DISCLAIMER: If they were mine, then Yzak and Dearka would have an entire Gundam Seed series dedicated to them. BANDAI has that privilege.


Phase 02: MIA

It had been three days since Yzak was declared MIA. The Voltaire had been towed back to PLANT, its crew kept under heavy surveillance and confined to temporary quarters – a bathroom and a slat for a bed. After two full days of solitude, Dearka was woken at the rise of PLANT's artificial sun on the third day, by two armed guards in green ZAFT uniforms. They dragged him out of bed, barely giving him a moment to dress in uniform before escorting the yawning Dearka down the halls and around the twists of the containment facility.

It seemed like half an hour had passed when they finally stopped in front of a steel door, an old-fashioned one with a handle. One of the guards gave two sharp knocks, his fist producing a hollow clang. The door opened inwards and Dearka was shoved inside. The door slammed shut behind him.

"Have a seat," said a man in a business suit. His arm was extended to the wooden table in the center of the room, his outstretched hand gripping a leather folder. Dearka took a chair at the table, but couldn't pull it in as it was bolted to the floor. He also noticed that he sat facing a large mirror.

"Why am I being interrogated?" he demanded.

The suited man placed his folder on the table as he sat down, and offered his right hand to Dearka. "I'm Rexlain Harris," he said. "And this is all procedure, I assure you."

Dearka ignored the offered hand, glaring instead past Harris and towards the mirror. "Yeah well I've been through enough interrogations to know what the hell one is."

"This isn't an attack on you, or your previous actions," replied Harris. "We're questioning everybody who was aboard the Voltaire."

"Whatever. Just get on with it."

Harris opened his folder. "Please state your name, rank, and current assignment."

"Dearka Elthman, Major, Jule Squadron. Second in command of the Voltaire." Dearka continued to gaze through Harris, but spoke in a clear tone.

"And your commanding officer?"

"Yzak Jule," Dearka growled, his glare shifting to Harris, "who we should be out there trying to find."

Harris ignored the implication. "Where were you when Commander Jule's quarters were breached with his own access card?"

"In my room." Dearka's voice had returned to normal. He hoped the sooner the interview was done, the sooner he could be out there looking for Yzak.

"Tains said you never came to your room."

"Maybe because he didn't want to share the fact that he was on his knees ogling my contraband porn when I got to the door." Harris glanced up from his notes to look at Dearka with a raised eyebrow. Dearka cut in by adding, "Yeah, I know the rules, but right now admitting to my porn collection is a hell of a lot better than being stuck in here getting accused of abducting my best friend!"

"That's right, you've spent a lot of time with Commander Jule, haven't you," Harris continued, without so much as a waver in his voice. "You met back at the academy if I'm not mistaken."

Dearka rolled his eyes and flopped back in his chair. "Yeah, yeah. Can I go do something useful now? Like looking for my Commander instead of being couped up in this shit hole!"

"Would you like to explain why you're the only other crewmember with full access to Commander Jule's quarters?"

Dearka paused, but then smirked lazily at Harris. "He's got exclusive access to mine too, you know."

"Why, so you can sneak into each other's quarters when no one's looking? Enjoy your porn collection together, alone?"

Dearka's fist slammed down on the table. "We don't have that kind of relationship, you sicko!"

Harris countered his retort with ease. "Then exactly what kind of relationship do you have with Commander Jule?"

Dearka looked away, his face creased in a thoughtful frown, and Harris couldn't help but to add, "Or perhaps should I say, what kind of relationship do you wish you had?"

Dearka jumped up and was set to launch at Harris, when the door swung open. A guard Dearka hadn't seen before strode in and held up an envelope. "I have orders to escort Major Elthman to the Council," he announced.

Harris took the envelope, pulled out the letter from inside and skimmed over its message. Dearka stood frozen on the spot, his anger turning to curiosity as he stared at Harris. The interrogator sighed, dropped the paper into his folder and closed it.

"Fine, take him," he said.

The guard turned to Dearka. "This way, Sir. We have a vehicle standing by."

Dearka didn't need a second invitation. He leapt in behind the guard and was led out of the room, out of the containment facility. In the parking area he noticed other members of the Voltaire crew piling into various luxury cars, each with their own driver. Dearka was brought to a white limousine, a jug of cold water and a chilled glass waiting for him as he slid into the plush interior.

