Phase 4: Yzak, Dearka, Athrun
"I'm First Officer Arthur of the Minerva, Commander Joule" the officer said while saluting to the two young men.
Yzak saluted back at the assistant, "Plants ordered us to take over command of this ship. It will be placed back at Armory One after wrapping up. I want full report of the Minerva and its crew, give it to Hahnenfuss at Voltaire. And as the First Officer, you're in charge."
"Sir, yes, sir. If may I ask sir, do you have any reports about Captain Talia?"
"Reports are not yet confirmed but it said that Captain Talia was with Chairman Durandall at the messiah," Yzak replied while walking out the door, leaving the surprised Arthur.
"You should really learn how to break some news like that in an easy manner," Dearka told Yzak from behind.
"I don't have time for that. We should be getting to Eternal soon or we may not catch Ms. Clyne," the Commander replied as he went inside the Captain's office.
"What do you want with Lacus?" a new voice asked.
Both men turned to look at the new comer. Who could have the nerve to join in their conversation? The nerve to go inside the Captain's office without knocking?
"Zala! What the hell are you doing here?! Dearka, you forgot again to close the freaking door! Now close it!" Yzak cried out with matching glares directed to the other coordinator. As for Dearka, he closes the door and greeted cheerfully, "Old friend! Heard you're back at Orb, again! Damn, that place really gets you going back and back whenever you leave it."
"Nice to see you too again Yzak, Dearka. Well, I'm here because I dropped some of my old comrades to the sickbay. Yes, I'm with Orb again. And I heard, you even helped Eternal, again. So what do you want with Lacus?" Athrun said, while smiling at his friends' reactions.
"None of your business," Yzak said seething, not minding Athrun's smiling face. He just continued to go over the documents at the ex-Captain's desk for he is in a time constraint. Joule's are never to be late in everything.
"Don't mind Yzak. He's still bitter about you being FAITH when you came back," Dearka casually said.
"I am not bitter! Besides, I don't care. And must you forget that I'm the one who insisted him to go back?"
Athrun merely laugh, "I believe you you're not bitter for you are really one of the persons who insisted me to go back."
"That reminds me. Joule! You better apologize now to Athrun!"
Yzak froze for a moment. He knew that that stupid Elsman would never pass this out ever since they had found out the report about Athrun.
"Huh? Apologize for what?" Athrun confusedly ask.
He won't apologize. Why would he? He's the one who made the decision without asking the princess about it in the first place. "It's not entirely my fault Dearka, Athrun. You see, I certainly asked him to come back to Zaft but it was Zala's decision on not telling her. The decision that screwed his own life, his relationship. Not me. And you didn't do any good job either, Elsman, about it. "
Athrun blinked. Decision? Decision of returning back to Zaft? It screwed his life, right? But wait, her His eyes widen in comprehension as he had put two in two. How could this two know his hiatus relationship status? "How did you found out? Are you keeping tabs on me?!"
"Exaggerating Zala," Yzak warned. "And then what? We heard the princess was marrying the Prime minister's son, abducted by the Freedom, showed up in Crete, showed up in Berlin, returned to Orb and was left in Orb. All without Zala, who is with the fake Lacus Clyne. Forgot, you where with her in Crete but decided not to come back," the commander recited with glint in his eyes.
"We just found about it a few days before," Dearka defended. "We scythed on Dulindall's file to see what his true intentions are after the speech of Cagalli and the real Lacus. Due to a short time, we where only able to get some reports. Unfortunately, it's your report… You know we guys are not really experienced when it comes to this kind of problems. Sure many girls jump to us but there's only a few who we take seriously. But as old best buds, were here to be off service!" He, even Yzak, wants to help their friend if they can. They are one of the few who knows the real score behind the mere Princess and bodyguard liaison.
Athrun's clearly perplexed, taken aback and goaded. All this time, Chairman Dulindall had deceived him. As a result, his life, his relationship is undeniably screwed up. No use in hiding it to them. More to the point, he could vent out some of his load to his old cronies. Well, he really can't think of other persons who could understand the whole situation. And he needs to vent it out because it's really taking so many tolls on him.
