Kara sat and stared in horror at the sight in front of her. She was watching an entire city be destroyed right before her eyes. Her uniform felt as if it were suffocating her. The room was spinning around her and the laughing of the other officers was like fingernails scrapping across a chalkboard to her sensitive ears. She couldn't stand it. How could they not realize that innocent civilians were being murdered? "Bloody naturals," a captain muttered loud enough so they all could here. "Well, they got what was coming to them."
"There only civilians!" Kara's voice felt foreign in her ears. The room became silent. Everyone was eyeing her strangely. It was all she could do not to bolt. "There only civilians," she repeated again, but much softer.
"They're helping the bloody Earth Alliance forces," the same captain said staring at her as if she was an idiot. "They got what was coming to them. Besides, they're only naturals."
Kara remained silent. "They're God's children too!" she wanted to shout. But, after recalling the rest of the crew's reaction when she'd prayed over her meal their first day in space, she thought it might be best to remain silent. She had to choose her battles carefully. Coordinators were often hesitant to believe in anything. They couldn't really be blamed. Horror stories were told to coordinator children about adult naturals beating young coordinators to death back when everyone lived on Earth. It wasn't hard to stop believing in things such as thoughts like "There is good in everyone."
Laughter rang throughout the room as a particularly large building collapsed. Suddenly, Kara's mind drifted back to her phone call with Dearka the night before last.
Flashback:
"Lieutenant Karalee Zala," Kara said as someone handed her a phone.
"Hey angel," Dearka's voice greeted as she pressed the phone to her ear. "Do you miss me?"
"Heck yeah," she replied, smiling for the first time in days. "So where are you?"
"We're going to land right outside of Heliopolis tomorrow morning," Dearka told her. "Gonna take those naturals by surprise and steal those mobile suits Orb has been making for the alliance."
"Be careful," Kara almost pleaded. "I miss you."
"I miss you too," Dearka said softly, and then his tone brightened. "Hey, there's some guy here, he looks a little like you. Say's he's your brother and I wouldn't put it past him to beat me up to get the phone so he can talk to you. You want to talk to him or do I tell him to shove off?"
"Is he about five feet seven inches tall?" Kara asked teasingly. "Answers to the name Athrun."
"That describes him all right," Dearka smirked. "So I tell him to shove off?"
"I think I can suffer a few minutes of listening to him talk," Kara said smiling. "But don't go anywhere. I'm gonna want to talk to you again."
"Here he is," Dearka handed the phone over to Athrun.
"Hey sis," Athrun said into the phone.
"Hey," Kara replied. "So, Dearka told me ya'll are going to raid Heliopolis. Didn't Kira move there?"
"It's been years Kara," Athrun told her. "He's probably moved again by now."
"Whatever," Kara said rolling her eyes. "Well, I've got to go in a minute. I love you."
"I love you too."
"Could you put Dearka back on the phone?" she requested.
"Sure thing."
"Still miss me angel?" Dearka's cocky voice made Kara wrinkle her nose.
"Of course," she told him. "Don't be stupid. I've already told you that I miss you. But, I've got to go."
"Alright," Dearka said trying to sound dejected. "I love you angel."
"I love you too," she said a little sadly. "Be careful tomorrow."
"I will," he assured her. "Bye angel."
"Bye." Kara set the phone back on the cradle and sighed. She had known that she'd miss Dearka. She just hadn't realized how much.
End Flashback
Tears filled Kara's eyes as she realized what was happening. Her boyfriend and her brother were down there. They could be killed and there was nothing she could do. Kara looked around. No one would notice if she slipped out of the room and returned to her quarters. She took the opportunity to be alone. Kara made her way down the hallway and pressed the code on the keypad to enter her stateroom.
"God please protect them," she pleaded sinking onto her bed. "I know what they're doing isn't right but please keep them safe. Dearka means everything to me and Athrun is the only family I have left. Please God, just don't let them get hurt."
Kara brushed away the tears that stung the corners of her eyes. But she had known a war was coming. People had tried to play God. A war was the result. Everything was so complicated. Kara would eat meatloaf for every meal if it meant that she could go home. Kara curled up on her bed. He closed her eyes and before she had even realized it, sleep had claimed her.
Kara was woken up several hours later by a knock on the door. "Lieutenant Zala?" someone called through the door. "There is a phone call for you."
"Is it urgent?" Kara asked groggily, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"I'm not sure ma'am," the person told her. "But I think it is a young man."
"I'm coming," Kara said, instantly awake. She twisted her hair back into a bun and slipped her shoes back on. She stepped outside of her room and found a young mobile suit pilot standing there. He couldn't have been much older than she was. She walked down the hallway with him at her heels. "I know my way around." She told him. "I don't need you to escort me back to the bridge."