The limousine pulled out of its space and glided towards the facility's main gates. He noticed that most of the vehicles before him were turning right, when he knew for a fact that the Council Chambers were about ten miles in the other direction. As he suspected, his limousine turned left.

"They've been set free, Sir," said his escort who sat across from him, as though detecting Dearka's confusion. "However, your presence has been requested at the Council."

"By who?"

"Chairperson Lacus, Sir."

This should be interesting, Dearka thought, gazing out at the passing scenery with a smile.


Upon arriving at the Council building Dearka was escorted past the Council Chambers and up three floors to the private rooms. Disembarking from the elevator, Dearka's escort swiped an access card through the lock of the only door in sight. He opened it to reveal a hallway lined on one side with a series of doors, and on the other side with a long glass window, which looked out on to the main city.

Dearka followed his escort to the second door along the hall. The escort knocked twice. A muffled "Come in," called from inside. It wasn't the soft melody of Lacus, but Dearka was sure he recognised the voice. The door slid open and the escort motioned for Dearka to enter. The door slid closed behind Dearka, as he stepped inside and gazed around the room. It was luxurious in its smooth furnishings and design, but no bigger than the living quarters of a ZAFT high commander.

"Hey Dearka. It's been a while," said Kira Yamato, stepping from the en suite bathroom as he fastened the black collar of his uniform. He smiled warmly, genuinely happy to see an old friend.

Instead of the kind greeting he was expecting in return, his sudden appearance had struck a chord with Dearka. As soon as Kira had stepped out of the bathroom, Dearka had broke into a fit of spluttering giggles, which he had been trying to stifle. Once Kira spoke however, Dearka was gone, doubling over in laughter. Kira frowned.

"Sorry," Dearka finally replied, wiping tears from his eyes. "You're the funniest thing I've seen in days. Look at the front of your uniform."

Kira looked down and realized that he'd missed a clasp but had continued fastening the front of his white ZAFT jacket. The result was a bunched up uniform that looked like it was being twisted and wrung. Kira sighed and gripped the troubled clasp that was taking the place of the one he'd missed. No matter how much he pulled at it though, it wouldn't undo. Dearka broke into another giggling fit.

"Here, let me," he said, approaching Kira and reaching for the clasp.

"I don't get it," said Kira, "I could do the red one by myself just fine."

With a quick twist of Dearka's fingers, the hook was magically undone. He undid the one above it with the same ease.

"Woah!" Kira uttered with wide eyes.

"The white uniform has a different design to the red one," said Dearka, who was having trouble with the top clasp. "Apparently this style hides the clasps better. They're not so noticeable with the other uniforms, but they were really obvious in the white, so they changed it."

The top catch slid apart under his fingers. Dearka tugged the edges of the collar, pulling it flat against the back of Kira's neck. He continued down the front of he jacket, tugging the edges until the jacket hugged against Kira's back. He then returned to the clasp just below the collar and fastened it.

"This jacket's too big for you," he mumbled, as he fastened the clasps in a steady, downward succession.

"You sure know a lot about this," Kira noted with a smile, "for someone who wears a black uniform."

Dearka's hands froze. His eyes remained lowered, his head bowed slightly. Kira reached for Dearka's forehead and smoothed down the edges of the gauze that covered his wound.

"How's you head?" asked Kira.

"It's alright," Dearka mumbled, fastening the final clasp. "There. Done."

Kira spoke in a soft but clear voice. "We're going after him."

Dearka's face whipped up, his wide eyes locking with Kira's. Kira just kept smiling at Dearka.

"Lacus called this meeting so she could arrange to send some of us to find Yzak," said Kira.

Dearka looked away and shook his head. "We have ships scattered everywhere. ZAFT doesn't have the resources to chase after one soldier."

"You underestimate the power your friend holds. With his abduction comes a very strong threat to PLANT security."

"I don't think they'll buy it," Dearka muttered.

Kira laid a hand on his shoulder. "We're about to convince them otherwise. Let's go."

"Go where?"

