Her body felt heavy but she was laying on something soft and comfortable. Her mind felt groggy. Her hand tried to feel her forehead but it was tied down. She tried to move her other arm, same outcome. Cagalli tried to move her legs. Tied down as well. She opened her eyes. The room was dim. She felt a blanket on top of her. She felt her legs and arms were bare as clothes should be there. She believed she was in a hospital gown. At least she had socks on her feet. Cagalli looked around the room. It was metal walls with mesh covering the lights. It was mostly an empty room with just her in it.
Cagalli tried to remember what all had happened. Last thing she remembered was entering the vessel to get back to Orb after peace treaty signing. She didn't know anything after that. It was all blank. She didn't know that in a few rooms down, Murrue was waking with a similar feeling. However, Murrue was in an actual hospital styled room with her being the only occupant. There was a curtain around her so she couldn't see around her.
"You have awakened, Miss Cagalli," Donovan spoke through a microphone that was designed specifically for that room. A camera was hidden in the mesh by the lights. It could view the whole room. Donovan was sitting the next room by hers. "Don't worry. This will be quick. You will be out before long as long as you comply."
"C-comply?" Cagalli blinked. She was still in such a daze. The adrenaline of fear helped to wake her up as she realized she had been abducted. "What do you want from me?"
"Just a few things," Donovan answered. His voice sounded familiar to her. She didn't know how but it did. "You and your friend, Miss Murrue, will go back to your daily life. No harm will come to you."
"Murrue?!" Cagalli jerked against the restraint. "You captured Murrue as well?!"
"Yes," he smiled. "As I said before, I just need a few things from both of you, and then you can go back to your lives."
"Why can't you just ask us like a normal person?!" Cagalli kept struggling. "Is it information? Money? Mobile suits? What?!"
Donovan chuckled. "That I can't tell you besides if I did ask you, you wouldn't have complied anyway." He turned off the microphone as she yelled and continued to struggle. He looked over the reports of the recent physicals that was taken on both of them.
The drug tests were both clear of any use of drugs. AMH hormone levels were on average for both of their ages. The FSH/LH/E2 hormones were also based the same. No elevated Androgens. Thyroid hormone levels were also normal. Ultrasounds and bloodwork were in the clear. Since he had been keeping tabs on both of them, he even knew when their last cycle was.
Donovan ordered his doctors to proceed to start the process.
A metal wall opened up. Cagalli watched as two men who were in medical gowns, gloves, medical cap, and face mask floated in. She struggled against the restraints. One guy removed her blanket enough to show her arm while the other held her down to stop struggling.
"Wh-what are you doing to me?!" She saw one guy holding a syringe. "What are you putting in me?!" She felt a sharp pinch on her arm. He administered the contents of the syringe. His fingers still holding onto her skin to stop it from bleeding. It hurt a lot.
The guy on the other side removed the blanket from her other arm. He pulled out his syringe as well. This time it hit more into the muscle. She felt a slight pinch but not like the other one. He also held onto her skin to make it stop bleeding.
Cagalli felt the tightness of something sticky being taped onto her skin where they injected her. Two medications of some sort, she told herself to remember if these instances happen again. Cagalli assumed that whatever happened to her must be happening to Murrue as well.
On the PLANTs, Dearka was waiting in Yzak's office. There were still some preparations and documents to go over while waiting for the Kingdom's escort to retrieve Selena and her crew. Dearka was watching Gatlin's newest fan CD that Yzak had gotten. Dearka pre-ordered it but it was yet to be released. Now that he knew Yzak had connections, he would hit Yzak up for those type of things.
Yzak came into the office to see Dearka resting on the couch with one arm resting on the back board, holding the remote in his hand. He ignored him as this was common. Yzak sat down at his desk, putting files away in a drawer. He cleaned and organized his desk. Yzak looked over to see what Dearka was watching.
On the screen was Gatlin, his long, dark purple hair was tied back with a bow. He was wearing a prince outfit with wings. Yzak tried not to roll his eyes. The Fairy Prince was at it again. Gatlin was even singing the song that went along with that outfit. Yzak failed to remember that song was a duet. It only dawned on him when he watched Gatlin's partner come to him in a familiar set of moves. The two maneuvered in a series of poses. Yzak watched as Gatlin fumbled and recovered at one part of the maneuvers.
"I noticed that all of his partners mold to him," Dearka spoke aloud as he noticed Yzak was watching intently. "Each one knowing his strengths and weaknesses. I wonder how long they practiced."
As the maneuvers were finished, Gatlin's female partner started to sing. His partner had light red hair with blue eyes, wearing a maiden type of costume. The appearance was different but he knew that voice. "That bastard!"
Dearka jolted. He slowly looked over to Yzak who had both his fists clenched. Dearka glanced back to the screen. The couple played the part of lovers. There was chemistry there. It could be a girlfriend of Gatlin's or someone who was close with him at one time. Yzak held his hand out for the remote. Dearka handed it over, afraid of what would happen if he didn't.
