Dearka & Miriallia
Author's Notes: Well, I didn't get to the Dearka/Mir reunion again. But the good news (before I'm set on fire in the village square): it IS in the next chapter to a degree. How can you be sure this time that I'm not just saying that? Well, because, I have already written it. I didn't want to make this chapter over 20 pages and I just kept typing so I separated it, but the condition is I won't post it until I get a few reviews so I can verify the story is still heading in a good direction. So if you are quick to review this chapter, I can just as quickly review the next chapter again before I toss it up. Especially since I have the day off today. Thanks again for the support everyone!
Disclaimer: It is obvious by now if I'm here that I do not own Gundam SEED, Gundam SEED Destiny or any other Gundam Series. But any characters I create to place in this world are mine (But I don't mind if you guys want to use them too. I have no problem with that. You don't even need to ask me. I enjoy sharing to make other stories the best they can be.)
Chapter 5 Trouble LoomsMiriallia gathered her belongings and Annabella in order to exit the shuttle. They were finally there and a step closer to San Juko.
"Let's go pick up the car, shall we?" she asked Annabella as if she would receive a response.
The little girl just looked at her with a confused look. She didn't know where she was and didn't seem too happy about it, but remained quiet. Miriallia looked around and saw the rental dispatch. Walking over to the desk with a crowd of people and a baby in her arms was no easy task.
"How does mom do this?" she thought struggling with all Annabella's things.
She continued to push her way through until someone bumped into her arm. The duffel bag she packed for Annabella fell to the floor.
"I am so sorry Miss," a young man said.
"It's okay," she replied as they both bent down to pick it up.
When she looked up she saw a very handsome man with blue hair and large hazel eyes.
"Oh," she said with a blush in her cheeks.
"Umm, I didn't hurt you two did I?" he stuttered.
"Uh, no," Miriallia said while grasping for the strap to the bag.
As she began to look into his eyes, she heard something from behind her.
"Let's go Cadey. I don't have time for this right now," Dearka called out to his fiancée.
Cadey had moved herself between different stores near the shuttle port exit.
"That voice," Miriallia said as she began to stand.
She twisted around but could only see the hoards of people pushing by. The young man now stood with her bag in his hand.
"Miss?" he inquired.
"Uh, oh. Thank you," she said again still looking to find the owner of the voice she had just heard.
"That voice?" he now asked her.
"Umm, I just thought I heard someone familiar," she stated now beginning to push away. "I'm really sorry, I have to get going."
As she began to make her way to the desk again she felt the presence of the young man she had just bumped in to.
"Why is he following me?" she thought feeling a little uncomfortable now.
She turned around to look at him. "Is there something I can help you with?" she asked irritated.
"Huh? No, I'm just going to the rental desk," he said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, sorry. I thought…, forget it," she said sheepishly.
She was embarrassed by the display of behavior she demonstrated. He just smiled back at her with a look of forgiveness.
"It's no big deal. I understand. I'm not a stalker if that's what you were thinking," he laughed out to her.
She began to giggle a bit at that remark. She felt so silly that she had thought that he was following her and the blush on her cheeks deepened. They had reached the desk but were made to wait in line due to the astronomical amount of people that seemed to be traveling.
"Of all the days," she thought hoping the line would move along.
Annabella began to giggle at the man behind them and Miriallia turned around again.
"It seems she really likes me," he said smiling back at her.
"Yeah, seems like," Miriallia said.
"You know I realized I never introduced myself. My name's Ian," he said putting his hand toward her.
Miriallia turned her entire body around now, "Miriallia and this is Annabella."
"Well, it's very nice to meet you Annabella," he said as he shook Miriallia's hand and looked at the little girl.
"It's very nice to meet you too," Miriallia said bringing his attention back to her.
"So what are you two doing over in this neck of the woods? Or am I being too bold?" he asked sheepishly.
Miriallia adjusted Annabella in her arms and tilted her head at the young man.
"He sure does ask a lot of questions," she thought starting to get agitated.
