Dearka & Miriallia
Author's Note: I had to rework this chapter quite a few times, so I'm really sorry for the delay. I have such problems when it comes to action scenes. I can see them in my head, but can't describe them quite as well as the drama scenes. I'm also hitting some major walls, so if anyone has any ideas or suggestions that they would like to see take place, please feel free to pass them along. I would really appreciate it (smiles sweetly). Good news is I have most of chapter 35. Hugs to all of you! 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 34
Ferocity
Lunamaria set up her Beam Assault Rifle and aimed it at the unknown mobile suit in front of her. She prepared to shot when she felt a shower of explosions detonate around her.
"What the hell was that?" she asked scanning the screen.
Behind her, the target indicator locked onto a familiar suit.
"Damn! The Chaos!" she cried spinning around to meet it head on.
"Stay out of this Sting!" Miriallia said calmly with a detached agitation.
Sting turned on his monitor to Miriallia as he locked onto his newest target.
"You've had your fun Miriallia. Just do the job we were assigned so we can head back to Earth. That weakling, Stellar, is waiting for us to return," Sting informed.
"Why do I care if Stellar is waiting for our return on Earth?" Miriallia asked locking onto the target as well.
Lunamaria began shooting at the Chaos while dropping her altitude abruptly in an attempt to avoid the new suit.
"This isn't good. Two against one and there is no doubt this new suit is another Extended with the way it moves with such ease," she said to herself.
Miriallia followed the red Zaku with the intent to destroy. Her eyes narrowed and she saw Sting also moving in.
"I said I have it!" she yelled again as she shot at her target.
Lunamaria dodged the attack with a few bumps as her Zaku fell from its' spot in the sky.
"Damn, that pilot is good!" Lunamaria said trying to escape her monkey in the middle position.
Miriallia twisted her head in annoyance.
"You made me miss," she said simply to Sting.
Sting's eyes glazed over with the thrill of the hunt bringing him to life.
"Then maybe you should aim better and our attacks won't collide," he replied nonchalantly moving in on the Zaku again.
Miriallia huffed and continued to steady herself for the next attack. She had calmed down quite a bit and was also looking at the red Zaku as more of a game than a real challenge.
"I'll tell you what, whoever does the most damage to the Zaku can name their prize," Sting stated matter-of-factly to Miriallia.
"Sounds like a plan," Miriallia said with a smirk on her face.
"Just don't get too tired out there," Sting replied.
"I can take care of myself," Miriallia stated as she set herself up again to take on the Zaku with the added trial of avoiding Sting.
Sting swung around his target again before answering her, "It's not only you that we worry about."
Miriallia huffed again as she aimed at the target too.
"Who does he think he is? I don't need him worrying about that!" she thought angrily.
"This isn't good," Lunamaria said.
Lunamaria hit some buttons on her console and pushed the throttle to full power giving her a quick escape above the two attacking suits.
"Minerva, can you read me?" Lunamaria asked.
"We read you Lunamaria," Meyrin's voice echoed through the communicator.
"I'm surrounded by the Chaos and an unknown suit. I need help, can you locate Shin and Rey for me?" Lunamaria asked.
"We are trying to locate Athrun," Meyrin stated.
Lunamaria shook her head, sweat dripping from her brow.
"Athrun is on his way, but we may need more help than just him and I," Lunamaria answered.
"That's all we have right now. Rey and Shin have both taken serious damage to their ships. You and Athrun are all that's left," Meyrin advised.
Lunamaria dropped sharply when she saw the onslaught of missiles heading toward her again.
"What do you mean Shin and Rey took damage?" she asked angrily.
"The Chaos took out Shin and the new suit, which has the code name of the Valor was able to shoot down Rey," Meyrin explained.
Lunamaria gave off a disturbed scoff.
"I guess I'm on my own until then. What can you tell me about this Valor?" she asked Meyrin.
Meyrin typed a few commands to bring up the collected data from the previous fight in space.
"We know it has a Lacerta Beam Saber and a Xiphias Railgun, other than that, we do not know much," Meyrin informed Lunamaria.
"Just great," she cried dodging more attacks.
"Be careful out there," Meyrin said in earnest.
"I'll do my best and hopefully Athrun will get her soon," she stated watching her monitor for the two assailants.
On the PLANT surface…
Yzak and Athrun headed toward the control tower as the battle continued above them.
"What is going on? Can't those idiots even keep the perimeter secured," Yzak screamed enraged at Athrun.
"They did the best they could. I can only think that there were an overwhelming number of them if they made it through. Shin and Rey should have been able to handle a few intruders, but if there was an army, Dullindal didn't prepare us for that," Athrun replied as they reached the gate.
Yzak passed Athrun and hit his code into the system as Athrun fidgeting with his tag.
"And you are a member of faith?" Yzak asked mockingly with an eyebrow raised.
Athrun ignored the jab and moved by Yzak toward his mobile suit.
"Hey! We're taking this," Athrun yelled to a soldier when he pointed at a Slash Phantom Zaku.