"You and I are escorting Lacus to the Council Chambers," replied Kira, as he strode to the door. Dearka was too dumbstruck to move.

"Come on," Kira called from the open doorway. "If we're late, then they'll never listen to us!"

Dearka snapped out of his daze. He whirled around and hurried to join Kira.

"You might want to do up your collar," Kira whispered to him, as they strode to the elevator. Dearka hurriedly fastened his collar and straightened his black and grey uniform, brushing down the front with the back of his hand. The elevator doors closed them in.


Chairperson Lacus Clyne, in her elaborate black and pink council robe, took the stand. "As you are aware, High Commander Yzak Jule, a valued and loyal member of the ZAFT military, was abducted in combat three days ago," she said, her voice resounding throughout the chamber. "We have reason to believe that he is still alive and is being held prisoner by the enemy."

"Based on what information?" asked Tad Elthman from the far end of the table. Ezaria Jule, seated at his side, glanced at him. Dearka, seated a distance behind Lacus, glared across the room at him. The question was expected, but not from his own father and not in that tone.

"ZAFT scouts detected the enemy mother ship near the battle area where Commander Jule was abducted," offered Kira, stepping up beside Lacus. "Reports say it escaped to a nearby moon and has been in hiding there ever since. They may have even set up a base of operations on the moon's surface."

"All the more reason not to send anyone," said Elthman, earning glares from both Dearka and Ezaria.

"That's a trap if ever I heard one," added another member of the Council, sitting across from Elthman.

"We don't have ships or crew to spare anyway," a female member echoed the sentiments of her peers. The room was filled with hums of agreement.

"I'll go," said Kira, raising his voice above them all.

Lacus elaborated. "I propose that Commander Kira Yamato take the Eternal and its current crew to assess the situation. Major Dearka Elthman will head the investigation. Any reports made will be sent directly to both myself and Council Member Ezaria Jule."

"What about Orb?" piped the female member. "Won't they have something to say about this?"

"Orb has been informed of the current situation, as they are also involved," said Lacus, her voice neutral, her manner maintaining its usual politeness. "They have offered to send a representative if it is decided for this mission to continue."

The chambers erupted in a chorus of whispers.

Dearka smiled to himself. Clever girl, he thought. Not only has she sent off every political inconvenience in PLANT, she's even covered the delicate issue with Orb. Actually, she's strengthened the bond.

The chatter died down and the other council members looked towards Tad Elthman.

"Chairperson Clyne, " he addressed, in his strongest voice, "the Council has decided to agree with your method of action, on the condition that no ZAFT resources other than those you have proposed here, be used for this mission."

"Agreed," said Lacus. "The Eternal will leave at 0900 tomorrow morning. Meeting dismissed."

Dearka and Kira rose and saluted, as the council members gathered their documents and proceeded out of the chambers. Dearka's eyes caught Ezaria's when she neared him. It was the first time he'd ever seen her look uncertain – she even seemed slightly forlorn. She gave Dearka a solemn bow of her head, which he and Kira both returned.

Behind Ezaria was Tad Elthman. He dipped his head before giving Dearka the "You'd better come back alive" look, which had become customary between them since Dearka's first disappearance.

Dearka smiled half-jokingly, half-reassuringly as he returned the gesture with a slight nod. Kira offered another solemn bow.


It was dark inside the chamber. The only light came from above, glaring down over him. His eyes tried to focus, but fatigue caused his vision to blur over and over.

"The subject is conscious."

"Keep him drugged – we can't have him escaping."

"Yes, Sir."

"How long before the results?"

"Unknown – he's stronger than we thought."

Yzak groaned aloud as he struggled against his binds to no avail. He screwed his eyes shut, hoping to silence the voices.

"Major Dearka Elthman will head the investigation. Any reports made will be sent directly to both myself and Council Member Ezaria Jule."

He opened his eyes in surprise. That voice. It was some kind of outside broadcast.

Sweat trickled down his forehead, blinding him as it leaked into his eyes. He blinked furiously, trying to get it out. Frustrated, Yzak shrieked the only word that still had any meaning.

"Dearka!"


Dearka bolted upright in his bed.

"Yzak?" He glanced frantically around the room, but his dark quarters were empty. Dearka frowned and looked toward the bedside table. The clock's glowing digits read 05:45.

