done this in a while)
-20 minutes later-
When Steven McGinty came back to the jewelry store, he noticed a big fat envelop.
He asked who put the envelope there; another employee said a tanned man said these were for McGinty.
When he looked inside to see it's contents, he saw credits. Exactly 45,000 of them, and a note saying: Consider her debt repaid.
He must be a friend of that Miriallia chick I was talking about.
He chuckled as he noticed another envelop below the counter, except this was much bigger than the one opened earlier.
Must have dropped when he sent it here.
Inside were over 4 million credits, and another note, saying: Thanks for the story.
He chuckled at the note.
"Boss...what's so funny?" said one of the employees working there.
"Nothing...nothing at all," said Steven as he went into the back room, to place his newfound money into the safe.
Dearka's POV
-First Level-
"Dearka...you said you'd be here in two hours...you're an half an hour late!" yelled Milly as she was holding her shopping bags.
"Eh...Milly? Maybe giving you a platinum card isn't such a good idea," said, eyeing many...MANY shopping bags from several stores.
"I guess I kinda went crazy when I shopped," said Milly trying, but failing to hide the bags behind her back.
"So...what did you buy?" said Milly as she lowered the bags to the ground, giving her arms a much-needed rest.
"Nothing...just this music box," said, as I held the bag containing the music box.
"A music box? That's...nice," said Milly with a faint, but obvious blush around her cheeks.
"Here...you can have it," said as I put it in one of her shopping bags.
"Dearka...you didn't have to..."
"Yeah, I know...but I just thought you'd like it...that's all," said nervously as put the bags you help me carry the bags?" asked a bashful Milly.
"I guess...but you were just fine handling them yourself," said as I went to grab some of her bags.
As I grabbed some of the bags, Milly came up to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Milly?" said as the kiss was still lingering on my cheek.
"I just want...to say thanks for everything. Lets go home, okay?" said Milly as she carried the remaining bags with me.
As we walked towards the parking lot, I accidentally dropped some of the bags. When Milly looked back at me, I expected her to be angry, but she just smiled and came back to me.
"Here...I can hold more bags," was all she said as she walked to my silver convertible.
"I think I can drive," said Milly as she placed all of the bags in the convertible.
"Why...don't like my driving?" smirked as I got the keys out of my pocket.
"I smell alcohol. With the way you drive and the alcohol in your system, I think it would be best that I drive," said Milly, swiping the keys from my hand.
"Fine...fine, I'll let you drive...just this once," said as I sat in the passengers seat.
With that over with, Milly drove home to my base, although she drives a lot slower than I do.
Killer's POV
It is as he said...she's here.
As she left the parking lot, I got a good look at those license plates.
I should report to "HIM" about this...he will be very pleased about my report.
Enjoy your stay, Miriallia Haww...your days are numbered.
Starting tomorrow, the "games" shall begin!
After a trip to the Emporium, Milly starts to open up to Dearka. Dearka hears about the story of how she got her locket. But what's this? A killer saw them at the emporium? Oh no!
Stay Tuned for Chapter 8: 5 spoons of sugar!