"Yes Sir," the soldier saluted.
"Feeling up to a rumble today," Athrun said smirking at Yzak.
"If it means I can out maneuver you, than I say bring it on Zala," Yzak said heading toward the Zaku Athrun had confiscated from the soldier.
Athrun took a deep breath and headed toward his own mobile suit.
Meanwhile…
Dearka pushed through the crowd trying to make his way to the tower as well. He was sure that was where Athrun and Yzak would be heading. He looked up in the sky and saw the battle stirring more ferociously.
"We have to do something quickly before they take out the entire PLANT," he thought rushing through.
"Hey Elsman," Lucy cried running to catch up.
Dearka didn't even have to turn around when he heard the voice.
"I'm a little busy right now Lucy!" he yelled back to her.
"How far do you think you will get on your own?" she asked as she caught up to him.
Dearka looked at her with confusion written on his face.
"Come on, I can get you to the control room in the tower here," she replied to his look.
"How did you…" he started.
"Justin and I are stationed here regularly. I can only assume if you are heading for the tower, you and Yzak are trying to play hero again," she smiled while Justin moved in like a stealth ninja to move people out of the way.
"Are we really that decipherable?" he asked following her lead.
"Always have been," she winked at him.
"We saw Yzak with Athrun not too long ago," Justin stated as he hit his code to the gate.
"I think Yzak is in a suit though, but I wasn't sure," Lucy replied.
"If it gives him a chance to show up Athrun, I wouldn't be surprised," Dearka said with a hint of sarcasm.
Lucy, Justin and Dearka headed up the stairs to the top of the tower to the control room. When they reached the top, Lucy entered her code and the door swished open.
"What do we have?" she inquired.
"The Chaos and a new mobile suit weapon code named the Valor," the soldier reported.
"Tap into the signals and see if we can get an audio on them," she replied moving to a control console.
Dearka and Justin followed watching the screen of the imminent danger that was moving toward the civilians.
"What's that going to do?" Dearka asked not used to being on this side of a battle.
"Don't you know anything? And to think you were our Commander even if only for a day," Justin teased.
"If we can get an audio on them, we may be able to get a signal as to their next moves," Lucy replied putting on her headset.
"And if we get a signal to their next moves, our soldiers can intercept them in order to take them out," Justin finished.
"It's amazing the toys we have in a base on PLANT, that they don't give you in a base on Earth," Dearka mocked.
"I'd say you did pretty well without that technology," Justin said with a wink.
"Yeah, it's not hard to oversee a search and destroy mission though," Dearka said thoughtfully.
Lucy and another soldier worked on cracking the signals that were being passed between the Valor and Chaos and the others looked on. Dearka spotted Athrun's suit and a Slash Phantom Zaku moving in on the targets.
"Yzak?" Dearka thought curiously.
"That red Zaku needs help. Where the hell are the other suits?" Justin asked irritated.
"They were destroyed Sir. The Valor took them out when it arrived," a soldier reported.
"That one suit took out all of them?" Justin asked in shock.
"Yes Sir. Then the Chaos appeared when the red Zaku took on the Valor. The red Zaku has been tied down ever since. We are just receiving confirmation that the Savior and the Phantom Zaku are about to engage," the soldier reported.
"Is the pilot of the Phantom Zaku, Commander Joule?" Dearka asked.
"Yes Sir," the soldier replied.
"Athrun, Yzak, be careful out there," he thought genuinely.
Battle…
Miriallia's sensors began to go haywire and she turned away from the red Zaku.
"We have incoming," she replied to Sting softly.
"I guess our little game is off then," Sting said coldly.
"If so, then I win," she said shortly moving to intercept the two oncoming suits.
"How so?" he asked taking another shot at Lunamaria.
"I hit it with more efficiency," she stated as serenely as if she was lying peacefully at a serene beach.
Her mind was at ease and for a moment she no longer felt the annoyance and anger she had when she was speaking with Neo earlier. She was able to focus and let go of her irritation she also had with Sting. Now was her chance to be completely free. She closed her eyes and took in a relaxing breath. As she exhaled, her blue eyes flashed open and she locked on to the new suits.
"It's the Savior," Sting stated taking another shot at the red Zaku.
"This the other one you were having trouble with?" Miriallia asked still aiming her weapon.
"I wouldn't call it trouble," Sting replied.
"Right then, I'll take care of it," she answered as she let out a shot.
Athrun dodged the shot and moved in closer.
"Strike it from the bottom Yzak," Athrun ordered.
Yzak grunted and yelled at Athrun, "I don't take orders from you!"
Athrun knew Yzak would do it even without him saying anything else, but he felt the need to force the issue.
"Then do it as a personal favor!" Athrun yelled back.
Yzak dropped his Zaku underneath the Valor and took aim.
"I'm not your friend either!" Yzak screamed as he shot at the suit.
Athrun laughed to himself as he took on the suit as well. Miriallia shot at Athrun and maneuvered her way down until she was in front of Yzak. Yzak spun out of the line of fire, receiving a small amount of damage to the side of the Phantom from her shot aimed at him.
