DEARKA'S PERSONAL BATTLE – by: darkoBsessiOn
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Hello everybody! Lolz, I believe that there's no need to mention the summary here, ne? (winks) It's nice to see you back here again to read the next installment of DPB! Once again, a big "THANK YOU!" to all those who reviewed and voiced out their opinions! Thanks also to those who added me to their favorite authors' and author alert lists! (My apologies for my slow update…I believe that's one of the major disadvantages of juggling fics with schoolwork…but I know you guys understand, after all you still attend school, right? :)
Okies, don't want to make you all impatient due to my random babbles! Here's chapter four! I won't repeat the disclaimer again, okies? Enjoy!!
-CHAPTER FOUR-
(Miriallia's POV)
Days have passed ever since Kira has returned to us, and yet I feel nothing but constant worry. As I look at the faces of my friends and of my superiors, I can clearly see that they were relieved. And who wouldn't be after seeing him battle? He never lost a single one! Kira always got Archangel out of sticky situations before……yet, some of it cost the lives of some people that I know…
I flopped down on the soft mattress of my bed, looking at the gray metal frame above me. Typing all day back at the bridge sure is exhausting, that's for sure. My muslces slowly relaxed the moment I sunk into its softness, and I suddenly had this urge to sleep.
That's when my mind was flooded with thoughts. Everything I see around me always brings back memories…like this bed for instance. I used to share this bed, and this room with Fllay, that is until she started attaching herself to Kira…I closed my eyes, remembering all the rumors that I heard that the two actually slept together…
…eew. That thought alone gives me the shivers. Sleeping with a man on the same bed!?!
I have to admit that it's simply disgusting. Not that I'm disgusted of Kira or anything…
…Kira. I could never forget how he looked when he returned…aside from the fact that he was wearing the enemy's uniform… As I came up close to greet him, for a moment he looked exactly like Tolle…they had the same pair of innocent, yet caring eyes.
Tolle's eyes…the eyes that I used to love gazing into when we were back at Orb…
Thinking of Tolle always bring tears onto my eyes. I wiped them away slowly with the back of my hand, and just in time as the sliding door opened to reveal my friend Sai.
"Miriallia, we're all called at the hangar by Capt.Ramius. Let's go."
"What a pain," I mumbled the moment the door slid close. "Just when I was about to rest." My body found it hard to leave its sanctuary, and I fought its desire to stay longer. I watched as the door slid open in front of me, and that's when I wondered…
Why would Murrue call all of us?
I got my answer pretty soon enough…
We were assembled at the hangar, Murrue and the others were standing in front, and the former had this look on her face which screams of bad news all over. Minutes slowly ticked by as she explained the reason, and then some…
"…those of you who wish to leave the Archangel, you are free to do so. Just follow the rules of evacuation set by the government of Orb and you'll do just fine." Murmurs were heard from some of us, which quickly died down.
Murrue smiled. "I know I may be not the most reliable of all captains, yet I'm very honored and thankful to have worked with you all. Whether you stay or you leave, this is the decision in which you must decide on your own."
After saying that, much to our surprise, she bowed down politely before us…
Whoa…I don't get it…she's allowing us to flee from the ship?!
I fought the urge to react, for I know my questions will be answered soon. But still…who would have the heart to abandon Archangel in times like these? We're in the middle of a war…and with enemies popping out of nowhere almost everyday, the ship needs as many crewmembers as possible…
Why are you doing this, Captain Ramius?
(Normal POV)
Murrue soon ended their general assembly, and Miriallia quickly motioned to Sai and Kazui. The latter looked too happy all of a sudden, and she was positive why.Kazui's going to leave the ship.
Moments later, after getting his things all packed up, the black-haired boy looked at Sai who was standing by the doorway. "Are you sure you don't wanna come?" he asked.
He shook his head. "Yes I'm sure. I'm going to stay here with the others." He patted his friend on the shoulder and smiled at him. Somehow he feels that this is going to be their last encounter. "You be careful out there."
The boy was silent for a few moments, then spoke. "What about Miriallia? Isn't she leaving?"
"Miriallia's going to stay as well – "
"Then I guess I must stay too…" he suddenly told him. "After all, you are all here."
"No," Sai told him firmly. "You made that decision on your own, Kazui; don't base your acts on what we decided for ourselves. Never mind what others think or say, and never let them influence you... Now, you be careful out there and take care of yourself until we meet again, okay?"
With a nod, Kazui agreed, although he kind of regretted what he had done. Saying one last goodbye, he walked away and never looked back…
Seeing some bright lights after such a long time sure had its effects on Dearka's eyes. He narrowed his eyes for some time as he walked through the Archangel's corridors, wearing his old Zaft uniform. His mind was still flooded with questions – questions that intrigued him for some time. Like that auburn-haired girl, Miriallia…
…somehow, he was thankful that he finally managed to get her name…
Pretty soon, his feet led him to the exit. Miriallia told him moments ago that he was free to go, since they weren't a part of the Earth forces anymore. They were a neutral fleet. Yet, he was sure that the order didn't came from the captain herself. Then…who could have given her the right to set him free?