"We're visiting some friends. My parents went out of town so I thought of taking a little road trip," she partially lied.
The line began to move forward allowing Miriallia and Ian to get a few steps closer to their destination.
"So, where are you staying then?" he asked another intrusive question.
She eyed him suspiciously now. Noticing the look he was receiving he backed off.
"I'm sorry, that was way too forward, huh? I'm sure you're staying with your friends anyway. I just thought maybe you would like to get a cup of coffee or something," he said.
Her eyes fell to the floor and he quickly turned away with a flush of crimson appearing on his face.
"Oh," she said glumly.
"I'm sorry again. I guess I am too forward," he said looking back at her.
"No, it's my fault. I don't think we have time to even sit for a cup of coffee. But thank you for the offer. It was incredibly sweet of you," she replied.
"Yeah, I should have guessed you would have someone else you were interested in," he stated now dejected.
Miriallia looked up at him again and saw his sorrowful look.
"I guess one cup of coffee wouldn't hurt," she thought second-guessing her instincts.
Ian was now looking at the ground with sheer embarrassment. Miriallia was feeling even more sorry that she turned down his offer.
"I can't wait forever, but the last thing I want in my life is a relationship. It does seem they are things the universe just doesn't want me to have," she thought beginning to feel depressed.
"No, it's nothing like that. I don't have anyone in my life right now so I guess one cup of coffee wouldn't hurt," she answered now looking at Annabella.
"But since my parents are away and so are we, I will have to bring Annabella with me. That is, if that is okay with you? My friends won't be able to watch her," Miriallia finished.
Ian now looked up with a huge smile on his handsome face.
"Absolutely! I think she is incredibly adorable and I would love to have coffee and juice," he said pointing his finger at Annabella's belly to make her giggle, "with the two of you."
Miriallia smiled at Ian as he played with Annabella, making her continue to laugh. Before long they were at the front counter. Miriallia picked up the keys to her car, as did Ian.
"Well, before coffee, I have to run an errand. Can I meet you somewhere for a cup a little later?" she asked with urgency to get this shoot over with.
"That sounds great. It will give me time to check into my hotel. Here, let me give you my cell phone number and you can give me a call of where and when you want to meet. No strings, okay," he said easing her tension even more.
He jotted down his number and handed her the piece of paper. She took it with her semi free hand and slipped it in her pocket.
"Sure, no strings. Sounds great," she replied.
It was almost as he read her like a book. He was able to tell from the short conversation that they had, that she was not interested in a relationship with anyone right now.
"She must have been hurt pretty badly," he thought eyeing her carefully.
"So, what's with the camera bag? Are you a professional photographer or something?" he asked as they began walking away from the counter.
"Oh this? No, I just like to take pictures and since I'm seeing my friends I thought it would be the perfect opportunity," she lied.
"Makes sense," he said with a shrug.
He walked her and Annabella outside of the shuttle port and to their rental car before proceeding to his own. He couldn't wait until he would see her again. Miriallia set up Annabella's car seat as she played on the backseat floor.
"Stupid thing, how does mom get this in and out of the car so easily?" she thought now struggling with the seat.
Once it was finally in place, she strapped Annabella into it and loaded their belongings into the trunk. As she drove down the highway, Annabella continued to talk to herself. The scenery began to change, as Miriallia was further away from the city and heading toward the countryside.
"It shouldn't take too long to get there," she thought beginning to head out.
She looked down at the car's clock. It was now 2:45 in the afternoon.
"All I need to do is get there and get the pictures, then I can have that cup of coffee and get us out of here before Mom even knows we left Orb," she thought smiling to herself about her master plan.
At the shuttle port…"So, what are you going to do now Dearka," Cadey asked grinning widely.
Dearka was extremely close to smacking her across the face for the stunt she had pulled. Before he had a chance to have her sent back she had taken off into the shopping zone making it almost impossible to find her.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with you yet," he said through gritted teeth.
She just continued to smile playfully. As soon as he turned to yell at her again, a member of his team approached him.