Cursing, Dearka threw off his blankets, stripped, and locked himself in the bathroom. It felt good as he stepped under the shower's hot stream. He rubbed at his hair vigorously, washing out gel he hadn't even put in. Realizing this, he stopped and stared at the pale blue tiles of the wall.

"Where the hell are you, Yzak?" he mumbled through the trickles that ran down his face.


Dearka had spent the past hour daydreaming as he gazed at the Eternal through the window of the observation deck. The lounge area around him had grown steadily crowded since he'd arrived, but there was still some time before the crew would be allowed to board.

With the crew avoiding him, Dearka had been so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't notice when someone did finally approach him.

"Dearka Elthman up before eight? Somebody pinch me, hard!"

Recognising the mellow voice, Dearka half-turned to greet the speaker.

"Athrun Zala back on PLANT?" he retorted with a smirk. "Somebody slap me, hard!"

"I got here last night," replied Athrun, settling himself beside Dearka at the observation window. "Officially, I'm Orb's representative, here to make sure we're kept in the loop."

"And unofficially?" Dearka queried, with a raised eyebrow.

"Look, I know I'm probably the last person he'd want out there looking for him, but the truth is I can't leave this alone any more than you can. I don't want to see anything happen to him either."

"Attention, all waiting crew. This is Commander Kira Yamato," Kira's voice, still so much like a child's, called over the sound system. "The Eternal is now ready for boarding."

Dearka looked up at the loudspeaker with a puzzled expression, as people began filing out of the observation area.

"Now I've been in ZAFT long enough to know that the Commander's not supposed to do that," said Dearka, he and Athrun falling in line. Athrun laughed.

"That's Kira, personality over rules."


Inside the Eternal, Dearka tossed his standard issue bag on his bunk with barely a glance around the room before heading towards the bridge. Athrun, whose quarters were next door, had to hurry to keep up with Dearka. They reached the lift and entered in silence. It stopped once midway at the request of the other passengers who stepped out, leaving Athrun and Dearka alone.

"I saw the feed from your interview," said Athrun, breaking the eerie quiet between them.

"Interrogation more like it," Dearka mumbled, barely surfacing from his thoughts.

"Anyway," Athrun continued slowly, "there was something I wanted to ask you."

At first, Dearka didn't reply, and with his back facing Athrun, Athrun wasn't sure Dearka had even heard him. He started thinking of how to reword his question.

"And?" Dearka prompted.

"Well, I was kind of curious about the last question. You didn't really answer it."

"What question?" Dearka had turned to face him now, which only made Athrun look away to avoid meeting his gaze.

"Why," Athrun drawled, "do you have access to Yzak's quarters? I know we were all on the same team once, and I know you're as close as Kira and I are. But-"

"But what?" Dearka's expression remained calm and serious, his eyes constantly on Athrun. Shaking off his discomfort, Athrun looked straight at Dearka.

"I know how strict Yzak is on the rules. He almost shot you once because of them. It's against ZAFT rules for a subordinate to have that kind of access. Why would he give it to you?"

Dearka shrugged. "For the same reason he didn't shoot me I guess, and before you even start going down that path, Commander or not, Yzak is my best friend above anything else."

The conversation halted as the lift stopped and its doors parted to reveal the bridge. Dearka launched himself out, Athrun right behind him.

Kira spun around in the command chair, greeting them both with a nod and a smile as they settled either side of him. They both nodded in return. Kira swung the chair back to the front, the smile fading as his expression turned serious.

"Prepare for launch," he ordered.

"All systems are green. Igniting thrusters," a technician announced from her station.

Outside, the docking clamps unlocked with a hiss, and withdrew from the pink hull.

"Docking arms clear," continued Andrew Waltfield from the lower bridge. "Ready for launch."

"Eternal, launch!" called Kira.

The engines roared, propelling the ship forward with jets of blue flame. With a shudder, the Eternal pulled away from the docking station and drove towards the stars.

"Display all information we have on the target's current whereabouts." At Kira's command, surveillance feed of the enemy's mother ship, cowering behind a system moon, appeared on the main viewer.

Hold on, Yzak, Dearka thought, We're coming.