It took him a while before he finally realized. Smirking, he gave the ship and its interior one last look as the doors slowly opened before him.
"Man, I've got to thank that girl the moment I see her again. I owe her big time…although they never returned my Buster to me…"
-FLASHBACK-
Dearka was about to get out of his jail cell, the pit that he considered his home for some time, and raced after Miriallia. "Hey! What about my Buster?"
Miriallia turned to look at him, as she was about to get out. "You mean the mobile suit? That was ours to begin with, so technically, we don't have any reason of returning it to you."
Hearing this made him pout, and the girl left him to ponder on his own thoughts.
-END FLASHBACK-
Dearka looked around the city of Orb for a while, enjoying the peace that he never managed to experience for so long ever since he joined the military. The atmosphere was strange to him, yet it never felt so good. It was soothing to see all the smiling faces of the people in it…
…which made him revert his thoughts back to his savior…
His attention was fixed then to a group of teenagers giggling as they walked past a music store, chattering on what seemed to be their favorite hits that they just purchased. "Miriallia was enjoying this kind of life right before this whole fiasco started," he said to himself wistfully. "It was just unfortunate that she had to be involved in the middle of this…but after all that's happened, I think that it's the only solution if she wants to stay alive for long…"
More giggling were heard from behind him, as another group of teenage girls were smiling in his direction. Dearka looked down and thought of the possible reason: wearing a skin-tight mobile suit uniform sure boasted his well-muscled body more. As much as it was flattering, it was also disturbing. Luckily there's a clothes store behind them, and smiled.
Right before he entered the store, he gave the girls a very sexy smirk, causing them all to swoon. "Always works every time," he chuckled, then thought of the time when he gave the same smirk to Miriallia, and face faulted. "Well…almost. Sigh…"
(A/N: I know this might sound strange, but how the heck did Dearka got his set of clothes after he was released? (You know, the white polo, white pants attire?) Lolz, I have to think of something, and this sounds realistic enough. How about you guys? Got any theories? Let's discuss it in the reviews pages! -smiles-)
Back at the Archangel, the people were working triple time in anticipation of the enemy's assault. The hangar crew were busy with their last minute check-ups on the mobile suits, especially the Freedom's pilot Kira. Meanwhile, the people at the command center were in the same situation as well. That is the reason why Miriallia and Sai, both promoted from their former designations, were typing furiously on their posts, arranging everything that has to be arranged. (A/N: Lol, that sounded kinda funny. I hope you guys can forgive me for that, after all I typed this chapter in the middle of the night…-big sweatdrop-)
Pretty soon, they got the signal from the Orb forces…the Azrael fleet were a few miles away, closing in on their borders. Immediately, Murrue took command, as as usual, Kira and Mwu were sent out, helping the Orb fleet in defeating their adversary – a threat to their neutrality.
But it seemed that the fight's gonna take longer than they estimated. As Kira blasted one of his opponents, the suit's blasted hole revealed 3 navy ships, dispatching 3 unusual machines…and it wasn't long before he experienced what they had to offer…
Back at Orb, widescreen TVs all over the city were announcing the immediate evacuation of its citizens. People rushed and panicked, vehicles were jamming the main roads causing a huge traffic, and the city was bustling with so much activity. Dearka raced back to the docks where the Archangel was supposed to be, but found out that it already set sail along with the nation's marine fleet.
The force of the explosions sent him sliding back a few inches, and he focused on the current status of the battle – the new mobile suit Freedom was being ganged up by three entirely powerful mobile suits. The Orb fleet's quickly losing its forces. The whole battle's quickly becoming one-sided.
Dearka looked around and saw a nearby speedboat, enough to take him to the ship. Looks like he's gonna be reunited with his Buster once more…
-FLASHBACK-Miriallia was about to go back to the bridge when Dearka grabbed her arm. Annoyed, she faced him. "What?"
"Aren't you going to evacuate as well?" he asked her.
She hastily pulled her arm away from his grasp. "Of course not. I have to stay here, I'm in charge of the Archangel's CIC!"
Dearka was speechless for a while, unsure of what to say. Moments later, Mirialia stopped in her tracks and continued, "Besides, Orb is my homeland…" and walked away.
"Orb is her homeland?" he asked himself. "Miriallia…she wanted to take part in protecting her home…"
-END FLASHBACK-
"Captain, we've just received a report that the Buster just launched!"
"What?! That's impossible!!"
Miriallia stopped typing for a while when she heard the news. She knew the only person capable of piloting the mobile suit besides Kira and Mwu. "Maybe it's that guy...but he's already free to go...why is he doing this??"
The Buster was soon ashore, aiming at the mobile suits which are targeting the Legged Ship. Inside the cockpit, Dearka's eyes flashed with determination, as he targeted one of the mobile suits...
For the sake of this place...for the sake of her comrades...
This is for you, Miriallia!
TARGET LOCKED...
"You're all going down!!"
Well, that's all for the first part of chapter four! Hopefully I can post the next chappy by next month, which will feature the last few moments of the story that's based on the anime's plot...and a prologue of what's to be expected between Miriallia and Dearka! Hopefully you guys are still there to read and review...so until then...see y'all in chapter 5!