"We're all set Sir," the officer said in his civilian clothes.
Cadey just jumped around in excitement. He couldn't get rid of her now.
"Great. What took you so long?" Dearka asked.
"Long line," he said.
"So, Ian what's the plan?" Cadey asked.
Ian smiled at her for her antics. They were friends from the Sextillis PLANT Colony since they were kids. He was amazed when she stepped off the shuttle with Dearka. It was more at the fact that she maneuvered her way on than anything else. He could tell Dearka was becoming enormously impatient with her.
"Off to the base I guess so we can get started on the mission. But you are going to have to stay in a set of quarters at all times," he answered in order to help his commander from losing his mind.
"Whatever," she said indifferently.
Dearka just stared at her for a moment before rolling his eyes.
"So, I forgot to ask how your trip in was," Ian said to Dearka.
Dearka looked over at Cadey and then back to Ian.
"I would have said it was uneventful, but you can see that wasn't the case," he replied to Ian's question.
Cadey stuck out her tongue at him before heading toward another shop window. Both Ian and Dearka let out a sigh.
"You hold her down and I can tie her up," Ian said jokingly.
"Yeah, I wish," Dearka chimed back.
"I heard that boys," Cadey said as she admired the dress in the window.
The dress was a lilac matte satin A-line gown with a pleated chiffon neckline and shoulder straps. It donned chiffon streamers down the back and was extremely elegant.
"Do you think we can get out of here without her buying anything," Ian asked seriously.
"Not a shot in hell," Dearka answered him as they began to walk over to her.
She turned as Dearka approached her, eyes wide with desire.
"Let me guess, you want it," he said to her.
"Please baby?" she begged.
"One condition," he replied.
Ian raised an eyebrow at that as Cadey furrowed her brow.
"What?" she asked
"You stay in the room at all times unless I come for you," he answered.
Cadey sighed irritably and thought for a moment. Dearka stared intently at her.
"Fine," she promised.
Dearka pulled out his wallet and handed her his card. Right before she was able to snatch it from his hand, he pulled it back.
"Hey," she gasped.
"I'm not kidding Cadey," he said dangerously.
"I know," she snipped as she ripped it from his hand now.
Cadey made her way into the store and Ian just looked at Dearka. Man, that girl is a handful. I'm glad I'm not the one stuck with her.
"Thanks a lot," Dearka said shaking his head.
"After this, we can head to the base I guess," Ian said with uncertainty.
"If I have to carry her out kicking and screaming, we will be leaving," Dearka said sternly.
"Hopefully with that purchase it won't be necessary," Ian said looking at the price.
"You kids of Supreme Council Members certainly have money to burn," he said whistling.
"Yeah, well, sometimes it's a curse. Especially when Cadey gets near any store in general," Dearka said still a bit aggravated.
In less than an hour the three were in the car and heading toward the ZAFT base. Cadey was particularly excited at her new gift she was given by Dearka and she continually showed him by leaning over the seat and kissing his neck. Ian tried his best to block out the image she was putting in his head.
"So, this is going to sound random, but do you think I could head out later to grab a cup of coffee with someone," he asked Dearka.
Dearka looked over to the young man. His eyes now showing some interest.
"Coffee?" he asked.
"So, that's what took you so long," Cadey taunted as she pushed herself back into her own seat of the car.
Dearka smiled at her ability to unleash the feeling of torture with just a sentence. Ian just blushed at her comment.
"Sure. I don't see why it would be a big deal. As long as we get surveillance started on the site," he said authoritatively.
Cadey was now swooning from the sound of Dearka's supremacy in the conversation.
"Are you okay back there Cadey?" Ian asked looking in the rear view mirror.
Cadey was fanning herself with her hand as she looked up to meet his eyes in the mirror.
"Fine, it's just getting hot in here," she answered acting as if it was the car and not Dearka making her feel that way.
Dearka turned around to look at her and smirked. He knew full well that look on her face had nothing to do with the temperature. She just smiled back cutely as Ian turned on the A/C to help cool her off.