"I'm screwed up," he started; Yzak and Dearka just look at him waiting for him to continue. They are serious about knowing it, "I should've let her know about my decision about returning but at that time, I don't know how. To think before I went up I gave her a ring!" he saw Dearka's eyes widened and Yzak was about to say something but he wants to finish first. "When I came back to Orb, they had already allied with the EAF so I went straight to Minerva. There I found out that she almost married Seiran. I had been thinking about her the whole time. Then they showed up in Crete. She was still wearing the ring. But I tried to reason to her that instead of interfering, she should go back to Orb and do something with the Alliance. Pride got over me and I still believe Dulindall words back then. Kira was so furious that he had destroyed Saviour easily the second time we met."
"You deserve it!" Yzak quipped in; Dearka nods his head in agreement. "What now? What happened before the fleet went to space?"
Athrun couldn't stop a tiny smile from showing, "You guys really like to gossip."
"The report's only up to there and it's not gossiping Athrun. Yzak and I just want to help you!"
"I'm grateful with your concern. Thank you. Well, when I returned to Archangel, we didn't really have a proper talk because of the fighting," he hesitated for a moment. This part is hard, "Before we went to space, I noticed she was not wearing my ring anymore."
"Man, you are screwed! We really need to get things done so you can straight things between you two!" Dearka is worried. He doesn't want Athrun or anyone else he knew experience heartbreak. He might look all strong and goofy outside but he is vulnerable and sensitive when it comes to serious relationships.
"The Great Athrun Zala has been exposed of being not a good relationship handler. That leaves us, his so-called acquaintances, to get things promptly fix here in space so he could go down and settled things straight between him and the Princess," Yzak said. Sure they'd been rivals for the longest time but time changes both of them after the first war. Even though they lived a thousand miles from one another, they somewhat become closer by long chats when they're on the same place at the same time which happens rarely.
Again, Athrun was taken aback by Yzak's unexpected offer to help. Joule is surely unpredictable at times. "Didn't know that the Great Yzak Joule is willing to help me. I will value it forever."
The said commander snorted, "Knowing and experiencing first hand the feisty Princess, she will give you Zala a hard time. It will be fun to watch that. We need entertainment."
With that, the three laugh. Isn't it ironic that they where biting each other 3 years ago while they are on the same team? And now, here they are trying to catch up on what they should have done years ago.
Recomposing himself, Yzak checked if he had the documents he needed and started his way to the hangar, "We can resume this talk some other time. For the meantime, I need to talk with Lacus."
"Why is he in a hurry?" Athrun asked.
"He's just grumpy because he had been promoted to be the Representative of Martius City again. That's why we need to see Lacus. It's his job to negotiate peace to them," the blonde coordinator relayed.
"You never ceased to amaze me Yzak. Congratulations!" Athrun shouted. He had heard from news that Yzak Joule is indeed a good Representative. In fact, Supreme Council was hesitant in letting him go back to military. "I'm on my way to Eternal, I can accompany you to Lacus. Kira is also with her."
Great, Yamato's also there, Yzak thought. Uncomfortable silence, here I come… again! He just needs to bring Athrun with him if he's going to experience the uncomfortable silence. "Really? Well, I guess we can continue our disrupted chat with Yamato. Isn't it nice Athrun?" He sure wants to aggravate Zala.
Athrun stopped. Is Yzak serious? Then he heard Dearka snicker.
"Man Athrun! Still afraid of fighting the younger twin when it comes to the Princess? Relax! Yzak is just worrying you! In addition, you know Yzak and Kira can't still have a proper talk without uncomfortable silence!"
After contemplating, his shoulders relax and quickly catch up with Yzak and Dearka's paced. Soon, he was at Infinite Justice's cockpit again. Suddenly, as if realizing something extraordinary had transpired, he laughs. "Who would have thought that Yzak and Dearka will help him? Kira and Cagalli won't believe it…. Cagalli, I'll be back."
tbc
yeah, i'm so sorry it scks (