"Captain's orders ma'am," the pilot told her.
Kara sighed. "I swear they treat me like a child," she mumbled under her breath. Kara walked into the bridge and took her seat. She picked up the head set for the phone and placed it on her head. "Lieutenant Zala," she said into the mouthpiece.
"Miss me angel?" Dearka asked. Kara could tell he was grinning.
"You're okay," Kara said with a sigh of relief. "Is Athrun alright as well?"
"Your brother's fine," he assured her. "Do you want to hear about the big bruise I got?"
"You're injured?" Kara asked startled.
"Kidding angel. Chill, I'm fine. Got an awesome mobile suit too. Now don't you shake your head at me."
"How did you know I was shaking my head?"
"I know you angel," he told her. "Now, that brother of yours is panting to get the phone, so I think I'll go ahead and give it to him. I love you angel."
"I love you too," Kara replied. She could hear the phone being passed to someone else.
"I was not panting," Athrun stated firmly.
"Awe, are Atha's feelings hurt?" Kara asked in a teasing tone. "Was Dearka being mean?"
"Funny," Athrun said glaring at Dearka. "I saw him."
"Kira?"
"Yeah," Athrun sighed. "I couldn't believe it. He looks almost exactly the same."
"I miss Kira," Kara said wistfully. "Did you talk to him?"
"Not really."
"Why not?" she asked.
"There was nothing I could say!" Athrun slammed his fist against the wall. "He just looked at me, like he knew me, but didn't at the same time. He looked so… so… hurt."
"He probably felt betrayed," Kara said simply. "You were supposed to be his friend, then you destroyed his home."
"That wasn't supposed to happen."
"I know," she sighed. "But, it did."
"You're making me feel guilty."
"That's my job. I'm your conscious."
"I miss you Kara," Athrun told her. "I've got to go."
"I miss you to," she replied. "And I love you too. Try to call me later this week or early next."
"Will do," Athrun assured her. "Bye."
"Bye," Athrun could hear the sadness in her voice. "Tell Dearka I love him too."
"Kara…" Athrun almost whined. But, Athrun Zala did not whine, he never had. No matter how Kara had teased him when they were younger, he had never whined. That was the closest he had ever come.
"Pretty please," she begged, doing the puppy dog pout.
"How does that work through the phone?"
"How does what work?" Kara asked innocently.
"The pout," he told her. "Now this time I really have to go."
"Bye."
"Bye," Kara heard the click of Athrun hanging up the phone in her ear. She gave a little sigh and pulled out a locket from under the stiff, high collar of her uniform. She wasn't really supposed to wear it, but she refused to take it off. Besides, she was Patrick Zala's daughter. She could probably get away with murder. Inside the locket was a picture of Athrun on one side, and then a picture of her mother on the other.
She missed her mother so much. It had been bearable when she knew that her mother was alive. But now, Kara would have to wait until Heaven to see her mother again. Her mother had been the one to talk to her about Jesus. Athrun hadn't wanted to listen though, they knew that their father didn't approve, and Athrun was so eager to be perfect in their father's eyes. It had almost killed him when their father had chosen Kara to come live with him instead of Athrun.
Flashback"Daddy!" Kara cried running to her father as he opened the door. Athrun was not far behind. Patrick Zala laid a distracted kiss on the top of Kara's head and patted Athrun's shoulder. But both children knew something was wrong.
"What is the meaning of these?" their father thundered as he walked into the living room, where their mother sat patiently reading a book.
"I know you can read Patrick," their mother said calmly turning a page. "So I'm sure you know what those papers mean."
"Why do you want a divorce?" he shouted. "Give me one good reason why."
Kara took Athrun's hand in hers. They walked up to the first landing of the stairs where they could hear everything but couldn't be seen by their parents. Kara laid her head on her brother's shoulder. They would sit there and be quiet until the fight was over.
"You're never home," their mother said turning another page. "Oh, and maybe these have something to do with it." She picked up a tabloid from the coffee table. There were pictures of Patrick Zala with another woman. It was obvious what they were doing, despite the sheet. Along with the pictures, there was a title. "PLANT leader's secret affair. Mistress tells all."
"Darling, you know you can't believe those things," he said lowering his voice. "There's hardly an ounce of truth in them."
"I know that," she said going back to her book. "That's why I hired a private investigator to follow you. I believe these photos are sufficient proof." She handed him a stack of photos that had been laid beneath a tabloid. "I want a divorce Patrick."
"Fine!" he yelled. "We'll get a divorce! But I'm taking Kara!"
"What?" she said raising her voice and rising to her feet. "You are not taking my daughter!"