Not too long after the A/C was turned on, to make Cadey more comfortable, they arrived at the base. They exited the car and Dearka grabbed his duffel bag, Cadey's backpack and her new dress from the car. She slipped out of the back seat and ran to catch up to him in order to be by his side.
"Don't do or say anything stupid," he whispered to her.
"I won't," she said.
Ian had grabbed his stuff and locked the car before following behind his commander.
"It's not like I wasn't raised in this environment also Dearka Elsman," she scolded him.
He tended to treat her like a child. Just because they were engaged when she was only fifteen didn't mean he had the right to act like she was an idiot.
"I have more resources and skills than he does," she thought angrily.
Dearka just looked at her and shook his head again. He found he did that a lot at her for how naïve she truly was.
"She has no idea how different the political ring is from the military ring," Dearka thought irritably.
"Will you be all right without me for a while?" he asked.
"I can take care of myself Dearka. I can get whatever I want from any guy with just my charm," she stated.
Dearka rolled his eyes, "Right not every man is that gullible."
"Really, pick one and I'll prove it," she challenged.
When they reached the entrance, Dearka ordered one of the soldiers to escort Cadey to his quarters and make sure she didn't leave it. The soldier saluted him with Cadey following obediently. He was somewhat impressed by his fiancée's performance as she walked away acting innocent. As soon as they began walking away from Dearka she maneuvered her way next to the soldier to talk to him.
"I know what your Commander said, but do you think there is any way we can stop and get something to eat first? I am so hungry," she pleaded with her dark brown eyes penetrating his.
"Uh, I don't think that will be a problem," the soldier said.
Cadey turned to Dearka who was now further away and licked her lips indicating she had won the bet.
"Touché, my dear," he thought with revenge on his mind.
Dearka laughed at her tricks before turning to Ian.
"Shall we?" he asked.
"Sounds good. The sooner we get this surveillance over, the sooner I can meet that person for coffee," he said.
Dearka grabbed a communicator from one of the soldiers as they headed in. And began to immediately use it.
"Sir, what are you doing?" Ian asked.
"Teaching Cadey a lesson," he said still smirking.
They walked toward the complex to get briefed on the situation so Dearka would be able to decide the next plan of action. When arriving, there were soldiers left and right trying to talk to Dearka. He was a bit overwhelmed. Being in charge wasn't really his thing as he closed his eyes for a moment to separate the voices that were now spinning in his head.
"All right everyone, just sit down for a moment," he said as he raised his hand to stop their chatter.
Dearka sat down at the console and took a look at all the information that was left for him. He noticed the diagram of the armaments location.
"Strategically well placed, heavy security with no noticeable weaknesses," Dearka sat contemplating the situation they were in.
Dearka ordered each soldier to fill him in on what little they knew, but this time they would go around in a circle hearing one piece of information at a time instead of all at once. As he received the information, he jotted it down on a pad that was in front of him. He drew arrows to the connections between different facts. The room of soldiers had completed filling him in with all the small details and now it was up to Dearka to find the whole picture. He stared at the page for a moment while constantly looking back at the diagram.
"So what is this?" he asked pointing to a spot on the map.
"Sir that is the top of the mountain above this intended target," replied a soldier.
"Above?" he thought curiously.
"Is there some reason we aren't trying an aerial view of the factory?" he asked again.
The soldier stood still with no answer to the question and another stepped forward to continue where he had left off.
"Sir, we have no data on that particular area. It seems it may be too dangerous, but we still have yet to inspect the region," she said.
"Maybe it's time we get some then," Dearka stated. "Ian, I want you out there with five soldiers to scope out that area. If there is a way in through there, I want to know," Dearka ordered.
"Yes sir," Ian saluted.
"Dismissed," Dearka commanded.
He grabbed all the papers that were left for him and plugged the laptop provided into the table map. He turned on the computer in order to download the map data into the laptop so he could work in a more comfortable atmosphere. The soldiers filed out of the room, although Ian lagged behind.
"Sir?" he asked.