Yzak clicked back to the main menu. He clicked on a button to show all performances. Each thumbnail showed clips from the performances. Yzak watched a few of them. "That BASTARD!" Dearka jolted again. He wanted to know what was going on. Yzak clicked the TV off. "Her Highness is still in the same room as before?"
"Y-yes?" Dearka watched him walk away. "Wait, where are you going?"
"I need a word with Her Highness," Yzak paused at the door.
Dearka jumped up to follow him. He wanted to know what was going on. The two headed off to the room where Selena was allowed to use for the time being. When they got there, Selena and her body guard were not present, however in her place was Gatlin and Setona.
"Greetings Commander Joule," Gatlin expressed with a faint smile. "Base Commander." Setona greeted the two as well.
Dearka was waiting for Yzak to greet first. Yzak paused a moment before greeting them both. Dearka greeted next. Dearka kept an eye on the two.
"Needing a word with Her Highness also?" Gatlin assumed.
"I was but since you're here it makes things easier," Yzak lifted his chin a bit. "I thought it was clear that we would not perform The Lovers Knot if there was any instability from either side. Teacher warned us about the consequences of how dangerous it is when both partners are unable to trust one another."
Gatlin tilted his head to the side. "What instability? Surprised and honored to know you watched my newest CD but it was perfect all around."
"When you move from the one of the lifts to bringing her around your body into a secondary lift, you fumble there every time!" Yzak reminded him. "You could have put her in danger, especially since it was on ice!"
"If she didn't want to perform that move, she wouldn't have consented to it," Gatlin argued back.
"She's not going to say no because she knows she can adapt to your mistakes," Yzak countered. "And you used her real voice!"
"She consented to that as well!" Gatlin shrugged his shoulders. Setona and Dearka were confused on whom they were actually arguing about. "Stiff as ever, Nutcracker."
"Flamboyant as ever, Fairy," Yzak retorted.
"Glad some things never change," Selena called to them. She came in without anyone noticing. Mikael shut the door behind them. Yzak and Gatlin glanced at her while Dearka and Setona watched as she walked over to be between them. "Our teacher made it all right?" She looked to Gatlin first.
"Yes," Gatlin was still staring at Yzak. He wasn't going to back down. "He sends his regards. The investigation is under way as the black box has been delivered."
"Good to hear," Selena nodded her head a bit. She looked between them. "Gatlin what did you do this time?" Yzak smirked.
Gatlin raised an eyebrow. "Nutcracker here figured it out that you were all my partners in the fan CD." This was news to Setona and Dearka. The two gaped in surprise. "He was lecturing me about the Lover's Knot. However, I think he's just jealous that you performed it with someone other than him."
"She can perform with whomever she wants to," Yzak corrected. "Just as long as he can perform the moves correctly."
"Maybe you're also jealous that it could have been you with your name in lights," Gatlin pressured. "Instead, you went full Nutcracker! Joining in on the war, becoming a ZAFT pilot, losing your comrades, rising in rank. I think I preferred you as a PLANT Representative than a Commander. However, it does suit your color palette."
Yzak let out a sigh. "You could have joined with us."
"That's not my thing," Gatlin shook his head. "That's your thing. That's why you played the Nutcracker so well. That's why I still hold resentment as you left our troupe to fight in a war." Yzak was about to speak. Gatlin put his hand up. "No. I know your reasons." Gatlin let out a breath. "I understood when teacher left to become High Chancellor. We all have our reasons."
"Glad you two can finally makeup," Selena counted the years since the two had been separated. Although, Dearka is Yzak's best friend, Gatlin was a childhood friend but also an enemy. The two fought over being partners with Selena from time to time. The fought over who had the better performance. They fought more than they were friendly with one another but that's how their bond grew. No one else could fight with either of them except for them.
"Th-that voice, that beautiful singing voice was yours?" Setona blurted out.
Selena looked over to her. "Yes, the one where Gatlin was the Fairy Prince, yes. That was my voice. Gatlin can finally go back to singing full time besides just in dancing performances. Since Lacus is no longer a threat to his stardom, he can go back to singing fulltime. He only went to ice skating, acting, and other routes to make up for coming in second behind her on the song boards."
"Nutcracker also has a great singing voice," Gatlin teased. "What song was that again? Shooting Star? No-no. Future Star. No. That's not it. What was it again?"
"Doesn't matter," Yzak stopped him from saying anything further.
"You sang?!" Dearka couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I made all of the troupe sing," Gatlin shrugged his shoulders. He looked over to Selena. "When shall you make your descent, again?"
"Here soon," Selena replied. "The mobile suits are gearing up to head back-" Her hands started to shake. Her fingers were trying to hold a phantom pen. Both Yzak and Gatlin grasped a hand of hers.
"Where's your sketch pad?!" The two spoke in unison. They glared at one another. "Do you need a break?" They jerked their heads to eye each other again, glaring to the other to back down.
