I looked across the dining room and saw Athrun and Nicol leaving together. I scowled and turned back to my food. I hate both of them and their peaceful natures. People have always described me as violent and aggressive, but I think that everyone is like that. I think that the peaceful, easygoing, 'good' people aren't any better than the rest of us, just better at lying to themselves and others. I'm no liar.

I looked back up at Dearka, my best friend, who occupied the chair opposite from me. He smirked. "So," he began, "you lost to Athrun Zala..."

"Shut it! I don't need crap from you too." I said in response. "That idiot is too up himself. He only got in 'cause of his dad." I scowled back down at my food.

"Isn't that a little hypocritical?" Dearka raised an eyebrow. "Your mother probably pulled some strings to get you here. Not," he added at my angry expression, "that you couldn't have gotten in anyway, but you completely bypassed the selection phase because your mother is an advisor to Chairman Clyne. Some may call that favouritism." I hate to admit it, but what he said was true. My annoyance must have shown on my face, because Dearka said, "Look, forget about Athrun. You'll beat him next time. Hey, know what I heard? They're picking pilots for Commander Le Creuset's new team."

I paid attention at this. Commander Le Creuset was one of the top commanders of ZAFT, and he was well known for leading strategic campaigns all over space and on Earth as well. There was a rumour that his entire squadron had been defeated by a single pilot at the battle of Endymion, but you can't put much faith in rumours. Even so, the rumour of his new selection got me excited. He would only take the best of the best, and, let's face it, that could be me. And, I realised, it could be Athrun too.

Athrun is one of those people who has a lot of power. He's the son of the chief political advisor to the chairman, and he's engaged to a freakin' popstar. But people like Athrun don't know how to use that power. If he wanted to, he could have everyone doing what he asked. But he's too quiet, too introverted and too gutless. Not the kind of person who deserves a place on Le Creuset's team, but someone who will probably get a place regardless. Anyone would want to be friends with the fiancee of Lacus Clyne, so what the hell is Athrun doing with that Amalfi kid?

Dearka's voice broke my train of thought. "Speak of the devil," he laughed. "Here's the man himself. Commander Le Creuset. Look, over there, by the door." I turned to look and sure enough, there he was. The legend himself. He wore a white mask that partially obscured his face, just like the rumours had told. He wore the white ZAFT uniform reserved only for the elite, and he stood with the head instructors of the academy, deep in conversation. He was intimidating, alright.

Dearka and I left the dining room then, having finished our lunch. I swear I could feel Le Creuset's eyes on my back as I exited. He was definitely what you could call a model soldier, what all ZAFT soldiers should aspire to, but there was something off about him. Maybe it was just the fact that you couldn't see his face, but he could always see yours.

Just as we were heading back to our next class, advanced OS programming, I felt somebody tap on my shoulder from behind. A female voice asked, "Um...excuse me, ZAFT soldier?" The voice was soft and melodious, very familiar, but it didn't sound like anyone I knew from the academy. I turned around to ask, "what?" but the words failed me when I realised who had stopped us. A little robotic ball hovered at her side as she brushed aside a tendril of long pink hair. "I'm looking for someone." She went on. "But I'm quite lost. Could you be ever so kind as to help me?"

I couldn't believe it. We had come face to face with Lacus Clyne.