"Yes?" Dearka replied looking up.
"If we encounter any resistance?" Ian continued.
"Whatever it takes to make sure you all get out alive and nothing more," Dearka finished.
"Sir!" he saluted and turned on his heel to exit.
The room was becoming eerily silent from the lack of soldiers. All Dearka had to keep him sane was the low hum of the consoles as he waited for the download to complete.
"When this finishes I can just go figure it all out back in my room," he thought feeling tired now.
Dearka really wasn't cut out to be the Commander. He was such a rebel himself that being in charge of so many people's lives just made him more anxious than he preferred. The computer finally beeped and showed its' upload completion on the screen.
Dearka closed the top and unplugged it from the console. Grabbing the papers in his hands as well, he headed out the door and back toward his waiting room. No doubt Cadey had already caused some sort of problem for the soldiers assigned to her.
He maneuvered his way down the halls watching the numbers on the doors as he passed by. Looking down at the itinerary and map he received from Yzak made the base easier to move about in. Although, it was just as easy from the high-pitched scream he heard coming from around the corner.
"Great, now what has she done!" Dearka thought upon hearing her screeching.
He ran around the corner to see Cadey screaming at the top of her lungs at the soldier that wouldn't allow her to leave the quarters.
"Do you even know who I am?" she demanded.
"We were given orders by Commander Elsman not to let you leave this room," the soldier replied.
Dearka just smiled when he heard their response to her demands. She turned when she felt someone's eyes on her.
"You did this!" she screamed at him.
Dearka just shrugged before dismissing the soldiers.
"Any guy huh?" he asked still laughing to himself.
She ran over to him and hit him hard in the chest.
"You are such a jerk Dearka Elsman. I can't believe you called ahead to warn them about me," she said angrily.
"You did say any guy though," he said matter-of-factly.
"Any guy that you didn't corrupt," she stated.
"You should have been more clear on the rules before you challenged me," he said raising an eyebrow.
She was completely annoyed with him and she pushed him out of her way. He turned around and grabbed her still bruised arm.
"Hey, watch it," she yelled.
"Where do you think you're going," he furrowed his brow at her.
"I just want to look around and get some air. So, let go of me," she demanded.
"No way. We had a deal remember. I bought you that dress you wanted, you stayed in the room unless I brought you out," he informed her.
"I thought you were joking," she said.
"Nice try, get in the room," he twisted her around and pushed her in.
She huffed at his brutal handle on her and moved into the room with a little prodding.
"I'm not a herd of cattle you know," she said bitterly.
"Could have fooled me," he said earning a deadly glare from her.
Dearka tossed his papers to the desk and walked over to the bed. He fell down on it face first into the pillow. Cadey followed him over and sat next to him.
"Tired baby?" she asked.
"What do you think?" he replied.
"I can make you a little more relaxed if you want," she said playing with the blonde wavy locks on the back of his head.
"I'll have to pass right now honey. I'm really just wiped out," he answered.
She stood back up from the bed and walked over to her bag.
"Don't think of leaving this room either," Dearka said warningly.
She looked back at him pulling out a book from her backpack.
"I didn't intend to," she snipped before sitting down to read.
Dearka closed his eyes and he fell into a world where he had everything he wanted. A smile crept up on his face as the face of a blue-eyed brunette entered his thoughts.
"Miriallia," his last conscious thoughts flew by.
End
Author's Preview: I can't believe I have already finished Chapter 5. I hope I'm not moving too fast. I'm thinking that wall will pop up at any moment to block my path and it scares me :P But at least Chapter 6 is all written and awaiting a quick update after reviews pour in so no preview this time other than Mir and Dearka meet in a way since you will only have to wait a couple of hours. Please read and review for me so I can continue on my happy way.
Reviewer Response: Hello to all my wonderful reviewers. Thank you so much for all your support and reviews on all my chapters. Unfortunately due to possible changes in TOS (which is still unconfirmed) all responses are now located on my personal website. Please click on my profile page to link to the website. Thank you.