Kara clutched Athrun's hand. She expected a reassuring squeeze, a hug, anything. But Athrun just sat there, as if he was stunned. "He chose you," he whispered after a minute. "He chose you instead of me. I'm the boy. He's supposed to want me."
"Athrun!" Kara cried. "Don't you get it? He wants to separate us. He wants to take me and I'll never see you again."
Athrun looked at his sister. She could see the anguish written across his features. "But, he was supposed to want me."
End Flashback
Kara was pulled out of her memory by the sound of the dial tone ringing in her ears. She looked around her. The bridge of the ship was busy, as usual. Captain Litherman was barking orders as usual. Everyone was totally wrapped up in his or her own tasks. Kara tapped her fingers on the armrest.
Kara was dying for just a few more hours of sleep. She'd been up for probably twenty-two hours. As soon as she'd gotten on the ship, she was immediately put to work. She sat and watched the radar screen at her right. There was nothing around for miles.
Two days laterKara stepped off the shuttle and placed her hat on her head. It was hard to walk. She'd never imagined the force of gravity could be this strong. She had never been on Earth before. She'd lived in the PLANT colonies her whole life. The sun was so bright. A gust of wind lifted her rich blue curls off the back of her neck. Kara almost laughed outright. She had never felt real wind before. It tickled her skin. "I've missed out on so much," she whispered to herself.
"What?" another young lieutenant asked turning around to look at her.
"Nothing," Kara said turning away. Her green eyes sparkled excitedly. A guide was leading them along a sidewalk. It was all Kara could do, not to take off her shoes and run across the grass barefoot. She'd read about a time when you could do that whenever you wanted to. It had sounded like a lot of fun. She couldn't help but gasp when she saw her first tree. They were so big! How could something that wasn't man made get to be that big? Suddenly a sweet aroma filled her nose. Brightly colored plants lined the paths. Kara knew they were called flowers.
"They're incredible," the same lieutenant said, commenting on the flowers. "I've never seen anything like them. Have you?"
"Only in books," Kara replied. "But, what purpose do they serve?" Suddenly they heard the captain clear his throat. He was looking straight at them. They both blushed and turned away from each other.
All of a sudden, they were being led into a warehouse. Kara sighed as they walked through a two-story tall garage door. She had hoped their tour would be outside. As she walked into a large open room, she had to gasp. She had never seen a mobile suit up close before. They were so huge! At least fifty feet tall! Kara felt so small in comparison. "Lieutenant Zala," Captain Litherman called. "Come here please,"
Kara walked up towards the captain. "Yes sir," she said hesitantly.
"What do you think of this mobile suit?"
"It's very fine sir," she told him.
"I'm glad you think that," he said calmly. "You will be piloting it. Your brother has shown a great aptitude for piloting mobile suits. We hope you will as well."
"Yes sir," Kara replied with a hesitant smile. There were very few female mobile suit pilots. Could she really do this? Her father had never mentioned anything about her piloting a mobile suit. She was sure he'd had a nice desk job in mind for her; one where she was sure not to be injured in any way.
Kara walked up to the mobile suit. "It's called the Phoenix," a mechanic told her. "Probably the best mobile suit we've made." Kara nodded and laid her right hand against the cool metal. Her emerald eyes were lit with a fire; so bright the people around her were afraid to touch her for fear of getting burned by it.
Suddenly a great wind whipped through the hangar. Kara's curls flew into her eyes. "We're under attack!" someone called. Gunshots rang out through the room. "Duck and cover!" Captain Litherman called. "Everyone down now!" Kara looked around. Everyone was on their knees with their arms protecting their heads. She felt someone grab her and pull her down, protecting her body with theirs. It was the same lieutenant that she'd gotten in trouble with just a few minutes before.
Explosions shook the ground they knelt on. "Secure the mobile suits!" someone shouted above the noise. "HURRY!" The ceiling shook and began to crumble. Large chunks were falling to the ground. The lieutenant grabbed her waist and rolled her to the side. A few seconds, later a large piece of concrete rested were they had just lain. Kara laid there, face down to the floor. A shower of small rocks and other pieces of debris rained down on them. She was pinned beneath the lieutenant that had saved her life.
'If we live, I'll have to remember to thank him,' she thought. A gunshot rang out dangerously close to where she and the lieutenant were laying. He suddenly went limp. Something wet soaked through the back over her uniform. Kara could hardly breath under his weight.
Kara looked over to one of the walls. A strange crackling sound was ringing in her ears. The wall looked like a giant spider's web. "The walls are caving in!" Someone yelled. From that moment on everything was in slow motion. Kara watched the walls come tumbling down. 'Oh God,' she prayed. 'Have mercy on us!'
A/N: Oooooh cliffhanger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't ya'll love me?