"What the hell?" Yzak cried as he repositioned himself a distance away from her.
Back at the control tower…
Dearka watched the battle and sat down in the empty seat next to Lucy.
"Do you mind?" he asked pointing at the controls.
"Feel free," she said still tapping into the signals.
Dearka put on the headset and locked into the signal to the Phantom.
"Yzak," he called out.
Yzak looked around the cockpit and hit the switch to the communicator bringing up an image of Dearka in the control room.
"This better be important," Yzak said grumpily.
"Lucy is working on hacking the signals to the Valor and Chaos. If we can get into them you should be able to hear their next moves," Dearka told him.
Yzak continued to keep his eye on the Valor and Athrun.
"Fine, let me know what I need to do when it's hacked," Yzak replied with a more steady tone.
"Roger that," Dearka said turning off the communicator.
Lucy looked over at Dearka with a smile on her face.
"What?" he asked.
"I think I almost have it. Only trouble is, we will hear them, but they will hear us as well. The signal cross will last only ten minutes, so they need to come up with a plan before that," she replied.
"I'm on it," Dearka answered.
He tapped into the Savior's signal this time. It was a little safer to deal with Athrun than Yzak now that he had just spoken with him.
"Athrun," Dearka called out.
Athrun flipped his own switch now while still encircling the Valor.
"Yeah," Athrun answered.
"Lucy is going to cross the signals of the Chaos and Valor so we will be able to hear their conversation, but the problem is, they will hear us as well and the signal will only last ten minutes," Dearka stated.
"Right, I gotcha. I'll tell Yzak and Lunamaria. When I give the word, have Lucy patch it in," Athrun replied.
"Yes Sir," Dearka mock saluted.
Athrun laughed to himself while he continued his assault on the Valor. He was unsure of why he was having such trouble taking it down. It almost reminded him of the days when he battled against the Strike over two years prior.
"You heard him," Dearka instructed Lucy.
"I'll let you know when. Justin, get over here and do something," she said smiling.
Justin hopped into another abandoned seat across the way and began analyzing the battle for the records.
"He is supposed to be collecting the data on any new machine the Earth Alliance uses. If we left it all up to him though, we wouldn't have a clue what we were up against," she said winking at Dearka.
Dearka turned to see Justin sticking his tongue out at her playfully. He turned back to the screen remembering the days they were in the military academy together. Things had been simpler then. He knew who his enemy was, he knew who his friends were and he knew who he was.
"Now I don't know any of that," he thought to himself.
He prepared for Lucy's signal, watching the battle continue ahead of him. Athrun had informed Lunamaria and Yzak of the plan he had formed. Yzak was quite miffed that Athrun was the one deciding the tactics.
"You act like you've been the one in the military longer," Yzak scoffed.
"No, just like the one with more experience," Athrun challenged.
Yzak's eyes narrowed on the Savior.
"Careful Zala, I may accidentally hit you instead of the enemy," Yzak noted.
Athrun moved around to block the Valor in, making it run up against the Chaos.
"Watch it Miriallia," Sting yelled.
"This guy is starting to bug me," she stated as she stayed put near Sting.
"Maybe I should take on the Savior then," Sting replied more calmly now.
"No! I can handle it," she said.
"I've heard that before," Sting replied beginning another attack on the red Zaku.
"Lunamaria, you may have to drop down a little. Anymore damage and we may lose you," Athrun ordered.
Remembering the incident at her last battle, she took Athrun's advice and fell below the battle, the Chaos following.
"I can't shake it," Lunamaria cried.
"It will be okay. Just hold it off down there for a few more minutes. It will be easier if you only have to avoid Chaos' shots and not the added shots of Yzak, the Valor and me. Okay, Dearka tell Lucy to patch it through now," Athrun assured her.
"All right," she replied awaiting his signal.
Lucy shook her head and Dearka updated both Yzak and Athrun at the same time.
"You're on," he said as Lucy hit the switch.
Athrun and Yzak listened impatiently for the voices to ring through the communicators. After enough coaxing with attacks against the Valor, a voice rang clear.
"What are you doing up there?" Sting asked.
Miriallia's eyes narrowed and she shook her head to release the sweat that had formed on her brow.
"Nothing," she replied shortly.
Dearka sat upright in his chair.
"That voice?" he thought.
Miriallia took aim at the Savior and at the last moment moved her aim to the Phantom. Yzak had not expected this and his eyes widened when his sensors blared of the oncoming missiles.
"Damn!" he cried.
"Yzak, look out!" Athrun yelled.
Miriallia's mind flashed when she heard those voices.
"No, I didn't want to kill your friend…" a similar voice echoed from her memory.
"Miriallia Haw?" it rang again in her mind.
More images and phrases flew back into her mind.
"What's wrong with me?" she thought.
"Hey, get it together!" Sting yelled.
End
Author's Preview: Miriallia's block word has been used. What type of damage will she create? And what will Yzak's response be when he has to choose between friendship and duty? 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 thus far. I love you all so much! 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.