Selena let out a genuine laugh. All of them looked at her in surprise. She felt like she was back in the troupe all over again. She no longer thought about the war games she was playing, the stress of her missions, or anything like that. Just a wave of nostalgia, being young, innocent, and naïve. She calmed down with a somber smile. She looked between both of them. "It's alright."
"Earlier too, with Athrun," Yzak mentioned. Gatlin became concerned.
"It was scheduled," Selena let out.
The two squeezed her hand to comfort her. They knew what scheduled meant. Selena would try to control her outbursts by using that energy. She always had a sketch book with her. She would zone out sketching page after page. There were times she tried to contain the outbursts to have one big outburst. That was scheduled. Even if she missed the scheduled date, she would not give herself an outlet until the large outburst was handled with another schedule. Trying to train her to handle it without stabilizers.
"When was it scheduled?" Gatlin asked.
"When I was supposed to dock at the Kingdom," Selena frowned a bit. "I am thankful for your concern but its not the first time I have missed a schedule."
The group talked a little more until Gatlin had to leave. He said his goodbyes along with Setona. Dearka waited outside the door with Mikael.
"Every woman on that CD, was you?" Yzak finally got confirm.
"Yes," Selena nodded. She grabbed a tablet. She pulled up all the pictures. Yzak thumbed through them until he spotted a familiar face. He gave her a look of confusion. She winked at him.
"Then, the whole time," Yzak watched her wipe the search history. "That was you? So, you definitely weren't piloting the white GUNDAM. Wait, then the other person?"
"Mikael," Selena nodded. He was at a loss. Selena had been on the Minerva and the Voltaire this whole time. "Now you don't have to feel guilty about cheating."
Yzak gaped. "I-I would ne-"
She kissed him. "I know. It's fun to tease you though. It wouldn't be cheating anyways. You have your freedom to be with whomever you want." She made sure not sound resentful or bitter on that sentence even though it always left a sour taste in her mouth. No matter how much she came to terms with it she still hated the fact that she was the only one couldn't choose to marry.
"It does make me feel a bit better that it was you all along but now you have put me further in a predicament," Yzak rested his forehead upon hers.
"Just tell them I seduced you," Selena brought her lips back to his.
The two finally parted ways. Dearka had lots of questions for Yzak once they got back to his office. When Dearka shut the door. He was ready to speak them.
"Seems like there is a lot of rekindling going on," Dearka sat down next to him on the couch. Yzak was now interested in the CD Gatlin gave him. "Did you two start to rekindle during the escort back?" Yzak thumbed through to the beginning. Dearka kept probing him. "Or was it when she was here for the peace signing?" Yzak paused a bit. Dearka beamed. He was getting closer. "Does she know that you kissed someone else?" Dearka tried to look concerned but his smile was fading in. Yzak pushed pause. He looked over to Dearka. "OH! She does know."
"That was her," Yzak muttered.
"What?!" Dearka couldn't believe what he heard. "Did you just say that Selena was Viola? That's not right. Viola is a real person."
Yzak paused the video. "Antoinette Shevchenko, gold medalist figure skater," he explained. Dearka looked at the screen at a blonde woman with green eyes. "That's Selena though."
"Why would she play other people?" Dearka was confused. "Especially with Gatlin. She never showed up as herself in any of these."
"Word will probably get out that she was sabotaging our missions," Yzak hated the thought but he knew it was true. "She thinks ahead. She probably knew her reputation will be tarnished. Also, there's Durandal's list. This is all done at the same stadium. Antionette is fighting against the Eurasian Federation for mass genocide on Coordinators. Lots of these women probably made a deal with Selena on allowing her to play them in return she helps them out." The two continued to watch some of the performances.
On the Aesculapius, Cagalli has their routine memorized. She would be washed, clothed, and fed by nurses. Some nurses will come in routinely to allow her use the restroom. The two men would come in for injections.
Donovan would routinely watch over them. He wanted to make sure they were calm as they could be. "Miss Cagalli." His voice made her freeze. "The more you work yourself up, the longer you have to stay here. The same with your friend, Miss Murrue. If you cannot comply, then I would have to take drastic measures."
"Drastic measures?!" Cagalli scowled. "This is drastic! What are you even doing to us?"
"You haven't figured it out for yourself?" Donovan was surprised. He only made her believe that. He knew she would have no idea what exactly was going on. Murrue may but she only has been saying the same things as Cagalli. The two were sounding like a broken record. He turned off the microphone. He was reading over reports. "Ah, so Her Highness is finally leaving." He clicked the microphone back on. "When I release you, depending on how you handle this of course, you can tell her that you were only warming it up. That this spot is hers and hers alone. I wouldn't dare take away what belongs to her and give it to someone else. I have only the best for a supreme like her." He let out a sinister chuckle. He clicked off the microphone again.
Cagalli was terrified. He was going to go after Lacus next, she thought. She hated what he was doing to her but he was right. She needed to comply. He spoke about releasing her. Cagalli needed to be released to warn the others. She made sure to remember who the nurses and doctors were coming in to treat her.